Older gamers: do you play your DS in public?

I play my DS quite a bit in public...out shopping with the GF (shoes take forrrrevvvverrrr for her), waiting for appts, riding a stationary bike, naked on the bus...you know, the usual times. :booty:
 
I play both my gbasp and my ds in the public usually at the movie theatre before it starts or if I have to wait at a doctors office or dentist and sometimes outside at the park.
 
[quote name='PleasantOne']All this got me thinking, is there anyone you WOULDN'T play your handheld in front of?

I don't think I'd play mine in front of my mother-in-law... I just wouldn't want to deal with the inevitable comments I'd get :p[/QUOTE]

I got my MIL a SP to play Yahtzee, Sukudo (sp?), etc. She seems to like it. Whenever she stays over, she always sits on the sofa playing it before going to bed. She's pushing 70.

RC
 
[quote name='RelentlessRolento']try doing that while playing Feel the Magic/Rub Rabbits...[/quote] :rofl:

[quote name='rscaramelo']I got my MIL a SP to play Yahtzee, Sukudo (sp?), etc. She seems to like it. Whenever she stays over, she always sits on the sofa playing it before going to bed. She's pushing 70.

RC[/quote]

Mine is always looking for something to "get you" for... I'm sure I'd hear about how I don't use my time productively or how it was immature :roll: I am so envious of you guys that have managed to get your relatives into handheld gaming!
 
I take it out with me everywhere

usually when I study at starbucks

I went to a resturant once and there was 5 guys playing mario kart on the ds

I joined in and played for abit
 
i play dslite on the train and at work during breaks. I convinced other co workers to get ds's so we play mario kart, tetris and bomberman at lunch. The gba micro goes everywhere. It so handy when i need to wait in line to return things. People give me looks since they are so bored in line
 
I haven't been travelling much for work recently, but back when I did (every month in 2005, less often in 2006) I took my DS with me on every trip. I'll play it in the airport waiting for my flight, I'll play it on the plane, most definitely. I usually take a 2 1/2 hour flight followed by a 4+ hour flight. I put some SERIOUS time into Advance Wars DS over Summer/Fall of 2005, as that was a perfect airplane game. You can't have anything that requires too much fine control(such as NSMB or Yoshi's Island). A strategy game is a perfect airplane game - easy to control and chews up time like nothing else ;).

Then I would play every night in the hotel during my week or so on site. For most of that time I only played my DS when I was travelling. But since I only made 2 trips in 2006 I have started to play it at home. Now I play the DS almost exclusively (and at home).

I would *never* bring it with me just on regular trips out of the house though. We went to the beach yesterday and the kids brought their DS and a GBA. That's fine, but I would have no interest in playing in the car (for one, I get carsick too easily, and secondly, I drove the whole way ;)). I would also never bring a DS to kill time in a movie line or some such thing. About the only thing I could see bringing it to is a system launch camping-out line - but then, I have no desire to do such a thing even with a DS as entertainment :lol:.

But anyway - to address the issue of being seen in puclic with the DS, I have no problem with it. When sitting in an airport I get the occasional look, but really most people don't even realize what it is. They probably think it is some sort of PDA device ('cause of the stylus). This was particularly true in 2005 - now, I'm sure, more people know what a DS is.

One time on the plane I was sitting next to a guy who played his PSP the whole time. That is the only time I've ever seen any other gaming system on the plane besides little kids with GBA SP's. But I've seen people playing card games on their laptops. As far as I'm concerned the DS is WAY better than that! (My laptop stays stowed the whole time - just don't feel like I have the room to get it out, even in first class when I get upgraded).
 
just turned 23. i take the bus back and forth once in awhile, and until i sold my DS last week i played it on those bus trips...usually 20 minutes each way...plus on the train and on car trips if i wasn't driving (although i usually was). Thing about the Berkeley area is that there are LOTS of Asian students who have DS units with them as well. It's maybe the least likely place to get condescending stares on the west coast :)
 
[quote name='TahoeMax']just turned 23. i take the bus back and forth once in awhile, and until i sold my DS last week i played it on those bus trips...usually 20 minutes each way...plus on the train and on car trips if i wasn't driving (although i usually was). Thing about the Berkeley area is that there are LOTS of Asian students who have DS units with them as well. It's maybe the least likely place to get condescending stares on the west coast :)[/QUOTE]

Haha - I grew up/went to college there, but it was before any handhelds existed (well, except for maybe the original Gameboy, but it was definitely a kids toy at the time). It would be wierd for me to see so many people with DS's at a place like Cal. Brings up an interesting point though - is it a big issue at high schools/university classes that people play handheld games and mess around with cell phones? I may be dating myself here, but not many people even had cell phones when I went to college :lol:. I imagine there are whole loads of new issues for teachers/university administrators to deal with now! Some of the teachers I had in high school would have been hella pissed if phones were ringing during class...
 
[quote name='io']Haha - I grew up/went to college there, but it was before any handhelds existed (well, except for maybe the original Gameboy, but it was definitely a kids toy at the time). It would be wierd for me to see so many people with DS's at a place like Cal. Brings up an interesting point though - is it a big issue at high schools/university classes that people play handheld games and mess around with cell phones? I may be dating myself here, but not many people even had cell phones when I went to college :lol:. I imagine there are whole loads of new issues for teachers/university administrators to deal with now! Some of the teachers I had in high school would have been hella pissed if phones were ringing during class...[/quote]I teach our Confirmation class at church about twice a month (7th & 8th graders) and there's one student in particular that I always have to tell to put his cell phone away because the text message he received can wait 45 minutes till we're done with class.

It's a good thing he doesn't have a DS, GBA, or even a PSP with him, because rather than reprimanding him, I'd be really tempted to ask, "Whatchya playin'?"

Being an adult sucks. ;)
 
[quote name='io']

One time on the plane I was sitting next to a guy who played his PSP the whole time. That is the only time I've ever seen any other gaming system on the plane besides little kids with GBA SP's. But I've seen people playing card games on their laptops. As far as I'm concerned the DS is WAY better than that! (My laptop stays stowed the whole time - just don't feel like I have the room to get it out, even in first class when I get upgraded).[/QUOTE]

:lol: The only time I feel awkward playing my DS of GBA in public is when I see someone else doing it. The reason why is that they are usually 15 years younger than me. That's when I start thinking, "Damn, you need to grow up." I get over it really fast and start playing again.
 
I use my DS in public everyday.

Just yesterday there was a great scene on my subway ride - myself and two other people (both well over 20) playing their DS.

We even had different colors.
 
I turn 40 this year. I take a PSP or DS anytime I have to wait for a non-work related appointment or when I travel. I get lots of comments, especially from people who didn't bring anything with them to occupy their time.

Having said that, the portables are used 99% of the time in my den while my wife is watching something on TV. Even though I'm gaming, at least I am in the same room with her. "Quality spouse time"...
 
[quote name='DirtRoadSport']I turn 40 this year. I take a PSP or DS anytime I have to wait for a non-work related appointment or when I travel. I get lots of comments, especially from people who didn't bring anything with them to occupy their time.

Having said that, the portables are used 99% of the time in my den while my wife is watching something on TV. Even though I'm gaming, at least I am in the same room with her. "Quality spouse time"...[/QUOTE]
Ever notice how its always women who ask about the ds?
 
I'll definitely play when traveling by plane or train; buses and cars are usually a no-go thanks to the motion sickness. I also typically play for a few minutes while waiting for my wife's train to get in each night. I may have gotten some looks along the way, but I'm too busy staring at my DS to notice. When my mother first saw my DS, she asked, "What is that? Is that like a Game Boy? Why would you need that?" Just wasn't worth trying to explain ... ;)

As far as the earlier question on phones/games in classes, I teach computer science & engineering courses, and I haven't had a problem with it yet. During lectures, the kids are pretty respectful; during labs, they'll take phone calls, but they'll usually leave the room. Never seen a DS or PSP in class. The one problem I had was during an exam last term--I explicitly told the students before the exam started, "If you have a cell phone, turn it off NOW." 45 minutes into the exam, of course someone's phone rang, and the entire class just turned and stared at the guy.
 
I played bomberman touch on the bus on my way to work this morning. I sat next to this cute asian girl who alternated between watching me play and dozing off for the entire ride. ;)
 
[quote name='io']We went to the beach yesterday and the kids brought their DS and a GBA. [/quote]

Please tell me they weren't taken ONTO the beach.

It pains me to imagine all the grits of sand finding their way into electronic nooks and crannies.
 
Not using public transportation ever, I don't really have any opportunities to play my DS in public, and I really can't think of any other situations where it would be practical. I mean, the linesitting days are (hopefully!) over for the remainder of this decade.
 
I'll take my DS with me if I know I'm going to be waiting in line or at a doctor's office or something. It definitely helps to pass the time. I also always take it when I'm travelling, though the only stares I get are from 10 year old kids probably wondering what I'm playing.

When I lived in NYC, I used to play my SP and DS on the train all the time. The worst was when a kid that looked like he was 7 sat next to me and pretty much layed on my arm to see what I was playing. I quickly put the DS away and took out a book instead. I'm not there to entertain and I'm certainly not getting drool on my arm to play my DS.

I'm 27 by the way.
 
While I mainly use it at home, I use the DS in public wherever there's long waits (airports, doctor's office, Wii launch). I also get motion sickness easily, so I can't play on cars or buses. In a world full of iPods and laptops and grown-up gamers, I think most people are used to the idea of adults playing handhelds now. Like encendido mentioned, the only weird attention I usually get are kids who want to see what I'm playing.
 
I really could care less what people think of me playing a DS in public--I just do it. That said, I don't take it out too much now that I've got kiddies to look after.

I did see a lady, maybe mid-twenties to early 30s, playing it by herself while waiting for some take out once.
 
[quote name='TahoeMax']just turned 23. i take the bus back and forth once in awhile, and until i sold my DS last week i played it on those bus trips...usually 20 minutes each way...plus on the train and on car trips if i wasn't driving (although i usually was). Thing about the Berkeley area is that there are LOTS of Asian students who have DS units with them as well. It's maybe the least likely place to get condescending stares on the west coast :)[/QUOTE]


[quote name='io']Haha - I grew up/went to college there, but it was before any handhelds existed (well, except for maybe the original Gameboy, but it was definitely a kids toy at the time). It would be wierd for me to see so many people with DS's at a place like Cal. Brings up an interesting point though - is it a big issue at high schools/university classes that people play handheld games and mess around with cell phones? I may be dating myself here, but not many people even had cell phones when I went to college :lol:. I imagine there are whole loads of new issues for teachers/university administrators to deal with now! Some of the teachers I had in high school would have been hella pissed if phones were ringing during class...[/QUOTE]

Wow, good to see I'm not the only one from Berkeley 'round these parts. ;) I'm going to graduate this May, but I'm (hopefully) staying in the Bay Area. Great place to live.

Anyway, I rarely play my DS on the bus (not enough time to get into it, and I've missed my stop because of it before), but I'll often play on BART (I commute to SF twice a week for work). Occasionally I'll see someone else with a DS (my favorite instance being this huge guy wearing a torn-up leather jacket, tons of piercings, and liberty spikes, who I struck up a conversation about Contact wth, since we were both playing it at the time).

One of my favorite DS-related memories is riding BART to SF on Saturday with two friends, and the three of us playing Meteos multiplayer the whole time. It was awesome.
 
[quote name='munch']:lol: The only time I feel awkward playing my DS of GBA in public is when I see someone else doing it. The reason why is that they are usually 15 years younger than me. That's when I start thinking, "Damn, you need to grow up." I get over it really fast and start playing again.[/QUOTE]

The guy next to me on the plane playing Star Wars Battlefront on the PSP was about my age, so no problems there ;). If it was a teenager playing Bratz or something on the DS I might have felt strange...

[quote name='Vegan']
Please tell me they weren't taken ONTO the beach.

It pains me to imagine all the grits of sand finding their way into electronic nooks and crannies.
[/quote]

Ha, yeah, right... The systems stayed stowed in the car (under some clothes). And they were only allowed to play on the way there, as they were too dirty on the way back ;).

[quote name='Blind the Thief']
Wow, good to see I'm not the only one from Berkeley 'round these parts. I'm going to graduate this May, but I'm (hopefully) staying in the Bay Area. Great place to live.

Anyway, I rarely play my DS on the bus (not enough time to get into it, and I've missed my stop because of it before), but I'll often play on BART (I commute to SF twice a week for work). Occasionally I'll see someone else with a DS (my favorite instance being this huge guy wearing a torn-up leather jacket, tons of piercings, and liberty spikes, who I struck up a conversation about Contact wth, since we were both playing it at the time).
[/quote]

Sigh, I wish I could live there again, or even visit more often that I do (my dad still lives there).

As for the BART guy, I can't quite picture someone like that playing with Mochi in Contact :rofl:.
 
I think that it is pretty standard for people over 30 to feel a little self concious playing handheld video games in public. I mostly play my DS at home - or when I go to visit my parents, and they are in bed by 9pm.

Lately, I have been traveling quite a bit with work, and let me tell you, playing Clubhouse Games on the plane really makes the time go by. Pretty good in the hotel in some strange town, too. I have 2 flights this week, and the DS will be with me. I have a trip to Germany coming up, and I am already wondering if my batteries will last the entire trip...

The only time it makes me feel weird, is if there is a hot flight attendant, or a hot chick sitting next to me. I always hope they'll think it is a PDA!
 
33. I definitely feel sefl-conscious in some environments.

I ride the bus to work but don't play because it's usually super-crowded with no elbow room, so I just read a magazine.

I don't usually have time in public, since I have kids that I need to watch and spend time with. I will occasionally bring it to a coffee shop. Otherwise I use it in private, when my wife is watching TV, or on trips at hotels or relative's houses. The DS is also good for sports events that get boring but I don't want to turn off entirely.
 
I'm 30 and play it everywhere. Imagine sitting next to me while I am blowing into the mic (Warioware) or talking to my dog (Nintendogs). People give me weird looks but kids always come up wanting to know what I am playing. I even lost a Pokemon battle to an 8 yr old one time who came up out of the blue while I was playing my SP. Fun times.
 
[quote name='hoofrog']I'm 30 and play it everywhere. Imagine sitting next to me while I am blowing into the mic (Warioware) or talking to my dog (Nintendogs). People give me weird looks but kids always come up wanting to know what I am playing. I even lost a Pokemon battle to an 8 yr old one time who came up out of the blue while I was playing my SP. Fun times.[/quote]

hahah, that would be classic. I def play my DS on the bus and train, but I dont play games that utilize the mic. When Im doing my brain training for example, I tell that crazy floating head guy that Im in an area where I cant talk.
 
I'm 34.

I'll bring my DS (mostly) or my PSP when I'm waiting for my son at the bus stop, or while he's doing his 1 hour gymnastics classes -- I watch him when he's doing something, but there's a lot of filler time. Also, any time we go on a plane or waiting for something, like car service. For a doctor's office, I'll usually bring a book.

Usually, I'm the only adult with a game system, and only kids ask about it.

I'll either wear headphones or play with the sound way down or off, and I tend not to play things that require weird behavior. I'm not embarassed, but I don't want to intrude on others in public spaces, in the same way that I don't want to hear someone else's overly loud cell phone conversation.

I sometimes wonder what the other adults think, but I honestly don't care. I don't see it as any different than reading, doing whatever with a cellphone, using a laptop, or any of the other ways people occupy themselves.
 
[quote name='blandstalker']I'm 34.

I'll bring my DS (mostly) or my PSP when I'm waiting for my son at the bus stop, or while he's doing his 1 hour gymnastics classes -- I watch him when he's doing something, but there's a lot of filler time. Also, any time we go on a plane or waiting for something, like car service. For a doctor's office, I'll usually bring a book.

Usually, I'm the only adult with a game system, and only kids ask about it.

I'll either wear headphones or play with the sound way down or off, and I tend not to play things that require weird behavior. I'm not embarassed, but I don't want to intrude on others in public spaces, in the same way that I don't want to hear someone else's overly loud cell phone conversation.

I sometimes wonder what the other adults think, but I honestly don't care. I don't see it as any different than reading, doing whatever with a cellphone, using a laptop, or any of the other ways people occupy themselves.[/QUOTE]

I dont think people care at all. strangers are too much into themselves to care if you bust out a ds in puclic. With what has come out already in terms of portable technology..i think it take something on the line of an IPhone to get attention. When i take the train, i see people in suits playing DS and not to mention the plethoria of kids and other adults playing it too. i remember i saw a couple who i would say is in their 30's were playing each other in mario kart. so my pt is that in this day and age, playing a ds in public is pretty normal.
 
I saw a 20-something couple at the airport in Raleigh a few months ago, trading a PSP between them. The woman actually dropped it at one point, and both my wife and I looked at each other in horror, but fortunately nothing broke! :)

I usually play with the DS on airplanes, sitting on the train (I live around the NYC area), bus, etc. I'm 33, btw... no qualms about busting it out whenever boredom sets in, and usually get people asking me about it who are interested in it as well, or better yet, who have one themselves!
 
The other reason would be when im not at home im driving somewhere, so to play the DS and drive...that's talent folks!

can you say "cruise control"!
 
unfortunately i can't play the ds on the bus for very long, get a bit of a headache, but i used to bring it with me everywhere, a friend of mine who is 19 brings it with him EVERYWHERE, and literally plays it EVERYWHERE, as he is walking down the street, during class, while i'm vsing him in a game, its ridiculous sometimes :roll:
 
[quote name='craab']Lately, I have been traveling quite a bit with work, and let me tell you, playing Clubhouse Games on the plane really makes the time go by. Pretty good in the hotel in some strange town, too. I have 2 flights this week, and the DS will be with me. I have a trip to Germany coming up, and I am already wondering if my batteries will last the entire trip...
[/QUOTE]

This is the only reason I've been slightly disappointed in not having a work trip since last Sept. I was saving hard mode in Clubhouse Games for my next trip. As a result, I haven't played it in ages. We should make a list of good airplane-ride DS games (besides Advance Wars and Clubhouse Games). I'm playing Magical Starsign now and that one would be OK (no fine control needed). Same with FF III (even more so). Games that are NOT good - NSMB, and, in particular, Yoshi's Island. Also, any game that requires the microphone ;). No Feel The Magic for sure...
 
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