Forty-hour DS charger is perfect ... for somebody

by Justin McElroy { Jun 4th 2007 at 2:00PM }

When we play Puzzle Quest on DS, sometimes we get a little anal. Like staring at the screen-for-hours-trying-to-pick -the-right-move anal ... Bobby Fisher anal. When we get in the zone like this, we don't notice anything, let alone house fires, so keeping the DS plugged into the wall is simply too risky. So we were thrilled, as you might imagine, to hear about this battery pack, which allows us to stare at the screen for up to 40 hours without a charge.

OK, we know what you're thinking. We're stretching. Yeah, well, you got us. Frankly we don't know why you'd need this thing. And if you do, it's probably time to reassess your priorities. Why aren't you ever near an outlet? Are you homeless? If so, why are you buying it? Where will you have it delivered to? The audience this thing is aimed at is the only puzzle we're questing after at the moment.

[Via DS Fanboy]

Tags: battery, ds, puzzlequest

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ian @ Jun 4th 2007 2:08PM

Sometimes I think Joystiq is controversial just to boost page impressions

Roger Rees @ Jun 4th 2007 2:14PM

This would definitely be useful on a flight from the USA to Asia or Europe. You don't always have access to an outlet to charge, so I could see this as being pretty handy.

Baka @ Jun 4th 2007 2:22PM

I thought vacations was pretty obvious. Maybe the Joystiq staff doesn't like to get in the sun for that long, and can't imagine anyone being away from a plug more more than five minutes.

Draco @ Jun 4th 2007 2:22PM

This could come in handy if you roll your car and both your legs break, which leaves you stranded at the side of the road. it could be a couple days before your rescuer drives by.

FrankTheCrank @ Jun 4th 2007 2:25PM

Dude...that thing is FUGLY.

sheppy @ Jun 4th 2007 2:33PM

So you solve a battery "problem" in a revised and smaller handheld by bulkin it up? Why not a peripheral that fits a smaller battery in and out of the casing much easier than Nintendo's default system and have a portable charge station and that base maintaining a temporary charge. Form over function!

Then again, I'm also one of those people who imported those rubber port plugs for PS3 just because of how dust collects in ports...

Muu @ Jun 4th 2007 2:41PM

I got a better idea: let's just keep the DS plugged into the charger, then you'd never run out of batteries!

Yubal @ Jun 4th 2007 2:42PM

"are you homeless?" jaja

mattydread @ Jun 4th 2007 2:53PM

Now I can play Advance Wars DS continuosly at airports when my flights are delayed without having to bring 2 fully charged DS' with me. For as niche as this product probably is, it's perfect for me!

RickDom @ Jun 4th 2007 2:56PM

I dunno, the fact that it lets you use AAs to play DS seems pretty handy too. And it would definitely be useful on long flights or car trips.

Crono @ Jun 4th 2007 3:11PM

No, I don't think it would be useful in ANY of those situations, as the DSLite has something like 20 hours of battery life on its dimmest setting (which is still brighter than DSPhat) and something like 9 hours on its brightest. Now, I can see cross pacific flights lasting longer than 9 hours (couldn't you be like, sleeping to help get over the jet lag?), but seriously, if you know its gonna be a while, turn down the brightness. Problem solved.

sheppy @ Jun 4th 2007 3:17PM

RickDom wins the topic, but just because of username. ZEIG ZEON!

jadenguy @ Jun 4th 2007 3:27PM

there exists a AA battery chamber that will charge the ds. the output is actually usb, but it comes with an sp, lite, and micro multi-head usb cable. that is the ideal solution to this issue.

Steve_Mckenna @ Jun 4th 2007 4:07PM

It's for camping you assholes.

shoop008 @ Jun 4th 2007 4:08PM

Or you could just buy a couple extra batteries to bring with you. They are only $15 each on Nintendo's site. then you would have a good 30 hours of play. I'm sure most people will be within 30 hours of an outlet.

Farseer @ Jun 4th 2007 4:11PM

lol jadenguy,

That's exactly what I would have suggested - a AA case that provides a 5.2v source to the DS so you can charge it with AA batteries.

Do you know if there is a link to the product by chance? I'm interested...

Farseer @ Jun 4th 2007 4:12PM

Farseer @ Jun 4th 2007 4:13PM

sorry for the double post

Rubang B @ Jun 4th 2007 4:32PM

I'm going on an 11 hour flight pretty soon, and I always use the brightest setting, and I can't sleep on planes, so I could see this helping me for that one day, and on the flight back. But no way.

Aex @ Jun 4th 2007 5:04PM

@Crono

Strange, Most reports and self testing has shown me that the DS lite lasts anywhere from 15 hours on the lowest (I've never got that much on the lowest) to 5-7 on the brightest (I can confirm this part). Not to mention the battery gets sucked dry pretty quickly when the DS Lite is in standby mode.

Still tho, I don't see a need for extended battery life on the DS. I've never really played my DS for more than 1-2 hours in a sitting, that includes when I first got Ouendan.

x876543 @ Jun 4th 2007 5:11PM

Puzzle Quest how loathe thee! Countless hours spent figuring out the pieces to swap to set up for the 4-of-a-kind melee! Really good game for $20, highly addictive once you see how deep it can get, but I swear the CPU cheats like a mofo.

On topic, that thing is fugly and big, and as stated before, who the fuck plays for 20 hours straight without an outlet near? Don't they read the warnings when they startup the DS about physical distress of prolonged play?

PS. I love my DS lite :)

Seroth @ Jun 4th 2007 9:49PM

I'm on "vacation" right now in the Philippines, and my DS died a while ago, and I've been near plenty of outlets...it's just they're not the right voltage, so I can't charge my DS 'til I can get to a house with one of them voltage converter things. This forty-hour thing would've been really helpful...and probably even more helpful during my 14-hour flight back to the states. :\