Info needed on hand-held electronic game system for adults

[joyjoy]

Hi, all..
I post here very little, but I know there is a very large membership here of knowledgeable folks on all things current, so I'm looking for direction.

My mom (70 y.o.) is very healthy, active, fun and loves to learn new things. She recently got a nice notebook computer and is all over it. She loves to play games online (mahjong, etc). She also travels a lot. She asked me about handheld games she could travel with and I've got nothing. She does not want a smartphone. As good as she is on the desktop pc, the woman (God bless her) cannot grasp much more than the basics of a cell phone.

I want to get her a game system for Christmas. I am thinking along the lines of a Nintendo DS. Is that too complicated? Are there games available that would appeal to her? A quick search online steered me to cheapy handheld blackjack games, etc. That's not what I'm looking for. I know she can use her laptop while travelling, but she wants something little. Any direction is most appreciated!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

My grandma (75ish) plays my ds. I got a casino type thing that she loves, that and brain age. Brain age is easy and will help keep her smart.

 

[kimblebee]

My first thought was a DS. They are very easy to use. My only question is how is her dexterity? There is a small stylus to use with the DS and if your mom has issues grasping small objects, it may be a problem for her. You are not supposed to use just your finger because the oils from your skin will eventually interfere with the screen.

If she will be ok to use the stylus, then go for it. They are fun and there are lots of different games for everyone.

 

[Swank]

ipod touch, lots of games. Small screen though.

 

[golfgal]

I think a phone like an Iphone or the Droids are MUCH easier to use then the "dumbphones" personally. They work much like a computer-all touch screen though.

If she wants to play card games, etc. though I would get some of the hand held ones you can get that are just solitare, etc. You can find them in the toy aisle at any store.

 

[Scurvy]

My first thought was an iPod Touch, but after thinking about it more I think a DS would be a better choice. It's easier to hold on to and the games tend to be more self explanatory than many of the iPod games. Plus many DS games don't require use of the touch screen, which makes it much easier for anyone with dexterity issues than the iPod Touch would be. There's also the DS-XL, if the small screen size is a problem. The DS is very easy to use. There's a large selection of games available, many of which you can pick up used at places like Gamestop.

 

[jen0610]

I think a phone like an Iphone or the Droids are MUCH easier to use then the "dumbphones" personally. They work much like a computer-all touch screen though.

If she wants to play card games, etc. though I would get some of the hand held ones you can get that are just solitare, etc. You can find them in the toy aisle at any store.

This is what my mom, in her 60's, has. She has a solitare one, a yahtzee one and a black jack one. She did not want a DS.

 

[FigmentFinder]

My first thought was a DS. They are very easy to use. My only question is how is her dexterity? There is a small stylus to use with the DS and if your mom has issues grasping small objects, it may be a problem for her. You are not supposed to use just your finger because the oils from your skin will eventually interfere with the screen.

If she will be ok to use the stylus, then go for it. They are fun and there are lots of different games for everyone.

You can get a pen stylus. They are somewhere around $10 bucks for two pen styluses. Much nicer than the tiny ones that come with the DS.

The DS is easy to use and there are plenty of games that adults would play on that system. I love Cooking Mama and the Brain Age games.

 

[SleepyMom]

Another vote for the Nintendo DS. My step-dad was given one 2 years ago when he was 84 and loved it! He had the Brain Age and Are you Smarter than A 5th Grader games at first and later added The Price is Right and a few others. He took it with when they traveled, very handy and compact with the case that came with it.

 

[HonnyDipp]

my vote is for the DS brands. But I would advise you to buy the DS-XL. It has a larger screen and a fatter pen. They cost about $180

 

[joyjoy]

I knew I could count on y'all. Thanks so much! I believe we'll go with the DS, or maybe the DS XL. Thanks again!

 

[I Love Pluto]

I'm in "that other age group". My kids got me a DSabout 3 years ago, then a DS XL when it came out.

Trust me - your Mom will LOVE this system. The games are fun, and the larger XL makes it so easy to see everything. I bought a pack of 2 pens to use (as others have pointed out arthritic issues). The stylus pens look just like ball points.

My son introduced me to various detective hidden object games, and I soon found that they're addictive! I also like Cake Mania and Sally Salon. Along with Brain Age, she will love WordJohng.

One more word of advice. Our generation works better with the stlus only games.

So - get that DS. Make Mom happy!!!!!

 

[Agri]

My mom has my old DSi. She is 59, but recovering from brain surgery which left her with a short attention span and difficulty with reading, math, and speaking. Her surgery was in December of last year, and while she is doing a lot better, she is still having trouble with a lot of things.

She uses the DSi with little to no problems. There are tons of puzzle games, basic learning games, and brain age 2 has sudoku. If you are worried about her not being able to handle a stylus, the old gameboy SP would also be a good option. It has all the features of a ds, except it is not a dual-screen and does not use a stylus.

There are definitely more DS games aimed at casual gaming, though.

 

[C.Ann]

You can get a pen stylus. They are somewhere around $10 bucks for two pen styluses. Much nicer than the tiny ones that come with the DS.

The DS is easy to use and there are plenty of games that adults would play on that system. I love Cooking Mama and the Brain Age games.

Another vote for the Nintendo DS. My step-dad was given one 2 years ago when he was 84 and loved it! He had the Brain Age and Are you Smarter than A 5th Grader games at first and later added The Price is Right and a few others. He took it with when they traveled, very handy and compact with the case that came with it.

my vote is for the DS brands. But I would advise you to buy the DS-XL. It has a larger screen and a fatter pen. They cost about $180

Definitely!! Every kind of game and activity you can think of..

 

[kristina87]

like everyone else, DSXL is the way to go! there are also some fun handheld board games like Yahtzee and Scrabble that are only about 5 dollars at Walmart or Target for a fun stocking stuffer. I also love the handheld 20 Questions games!