I'm considering getting either a DS or 3DS but I have some questions and I was hoping you could help me out.

Are both systems still being made and fully supported? I want to buy a new handheld only.

Is there any reason to avoid the 3DS? I really liked it when I saw it at Best Buy but I never really played it for any length of time.

How much does the size matter for either one? Which size is better?

Can you play games for one system on the other?

As for my personal preferences I am looking for a handheld that is good for RPGS or adventure games and maybe the occasional action/platformer. I have no interest in connecting the system to other DSs or online or the Wii or anything like that. Just a decent portable system that has decent games for an adult gamer.

Thanks a lot for your input.

The 3DS is definitely the way to go. It can play pretty much all DS games. The 3DS XL has been great for me, size and all.

The 3DS XL's screen is comparable to the biggest smart phones.

I'd like to know when "handheld" was redefined to mean "portable, but only if you have a bag or extremely big pockets".

Somewhere along the line things grew bigger than our hands, but kept getting flatter.

Master purse tier. Pockets? Pleebs.

Nah, but seriously. I do think the regular 3DS is fine for a pocket. I get that the 3DS XL is not, but alas- I have a purse with a good 3DS case and monster hands.

Anyways. I feel the 3DS XL is the best value. It's not just a screen size upgrade. It's a battery life and screen quality upgrade in my opinion. And if you have large hands, this is a must over the regular 3DS.

I don't really know. For a gaming device like a 3DS, being able to carry it around in your pocket is a little more negligible. It's always been a task to shove a gameboy, PSP, or DS in your pocket (and be comfortable if it does fit). Mobile phones, though, have made little sense. It started with everyone wanting a smaller one, but now having the biggest phone makes you hxc. The Samsung phones make me roll my eyes. A 5" screen and soon to be 6" on the Note 3. My iPhone may be smaller in size, but does it need to be bigger than 4"? Should it be bigger than it's original 3.5"? All I can say is... Asians.

I like the Android RAZR Max or whatever size. Seems comparable to an iPhone. I don't think phones need to get any bigger than that. Plus, phones are kinda taking the place of handhelds. Though I do shove my 3DS XL in my purse anyways and do play it a decent amount.

Mobile games on phones are for babies!!!!

I'd say there's no universal "perfect size" for a phone, but a smartphone with a screen that you can reach the entirety of with the thumb of the hand you're holding it with is, in my opinion, perfect. For me, that's the iphone 4s. No excess bulge in my pocket, full convenience of a smartphone, and I can reach every bit of the glass screen with just my thumb and no stretching of the hand. For someone with bigger hands, though, perhaps the iphone 5 is more suitable. Someone who can do that with the bigger versions of the Galaxy S, though... are excessively rare. Too big for a pocket, can't get full range of motion without two hand holding.. just excessive. BUT ITS FLATTER THAN IPHONES OHHHHH YEAH.

-insert coolaid man-

Like I said in another thread, it would be nice if all these companies (gaming, telecommunications, computing etc) would all put their heads together and agree on one device to handle everything, and stop compartmentalizing the market. I don't think anyone would disagree that having everything all in one piece of technology would be the greatest invention in recent mass-market technological history.

It's the likely future for technology, anyway.

*rattle shaking intensifies*

Nah, but seriously. You can get just about any emulator on those things, and some of the mobile games are not bad at all.

But back on topic- yeah, 3DS. All the Mag pretty much has them anyways.

I can agree with the one-hand deal. I have an iPhone 5 and it's perfect for my hand size. It's important for bathroom use, too!

And I think with the popularity of tablets and phones heading to tablet sizes, it's not unthinkable that's universal thing will happen.

Huh, for some reason, I thought 3DS couldn't play DS games. So I wasn't sure if I'd get either one. Now I feel inclined to get the 3DS too.

Nintendo's handhelds have all been backwards compatible to at least the previous generation.

I know. I mean, I knew that and I thought it was ridiculous that (according to me) 3DS was the exception. It didn't make sense to me. :S

When the new Mario and Luigi game comes out, I'll likely start playing again.

Man, Nintendo sure is really backwards. That Don Mattrick guy sure is smart.

Fo sho. They need to just get with the times and make everything non-backwards compatible. Nintendo is crap!!!! ARRRRRGH

Nah, but seriously. The DS library alone is huge. 3DS is catching up with it as time goes on already.

Project X Zone! Ahhhhh!

Thanks for all your input. If I get one it will definitely be a 3DS. I lean toward the larger size but I haven't decided for sure on that.