DS ML Shell

Marc_LFD · May 10, 2024

Does anyone know where they sell these shells?

It makes an OG DS look like a DSL and it hides the GBA cart rather than stick out.

If you search on AliExpress "ds ml" it will ask "Are you over 18?" (as if we're doing something illegal) and then shows the console itself for sale. Okay, but I'd just want the shell.

Very interesting idea they had to use broken DS parts for a new DS shell.

4d1xlaan · May 10, 2024

it sounded like some chinese manufacturer's attempt at a bootleg, I doubt they make cases to sell individually

Hanafuda · May 10, 2024

As for the thing they're selling, i.e. a ready-to-go original console (?skeptical) in an aftermarket shell, ok I guess for $37 there isn't much to complain about. But as for re-shelling a good ol' DSPhat ... why? It really isn't better than the DSPhat in any way. I could see maybe if this was a mod kit that upgraded the screens or something. But an original DSPhat has got to be the most durable folding portable Nintendo ever made. The paint's rubbed off a good bit on my old Mario Kart model, but functionally it's still 100%. The hinge is way tougher than any other Nintendo folder (GBA SP, DSLite, all DSI's, all 3DS's). There's no way I'd swap its guts into something like this. And if there was something broken/damaged about the screens, button action, or mobo components, well a new shell isn't gonna fix that.

Marc_LFD · May 10, 2024

Hanafuda said:
As for the thing they're selling, i.e. a ready-to-go original console (?skeptical) in an aftermarket shell, ok I guess for $37 there isn't much to complain about. But as for re-shelling a good ol' DSPhat ... why? It really isn't better than the DSPhat in any way. I could see maybe if this was a mod kit that upgraded the screens or something. But an original DSPhat has got to be the most durable folding portable Nintendo ever made. The paint's rubbed off a good bit on my old Mario Kart model, but functionally it's still 100%. The hinge is way tougher than any other Nintendo folder (GBA SP, DSLite, all DSI's, all 3DS's). There's no way I'd swap its guts into something like this. And if there was something broken/damaged about the screens, button action, or mobo components, well a new shell isn't gonna fix that.

The hinges of the OG DS are very fragile, a lot being sold online have their hinges broken (even if just slightly).

This shell has one advantage over the DS Lite: Hides the GBA cart rather than leaving it stick out. Otherwise... The DSL is better.

Hanafuda · May 10, 2024

Marc_LFD said:
The hinges of the OG DS are very fragile, a lot being sold online have their hinges broken (even if just slightly).

This shell has one advantage over the DS Lite: Hides the GBA cart rather than leaving it stick out. Otherwise... The DSL is better.

Huh. Well, hasn't been my experience. Like I said, mine's seen so much use it looks battleworn, and it's fine. The DS Lite takes the prize for crappiest crappy hinge IMHO.

IC_ · May 10, 2024

Hanafuda said:
But an original DSPhat has got to be the most durable folding portable Nintendo ever made.

I also heard of and even experienced multiple original DSes that have really brittle plastics (besides the bottom black part) after all the years, but maybe it's not actually that common...

Marc_LFD · May 10, 2024

Hanafuda said:
Huh. Well, hasn't been my experience. Like I said, mine's seen so much use it looks battleworn, and it's fine. The DS Lite takes the prize for crappiest crappy hinge IMHO.

I own a DS Lite (well, 3 = 1x Black VGC, 1x Silver VGC, 1x Silver bitten by a dog which will get a purple clear case), a DSi XL (Red), and an OG 3DS XL so just want an OG DS to experience the very first DS. Already have an eBay listing ready to be sniped (that's how I buy stuff on there).

However, finding OG DSes in very good condition (very few scratches and marks) isn't too common as a lot are scratched (case/screens) and hinges possibly broken.

JaapDaniels · May 10, 2024

Marc_LFD said:
Does anyone know where they sell these shells?

It makes an OG DS look like a DSL and it hides the GBA cart rather than stick out.

If you search on AliExpress "ds ml" it will ask "Are you over 18?" (as if we're doing something illegal) and then shows the console itself for sale. Okay, but I'd just want the shell.

Very interesting idea they had to use broken DS parts for a new DS shell.

https://hackaday.com/2021/04/16/unmasking-the-identity-of-an-unusual-nintendo-ds/

NDSrefresh · May 12, 2024

This is a good way to recycle all those old original DS consoles that are laying around out there with broken hinges or brittle plastic.

Luckily the plastic in the aftermarket housing kits has a good lifespan although for a few years the housing kits got hard to find and were selling for over £20, that may have been one of the reasons for making the DS ML.

Jayro · May 12, 2024

Hanafuda said:
As for the thing they're selling, i.e. a ready-to-go original console (?skeptical) in an aftermarket shell, ok I guess for $37 there isn't much to complain about. But as for re-shelling a good ol' DSPhat ... why? It really isn't better than the DSPhat in any way. I could see maybe if this was a mod kit that upgraded the screens or something. But an original DSPhat has got to be the most durable folding portable Nintendo ever made. The paint's rubbed off a good bit on my old Mario Kart model, but functionally it's still 100%. The hinge is way tougher than any other Nintendo folder (GBA SP, DSLite, all DSI's, all 3DS's). There's no way I'd swap its guts into something like this. And if there was something broken/damaged about the screens, button action, or mobo components, well a new shell isn't gonna fix that.

It gives the Phat the DS Lite formfactor for the most part, which is superior in every way. I don't really care for the Phat's design, besides it's based clicky buttons.

Hanafuda · May 12, 2024

The way you guys are talking, I'm starting to think I should be pretty stoked to have this thing. I thought it was pretty rough ... well, it is. It has "character" I guess. But hinge is fine, screens aren't perfect but they're ok. M3DS Real is even keeping good time still. Hasn't been played on in years, but I charge it every so often.

Marc_LFD · May 12, 2024

Hanafuda said:
The way you guys are talking, I'm starting to think I should be pretty stoked to have this thing. I thought it was pretty rough ... well, it is. It has "character" I guess. But hinge is fine, screens aren't perfect but they're ok. M3DS Real is even keeping good time still. Hasn't been played on in years, but I charge it every so often.

View attachment 436682
View attachment 436684
View attachment 436685

I've been going through eBay listings and whatnot to find an OG DS to buy, and there's always some kind of damage has or scratches/marks.

Oh, and of course, the stylus is missing. What the heck do people do with it.

Yours looks really well take care of and red is a great color, too.

Hanafuda · May 12, 2024

Marc_LFD said:
I've been going through eBay listings and whatnot to find an OG DS to buy, and there's always some kind of damage has or scratches/marks.

Oh, and of course, the stylus is missing. What the heck do people do with it.

Yours looks really well take care of and red is a great color, too.

Thanks. Well, it has wear but its honest wear lol.

I also still have this, the MK wrist strap that came with it, still in its little bag. Unfortunately I did not keep the box.

For $37 bucks or whatever, especially if these are built using NOS OG DS's that were never sold (as suggested in the link posted by @JaapDaniels), this is an amazing bargain. I think i'd just buy the finished product if it were my money, rather than trying to obtain a used DS plus this shell plus doing the work, in which case you still end up with very used (internally) hardware. I recently bought a couple GBA's from "Amazon Renewed" which I also suspected were never sold NOS, so it is a real possibility that's what's going on here.

But, every version of Nintendo portable that came after the OG DS has much better display. You're really not missing anything. I would recommend to anyone who doesn't have a DS just holding onto those dollars and finding a DSi XL. The King. Since you already have a DSi XL, you're probably considering the OG model for the 'completionist' thing of just having one, in which case you should still get a 'real' one. You could try Amazon Renewed like I did -- it's a little more money, but I was VERY pleasantly surprised. They say "Excellent" condition, and they mean it. Here are photos of the GBA's I got: https://gbatemp.net/threads/things-you-recently-bought-or-got.347639/post-10399726

https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-DS-Titanium-Renewed/dp/B07VQWRZPK/
https://www.amazon.com/Nintendo-DS-Graphite-Black-Renewed/dp/B087W8HX2X/

4d1xlaan · May 13, 2024

yeah I'd enjoy the phat more if the viewing angles werent so horrible

some later revs you can flash flashme to it and unlock brightness control though, because those later rev hardware actually support it. I wonder if it would look better then.

NDSrefresh · Wednesday at 8:35 PM

4d1xlaan said:
yeah I'd enjoy the phat more if the viewing angles werent so horrible

some later revs you can flash flashme to it and unlock brightness control though, because those later rev hardware actually support it. I wonder if it would look better then.

Photos are not much to go on but here are two pink ones that I've just re housed today next to each other with the same game in.

The one on the left has updated firmware and is set to its brightest setting.

It may be worth noting that doing the firmware update removes the health & safety screen and the welcome sound, so it just goes straight to the home screen.

4d1xlaan · Wednesday at 11:07 PM

NDSrefresh said:
It may be worth noting that doing the firmware update removes the health & safety screen and the welcome sound, so it just goes straight to the home screen.

not if you use flashme stealth

Marc_LFD · Wednesday at 11:51 PM

NDSrefresh said:
Photos are not much to go on but here are two pink ones that I've just re housed today next to each other with the same game in.

View attachment 437390 View attachment 437389 View attachment 437388

The one on the left has updated firmware and is set to its brightest setting.

It may be worth noting that doing the firmware update removes the health & safety screen and the welcome sound, so it just goes straight to the home screen.

Purple DSes? Where did you buy them?

I've never seen them nor knew it existed. Pretty cool. Congrats.

NDSrefresh · Thursday at 3:36 AM

4d1xlaan said:
not if you use flashme stealth

Thanks for pointing that out, I've just tried it and yep my welcome sound and health screen are back.

Marc_LFD said:
Purple DSes? Where did you buy them?

I've never seen them nor knew it existed. Pretty cool. Congrats.

I got the shells from AliExpress, I think they're supposed to be the candy pink colour which was for the Japanese market but have come out slightly darker,

The site below has a list of the various different colour variations, pictures and their originating countries which is pretty interesting
https://altarofgaming.com/nintendo-ds-models-color-variations-limited-editions/

4d1xlaan · Thursday at 10:53 PM

I hope one day they make aluminium shells for the ds like the boxypixel sp ones, or ds unhinged would be cool too

always feels like mine is about to break when I open it for the first time in a while. my sp aftermarket shell did that.

Tarmfot · Saturday at 2:07 AM

Hanafuda said:
As for the thing they're selling, i.e. a ready-to-go original console (?skeptical) in an aftermarket shell, ok I guess for $37 there isn't much to complain about. But as for re-shelling a good ol' DSPhat ... why? It really isn't better than the DSPhat in any way. I could see maybe if this was a mod kit that upgraded the screens or something. But an original DSPhat has got to be the most durable folding portable Nintendo ever made. The paint's rubbed off a good bit on my old Mario Kart model, but functionally it's still 100%. The hinge is way tougher than any other Nintendo folder (GBA SP, DSLite, all DSI's, all 3DS's). There's no way I'd swap its guts into something like this. And if there was something broken/damaged about the screens, button action, or mobo components, well a new shell isn't gonna fix that.

I wonder if these old ds screens are watchable in direct sunlight.
Are they transflective like Tapwave Zodiac' screens?

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