So many great games it's too hard to list, good graphics and sound, an epic console war with Sega and it held it's own right up to 32bit era, that's right I'm talking about the Super Nintendo the champion of the 16bit consoles. Check out this weeks Retrospective to find out more.
The DS has to be ranked up there with Nintendo’s greatest creations selling a ridiculous amount of units. Dual screens, enough processing power to get the job done, energy friendly, endless selection of games, massive homebrew scene and a touch screen interface. The later being the issue I’m addressing here today. In order to use the DS’s touch screen efficiently and accurately you need to use the provided stylus but this can become a challenge when you’ve lost the bloody little thing! Wether you have lost it or chewed on it so much it’s just about unusable. I may have a temporary solution that can keep you tapping and scratching away at the DS’s lower screen. Yeah I know that you can simply zip down to the local K-mart and grab some replacements or even bid on a pack of 50 styli for 99c plus $72 postage from a Hong Kong seller on ebay, but where’s the fun it that? The following suggestions for “borrowing” a temporary stylus are basically quick fix solutions and hopefully there’s a scenario that can work for you. Each scenario has been given a rating on both a fun factor and difficulty.
Another Persons Stylus
You’re not the only one that bough a DS. Nintendo have sold a gazillion of these things and they are very popular. So if you want an exact replacement stylus, look no further than another fellow DS owner, siblings, other relatives, mates, you take your pick on which is more suitable for you.
There’s two ways you can go about this and depending if you are doing this out of spite or just to get a replacement stylus, it’s your call.
The Stealth Approach
The “I’m an Ass” Approach
If vengeance, spite or just plain amusement is on your mind then follow the instructions above but this time leave some evidence intentionally. If you have a disgustingly chewed up stylus put that one back into the victim’s DS. If it’s another colour just colour in the tip of the stylus to match the colour of the DS unit. By doing this the victim will actually hold the chewed up stylus thinking it’s their own, which often results in a “EUUUWWW! OMG! YOU’RE SO DEAD” being screamed. Or you can wedge something else in the DS of similar size, like a straw, piece of pasta, fuzzy pipe cleaner, etc etc.
Fun Factor: 
All depends on how you execute this, if done correctly you can get some serious LULZ
Difficulty Factor: It’s all in the timing, get that right and it’s easy as pie
The Work Photo Copier
Here’s a nice and easy one for those in the work place. Most work places have a photo copier that features a touch screen interface, which is mainly used to adjust settings and advanced options. Just grab the stylus the next time you use the photo copier or if no one is watching, it’s that simple. 90 percent of office staff uses a photo copier by mashing the “go” button, followed swearing and punching the machine. So “borrowing” the stylus from the work photo copier will most likely go unnoticed until its next service..
Fun Factor: Not a great deal of challenge in this one or impact caused from its disappearance. If you are lucky there may be that odd pedantic person that has too mess with all the options on the photo copier. If that’s the case then amusement can come from watching that person select options with a Biro.
Difficulty Factor: This couldn’t be easier, a trained monkey could do this. Even if that monkey was trained under a extremely tight budget…ok you get my point, it’s easy.
The PDA Stylus
PDA’s are pretty common these days especially with business men and women that are on the move a lot. Depending on who’s around you in your daily life the scenario may differ a little with some people. It could be your parents, co-workers or even your boss if your game enough. The following scenario is probably one of the more common ones when it comes to PDA users.
The Excessively Chatty Sales Rep
There’s bound to be one at your place of work. A sales rep that loves to talk and talk and talk, they claim to know everything and everyone in every industry. You ask them a simple question which suddenly erupts into 17 side tracked stories deviating so far from the original question it’s not funny. Go after this guys PDA stylus if he’s been babbling to you excessively. Best approach would be to strike up a conversation about how cool it must be to have PDA and that you were thinking about getting one. At some point ask if you can take a look at his one and have a quick play of the features. As he’s going on about how he can get these at cost price from guy that knows a guy that works for the manufacture, you quickly ninja slide the stylus out of the PDA and pocket it. At this point just don’t run off, keep him occupied with other topics until he slips the PDA back into his pocket. If later on in the day he realises he’s lost the stylus from his PDA and comes to you about it, just tell him to use the one that’s on the photo copier.
Fun Factor: This is a tough one to gauge especially if you use the above scenario because you have to sacrifice some time and listen to heaps of babble. The good part is that you get to “1up” the office pest.
Difficulty Factor: A bit of work is involved but as long as you keep the conversation rolling the above scenario can be achieved by all. A four to five star rating is given if you try to “borrow” your bosses PDA stylus.
The Apple Fan Boi
Ok everyone is bound to know a die hard Apple fan, there’s more and more appearing everyday. It’s a known fact that these uber trendy Apple fans love to promote their favourite company and their products to anyone who is interested and even if you are not you’ll still get an ear full. So how is this going to get me a replacement stylus for my DS you ask? Easy! The following information will help you “borrow” a stylus from an Apple fanboi that has recently purchased a brand spanken new iPhone. I think after purchasing an iPhone you have to sign a contract dictating you must tell the world about this new product, so you can use this to your advantage. Believe me when I say that a Apple fan will be more than happy to tell you all about the new iPhone and its marvellous features. I’ve even gone to the trouble of providing a script that you can use to “borrow” a stylus from an iPhone user, feel free to edit it to suit your scenario.
You: WOW! Is that an iPhone I heard they we’re the shiznit.
Apple fan: *gleams with joy* Why yes, yes it is, I’m so glad you noticed
You: I was thinking about getting one but I’m not sure if it’s worth the asking price. (You have basically stabbed this poor person by saying that)
Apple fan: *gasp!* Let me tell you it’s sooo worth it, this iPhone has so many cool apps and features, let me tell you about them.
You: ORLY? Can I have a closer look at it to see if it’s for me.
Apple fan: *cheesy grin* The iPhone is for everyone, here have a play around with it.
You: OMG! Is that Steve Jobs walking past?
Apple fan: *rubber necks*
(Ok now is your chance ninja slide the stylus out of the iPhone)
Apple fan: That’s just mean man.
You: Sorry dude it looked like him. (now start talking about how much Vista annoys you then subtly slide back the iPhone)
Wait! I personally don’t have an iPhone so I better check if they come with a stylus, it should do it has a touch screen.
Real Conversation with Robtot
Guyver:Oi dude does the iPhone have a built in stylus like the DS.
Robtot: What the hell are you on about?
Guyver: You know how the DS has slot in the back of it to hold a stylus, does the iPhone have the same thing.
Robtot: Pfft! The iPhone is too awesome for a stylus, so the answer is no.
Guyver: ****! ….. how the hell do you press letters when typing then?
Robtot: *in a creepy voice* You use your finger, ooh yeah (babbles on about its cleaver touch screen interface) Why are we talking about a stylus anyway?
Guyver: I was writing this blog piece about…..*dummy spit* who cares it’s stuffed now. I hate you.
Robto: HAHA Dumb ass… Hey I was watching season 5 of Star Trek last night and it was so freeken awesome man.
Guyver: *Hangs up*
I can’t give this one any rating because it’s not possible but it would have been hilarious if it was. Maybe if the iPhone owner bought an aftermarket stylus kit for the iPhone then it could be doable but I doubt a true Apple fan would use a unofficial product anyway.
Well some of this is salvageable so feel free to use at your own discretion.
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