Universal Game Selector
Score: 80% Developer: Memorex Device Type: Memory/Storage Compatible With:
Function: Memorex's Universal Game Selector is an interesting device that allows you to not only carry three DS games with you at all times, but also switch between them on the fly, while you are on the Home Screen, of course. The device slips into the cartridge port and wraps around to cover the bottom of your DS Lite/DSi/DSi XL/3DS where it contains three slots for both DS and 3DS cartridges and a three-position slide switch that designates which of the games is currently being piped into the handheld system. The Universal Game Selector really is a simplistic design and results in good device that does just what is advertised. You do have to treat the device a little differently between the different DS's, but that is primarily because of how the different systems handle the changing of games. The DS Lite didn't allow for the switching in and out of games while the system was on, so the Universal Game Selector isn't quite as impressive on the older handheld since you have to turn the system off before moving the switch, and then turn it back on. For the DSi, DSi XL and the 3DS, the Selector works just fine since the systems allow you to pop the game out and put it back in while on the Home Screen. There are a few other conditions to cover, but we will talk about them later in the review.
Performance: Universal Game Selector doesn't have a very complex job to perform. It sits in your DS's cartridge slot and allows you to switch between the different games without having to dig the cartridge out of another DS case and put the old game back in its box. This is especially handy for someone like me who seems to be in the middle of several DS games at a time, usually one or two for review and one for fun. As for how well it does this, besides a few hiccups that appear later in this review, everything runs smoothly. The switch between the three games feels solid and doesn't feel like it will accidentally switch games on you. Similarly, the games fit in their slots snugly, almost too snugly as I sometimes worried about the amount of force I had to exert in order to remove the game and where I would have to apply pressure. Maybe I've just gotten used to the DS's springy pop in/out slot. That being said, my cartridges were never damaged and my worries were unfounded.
Features: Play Up to 3 Games Without Removing Them From the Storage Compartment Powered By the DS Console, No Batteries Required Design Enables Access To All DS Console Controls and Storage Ports Universally Compatible with the DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL and 3DS Compatible With Both DS and 3DS Game Cartridges
Drawbacks & Problems:: Universal Game Selector has some unexpected, but documented in the manual, behavior when you don't have it loaded up with three games. Basically, if you only have games in the outer slots, then the 3DS gets a little confused when you switch across the empty, middle slot to go to the other, filled one. I'm not sure exactly what the reason is since the 3DS handles hot-swapping of games just as easily as the DSi systems, but when you do pass through a empty slot, the game icon remains blank. Clicking the device out of the slot and back in brings up the new game, but the simpler solution is to either always have something in all three slots, or keep the loaded ones together. As for the the DSi and DSi XL, they can slide across the empty slot without any problems. The only other issue I found while playing with the Universal Game Selector was the rare occasion when the DS I was playing claimed I had pulled the game out of the system while in a game. It was hard to tell if the device simply popped out of the cartridge slot with an odd twist of my hands or if there is an actual issue with the device to cause it to randomly appear to eject the game. Overall, the Memorex device does what it advertises and does it well. If you find yourself in the middle of a few games, then this seems to be the product you are looking for.
-J.R. Nip, GameVortex Communications AKA Chris Meyer
Related Links: Universal Game Selector Official Product Page
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