Handheld gaming in public

How many of you actually use your DS or PSP in a public place?

My DS is an essential item on long journeys, whether it's the bus, train, or on holiday. I don't always play it, but handhelds are at their finest when they go where other consoles cannot. I am somewhat reluctant to use it on the bus even with the sound turned off, though. Mainly because it might draw unnecessary attention, but that's besides the point. People play games and browse the internet on their phones, why not on the DS? Of course, if it gets stolen there is no way to track and deactivate it, unlike most high-end phones which are more expensive than the NDS. I also get sick by using it in the car =/

edited 27th Jan '11 3:50:45 PM by Shichibukai

I game on my portables in public all the time. Mostly whenever I'm at an airport. I'd like to think society's moved beyond giving people who play games in public questionable looks.

The only time I felt weird about it was when a couple of kids caught me playing Pokemon Platinum and started innocently asking me questions about it. It was a typical conversation you'd expect from kids, but I was more concerned about the awkward looks I could feel I was getting from their parents (well, their mom) and some of the other people around us.

But eh, the kids were sweet though, so in the end I didn't fret over it.

I use my DS in public quite often. I use it while waiting in lines and such. I dislike using it while outside though. The glare that follows makes it hard to see what's happening on the screens.

As for drawing attention...I am not concerned with that.

edited 27th Jan '11 4:06:27 PM by Aondeug

Pretty whenever I can.

The glare sucks during sunny days though.

I WANT to pull out portables on stuff like trains and car rides but I either forget that I have them or just put it off in favor of watching scenery go by. Those places make gaming uncomfortable for me, and not because people are there.

I can't play videogames in cars or else I'll get motion sickness but I'm fine when it comes to using them on buses or trains.

I rarely take advantage of portable games actual portablity.

All the time.

I normally just play at home, but I'll play my PSP on the subway, or while waiting for someone.

Spent many hours whittling time away inbetween college classes with Elite Beat Agents and Ace Attorney.

I really didn't get many looks...until I brought my red, no backlight, brick-sized Game Boy.

All the time.

However, I often get hypnotized watching the scenery pass me by, and stare at that while lost in my own thoughts.

All the time, but it sucks when the game has damn good music and you're in a bus or in a loud as hell indoor area.

I don't use public transportation, so I mostly play at work or at the nearby bookstore if I'm not at home.

I use my DS on public transport and inbetween classes all the time. One time I raced a complete stranger in Mario Kart DS on the train.

I play my DS on the train with earphones. Can't use it too much on a bus, lest I get carsick.

Depends on the seating arrangements. If I'm sitting with someone next to me, probably not, but a not-too-full train carriage is generally fine to play DS games on.

As a side note, I'm jealous that so many of your tropers have public transportation to go to work and such with.

Likewise, being that I live out in the ass end of nowhere >< However, I do make it a point to bring my DS along if I'm going someplace where I'll be sitting in an uncomfortable waiting room chair for an extended period of time (like, say, taking my car or my mom's car to get serviced, or bringing the old lady to the doctor's office), though I'll either turn off the sound or use earbuds (even though I can't stand them)

edited 28th Jan '11 7:13:33 AM by Reflextion

I play whatever handheld I took with me that day on the subway and the bus and the waiting lines provided there's enough space for comfy playing (I hate it when people elbow me in the middle of a max-difficulty session in Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!), though I turn off the sound or use headphones if it's something like a hospital (or on the subway, since I won't hear anything otherwise).

For the purposes of this post, handheld = DS, PSP or iPhone. I'm diversified (^_^)

I've been shy about gaming on the subway, but mostly because I'm paranoid about muggers or something. Most of the time I don't give a darn — I've openly played my DSi XL at the lunch table before, and nobody likes the XL it seems. (Seriously, the only other person I've seen with one was my friend's mother who describes herself as a crotchety old...butch lesbian who's legally blind. She's kind of funny/awesome.)

Bus trip from Holland to Rome.

One DS. Four people. (a little more, but we never had the same guys)

Dokapon Journey.

And the way back too.

It was epic.

I Read That As "Hand holding in public"

I use my DS on the on the bus ride to and from school. After all, two hours to waste on the bus is good enough, right?

Yeah, I do. I don't usually take it to school though, mainly because of the risk of it getting stolen/lost.