Do you all use those stick-on screen protectors? I've only had this DSi 2 weeks and already the screen protector I put on it is really scratchy looking. I'd hate to think what the screen would look like if I not used them, but then again, I wonder if the screen itself doesn't need it? What do you think?

I wouldn't use a DS of any kind without one. I wouldn't want to risk it. I think it would eventually get scratched.

I'm with longtimegamer. The only time I don't bother is when I'm working on a few games that don't use any stylus control at all. The only thing is that I really wish you could buy screen protectors without a 3-pack of styluses (stylii?)...I've got more than I know what to do with since I replace my screen protector every month or two.

I started using screen protectors last year when I got my PSP, actually. It was in mint condition, but a wise friend of mine said "look, it's only going to get worse, it'll never stay like that unless you get a protector." Bless him, he was right. I made a right pig's ear of my PSP protectors, but my DSi ones look immaculate and now I don't need to worry about it, even though I'm generally very careful anyway.

@kknight - where do you get yours from? I've seen them available separately in stores in the UK for three or four pounds.

Well, I'm in the US...it seems that here they only come in a bundled package with 2 screen protectors, 3 styluses, and 2 rubber DS game holders for ~$8. I've searched Wal-Mart, game stores, and online and haven't found any other options. Not a huge deal, but it would be nice to be able to pick up a package of just screen protectors for a few dollars.

Personally, I don't see the need for screen protectors. I had my DS Lite for 2 years, used it heavily and preferred touchscreen games (including Elite Beat with its spinners), and when I finally sold it to pick up a DSi, the few surface scratches were so light that you could not see them at all unless you shut off the system and held it angled under a light bulb. If the system needed a screen protector, it would simply be defective, since using the stylus is the most basic part of its operation. Nintendo clearly gave a lot of thought to the composition of the stylus and the screen, and you don't have to worry about using it.

Even the very faint scratches mine sustained were almost certainly the result of my laziness from time to time -- in a game where you primarily use the buttons, I might use my finger to hit something on screen, and I know that I could feel my nail hitting it a few times and realized my mistake. If you don't use your finger though, you shouldn't sustain any damage at all.

I would also be worried about the potential dulling of the input sensitivity if you use a screen protector, since the system as it is can detect even the lightest touch from the stylus.

there's a game or three (Elite Beat Agents, Ouendan, Rhythm Heaven) that I would absolutely not recommend playing without a screen protector... when I traded in my DS Lite, I cleaned the stuff out of it first with alcohol and a soft cloth, and when i got to the touch-screen I noticed that if I tilted it the right way there was a cloud of tiny scratches in a circular pattern. definitely EBA/Ouendan's fault.

i would strongly recomend one but i have never used them before. i just wonder how they stay on your screen then you can replace them can someone tell me what i would exspect when i buy one i might be getting a dsi starters kit.

Interesting topic. I don't see why Nintendo would sell them if we didn't need them. I'm very careful with my DSi but I still use them just incase. It's really your choice but remember if you don't use them, just be careful! ( In other words' you don't need them but I recommend you keep using them) -Josh

watch out that you don't get a DS Lite set by mistake -- the screens on the DSi are larger, so Lite screen protectors won't be big enough. They stay on your screen with a light adhesive... be careful to clean your screens really good beforehand so that there's no dust/oil from your hands to keep the adhesive from sticking properly, and do your best to find a room in your house that isn't dusty, because airborne dust will get stuck to your protector just as quickly as dust on the glass itself will. You should be able to peel it back off and reposition it a couple times if you accidentally get some air-bubbles or put it on a little askew, but it's not something you're going to want to peel off again after it's all set until you need to replace it for whatever reason.

The protectors I got were like 8 bucks or so, they came with three styluses, a screen cleaning cloth, and a little case that holds four DSi game cards. it's all pretty cheap, though (the game case i especially don't like very much; i'm afraid i'm going to damage one of my games trying to get it out of there one of these days), and i wish they'd just had the protectors available for purchase instead of the entire set, because (in my experience with the DS Lite) none of the rest of it is going to be used. :3

@Victoria Same here! I think the screen protectors are designed to get scratched easily so that a) you think you've saved your screen from damage, and b) to keep you buying new screen protectors. It sounds like a money making scheme to me. As far as I can tell DS and DSi screens don't scratch that easily. That said I did manage to rip a scratch in my old DS Lite playing Pokémon Ranger 2, so I'm not gonna bother with those games any more. I'm using a screen protector on my DSi, but to be honest I don't think I'm gonna bother with it for much longer. But remember kids, if in doubt, use protection!

i might just get a micro fiber cloth then

I'm starting to wonder that now. I spent about half an hour laying paths on Animal Crossing, which involves a lot of dragging across the screen. I have heavy scratch lines from it, and the screen protector now looks a mess. It really sounds like the screen protectors need to come in multi packs if they need changing out every few weeks.

And what a scam selling them with extra stylis! How many of those could you possibly need? Do people break them? It's not like you're going to leave it lying around like a pen that someone could walk off with.

The screen protector is taking the damage your screen would itself. If it's got scratch lines in it, great -- that's what it's there for. Mine was scratched up to all hell when i finally traded in my DS Lite, but the scratches on the protector weren't visible if I was playing a game; they were only visible if I held it up to the light just the right way. No big deal. Also, that screen protector is taking damage that alternative styluses (read: fingernails) might leave behind if you get lazy and don't bother with digging out the stylus just to get past the warning screen and into the game.

also, you do know your DS itself came with an extra stylus, right? Even Nintendo acknowledges that some people are going to be silly and lose their styluses by mistake. It happens, I just wish they wouldn't sell them in a package because I know I won't need them and I'd like to pay less for the protectors overall (a penny saved is a penny spent on another game) and not have as much clutter sitting around.

Well, my brother said is dsi already has scratch on the screen. I'm not sure what its from though. Anyway, If you don't do it now you may reget it later.
By the way, you shouldn't have to constantly replace your screen protectors. One set should last awhile, I would think. A few scratches should not bother your view of the game, because when the ds is on scratches should be less noticable(unless it's REALLY bad).

I put the screen protectors on my new DSi and it looks HORRIBLE after just 2 days of use. Nothing but deep scratches. It looked absolutely pristine after a week of no screen protectors. Maybe I just got a cheap yucky brand or something. I had a protector on my DS Lite for years and it looked okay (a little scratchy, but MUCH better than the DSi screen looks after only 2 days).

It's really hard to find any DSi accessories at all around here, so the ones I got came in a bundle w/ a case, car charger, game cases, headphones, etc. So maybe they cheaped out on the screen protector in order to reel people in with a slick-looking carrying case. I'll definitely be replacing this protector the instant I can find another one! It truly looks like Wolverine has been playing it without a stylus.

Make sure you've removed the thin plastic layer on the top of the screen protector (in addition to the plastic over the adhesive side.) This layer scratches MUCH easier than the protector itself. The first time I used a screen protector, I didn't realize that extra layer was there until I had used it for a while and ended up with a tear in it. It is like the "protective tape" that is always on LCD displays, etc when you buy something new. I hope that makes sense...

I never used a screen protector on my original DS from the time I bought it in early 2005, until now when I replaced it with a DSi. It does have some very light scratches on it, but they're invisible while you're playing, and I couldn't feel them when I used the touch screen.

For those who think that all the scratches on your protector would be the same on the screen had you not used one, that should not be the case. The protectors are thin and less durable than the touch screen, so it would take much longer to scratch the actual screen so long as you are being gentle with it.

@kknight - thank you for the idea, I did take both sides of the screen protector off though. I wish that were the problem! I think I just got a cheap one; I'll go with a nicer one as soon as I can find it.

I was contemplating just taking it of, because the real screen seems fairly durable. However, I just got Rhythm Heaven and Big Bang Mini, and consequently am beating the living crap out of the screen! So it needs protection! Those games are FUN!!! Big Bang is especially hard on the screen; things get hectic and I just forget to be gentle!

Yeah, I've been playing Rhythm Heaven and Elite Beat Agents lately and I wouldn't dare to play either of those without a screen protector.