Handheld Console Cases - Are They Really Worth It?

Everytime i have had a portable console, such as PSP, DS, GBA or even a Gameboy - i have always gone out and bought a case for it - however whenever i get a mobile phone i never get a case for it - so are handheld console cases really needed? - or is it just another gimmick to get you to fork out more money?

Well cases are a good thing, they protect your console from damage, for example knocking it off a table or leaving it in a draw full of wires (USB Metal Edges sometimes can cratch the screen of a PSP or GBA). They are also (sometimes) handy for being able to carry a game or two inside a pouch (either on the back or front of the case) - as the last thing you need is to only play one game throughout your journey.

However when you come to use your console you usually have to take it out of the case and leave the case somewhere or if your console fits into the case you have a tough time playing as when your trying to play the console you are unable to reach all the buttons. For example my PSP Case is a case only, you put the console in and take it out when you need it, but my DS Case has been desigened for the console to remain inside the case - you can reach most of the buttons, however the plastic cover gets in the way and holding the console feels abit odd - so i have to take it out when i want to use it.

The DS Case i previously owned and use was good, it looked cool, it protected the console, it clipped to your belt / bag and had a touch to fit 3 DS Games inside, but it was just the annoyance of it inside - so when i got my DSi i finally decided to look for a different kind of Case and this is when i found Bigben Interactives "Flip-Case".

BigBen Interactive are a fairly new game accessory making company, which for the minute, are mainly making DS and Wii accessory packs (the first one i tried was their House Of The Dead Overkill Wii-mote Holder Gun - which was perfect! (check out the blog post i made about it here.) - but there new DS and DSi Flip-cases are just as good. They are great to look at, feel strong and are easy to use.

The DS Flip-cases are similar to womens purses as it just as one metalic button on top to keep the whole thing sealed, pop it open and you instantly have access to your DS. Whats best is that you can easily take the console out of the case or you can leave the console inside the case and still play as you would normally - its very simple and effective, let alone protect your console from any bumps or falls. But wait there is more, there is nothing stopping you from getting to the SD Card slot, headphone socket, your DS Stylus or the volume controls - even ejecting a game is simple enough (just pull the top part of the case backwards).

So to put it blunt BigBen Interactive have done it again with a nice range (in a variety of different colours) of DS and DSi Flip-cases. The DS Flip-cases cost between 8 GBP to 15 GBP and are available in around 5 different colours, the DSi Flip-cases cost 15 GBP and are only available in black or white. Each case comes with a extra stylus aswell - which fits inside the case so your always carring two DS Stylus's with you at any one time. If you own a DS or a DSi id recomend you to check these cases out as they are rather good.

So are console cases worth it? - most of the time not really, not unless you get one similar to a flip case where you can easily play the game. But console cases do come in handy to store a console in a draw without getting it damaged.