Our 10 year tried a sneaky way of trying to get one or the other but because I'm a game wiz I know that both of these handheld game is not for his age, my husband don't play games at all and don't know anything about them.......so he waited until he and his dad was alone out of the house and started asking for the game DS same maker of game boy advance...........my husband asked him if it was a learning game he lied and said yes.............just to see if his dad would get it for him........... handheld cost 149.99, you can chat with other game players, play games and much much more not for a age of a 10 year old.......so my husband told him let me ask tamla and see if she knows a little more about the game...........of course I did and explain everything to my husband and my husband told him no it's too advance for you............then he tired for the PSP handheld which is 300.00 saying it only play game.......which I know much better then that it play movies and much more....................my husband did his own research and found out even the seller of the game said no it's not for 10 years more for the age group of 17 year old and that same day my husband saw a teen playing with it and asked him about it.........he told my husband "I'm 18 and I have trouble understanding what everything do on the game and laugh and said your going to buy it for your 10 year old I would say no"

I would suggest the gameboy Advance SP. It's small, and simple to use, and has plenty of great games available for it.

I have a PSP, it's one of my favorite gagets. I got a new memory card for it. I put mp3's, pictures, videos on it. I even surf the web on it now and then. I'm 23. Some younger people get how to use technology more then others. Your 10 year old might be able to figure it out, but I would say it's still a bit too much for him (I would wait till at least 13)

"Our 10 year son wants a PSP and DS "

Tell him to BIH*

* buy it himself

You might be surprised by what the DS has to offer. If you're in control of the games your son plays, then there's a number of fun, educational and intellectually stimulating games(such as Brain Age or My Word Coach). In terms of complexity, it can vary from game to game. Some require only the stylus to use and there are other perennial favorites like Mario, which are simple enough for ten year olds. There are some mature games, but they aren't the overwhelming majority and shouldn't be an issue unless your son is buying games on his own (even then, the staff are usually barred from selling any mature games to minors). The other features like picto chat don't work without another nearby DS, and to interact with the other DS, you would need to be looking for it. The chances of the feature being used with anyone besides a nearby friend are, in my experience, extremely low (unless you happen to be at a gaming convention). As long as you choose the right games, it has the potential to be a source of fun and even education. One might get the impression that it's only for older kids because of all the marketing directed towards them, but it definitely has the capability to cater to a ten year old's entertainment needs.

Yes! I agree with you.
Good luck!

Last Christmas I got a my 2 granddaughters a Nintendo DS, I also bought them Educational games to play on it. So there having fun and learning also.

I have both a DS and a PSP. I think a DS is fine for a 10 year old and there are PLENTY of games for his age. Educational games as well. In fact, I just bought a Spanish Coach game for myself to help me with my Spanish learning. The only way he could connect to other people to chat over any kind of distance (outside his own house) would be if you set it up to do that. Same with PSP as far as I know. You would have to put in all your wireless stuff (password) for it to work etc. so unless he knows that, he would not be able to do that. I do think the PSP is aimed at an older audience, as their games tend to be more adult in theme.

Also, the PSP's in my area are, at the most, $200, and the $200 ones come with a game. Or you can get them without a game for like $169. Of course, you will still need a memory card to save your game on, so that is at least another $20.

I bought my son a Ds for Christmas. He was using my daughter's old gameboy when he went on any long car trip.

My 8 yo grandson has a DS loves it and plays it quite well. They have various games, puzzles, brainage games, search and seek, regular kids games, etc I think there is nothing wrong for a 10 yo to have a DS. Infact I own one myself. If you want tell him to save his money and pay for it himself. My BFF had to refuse her 14 yo dtr. things for years just because she did not have the money. She got caught stealing a coupling of weeks ago so my friend went thru her room and found out she hadbeen stealing for a very long time. If you refuse a child too much they will steal no matter how well you teach them so think about it

There are tons of educational games for the DS - it is very much made for young children. Just make sure you research each game you buy, so that you are buying appropriate games for his age group.