Americans - some gaming travel questions!

[Greywing]

I'm travelling to the US next week and have a couple of questions for either those of you already resident there or who have taken gaming equipment overseas before. I'll break 'em down by console:

DS:

If I take my UK-bought DS with me, would I be better off to pick up a mains adapter there or can I take my current plug with a voltage converter?

Would using an American charger affect my DS in any way?

PS2:

I'm looking to buy a PS2 while I'm out there, rather than modding/Swap Magic'ing my UK PS2 for imports. It currently retails at around $130, correct?

Which B+M stores would you recommend I try for best prices on games or game/console bundles?

PSP:

I'm also considering getting a PSP Slim & Lite from the US. In the reverse of my DS question, would buying a UK mains adaptor when I get home allow me to charge the battery, or would I always need to use a power converter?

Also, would I be able to use the TV-Out functions for digital video files on a UK TV? This is the one I'm most concerned about, as the TV-Out capabilities of the PSP greatly appeal to me.

I'm not interested in buying UMD movies as I know they're region locked but PSP games are region free, correct?

Thanks in advance, everyone! :catgirl:

[Johnny]

You should be ok with your EU DS as long as you have a converter.

PSP games are region free and as far as I know, PSP power supplies are universal (I have a US and a Japanese PSP and just use the plugs provided to charge here in the UK.

Hope that helps.

[jecca-neko]

Which B+M stores would you recommend I try for best prices on games or game/console bundles?

Where are you going to be? That partly determines the recommendations.

I don't buy video games from B&M so much anymore, just because I can get better deals online. When I do buy them, I tend to buy them from Best Buy, Toys R Us, and Circuit City (sales only). Gamestop and EB Games are the big chain video game stores. You're not going to find good deals there. They charge SRP on new games and the used games tend to only be a few dollars cheaper than the new games.

[Greywing]

Which B+M stores would you recommend I try for best prices on games or game/console bundles?

Where are you going to be? That partly determines the recommendations.

I don't buy video games from B&M so much anymore, just because I can get better deals online. When I do buy them, I tend to buy them from Best Buy, Toys R Us, and Circuit City (sales only). Gamestop and EB Games are the big chain video game stores. You're not going to find good deals there. They charge SRP on new games and the used games tend to only be a few dollars cheaper than the new games.

I'll be in New York City, staying near Times Square. I know there's a huge-ass Toys R Us there but otherwise, no idea. From the sound of it, Gamestop & EB are no better than their UK counterparts who always charge too much, so I was hoping to avoid them anyway.

[Rolancehack]

You could always look for a wal-mart, stuff runs really cheap there, just not sure how cheap in NY.

[beatmania]

You could always look for a wal-mart, stuff runs really cheap there, just not sure how cheap in NY.

You can get the PS2 for 129 at Walmart. That's a whole 99 cents off MSRP!

[Danj]

If I take my UK-bought DS with me, would I be better off to pick up a mains adapter there or can I take my current plug with a voltage converter?

Unlike most portable products, the DS's power adapter is NOT multivoltage. So you WILL need to pick up a third party charger in the US.

Would using an American charger affect my DS in any way?

No. Although the input voltage is different, the output voltage is the same.

PS2:

I'm looking to buy a PS2 while I'm out there, rather than modding/Swap Magic'ing my UK PS2 for imports. It currently retails at around $130, correct?

Which B+M stores would you recommend I try for best prices on games or game/console bundles?

I notice you do not mention power or TV issues with this. Provided you get a PStwo (i.e. the slim version) it has an external power brick which can be replaced with a UK compatible one (it might even be multivoltage, but I'm not sure). However, the device will output NTSC signals so you must make sure your TV can accept those. If you have an "HD Ready" TV you will be able to use its component inputs with the US PS2.

PSP:

I'm also considering getting a PSP Slim & Lite from the US. In the reverse of my DS question, would buying a UK mains adaptor when I get home allow me to charge the battery, or would I always need to use a power converter?

Unlike the DS, the PSP's power adapters ARE multivoltage, so all you would need to do is buy a UK figure-of-8 plug cable.

Also, would I be able to use the TV-Out functions for digital video files on a UK TV? This is the one I'm most concerned about, as the TV-Out capabilities of the PSP greatly appeal to me.

To do this you will need a TV that is capable of both progressive scan and accepting NTSC TV signals via component. An "HD Ready" TV will be suitable, but anything else may not be.

I'm not interested in buying UMD movies as I know they're region locked but PSP games are region free, correct?

Yes. Although, custom firmware will allow you to change the region of your PSP for movie purposes anyway. Not much point though as it's cheaper to just rip your own DVDs to memory stick.

[Rolancehack]

You could always look for a wal-mart, stuff runs really cheap there, just not sure how cheap in NY.

You can get the PS2 for 129 at Walmart. That's a whole 99 cents off MSRP!

Man, I could have sworn PS2s are cheaper then that... the system is so old it should be much cheaper (though the game cube is only $100, so maybe I'm mistaken)

[NickFalzarano]

I'll be in New York City, staying near Times Square. I know there's a huge-ass Toys R Us there but otherwise, no idea. From the sound of it, Gamestop & EB are no better than their UK counterparts who always charge too much, so I was hoping to avoid them anyway.


The Nintendo World Store is around Times Square. Not much use as far as getting discounts on prices for Nintendo-system games, but they do have some cool T-shirts and other Nintendo-themed merchandise.

[Greywing]

Thanks for the advice everyone. :catgirl:

[Greywing]

PS2:

I'm looking to buy a PS2 while I'm out there, rather than modding/Swap Magic'ing my UK PS2 for imports. It currently retails at around $130, correct?

Which B+M stores would you recommend I try for best prices on games or game/console bundles?

I notice you do not mention power or TV issues with this. Provided you get a PStwo (i.e. the slim version) it has an external power brick which can be replaced with a UK compatible one (it might even be multivoltage, but I'm not sure). However, the device will output NTSC signals so you must make sure your TV can accept those. If you have an "HD Ready" TV you will be able to use its component inputs with the US PS2.

I've finally gotten around to setting up the US slimline PS2 I bought in the US and the power is separate from the plug. I'm terrible at electronics, so excuse my ignorance here... On the power adapter, it says

Sony AC adapter
8.5V
Input: 100-240V~1.2A 50/60Hz
Output: 8.5V = 4.5A

Does that mean I can just stick a UK figure-8 plug into the adapter and it'll work fine, or do I need to still get a power converter?

Thanks!

[Nork22]

Sony AC adapter
8.5V
Input: 100-240V~1.2A 50/60Hz
Output: 8.5V = 4.5A

Does that mean I can just stick a UK figure-8 plug into the adapter and it'll work fine, or do I need to still get a power converter?

Thanks!
Yup, you just need the plug.

[Greywing]

Sony AC adapter
8.5V
Input: 100-240V~1.2A 50/60Hz
Output: 8.5V = 4.5A

Does that mean I can just stick a UK figure-8 plug into the adapter and it'll work fine, or do I need to still get a power converter?

Thanks!
Yup, you just need the plug.

Cool, thanks!