Damnit man I didn't want to laugh at this but I did.

True words indeed. I think a bit of a mis-step was made with the Wii U, releasing it essentially gameless, but I feel like the same thing happened with the DS and 3DS as well, both of which turned out fantastically (though, of course, those are handhelds and this isn't.)

Nintendo's first party titles are completely secure, and even the supposed "rehashes" are good enough for me to come back and want to play again several times (Hopping on Windwaker HD tomorrow, and looking forward to it!) Plus with Monolithsoft... well, I'd buy a Wii U just to play "X" alone, if it's anything like Xenoblade was. Simply incredible.

I was going to write a full reply to you until I saw this line. Just... wow, man.

Ugh, Nintendo Potatoes are so casual.

It's been so long that I forgot there ever was a Sega Saturn. For me it always sort of jumped from Genesis to Dreamcast.

The N64 had some downright amazing games, and this is the first time I've seen any real hate/badmouthing for it. It's hard to dislike the console that brought us Mario 64, LoZ: Ocarina of Time and Majoras Mask, Banjo Kazooie, Goldeneye 007, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Starfox 64, Mario Kart 64, Perfect Dark, Super Smash Bros, and... well, the list just goes on.

That being said, this is sad, sad news. This is one of the men to whom I owe a large part of my childhood, and can blame part of my adulthood on as well.

You raise a good point, of course- I suppose it depends on how they're obtaining the data and if it's being tracked from within the USA (since I imagine they're (IDEALLY) only tracking transactions between the USA and other nations, rather than (sadly, likely) transactions between completely separate nations with no US party involved.

If I've misunderstood and they're tracking, say, transactions between the UK and Germany, then yes, everything about this is illegal and they should feel bad.

For once I actually sort of agree here. This one's something they SHOULD be monitoring and can legally do so since it's international. If it comes out later that they monitor non-international usage as well... hm. Well, then we've got a problem. For now though this is just business as usual.

Not to say I really like it or approve. I'm still upset about the whole metadata thing to be honest.

You're right regarding backward compatibility- but at least having the OPTION is nice. Sure the 3DS can't play GBA games, but it still does DS games just fine. Likewise did the GBA happily play GB games... the Wii played Gamecube, and the Wii U played Wii. I don't need to be able to plug NES carts into the Wii U, but at least continuing to support the previous gen is nice. One less thing for me to hook into the TV.

As a man with a broken PS2, the main thing holding me back from buying one of the cheap new models of PS3 is that lack of backwards compatibility. It's disappointing, but what can you do.

Nintendo's already sort of bridging the gap- it's a fascinating strategy really. They've got a console that works on a TV, but can also be played using only its own controller with built in screen. In addition to that, they're working on improving integration with their current handheld, the 2/3DS for games such as the upcoming Smash Bros, allowing multiplayer between the handheld and console versions. Personally I'm still torn on whether or not to get both!

It's a bit risky- they're not the most powerful console on its own, and tablets/phones have hurt the traditional handheld gaming market, but the 3DS has been doing very well lately with a lot of really great games (I haven't really put Animal Crossing: New Leaf down since I got it.) It will be very interesting to see where they go from here.

Not entirely true- I was listed as a reference for a friend of the family who was applying for work with the TSA, and they did call us to double check and hear said reference...

After they'd already hired him, mind you, but still.

All depends on how you look at it. Their goal and what we SAY their goal is are two different things.

They want to convert us to Sharia- which has less freedoms, which is basically the summed up version the American people were given, that they want to restrict/remove our freedoms. It's not wrong, it's just not specific enough.

Their stated goal has not been achieved- but our freedoms HAVE been impacted, so while they're not winning, the American people are still losing. Still... thought of them ever achieving their TRUE goal would be terrifying. Thank god it's never gotten that bad.

Now here's a frood who really knows where his towel is...

...I'd still watch it.

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