Most of the time it's the "online multiplayer" that doesn't work due to no servers being there, but LAN usually works. Also if there version isn't compatable with the CD version what's to prevent you from installing another copy of their DRM free game locally to play LAN ? There's only a few games I saw there that have a CD key or something that identifies it as an identical copy.

Piracy isn't the issue here, EA is making it this way so when they shut down the servers in 3-ish years you can't play the game and they can move you onto SimCity6. They already killed the "used game market" for PC games and now they are moving to the "software as a service" model so they can remove games you bought to entice you with a new one. I for one won't be renting games from them, I'll go back to playing SimCity 2000 or SimCity 4 instead.

Correct!

Personally I'd take about 8 or so Pentium 4's if they have it and store them in a closet just so I can set up a Gog Lan party whenever I want.

Some of us (Arcade collectors) prefer to keep things as original as possible and still repair / cap CRT's to maintain that. Sure LCD's may be cheaper or more energy efficient, but it's like an old muscle car that gets 6 MPG, you know what you're getting when you buy it and would rather keep it original.

If you really want a CRT you can get them 2nd hand pretty cheap. I was dropping off some clothes at the Salvation Army by me and they had a sign saying "No longer accepting CRT TVs" as they had WAY too many of them. They ranged from $10-$50 for a big one and all were being sold as is.

Remember when people talked a crap ton about Geometry wars ? sure it's a fine game, but the reason it go so hyped up and people were even discussing it is because there was nothing else to play.

360 had 512 megs of unified Ram and the Wii U has 2 GB, so not exactly 360 "launch specs"

The PS3 ship with 2x BD-ROM, it has a throughput of 72Mbps, the 360 ships with a 12x DVD-ROM and has a throughput of 132Mbps ... USB 2.0 specification is 480 Mbps, so even though it's not esata fast it's by no means slow.

For me it isn't about price but the lack of "tent pole games" available. When the Wii launched you had Zelda, Wii Sports, Metroid Prime 3, Wario Ware, Mario Kart ... like every 3 or 4 months there was a major Nintendo release and the Virtual console in the middle to fill the gaps in between. I love Nintendo games and I will eventually get a Wii U once their first party games drop (hopefully a new Metroid and F-Zero in particular), but currently I'm given the choice of "buy a system and wait for the games to play on it" or "Buy a system when the games I want to play on it are available" and I'm going for the latter. Whether that's this year, this Christmas, next year... that's kinda up to Nintendo but I need 3 compelling exclusive (or Best versions) of games on the system for me to buy it and I just don't see that yet.

To be fair I thought the same thing for the first year of the 360 and the first 2 for the PS3... I'll gladly buy a Wii U for what they're asking, but I need the games too.

USB 2.0 and supports sizes up to 2 TB. As for "looks great" well that's why the USB ports are in the back of the machine...

I think that's why they went with the gamepad and the second screen option. Gabe from Penny arcade said he'll buy every game that supports that for Wii U over anything else because he doesn't have to stop playing if the family takes over the main TV... he can stream it to the gamepad and keep going.

If you see a small arcade out there at a movie theater you'll likely find "redemption games", Shooting Games, Racing Games and or DDR. Those are the last hold outs that most people will drop quarters in.

They said Backwords compatibility would be achieved "through the cloud", so expect an OnLive type solution.

My #1 deal breaker for the next X-box is Rock Band; If I can't seamlessly port over everything then it's simply not a consideration. I have far too much wrapped up into it and it's ecosystem and if it doesn't work on the new shiny I'll probably pass.