Tom

I'm confused as to why this is newsworthy.

You can already log into your PlayNC account and download the client, purchase new game codes and other in-game benefits for Guild Wars and City of Heroes on the PlayNC site. All this does is give people a place to do it that Valve controls.

Whooo diddly woo.

Passion - Hikari Utada
(Opening theme to Kingdom Hearts 2)

They aren't just targeting hardcore gamers this time around... with Opera, the Wii will be a substitute for a NetTV without proprietary access restrictions, and the Wii will deliver content like "Cooking Mama" that will actually act as "interactive tv" for those who don't play games at all. In addition, the control structure makes it easy for neophytes of all ages to get into the game, especially those ever present sports simulators. Imagine the market for "Tiger Woods" games alone?

Hardcore gamers will find what they are looking for... Red Steel, Trauma Center, Legend of Zelda... but casual gamers will find their fun as well in Monkey Ball, Warioware, Excite Truck...

Nintendo's new strategy: expand into new markets, while holding what wii already have.

I already scored one yesterday as an upgrade from my silver phat... the Onyx is so very, very pretty that I just want to dress it up in a skimpy french maid outfit and have it parade around in front of me showing how much of a naughty girl it is. ;D

Standard business practice, standard stupid parents, standard media hype.

I only started reading Engadget a couple of weeks ago, but I really liked the writeup you guys did on handheld gaming consoles through the ages a few days ago...

http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/a-brief-history-of-handheld-video-games/

I've been a gamer since the NES days (I'm 25 now...), and enjoyed fondly reminiscing about all my old, plastic and LCD covered friends. :D

-Tom