I get killed in the original Legend of Zelda almost right off the bat every damn time. I don't know where anything is and also have a hard time controlling it. Granted, when I've played it, I've played with a keyboard.
I found my current laptop on NewEgg on sale in 2012 and I imagine it'd be cheaper now. It's an ASUS K55N-DB81. No idea what it currently retails for or if it's what you're looking for though. I may have to get a Wii U so I don't miss out on some of those Nintendo games like the new Zelda.
I rented Animal Crossing when it first came out on Gamecube, but didn't have the memory to do much with it and didn't like the squeaky voices. They look like so much fun now though.
I didn't know they had a recent event at Best Buys. That's really cool you got to meet Howard Philips and possibly Sakurai. The biggest gaming-related convention thing I've ever been to is Screwattack Games Convention in Dallas. They still have Nintendo gummies, but the ones I bought from the Dollar General near my apartment a few months back weren't great ...
My favorite Christmas memory is that new N64 smell.
I remember the Limp Bizkit cover of Behind Blue Eyes.
So are strategic battles kind of like RTS gameplay?
I need to get out of slack mode, myself.
I heard that Spelling Bee kid asked to spell Neygus on the Russ Martin show the other day when they made him repeat the word. Poor kid.