GTA didn't buy a real gun. GTA didn't give an 8-year-old access to a real gun. GTA didn't buy GTA for a minor. Irresponsible parents did, however; any blame should necessarily and properly fall much closer to them than to their game console.

Headline should read, "EA backpedaling due to massive nerd rage." Capitalism works both ways, which I suppose they're all discovering right about now.

Trading games is better than having to dust them or putting them in a landfill, first off. And I just cannot tolerate being dictated to by Microsoft how and when I can play my games, however I bought them. If I'm just renting a game from Microsoft, $60 is a bit steep for a rental. On the practical side--and I do love my 360--our internet isn't always terrific. Last month, ATT knocked us out for three days while they fixed 911 first due to a software issue. The Xbox One would have locked me out until ATT got its act together, leaving me with a $500 brick. And even my mom doesn't need me to check in every day, so why does Microsoft?

One hopes that the suits in Redmond will pay attention to the world outside their headquarters with the great connectivity and realize that their current vision is impractical and unpalatable for the rest of us. I guess, as Mr. Mattrick suggested to people with independence, I will take a pass and stick with my 360. Or go read a book.

So it can't travel with me anymore. Wait. My laptop can. Thanks, Xbox, it was fun.

Not all of us live in Seattle with widespread and consistent broadband. Our ATT went out for nearly 3 days because they had to get 911 back up first. And what if I travel? Telling me that I am dependent upon an ISP to play a $500 console and a $60 game I bought isn't going to fly. I should be able to play where, when, and how I want have time. If I can't, then why would I bother? If the next Xbox iteration does, in fact, require persistent internet, I will return to PC-only. It will be cheaper, anyway. This news is great for Steam. That's just the practical matters: I can't even start on privacy issues here. Bad idea, MS.

@bmshanks When I travel, even RV parks or hotels with wifi require authentication via browser, which you can't do with Xbox. If I can't play when and where I want or am able, to what is the point of having a $500 paperweight?

Uh, what about Hollywood and all their violent action movies that glorify guns and violence as a solution to disagreements? What about all the television shows with guns and action and shootings? Those get funneled into every home in the country every day. Those bred the "destigmatized" culture that allow similar games to flourish. Start pulling movies from rest stops. Go after action movies with guns and explosions before you go after games. Chicken, egg. Every generation picks on a medium they don't understand. Rock and roll is here to stay, and so are video games. They're at worst a symptom, not the problem. But they're an easy target, so stop going for headlines instead of solutions, politicians. Even if you took video games off the shelves, the real problem would persist.

Dear Senator Yee,

California politicians who target video games rather than the giant film and television industries based in their home state lack credibility. What do you think games were modeled on? How about the types of movies made by your former governor? Do not speak to me of self-interest in billion-dollar industries, sir.

@ pretty much everyone: Their last title was innocuous, so I'm sure this title has a reason for being there, not just to garner attention. It will probably end up being the name of an artifact, a ship, or something else really boring. The game itself sounds highly intriguing.

And here I thought I had overlooked something. Apparently, $100 worth of extra crap outside the games. Thank you, sir. Now let's hope they listen in the future.