With backwards compatibility being phased out, is it a good idea to stock up on a few brand new Wiis and Gamecube controllers so I can use them up until my old age? Or is that not a good idea?

 

Buy a shit load of Wiis and Gamecube controllers and build a fort out of them.

 

That's a good idea. How about a climbing wall made out of Gamecubes?

 

Erm...the wiiU will also be able to play wii disks. Just not gamecube disks.

In any case, I agree with giantpune. In addition, I would like to point out that you seem to assume that there will be no new consoles or games. That's obviously wrong. Most likely, you'll buy it now because you'll feel safer, and then a few years pass and the stuff you bought just collects dust.

So really: it's only worth it if you really, really, REALLY want to be able to play gamecube games in the near future.

 

NES consoles were made up of solid state components. The wii has things like a NAND flash chip and SEEPROM (limited erase cycles), custom DVD ROM (moving parts that wear out), and a real time clock powered by a backup 3V battery. I don't think too many of them will still be in working condition 20 years from now, Nintendo probably didn't think so either given their clock ticks will wrap around and all the wiis will think it's the year 2000.

 

that's the cycle of life

 

If you're really that scared, get 1 or 2 more Wiis.
That or make a castle of Wiis.

 

I second the fort plan.

 

Oh and download speeds will be so good, that you only need to think about the game and you will instantly have the rom.

 

Transferral of data with the speed of light. It's in the near future for everybody.