3D in 3DS is not as dominant as the use of the touchscreen in DS or motion controls in Wii. It can be turned off hence not key. Its use is rather gimmicky, and different people react differently to it. The 3DS and DS are very much alike.

First of all, what were you expecting Nintendo to do for a successor? What tech were you expecting them to use? There isn't an unlimited pool of tech for them to dig in and use.

Second, 3D not being as dominant as the use of touch screen isn't even true. There were lots of devices with touch screens when DS came out, but glassesless 3D is just coming into the mobile market and Nintendo is basically the first to market it. It holds alot of wow factor.

And why do you keep saying the DS and 3DS are very similar? Were you expecting them to overhaul the look of the hardware completely like from GBA to DS? The DS/3DS are very well built for handheld gaming, especially with their dual screens, so why would Nintendo let that go?

The DS and Wii's gimmicks were a change in game controls, but Nintendo can only go so far with that. There isn't any other cheap tech they can use to change how we play games. So they went with 3D, which enhances immersiveness during gameplay. I'm sure they'll find other cool ways to use it.

Just like motion controls and dual touch screens, no everyone is going to like 3D, but that doesn't matter. 3D will server the purpose Nintendo needs, which is to set itself apart and enhance the appeal of its products.

Lets look at how much they would need to grow compared to what it is now.

We need to figuer out how much games they can pump out atm and how much

they would need to pump out to support itself fully.

Right now nintendo can pump out 6 Titles a year Guarenteed withought losing Qualaty. (Not including DS games) 

whats a healty yearly game launch total?  36 Good games? 

Ok I suggest invest to double to 12 title by year  2014.   From that grow to have 3 extra games for the Holiday push.

with 15 Nintendo games a year who needs 3rd party Support?

 What you think ?

I say it'll do what the 3DS did. Increase the graphical fidelity to that of the PS3, or more, increase the online, garner 3rd party support and add an inciting twist to it. 

Then, like the 3DS, they'll win

I need third party support. That way I can get all the games I want on one console instead of having to buy another.

A console with great Nintendo first party plus third party support would be the ultimate console for me. I wouldn't need any other console to satisfy my gaming needs after that.

I'm sure there are alot of other gamers that feel the same way.

If they do that they get the same result they did this gen.  Unless they invest into 1st party, for when PS4 Next-box launch a year or two after. 

Pay4fun: Thats what they need to do. But i dont think its a good fit for Nintendo.  PS3 in my mind will come out the Winner,  If it turns out to be just a PS3. and making it bigger then that will make them go down the line of insain consule price hit on profit's.

I don't see that happening. But if 3rd parties abandon the 3DS, why should Nintendo care?

1080p is fine.  Not everyone has money to unload on upgrading their TVs every 2-5 years.  I finally replaced my old HD CRT just this past holiday.  Sony can try and push whatever tech they want but that doesn't change the fact most people won't upgrade to the latest TV considering they just upgraded to 1080p recently.

Actually to gain 3rd party support nintendo needs to make awful games so that 3rd party games would look better and ppl would buy them :D. (ps their is a kind of twisted truth to that)

A little bit of everything is the only correct answer.  The current Wii did well by a focus on first parties and a unique style to play, but its easy to see that it lost out on third party support because of the HD consoles.  But eventhough graphics seem to be the biggest issue for third parties, Nintendo could cement their hold on the market even more with more first and second party titles.