I'm serious. The console is all about catching up :

1.  Graphics

2. Online

3. Third party

4. hardcore

5. Apple.

Getting angry and dismissing you would be too easy, I guess, so listen.

Nintendo has been trying desperately to court third parties for the past five years. This is not a new development, and cannot be deemed about "catching up" if it's just a continuation of what they were doing before. Even in changing tack they're holding to the old mode, which is about a self-contained desire to have third party games on the system rather than a reaction to third party games being put on other systems (this in spite of what Fils-Aime might say; he is not the man in charge of the direction of any console or other hardware).

But you know what? I'm not going to make an itemized list breaking down your post. The problem here is that you're equating "progress" with "catching up", which implies that the changes they make are in response to the norms created by the other companies. Nothing in any interview conducted with a Nintendo executive has indicated that. Nintendo continues to more or less ignore Sony and Microsoft's courses of action in favor of trying to continue down the path they feel they were already walkign the first place.

Your argument is too reductivist to be of real merit, and comes across as being more pettily mean than well-reasoned or thoughtful.

I usually listen to what you say because you are fairer than me. But, seriously, they have said it themselves. They even mentioned these things on the conference. Nintendo had to catch up to get a fair chance in the market. They got ignored by the third party developers because their system ( Wii) lacked the power, the online system and hunger that both Sony and MS had. 

The WiiU while having an impressive controller is courting Sony and MS main support. Nintendo wants the support too which is why they are forced to catch up. They have to work on their graphic, they have to work on the online support, they have to work on their relationship with third party. 

And really, It only sounds petty because people like me and others have said Nintendo needed to do this for years and they have listened. Nintendo listen to their critic on this one. 

If this is the case then cite where this was said by an executive - then we can talk.

And again, graphics are not a foot race, and it's not a matter of having to "catch up" over the course of two generations, which is still preposterous.

It's as preposterous as when I was called out by you and many Nintendo fans saying I believed the leaks about this system because that's what Nintendo needed to do. I seriously believe the WiiU is even more powerful than Nintendo has us believe, I believe they wanted to compete with the Ipad, they wanted the hardcore, and keep the casual. They are trying to grab all the market at once while catching up. I don't think Nintendo would ever be as behind as with the Wii ever again. 

Sadly, it's coming out at the wrong time. The sheer hype of the next xbox, PS4 next year will really hurt this system, I sense a more successful dreamcast. 

This is the zelda tech demo used to demonstrate the technology and capabilities of the Nintendo 64:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDuyk_JmUmk

This is the zelda tech demo used to demonstrate the technology and capabilities of the Gamecube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBtAvX4Pkyk&feature=related

This is the zelda tech demo used to demonstrate the technology and capabilities of the Wii-u:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4jKxqRbklA

We all know how those turned out, so don´t worry , we will have powerful hardware running beautiful and impressive games in a few years from now.

Just as a side note ...

Nintendo has been actively trying to "court third parties" since before the Gamecube launched. I suspect that Nintendo has been getting a very different reaction over the past few years then they previously had, and the Wii U hardware is in line with what publishers have said they want.

They don't necessarily want the most powerful hardware in the world, but they want hardware which they can develop cross-platform games with Sony and Microsoft's next generation platforms. They don't necessarily want a generic controller, but they don't want to have to completely redesign a game from the ground up to take advantage of a unique user interface. They don't necessarily want the greatest online system, but they do want some functionality that makes it easier to deliver online games, etc.

Your beliefs don't have any bearing on this conversation except where they are logically fallacious. The Wii being "behind" implies linearity of progress, which the Wii itself handily disproved.

Now, I'm going to assume that you're unable to cite your source for this "they've said it themselves" bit, yeah? In that case there's nothing more to say.

Reality says otherwise. The Wii feels 10 years old at 5 years. 

Gametrailers has  great interviews with Reggie. Go watch  them, I did. 

No, third parties insisted otherwise. On the strength of its non-linear progression the Wii was able to conquer this generation, even if Nintendo has essentially given up on it in favoro f what they hope are greener pastures.

That's not a citation, psrock.