Wii U's launch was fine. 70-80% of Wii sales is good, and good enough to hit (or come close to) Nintendo's financial targets. They couldn't manufacture much more than that anyway. However, this week we may be seeing sales dip along with other consoles. This is where we see the actual first true red flag. The reason, I think, is the lack of adult-focused software. NSMBU is wonderful and I enjoy it, and it's enjoyed by all ages. NintendoLand is very inovative, however its name sounds funny and stupid. When Wii launched it had Zelda Twilight - the most mature-looking Zelda in the series and a game clearly focused on the teens-and-up demographic, and it had WiiSports - a game very adult in its presentation and focus. Wii Sports, with it's simple polished graphics, sports theme and complete lack of characters was something cool and appealing to adults. These games directly impacted post-Christmas sales. At Christmas, a lot of games are purchased as gifts. In the winter months the main purchasers are adults and those in charge of their own finances. I believe Iwata himself had stated that they had really tapped into the adult deomographic with Wii and that solid interest year round reduced the dependance on Christmas season. If low winter sales continue this clearly indicates a need for Nintendo to supply more adult-themed software.
