The biggest mistake Nintendo made with WiiU is tying it to the the Wii in terms of branding. I've talked to many people who bought the Wii and dont even realize WiiU is a different console. They just think its a tablet addon for their Wii. 

As the motion gaming and "waggle" associated with it became a cliche over the last few years, Nintendo should have realized that they can't milk the blue ocean anymore with the exact same shtick and that the majority of their Wii owners aren't going to run out and upgrade on day 1. Considering that majority of Wiis have been collecting dust for the last 2 years due to lack of quality software, it would have been wise for Nintendo to leave the Wii image and branding in the past and move on.

WiiU should have been a brand new console in terms of design, with a new name, new image, new marketing message... WiiU is actually a decent console with lots of potential but the mass market has moved on from what made the Wii such a success, and they can't differentiate much between the two.

I have to disagree. I think the "Wii" brand is very strong and very much a household name. In some ways it's actually stronger than "Nintendo." Divorcing its new console from the Wii brand would have been a big mistake for Nintendo.

However, Nintendo could have done something more pedestrian with the name, like Wii 2.

well it could be , the majority of people that bought wii are not too knowledgeable about consoles so they didn't know about the wiiu or how is it different from wii a lack of good advertising that explains that is a new console ( like they did goig with jimmy fallon) would work great if that is the real problem you know the confusion of names

they needs a system seller, but you could be right also

But this time price is not very good and big games are not there still to convince them to get one.

I've heard for the 10th+ time today from people that have the Wii (and aren't "gamers" at all) that the WiiU looks cool but they already have a tablet called iPad and Wii so there is no point of them getting WiiU. Its something that stuck with me as a major shortfall for Nintendo... If these "casuals"  people who bought the Wii in masses can't tell that WiiU is a brand new console and offers new experiences, plays new games... and they think that the iPad + Wii do the same, I am not sure having this "Wii" branding was wise to begin with. 

I also think Wii left a very sour taste in the ouths for core gamers who may have bought it as they were starved for quality software... So having "Wii" on the box isn't doing favors with either crowd.

Casuals: WiiU = ipad + Wii

Core gamers: WiiU = lack of software support

Only one of those is true for the WiiU.

Most of the people who bought the Wii are very knowledgeable about their console. They also enjoyed it and bought a lot of games.

Nothing wrong with expanding on the Wii brand. As was said by VO, however, they should have called it Wii 2. People love sequels, and associate higher numbers with something better. This would have been the same idea as Apple's iPhone 1, 2, 3.. and so on. People would love to buy the new, better version of Wii called Wii 2.

Regardless, the biggest problems with Wii U are a lack of must-have software, poor marketing, and strong value in the PS360. A lot of people were still buying PS360 and they still have great games coming out, and are cheaper.

Wii U needs a new marketing campaign that promotes it as a high-tech innovative new product and some great new games. The fall lineup should help, as should the killing off of PS360 with the arrival of the more expensive successors.

Wii 2.

Wii 2.

Would have been so easy...

I doubt that it cannot do better even with a system seller for long time since there are new consoles on the horizon with more games and choices for consumers where Wii U is still the same old forumla of Nintendo First party games other than there is nothing to excited to get one. So, they can sell more with a system seller but it cannot repeat the wii and do better.

You really think that the majoity of Wii purchases were made by knowledgable gamers? I'm not saying that there aren't some, but if Wii didn't appeal to the casuals, party folks and people who saw Wii Sports and Wii Fit as games of choice...I see Wii selling a lot less than PS3 and 360 today. They'd lose half of the Wii sales easily without the blue ocean...