I think it could be a good idea. There'd have to be an update to change how the UI works, but that shouldn't be too difficult. How many games actually rely on the gamepad? A game like Sonic Lost World is gamepad only, but could be easily patched. A game like ZombiU requires the pad, and couldn't be updated. So there could be a lot of confusion regarding games.

I do agree that the Gamepad is perfectly comfortable.  I played WWHD for hours on end with no problem whatsoever.

They won't.

It's to late to change the design now, and Nintendo wants to release the DS library on the system right?

If Zelda U really don't use it in some meaningful way, then it may be a good idea. I mean, i love the thing, and i really think that people would be losing a lot in comfort by not having it, but it is undeniable hard to sell. I, for one, didn't really liked it until i tried myself.


About a differential, we are not talking about giving up the gamepad. We are just lowering the first blood in the wallet.


My main worry is about selling it separately though. I don't know if i am sure about the threats of this.

It limits creativity for future games and removes the thing that makes the Wii U unique so don't get rid of it...

The Wii U Gamepad needs to go down with the ship. I would rather play my Wii U alone with the pad then not use it at all. I will eventually get it, so yeah.

The 2DS

The Wii U doesn't need to drop the Gamepad, and dropping it won't help because its not addressing the main issues with the console, although a lower price is always a plus to the consumer.

The only issue with the Gamepad is that its basically peripheral status, despite the fact that its the Mascot of the WIi U (which is even worse when you think about it). Wii controlller was the Wii's standard input device while the Gamepad does cannot fill that role monetarily or funtionally. 

The gamepad is a miss, but the answer is for Nintendo to find a way to add value to their console, not strip out what little value the Wii U offers.

Anybody who wants a Wii U without the gamepad should already have a PS3.

The whole idea of the Wii U should've been scrapped. They should've called the system "Wii 2" for the sake of simplicity. They should've replaced the tablet with a wiimote and nun-chuck since launch. They should've had games that were actually made around using the controller and they should've gone all in with software development knowing that third parties were going to ignore the platform wholly. They should've targetted their main audience with the original Wii and not half-ass an approach to appeal to the audience of PlayStation or Xbox -- because that's not what Nintendo's audience is or has been for generations. They should've advertised more than just the controller early on (especially if they had went with motion controls again). And they should've made it cost $250 from the very beginning.

At this point -- it's too late to do anything for the Wii U. The best thing Nintendo can do is lose less money on it as they move on to its successor. They do that by taking out the tablet and cut their losses on it. Nintendo fans don't buy Nintendo consoles for the gimmicky controllers-- they buy it for the games. There's no sense in losing money on each console sold because of a controller that nobody is asking for.

Then they pretend that the Wii U was just a spinoff experiment until they made the true successor to the Wii.

It doesnt have better online. WTF does this perception come from?