People seem to have a really hard time grasping that the same games will be on all systems, just upgraded depending on platform. This is not only realistic, it's probable. They also seem to not get that Nintendo could easily develop a PS4One clone with an upgraded graphics card and RAM in under 2 years. Those machines are just weak, streamlined PC's. Nintendo would just have to go to AMD and say "make me an APU that is twice what's in PS4 for under$$" then design a nice box to put it in. The MS and Sony systems are mostly just off-the-shelf products.

Personally, I'd wait till 2016 to release it and make it more powerful still and include a bit more innovation, but that's not the topic here. If Nintendo released the proposed product in 2015 it wouldn't make me mad and it might make me buy it if it had full 3rd party support. I'd have to know soon that it was coming, however. If I buy a PS4 or new PC, I would not be picking up the new Nintendo any time soon.

I'd be very mad, because then Nintendo would take even longer to release the Star Fox, F-Zero and Metroid games that they're obviously holding back on announcing.

That would really suck.

...Sega Saturn. It did exactly that. Destroyed both consumer and developer confidence by releasing early, also outright killed any chance the 32X would sell at all. In fact the release date of the Sega Saturn is one of the major contributing factors for Sega's collapse.

People forget the Saturn launched at $400 in the US, which was insanely expensive for that time. Inflation taken into account that's about $600 today.

The Saturn also launched like 8 months after the 32X.

Not 3-4 years.

The DS launched about 3 1/2 years after the GBA that would be a better comparable.

Also really people are not grasping the concept of Nintendo going towards a ecosystem based future where the hardware is largely just immaterial. 

The games are the main attraction, you'll be able to buy the hardware in whatever "flavor" you like, but the form factor will largely become unimportant. Just like Apple releases iPhone 4/4s/5/5s/5c/iPad 2/3/4/Air/etc. ... you're going to see more Nintendo hardware in the future I think but they will all basically play the same games. 

The Wii U/3DS will be the last Nintendo hardware that operates in the old 1980s-style of the console being "king" and then having the entire ecosystem tied only to it and then the ecosystem dying when the console dies. Those days are coming to an end IMO, Iwata's comments basically confirm it. 

Think of it in the past the console/portable was the "sun" and the games were the planets that orbited around the sun. In the future the games/software eShop will be the sun, the hardware will orbit around them (this is the Apple/Android model that Nintendo will switch to). 

Yeah, I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.  Whether you consider 32X a console or not, either way it proves the exact opposite of what you intend.  If 32X is not a console (as I wouldn't consider it to be), then Saturn launched 6 years after Genesis.  If 32X is a console, then launching a few months after it (or at the same time in Japan) was good for Saturn as it sold 10X as many units.

Sega collapsed for many reasons, none of which were launching systems early.  Early launches were the only way they were competitive at all.

You need to brush up on your console history. Sega Saturn released earlier than originally planned specifically to beat PSOne to release, meaning many of the games 3rd party developers where planning as release titles where now not going to be out until a few months after the Saturn released. This angered many of the developers and confused customers who where expecting an add on for the Mega Drive followed by a successor console the following year. What we got was only 5 months with the 32X as the Saturn was rushed forwards, third parties and even Sega themselves abandoned the 32X, getting only 37 games in it's less than 6 month lifespan before it was discontinued. This pissed off people who bought it especially as the Sega Saturn had nothing to show for it because there where no games out for it yet; so consumers felt uneasy buying another console from Sega so soon after, knowing how happy they are to drop poorly performing hardware. People knew to be uneasy about Sega rushing because they forced the Saturn out so quickly that it released in Japan before the 32X had released in Europe... which is just insane.

The Sega Saturn was a blunder because it was rushed forwards for an early release. It is an example of EXACTLY what was said. "There is no example of an early launch killing consumer confidence" - Yes there is, I just gave you one. Be gracious and admit when you're wrong; being stubborn helps no-one especially when everyone reading here could google it themselves and see that I'm right here.

Im fine with this part, handheld and home console with similar hardware that supports the same software. Great idea, allows Nintendo to have higher output and lower R&D costs.

The thing I disagree with is making a powerful/expensive console thats main purpose it to attract the fanbase that already has a home on consoles reaching there prime, that cost less and have larger libraries/online communities. Being 2-3x as powerful as these consoles isnt going to make 3rd party games all of a sudden sell great on Nintendo. Like my previous post said it similar to Wii U vs PS3/360.

Wii U was more powerful than the competitors and had 4x the RAM, It supposed to get the 3rd party multiplats, at launch it had the annual release plus a few late ports. Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Madden, FIFA, Darksiders, Mass Effect, Ninja Gaiden, Batman all appeared at launch and all sold horrible because these games already had established fanbases on cheaper consoles, with bigger libraries and established online. In the first 9 months of 2013 PS3/360 got 3rd party games like DMC, Dead Space, Saints Row, Splinter Cell, Crysis, Tomb Raider, Lost Planet, Injustice, Dead Island, Grand Theft Auto, Bioshock, Metal Gear Rising and what did Wii U get? Injustice, Splinter Cell and a late port of Need for Speed. The games were too far into development so they either came late, were gimped or skipped it entirely. During the holidays it again got Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed and Batman but they sold even less than the previous years entries. Now developers simply wont support Wii U because 3rd party games dont sell on It.

If Nintendo decides to release a powerful console in fall 2015 it will face the same fate. Ya it might get some of the big annual releases and some late ports at launch but they will sell poorly because those games already have huge fanbases on the competitors consoles. Games like Watch Dogs, Destiny, Call of Duty, Assassin's Creed, Battlefield, Madden, FIFA, NBA, Need for Speed, Far Cry, Fallout, Elder Scrolls, Witcher, Evil Within, Resident Evil, Batman, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts will already be firmly established on PS4/X1 plus each will have a strong selection of exclusives that appeal to the same crowd like Halo, Forza, Titanfall/Uncharted, Infamous, The Order and a bunch more. 2016 will be just like 2013 was for Wii U, getting a fraction of the multiplats because they are too far in development, the ones that do make it will either be gimped or release late. This will once again cause 3rd parties to say there games dont sell on Nintendo platforms and what little support it had will dry up.

This means the console will be sold mostly for Nintendo games but then again u said most 1st party games will be cross-gen with Wii U so are Wii U owners going to spend $350+ to upgrade to a console that has the same games? Will potential buyers choose the $350 Nintendo console over the $199 Wii U in Fall 2015 if both have the same games? So we have an expensive console that has no audience.

What Nintendo needs to do is release affordable hardware sold at a profit with a steady stream of software not found on competitors machines. Go ahead with the unified handheld/console idea. In fall 2016 release the Nintendo Fusion in two version, Fusion Portable & Fusion Home. Both have similar hardware that play the same software.

Nintendo Fusion Portable-$199, moderately more powerful than Vita similar to PSP vs 3DS. Plays games In 720p

Nintendo Fusion Home-$199, slightly more powerful than Wii U similar to Gamecube vs Wii. Plays games in 1080p. Comes with Motion Plus or Pro Controller. Like u have said Iin the past since Nintendo doesnt make photorealistic games there is no need to go much more powerful than Wii U anytime soon.

Nintendo can support a single console very strongly plus the Japanese support from Sega/Atlus/Capcom/Square/Namco/Platinum and select games from Ubisoft/Activision/Warner/maybe EA Is enough to make sure there Is a steady supply of software.

If the home version sells 15-30 million and the portable version 35-70 million were looking at a total of 50-100 million with 100-200 million units of 1st party software. This is the route Nintendo needs to go, affordable hardware sold at a profit that caters to Nintendo fans+families+Japan+secondary console.

They can barely make enough Software for the hardware they already have, I don't think it would be a good idea for them to make another piece of hardware.

Won't work as replacing one console with another undermines consumer's trust.

The problem of the Wii U was/is that it isn't that clear how games are going to be played. With the Gamepad? WiiMote/Nunchuck? Both?

Don't forget that the original Wii Sports was THE system seller. And Nintendo didn't release a follow up until Wii Sports Club. That wasn't that smart. Also shutting down the Wii Channel before having a chance to show Wii users the Wii Sports Club on the channel...

Nintendo needs to release some great software for the Wii U. That will help selling the console.

Don't hate on me for not reading all 12 pages, but to respond to the OP...

I don't think this is a feasible plan. Nintendo is working at capacity, if not slightly beyond, and just finished a new building in an attempt to handle what is obviously a lot of work doing two systems (3DS, Wii U). Sony is sort of an example of how hard it is to maintain two systems: the Vita has gone almost unloved other than being an afterthought accessory to the PS4. Nintendo doesn't want to let the Wii U die, and I know they won't (they keep things close to their chest, but I doubt 2015 is going to be as dry of releases as people believe). At WORST, the Wii U will live the old-school standard life-cycle of 5 years, and a new console will be revealed in 2017, and possibly releasing in 2018, giving the Wii U 6 years of support.