I know that... I talked about games with Pro Controller support that refuse to boot when no GamePad is active.

Indeed. It's just expanding the backwards compatability controller-wise. I expect the next update will have the e-shop navigable with the balance board.

Dont think ive ever came across a game like that. but, they probably are some.

Rolling Rocker II confirmed.

This is 100% isnt going to happen. This will make some games unplayable and will make a lot of games much more.
Examples: Wonderful 101 and Zombie U can be play at all.
Games that will be much worse: Pikmin 3 for sure ! And Rayman Legends.
What about Kirby's new game, Star Fox, Project Guard and Giant robot?

I don't agree with Pikmin. The map in Pikmin 3 being stuck on the gamepad is horrible. It's the only function that I use the pad for. I use the wii remote nunchuck as my controls.

Personally I think this would be their greatest move since MK8. Dropping $170 off the console price would work wonders for Wii U. If the games require gamepad support then you should just be able to buy a Gamepad or a unit that already has a gamepad. They should just phase out the Basic(sure they already did) and replace some of that cost of the gamepad with extra HDD space. My point, the pad should be optional as it just creates confusion with some titles as to why you even need it. Yes off screen gameplay is a heaven-send but does everyone want to spend 170 just for that? Every major Nintendo title that is on Wii U(except the party ones) uses the gamepad as a second thought. Ya know, extra info or maps. It's really a waste that they feel that they need the thing. And with Amiibo they probably won't do a thing about adding a SKU that excludes the gamepad. Nintendo... just think of what you could do with Mario Kart 8+ Wii U=$200! SNES was $200, N64 was $200, Gamecube... $200! Wii wanted more profit so they did a $250 but every one of those consoles has sold better than the Wii U (thus far) and none of the software titles on those consoles listed above needed a fancy controller. I know the Wii U is just getting its groove back but sheesh, is the gamepad worth all that?

I don't think we could draw a comparison with the 3DS/2DS situation because there is full compatibility between them. A gamepadless Wii U would be more like Vita TV since it wouldn't be compatible with all Wii U titles that use the gamepad unless they receive patches (supposing the gamepad isn't essential). Of course, it is different than Vita TV because you could buy a gamepad and it would be just like the normal version, but the cost of doing so kind of defeats the purpose of this addition.

I think too that removing the gamepad and dropping the price may not be the ideal solution since it removes the unique aspect of the console and it will be just a "much weaker PS4". Of course, price is a big issue for casuals, but the original Wii needed the intuitive motion controls to bring them. What will the Wii U use? And we must assume that maybe casuals are lost forever playing on smartphones since it's way cheaper to use a device you already have with thousands of free games instead of buying a console and 60 bucks games. I think that the massive fall of the original Wii sales was caused by smartphones stealing the casual market. Mobile games are total crap, but casuals only want a cheap way to entertain themselves. The more gaming oriented public (that's immense) usually wants a level of quality, so PS360 weren't affected by this takeover.

They're not going to remove the game pad after just announcing 4-5 new games/concepts that use it and the amiibo. The amiibo was their game plan from the start, it's why it's built into the system.

Exactly! It's appalling how blind many users' hatred of the Gamepad keeps them from realizing that, I don't know, Nintendo wants to give more options to accommodate specific players (which I recall such users proclaiming like the self-righteous adolescenct beings they were and most likely still are that they wanted Nintendo to do)? What if Sony decides o make the PS4 support the Dualshock 3 to accommodate those who don't want to drop $60 for another controller for simple multiplayer's sake? Going to think Sony's abandoning the Dualshock 4, too?

NOPE! MORE CONTROLLER OPTIONS = GAMEPAD DITCHING!!!11!1!

Grasping at the straws does not even begin to describe how laughably desperate people in the Nintendo discussion are to tear apart the Gamepad (again) since this update hit. Sorrowfully, the blindness stated earlier will never leave the eyes of many users like OP who proudly attempt to draw such obviously uneven parallels and when shoved with counerarguments would rather ignore them and never have the stones to at least admit that their statement has flaws let alone being purely unable to hold water.

And to OP: Seriously? Comparing 3DS' 3D feature, a visual mechanic, to a controller in terms of worth? Come on, did you make this thread in 5 minutes and never took a minute to think your thoughts through, or how shallow your reasoning were? Actually, don't answer that, I can already see the answer from your first (and only) post.

And if you, your friends, or anyone else tries to refute me by stating "BUT XBONE KINECT GOT CUT OFF NOT TOO LONG AGO," yeah, still grasping at the straws comparing the Xbox One's Kinect, which is the 2.0 to what was already established as an optional add-on, to a controller which is practically the 1/2 of the console, especially with how update by update, minor or major, the Gamepad is being further integrated to Wii U owners (i.e. the NFC credit card compatibility in Japan. Country-specific, sure, but the fact still stands).

Gone for about a month and the consensus of the louder users around here have still remained unaltered. Unsurprising, but I will continue to teach my friends outside of this site how NOT to discuss on sites like this. Truly a learning opportunity.