It's probably been mentioned that going third party would be a terrible idea. They would essentially become a company that releases only mario kart, smash, zelda and pokemon as those are the only titles garunteed to make them money.
Take away the need to sell a console then all those others IPs that make smaller ammounts of money become terrible ideas and wastes of time. No more xenoblade, splatoon, bayonetta, devils third, project zero, pikmin, wonderful 101, yoshi ect

Frankly, I think Nintendo should "Go mobile." Not by releasing their games for Android and iOS, but by releasing their own iOS or Android. They're one of the few companies I can think of that could pull this off, and create a more reliable mobile store for selling paid videogames for more than $5. Who wouldn't buy a 5-10 inch tablet that plays all your favorite Nintendo games and has a tightly controlled, but high quality open marketplace? Presuming that they could get all the basic necessary apps(Email, internet browser, decent music/video player, etc.) I'd make the switch in a heartbeat.

They could even create a "Nintendo TV" to replace their (by then) dead console business.

Ur right and I agree with u that Sony/MS isn't the real battle for Nintendo, it's iOS/Android, but u have to think also that those platforms have been around since before 3DS/Wii U launched and they have still been able to sell over 50 million units of hardware and over 100 million units of Nintendo published software this generation so far. When all is said and done, 3DS+Wii U will be more like 75+ million for hardware and 150+ million for Nintendo published software.

Even if iOS/Android continue to cut into Nintendo's market, the Nintendo Fusion platforms will still likely pass 50 million lifetime and like I said in my last post, with that size install base many of Nintendo's ip are capable of selling over 10 million, with several others over 5 million and several more over 1 million.

Obviously I think there are other things Nintendo needs to do other than simply unify their platforms and expect everything to be peachy. Continue to build and support the Amiibo brand, try to leverage the eShop into a competitor to the App Store & Google Play, start supporting the Virtual Console better and release an optional subscription service for it, perhaps something like $50/year gets u unlimited access to the VC. That's a great deal for consumers to be able to play 100's of games for a low yearly fee and the average 3DS/Wii U owner likely doesn't spend $50/year on VC games so Nintendo would be making for revenue from it.

I also think it would be a good idea to release a $99 children's tablet with educational software based on Nintendo ip targeted at the 3-7 year old demographic to compete with devices like the Leapfrog Leap Pad or Vtech InnoTab. This could potentially get young kids familiar with Nintendo characters and lead them to wanting one of the Nintendo Fusion platforms later on. This would also be a good device to add Amiibo support to.

Another idea I have for QoL is to try bringing back the Wii Fit crowd. You would probably say things like Wii Fit are dead and by looking at the Wii U versions sales most would agree, but I think there is still a market for it, just not when a $299 gaming console is required to play it. Nintendo should release a rebranded, more advanced version of Wii Fit but make it a standalone device for $99.

Also next-gen Nintendo should completely be done with $50-60 software, since the Nintendo Fusion will essentially be Nintendo's next handheld+a home version they should simply keep handheld prices for all games, $29.99-$39.99, also it would be nice to offer a line of budget $19.99 software.

Another big thing is Nintendo can't allow so much consumer confusion as they did at the beginning of this gen with people thinking 3DS was simply a DS with 3D or Wii U was an add-on for Wii. If Nintendo can do all or most of these things than I strongly believe they will have a successful generation and post strong profits.

Of course, why else would they want them to go 3rd party?

Having a console to only play Nintendo games and nothing else makes little financial sense to me. Better off not having to buy $250-$300 hardware only to access Nintendo titles when I could buy a $350-$400 hardware that could have those Nintendo games, Sony and/or MS titles AND all the big time 3rd party titles.

So yeah, I wouldn't mind 3rd party Nintendo rather than needing to pay a big time premium to gain access to just Nintendo titles and not get any of the big 3rd party titles along with it.

What about the gamepad makes WiiU games special to the point where they couldn't be done on a PS4/XBone? In game map on a controller rather than pressing the start button? Anything special about it for MK8, Smash Bros, DK Tropical Freeze and SM3D World? The fact that what might possibly be their biggest title this year, Smash Bros. promotes the use of the pro controller and not the Gamepad completely contradicts that entire bolded statement. 

From what I see it doesn't really bring anything worthwhile to the table to justify the quote you bolded, unless off-TV play is what everyone is excited about, but I do that with my Vita and it was cool for a day or so.

I think you overestimate the amount of people who would buy their child a Nintendo tablet over an iPad.

Their marketplace would just never be able to compete, especially if they continue the same issues where 3rd parties don't even give them the time of day. They would be better off just making their games iOS exclusive since the device is already built for games and the hardware is custom tailored to work perfectly with their fine tuned software, just like how Nintendo fans like to say Nintendo does.

I firmly believe that if Nintendo tries to enter the tablet market they would flop big time.

good luck waiting... even if nintendo go third party... i don't think they will stop making console and keeping their premium games on it.

it makes financial sense to me to keep their game exclusives to their system in a business stand point.

Makes financial sense to buy a PS4/XBone and then spending $300 to only get Nintendo games and little to nothing else rather than just the one time $400 investment in a PS4/XBone and get it all? If you say so.

If Nintendo will continue to make hardware then they need to serious change their other business practices so that 3rd party devs want to work with them. 

business sense for nintendo.......

Only if they change their business practices and actually get 3rd parties to want to work with them. They won't survive on their own, regardless of what people think. Other consoles and expecially smart devices are eating into their marketshare. They need more dev support all around.