I feel like you aren't quite getting what I'm saying.  Nintendo's image helps their consoles sell at least what they do.  Nintendo is more afraid that changing that image to what you think would give them more sales would backfire and not work at all, and instead alienate the regular customers that are there.  Whether that fear is unfounded or not none of us actually know.  I'm just saying that there's real reason for this decision.  

i understood exactly what you are saying. Im saying it is dumb way they are thinking if true. Customers they have? they barely have any, the ones who are buying into Wii U now are faithful and not going anywhere. Adding a feature that is STANDARD isnt going to hurt their image, that is ridiculous, especially if said feature can just be deactivated. There reason is faulty and would explain why they are where they are at.

I disagree.  It's not like anyone knows for sure that if Nintendo did add this feature that it would help more than it would harm.  There are some ridiculous customers out there called parents.  Nintendo relies on them a good bit.  Changing that strategy is a risk that Nintendo is likely not willing to take yet.  

Even though you can deactivate the feature, parents are not the brightest customers.  Even though they love protecting their children from all the language and stuff, they likely wouldn't think of deactivating the feature when the option is there.  

The fact of the matter is that Nintendo is not confident in their ability to compete in the more "mature" gaming market if it means abandoning their "family friendly" base.  It's not a dumb decision, it makes sense that it would be a fear.  I think you're underestimating the risk Nintendo feels they would be undertaking.

edit: I'm not saying that Nintendo cannot succeed in this field or take greater gains in abandoning that image.  I am saying that there's reason for doubt.

edit 2: Not sure if you'll see this before responding, but I do think that Nintendo will need a fair amount of convincing that making this change will actually bring new customers to their system that can offset the parents who are put off by Nintendo no longer being "safe for children."  (That's a whole other can of worms)

there are people in this thread already saying, they are not gonna support it. So at the very least some sales are being lost. The strategy isnt working and you dont think parents arent buying PS4s and ONEs? They have to be with those sales.

@bolded, i agree there. They arent confident, they better get confident because again what they are doing isnt working.

You keep harping on these parents. Lets be real, parents arent buying WIi Us no one really is, sales prove that. THey are buying the kids tables, phones, and maybe PS4s and Xones. Numbers dont lie

People in this thread aren't a very good representation of sales.  They could only represent a few hundred people.  Since games still sell past their release dates, people who think that voice chat is a detriment could outnumber those people.  Not saying this IS the case, but it CAN be.

Of course there are parents buying PS4's and XBO's, but parents will usually already associate those systems as having certain risks of not being very child friendly.  Nintendo is in a different boat here.  We can argue that Nintendo probably shouldn't have ever went for the image they have now (back when they happened to get it in the SNES days), but it's already done.

You're exaggerating on the Wii U not having sales part, since it clearly is being sold.  While not all parents are going to be buying Nintendo systems, there are definitely going to be those who see Nintendo as the "safe" option if they will buy a console.  Nintendo taking that away and putting more resources towards the "mature" audience doesn't guarantee that the number of new users will outweigh the old ones they lost in the process.  There's also the 3DS, by the way.  Nintendo probably don't see the Wii U's failure to sell as a result of their "family friendly" image.

true, but if the game flops i would wonder why that would be the case.

Fair, but wouldnt you argue that parents clearly dont mind the risk if they are buying those systems in droves? again numbers say there are more PS4s and ONES being sold than Wii Us so parents clearly dont care and if they dont care why not have stuff like VC in it. Parents would buy the game but now non parents probably arent.

Its sales are bad, that is my point. IT is being bought but is it by parents? i doubt it, i think its being bought by Ninty faithful. Its on track to do less than 20mil, worst selling Ninty console no way you truly believe that it is being sold to parents. How is voice chat in anyway going to a more mature audience? Damn near any multiplayer game has that feature. Little Big Planet has that feature. Its a standard feature and not having it is going to hurt...unless Ninty really is just trying to sell to kids, then i guess ill just disregard everything i said and wish them good luck, they are going to need it.

I think the simplest way to put it is that Nintendo wants controversy control.  While some games thrive on it, Nintendo probably believes they would be hurt by it.  Voice chat is a way to drive controversy to a Nintendo system.  Other systems, you expect to hear all kinds of things but it wont really harm them.

While I do think a lot of Wii U sales will be those who are older and are "Ninty faithful," I know for sure there are parents buying the Wii U was well.  I was even there at a Wal-Mart when I heard a parent talking about buying one for their child, who is too young to have a job or enough money to buy one themselves.  They definitely exist, and probably in higher numbers than you expect.  I do not think they are the majority, but do make up a noticeable share.

If we want to talk about how I feel as a customer, I would prefer Nintendo go for the "mature" and take a risk, but I also wouldn't want to see them go out of business.

With controversy people will at least be talking about the thing instead of this indifference theyve been getting since pratically the WIi U release from the general public, but thats just me. I could be wrong.

Oh there are parents, but thats my point there really isnt that much parents to really be concerned and worry about pissing off. The system isnt even at 10 mil. so lets say so far 4mil are parents, thats not a lot in the grand scheme of things. It seems they are putting a minority needs before the needs of the majority, but i could be wrong. 

IMHO i dont think adding VC will make them go out of buisness, but you know what will? Refusing to keep up with standards, if it wasnt for 3ds Ninty would be in a lot of trouble.

The controversy will more likely be covered by conservative media outlets or outlets that parents who care about this stuff will likely see, and probably wont really get much coverage in the media as a whole.  That's what I think.

I'm not saying that VC will make them go out of business, I'm talking more about the full-on change and abandonment of that base of parents.  Which probably wont make them go out of business, really, but there's that chance.

The main issue is whether or not there will be a net loss on customers if they go the route of "mature" and abandon the "child safe."  It also will not only affect the Wii U, but Nintendo's future platforms.