The first step is admit the problem. Now, it's time to solve it. Good games, bring back IP's like F-Zero or Star Fox, use WiiMotion Plus and the Balance Board, different colours...2010 can be another excellent year for the Wii.

Continually release strong software. Man Iwata said exactly whats been on my mind since last years E3. Where are the contuation of the line-up's of the past. The years before we got many big hits each year and on the GameCube Nintendo kept a steady flow of titles going for most of the consoles lifespan. But to be honest the Wii itself lacks the strong software support that Nintendo gave many past consoles. Where's StarFox, Donkey Kong , Kirby, Custom Robo etc...etc....etc.... Hopefully this is Iwata realizing they need to keep the hardcore and established gamers happy!

Nintendo failed to create the next big thing in the software industry this year. Wow Iwata really beats himself up. Not every year is a publisher going to be able to create the next big thing. I mean look at Microsoft for example their last big thing was Halo and that started ages ago. Sure they think Natal will be the next big thing. But that is two years out of two generations. Nintendo can't possibly expect to have the next big thing every year.

In the end I hope this lack of software leads to Nintendo releasing games like Pilot Wings and going back bringing us Donkey Kong Starfox and Kirby!

What good first party games were released on GC that aren't on the wii though?

I don't think Starfox is a good franchise at all. One good game doesn't make the whole franchise good. The wii also isn't dead already, so franchises that haven't been on the wii so far, could still be released in the future.

Hope they'll bring the heat next year, then. This drought of first party games since Mario Kart or so has been hard on me. I need my Nintendo fix, and WSR ain't gonna cut it. NSMBW will help.

Hopefully this means we'll see Zelda next year PLUS SMG2.

Next year= Metroid other M, Super mario galaxy 2 and perhaps zelda wii.

That would already beat this year imo :P

ZELDA!!! :D

Hardware projections were based on Wii continuing to sell to casuals so that are far from being actually the case..........

Releasing more core games will not bring the Wii back to 26 millions/year..

You guys are asking for stuff that you want as a Wii owner, not what a casual that hasn't purchased a Wii yet, would want. Those are entirely different things...

I have to agree with Iwata's rethoric that Wii failed in the sense that they didn't create a market that is eager enough to purchase the number of Wii's predicted in their previous forecasts.

I think the thriving factors between the slowdown of Wii sales in general is due to the fact that there is a massive lack of Software that can push up hardware sales. A lot of people will play WSports Resorts and wiiFit+, but most of the people who buy those games were already convinced to buy a Wii in the first place because of the first itterations of the series. As such, to get different kinds of people to buy the Wii Nintendo has to start pumping out some more AAA-titles (and not only the Mario's and Zelda's) but something new and unexpected for a part of the market not specifically 'old people' and 'non-gamers'...

Another aspect of the slowdown is, I think, the hardware that is insufficient for a lot of 3rd-party devs. Who then choose not to develop for the Wii (not all, but Wii misses out on a lot of titles because of hardware limitations)... 

As such, I think the time is right to have Wii going for another 1-1.5 years with some strong software-releases from Nintendo (e.o) but I think a succesor to the Wii isn't too far around the corner!!

(Damn, first post in a long time, and probably my only because I don't have time nor the will to do this any longer)

In a way, it's actually encouraging to hear Itawa say this. Because it shows for one, that he acknowledges there is a problem with the Wii's software this year, and two, bodes well for the future of Wii, because it shows he is going to try to improve the amount/quality of software being released in the future.

I personally think, for Wii to truely regain its momentum and really take off again, a few things need to happen..

- Nintendo needs to start showing off the vitality sensor next year and what it is capable of, and release a plethora of games that support it (games like survival horror for the hardcore, maybe a brain age equivalent with relaxing mini games and tools dedicated to stress reducing for the older crowd). I really believe that if taken on the right way, a stress reducing software could really take off with the expanded audience and be the type of "next big thing" Itawa is referring to, similar to Wii Fit, Brain Age, Wii Sports, etc. rocketing Wii sales to unprecedented levels.

- They also need to expand the support with the accessories they already have (more in depth racers, shooting games, balance board games, etc.) A new ip action adventure or platformer perhaps with full motion + support would bring back some jaded hardcore gamers on Wii. Sequels like Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit+ are good and of course will sell millions, but aren't exactly system sellers as they are just continuations of the previous iterations, and it's likely most people that want these games already own a Wii. Nintendo needs new franchises that expand on their already existing accessories and technologies, to show their dedication to their hardware and draw in some new consumers.

- They need to show their dedication to their old franchises as well and make worthy new iterations of them,They are current working on this point to some extent at least, with games like NSMB Wii and Excite Bike. But they could do better.. Where is pikmin, star fox, donkey kong, kirby etc?

If Nintendo focuses on these three points, I'm confident the Wii can regain its momentum completely and possibly then some.