They can't pander to casuals even if they wanted to anymore. I think they've lost touch with that crowd.
That crowd has gone to Apple, and casuals are fickle, they stay with one trend for a while and then move on.
They're the girl at the nightclub who's hot, but she's only up for a one night stand, then she's tired of you and moves on to the next exciting thing. Plus the guy she really wants isn't you but the big-wig doctor (Apple).
Nintendo is the one who's stuck at the nightclub the following Friday waiting for her to show up, but she's a no show.
So now they have to cater to us, the core players (the girl that'll always be there for them, lol).
Ever since Wii Music, they really have not be able to duplicate the initial success there of Brain Training/Nintendogs/Wii Sports/Wii Fit. They talked about that vitality sensor thing but it went no where.
Wii Fit in 2007/08 is really the last monstrous new casual hit they created, and that's more than 4 years ago now. Maybe it's coincidence but since the summer 2007 iPhone launch they have not created a big new hit casual gamer IP outside of Tomadachi Collection, which is really a Japan-only type thing.
Essay Pro