Cold-Flipper on 05 February 2013
I'd say something is next-gen based off of release date and competition honestly.
1) Was it released within the generational pattern? (every 4-7 years, give or take)
2) What is it meant to compete with?
As for Wii U, it was released 6 years after the Wii and is meant to compete with Orbis & Durango. Nintendo chose not to compete power-wise but they are fighting for sales in the same business.
