Well they certainly didn't get off to the kind of start that most Nintendo fans were expecting, with their mid-Wii generation predictions of Nintendomination for multiple generations to come. Which was always wishful thinking given the demographics of the Wii owners.
Remains to be seen whether Wii U can pull a PS3 and take a lackluster start and turn it into a success. Or if it will be a repeat of the N64: solid but not great. Or a Gamecube: dismal failure. All 3 are possibilities. I'm not sure whether they are equal possibilities or of one is more likely than the others. I'm leaning towards N64-like sales myself.
I wouldn't be surprised, given Wii U is 1/2 a generation behind PS4, and probably Nextbox, if this is a short generation for Wii U and a Wii U 2 comes out after 4 years (i.e. in 3 1/2 years time), which is a half gen step ahead of PS4/Nextbox.
“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."
Jimi Hendrix
