It is a next generation console... Nintendo just half assed it.
If they would have built the Wii U to support two tablets locally at the same time along with on screen multiplayer, I think they would have had a better selling point. Imagine how much more fun NSMB U would be if two players with tablets could create platforms that are able to help or sabotage one another. Or a six player match of Call of Duty. Or a strategy game where the TV display is a neutral wide sweeping view of the action while the two players are able to have their own separate screens.
The N64 sold as much as it did in good part due the North America thanks to its multiplayer titles Star Fox, Smash Bros, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, various wrestling game, etc. The Wii was the same way, Wii Sports, NSMB Wii, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Just Dance, Mario Kart Wii, Smash Bros. Brawl, etc. With the Wii U, Nintendo introduced a new controller, then said it is only playable for one person in multiplayer with the rest stuck on the previous generation of controllers or the Pro Controller?
Even when it was first introduced, people asked about using multiple controllers and the company answer was "maybe later". That means one of two possible worst outcomes is true, they actually failed to consider people would want to play with more then one Gamepad or they didn't want to invest in making the system strong enough to do so regularly either to limit the production costs of selling Gamepads separately or the cost of increasing the Wii U hardware itself that would sustain such features. Either way it places a red mark and makes the Gamepad seem more like a gimmick then an actual attempt to change/improve gaming like the Wii could be argued as.
Half assed, I don't blame the Gamepad (it is actually good in most cases when used) but Nintendo for not either investing or thinking it through.
