What do you think are Nintendo's realistic expectations/plans going forward with the WiiU?

[fleischr]

Fusioncode said:

padib said:

Fusioncode said:
The WiiU is done, dead, and soon to be buried. I'm expecting a new console in 2015, 2016 at the latest. I'm not sure why some people are against the WiiU being quickly replaced, what's the point of a console that only gets 3 or 4 major releases a year? The GBA had a 3 year lifecycle and it was never in the position that the WiiU was. No reason to keep supporting a product that just isn't catching on.

It's not dead...

Smash is coming out in a few months, people will buy the U just for that game, I know personally a few people, and I've heard it before about the Wii, people bought it just for Brawl.

I suspect many will buy the U also for Mario Kart, and that the next Zelda will be an important game in the series.

The U is not dead, it's just not going to get a lot of key games for it. Those that will come out for it are not less important still.

Sure Mario Kart and Smash Bros will move a few systems, but I don't think it's going to have the effect you're expecting. The 3DS version of Smash Bros will cannibalize the WiiU version, especially in Japan where they're obsessed with handhelds. Nintendo should have released the WiiU and 3DS versions a year apart, no sense releasing them at the same time. Mario Kart is coming out around the same time as Watch Dogs, which if it lives up to the hype, will overshadow it. At best Nintendo's 1st party output will push the console to Gamecube sales. 

The GBA comparison is perhaps the most vaild one I've heard yet.

Similarities of the two:

-While an OK piece of hardware, it could be better.

-While there are good games, there could (and should) easily be even more.

-Just isn't contributing enough to Nintendo's success.

-Worth owning if you like some specific games, but if you miss it, you won't be missing terribly much

The WiiU is not the new Dreamcast. It's not the new Virtual Boy. It's new GBA. That's a comparison I believe can be reasonably shared by most.

A tip of my hat to you sir!