ur right, North America is where Nintendo is really hurting compared to GBA/GC (Nintendo's previously worst selling handheld/console). Here is how 3DS/Wii U compare to them according to Vgchartz platform totals chart.
GC NA-12.55m, GC Other-9.19m
Wii U NA-3.09m, Wii U Other-4.12m
GBA NA-40.39m, GBA Other-41.12m
3DS NA-13.97m, 3DS Other-31.73m
Outside of North America, Wii U & 3DS will at least come close to GC & GBA but in America its currently not looking too good.
I think a large part of the problem, and Nintendo has even somewhat expressed this as well, is that with the rise of smart phones/tablets and free/99¢ games the market for a $200-300 piece of hardware with $40-60 software aimed primarily at kids/families is shrinking in America.
they are just kinda stuck in the middle, kids/families/casuals want to play these cheap, simple games that provide short yet fun bursts of gameplay on smart devices they already own and the hardcore teen/adult male demographic wants to play the big AAA western developed games on PS/Xbox/PC.
going forward, if Nintendo really wants to continue the family-friendly approach they need to find a way to provide less expensive hardware/software. I have talked about this many times recently but this is a perfect example of why Nintendo needs to unify their handhelds & consoles.
with both pieces of hardware having the same architecture/operating system and similar specs with all software being released on both devices, Nintendo can greatly reduce R&D costs and have less expensive hardware/software and hopefully regain at least some of their target audience in America.
When the herd loses its way, the shepard must kill the bull that leads them astray.
