They'd better be spending money right now if they want to get ready for next gen. After the Wii, they most rested on their laurels, thinking people would flock to them just for being Nintendo. Microsoft got burned for being arrogant and learned a lesson. Sony got burned for being arrogant and learned a lesson. I'm not sure Nintendo, with their current management, learns anything but, "let's try a different hardware gimmick next time."
Gaming now is so much bigger than one developer/publisher, even if that developer/publisher is also a hardware manufacturer. Just having a few games without much variety isn't going to cut it any longer.
Honestly, I'm really interested in seeing what Nintendo has learned from the Wii U experience. There are a few things they need to examine closely.
1. Old IP might bring back die-hard fans but NEW IP are what attract outside consumers. Splatoon should make that obvious. Mario won't increase their fanbase.
2. Ignore third-party developers and they will ignore you. This isn't the 90s and Nintendo can't dictate terms to anyone. There aren't just other options, there are BETTER options. Business is all about forming mutually beneficial partnerships. If the people you have now can't do that, go hire someone else.
3. Related to point number one, gaming is so much more varied now than previous generations and people want different experiences. Nintendo seems to be getting this somewhat but it's still just a drop in the platformer bucket.
4. Bring someone into upper management who understands the west. They don't need to be non-Japanese but they do need to be familiar with game development outside Japan. Shuhei Yoshida is a perfect example. Placing him in a primary role within Playstation has helped them tremendously.
5. I don't know if Reggie is good in his day to day duties or not but he sucks as the face of Nintendo in the west. Yoshida and Spencer run circles around him when it comes to gaining the goodwill of gaming hobbyists and media.
6. People in the west kind of want a good Metroid.
7. I've kind of gotten bored with this and run out of steam. Also, I've forgotten some of what I intended to say. Feel free to add to my list. I'm going to go watch One Piece.
