Showing an electronics product 1 1/2 years before release is becoming out dated anyway. The Apple method of revealing a product and having it available to consumers soon after is becoming much more commonplace.
No one wants to hear like "iPhone 7, look at all the awesome features it has ... coming to your pocket 18 months from now". That's such a buzz kill.
PS4 was unveiled in Feburary 2013 and released in November 2013. XBox One in May 2013 and released November 2013.
I think Nintendo is going to change this too, they certainly are starting to become more aware of not announcing things earlier than they have to.
Back in the day, Nintendo used to reveal products waaaaaaaaaay earlier, the N64 was announced in October 1993 ... the Super NES was barely two years old at the time in the West, lol. You can't do stuff like that anymore, it just doesn't work.
Besides Nintendo themselves have had under 1 year turn arounds too ... Nintendo announced 3DS in March 2010 and it was releaed in Februrary 2011. They announced/revealed Nintendo DS at E3 2004 and had it on storeshelves five months later.
