As long as they cover NA and Japan adequately and don't release a New Mario title there won't be shortages. Eu barely ever buys anything so I doubt Nintendo would bother to launch there fast. once Na and Japan holiday rush ise over Nintendo can deal with the others.

Looking at two recent launches of 3DS and PSV shortages will remain only theoretical problem for all 8th gen consoles.

Depends on the launch games.

Doubt that anyone would purchase a WiiU for Just Dance 4 when they could also play it on Wii. Do we know anything for Nintendo launch games ?
Current line-up wouldn't really lead to massive sales as many of them are multiplat and/or late ports.

True, but the current lineup also consists of zero first party titles, which is to be unlikely at the end of the day.

The signs are good for something of merit being there, given that EAD Tokyo has been free for the past two years, and so could very well have at least a 3D Mario at launch (though a 2D Mario would be the thing to keep that console off of shelves)

If it has a similar launch pattern to the Wii, which was launched at the same time of year in all major regions within a month, then it's a possibility. If they spread out the launch and one region (which would probably be Europe... yay) slips to 2013, then that's doubtful.

Regardless of when it launches there is a high likelihood of shortages initially, in the holiday season it becomes more likely a shortage will occur and that it will be worse and last longer. To a certain extent, Nintendo has the ability to minimize the shortage by manufacturing more units earlier to have an adequate supply for launch; this (of course) is tricky and has a significant risk associated with it.

With that said, I would expect shortages for the launch of the Wii U and there is the possibility that these could last for a very long time. While it is not an easy target to hit, I think many console manufacturers would like to produce 1% fewer systems than there is demand for on a new system in its first year to have a persistent shortage without (really) losing any sales. While I don't believe that shortages drive demand, I do believe they increase confidence in a platform from consumers and developers which can lead to higher sales in the future.

Nintendo does that intentionally to increase the perceived demand for their product. It never looks good for publicity to have a brand new console just sitting on shelves days after release. Thy want you to believe it is a must-have piece of hardware. As soon as gamestop begins pre-orders, I'm signed up to secure a console.

Just as long as Japan's launch doesnt push the U.S's back into 2013

Meh... I don't buy stuff right at launch so as long as its 'normal' , i.e. not Wii, then a few months later when I finally decide to go buy it, it better be in stock. Not a multi-day event of hunting down deliveries at local stores to find one. Ugh buying the Wii was such a pain.

Wait the Game cube had shortages? thats odd i lived in Florida and got one day 1 without pre-ordering mine or waiting in line I don't recall a shortage on my end .

as for the Wii U -depends if price is right and software is out like mario kart or somthing then their could be