It depends.

Was the PSP competing with the 3DS when it launched, or did it just have a year's headstart over the Vita?

The same will apply with the Wii U. So long as it gets multiplat games (Assassin's Creed, GTA, COD etc.) and new exclusives, then it will be competing directly with the PS4/neXtBOX in the coming years.

I can't wait for your Lady Gaga threads.

OT  Yes, they will look to compete with the Wii U for two years.  Whether or not it happens, we shall see. 

Sure, it makes sense.

Who says that was the simple reason to be keeping Capcom from announcing it, when scores of other titles are already up announced? IMO, it's high time they confirm/announce their version by already signing up to be on board.

No, at most WiiU will have a year head start.

Hmm... Good point.

If anything, this indicates that the game won't be released for it.

Depends.

If Wii U sells well then MS/Sony will be forced to release their consoles within the year.

If Wii U doesn't sell well, then MS/Sony can wait until 2014.

This seems reasonable

MS are aiming for 2013 no matter what.

And Sony said in an interview last year they don't want to launch late after their competitors.

I don't see how launching 2 years after Nintendo and 1 year after MS would benefit Sony except more powerful hardware, which wouldn't be much of an advantage over 2 cheaper consoles with a growing userbase.

I expect all 3 to have successors on the market by  late 2013.

No simply put no they won't. PS3 and 360 are both obsolete now and game developers are ready to develop on new hardware. We know Microsoft's nextbox is coming by spring 2013 at the latest meaning no two years. Fact is I am still pretty sure next box is coming this holiday season if it doesn't make this holiday season Microsoft intended this season and just couldn't make the deadline.

Sony might wait till late 2013 but early 2014 will be the absolute latest and that too won't be two years.

None of the competitors will sit by and let Nintendo get a year or two head start. Heck we don't know the full power of the WiiU. In fact I still have not heard Nintendo has given out the final kit. I suspect Nintendo's final kit will be delivered at E3.

Wii was considered a last generation console by many but guess what it kicked everyone's ass. Microsoft is not going to be stupid they will counter Nintendo as fast as they possibly can also considering Microsoft's console isn't likely going to be a massive graphical upgrade itself they cannot give Nintendo a year head start let alone two.