"Baba: We don’t have any plans at the time [to bring the Tales series to Wii U]. But the Wii U is very unique hardware, which has one big screen [on the TV] and one small screen [on the controller], but with the console for development of an RPG, the players need to play for a long time, so we need to create a game in which the gameplay will help players feel less stress."

http://gematsu.com/2012/10/interview-tales-producer-hideo-baba-on-tales-of-xillia-more

Now take this quote with a grain of salt; it doesn't mean we WON'T see Tales on Wii U.  Note that he said "at the time".  "At this time" does not equal "not ever."  So please, PLEASE don't blow this out of proportion.

That said, it IS a rather odd statement, especially since Namco is working with Nintendo on SSB4 for WiiU.  AND porting Tekken to Wii U with all new exclusives.  Then again, it could just be just one guy who doesn't know everything.  For all we know, maybe Tales will indeed one day hit the WiiU.

After all, as koopzilla on GoNintendo.com said:

"I'd say it's just an excuse they are making up for the moment until a Tales game comes out for WiiU. I don't really see them not developing games for the system as close as Namco and Nintendo have been working together lately. Surely they'll see potential in the controller for RPGs and they will have developers with experience making games for the system. Wasn't part of the Tales team some of the ones who are working on Smash Bros?"

Every console in the current generation had at least one Tales game appear on the console. PS3 will have 4, Wii has 2, and the 360 has 1.

I get the first sentence. I don't see how it relates to the rest of his statement, though?

Indeed.  Which is why I don't really believe Tales will skip WiiU.  But yeah, like BasilZero said, it ultimately depends on the demand if the WiiU edition for Tales comes or not.  Either way, I don't see this quote as a definitive "never", just "not yet".  Meaning it STILL could happen... some day.

It is also a bit confusing, too, because Namco and Nintendo are working on SSB4.  It seems odd that they aren't thinking of Tales on WiiU at the moment.

Agreed.

Exactly correct. Tales will make it onto the console unless something very unexpected happens.

Yep.  If there's one thing that I've learned from developers who made similar statements about "no plans at this time" (i.e. Capcom "Resident Evil 6" -- though that game IS hotly debated at the moment, and Konami "Castlevania"), it is NEVER to assume that they mean it will never happen.

I'm kinda surprised Japanese developers aren't more gung-ho about the Wii U. DQX and MH3G are nice, but the system is really going to need some help in that Jan-August 2013 period I think.

Japanese devs that continue to not help Nintendo are shooting themselves in the foot if you ask me, because the Wii U is the last best hope for the Japanese console market as a whole. If it doesn't take there or struggles post-launch, that's curtains for the Japanese console biz long term IMO.

Which is why the WiiU has to be a success in Japan.  Those two exclusives ARE nice, but hopefully the success of those two will entice other Japanese publishers to take the console more seriously.