I'm actually not sure how profitable the GameCube actually was for Nintendo. Yes they were profitable in those years, but had basically 100% of the handheld market with no PSP or cell phones to deal with and Pokemon was a relatively young franchise at that time still making lots of money through all the merchandise/movies/TV show/toys etc. (these are still around, but probably not quite as big). So they had two big revenue streams (Game Boy Advance and Pokemon) to off set weakness in the GameCube market. 

Correction: The GameCube died a quick death because it was made specifically for kids. The 3DS is doing very well, it is one of the fastest selling gaming systems ever, and will do much better in the years to come, and easily be the top selling gaming system of the generation.

I like their strategy, mainly because I think it will backfire. Third place is waiting, nintendo.

Can you show some facts to prove that? A chart of nintendo profits won't do, because those have GBA/DS included.

stup^d OP...

they dont move away from the casual market. period.

now stop creating dumb topics and get a life pathetic dick head

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User has been warned for this post and is looking at a long term ban if this behavior keeps up.

~tads12

Great point. I don't think it's as much an issue of "casual" versus "hardcore," but rather games that play to a Japanese consumer versus games that play to an American consumer. There are two problems, of course. The first is that Nintendo development teams are already spread thin working on other projects; the second is one of philosophy -- Nintendo, and particularly its resident genius Miyamoto, shy away from violent games with guns. And let's face it: military and sci-fi shooters sell very well in North America. Perhaps Nintendo needs to scoop up more development teams like Retro, or support them by publishing a Wii U exclusive that speaks to an American audience.

What they need is Rare in its heyday.

^This!

The Wii U commercial they are broadcasting here is beyond ridiculous. The voice sounds exactly like a parent talking to a ~4 year old kid, even when showing ZombieU... Seriously, it's so bad and inappropriate that I find it awkward to watch everytime it shows up on TV. At least their old SNES/N64 commercials were fun to watch, and made fun of the kiddyness. What we have here is basically a parent telling his/her 16 year old offspring to play with the nerd kid that just moved in next door (the Wii U), instead of going to his old "cool" friends (Xbox 360/PS3). Needless to say, I'd be surprised if one single person who consider himself a hardcore gamer would be convinced to buy the system after watching that commercial.

Also on topic: I really don't see how Nintendo has left or "moved away" from the casual market. They will still have Wii Fit, Nintendo Land, Mario Party, games like Wii Play, etc. for the Wii U. Broadening their target audience is only a good thing, if executed appropriately. Xbox 360 made a great attempt with the Kinect, for instance. Nintendo should be able to do something similar, though it should take several generations in their case to convince people that they are a "hardcore" platform to be reckoned with. Mario is the symbol of casualism, after all.

^This!!

They're going after the casuals in a little while. Wii Fit U is coming spring, right?

Wii Fit U is coming next year, I think the date is not yet set. But it's the type of thing that is purchased by adults and doesn't need to be sold at Christmas. I think Nintendo will push this and other adult-casual titles through the middile of next year. Something "brainy" or "artsy", something that can only be done using a tablet, something that can only be done one Wii U.

And of course Nintendo is already nailing the "Nintendo Casual" market with Super Mario Bros. People like to say that it's grandpas and soccer moms that bought the wii for wii sports. That's not really true, the big casuals that wii hit are true gamers, just not COD gamers. Lots of girls love the wii for Mario Bros and Mario Kart. Since Mario Bros is available day 1, the mass-market will love the system. I literally twice saw groups of girls in Gamestop recently squeeling over Wii U. Girls love Mario as much as the Twilight boys.

Yeah, Mario is one sexy plummer ;)

But it appears as if Nintendo is going after the Nintendo core this holiday, and in spring they're opening up for casuals with Wii Fit U, and by fall next year I expect them to role out the big guns for the hardcore whinnies...