Oh, like how PS3 "only did everything" and people understood that before the pricecut? ;)

not really, it doesn't do everything but it does some very unexpected things which are quite cool.

Nintendo doesn't need to release their big hitters as they are already close to selling out anyway with what they have at launch. They need to time their releases to supply and the release of the next generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony. If they released Pikmin 3 on the Wii U launch it means that they'd have had a hole in the middle of the year when sales start to dip from the launch excitement. What they need more than anything is to sustain sales through the first year because the one thing they need the least is to have people start a firestorm of rumours about how the console is failing as that is extremely damaging to the perception of the console amongst the people who matter, developers and publishers when they decide which consoles they want to support. Doom and gloom has been used to good effect in the past and the best example is the Dreamcast vs PS2 and I wouldn't be surprised if there is a real attempt to 'Dreamcast' the Wii U as well.

WiiU had a good launch, judging from these comparisons. It's just that its predecessor had a GREAT launch, so many people tend to see the WiiU as a dissapointment when compared to it, but let's be honest, can ANY console really compare to the phenomenon of the Wii launch?

However, Europe does concern me a bit, but I think they the gaming market is just regressing there in general. Sony performs strong there as they always have, but everything else is faltering, even the Vita, which is from their beloved Sony. Nintendo should definitly increase their focus in Europe to turn things around. However, it's not the end of the world if they don't, as history has shown you don't need all three major markets to thrive. Sony has had consistant weak sales here in America and MS is virtually irrelivent in Japan, yet both consoles have ended up with respectable numbers worldwide. I think as long as you are strong in 2 of the 3 major markets, you're doing fine.

Anyway, it's still far too early to judge long term WiiU success (or lack of long term success). Even if Nintendo had a crappy launch, PS3 stands as an example of how it can be turned around with price drops and the right games. I think Nintendo should pull a 3DS and drop the price of the WiiU first of all. It should be $250 for the basic package, $300 for the premium. I also think they should try to get their games back to $50. Besides that, keep cranking out strong titles like Pikmin 3, Rayman, Smash Bros, 3D Mario, Metroid, Zelda, Lego City Stories, Wii Fit, etc, and the sales will come, perhaps even pick up more. I see no reason the WiiU can't hit at the very least PS3 numbers if they do this, perhaps even hit the 100 million mark when it's all said and done.

Well at least you have the self-awareness to know that about yourself.  That's pretty admirable.

I beat it does! Can't wait to get me one of them lovelys!

lol whatever man. I just think its waaaay to early to be mentioning the WiiU doomtrain...when not many people are calling it doomed. Compare the WiiU to the Vita and there you go.

I've honestly not made use of miiverse. I deactivated it in parental controls. The gamepad is nice though. Its honestly the best controller I've ever used. My hands are very big. It fits perfectly. I got the zombi u bundle for the pro controller but haven't played with it yet. I seem fine with the gamepad.

From what I gather of it it is like using a normal controller so since there really isn't any fancy new input on it I can't see it going down with casuals. I think more core gamers will be accepting of this though.

I'll reply to this comment, and your quoting of me here:

I'm still not convinced that those games will sell the WiiU to the PS360 crowd, but time will tell.

LOL, I really doubt that userbase is going to happen (at least worldwide, it could very well happen in Japan). Western developers don't make games for Nintendo systems, without games a system won't sell. The poor sales in Europe are showing that the Blue Ocean crowd from the Wii isn't interested in the WiiU right now (an idea shameslessly stolen from Squillem :P).

It's been selling out only in the USA, not in Europe. We really don't know if demand for it has been inflated because of Black Friday and Christmas or if it's really this strong. We need to see after the Holidays what the real level of demand is before calling it a Wii-like success. That's why Nintendo needs a constant stream of big 1st party games, there's barely nothing coming from 3rd party devs. Otherwise demand could die soon.

Still word of mouth could do marvels and WiiU could explode all of a sudden in Europe and America, but that's more like playing the lottery for Nintendo. If they want good results they need big AAA games for the core (1st and 3rd party) and innovative stuff for the casual gamer. There's nothing like that announced for the console so far. For the casual audience Wii Fit U may be that game (Not guaranteed as Wii Fit brand may be burnt out but we shall see) but what's in for the core? Nintendo might be in risk of going the same route they went with the Wii if the audience they desired to draw in (the core) doesn't find the console attractive and casuals start to populate the userbase. 3rd parties will have the perfect excuse not to bother making games for the Wii U if this happens.

So far I really cannot see the appeal for the core, SW wise speaking. Capabilities, features and interfaces of the console are oriented towards the core and casuals likewise, but where are the games?? That's what killed the Wii prematurely due to the lack of 3rd party support.