"Iwata Asks: E3 2011 Special Edition". p. 2. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2011-06-09.

"Miyamoto: Right, although a larger screen is more attractive, we debated about things like how a bigger screen wouldn't work within the budget constraints… it went in many directions. And as we were working on it, the situations surrounding us worked to our advantage. It felt like we were able to get closer to what we were originally envisioning." 

I found this, apparently from Iwata Asks

sorry, its from Wiki and the page doesn't load when I click the link.

Anyway, I have to go, I'll try to find the article later...

The financial problems are definitely another contributing factor to the division merger. Nintendo has plans to cut hiring this year by about 50% compared to past years.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/jobs/recruit/index.html

The first two columns are engineering and technology college grads (male and female), the second two are business grads (male and female), the third two are engineering and technology grads from specialist or junior colleges. The far right is the grand total for the year. 2013 is a projection but all are undergoing significant hiring reductions.

thanks! ohh and i just noticed your new on here so welcome to the site

How is this an opinion? It's simple logic. If Nintendo had had a better idea, they would have gone with that. By necessity, whatever they do, they do because they don't have a better idea. This is true of everyone, ever, doing everything. They went with motion controls for Wii because they didn't have a better idea. Sony made the PS2 a DVD player because they didn't have a better idea. Sega dropped out of the hardware business because they didn't have a better idea. Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables because he didn't have a better idea. If he'd had a better idea, he would've shelved Les Mis and written something else instead.

So yeah, the GamePad was the best idea Nintendo came up with, unless someone believes they are deliberately sabotaging themselves by coming up with better ideas and saying, "Nah, let's go with the one we don't like as much instead."

I don't think that's how Nintendo works. I'm sure they planned this years before as they are now planning the Wii U succesor.

Nintendo themselves haven't done anything with it that benefits gameplay. ZombiU is the exception that proves the rule, as it was made by a third party.

I agree. After the Wiimote, which was absolutely unexpected, i really don't know what they could have pulled off. However, while this isn't an original idea, it's a great one. Dual screen gaming is the best idea Nintendo ever created in my opinion and it will work just as nicely on a home console, it's just that they already used it in the DS(and Game&Watch, but it didn't had a touch screen).

I do.

i'm sure nintendo thought it was a great idea but taking risks is ..risky.

I've only played Nintendo Land, but some of the games were nice. Up to 5 players, and the asymmetric multiplayer adds some excitement. The "I wanna try!" feeling is there.

Anyway, I don't think their original intent was for all their games to be improved by the gamepad. They just made sure to keep their interface as user-friendly as possible, so anyone in the house can use it. Consoles are being used as a multimedia device more lately, so the gamepad also helps for stuff like Netflix, the internet, TVii or whatever.

It's not the greatest thing ever, but Nintendo feels they need to differentiate themselves. I don't think 3D adds much to the 3DS, either, but that's all they could manage right now. After the Wii / DS, I do think it'd feel a little weird if Nintendo just did a straight hardware upgrade.