The Wii U's holiday line-up isn't exactly going to reel the customers in by the truckload. However, Nintendo has to at least keep the console relevant, at least keep the Wii U in the "next gen" conversation until they get some serious software onto the market. They need to keep the ship from taking on so much water that it goes under.

This will be a Christmas where Nintendo management will have to work to win consumers, as I don't see it coming nearly as easily as in years past. I hope they're working on strategies now and opening the vaults to purchase some real advertising. This year, it's really more about holding the line than gaining ground.

I'm still completely befuddled by Nintendo's strategy for 2013. I have no idea what they thought would happen. At first I expected them to pull all the stops in order to build a large installed base before the PS4/XO launched, then when that didn't happen, I thought they might have been saving up to go head-to-head with the PS4/XO during the holidays. Instead, it seems like they thought the Wii U would sell like hot cakes without them having to lift a finger. It's either hubris or really bad planning, I don't know which.

Ds will do fine. The wii u will sell as well as a console of its calibur can sellin the fourth quarter.it will get destroyed by the other next gen consoles.

It is extremely important for Nintendo not to screw this holiday up or otherwise they are "finished". (By "finished" I mean there pretty much done for consoles this generation.)

It's both, but mostly bad planning. Terrible, moronic, incompetent bad planning.

at curl6
what do i have to do with nothing that ive said...dont put me in there boy

This holiday is very important for Nintendo, but is not a make or break situation yet. 2014 will the the make or break point for the Wii U.

I think it's more of a 'watch it stumble around in mediocrity for a few years or break' moment this Christmas. The make or break moment was probably behind the scenes when someone suggested a full fledged Pokemon for the WiiU that uses the Tablet contoller as a Pokedex that could be pointed at the Pokemon on-screen to reveal their info just like out of the show, and the higher ups just laughed and said "Don't be silly we have NintendoLand and 2D Mario, it will fly off the shelves" and walked off. The sad truth is that Nintendo's execs broke the Wii U's back before it even rolled off the assembly line.

Most important Holiday ever for them, really.

Pretty much this.

Considering the past year, I have to wonder why Nintendo didn't just release the system a year later. The past nine months have been almost completely squandered, and virtually all of the system's momentum has been lost. As it stand, this holiday season is probably going to set the tone for the rest of the generation, and I honestly don't know if what they have lined up will be enough.

The WII U needs to pick up pace this holiday, or it's mainstream future is bleak.

I think it wil happen. Nintendo has a good lineup at the moment, they just need to follow it up with a even better marketing strategy.