Looking at some of the monster sales the PS4 is putting up and it looks like X1 even at $500 is going to sell through some massive numbers it seems clear that mood of the gaming audience was this -- 

"We are sick of the 360/PS3 generation going on for so long and want to upgrade. Casual gaming and novetly controllers are not what we want. And definitely not another 360/PS3 type console."

Basically in a nutshell. 

One wonders if Nintendo simply made an honest to goodness "regular" next-gen console with a 2012-era GPU that wasn't gimped by a 33 watt electrical output limit that they easily could've probably cruised to a 10 million unit head start this generation. 

I mean it's not like either the PS4 or XB1 have spectacular software driving their sales, I think it's simply pent up demand from people waiting so long for true next-gen consoles (and sorry, Wii U is not what the audience was asking for). 

Nope. People wouldn't buy it anyway. The Gamecube proved that. The only way nintendo can win is to be themselves and do their own thing.

Microsoft and Sony fans aren't going to buy a Wii U no matter how powerful it is. They will think about purchasing it as a second console like the Wii if there are compelling games on it. Basically, everything is on Nintendo to entice those consumers of the other fanbases to pick up a Wii U as a secondary console through their first party software.  They aren't going to switch to the Wii U for multiplats.

I'm growing tired of the argument of ditching the gamepad for a more powerful system.  It has been discussed to death on this forum.  Software sells consoles.  Nintendo games sell Nintendo consoles.  Third party games are an afterthought on a Nintendo console.

True, but then again, there would be pretty much no competetion for them for a full year, given how sick a lot of hardcore gamers seemed to be of this gen, perhaps a lot of people would have jumped ship simply because they didn't want to wait another full year. Throw in some better software planning on Nintendo's side too and it could've helped. 

Hardcore gamers want hardcore games, no doubt about that, but I think many hardcore gamers still have a soft spot for Mario too. They just don't want to buy a console ONLY for Mario/Zelda, which is where Nintendo gets themselves in trouble with that audience. 

So angry at Nintendo Soundwave. We get it, you want a high powered Nintendo console and they didn't give you one.

But yes, anytime the market leader launches a follow up and bombs horribly while doing it, it is a missed opportunity. I still say they didn't go the Wii or Gamecube route, they split the difference and made a console no one was asking for.

The real problem was the lack of a killer app like Wii Sports and the gamepad. The gamepad forced the cost to go up more than people were willing to pay, and as a result of the gamepad, the system was sold at a loss. If it was something people really wanted, then it would have been worth it, but as you see, the public never cared.

if anything microsoft should be the one that should be mad, they had this gen in the bag. Like they didn't even have to try, but they decided t ofuck up with how they announced it, made it 500, made everyone hate it, now the ps4 is in the lead.

And yes, nintendo was dumb for making a gimmick too expensive. the reason the 3ds is successful? its cheap, its fun, and thats all you need from nintendo. When they are cheap, they do great. when they aint, they suffer, and the name is just awful

Power never determinded who won or loss the console wars.

But it´s true that Nintendo lost an opportunity: they had a whole year all to themselves and made the exact same mistakes they did with 3DS: game drought; brand confusion; similar shaped consoles when compared their predecessor.
Also, their whole presentation of Wii U was bad from day one.

this is the launch hype, we will see how all of them sell next year.

Nintendo had a golden opportunity, at e3 they said it's a console for U, meaning everybody but it's turned out not to be for U

they have now just sat back and will churn out the usual games, when they could have carved out market share by doing more

I'm afraid it's over now, Sony and Microsoft will drive this gen forward