People really need to stop comparing the GameCube to the Wii U... they are two completely different consoles released in two completely different circumstances. Back in 2000-1 the industry was a two-console race, with one console generally dominating (SNES, PS1, PS2) and the third wheel dying an early death each generation (TG-16, Saturn, DC). Then M$ threw their hat in the ring and effectively split the 2nd place slot with Nintendo while the industry expanded significantly and could now support 3 healthy consoles, which makes Wii U's struggling sales all the more worrysome.

Also, the GC was not a generation behind the competition in terms of power, nor was it completely devoid of 3rd party titles. In fact some of its exclusives were clearly a step up from the PS2 in the graphics department, and most major 3rd party titles were released on the GC alongside their PS2 and Xbox counterparts for the first couple years of the GC's life.

The reason it "lost" was because of the kiddy "Fisher-Price" design of the console and controller, and its lack of multimedia functionality like DVD playback and online capabilities at a time when the internet was the future of gaming and all three competitors (including the ill-fated Dreamcast) tried their best to finally make online gaming on home consoles a reality, and Nintendo has been behind the curve ever since in this department.

But back on topic, yes, if Nintendo had released a console that was close in power to the X1/PS4 (not necessarily equal), had a traditional controller standard, a modern online infrastructure and a name that doesn't completely suck, it would be doing alot better than it is today.

And your example to try an prove this could be a successful console is a "GameCube U"?

Well, there's your answer right there.

A normal console without motion / touch gimmicks with good launch games and decent third party support.

It was just a stupid name, nothing serious. :)

And I'm not trying to prove anything(if your comment was directed to me?), I have a Wii U and I love it. I'm just interested in knowing what other people think.

But I don't really like the Wii-motes, the PS-move, Kinect or the Wii U-pad. So I would have preferred only to have the Wii U Pro Controller.

no it wouldn't have cause lets face it if they make a powerful console:
1. Will that guarantee 3rd party support?
2. Will other gamers buy it? why if essentially it still be about the exclusives due to other consoles having great exclusives too.
3. Would people be willing to shell out $400 for a Nintendo system regardless of what is under the hood? Most people see it as a kiddy console.



Nintendo would need:
1. heavy 3rd party support
2. Better online service then competition
3. New exclusive with 3rd parties
4. New IPs for adults

then it may have a chance of selling better.

Not unless they had 3rd party support comparable to PS4. Otherwise it'd do even worse than the Wii U.

I didnt want to believe it, but you are right in this case

If at least close to X1 capabilities.  PC like architecture

It would have done much better for the simple fact it would have gotten much more 3rd party games just because it be easy to make and or port them. And they would not be gimped like the few wiiu actually gets thus they would sale better.

A legitimacy capable U would have done better.

But SNES worked well for Nintendo.

Gamecube's problem was that PS2 was already a huge success and had all the main system sellers, back then multiplatform development was too hard and not worthy anyway. 

They needed a cheap console, 250 dollars max and as powerful as it could be and the Wii U would have a different fate. Probably a lot more positive!