*sigh* Another of these terribly original threads, eh?

If Nintendo had release a more "classic" (not even sure how that words fits in this kind of context) high-end (meaning more powerful hardware) console, similar to PS4 and XB1........it would have cost them a hell of a lot more money to make it, it would have released at a much higher price point, and they'd be losing way more money on every console sold. It would have been a fairly dumb idea, honestly.

Some of you folks don't really seem to get that MS and Sony can afford to bleed money (to a point, and Sony is still suffering because of doing so for so long) because they are huge corporations of which gaming is only ONE smaller part. They also are both have the resources to build their own hardware, whereas Nintendo, like Sega was, is a game development company, they have to pay other companies to build their hardware for them, even though they design it themselves. It would cost Nintendo a hell of a lot more money to make a system on par with PS4 hardware-wise, and if people are still naive enough to think that the money they spent on the GamePad tech could have "easily" been used to just make the system more powerful................I just don't know what to tell them.

Wii U is NOT weak hardware. That shit needs to be laid to rest. The CPU isn't impressive by any means, but it isn't "weak" either, and the GPGPU, while not AS fancy as PS4's, is quite frankly still capable of impressive feats. Every single graphical bell and whistle that PS4 or XB1 can or will pull off, Wii U could or will be able to pull off too. Wii U hardware can run every current modern game engine. It's just a matter of scalability. That has been pointed out on these threads many, many times over. The hardware is also, contrary to the belief of some, not the "problem" that the Wii U is having. If that were the case, then all those third party devs would not have been on board at launch. The launch window was packed with third party ports, yes of a couple of year or so old games, but ALSO mostly of recently or even just released new games. The reason that kind of support dropped off is because system sales flatlined after the initial launch, which actually did quite well (3 million or so sold, comparable to PS4 and XB1's launch windows).

For the umpteenth time, what Wii U needs is GAMES. The reason PS4 did so well right out of the gate, was massive hype, not necessarily because of hot "must have" system selling games that were announced or shown for it. Nintendo did not manage to build that kind of hype to surround the Wii U's launch, and their NA TV ads especially weren't very evocative and didn't properly display what the system was all about. The issue with Wii U isn't it's hardware OR it's controller. It's a lack of big key titles that people feel like they "must have", inspiring them to run out and buy the console. If PS4 or XB1 also had or ran into this sort of issue, their sales would eventually drop off big time as well. If those consoles had "no games", given time they would "Fail" as badly as Wii U did in 2013. For certain. The difference being, both PS4 and XB1 will have likely at least ONE "MUST HAVE" exclusive title in their first year on the market. Wii U did not manage to have that, in spite of how good NSMBU and Wind Waker HD and Mario 3D World are, none of them are quite "MUST HAVE" titles that make people want to own the system.

But given the sheer amount of times, both online (including this site) and in real life I've seen or heard people remark that they are going to get a Wii U, but are waiting for MK or SB, then I feel pretty positive that those two games coming out, both of which are "MUST HAVE", high profile type franchises, will help the console's sales quite a bit. Neither title is going to have to content with two brand new competing console launches either, as Mario 3D World had to. They are two of the biggest releases on any platform this year, and they will absolutely make a difference. And again, not that it should even need to be said, but by the time this gen is over, Wii U and it's allegedly "puny" hardware, will have sported games with graphics and game elements every bit as shiny and impressive as the other systems, some of the best of the gen no doubt. With companies like Nintendo, Retro, Monolith Soft, etc., that is pretty much guaranteed.

So until further notice....these nonstop threads really need to be put to bed.

a pro controller cut in two parts, acting like the wii mote nunchuck would be ok. the pro controller alone would be a huge step back.

Replying to retroking1981
Yes you are right we all have different tastes but to say physical appeal has nothing to do with a products success is wrong, phyisical appeal is more valued today than it ever was in previous generations which I think is wrong but it's just the way people have become more physically bound leading to moral decay imo.

Even if the Wii U was as powerful as say the PS4, 3rd parties would still avoid Nintendo as much as possible.

TBH I really liked the nunchuck and WM+ controllers and the effect they had at creating an expanded userbase. I loved going into work and chatting with 50something year old guys and talking to them about how many stars they were able to grab in Mario Galaxy while their wives were away lol.

I don't think it's the systems power that is lacking, it's that the gamepad is a complete flop that raises the price of the system also. After the joy of playing Mario Galaxy with the WM+ I don't want to go bad to a regular game pad.

This. But it's too bad they didn't think two screens and a huge controller would be unnecessary and unappealing at the time just like how the 3D in the 3DS didn't justify its launch price and even has a sku without it. I wish Nintendo got the common person to try their games and then tell them how much it would cost (not the E3 attendees like they did for 3DS) and see their reactions. i am willing to bet they didn't do this for either the  3DS and Wii U and because of that, deserve the low sales for both (i believe the 3DS has already peaked).

If Nintendo would have ... even then nobody really cared about them.
People still would have waited for XOne and PS4 because the word of mouth is so bad about Nintendo and their image is as well.
People would have waited for a "real" console, even if they are only 10-20% more powerful than WiiU.
Nintendo needs to have the same hardware with the same games for a lower price to convince people buying their hardware.
Then Nintendo could do about as good as Sony, but Sony's Games are more orientated towards realistic audiovisual stuff and has PS+, so the Sony console likely would sell better, as today most people seem to prefer realistic games to colored games. And very imporant - BOOOM, Blood and Weapons!

Nothing would have happened. It's possible the Wii U would be selling worse!

If they advetised and released the same games with a system that was on par with the PS4 and XboxOne, they'd still be dead last but probably have sold more units.

The issue isn't just hardware (although that is a big stumbling block in getting 3rd party support from the major players), Nintendo seems to have forgotten how to reach both its own core audience as well as whatever remains of the casual market when it comes to consoles. They seem decent with the 3DS (although a lot of that is because they have no competition outside of smartphones and media devices) but at least in the US they don't seem willing or perhaps able to do similar with the Wii U.

Hard to believe the same company that made the Wii one of the best selling consoles in history despite it coming in underpowered and the one that launch the Wii U are the same.

I guess I can share my opinion also. :)

I would have preferred the Wii U Pro Controller to be the main and even the only controller for their console, I would also have preferred better hardware, perhaps not necessary as good as the competition, but better than they did offer.

It would be a dream for me to see a Zelda or Mario game made on hardware similar to the PS4 or X1. And to be played with a "classic" controller. I know that some of you don't like it how I use the word classic, but you all know what I mean by that. The Wii U Pro Controller.

If this would have meant more sales or revenue I don't know, but I would have liked the system better. But I still enjoy it today.