Yeah but they pretty much knew that the tablet wasn't going to change how games were played.  It's essentially what the bottom screen on the DS and 3DS are.  I'm assuming they thought that since the DS did so well and tables are a big thing, that they'll get the amount of sales the Wii got with a new gimmick. 

They had no idea how powerful the PS4 and Xbox One would have been and they could have attempted to make a more powerful Wii but how much would that have cost per console a year ago?  Something as powerful as the Xbox One for $499 in winter 2012.  They decided to  go with the cheaper console with the lower price point, $299 - $349 and a gimmick to try and sell it instead of trying to compete for power. 

Yep.

I love my Wii U and its gamepad. I really think it had great ideas with gamepad, miiverse, etc. I just think it either needed to be $100 more to match power of other two consoles and streaming features OR drop gamepad and be a lot cheaper along with more unique software.

One of those two may have been better to different degrees. I'd have preferred one that kept the gamepad tho.

This deserves pity.

OT: No. I don't pity the Wii U. I do, however, pity the wonderful games Nintendo has put on it.

imho this is what they need to get thing right again.

Just don't complain if/when their games start sucking, which happened to Sega. 

The Wii U is a lazy cash-in attempt on the Wii's success. So, no absolutely 0 pity. I'm quite happy it's doing poorly actually.

Don't need Nintendo as a third wheel in the hardware making industry. I have a vision of a unitary console system that can play all games; no more barriers to exclusivity. Kind of like a blu-ray player, it's made by many companies but they all play the same games.

And honestly? Nintendo games don't need to be exclusive to Nintendo hardware. That era is long gone.

Dam you people need to get lives

Im too busy laughing at those who pine for Nintendo games on their preferred platform to pity my Wii U.

PS... SM3DW and Donkey Kong TF are awesome, you dont know what you are missing ;)

I feel bad for it, poor little guy, he just wants to be taken seriously like the other next gen consoles. He even made some good game but the mean 3rd parties don't even acknowledge his existence. WiiU knows deep down that he is a disappointment to his father, the Wii.

Thats why Wii U is failing, they didnt go down the table route. :)