The game is still selling a whole lot and the second one it looks like will do crazy numbers, some people thinks that could be at monster hunter levels. Besides, 3ds already has a huge userbase over there, not the case with wii u.

The point is, the system needs something of that scale, new and not rehashes of old franchises.

This again reminds me of that list of what game will "save" the PS3, when the reality was that it took an ever-increasing software library, a redesigned Slim console at a cheaper price, a massive change in marketing (from weird babies to Kevin Butler), a growing HD and online-gaming console market, and so on, for the PS3 to slowly turn itself around.

Similarly, Nintendo needs to continue building the Wii U library, as well as trying new ways to attract the gamers flocking to the PS4 and Xbox One, whether it's a change in marketing strategy, console redesign, or some other manner. Don't get me wrong, Nintendo has intellectual properties that have potential to incredibly boost console sales, but I don't think a single game is enough.

If the game was like Pokemon, it could. He isn't wrong there.

Whether there will be a game with Pokemon-like appeal, hard to say. Wii Sports did make Wii the most popular console last generation. It needs to be something that millions of people want.

I think a lot of people really didn't pay much attention to what he is saying either out of stupidity or because they wanted to twist his words to fit their negative bias of him, or both. He wasn't saying that Nintendo is only working on one game to change the fortunes of the Wii U, he said it is possible for a game with the popularity effect of Pokemon to do so.

Hes right that 1 game can save it. But he doesn't realize that it HAS to be Pokemon. Not a spinoff, but a 3ds-like adventure that we all know and love, but with the best graphics WiiU has to offer.

Great post, it is games that sells systems. Wii U library already has a fair few gems and it seems there are plenty on the way this year too. The stronger and more diverse the library becomes, the more chance of enticing more people to purchase. One game can in theory attract more attention to your system (like MK8 seems to be doing), but you need that strong library to back it up, and further convince people to take the plunge.

the thing is nintendo does not make any pokemon games but the pokemon company does its up to them.

"What does this mean? It just means that the Wii U has to find its Pokemon game."

Sometimes, the answer is right there in the question.

In the modern history of gaming I can only think a small handful of games that have turned around a struggling or somewhat sluggish game platform almost or primarily on their own:

Sonic the Hedgehog (Genesis 1991)
Pokemon (Game Boy 1996)
Brain Training (DS 2006)
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP 2007)

Pretty much just 4 in the last 25 years or so. And three of them are on handhelds, where I don't think the overall breadth of the library is as important because people tend to buy fewer handheld games. 3/4 are completely new franchise IPs too, with the 4th (Monster Hunter) being relatively unknown before breaking out on the PSP. 

So Iwata is right, it is possible. It's also possible any one of us will win the lottery in the next year too. Technically, it's possible. I wouldn't bank on it though.

Bayonetta 2 might do it. That trailer looks crazy.

I would say there's a better chance of aliens landing on Earth tomorrow than Bayonetta 2 doing for the Wii U what Pokemon did for the dying Game Boy in the 90s. 

And I literally mean that.