I wish it could happen but I doubt it will.

Hmm, you'Re right on DS. Hard to analyze what the reason was for DS. Doubtful it will be possible to do the same for WiiU. But I would be happy about a surprise like that. But until I see signs of such a development I will stay doubtful.

The PS3 was actually doing numbers the Wii U could only dream of at comparable points in their life cycle ... case in point:

PS3 (April 2008): 183k NPD sales
Wii U (April 2014): Approx. 60k NPD sales

This is even before the PS3 Slim.

Generally speaking to be honest I don't think there's ever been a console in the history of gaming that's come back strong from sales this low 17-18 months into the life cycle. That's waaaaaaay too late in the game. 

The PS3 also had the benefit of being one of the cheaper Blu-Ray players on the market for a time (which could also update its firmware), technically being relatively cutting edge for a while, and having 100% third party backing ... none of which the Wii U has going for it. 

They're really doing a lot of stuff and there is even room for more. The problem is that the audience just isn't there.

The Wii U has no problems with games. The selection is actually very impressive.

The Wii U is suffering because:

- It does not have enough physical memory
- It does not have enough processor cores
- The online features of Nintendo's network are pathetic
- Nintendo is not third party friendly
- The console lacks a mandatory achievement/trophy system for competitive gamers
- Nintendo has ignored gamers and marketed to casuals gamers over core gamers
- The Wii U does not ship with a traditional controller
- The social features are brutal

They change the above and they may start getting invited to the party. But, by not listening to modern gamers needs, Nintendo is slowly losing the strong foothold they had in the gaming market inch by inch and year by year.

It is really a shame... I love almost every franchise Nintendo has but by ignoring today's trends to sell consoles, they are digging their own grave. Lot's of people have coined MS arrogant for their actions in the gaming industry. Nintendo is being belligerent and confrontational to core gamers. Ignoring pretty much everything that would make their console desirable again.

I bought a Wii U after the holiday season this year. It does nothing but collect dust because the features I want as a core gamer just aren't there. The games are awesome. Tropical Freeze was very cool... But, games aren't enough for gamers anymore. It is about the whole package...

Reply was in the context of the bolded. Analysis your argument. 

So buy saying that, you're saying the Wii U won't be a successful console?

Hate to break it to you, but yeah, that's pretty much a forgone conclusion at this point. It will take a minor miracle to hit 20 million at this rate, which is an extremely mediocre LTD for a home console. 

Well now I got your opinion.

I think it's too early to call the PS4 a success. Early adoption rates are always high, especially for "hardcore" consoles. Beyond that, to appeal to the masses, every system needs a title or series of titles that take it beyond the nerdcore/brocore audience.

The WiiU has definitely been a failure thus far, as they've failed to capitalize on the success of the Wii. Everyone is quick to lay this Nintendo malaise on the system itself, but something that I don't think gets discussed here nearly enough is the market environment differences between '06-'08 and '13-'14. Did everyone forget we had a major worldwide economic collapse in the last 5 years? While smartphones certainly are cutting into everyone's pie, the fact that discretionary income has taken a humongous hit needs to at least be factored into this equation.

Simply, you can't just say [Nintendo + Bad Name + No 3rd Party + WiiPad + kiddyconsole] = [failure].

There are so many variables, including the zeitgeist of the market where they've been thrown so many new gadgets and toys in the past 20-30 years that they've just stopped being impressed with much of anything.

Now I do believe Nintendo can turn this ship around, but it's going to take a perfect storm of favorable situations for this reality to play out. Just appealing to the Nintendo fanbase isn't enough. As much as I think they've themselves jumped the shark, video game journalists would have to get on board with Nintendo's system. Gamers read gaming blogs, there's no denying this. And since the announcement of the WiiU, the reaction by journalists has been brutal. They obviously really enjoy their PC setups, and I think they favor whatever market attempts to align itself with that platform. Getting them back on board with Nintendo seems next to impossible, but a few hardcore titles might sway some of the fence sitters within that industry.

Mainstream journalism would also have to get behind the Mario House once again. That's going to be really tough. The WiiU simply doesn't have a WiiSports title or WiiFit title to get people engaged. Maybe if the WiiU taught babies how to be geniuses or helped families balance their budgets they could get some airplay. A new Mario, Metroid, Kirby, whatever throwback game simply will not motivate the masses. Creating that title is a crap shoot. How many of the readers would have dismissed WiiSports as a tech demo and written of Nintendo in an instant (How many here did?!?!)?

Obviously a price reduction will help, but Nintendo needs to create value within their system. A price cut actually devalues a system so it in itself would actually be a hindrance to more sales, not a boon. Again, that value is based on perception, which is tied intrinsically to the media and to a lesser degree, to gamers. Having a great library of titles that cater to gamers will certainly help tilt that perception, hopefully enough to get many of them to admit to the strengths of Nintendo's console without bemoaning its limitations.

In a nutshell, the WiiU needs some kick ass games announced and released in short order. They need revolutionary titles that can't be ignored.

Yeah..it's possible, but not likely. So I say, "maybe."