While I don't believe that WiiU will do as much of a turnaround as PS3, here is what is has going more so than Gamecube that can help it be a "late bloomer".

- GameCube went down to 100$ during the same timeframe as WiiU is now, so WiiU has more space there that can cause a bit more of sales.
- Nintendo seems to be doing a lot of bundles with WiiU which are helping it, while with GameCube it didn't have as many as WiiU.
- Console revision, Nintendo seems to be doing more SKU's now, GameCube only had one, Nintendo had two Wii's, more for DS, and even 3DS got a "new" model, I believe we will see more revision for the WiiU aswell, I believe we might have a Gamepad-less SKU near the end of it's live, just so Ninty can squeeze out as much profit as possible from this gen.

While I don't see it hitting 50 mil, unless amibo or something else really become a huge craze, I believe it can sell around N64's level.

and never will.

Even the kart effect the biggets bump it will ever get is very overrated by many.

may ndp 60k
June Kart month 140k
July 81k

Power wasn't even really my main point, but might as well address it while we're here.

If early adopters are going for PS4 because of power, then those kind of gamers are going to bring in their friends (at least based on what happened with 360 last generation) who only buy a few games but like to play those games online.

Nintendo doesn't have that audience.  What audience do you think they're going to attract with WiiU?  And if you suggest casual, then I'm afraid we're just going to have to nip this discussion in the bud and we'll have to agree to disagree.

It also brings back the point of the controller.  They did want a dual-screen handheld and the possibilities that brought.  They did want motion controls.  They did want the most strongly supported dedicated handheld of its generation.  They don't seem to want a tablet-controller console with spare support.

Being late into a craze doesn't indeed mean that you're out of the game, and stuff like WoW can be used as an example, sure.  And for every WoW, you've got a Call of Duty/Monster Hunter/Grand Theft Auto that has sat untouched at the top of their respective perches.  Sure, other games have come and imitated their styles to varying degrees of success, but no clone has really been a runaway success to the point of saving a console (which is what you're suggesting Amiibo is going to do).

I don't really see the stigma lifting at the moment to be honest.  Mario Kart has had good word of mouth, and then there's been some forum-talked-up-games which don't have much sales potential to back that up.  And then Smash at Christmas.  It's a long wait between games people care about outside the forums.

And PS2 was already 170 and few months after GC hit 99 the xbox hit 150.   Lets not pretand GC price was such a big advantage and that wiiu with a cut can do some grand sales. wii Us price advantge is similar to what the GC had.

U is already half the price of its comp and its failing sales wise, stores around me cant get rid of certain bundles for 230.   I got my MBosU bundle for 250.

ninteophiles are quite ardent in their belief wiiu will never rid of the pad.  

User was moderated for this post (and others) - Conegamer

Nice thread and Op. While I do not personally think the Wii U is a late bloomer the OP was pretty well written and had some very good points. I feel the Wii U will indeed sell well but it really can't be compared to the PS3 or 360 IMO. Both were tacking WAY ahead of the Wii U with competition and higher prices.

But I still think the Wii U will pick up in sales and peak next year.

And in return, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony don't take business risks in letting 3rd party games on their platforms. The risks for these games stays at Ubisoft, EA, Activision, smaller publishers and indie developers. While every 1st party AAA game is a huge risk for Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony.

These riskless license fees for 3rd party games are easy money for Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony, they are the bread and butter of the platform owners. If a platform ain't attractive for 3rd parties, these missing license fees make it very hard for the platform owners to keep profitable, even when most of the 1st party games are profitable.

Ninty didnt introduce motion controls, that is plain fallacy. Pretty sure SOny brought them to table  They made them more popular for sure. Thats like saying xbox introduced online to consoles.

They failed how? By not introducing some new gimmick that took off? i guess they did if that is the case. Slaughtered is a word used in language, if you're pissed of by the use of it then thats your problem

I still believe next year will be Wii U's peak. It just makes sense considering everything I could think of.

I agree that the affordability range is lower but price alone is not the only issue. The GameCube went to 99 early in its' life and it didn't matter. The 3DS spiked because consumers don't want a Nintendo handheld that cost as much as the Wii when it launched. 199 probably would have been fine to launch the 3DS at for the market penetration Nintendo handheld are expected to get.

WhiteEaglePL said: I still believe next year will be Wii U's peak. It just makes sense considering everything I could think of.

Ever consider the comp will be in its second year and dropping software left and right that the wiiu is not getting ?

Worse of a potential PS4 price cut would really not help wiiu sale more.  

Or as PS3/360 wined down wiius paltry 3rd party support will be even less.  

Or that ninty already dropped thie biggest game Wiiu will get.