Sorry, my fault. I forgot that the week includes Black Friday.

I just need to point out "remove the gamepad" is not anymore an option for Wii U than removing the Keyboard is for Windows. It is an integral part of the interface for a large amount of the software as well as the OS.

Essentially, a Wii U without the Gamepad would be like a Wii without a Wii remote, most games won't work with it, and any of the games that possibly do work will have to be patched. In addition, no more Miiverse, a new EShop will be required, and many other things would need to change. By the time development for that wa complete, the next generation of consoles will be due.

I guess Nintendo's worried about short-term gain over long-term value. The damage being done to their brand right now will only be worsened if they don't attempt to cater to the west. Rare used to fill that void. I guess they're making a profit with less consoles sold. May be the DS line should sell less console also, as long as a profit is made? Seems to me that Nintendo is the small business while Microsoft and Sony are like Walmart and target....where small profit margin and large amount of units sold are enough for Sony and Microsoft to smash competition

Sony and Microsoft are like Walmart and target (small profit huge sales) and Nintendo is like the small business who sells few things for A little more profit...

No, not good. Less advertising = Less sales = Less money for your beloved polishing.

I'm not saying they should spend a crap ton of money on advertising, but if they are already spending very little on it, cutting that portion even more cannot be good. At all.

1) Because they are better consoles that have more games and a wider variety of games. Most people are not interested in Nintendo games.

2) Nothing. People that like Nintendo games will buy the WiiU, but unfortunately for Nintendo, there are not that many people. And the target market for their brand of games predominantly uses smartphones/tablets.

i think they have done a terrible job at marketing the wii u this gen. I also think the low out put of games for both wii u and 3ds contabited to low sales early in the life cycle and that has had a really negative impact on sales. Im in the uk and may shops either have very little or no nintenndo stock and that is somthink nintendo must adress. There is no point spending vast amout of money at this stage in marketing they must be srewed and squeeze out as much profit they can and start again next gen

Advertising isn't free though: it COULD increase sales but at the same time make it harder for a game to make its money back. Double-edged sword.

I like when people peoples say "it doesn't matter how much sold only profits matter" but then don't look at the 3DS situation when It was selling like crap and still had a huge profit margin. Now, the 3DS is saving Nintendo and if 3DS sales were comparable to the Wii U, then I'd be afraid for Nintendo

Why are more people buying other systems? Isn't that the easiest question in the world? Those systems will eventually have more games that more people enjoy than the Wii U has and consumers know it. It really is just that simple. Anyone in denial about that needs to get over themselves. No, other people aren't gaming wrong just because they like games on other systems better than the games Nintendo makes. People like different things.

The best thing Nintendo can do? Start paying attention to what their competitors are doing and how consumer expectations are changing. Then, with that in mind, they start working on their next console and their strategy going forward. The Wii U probably shouldn't be their priority at this point.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd put my "A-team" developers on next-gen projects once they're done with their current Wii U projects and I'd fill up the Wii U's remaining schedule after Zelda with more titles like Splatoon. I'd have younger talent experiment with new, original IP that, if well received, could become continuing franchises. Use the Wii U as a proving ground. Throw some pudding at the wall and see if anything sticks.

One thing for sure is that I would give the Wii U's successor one of the best launches in history. A fast start if vital in order to restore faith in consumers. Good first impressions and all that. And, for the sake of all cats, if the strategy is again to be much weaker than the other systems, then do NOT feature an expensive gimmick/innovation.