The recent thread about Wii U name made me think of this, my idea of what Nintendo should have done with their 8th generation devices.

At the beginning, 3DS was confused as a DS revision, along with a high price tag and a long software drought made initial sales poor. I think they shouldn't have included 3D screens, they could add a 3D sku later tho, and instead named it Super DS. The price would be lower along with a less confusing name that makes u think its a more powerful version. They should have also delayed it by about 6 months in order to have a better launch and post-launch lineup.

Name-Super DS

Launch Date-September 2011

Launch Price-$169.99

Major releases thru first full year

Nintendogs+Cats, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Street Fighter IV, Pilotwings Resort, Star Fox 64, Pokémon Rumble Blast, Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Monster Hunter 3G (Japan), Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, Resident Evil: Revelations, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario & Sonic London Olympics, Spirit Camera, Heroes of Ruin, Mario Power Tennis, Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Super DS XL, Paper Mario: Sticker Star

As for Wii U, I think they shouldn't have released the Gamepad bundled and should have instead been an optional accessory released later. The primary controller would be an improved Wii Motion Plus and the console named Super Wii. This console should also have been delayed in order to have a better launch/post-launch lineup.

Name-Super Wii

Launch Date-September 2013

Launch Price-$249.99

Major releases thru first full year

Nintendo Land, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Wind Waker HD, Zombie, Wii Party 2, Sonic Lost World, Super Mario 3D World, Super Wii Fit, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Madden, FIFA, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Rayman Legends, Mario Kart 8, Wii Sports Club, Hyrule Warriors, Bayonetta 2, Super Smash Bros. for Super Wii, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, NES Remix Pack

With this strategy, they would have better marketing due to consumers not being confused by thinking they are a revision/accessory, lower launch price while being sold at a profit and much better early software output. I don't think they would be selling DS/Wii levels but I think they would be doing a fair amount better than 3DS/Wii U have done, perhaps closer to GBA/N64 levels.

I doubt it. I don't think the name is the biggest problem.

No, they should have named them DSboy and Wiiboy.

See how little sense using nostalgia baiting name branding is?

Also, the 3D screen didn't boost the price up $80. The screen wasn't the problem, and they could have launched with it at $170 from the beginning. It's name had nothing to do with it's sales early sales. It was literally just the price and launching a new Pokemon on their old system while releasing a new one.

Did u even read what I wrote? Name is only one of the things I mentioned, launch price and software output being the others.

It's not about nostalgia, it's about letting people know these are newer, more powerful successors and not revisions/accessories.

I know the 3D screen didn't boost the price by $80 but when they did the price cut in the summer of 2011, they said it was being sold at a slight loss at $169.99, so without the 3D screen it would probably have been sold at a profit at $169.99.

Delaying the launch by 6 months and getting rid of the 3D screen would have allowed them to sell it cheaper at a profit while also giving them a much better post-launch lineup instead of just a couple N64 remakes for the first 6 months.

The biggest reason is that casual gamers are satisfied with the Wii.

I think "Super Wii" sounds pretty cool >.>

Honestly I hope they don't use "Wii" in the console name again. "Wii" brand has more negatives than positives now.

Well, I think Nintendo learned they lesson, and I don't expect confusing names and bad marketing on next Nintendo consoles.

The Wii U name is still hurting Nintendo
http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/5/5970787/wii-u-nintendo-bad-name

"Some have the misunderstanding that Wii U is just Wii with a pad for games, and others even consider Wii U GamePad as a peripheral device connectable to Wii," Nintendo's Satoru Iwata said during an earnings briefing. "We feel deeply responsible for not having tried hard enough to have consumers understand the product." Another video was released that explained that the Wii U was a "whole new system," driving the point home once again. This was in December of 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybA6nGKi9pY
If they market console like this but stronger before or when on launch, Wii U would sell better even with same name.
But this video was released more than year after launch, too late, in 2. and 3. quarter of 2013. Wii U sold total only 460k, majority developers abandon Wii U in that time when they saw catastrophic sale numbers.

super wii would be nice.
The main controller should be a slighly different shape pro controller. This controller could split in 2 and act like a wiimote+ + nunchuck.
2 versions, one with gamepad, other without.
For gamepadless version, Wii sports club bundled instead of nintendo land. and marketed as wii sports was on wii.