Maybe they could have the OS run on a PPC CPU (that can also be used for BC), and then have a separate CPU for games?

if there is only a choice between to have BC or drop it to allow NX to be on par and similar with x86 architecture.... then drop BC. Owners of NX might have Wii U so they can play those Wii U exclusive games.

but we need to think if Wii U and NX have the unified OS, would that be somewhat an emulation that they can play WiiU games, only issue is - would Nintendo have a gamepad product as a separate one? just to play those gamepad-centric games? not sure if there are a lot of games specifically designed for the gamepad which won't be compatible for the pro controller.

What I think about BC is that the NX will play Wii games (at this point, emulation should be no problem, wii games recquire barely any power in today's standards), and the BC with WiiU will be something similar to the XBone approach. Nintendo will modify a bit their games to be played on the NX (if it's the Fusion thing, they'll use the handheld as the gamepad) and put them avalible to download.

If it's a standard console like the Playstation/Xbox, they could EASILY achieve BC through software based emulation.

I would prefer no BC and a cheaper price.

I have to admit, I was a big supporter of bc in consoles for years, but I have increasingly become more and more digital and, next console cycle, I may just go full digital. I'm tired of game cases chipping game discs (I'm looking at you, NCAA 2012 for xbox 360...), having to worry about removing and putting in new discs. It should be more seamless than that. I may go full digital next year, and if that is the case rather than bc I would rather they just have the full catalog of Wii U games on the eshop for the NX from launch day 1. They should also build in some kind of transfer program for games already purchased digitally on the Wii U (call it a upgrade fee if you want). I am less concerned with bc because of the luxary of digital only.

I don't think it will be particularly hard to do software emulation on the NX.

I'd prefer them to drop the BC and make ports/collections of Wii U games, a bit like what Sony's doing, but better. Make them digital and cheap and we got a winner here.

well i hope they keep it, and hopefully enable system transfer of all my digital games. the problem is if you offer bc for wii-u, you're enabling wiimotes as well, along with needing to offer the wii-u gamepad as a stand alone accessory for those who didn't have a wii-u or want to trade theirs in towards NX.

Drop BC and maybe follow XOne's method