Updated with awesome new mock-ups, see the OP. Also extra shot of one of the mock ups doing DS backwards comp:

If Nintendo is making this sort of console, then the tablet thingy would indeed require a vertical, two screen mode.

But if the mock-up is close, then where would the free-form display deal/order come in?

Now this is what you would expect from Nintendo. Different models and game specific color bundling for each holiday season. Low building cost and maximum market sales. This stuff sells really wel in Japan and likely the west.

I still don't see how the two 'controller' parts could come together as an acceptablet whole of a controller. Maybe EG was wrong on that part.

I'm not seeing that Reddit idea. I'm not exactly thrilled about this entire line of rumours mind, but I'll comment on that one in particular.

Credits to the nice handdrawn sketches, but nobody wants to swap around 101 controller appendices. For one it's cumbersome, and these things are bound to get lost in the chaos that is the average household, making the game it belongs to unplayable in the process. Moreover this would completely defeat the portability aspect (as much as this was there in this thread's global concept to begin with), unless you want to carry around an extra backpack. I also fail to see where this enhances a gameplay experience compared to regular controls. Then finally we complained in this thread about a dreaded "Fisher Price" look, yet these clickable add-ons that would come with the weirdest shapes, sizes and colors would be the pinnacle of that (take a look at that Yokai Watch one, need I say more). I would be a mess of a system.

Worked ok for the Wii. 

Nintendo is kind of a kids company though ... they're always going to have that "kids stigma", if your brand is primarily built around 100 different mascot characters, that kind of is what it is. 

I still think the first mockup is the best one. Just add real L2 and R2 triggers, and maybe some improvements to ergonomics, and it's great.

I swear, if this thing is tablet sized, I'm freaking done. Have any of you gamed on a tablet? It's awkward and uncomfortable -- not to mention unportable. The only reason the Wii U gamepad works is because of how huge and weirdly shaped it is, which just wouldn't work for a standalone system.

Almost none of those things actually did anything, those were just hunks of plastic. Hollow shells if you will that are in no way necessary to play a certain game. The Reddit idea is more like if there would have been a dozen different types of nunchuck.

After further reading this thread, I am starting to think some of you smoke crack right before you post. You guys cannot be serious...

I can't see this product working and selling well. It's going to be a niche product. Even if a new Mario game comes out its going to be limited by this hardware so effectively its going to be a portable game.which will reduce its appeal.

I admit though I don't get it and I didn't get the wii either and want to be wrong again as I hope Nintendo is successful but this is not a product I will want or buy into. I want to play games on my main tv and don't want to have to buy a tablet which I don't need to connect to a docking station to work with my tv and will be a low power console only capable of basic graphics and gameplay.

It's another gimmicky product that will limit the scope of Nintendo games to the point that the majority will not be interested.

What I want is to play great games with a fantastic controller with impressive graphics and sound. This concept will struggle a bit with the first because of its spec and completely fail on the other 2 points.

You do realize that portable Mario has sold much better than home Mario, no?