I know some people here are still doubtful for the Wii U's future, so here's something i found on Forbes help cast those doubts aside
The Wii U is far from a smash hit, but its lackluster sales have some already saying it’s going to be the system that finally tanks Nintendo. It’s a statement that seems a bit alarmist given how early in its life cycle the console is, though I have to admit to being worried myself at times.
I’ve previously written a list describing the six major challenges that the Wii U is currently facing. Today, I thought I’d play the opposite role and explain why the system, and subsequently Nintendo, shouldn’t be counted out yet.
Here are six reasons that the Wii U will likely not sink Nintendo,
1: Nintendo is Used to Lackluster Launches
We don’t have to look any further than the 3DS to know that Nintendo can have a crappy system launch, but ultimately turn things around. The 3DS debuted to lackluster sales, but a price cut and a slew of new anticipated titles ended up making it a fast-seller. It took some time, but the system has managed to save itself, and the Wii U could do the same.
No, there are no plans for a price cut right now, but it’s only six months or so after launch, and you can hardly fault Nintendo for that. Once they get costs down, hopefully a price cut will be in the equation, as it would do much to help spur sales, especially in the face of the release of pricier consoles down the road.
2: Good Games Will Come
Far and away the greatest problem the Wii U currently faces is the fact that they simply don’t have a good enough stable of games. A 2D Mario title, the collection of minigames that is Nintendoland and 3rd party ports simply aren’t enough to make hardly anyone purchase the system.
But good games are coming. We know a new Zelda title is being developed for the Wii U, as is a new Super Smash Bros, both of which could spark a huge amount of sales on their own. Of the course of its lifecycle, we will likely see new games from nearly all of Nintendo’s beloved franchises, it’s just going to take some time. Once the Wii U manages to assemble a worthwhile collection of games, it could indeed become a must-buy. It would have been nice if it had a few more sought after launch titles, but when the games do finally come, so will additional sales.
3: The System Might Be More Powerful Than We Think
Much fuss has been made about the Wii U being underpowered, with many saying it’s on par with or even below the graphical capabilities of current generation consoles. It’s true that the Wii U is certainly going to be less powerful that the PS4 and next Xbox, but if it’s powerful enough, that’s all that matters.
We need to keep in mind that what a console is capable of at the beginning of its life cycle is very different than what it can put out by the end. Look at an early Xbox 360 launch title like Perfect Dark Zero , and compare it to a game like Gears of War 3 which squeezed every last drop of power out of the system. It’s not fair to judge the Wii U’s power on a couple of ports right now, and the truth is, we don’t actually know what the system will be capable of in the future. And really, the truth is if the games are good enough, graphics shouldn’t matter all that much in the end.
4: It Could Shore Up Third Party Support
When Nintendo debuted the Wii U, they made a big deal about how 3rd party developers were on board for the system, something that isn’t always the case when it comes to Nintendo consoles. They’ve struggled so far to deliver on that promise, but that doesn’t mean hope is lost.
If Nintendo could relax their demands about developing specific gameplay for the Wii U gamepad, I think developers would be a lot more friendly toward them. A few major titles have already skipped a Wii U release because of the extra demands, but if Nintendo worked to rebuild those relationships, they could have a powerhouse on their hands. I’ve always said a Nintendo system that could play all of its beloved first party titles in conjunction with every major 3rd party release would wreck its competition. That may be a challenge to execute, but I believe it’s still possible. We’ll know more once truly “next gen” games start being released, and hopefully Nintendo will do everything in their power to ensure they do indeed come to the Wii U.
5: Pokemon Could be a Gamechanger
I’m keeping the faith that Nintendo is wise enough to eventually release a Pokemon console game. The Wii U is now powerful enough to render the vast open world that the game requires, and I truly believe that a Pokemon console game would be enough to make the Wii U a hit on its own.
Pokemon games have sold over a hundred million copies over the past decade or more, and a console title, if handled correctly, would not just be a smash hit for them, but it would be a system seller. Nintendo so far has refused to develop the game for consoles, perhaps to avoid cannibalizing its mobile sales, perhaps because they’re crazy (like a Starfox), but hopefully they will come around to realize that many fans would love a truly immersive experience with the Pokemon universe on a big screen.
6: Nintendo Has Always Endured
Every time I write about the struggles of the Wii U, I always repeated a phrase. “Don’t count Nintendo out.” People have been predicting that Nintendo would fade away into obscurity for years now. They’ve been saying that people will grow tired of the same franchises being recycled over and over. But they haven’t, and Nintendo has pressed on despite competitors like Atari and Sega falling before them.
They’ve survived relatively lackluster consoles before (the Gamecube, most notably), and if the Wii U turns out to be mediocre when all is said and done, I don’t think it’s the last piece of hardware they’re going to make. Yes, they need to take action to ensure they don’t fade into obscurity in the constantly changing video game landscape, but they have it in them to not only survive, but thrive. It will take a lot of work, but they’ve always been up to the challenge so far, and I believe they’ll continue to do so with the support of so many lifelong fans.
http://www.forbes.co...ii-u-out-yet/2/