Topic: Here's What I Think Could Have Made The Wii U Launch A Smash!

This is my first FWI. Now, before I say anything, I am not dooming Nintendo. I am actually quite confident that Wii U sales will surge this holiday! That being said, I am pretty sure everyone, including Nintendo, would be happier if the Wii U was hit out of the gate. Certainly wouldn't be so much doom and gloom if it was, and even we fans have to point out mistakes, so I am going to do a retrospective of what I think could have made the Wii U launch MUCH better.

1. It SHOULD HAVE BEEN READY TO LAUNCH IN 2011!
Think about it. What have you noticed about each of Nintendo's home consoles and the PS3 and 360 sales? Each of Nintendo's home consoles didn't go more than 5 years without a successor. Also, both the PS3 and 360 sold most of their units in their last couple of years. With this in mind, Nintendo should have had the Wii U set to go by 2011! This was the same year that the Wii momentum began to die down. If Nintendo had launched it back then, this would have allowed the Wii U to sell well out of the gate from its predecessor's momentum. It also would have put Sony and Microsoft in a bad position as it means they could have lost out on a lot of buyers and not be given as much time to prepare their consoles. But unfortunately, the Wii U came just a year too late and lost all the momentum it could have used.

2. Should Have Called it a Super Wii
When I first heard the name Wii U, I actually liked it and still do. But I also heard a lot of folks saying the name should be changed, and now, I am starting to see why. A more dedicated gamer would be able to figure out the difference between a Wii and Super Wii. But a casual gamer, who doesn't do their research, would be completely confused by it! This is why Super Wii would be a better name. The word "Super" instantly transmits the message that, not only is it a new device, but it's a better version of the one you have. The "U" does nothing to make it apparent that Wii U is a new console. This, tied in with the bad commercials, has fooled many into thinking the Wii U is an add on. Speaking of which....

3. YOU SHOULD HAVE FOCUSED ON THE MASS MARKET FIRST
Nintendo made it very apparent that they wanted to focus on the hardcore this time. But seeing how things have gone, I really think Nintendo should have started off the casuals. Why? For one thing, only casual gamer would be satisfied with the Wii U in its current state. Party games are not a dedicated gamer's cup of tea. Also, while hardcore gamer's are easier to figure out, they are harder to win over. Hardcore gamers want big stuff quickly. Plus they'd probably wait to see what Sony or Microsoft had to offer first. This is why Nintendo should have started with the masses. Casuals still like the Wii, and once they are probably educated, they like the Wii U too. Plus there are more of them, so the could have been buying the Wii U while Nintendo got its big games ready. But unfortunately, Nintendo got to caught up with trying to win over a stubborn group at launch, and now, not only do they need to give hardcore gamers a reason to buy the console, but they also need to help the masses realize it is a NEW console. If I were Nintendo, I would have launched a massive marketing campaign following E3, properly explaining to the masses what a Wii U is. How Iwata did not expect people to get confused by the name AND bad commercials is beyond me.

4. New Super Mario Bros. U...not the best launch title.
I'll tell you something, this is my first time watching Nintendo launch home console and I was ecstatic seeing Mario in the lineup. But I think we all can agree now, that that may not have been a good idea. Why? Well for one thing, we got a 2D Mario already! Hardcore Nintendo fans would surely find it overplay. Plus, in a world full gamers obsessed with graphics and intense action, a 2D Mario isn't the best introduction. Also, unlike NSMB2, nothing on the surface screams that it's different from the Wii game! Even though a lot of Nintendo fans were disappointed by the similarity, NSMB2 is still pulling big numbers because the coin gimmick helps the masses realize it's got its own thing going. I bet the commercial really helped. But what about NSMBU? I personally think that it innovates and steps up from its predecessor way more than NSMB2 does. (And I actually think more Nintendo fans would have gotten the Wii U had it launched alone that year.) But nothing on the surface screams this. Apparently, NSMBU took 3 years to make. Frankly, all that time and resources should have been invested into the 3D Mario or a whole another franchise like Star Fox. Now THOSE games could have sold consoles.

So those are my 4 things. Do you agree? Tell me what you think. Oh and just a request. I know my favorite company isn't perfect and I have to accept that they make blunders. But let's keep the downright hate, foul language, doom talk, and other negative stuff to a minimum, okay?

Metroid Ultimate would have been a good first batter straight out the gate but I'm glad they're holding their games back to make them better and not throwing out rushed games... Besides they would be much more suited to release around the same time as PS420

leaving the "Wii" name out would have been best.

I agree that not including "Wii" in the title would have been the best option. Mainstream consumers don't realize it's a new system. They could have even just made it the Nintendo U.

This. It doesn't help matters that the gamepad is at the front of every advertisement with the console almost hidden behind it.
There's genuinely people that think it's a touch screen add on for the existing Wii.

Interesting. Interesting. However, I feel leaving Wii in the name while calling it "Super" would be the most effective way of linking casuals to the old console without confusing them. Remember, a lot of people who bought a Wii, aren't big gamers and thus, may not see why they should upgrade.

The Nintendo brand alone would have resonated with the existing casual players that would potentially buy a Wii U.

Yeah. Have one big launch title and save the explosion for later.

Edit: I didn't read this

Good point. I guess I don't hear people saying NINTENDO Wii enough to realize Nintendo alone could do it. I just think having Wii helps link it up, sort of like with what Sony has going with Playstation. But we all can agree a different name of some sort would have been better.

I disagree. The console wasn't even completely ready for launch this year, so there's no way it would've been ready for launch in 2011.

I agree with everyone else that says that they should've left "Wii" out of the console name.

I agree that they should have marketed the console a lot better, but I don't think that focusing on casuals first would've been a great idea. Mobile gaming has that market cornered right now.

I don't know about this one. I'd much rather see Nintendo take their time and make a great 3D Mario game rather than rush one out for launch.

A different name would not solve Nintendo's problems.

Well, "Wii U" certainly isn't making anything better...

Only therapy could do that.

Look, you're all free to disagree with me, but don't be cold.

"Super wii"? That reminds me if nintendo's April fools joke, the "super wiiu".

1. I know it wasn't ready. I am saying it SHOULD have been ready.
3. Mobile phones are definitely taking their toll, but look how the 3DS, an actually portable device, is still selling well. I highly doubt Wii U could get numbers like the Wii, but I also doubt casuals have ditched Nintendo completely. And let's be honest: Do really think Nintendo can beat Sony and Microsoft by only appealing to the hardcore?
4. I applaud Nintendo for delaying games tuntil they are truly ready and I don't like rush jobs too. But that doesn't change the fact NSMBU wasn't a good launch title. While it may not have been possible, having a 3D Mario at launch WOULD have been better. Plus I did say they could have used another franchise.

I can't believe I'm defending this but I'm considering him in the right.

1. Super Wii is still the best name, fact.
2. While Wii U launching in 2011 probably would have been far worse of a disaster (as imagine Wii U launching during the year where every single one of Nintendo's mistakes of the past few years caught up with them instead of the year after) but I get the logic of it beyond that. Maybe.
3. People suggesting to drop the Wii name are crazy. Wii at times has surpassed the entirety of Nintendo in terms of brand name recognition, that would be as stupid as if they renamed Call of Duty "Activision Super FPS!"

Yeah. In hindsight, Wii U launching during the 3DS debacle would have hurt. But if the 3DS had a good start, and IF the Wii U WAS ready, it surely would have benefited from the momentum.

You guys are making me miss Bankai even more...