Topic: What Nintendo Should've Done with the Wii U

The Wii U is more or less a new console... but what if it wasn't advertised as a new console, but an extension/improvement of the Wii? I know this sounds ridiculous, but hear me out. I think if Nintendo continued making games for the Wii, but largely encouraged purchase of the Wii U with more features and whatnot, I think the Wii U would've been more successful. Basically, advertising the Wii U as "Wii HD" and not really treating it like a next-gen console. Then, of course, give the original Wii a massive update (eShop, better Internet Browser, modernized interface, etc.)... I mean, Sony and Microsoft are kind of doing the same thing with the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Also, think of the success of the iPhone/iPad line. Each new generation isn't treated like a "revolutionary new product", rather just a step up from the last. I think taking this approach could have really benefited the Wii U.

As for competing with Sony/Microsoft, the Wii was less powerful than the PS3 and Xbox 360, yet it was more successful. If Nintendo just released the Wii U as a placeholder for something greater (i.e. the Nintendo NX), I think that really could've benefited Nintendo. And I don't think people would decide to wait or choose the competitors' consoles, as I think they would support the Wii U just as they did the Wii. I dunno, this idea has some flaws, such as there are other things Nintendo would've had to improve in addition, but I think we all agree Nintendo could've done something differently. What are your thoughts on this strategy, and what do you think Nintendo should have done?

Make a new paper mario for it

@Doge: I don't see how that would've saved the Wii U.

You don't see, you FEEL

@Doge: I don't feel that would've saved the Wii U.

Nintendo should have focused on an audience. The whole idea behind the Wii U was a system that could serve two masters, the casual audience and the "hardcore" audience. Wii (the many) U (the individual) because of this lack of focus there weren't enough games coming out fast enough to satisfy either audience, only those that bounce around those terms such as myself. If Nintendo could have focused on either audience it could have been more successful. If they focused on the casual, it could have distanced itself from the Wii by providing Wii owners a reason to upgrade. If they focused on the hardcore, it could have gotten more games ported to it when it needed. Without focusing on either we got our current situation.

Don't get me wrong, the Wii U is a great system and if it could have gotten both audiences it would have been a massive success. The lack of focus isn't where Nintendo went wrong but it is what was the Wii U's downfall. If games weren't delayed and if Nintendo was able to keep up with releases while also securing ports of quality games, it could have worked out. I feel like this generation slipped through Nintendo's hands but even then, they produced a great system. I look forward to what the future holds for both the Wii U and future consoles.

@DefHalan: That too. Nintendo made a lot of promises they didn't keep. I love my Wii U, but I know it's not doing well enough to live sufficiently. I definitely feel like Nintendo should've tried to encourage Wii owners to upgrade rather than trying to reel in a new audience. The Wii's audience was already immense enough; there was no need to try and appeal to a more hardcore audience when Nintendo was never known for that. That's always what I liked about Nintendo; I think that's what set them apart from its competitors, and not in a bad way.

What DefHalan said, but also they had a cash cow in the Wii and ignored it for the last year and a half because reasons. Nintendo should be blasted over and over again for that failure. Shockingly the audience Nintendo ignored didn't buy the next console!

though unfortunately, i feel at this point that Nintendo's best option was to instead release Wii HD.

@kkslider5552000: Totally agree with you

Honestly, Nintendo shouldn't of banked on the Wii crowd coming back and should of had a waaay better marketing push for the darn thing.
Even then, the Wii U has plenty of great titles they failed at using to push the console harder.
They also definitely could of worked on improving third party relations, and gauging their market better.

They should of called it the "Wii 2"

Jack of all trades master of none?

That seems a pretty good explanation for the Wii U's struggles. It was a console that was too 'weak' and 'strange' for hardcore gamers and too complicated/obtuse for the more 'casual' ones. The console's very design just didn't really work for anyone.

This too. The Wii was the very definition of a fad, and Nintendo should really have picked up on that. Fact is, over here in the UK (and a lot of other regions), Nintendo has lost the casual audience for the foreseeable future. They can deny it all they like, those people didn't care much for Nintendo or gaming beforehand and they don't care much for it afterwards.

For the wii u to be a success they should have chosen a different name, like nintendo next for example
As we all know, its the games that define a console and the experience they provide. Instead of relying on third parties they should have cared for a great launch line up of their own titles and ensured a constant flow of quality games.
And of course, they should have made the console a little bit more appealing in regard to value for money. Lets face it, the console is a rip-off in parts. You need to buy an expensive lan adapter if you care for it and in regard to storage I dont see a huge difference between 8 adn 32 gb, both is laughable if you want to download and store games. I didnt care about these issues much as I wanted to play the games but a different solution would have been welcome.
The gamepad made the console way too expensive IMHO and doesnt really provide any meaningful experiences - personally I couldnt care less about off-tv play...

@Fazzie_Bear: One of the main problems with the Wii U is that most people thought that it was just an extension of the Wii and that's why they didn't buy it.

As mentioned in a different thread- they should have had their core games ready sooner.

and in regard to the launch line up: some people claim it wasnt that bad as it had to offer quite a number of third party games. It was quite unfortunate actually.

The only third party exclusive thats worth mentioning IMHO is zombiU - quite a controversial title actually because on the one hand it doesnt really fit into nintendos image of games for kids - so parents wouldnt have considered this title for their children - anybody else wouldnt have bought a wiiU solely for the purpose of playing it - it sold rather poorly

In regard to the rest, I think titles worth mentioning were assassins creed III, mass effect 3 and darksiders 2. In itself not a bad effort as these games were more or less highly appraised by game critics. However, most of these titles were played on the other consoles and again, didnt make the purchase of the wiiU plausible...

Another problem of the aforementioned games was that these were not the best versions of the games to get. A striking problem, cause when you consider buying a new console and the games released are running worse than on consoles release a couple of years (years!!!) earlier, well - that might turn some people off.

A launch line up doesnt need to provide superior games. Everyone knows the real jewels are yet to come. What we get during launch are games that showcase a consoles possibilities, like Ryse on xbox, or Killzone on PS4, none of those games were said to be awesome, but they provided awesome graphics, maybe dull gameplay, but definitely showed the direction consoles are heading.
So the wiiU line up was just aweful and nintendo didnt provide worth mentioning, I love nsmbU but not even that game showcased anything superior - just another nsmb clone with slightly better graphics and even those might have been better.

The only way for Nintendo to survive or lets say to improve is to expand their portfolio. There must be strict reasons why you want to buy their console. The nintendo games that we know are awesome indeed - there are enough for me, but not for everyone. Now, if nintendo were to acquire a couple of studios and expand on their portfolio it could have an impact. Moreover, nintendo still has the money to order certain games (they did so wii Lego CIty). Console exclusives are always an interesting incentive to buy a console. Some people just bought the xbox because it has Halo - these are loyal fans.

I think Super Wii would have been better.

See there's this thing called marketing that still escapes Nintendo. Don't say well they have online ads all the time, because the only ads I ever see even online are for games everyone and their dogs know about while the more obscure titles get zero advertising...

• Launch alongside PS4 and One instead of a year earlier.
• Have the development schedule go as it did and release ALL the games with the Wii U. (Every game that came out when the Wii U launched up until the PS4 and One launch. Wouldn't THAT be an insane lineup??)
• Advertise the thing better. "Wii would like to play...with U."
• ???
• Profit.

I believe Nintendo should have:

• Promoted the system. Why they didn't do this efficiently is baffling.
• Secured better 3rd party relationships. Third party games, even if it's exclusive ones, would have filled the void inbetween major first party releases.
• Implemented the GamePad better. I don't care what anyone says; the GamePad is awesome and filled with potential. The problem is, even Nintendo has not used the GamePad in a mind blowing way. Sigh...
  I don't believe a name change would have done anything. You could argue that anything 'Wii' would be seen as some sort of 'another fad.' If the Wii U were in a better situation, we certainly wouldn't be talking about "how underpoooowered the system is." Everyone would appreciate the Wii U for what it is.