Topic: Why do we care about the Wii U so much? And Should we?

All the doom and gloom surrounding the recent Wii U sales estimates and the subsequent buzzing of rumors and speculation got me to thinking...

Why do we care about our video game consoles so much, and more specifically the Wii U? And should we?

I have a smartphone as I'm sure many other people do, and it probably cost me about as much as most of my video game systems. My iPhone is most definitely interwoven into just about everything I do in my daily life. I boot up my Wii U a few times a week and goof around for a few hours before bed. For all of it's usefulness and charm I am fairly indifferent about my iPhone, and yet I adore my weird little Wii U, which is currently not exactly "impressive" and in fact can be down right clunky and frustrating. With all these rumors of the "Fusion" and what not I have started to worry about the future of my Wii U and it's bulky Gamepad companion. My head filled with questions like these: Would Nintendo honestly shelve the Wii U soon? If so, what does that mean!? The more I think about it, the more it occurs to me that my concern has less to do with account issues or "what will happen with all my VC titles!?" and has more to do with genuine emotional attachment. No matter how brilliant Smartphones are, they are always only an iteration in a long line of models. There is always that implication that "this thing will be replaced next year by a better model." So, our attachment is minimal. "I will use this device until my contract ends or I need a better one," just about sums up my thinking. On the other hand, video game consoles are inherently meant to last. There is no definite span of time, but a console should be around for more than a few years. I still have and use my original NES and SNES. I don't look at them as "past models" of video gaming though, but as old friends. Not only have they given me 1000+ hours of fun escapism, they have character and history.

So, I had to ask myself... Do I see myself hanging out and playing Wii U in five years? Will it be one of my old friends?

The answer is no. For better or worse, it seems Nintendo did not plan for the long run with this console. I am not a tech-head gamer type that insists on HIGH PERFORMANCE GAMING, but I do relish in the idea of reaching the "next level" in graphics, gameplay, etc. just as I relish seeing the next world in Super Mario 3D World. I could make a list of things that have seemingly already dated the poor Wii U (low resolution camera, almost last gen specs, slow UI, boring console design, etc.) The Gamepad already feels behind the times and extraneous. How will it feel in a few years when the rest of touch-screen technology has continued at super speed around us?

Nintendo has always been good at defining each new console as a step toward a new direction. 64, Cube, and even the Wii all stand alone as interesting little companions for playing games with unique designs that define that era. The Wii U does not. It feels like the Wii, but less cohesive, and in fact is kind of a mess (too many controllers, clumsy menu systems, etc.). It seems as though Iwata and co. became so blinded by the success of the Wii that they lost hold of the originality and boldness that helped define the consoles before it, and got a bit lazy. Unfortunately, the other guys, Sony & Microsoft, are in the opposite mode of thinking. The 360 and PS3 were also huge successes, but instead of resting on former glories they are in an arms race for BIGGEST and BEST. Which isn't a bad thing, competition pushes things forward!

Nintendo needs to compete. This "we're going our own way" mentality isn't doing anyone any good. It's allowing Ninty's execs to live in a sort of delusional haze where everything is "the best decision for Nintendo." But I'm not sure they can compete with the Wii U. In a few years, it will be irrelevant to the hardcore gamers, outside of the Nintendo fan-base, as well most likely seem very out of date in comparison to the latest model of iPad, for the casuals.

I still really like my Wii U. I love Nintendo games, and I enjoy rooting for the underdog! But, will I still be interested in fighting "the good fight" and shelling out $60 for underdog titles in a few years? Maybe not. It's occurring to me that the affection I have for the Wii U is running on fumes of their former consoles. Nintendo needs to step out from under this current situation and REALLY go for it. Take Sony and Microsoft head on. What that means exactly - a new console in the near future or a major update to the Wii U? Who knows, but either way I'm ready to jump. I want Nintendo to define a new era not just exist alongside the current one.

EDIT: With a second look I realize this is a bit of a long rambling mess (sorry too much coffee this morning!).

This mostly a Nintendo comunity, it's only natural for our users to be obsessive about Nintendo consoles.

I gave it my best shot, honestly....

facepalms

Honestly I think its cause of obsessed fanboys who are making such a big deal out of everything that Nintendo does or doesn't do now, but then again that's just what obsessed fanboys do.

I don't.
I'm a Wii U owner and would like to play games on the console, but if Nintendo doesn't step their game up I will just find games to play on a different system.

@gage_wolf if I read this all the way and give you a thoughtful answer will you appreciate everything I do for you? LMAO
EDIT: I read it and the title had nothing to do with what you wrote so I guess I could have skipped it. Anyways the Wii U is not going to be dropped anytime soon, people spent money on it, developers are working on it and too much money has gone into it to just drop it. Nintendo's just going to have to find a way to work with what they have. Also you have pretty much stated everything that everyone has been saying about the Wii U since Nintendo cut their sales forecast, maybe you should condense it since it's just a really long story of everything that's been said already.
To respond to the article: I think people care because they love Nintendo we have the blind fanboys who would jump off a bridge right alongside Nintendo, then we have the fans who complain because they want to see them get their act together because they believe Nintendo has the ability to take things to the next level but they don't which leads the fans to complain even more. In the end we care because we love them and they've been entertaining us for a long time (some of us since we were kids).

Because we spent a couple hundred bucks on it and would like to see that be worth something.

ahahaha. Got a bit carried away this morning! This could have been a wee bit shorter.

Nintendo fans want Nintendo to succeed. And we want to take pride in our purchases and feel we have gotten a good deal. As of now, I have very little interest in the Wii U, even though I want one. We should care about the things we buy, but if Nintendo is putting in a half-hearted effort and doesn't seem to be doing much to sell their system to you and provide the best experience possible, why should we care? Nintendo are out to make money, but if they aren't up to scratch on basic functionality that exist in just about every other popular computer system, they shouldn't get our money. They need to EARN it, not get it on a plate.

@Gage_Wolf

A big thing you have to remeber about Nintendo is the fact that, they probably have the most dedicated fanbase of the big three to the point that while lacking Power or third party support hurts them in the overall market, Nintendo's main fanbase doesn't care that much. Look at things like Nintendoforce or how much Niche Third party support the Wii Has gotten. Nintendo and its fanbase live in their own bubble and sometimes I don't think thats a bad thing.

...I care about Nintendo systems because I like Nintendo games. End of story, close the thread, everyone moves on.

Well that's an oxymoron in itself. If you want one, then you are interested in it, wanting something means it had to at the very least pique your interest with it's existence.

Anyways, We should care about the Wii U because we invested in it, and we don't want to feel like Nintendo abandoned the console. This is very much abandoning a loyal fan base who are now stuck with a machine with maybe 15 games, and no longer supported by the company. The only reason Nintendo has existed as long as it has is because we have faith in the brand, when we buy something with their name on it, at the very least it'll be a quality product. Of course every company has hiccups (Virtual Boy, N64DD) but Wii U is a salvageable console that has plenty of time to recover, it's barely a year old. The worst thing Nintendo could do is pull a Sega and release another console and completely kick the Wii U to the curb. I would not buy another Nintendo console, especially if it wasn't guaranteed I'd get 5-7 years of enjoyment out of it.

He did say he has interest in it, it's just very little but technically he has interest in LOL.

Nintendo hardware son. It's in our DNA. Of course we're upset about how this is going.

I read some of the OP and I can tell you the reason why we care more about the Wii U than a SmartPhone is because smartphones are tools, where consoles are entertainment machines (things we have fun with)

^That should be in Nintendo's new advertising campaign: Wii U, the Fun Machine!

Well- i think it would be sad if Nindendo failed, moreso than another console or player in the industry- it would be like part of my childhood disappeared. Nintendo creates magic unlike any other company in the industry. So yes, I care about how the company does.....