I love Nintendo, I really do, but the Wii U has to have the most boring console design I have ever laid eyes on. I understand the Wii was simple, but the made it look sharp with it's slanted shape, vertical positioning, and personal stand. The Wii U looks like a Wii except without anything distinctive. I mean the they even rounded the edges so it looks even more boring. I understand it's what's on the inside of a console that is important, but they couldn't make the Wii U look any cooler, or at least more unique. I am ashamed of you Nintendo.

I think they did it so the gamepad stands out.
People will look at that first. The boring design of the console only reinforces that.

I don't really care about design, as long as it fits neatly under my tv next to my 360, I ain't bothered.

This is obviously a matter of taste and I couldn't disagree more with the original poster.

My stance is similiar to xBASSxMONSTAx. Considering how powerful it is, it will be the coolest gadget in my collection once I own it. Not to be a hater, but I find the 360 to be very unattractive and the Wii itself is too simple for my taste. :/

The console does have a very uninspired design, but that should be the least of our worries. I'm more concerned about Nintendo getting enough third-party support. And when I say third-party support, I mean quality third-party games. The Wii got a ton of shovelware, and it wasn't just from small companies either. EA and a lot of the other big guys were spewing complete garbage. Here's hoping they'll try a little harder this time.

This.

You can also notice this in all the pictures featuring both the GamePad and the console. The GamePad is always in front while the system is behind it making it a bit less noticeable.

It's uglier than the name!

I don't really care what it looks like so much as what it can do. If it ends up being crazy awesome and powerful, the actual design won't matter...at all.

Well, it's shiny at least.

Well the worst about the Wii U is its name I guess and the lack of any great ideas how to use the gamepad (so far). Remember the codename of the Wii back in the day? The Revolution? How cool would it sound playing the "Nintendo Revolution" and the Wii U then could be called "Revolution X", building essentially on what the Wii was. But thats just my opinions. Wii U is the worst name for anything ever I guess, I do like the design though, I love simple "understatement" design because it won't break its noses with anything else standing next to it, it will fit in any kind of environment. Love it.

I agree with you and the third party support. It looks like Nintendo is actually going to have some good online for Wii U so I guess the next two things are power and third party support. I have been saying this for a while now. Nevertheless, I can't help but be disappointed in the console's exterior design. Also, Wii U, why would they call it that. The haven't done a similar name with a Nintendo console since the move from NES to SNES, and that was understandable because it was only their second console. People might get confused, not realizing that it's a completely different system rather than just a small Wii upgrade. I know their thought process is people liked the Wii so they will associate the Wii U with the Wii and all it's fuzz feelings. Problem is I don't think anyone is thinking like that. People know Nintendo, they will know made the Wii. If Nintendo called the Wii U something completely different people would still know it was made by Nintendo, the creators of the Wii. I wish I could say Nintendo knows something I don't, but the console design and name choices just seem, dumb.

Can't say console design has ever been nintendo's strong point imo in terms of looks that is.

Looks better then the ugly xbox design and ugly playstation design for sure!

edit:

only applies if they release the black on when i buy it white gets dirty fast

Now that I look at it the PS3 looks kinda... dull.. (at least the slim I never seen the original up close).
This looks ok though.

i like the design but i dont care about the design put some good games on the WiiU cause so far im only buying to games pikmin 3 and ZombiU

Look, we know the Wii U is a new system, right? As for non-gamers getting the clue, that's not our problem. That's Nintendo's.

Besides, it should be fairly obvious when people see a Wii U console sitting right next to the Wii U games. They'll see the white "Wii" label on games and the blue "Wii U" label on games and wonder, "What's the difference?" If they spend any time thinking about it at all, they will see that Wii U console. If they're too dumb to figure that out, then they're hopeless, anyway. Then, let's take it a step further, let's say that they do blindly buy a Wii U game only to discover it doesn't work on their Wii. What are they going to do? A.) Call the place they bought it from or B.) ask about it online. Either way, they'll get somebody who informs them that Wii U games can only be played on a Wii U. That's if all the commercials and advertisements don't clue them in. So, in any case, it's inevitable that people will discover that the Wii U is it's own system.I honestly don't understand why people are concerned about people getting confused.

As for the console design, I don't care. As for the name, I don't care. All I care about are the games and controllers.