I get my main gaming these days from my Gaming PC or my XBOX 360. However, I grew up on Nintendo, and will always want a bit of Zelda, Mario, Metroid, etc, in my life. Between the 3DS and Wii-U, I certainly don't want both, for money and time reasons alone, but I'm torn on which Nintendo system will serve me best.

The 3DS offers something different than my XBOX 360 with its portability, 3D gaming, Super Mario 3D Land, Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Star Fox 64 3D, Mario Kart 7, GBA and GBC VC (GBA SNES ports actually cover a lot of the Wii VC games I want anyway).

The Wii U finally brings Nintendo to HD resolutions, has that new tablet controller, the promise of HD Zelda/Mario/Metroid/Pikmin games, most likely the same NES/SNES/N64 VC games we have now, and I can get the exactly 7 Wii games I care about, namely Super Mario Galaxy 1-2, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Zelda: Twilight Princess, Zelda: Skyward Sword, Metroid Prime Trilogy, and Donkey Kong Country Returns.

There is more going on with the 3DS right now, Super Mario 3D Land looks kewl if a bit too 2.5D-ish (vs full on 3D), Ocarina 3D is mouth watering even in the face of Skyward Sword. However, the Wii U has a wider scope of potential, more power, but its hard to foresee which will provide the better vessel for Nintendo 1st party games. I am guessing one will be successful, and one will flop. The portable market is changing, the PS Vita looks to be a stronger competitor, the Wii U is not going to be Wii's second coming in sales unless lightning strikes twice, and Nintendo portables seem to fit Nintendo style games better.

So which system is everyone most excited for? 3DS or Wii-U?

For me the Wii U is more exciting just because my main system is always my home console, but I always need a good handheld to back that up when I'm on the move so here's hoping that both have a large range of quality titles.
The 3DS seems to be picking up now and I'm excited for a lot of games that are on the way and I'm sure the Wii U will have its fair share of impressive games too.

For me its the 3ds. Im getting it early next month so ill be playing it and buying games for it way before we get any new major wii u news. Also HD doesn't seem all the big deal for me as I have a 360. Hopefully this doesnt make nintendo try uber realistic graphics. The best two looking games for the 360 are viva pinata and banjo nad kazzoie.

Still getting the wii u at launch though.

To be honest, both consoles are very comparable and can (and most likely will) bring similar experiences.

To answer the question, I am more of a portable person myself, so 3DS.

Indeed, just look at Wii "Wii-U" stand-ins of Super Mario Galaxy 1-2 vs Super Mario 3D Land, Twilight Princess vs Ocarina of Time 3D. It's hard to imagine just how HD will pay off for Nintendo style games, which is why I thought the next big Nintendo thing was going to be the Wii U's controller as a game system, sans the console part. Like a half portable half tablet DSi on steroids. I would be far more interested in that type of product, big enough to provide a substantial screen, but not so big you can't lounge around, take it with you in a pinch. In fact, I still see a portable Wii-U playing system coming at the end of its life cycle, like the duality of the Turbo Graphics systems, the one was like a game boy, the other played the same games on your tv.

I guess what I really want is a Nintendo version of the PS Vita with Nintendo games.

Or you could, ya know, buy the PS Vita and some games for it when it gets released. I refuse to believe that there won't be any new, imaginative, nintendo-like games for it.

But let's not derail this WiiU vs 3DS thread with Sony talk, can we?

V lol

Well, what I think you should do is-

...fine D:

Being that I spend more time on handhelds usually, I'd say 3DS. But i did spend more time on Wii than I ever did on Gamecube and PS2 comparatively.

obviously, only a nintendo system will produce mario metroid and zelda games. no point in going to another brand to get that.

I'm gonna say the WiiU by quite a lot. Home consoles have always gotten the bigger titles in the series and ,IMO , they're a lot better than what the handhelds get.

New Super Mario Bros Wii was better than NSMB. DS.
Skyward Sword looks to be A LOT better than the Zeldas for DS.
Metroid Prime 3 and even Other M was better than Metroid Prime Hunters for DS.

So yeah, home consoles is definitely the way to go for the main Nintendo exclusives. Though it's a though choice. Even if the home console games usually have more quality the handheld ones are more experimental and interesting to play IMO. And you'll definitely get some other unique games on the handhelds like Professor Layton, Phoenix Wright, Elite beat Agents and so on on.

Well, we haven't seen anything in terms of official Nintendo games on the Wii U, so it appears that the 3DS is going to win. However, if the 3DS Smash Bros. game ends up sucking, I will almost always put it below the Wii U.

Good point 19Rob, and the deciding one for me. The epic scale game design isn't something I'm giving up, so Wii-U for me. I just hope the VC carries over the entire library it has now. And adds Super Mario World 2 fer Petes sake. Not sure I'd hold up Metroid Other M as a reason to decide anything, its no Metroid Prime, but it did beat out the DS Metroid.

The only portable gaming I do is during lunch break on my GBA. As interesting as some titles on the 3DS appear to me I am going to pass. I'm 30 and have a full time job, a wife that doesn't play video games, and other interests besides gaming so what time I do spend actually playing games I would rather play on my TV.

I think the best vessel for Nintendo will be the Wii U. This is there chance to prove that they really get it.

Yea, it would be a shame to let my 47" 3D HDTV go to waste.

A shame indeed! Here is to hoping for the games being made in a native 1080P and 3D capable.

I definitely hope the WiiU can do games in native 1080p. I'm getting a new TV by the end of the year, thinking of a full HD 42" LED TV, so I really hope the WiiU can take advantage of that. If not, I know the Ps4 will at least.

Wut?

It's okay, we know your sharp birdfreak eyes don't know SD from HD

At least I'm not wasting $$$$ on useless stuff

As for the topic, I think both are good