For me I expect totally vibrant and high-res spectacles of story, character design and enthralling game-play.
I want to see it used blatantly (the gorgeous Nintendo graphical visual capabilities) and in "full force" all over the main UI and experience of using the Wii U.

Also these consoles "default" colour(s) were: NES (grey black), SNES (grey purple), N64 (black), GameCube (Purple), Wii (white).
I'd want the regular Wii U console colour(s) to be...
...highly reflective and shiny, reflecting... you (U). XD

I'm expecting:

• Nintendo to skip the Friend Code system and build up a solid online system.
• The WiiU to be 1080p native and not just have the ability to opt for 1080p like the Ps3 but never make use of it.
• A lot of great Nintendo titles.

Those are my most wanted things. I'm actually one of the few, at least it feels like few, people that like the look of this system. Having the screen on the controller and being able to play on it is just genius IMO. I mean, you technically don't even need a TV for the system.

I definitely want one. I won't buy it on release though. But I will have a WiiU in my possession by the end of next year depending on the release.

Is this what we expect? or what we hope will happen?
I'm hoping it will be everything the Wii should have been. But there's an undeniable feeling in my gut that says we're going to be let down in some way.
I don't think it's going to be the end-all console, because it will never have an online system as robust as Microsoft's, and I doubt it will have more power than the PS3 (just because it would be an unnecesary waste of resources).

What I want to see from the WiiU, is an online interface that people and developers will WANT to make use of. That means gamer tags, no friend codes, a microphone in the box, and perhaps most importantly: to have all this online when the console launches, not 6 months later when third parties have lost interest. Also a download store with much higher filesize limits, and GAME DEMOS so we can actually try games to make sure they're not shovelware.
On the game front, I want to see developers actually make use of the features the controller has to offer, not just the same old crap with tacked on gimmicks. Games built around the interface, the kind of stuff that was in abundance on the DS. Also I think tilt controls could work so much better with a two handed device. Tilting the little Wii remote always felt a little awkward.

Other than that, I don't really know what to expect. They may be on to something by captialising on the current tablet craze, and HD is a step in the right direction for getting more third parties providing the thing actually sells.
That's just it though, will it sell?
They're going to have a tough job winning back the hardcore, as well as convincing the casuals to splash out on more hardware. I'm not sure it's going to work unless they have some absolute must-have killer app ready to go on day one.

I expect it to be Wii with HD capabilities and no gamecube support.
There will be exactly 15 triple A first party titles in the systems life-span.
All launch titles are glorified tech demoes that are somehow very awesome, just like Luigi's Mansion and Pikmin were.
The tablet like thing that comes with the Wii will seem largely unnecessary, but somewhere down the line, Nintendo will try to figure out a way to make it feel like it is really important. Maybe Wii U Tablet plus or something. I don't even know.
They will announce that they are making Pikmin 3 when the Wii U does not look like it's getting good reception, but they will show no screens.
Online is improved, but almost no games will use it.
Pokemon Stadium 3 will be amazing.

what i expect
better HD graphics
3rd party developers embracing the controller and thinking of different ways for the player to use it
friend codes axed
better online system
virtual console - if its not there, i'd be disappointed.

what i want
more quality third party games

new I.Ps from nintendo- as much as i enjoy mario, zelda, metroid etc, it would be nice to usher in a new beginning for this console by having something different, original and creative. i want nintendo to surprise, amaze us with some new franchises, characters for a change and not just rely on characters that have existed way far aback as the early 80s.

new games from lesser known nintendo franchises- i'm talking F-zero, earthbound/mother, legendary starfy, punch out, golden sun. even if they can't remake mother, at least give us a 4th game from the series.

Actually, I'm quite sure the PS3 is native 1080p. But you're right about not using it. I think Xbox 360 is the one who can only opt for 1080p.

Well, I expect it to be a game console. Although I would be pretty amazed if it was a toaster...

Maybe your right. I'm not sure. I don't have any 1080p game in my Ps3 collection IIRC, so I just thought it wasn't native.

But anyway, if that Zelda demo they showed actually was made in only three months and they will be able to make full-fledge games that actually look that good, I'll be one happy camper. Even if the Ps4 may produce better visuals.

<3

it is native 1080p
no friend codes
able to support 2 wii u remotes cause im not getting into fights for the remote

I expect that it will play Nintendo games. Anything other than that is just gravy.

Where's mah pizza channel?

Touch controls are superior to motion controls in every single way, and at least 3rd party developers can implement them, so I'm sure that screen will be used for awesome things, even if it's something like item selection or map navigation.

I'm not actually a huge fan of the franchise, but imagine a GTA on Wii U: You can use your controller either as map or as full-blown mobile phone (like the bottom screen was in Chinatown wars).

And, think of how clean all the games will look with their HUD on the controller!

I expect to get one at launch and get the games I like.

HD.. cute, but I'm more interested in the controller than HD Zelda and Mario.

I expect a name change but I guess that's just wishful thinking. Other than that it looks awesome.

Yes, what you expect it can do for you, AND if you want, what YOU want from it.

That sounds completely true and nice, about having an online presence at launch time.

@V8_Ninja Yeh, that's what my colour idea would make it be like! Imagine hearing notifications that you can customize, and think/say, "It's ready!" XD That would be a want not expect!

Yes, what you expect it can do for you, AND if you want, what YOU want from it.

That sounds completely true and nice, about having an online presence at launch time.

@V8_Ninja Yeh, that's what my colour idea would make it be like! Imagine hearing notifications that you can customize, and think/say, "It's ready!" XD That would be a want not expect!

Actually, me too! What is Nintendo up to anyways, eh?! Awesome things I expect!

What I do expect from the successor to the Wii? A successor to the Wii.

i wish that zelda tech demo became an actual game- that would be just awesome

I personally hope for something with a little more color.