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[Niku]

It seems like they wanted third party software to carry the console, but third party *hates* doing anything special for a console, specially one with a whole second screen.

This is what astounds me about all the Xbox One press saying things like "well, at least with a Kinect in every box people might actually do something cool with it."

Guys, the Wii U is RIGHT THERE as a case study in exactly how third parties use mandatory weird shit.

[Thad]

Wii U is not selling poorly because of poor marketing, it's selling poorly because there's nothing to market.

Ah, but as the N64 launch sellouts showed us, you can sell a console with nothing to market if your marketing's good enough.

[PhoenixUltima]

Ah, but as the N64 launch sellouts showed us, you can sell a console with nothing to market if your marketing's good enough.

That's not quite fair - they had SM64 packed in with the system, and I remember being totally stoked about the N64 at the time just because of that game. Never underestimate the power of a good pack-in.

Maybe when they make Zelda WiiU they can release a WiiU/Zelda bundle and drive sales up that way. Maybe.

[Thad]

I'm pretty sure Mario 64 was technically not a pack-in, but it's not like you were going to buy an N64 and NOT buy Mario 64.

I think my point's more that Nintendo is kinda in the same boat as MS here inasmuch as the reason they are scratching their heads about why their terrible business strategies are not working is that they've worked pretty well in the past.

But you make a good point with Mario 64.  That thing was a fucking game-changer, even if it WAS one of only two games available for the console.  Wii Sports was a game-changer too, though in a completely different way.  And the Wii U's got nothing close to the level of either one.

[jsnlxndrlv]

Man, I got a launch 64 with no Mario 64. My parents said it was sold out. (In fairness, I did basically immediately borrow and then beat my neighbor's copy, but I've still never gotten 120 stars.)

I feel like Wii U is going to pick up when Smash Bros comes out for it, but it doesn't seem like this one has nearly the level of fanfare that Brawl had. The Wii felt like this huge cultural phenomenon with it popping up in retired parents' houses and assisted-living centers; my local YMCA still has a Wii up and running during all operating hours. The Wii U just feels like a sequel by comparison.