SUMMARY: Wii U will be a success if It has good HD games that people can pirate and play for free.
TL:DRActually, I think the Wii U to be sucessfull, it needs first, a strong line up of games that excite people, like a new good and shiny Final Fantasy, a good Metal gear, a good Call of Duty, maybe a new Devil May cry, I would love to see a Gears of Wars in Wii U.
When I saw Electronic Arts (If I'm not wrong) saying they'll support Wii U, I was happy, because that means Electronic Arts fanbase (not fanboys) will bough their new Madden for Wii U, so... that's great (3rd party support).
Another bad reason will be to be able to play pirated games, you know why PS2 sold so many copies, right?
Yeah, in poor contries people will bough the console if they expect to get pirated games on it (Where I live no-one has a PS3 because they can't buy pirated copies), and you know why... because US60 for a new game is too expensive in poor contries (even in mine and my family is middle-class).
So, if you have good games and the games can be pirated, the console will sell like hot-cakes (Psone = pirated games / PS2 = pirated games / DS = I don't know but I think).
making the jokes appart, I think most people will be impresed and will buy the console is because of a game that will make them buy the console (Hardcore gamers) or they see something cool (Graphics, animation, new gameplay) and easy to do (like the casual Wii sports) so new people to gaming doesn't feel threatened.
If we see some games as cool as the mockups, many Dads and moms will be very intrigued by this new "gimmick" as you call it and will buy it, again it depends on the games and marketing.
I would say many of you will buy the console only for a sonic like in the mockup, at least I will (if it's like in the mockups).
If nintendo can make better good looking games than PS3/360 It can attract even the graphics whores and steal fanboys (again, it depends on the line up of games) of 360/PS3.
Again, nintendo needs again AAA games like a new GTA.
I would say nintendo has the chance to make a really successful console, the PS3/360 seems like old news and being "new" and a "innovative" (not all people even know about the ipas as you may think, dear geeks) scheme, maybe they can repeat a successful console, not as the wii (all depends is on the price to archieve that) but a very good chance for nintendo.
Casual gamers are impressed first and most by their eyes (not because of the gameplay, as you think they haven't played the better games of the game's genre they buy) so nintendo having a HD console, and if they can produce as good looking games as the technical demo they showed, people will bought it instead of a PS3/360 mainly because of this new ipad screen will make them curious.
Think for a second... what will prefer a grandpa for their kids, an FPS like Halo they doesn't have a clue what is it and will think is too violent for their 8 years old grandsons or this new game with Mario galaxy (or a hopefully GTA) that makes them... Wow, I can touch the screen, amazing!!! and If I move the screen Mario will move, OH MY GOD, more amazing!!! and I can play my new Wii Sports, I have to buy this!!!
Yeah, Nintendo has a good chance this time.
But seriously, why the hate toward a console you even haven't tried in real life, nor it doesn't have it's first game, nor it doesn't have a good game yet. Geez, you're like those youtube fanboys throwing shit toward something new, maybe It can be as innovative as the Wii (again, it depends if it has a really new and innovative game).
Yeah, imagine a new Starcraft or Age of empires where one player has a Macro control, the other has a micro control, imagine a Team co-op versus online.
See how this can be really innovative for games, even if it's on old tech (innovative like google in our cellphones).
I really hope nintendo will make a shit-load of money, because I will hate if this become another dreamcast.
And who cares if this console doesn't sell like the wii and become the last when PS4/xbox720 arrives, All who matters for nintendo it's if the console make good profits, not arriving first in a non-existant race.
I though you were more smart, not just fucking fanboys.