I think hard core gamers will get this. Imagine Indy racing games with realistically rendered vehicle interiors, with the speedometer on the Wii U screen. Imagine Battlefield’s Commander mode using this new screen to plan attacks. Or even using the stylus+screen as a mouse pad (like Metroid DS) for more precise controls. I think developers will find uses for the screen to make the Wii U versions of games more appealing than their X360/PS3 counterparts.

My concern is that the system will end up alienating casual gamers. Assuming they never got around to getting a Wii, will they have to buy Wii controls and nunchucks to play their favourite waggle fests? Those of us who did subscribe to the motion control agenda, are we being left out now? Will developers have to program two sets of controls: One for the Wii U controller and one for motion controls?

Nintendo stocks are falling. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/09/nintendo-stock-loses-another-five-percent/

omo: I agree with you actually. Games like Modern Warfare and L4D are pretty standard for even the most casual gamers. Gaming is basically mainstream now. But I think the term “casual gamers” still has some merits in being used.

I also do not understand the appeal of 1st-party Nintendo games.

The idea is nice BUT it just feels old before they have even released it. The Wii was like the must have christmas gift in the uk for 3 years running i think… seriously doubt people will buy the new one for the ‘wow’ factor of having a screen in your hand. As it stands i haven’t play my current Wii in months!!

I agree largely with you DM. There are some HEUGLARGE trends they entirely missed the boat on:
1. Internet-based multiplayer. This was kind of addressed in the DS much better than in the Wii, and they’re obviously trying to get back to par with Wiiu.
2. “Casual” gaming is not as monolithic as you state it is. Granted the whole Angry Bird thing is a concern for all game developers (as in, why Sony is creating the Playstation Suite), but there are a lot of different modes and segments even among casual gamers/gaming. It’s probably even better to say that there’s no such a thing as casual gamers–there are just games everyone plays given certain social/situational contexts. How a Wii or a Xbox or a Rock Band set slots into those situation is what Nintendo is more concerned about. That’s why both them and Microsoft were more focused on storyboarding their new wares. The Wiiu is clearly just another way to address this. They’ve basically gone “iPad” on the home console, and trying to make the controller into a separate thing, something between a smartphone, a DS/3DS, and a Wii.
3. I agree that price is going to be a huge challenge. Because both Sony and MS already “paid the price” on that with their current gen tech. Nintendo probably got away with paying the same price as the others did, but I can’t imagine the controllers being inexpensive. having wii accessories compatibility is a huge deal, and probably shows how they’re going to let you get away with paying for it, for the average joe who doesn’t want to spend $300 on a console and then $400 on 3 of those screens or something.

That aside, the next console Nintendo produces is going to be called the “Weet”. Calling it now!