Nintendo Wii U – will it be a success?

Aside from the usual array of fantastic games, us gamers have had little to get excited about in terms of new releases lately.

Of course, we’ve had some great handheld devices, like the criminally underrated PS Vita and the rather overrated Nintendo 3DS.

But I, like any gamer out there, want a new console to stick my teeth into. And now, after years of waiting, Nintendo is once again the provider of that new console.

The Wii U is due out later this year, in time for Christmas. The popularity of the whole Nintendo brand certainly stands the console in good stead, but there have been mutterings that it could be a bit of a flop.

With the next generation of hardcore games consoles from Sony and Microsoft due (probably) next year, there’s a danger that the Wii U will become obsolete before it’s even got settled into the market.

We don’t know a lot about the Wii U’s power at the moment, but it’s been suggested that the graphical capabilities leave an awful lot to be desired.

It doesn’t seem to be worrying Nintendo at the moment though, as boss Satoru Iwata said recently that being first in the next generation race is not important at all.

Instead, he said that the price of the console will be “one of the most important elements”. He’s right – being first will have its advantages and disadvantages, but the pricing will be absolutely vital.

We all remember the early life of the 3DS – sales weren’t a disaster, but they fell well below what Nintendo had expected. As soon as it dropped the price, sales shot up.

But it’s worth remembering that the games line-up for the 3DS was pretty poor, which certainly wouldn’t have helped.

For Nintendo to make the Wii U work, price will certainly be important. But if the games aren’t there to play, the Wii U could have a shelf life shorter than the Dreamcast.