Nintendo: Why The Wii U Won't Bomb

So E3 2012 is over.  Yup, that was it.  A few neat surprises showed up for the event, but overall it was disappointing.  No new console announcements, though to believe that there were going to be any heading into the convention would be overly optimistic.  Only a few new major IPs, and of those only one of which showed up in a big three conference.  And the new console we were expecting to see something/anything special for showed up with games that we've played already and a minigame collection.  Yeah, the Wii U's showing was a dud to say the least.  Maybe I expected too much from it.  It is after all the successor to the Wii, a console that failed to excite Nintendo fans time and time again.

Now I don't know what the future of the Wii U's software will be, but I do know that even with my current gripes about the system, the Wii U will still be a success and I have my reasons for thinking so.

1.  Brand
Nintendo has a cache that means something, at least for this upcoming generation.  If the Wii U isn't a giant success, then all bets are off on that brand cache for the console following it.  Out of the gate, the Wii and Nintendo names are going to help the Wii U with sales.  People may not play their Wiis too often nowadays, but if a family gets together and someone turns it on with a copy of Wii Sports in the disc tray, then all likelihood is that family will jump in for a few games of bowling.  They aren't tired of the Wii like most serious game players think they are.  The name still resonates and there's been enough time for them since they've picked up their orignal Wii that they'll be ready to purchase a Wii U this holiday.

2.  Price
Nothing is set in stone, and we currently do not know the price the Wii U is going to launch at, but all probability is that it will be between $250 and $300.  It's certainly not throwaway money, but it is going to be a hell of a lot cheaper than what Sony and Microsoft are going to price their next big thing at.  By launching at this price Nintendo will have a market all to itself just like this current generation.  I'm sure many Wiis were bought not for the waving your arm around gimmick, but because they were gaming systems that were $100+ cheaper than their competition.

3.  Loyalty
Fanboys are an unfortunate byproduct of the gaming stratosphere.  They exist prominently on both Sony and Microsoft's consoles, but nowhere are they more fanatical than on Nintendo's.  These fans are both young and old, existing either because of nostalgia or the childlike enjoyment they receive from Nintendo games.  Their colors don't run.  Expect a good deal of them to buy the Wii U on launch day with whatever Nintendo games launch with it (hopefully not just Pikmin 3 and New Super Mario Bros U).

Now these points are only relavant if good, unique software does show up on the Wii U.  Just Pikmin 3 and whatever the new Smash Bros game is won't do.  Nintendo probably does have that taken care of, but at this rate who knows?