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New article posted on IGN, with interview excerpts from Iwata and Miyamoto:

Why The Wii Didn't Appeal To The 'Core' Iwata and Miyamoto talk openly about why the Wii was perceived as a 'casual' console. Speaking in a special edition of Iwata Asks, Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto talked, amongst other things, about the perceptions of the Wii as a casual console. "Shortly after the Wii console was released, people in the gaming media and game enthusiasts started recognising the Wii console as a casual machine aimed toward families," said Iwata. "And placed game consoles by Microsoft and Sony in a very similar light with each other, saying these are machines aimed towards those who passionately play games. "It was a categorisation between games that were aimed towards core, and casual." Unfortunately, the Wii was unable to bridge this incipient divide. Iwata even admitted that the Wii failed to meet the expectations of 'core' gamers. "I certainly do not think that Wii was able to cater to every gamer's needs," he said. "So that's also something I wanted to resolve." So how will the Wii U stop itself from being perceived as another casual console? Well, Miyamoto believes that the Wii U's ability to output in HD will help. "One of the key reasons that such things as the core and the casual exist today is that we decided not to adopt HD on the Wii console," Miyamoto said. "Of course, besides that there are things like issues with the controller and the challenges that it brings, network functionalities and many other things, but I think HD was the biggest factor that everyone was able to clearly understand the difference."

Link: http://wii.ign.com/articles/119/1191484p1.html

Very true .... I have a Wii & I hardly play it anymore. Only when the kids & sometimes the wife wanna play ill join in. The Wii should have had an HD output ...

And the Wii still sold like gangbusters. Who cares about the "core" when you outsell the competition by a large amount?

I will admit that I'm not your average "core" gamer, but as someone who likes a lot of niche stuff, the Wii is great for me. Not as good as the PS2 in this area, but it's never been hard for me to find something I want to play for the system.

Originally Posted by mtxbass1 And the Wii still sold like gangbusters. Who cares about the "core" when you outsell the competition by a large amount?

yeah - I'm not sure why they are hung up on this. They made a TON of money on the Wii. The only thing I can think of is that they know getting the casuals to buy another system is going to be tough but they can sell to losers like us who buy this crap for no reason as long as it kind of looks like they are going to release some complicated shit.

They just need some gangsta's to advertise the next Wii & then those cool core guys will be on board...

How many third parties tried to make a solid core title on the Wii? Particularly early on in the console's life-cycle? Not many.

Originally Posted by Javery yeah - I'm not sure why they are hung up on this. They made a TON of money on the Wii. The only thing I can think of is that they know getting the casuals to buy another system is going to be tough but they can sell to losers like us who buy this crap for no reason as long as it kind of looks like they are going to release some complicated shit.

I think they're hung up on it because they're losing people that they need to buy the next console.

My 11 year old son now refuses to play Wii games. The Wii is desperately uncool among his friends. He would rather be bored and play something he's already beaten than play a Wii game.

That I think this is hogwash doesn't seem to affect his opinion (yet). I think that deep down he understands that there are still good games. But the Wii is sorely lacking in things he and his friends like.

One of the big things (but not the only thing) is online, especially the ability to easily play with friends and chat with them. Also are the "core" shooter-type games. Since both are functionally missing from the Wii, it's a double strike against the Wii and, by extension, Nintendo.

Nintendo's awkward-to-the-point-of-unusable online and the decisions to eschew HD and all the popular franchises that depend upon it are alienating his generation of gamers. While Nintendo has got cash in the bank and a stranglehold on idiots people like us who buy all their crap, they'd be stupid to lose the next generation of addicts.

Originally Posted by Javery The only thing I can think of is that they know getting the casuals to buy another system is going to be tough but they can sell to losers like us who buy this crap for no reason as long as it kind of looks like they are going to release some complicated shit.

Not to mention the home console after WiiU. It was great for Nintendo that they managed to capture so many casuals with Wii but if they can't convince 'the core' to buy the next gen they are going to be in trouble.

Is Miyamoto that out of touch? HD was certainly a factor but not THE factor. Gimmicky controls (i.e. no support for a traditional controller) and lack of even a rudimentary online service is what soured core gamers on the Wii. I guess I'm not surprised at his incorrect assumptions given the gimmicky controller on the WiiU, and the 3D gimmick on the 3DS.

Since when did Nintendo have to rely on gimmicks to sell consoles? Sure they had R.O.B., light guns, track pads, etc. over the years, but they were never forced onto the gamer as the control of choice. They were all optional, which is what the WiiU should have been to the Wii.

Originally Posted by mtxbass1 And the Wii still sold like gangbusters. Who cares about the "core" when you outsell the competition by a large amount?

Originally Posted by Javery yeah - I'm not sure why they are hung up on this. They made a TON of money on the Wii. The only thing I can think of is that they know getting the casuals to buy another system is going to be tough but they can sell to losers like us who buy this crap for no reason as long as it kind of looks like they are going to release some complicated shit.

Bingo. It will be impossible for the WiiU to capture the casual market again, so here they are on our doorstep banging to be let in again. Saw this coming a few years ago. The core are used to system cycles and dropping multiple hundreds every 5 years on the latest and greatest. We buy a game a month, give or take, and buy DLC, digital games, etc. and generally have no problems spending ridiculous amounts of money on our hobby. A stark contrast to the crowd that was attracted to the Wii.

But don't the "core" gamers buy Nintendo consoles no matter what? It's, by definition, what hardcore gamers do. Also, Nintendo has a loyal fanbase like no other game company. Even though the Wii was a huge disappointment for me personally I am still very interested in the WiiU and I will probably buy one eventually (as soon as there is HD Mario, Metroid or Zelda).

They have also been viewed as a "kiddie" company for quite some time now - probably since the N64 days and maybe even earlier since back in the NES/SNES days ALL video gaming was considered "for kids". Why are they so concerned with it now coming off of their most succesful product?

Its awful hard to sell to the casuals twice (and I have been saying this for a very long time), since they are satisfied with what they already have. While the Wii had very good sales of the system and Wii Sports, a lot of people who bought one were satisfied with just Wii Sports and didn't buy any additional software to go with the Wii. This is not good for games sales, as these people are not interested in buying additional games beyond if maybe 1-3 additional titles. So you have a lot of people who bought the system, but not everyone who bought the system became game-buying customers like Nintendo hoped for.

The casuals who bought this system will buy whatever is hot, if they want additional products they have now moved on from the Wii, and are moving onto whatever the next big thing in tech is. They probably won't buy another Nintendo product, unless Nintendo produces the next thing that becomes hard to find.

Originally Posted by Javery I will probably buy one eventually (as soon as there is HD Mario, Metroid or Zelda).

Those are two key words.

They've been slowly eroding their core fan base for a decade. No not everyone will just jump ship after the Wii, but I think it will be a stark contrast. Then again, for some all it will take is a great Zelda, Mario or Metroid trailer in HD.

Armchair analyst prediction*: The WiiU will start strong but end up doing Gamecube numbers or less.

*probably way, way, way the wrong, but what the hell. lol

Originally Posted by Corvin Those are two key words. They've been slowly eroding their core fan base for a decade. No not everyone will just jump ship after the Wii, but I think it will be a stark contrast. Then again, for some all it will take is a great Zelda, Mario or Metroid trailer in HD. Armchair analyst prediction*: The WiiU will start strong but end up doing Gamecube numbers or less. *probably way, way, way the wrong, but what the hell. lol

U probably right, but i still like nintendo.

Originally Posted by Corvin Those are two key words. They've been slowly eroding their core fan base for a decade. No not everyone will just jump ship after the Wii, but I think it will be a stark contrast. Then again, for some all it will take is a great Zelda, Mario or Metroid trailer in HD.

I agree but isn't that all they want out of anyone is to buy one console eventually? I'll buy it when there is enough great software to justify my purchase - whether this is one outstanding groundbreaking game (like Mario 64 justifying the N64) or a bunch of lesser titles that add up to something worthwhile (like the PS1 for me)...

They finally get that they need the core gamer because:
1. Core gamers buy games. Casual is happy with Wii Sports.
2. Core gamers buy new consoles. Casual thinks the WiiU is a new Wii controller.
3. Core buys DLC. Casual thinks DLC is a new rap group.

Originally Posted by The Punisher U probably right, but i still like nintendo.

I still like Nintendo, there core games can't be beat. I just don't see everything turning up rosy for them with the WiiU in regards to core gamers. I've never been a doom and gloom guy when it comes to Nintendo either. I'm on new ground.

You folks are saying that casuals are happy just with Wii Sports, but my family and friends who are casuals and have a Wii have bought other games. Now it's probably true that they aren't so keen on spending $50 on a game (certainly not $60 - exception being Wii Fit, but that's hardware too), but they do buy games. Just Dance is an obvious case of a wild success with the casual crowd, for example. Note that Just Dance 3 (or is it 4?) is coming out at a $40 price point.

Originally Posted by SaraAB Its awful hard to sell to the casuals twice (and I have been saying this for a very long time), since they are satisfied with what they already have. While the Wii had very good sales of the system and Wii Sports, a lot of people who bought one were satisfied with just Wii Sports and didn't buy any additional software to go with the Wii. This is not good for games sales, as these people are not interested in buying additional games beyond if maybe 1-3 additional titles. So you have a lot of people who bought the system, but not everyone who bought the system became game-buying customers like Nintendo hoped for. The casuals who bought this system will buy whatever is hot, if they want additional products they have now moved on from the Wii, and are moving onto whatever the next big thing in tech is. They probably won't buy another Nintendo product, unless Nintendo produces the next thing that becomes hard to find.

The attach ratio is just below the PS3, FYI.

I think the fact that they focused their resources on Wii Sports, Play, Fit, Resort, Music, Party, etc. and failed to deliver a new Pikmin, Wave Race, Star Fox, etc. as well as new franchises aimed at the core was as much of the problem as the lack of HD. Everyone who bought a Wii knew it wasn't HD when they bought it, obviously it didn't help their image among core gamers but as long as the games kept coming they wouldn't have complained. But Nintendo's direction made it clear the audience they were after and that it was going to be hard for 3rd party companies to sell games to the core on their system.

The thing that I find a little strange is how the interview comes off as if having HD will go a long ways to fixing their inability to attract core gamers. That's like saying that people will buy a TV because it comes with a remote, at this point it's just a given, not a feature to sell a system.