Well first off, your post is the result of angst. So that almost completely releases it from being logical, rational, or valid. But I'll bite anyway because I'm a little bored atm and don't have a terrible amount to do. I know this is a trap for all intents and purposes, but oh well.
So let's take away some of your weak arguments:
Power Glove - Not made by Nintendo, so that doesn't count. Isn't integral to the system, so no one gave a shit about it. Ahead of it's time and had terrible execution.
Power Pad - an initial foray into alternative input methods, and proved successful for some part. Didn't really take of, but did it's job.
R.O.B. - Yes, a gimmick, purely. But like the Power Glove, not integral to the experience and therefore not comparable to Wii.
Mouse - Sega did this as well and it went nowhere. Doesn't completely absolve Nintendo but it goes to show that console gaming isn't built very well for PC interfaces. At the time it was unveiled, PC gaming itself wasn't even using a mouse all that much. So I'm not sure why you'd bring this up.
Super Scope - A balls-out attempt to extreme-ify light guns. Marginally successful at best.
Satellaview - Only in Japan, was somewhat successful, and outlasted Xband. One of the first somewhat successful attempts at "internet" gaming on a home console.
N64 Mic - Hmmm. Birth of DC's mic, further integrated into GC, and a solid basis on the Xbox. Seems like it's been integral to gaming on a measurable level.
Transfer Pac - Only meant to do one thing, and it did it remarkably well.
64DD - A failure on all levels, but still served a purpose.
Virtual Boy - Same as 64 DD.
You're missing one big thing though. With the exception of the VB, *NONE* of these things had an entire console based around them. So compare apples to oranges all you want.
I think the point I'm trying to make here is that you fail to realize that all of these things have been utilized either by Nintendo or by their competitors in some form or fashion. The great thing about failures is that they always end up becoming valuable R&D. It's called experience, and the only time it is a total failure is when you can't learn from it. Additionally, you can argue that this is evident of Nintendo taking lots of risks and attempting to help their fanbase enjoy peripherals and games to their utmost potential. Why else would the Transfer Pac even exist, if not to allow gamers the all-important ability to move data between consoles? And this leads to things later on like GC-GBA cables, which will be furtherd in the Wii-DS wireless connections.
In other words, it might fail on some levels, but it prevails at later stages. The only way this stuff remains a detriment is if Nintendo
still used them and refused to upgrade the technologies and techniques available on their console.
The point about the GBA-GC link only working with one game is false on a million and one levels, to the point where I don't even feel the need to defend it. That's just brash fanboyism speaking at its most raw.
As for the Wiimote itself, I highly doubt we'll see more than a few addons. And whereas MS or Sony would need to fashion a controller from scratch, Nintendo can just put them in a shell. That kind of modability is amazing, and follows an object-oriented like programming design. Instead of plunking down $200 for a Steel Batallion controllers, you can create a 20-30 dollar dock and get the exact same thing. Whether or not this happens remains to be seen, so maybe you'd like to stop being so close-minded about it?
In fact, the ultimate irony about your post is that you talk at length about a fringe game - DDR - and yet dismiss it as well. I don't know if that's the hip thing all the hep cats do these days, but how can you complain about something that radiates PURELY around the idea of getting non-gamers into the gaming industry?
Traditional games work with traditional controllers, and guess what, Nintendo knows that too. I don't know how you managed to miss A) a conventional shell, B) the conventional controller, and C) the fact that SSBB will have both motion and regular controls.
I'm not sure what kind of point you are trying to make by saying we want to play MGS4. I'd worry about any gamer that wouldn't. On top of that, what Sony COULD do is release a system that is somewhat less powerful, without the fluff, and sell it for less than 400 bucks. But they'd rather shove their own proprietary medium down our throats and tell us we want it, that we'll pay through the ass for it, and at the end of the day after we've spent 700 bucks, we'll FINALLY get to play MGS4. I wonder what happens if MS comes knocking on Konami's door and tells them to port it, and then proceeds to hand them a billion bucks. What happens to your argument then? If they can do it with GTA4 - which is an even larger franchise - then I'm pretty sure they could pull anything they want. No exclusitivity, but damn sure some ports.
Your comments about how the motion stuff is not worth it flies in the goddamn face of A) almost every developer comment, B) the 6+ hour long lines at E3, and C) seemingly every last preview and hands-on report that has come down the line. Again, what is ironic is that you talk a lot about DDR, which aims to do the same - get people playing who don't. The controller
will do that, whether you like it or not. What the DS has started will be continued.
Finally, the whole thing about how Konami took Nintendo's archaic technology and used it in such a radical way is valid. So maybe, then, you'd like to tell me about the last time Konami had money, time, and people to invest in
making a damn console? There's no way to say Nintendo would think up the same concepts as Katamari and DDR. But at the same time, when you have time and energy to devote to new methods of gameplay, you'll damn sure hit gold every once and a while. You know, kind of like how Nintendo has made a whole new goddamn interface for their next console.
You then take this to mean "well Sony or MS could make money of it." Which is completely right. They've taken almost everything Nintendo has done in the past and made money off it. So what is your goddamn point? I mean, why else does MS suddenly say they need more family friendly games? Why does Sony add in motion control? BECAUSE IT'S COMMONPLACE IN ALL INDUSTRIES TO COPY WHAT IS SUCCESSFUL. I mean, really, Sony! Connecting a portable to a console? What a
ing RADICAL idea!
Your post reeks of trendy Nintendo bashing, really.
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