Originally Posted by
sketch
I'm not a Nintendo hater or fanboy, but I think Nintendo is in a lot of trouble, and I think industry followers are concerned as well (not just fanboys). They have always been able to sit back and be content with whatever happened in the console market since the emergence of the Gameboy. In recent years, their handheld market has started to wane due to the rise tablets and smart phones. The 3DS just isn't selling as well as the DS did, and there's obviously no competition from the Vita. The market for a dedicated handheld is shrinking at the same time that Nintendo laid its biggest egg on the console market. Not a good combo for the Big N.
Even their "lackluster" consoles had some success; I remember excitement for the N64 due to the handful of landmark titles. The Gamecube did a workmanlike job in third place during that generation. The Wii U, barring a significant turnaround, looks to be a huge flop, with no interest at launch and nothing to save it on the horizon. They may be able to gain profitability through their prolific IPs (Mario, Zelda, Metroid), but I think that mojo might be fading as people have played those games in so many different forms through the years.
I don't think Nintendo is done, but they do have to reevaluate their business model. "Sitting comfortably in the back" is not a good way to ensure success. They innovated with the Wii to great success, and they will have to do better than the Wii U and 3DS to remain relevant in the gaming space.