I grew up playing Mario, just like every other kid who enjoyed video games. I'd spend as much time as i could trying to beat the levels right before the castles, only to be interrupted by my parents, telling me that i am done for the night. It was fun times, with each new console Nintendo was delivering the experience for each one was getting better and better.
The thing is, as Nintendo was bringing out new consoles, i was getting older and Nintendo was sticking to the same formula it has been using since its first home console device. By the time the Nintendo 64 came out i was curious as to what the new Sony Playstation was all about. It showed off games like Twisted Metal and Crash Bandicoot, that really caught my attention. I still enjoyed Nintendo's Mario and Zelda games, but i was older and kind of over them. Instead of stomping on goombas i was shooting missles from my low rider on the rooftops of New York. This wasn't Nintendo making bad games, this was me growing up and wanting to try new and fresh experiences in games.
*Nintendo, don't be prideful*
Nintendo has always played by its own rules, the company will take a gamble, hoping it pays off [Wii]. For the most part it does; however, the scenarios it doesn't work cost Nintendo dearly (Gamecube, Wii U). When I was younger i didn't understand the business side of gaming companies, let alone did I actually care. As i got older and more into the industry I began to realize how things worked. I see Nintendo as a prideful company, they'll do things differently from the industry, have it backfire, than still stand there and say that their product is fine. Well, it's not fine, in fact Nintendo is in such a funk [with Wii U] all they can do is apologize for its terrible drought in games, its online system, and its long loading screens (which has been fixed).
Nintendo made the jump to HD, which is huge for the company but also a little late to the party. They built a system that is significantly better than the original Wii; however, because their system isn't as powerful as the next-gen (now current) Playstation 4 and Xbox 1, Third party developers and publishers fail to see why they need to downgrade their games just to have it on Nintendos console. Nintendo has always said that graphics shouldn't decide whether a game is great or not, which they're right but If you want support from third party developers and you know your competitors have powerful machines, than make a console that caters to EVERYONE.
Nintendo seems to rely on its first-party games for a momentum shift in the Wii U. No doubt the games they make are fun and will help move some units, but they're the same franchises that have been around for 20 years. It's as if Nintendo is to scared to test the waters for a new IP, instead going back to its security blanket. Which is funny because Nintendo is the one that takes the most risk out of the 3 companies. If Nintendo wants to live on their own little island then they need to get off their rear ends and start promoting this system. Figure out what audience you are trying to cater to. 
*...yep*
Nintendo has been around for awhile now, they have their fan base to thank for that; however, it seems now that even Nintendo fans are hesitant about the Wii U. Sales figures don't lie, and the Wii U is on life support and its only cure are big software titles, which are coming. The new year does look brighter for the system but i am going to make a bold prediction and say the Wii U wont reach 9.5 million at the end of 2014.
I may come off as someone who hates Nintendo and wants them to fail. The truth is, I don't, I want Nintendo to succeed. I bought a Wii U to help support the company, because i believe Nintendo is the one company that can breathe life in this industry. They can create experiences that can't be found on any other system. Seeing the big N in this debacle is frustrating and hope for the best of luck to them in the future.