@Cobalt I don't think you are understanding what I am saying. Did I mention Mario or Zelda? No. I mentioned Pikmin 3 which is akin to Pikmin but in HD. They could have called it Pikmin HD and people won't really be able to tell the difference. This is how some of my friend's feel and I can understand it from that stand point because from their perspective they've played a Mario game already. I just said we are comparing apples to apples. And a Mario game is still a platformer no matter the changes. Whether they love or hate platformers, the point becomes mute unless they are open to see the game's innovations or understand its changes but then the same can be said about Remasters and HD Remakes.

You yourself said you don't like Wii U ports for the Switch. Well one could feel the same way about Mario. See the double standards there? How is that any different?

You: Mario Kart 8 is available for the Wii U. Lame.

Them: Mario Kart 8 is still a Mario Kart game. Lame.

Just as Wii U ports aren't convincing you, the same franchises aren't convincing them. They just have a different standard to you. That's not to say they don't like Mario or can't see the changes between Mario 64 and Sunshine. Those are two different things. Maybe they just don't care about the changes. Just as I couldn't care less if you like or not like Mario or whether you feel its the same game or not.

Seriously, there's been like 7 to 13 Assassin's Creed on the PlayStation 4/Xbox One and going by that logic none of them are the same game. Can you tell me how Mario is not the same game but Assassin's Creed is?

So again is your point that the Wii U has Mario as an exclusives vs 13 games which were innovative for its time? What sort of identity is that?

The bitter truth is that Mario isn't out innovating 13 Assassin's Creed games. Nintendo simply does not have that development power nor want to spam us with the same titles over and over so they take more of an "innovation" in one hit approach. They're playing catchup and are rather quite slow.

If I gave you $10 and you spend it all to make $13. Then good on you.

If I gave you $10 and you spend $1 to make $2 and you did this 10x who's the winner?

Just look at their consoles. They take 5-6 years to R&D and by the time it comes out, the hardware is dated. Sony and Microsoft on the other hand uses hardware that are more within 3 years of hardware iterations.

Some people say the reason for this is because Nintendo might not be what they are used to be anymore but one thing is that they try to play fair and punch above their weight.

The Wii U could have sold more if it had a better identity. It was a confusing mess and while 15 million is probably not a failure, depending on their R&D costs, I wouldn't say it was a runaway success. If there were more exclusives that showcase its dual screen and off TV play. If it was the more powerful system and got more third party. It was like most Nintendo systems, a mediocracy of success. A survivor in the deadly realms of the video games business.

Think of a 2k Switch which had Kindle-like apps, Netflix, Apple TV like features, a 4k dock, etc. That's a complete package right there. There's no excuses not to play Nintendo even if I'm not a big gamer or the most uber hardcore of gamer or portable fan. Instead we got a mainstream core-focused 720p console with no Netflix and Kindle apps. No 4k dock. No 4DS. With PS5 and XBOX Too just around the corner. Its like the Wii all over again.

Iwata himself said that they consider the war won with Sony and Microsoft and want to compete with the likes of Apple but their sales number aren't reflecting that. Unless they change their business practices overnight, Nintendo will remain the underdogs...and even then there's nothing wrong with that.

I understand what you're saying but have a different reasoning and understanding of the situation. You're saying the Switch has "no identity" and that it doesn't have the games it needs to make the big push to completely "destroy" the competition. Instead we're getting last gen ports.

Whereas I think one of the reason Nintendo is doing what they are doing is because they are staying true to themselves and playing fair game. They're not here to destroy the competition but coexist with them. They're not doing a PS3 and rolling out theoretical consoles that claim to be more powerful then the competition but is hard to program for because no one has heard of the "Cell" processing unit before. Nintendo just doesn't do that. They're developers of the Blue Ocean Strategy not a King of the Hill strategy. They believe the ocean is big enough for everyone to exist in it and for everyone to have their niche.

The Switch like the U before it will achieve mediocracy success for what it is.