A portable Gamecube would really make these controllers shine..
(Trying to segue the Troll definition debates...
)
Talking with a buddy today, we thought about something-
Nintendo always manages to make a profit on their systems. They make roughly a 60-65% profit on every 3DS sold. Not sure the margin on the Wii, but we all know how many of those they sold, so - yeah. With the Wii U, people are freaking out over a price point, fearing a $350-450 or higher price-point. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo decides to go the Sony route, sell the system and one pack-in controller at cost or lower, and make their money by selling extra controllers, 1st party games,
etc.* The controller is looking like a beast - both in the figurative and literal sense! It gives Nintendo the reasoning to offer a more trimmed controller model, (like the Wii's classic controller,) and make money that way. Also, going back to my notion of a portable Gamecube, give this new monster control some awesome bells and whistles, and I can see Nintendo easily selling $100 controllers like hotcakes, (making a 20-30% profit in the process!)
* - It's just pure skepticism, but I wonder if Nintendo may contemplate going back to their old ways of cracking down on 3rd party developers, (see: Nintendo Seal of Approval.)
By doing this, Nintendo would limit the amount of shovel-ware released for the system, (which alienated themselves with their "hard-core" audience,) and provide them an excuse to make more profit from 3rd party releases. Quality sells better, therefore - more $$ for 3rd parties on a Nintendo system, and even more money for Nintendo. It's what made Nintendo a monster in the 80's and early 90's.
I believe the controller will be the secret weapon for Nintendo's success with the Wii U. Those who are skeptical: I understand! But, tell me you wouldn't invest in a second Wii U controller that allows you to play both Gameboy - GBA, (maybe one-day DS games), as well as Soul Calibur II (w/ Link), Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Goldeneye/Perfect Dark head-to-head with other Wii U controller owners? I'm not saying that Nintendo will do all of this - but if they don't, well, the power could certainly be there - and there an awful lot of Geohots out there!
What do you all think?