Its like to me they have signaled time and again they no longer want to compete head on with Sony and Microsoft. They have also said time and again that this is a company that is evolving and experimenting. In other words, they want their own niche as they have always wanted. No way they will release a console/handheld system on par with the PS4 graphically with a handheld more powerful than the 3DS. That would be too expensive and we know Nintendo doesn't think like that. I think many of you have your blinders on. They want something that doesn't compete with the traditional home consoles or smartphones directly. It seems more likely that they release a reimagining of what a handheld console is and that includes TV connectivity.
Think more along the lines of a suped up Fire TV/ handheld combo and you be closer to what they are signaling. Whatever it is, it isn't going to be in the same market as the PS4 and Xbox One. They want their own segment. Even many of the things some of you are pointing at as evidence that they are some how staying in the horse race against Microsoft and Sony looks more like a company that is refocusing rather than a company that is doubling down. This is very much a company that sees the need to side step the traditional home console scene and they are going out of their way to make you see that. Some of you just can't let go of the past. But I'm sure as hell not afraid of the hive mind "correcting" me. You guys come off as silly and pretty thin skinned. I'll enjoy my Wii U as much as anyone else but I'm not going to be stupid about their future.
...You realize that all of this talk all of a sudden about how they want to sidestep the traditional console market, still suggests that they will be delivering their own content through their own platform, and thus still won't be going third-party on the "traditional" consoles anyway? So you've just backpedaled over your initial assertion of them wanting to have a good swan song and bow out, instead bringing up that they'll just come out with something entirely different, which nobody is even disputing all that hard.
Anyway, back on the main topic, 2 million on its own doesn't really feel like a lot in terms of modern major-market games, but it's a really good start for a slow-moving system, and Mario Kart games always have ridiculous legs. Later in the year, when Hyrule Warriors, Bayo 2, Smash, and even Zelda next year come out, more people will jump on board, and Mario Kart will remain an appealing title to reach back for. I recall some old NPD threads being shocked to see that Mario Kart DS was still putting up chart-worthy numbers multiple years after its release. Yes, the DS had a much larger install base to work with, but that kind of longevity is just not something you see from other franchise games on other systems, regardless of consoles sold.
