The potential for asymmetrical gameplay with the pad is huge (and who doesn't love some good ol' Pandora Tomorrow spies vs. mercs?) but that type of gameplay is just going to be very hard to build and sell a game around in today's console market. A purely local multiplayer focused title? Good luck with that. I would love to see it but I think that sort of support would be more likely to come from the PC's indie scene than Nintendo's own first party. Unfortunately, the gamepad's potential will probably go unfulfilled.
It's true, neither Sony nor Microsoft nor even Nintendo in all likelihood will be able to best this year's true gaming overlord, even with all 5- 7 years that this generation will have.
I'd say the touchscreen controller is more Nintendo going bankrupt on new ideas and just trying to shove the success of the DS platforms onto their home system than really following mobile trends.
Fuck spending $400+ on new machines, some of the best entertainment of the year comes entirely free.
It's true, neither Sony nor Microsoft nor even Nintendo in all likelihood will be able to best this year's true gaming overlord, even with all 5- 7 years that this generation will have.