- One part price.
- One part "It's a Wii with a Tablet, wait the Wii is in the closet and I have a tablet anyway".
- One part competition within gaming; typically a new console launches as the old consoles wind down and really sets itself apart. The Wii U more directly engages the PS3/360 than any prior first-to-launch system, I think. For example, the 360 set itself apart from the PS2 by having a hard drive, downloadable games, online gameplay, and high definition. The PS3 had Blu Ray. Many of the Wii U's selling points: media capabilities, online capabilities, high definition are reflected in competition. The tablet is the unique selling point, really, and see #2.
- One part software, although I'd note I did expect software uptake to be much higher despite this. Let me note that I feel like software prices are in grave danger. I really am a believer that mobile has permanently disrupted software pricing expectations for a number of genres of game. This doesn't mean nothing can succeed at $60, but I really do feel like large swaths of the software ecosystem that existed before won't exist going forward.
- With respect to third party support, I have two apparently contradictory observations: The first is that Nintendo does not have good third party relationships, and I think there are a number of reasons behind that but #1 with a bullet is "They are a Japanese company who thinks Japanese in how they design and approach things and operates out of Japan and they seem fundamentally unwilling to adopt a western-focused mindset". The second is that I don't think good third party relationships will do all that much. Games cost a lot to make. They need to sell a ton to break even. Short of outright buying development of games, I don't think third party publishers are going to commit exclusive content. There's essentially no upside. Look at the 360's exclusives the last few years: a few low-end PC+360 games, and then the stuff Microsoft made. Look at the PS3's exclusives the last few years: a few low-end Japanese games, and then the stuff Sony made. The age of third-parties actually building exclusives is over. I don't think it's going to come back. I think ZombiU is actually bigger, higher budget, and higher profile that we would expect to be exclusive, and a testament to Ubisoft's culture of trying to have a big launch presence on every system. I don't think this is going to get better.
- I'd also argue that the 460k isn't terrible news--I don't think comparing launches is all that useful because I don't think launches matter all that much. The real question is what the trajectory is, whether or not they can get a good first year ramp up going, get costs under control so that they can sweat out slower software uptake, convince developers to keep working on it, and get out popular and profitable first-party software. I do think people who are both bullish and bearish on the Wii U are being premature. Let me be clear that I'm not saying 460k is a good figure by any means, I'm simply saying launches aren't all that important.
I'm not sure marketing matters. Marketing can only sell the product that exists, and I think the product itself has problems. I do think the Basic/Deluxe distinction was idiotic and confusing. I don't think a marketing blitz would have done anything to address any of the above issues.