Nintendo broke all their rules in creating the Wii. They threw everything on a limb with the new controls as a PRIMARY input for their PRIMARY console without looking back; they ditched being able to use their past games to make future ports for long term income and decided to have a historical catalog of all their games called the VC; they completely did away with the idea of advancing graphics technology which was a trend that THEY had started themselves; they had intended to launch all their top franchises, Mario Zelda Metroid SmashBros, unlike any of the launches before it; etc.

Could this have been meant as Nintendo's last console?

I don't think so, though all of these are good fuel to the argument. They did, however, consider the possibility. They knew they had to do something different so they gave it almost all they had by putting as many features and as much of their talent as they felt viable to still maintain a low cost. The low cost and odd marketing (name Wii, simplistic design, Wii Channels, Miis) show that they had actually a hit-or-miss plan to secretly take over.

Does anyone remember the N64 controller? Looked kinda strange didn't it? The reason it was is simple. Nintendo didn't know what to expect with their new analog stick though they knew they had a great device for controlling 3D. So Nintendo decided to make the main part of the controller regular with a D-pad but add an extra grip in the middle to switch to playing analog. Plan A and Plan B, always cover your back end. As with the N64 controller, making it both a traditional AND new controller form, they didn't know what to expect with Wii either and had to consider "outcome B".

A.) If this console were to be a HUGE success contrary to past generational trends, it needed as much leverage as possible.

B.) If this console were to be a HUGE failure as shown possible from past generational trends, then they wanted to go out with a bang.

Either way, they were setting themselves up for what they thought would be an awesome and fun ride. It wasn't until E3 2006, where industry enthusiasts lined up for 6 hours to play Wii for a few minutes, that they knew that they were headed toward "A" instead.

Not all is cozy past the first hurdle: a new problem may now arise from Nintendo. They have one characteristic where they go all out and crazy, but then a more traditional characteristic that makes them become reserved and hold back. Now that they have the A position, I don't know if they know what to do since, though considered, it wasn't an "expected" outcome. They are stunned and I'm afraid they are going to go back to what they used to do which is rely on the tried and true, reiterated franchises/new system colors, with very little surprises. "Don't fix what isn't broken" so to speak. But it's the surprises that got them to where they are right now, THAT is what shouldn't be fixed, and in this industry, you cannot necessarily see the tide shift before it's too late. Once that hype and drive is gone, it's hard to maximize it again. I guess we'll see what unfolds in this dramatic tale of revival of the company who first made gaming a part of our culture.

UPDATE: Nintendo announced WiiFit with a Balance Board for feet and weight input for games. Looks like Nintendo isn't done carrying this new legacy. I believe this will be able to last the sales until 3rd parties are able to pull together quality software and reorganize their teams to develop for Wii, thus taking Wii to the next stage in its life, hopefully in time for Holiday 2008.

Any system that
1.) survives less than 2yrs due to low sales compared to competition (sales watchers/market confidence)
2.) does not have a sequal (loyalists)
3.) does not have a significant library of games or third party support (gamers in general)
4.) loses a company money (stock owners and company employees)
can be considered a failure by their respective groups.

Some systems fit ALL of these, some only a few. Usually a system has to fit at least 2 of these for most to consider it a failure.

Lets look at the PS3:
So far the PS3 seems to be meeting 1, 3, 4 with the potential for 2.
Now 4 could be fixed if 1is overcome.
3 will only further influence 1 which will further influence both 4 and 3 which can lead to 2.
1 can be fixed if 3 is overcome but 1 influences 3 by way of self-fulfilling prophecy.
2 is a risk because of 4 and Sony's restructuring.

The wild card is Blu-ray, a gimmick of the gaming device that can leverage 1 thus helping overcome 3 which helps overcome 1 which leads to overcoming 4 which ensures 2 does not happen.

Hm....I think the most convincing evidence for this argument is in how Square looks at its titles and where to put them. As seen in recent years, Square has accepted a strategy of "wait and see" with new consoles for which will have the most sales with the most japanese support. PS2 fit this discription by default but the DS saw that Square is not as Sony-centric as the industry would have thought.

It began with the stepping down of Yamauchi and the entrance of Iwata as head of Nintendo. Once this happened mid-way into the Gamecube's life, the PR gates were finally opened for Square to freely move into the realm of Nintendo if they so wished. The DS began to overtake the PSP which triggered Square stepping into these waters with GBA remakes of FF I and II, Final Fantasy III remade into 3D, and Rocket Slime, a Dragon Quest spin off. Then we began to see FF IV, V, and VI. Could Square be coming back to Nintendo?? We have also seen FF XI with an Xbox and PC version. Wow, FF on an american console, showing that the industry has been going through a lot of changes.

Then Square drops the bomb. Dragon Quest VIII is NOT going to be on the PS3 or even the PSP! But the....DS! Also new FF titles are announced like FF XII Revenant Wings and Chocobo tails for the DS. Once PSP establishes a bit of a userbase, they finally get FF I and II, but it seems that the DS has the primary focus.

What does all this have to do with the Wii? A lot. The Wii is, even moreso than DS, taking off with record sales and Japanese support. This seems to have lead way to again a Dragon Quest spinoff, much like Rocket Slime was on the DS, in the form of Dragon Quest Swords. Then a new trailer of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is released and it looks awesome, much better than the original trailer and the Gamecube effort. It almost looks like a member of the main Final Fantasy series! Then we hear of another FF spinoff in a Chocobo RPG for the Wii. Interesting.

But what about Sony and the main FF line? Well FF XIII has been in development for a very long time but for some reason talk on the title has gone mum. Now it appears there are going to be 6 versions of the title with 4 versions unaccounted for but most certainly not to be on the PS3. We know that with all the work put into FF XIII that it will at least release on the PS3 in some form, but what odd transitions are taking place within Square to cause such dramatic shifts? A simple answer could be a shift in sales trends and platform focus.

Recently Square was quoted as saying that PS3 and 360 are overengineered and that graphics were not as important as everyone has been saying. WHAT??? SQUARE SAID THIS???? yep. Hm, where have we heard that before?... They have also stated that they have more surprises in store for the Wii. Unlike FF XIII which has been in development for HD for quite sometime, the other Square properties up for grabs are Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, etc. Kingdom Hearts seems like a perfect fit for Wii.

There are many factors that are uncertain in the case of Kingdom Hearts though. Disney now has its own concentrated game development segment. Ouch. Also some birdies were chirping about the Kingdom Hearts team being in shambles. Now regardless it is obvious from the evidence that Square is switching its gears and the benefit is most definately going to be the Wii.