leonard267 wrote...
If they want to sell more consoles, then their consoles must cater for more games. If they want to sell more games, then their games must cater for more consoles. Even better, do both! I really doubt if one can whittle their options down to the two that you have listed.
That's an oxymoron logic Especially for Nintendo's case since they are a console maker. First and foremost they're console makers. They are not EA, Ubisoft, or Activision. Software makers main goal is like you said to get their games to as many buyers as they can, the logical marketing 101 is make multi platform games. But Nintendo also makes consoles besides making games, and that's why they need exclusives. Once they don't have any exclusives for their console the reason to buy that console will cease to exist. Nintendo's main revenue comes from the console sales not the games.
If Pokemon was also released for the VITA, the market is then split into 2 consoles. It's right that Pokemon will sell more, but it will not help the sales of the 3DS at all because of the existence of a substitution console.
The problem with Nintendo's WiiU right now is just they aren't releasing many 1st party games that is also a console killer. In result, sales are low, and 3rd party developers avoids developing games for it because they lack the confidence caused by the low console sales.
Though they're 3DS is starting to sell well because of consistent release of exclusive console sellers with Fire Emblem Awakening, Monster Hunter 3 ultimate, Monster Hunter 4, and then Pokemon X&Y and Zelda: Link between two worlds.