Almost everybody in the US and UK have an iPhone or Android Smart Phone. If you own a Smart Phone, you know about Angry Birds, Cut the Rope and a number of other apps that are available at a free or relatively cheap price. With Nintendo's Wii U console in stores right now, should iOS and Android Developers port their apps to Nintendo's console?
In 2006, Nintendo began to dominate the "Casual Gamer" market with the Wii. A few years later, casual gamers stopped playing the Wii and were all attracted to Smart Phone and tablet games. These games were easily accessible and you could bring them wherever you went. Now that the casual market is very small with the Wii, Nintendo has gone back to focusing on "core" gamers with the Wii U. At the same time, I believe Wii U has the potential to become a platform for both Casual and Hardcore gamers.
Nintendo launched the eShop for the Wii U last year at launch and it's very similar to Xbox Live. You can download games, whether it be a retail or indie title. With The Wii U having a controller that resembles a tablet, it'll be very easy for Developers to launch titles on Smart Phones and the Wii U at the same time. This will increase Wii U sales and dramatically increase gametime with the platform.
Is it pointless to have Smart Phone games on the Wii U? Not at all. Most people are busy Texting or on the phone on their Smart Phones anyways. On a Smart Phone, you can't text and play your apps at the same time. With the Wii U in your household, you can easily pause the app when you get a text, send your text, and just pick up the Wii U Gamepad. It takes less time and it would work. This feature alone would bring Nintendo back into the center of the living room with the same impact that the original Wii had.
Will Nintendo implement Smart Phone Games and Apps into the eShop? It's possible, but there are no plans to do so. Once Nintendo has an idea in mind, they stick with it. Only time will tell if Nintendo actually decides to allow Developers to port their apps to the Wii U console.
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