That's really interesting. I've always liked all the NSMB games and from what I hear this is actually a really special, new Mario game. Do you know if there's any interoperability with the 3DS? I was hoping the Wii would have it last time with the DS, which was an unknown factor that put me on the fence before making my purchase this generation.

I'm gonna try to keep the rest of this post within the first category you talked about, as I'm really surprised this thing is selling out at places. Given the waning popularity of the Wii and the average reception of the 3DS I didn't know if the non-gaming masses who put Nintendo on top with their previous console/handheld duo would be coming out again. Still, I am glad that they are because Nintendo is an awesome steward for raising the next generation of gamers, and we should always celebrate devs and manufacturers for trying new things, and from what the OP said, they did just that with the gamepad.

At the same time, I'm curious if they can maintain a hardcore player base, which is what has really allowed Microsoft and Sony to thrive longer in the console cycle. I just don't understand why you would buy one if you have a PS3 or a 360. Now is also an amazing and affordable time to get into PC gaming, it's such a blissful scene, not only as a player, but as a customer and a user. We all know real next-generation consoles are on the horizon, and I just don't know how Nintendo can survive when their box becomes "last-gen tech" again after only one year on the market.

I hope that doesn't happen, because, again, I want Nintendo to succeed, I wouldn't want to imagine a video game ecosystem without them. I really like how they've made a stand that it doesn't have to be about graphics, you can innovate in different ways, but as a gamer I would like to see that innovation result in more meaningful experiences. I'm probably getting a 3DS soon, as I finally got my hands on a demo Vita and I just don't think it's viable as the console-class interface they were going for. So I'd really like to see Nintendo step it up from what we've had with the Wii and the DS, and if they bring a little interoperability along with that, then hey, I might just have to accept the paradox and buy myself a Wii U.