Mario maker reaches out to original Wii owners to say new version is an "entirely new system."
Nintendo has reached out to original Wii owners to inform them that the Wii U is "not just an upgrade." The Mario maker has dispatched a message through the Wii system explaining why consumers should upgrade to the HD console.
"It's time to discover Wii U," the message reads (via Kotaku). "Wii U is an all-new home console from Nintendo. It's not just an upgrade--it's an entirely new system that will change the way you and your family experience games and entertainment."
Wii U sales have struggled, in part due to marketing efforts falling short, according to Nintendo. Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto said in March that communicating the novelty of the Wii U relative to the Wii has been a challenge.
"I think Wii U certainly has a little bit more of a challenge because it doesn't have that 'looking-fun' element to it," Miyamoto said at the time. "But I think that as people bring it into the living room and begin to play it, particularly when you experience with five people, you really do get a sense for how fun Wii U is."
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata last month laid out a plan to make the Wii U profitable. It includes releasing "key" first-party titles on a regular basis beginning in the second half of 2013, increase efforts to communicate the uniqueness of Wii U, and reduce manufacturing costs.
Worldwide Wii U sales currently stand at 3.45 million units. Nintendo hopes to sell 9 million systems by the end of March 2014.
