I think the bigger problem is that even if people don't know what it is, they don't want it. Nothing out there is really compelling that isn't on the 360 or PS3, especially if there isn't a significant upgrade in visuals. Even in the early 360 days when a lot of early games were PS2+ at best, you could tell that there was a difference in quality to a noticeable degree. With the Wii U, the visuals are on par or worse.
Nah, that's not "the bigger problem." Specs aren't THE problem it isn't selling. THE problem is that the tablet controller isn't as big of a draw to casuals as motion controls were; or, if it is, it isn't catching on due to a combination of games that demonstrate it well and adequate marketing. Probably both.
Specs are a problem when it comes to third parties, but only really in the future with the next Sony and MS consoles. Right now it's an OK platform to port to, but straight ports will suffer because of the weak CPU (in particular, taking advantage of the DSP to move audio decoding off the CPU is likely something that will be missed by many straight ports, even though it can help out a bit for some genres.)
ZombiU is this generation's Red Steel so it isn't worth acknowledging.
I really thoroughly enjoyed the ZombiU review meltdowns on GAF but taking the game in for what it is (I haven't bought it and don't plan to until it drops in price), it's clearly better than Red Steel. There was literally nothing redeemable about Red Steel, it coasted on the newness of motion controls plus FPS. But the graphics were a letdown even then (Ubi should have been sued for those GI bullshots, seriously), the gunplay was awkward after the novelty wore off, the enemies were bullet sponges, the missions uninteresting, the story generic, etc. etc.
At least there is one thing I can say I like about ZombiU: the whole "if you die you become a zombie then you have to kill yourself to get your stuff back, otherwise you're FUBAR'd" thing. That's a potentially good gameplay idea and wouldn't be out of place in Ye Olde Survival Horrors before they went all macho charismo.
I hope Nintendo is working their asses off making Mario Galaxy quality software for this thing. I suspect they aren't, thinking that pumping out half assed wares that try to recapture the blue ocean will still net them the kind of sales they received on the Wii and DS heyday. I can't wait to see what desperate attempt to grab the brass ring they will try but I'm sure we'll find out at the next E3!
I wish I could get away with saying this kind of thing about Sony.
"Yeah I'm ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE Sony is going to make absolute shit for Vita and PS4 just because, uh, my gut tells me so. They're totally gonna flop! (Even more so, in the Vita's case.)"
Absurd.
