Nintendo almost dropped Wii U GamePad - GameSpot

Company president Satoru Iwata reveals tablet controller nearly scrapped due to projection of high cost, takes shot at Microsoft's SmartGlass app.

Nintendo Says “We Want Wii U To Be The Console Every Developer

Turns Out The GameCube Controller Adapter Won't Be Compatible With

Nintendo Entertainment System - Wikipedia

GameSpot - With its limited use-case and inconsistent performance

E3 2014: Connecting Star Fox on Wii U with Project Guard and

SuperPhillip Central: Nintendo Dropping the Wii U GamePad Is One

Sniper Elite V2 Developer Explains Why Wii U Version Is The Best

Credit to CBR, will provide link in comments) But this does put

GameCube - Wikipedia