After Nintendo reported a $531 million annual loss in 2011, the owners decided it was time for major changes. And who is more qualified to call the shots than this knowledgable Northern Star columnist?

It’s important to identify the problem with Nintendo’s lineup. The incredible failure of the Wii U system is almost unheard of.

What I mean by almost unheard of is that Wii U is essentially unknown in the Western hemisphere. The fact that many are still unaware the Wii U was a console released at the end of 2012 is remarkable. There is absolutely zero brand recognition; my parents still call the Wii a Super Nintendo.

The Wii U’s lack of originality when compared to the Wii did not help at all, as the system looks like an add-on to the Wii.

Nintendo expected the system to sell up to nine million units last year, but it failed to surpass three million. With this incredible financial loss, the company’s stock fell 18 percent.

For Nintendo to pick up its sales on consoles, it needs better games to sell the systems. The company should look into bringing in more third-party and indie developer support.

With all of the creative hardware the Wii U has, I would love to see what outside minds could develop. The Wii U GamePad seems like a controller that’s potential has never been fully realized. Now is a pivotal time to flaunt this unique controller.

Rumors have it that Nintendo has come up with a number of solutions. This includes merging its handheld and home consoles in a project called Nintendo Fusion. Bringing together the Nintendo 3DS system and Wii U is a unique way to provide a universal Nintendo gaming experience.

The CEO of Nintendo, Satoru Iwata, has also shown interest in smart device gaming. The growing popularity of cellphone video games is a perfect place where Nintendo could fill a great niche.

Now that Nintendo is desperate, I think people will start to see a lot of creative work from them.