Nintendo on Thursday said its Wii U videogame machine—its first new home console in six years—will go on sale in the U.S. Nov. 18, starting $300, and will include features aimed at making the device into a broader entertainment hub for TV viewing. A successful launch of the Wii U is critical for the Japanese company, which is coming off its first annual loss in more than three decades. Nintendo's business model is facing a threat from a technological shift enabling consumers to play games inexpensively on smartphones, tablet computers and other Web-connected electronic devices.
