GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - Why are people calling for Nintendo to go third party?

Another day has come and gone, and somehow 24 hours is once again not enough to get everything done. Ah, the struggle of finding time for chores, work, family and friends! Never enough time for the things you want to do, always too much time spent on things that need to be done. If only I didn't have to sleep...that would free up so much time! See you in a few, short hours.

I'm honestly very surprised by what I'm hearing from big-name games media people, as well as a few of the analysts out there. Nintendo fans always get bashed for what we like and appreciate, but lately things are rougher than usual. It's all because of the 3DS' slow start, and that has lead to a rather brutal wave of comments from the industry. Most damning of all are related to Nintendo's standing as a company.

I know you've seen it and talked about it a bit, but I thought we should chat about it as an End of Day thought. Just how in the world is it that some people believe now is the time for Nintendo to throw in their first party towel and just flip over the to third party side? What in the world makes people think that that's the path Nintendo is heading down?

Here's the main reason why this kind of statement boggles my mind. Last time I looked, the Wii was the most successful console of this generation, and the DS was Nintendo's best-selling gaming platform of all-time. Yes, Nintendo's console and portable blew away records, brought in billions of dollars, and showed that Nintendo still has what it takes to be the king of the hill.

Now with the lackluster 3DS launch, people are calling for Nintendo to drop out of the first party race?! Can someone please connect the dots for me on this one? I don't see how we get to Wii and DS success to suggesting Nintendo should bow out of the first party market. Where were these people when the PS3 had a slow start? Why weren't their calls for Sony to go third party?

Is this just a case of Nintendo fanboy blindness that I can't see past? I'd like to think that I'm not like that, but perhaps I'm missing the point. Please, feel free to fill me in and let me know why the Big N should go third party. I'm thinking most of you believe they should stay the path and have no reason to do that, but I'm more than willing to listen to any/all sides.