Why anyone would think that putting Smash bros Wii U into a position to gain from a winter sales boon is not an amazing idea is beyond me.

I agree completely -  and they will ave a very hard time launching  next console for the reasons you gave-  the ironic thing is some of the biggest Nintendonsupporters/ defenders still have not bought a Wii u yet-   They already knw better -  

I will never by a Nintendo console at or near launch again ( if at all).  They are not an honest group/ company and they have yet to give any real effort to making the Wii u a viable console for this generation 

Admit it, most of you didn't want the 3DS version and now you're just complaining because you have to buy that one as well. That was Nintendo's plan all along.

They should have both released during the Winter. The 3DS is only going to steal sales from the Wii U version by coming out so much earlier. And if someone gets the 3DS version, and hates it, they're far less likely to get the Wii U version. Nintendo will net more money for doing this, but they're hurting the already terrible Wii U brand. It's time for sweeping changes to happen at Nintendo.

The 3DS version is the appetizer. Of course it comes first. Fans would be more likely to upgrade than downgrade when it comes to buying both.

1. I've never EVER EVERY heard any company use the term winter 14 to refer to a release date outside of 2014. Fiscal year and sports year is really the only time I've seen dates work that way. Not saying it is impossible, but it would be a first as far as I know.

2. Believe it or not, but Nintendo needs the 3DS sales. They can't be like "nah we sold enough. We're done." They need some big releases this year, and IF the Wii U version isn't going to be ready until winter, they either delay 3DS version to 2015, or do a simultaneous release. I'm not sure where people got the idea that 3DS sales are perfectly acceptable because they really aren't.

3. -_-; The Wii U version will have its own modes. Are people criticizing Nintendo for giving customers a reason to buy multiple versions and making two systems stand apart? People complain about Sony doing the opposite all the time. Make up your minds.

4. HD development takes longer. And no, throwing more developers will not necessarily make things go faster. See diminishing returns.

5. I for one am kind of happy that I can play the 3DS version when its ready instead of it being delayed months for business reasons... If releasing it alongside the Wii U version was a bad idea.

6. No really, think about it. How would you feel if we found out the 3DS version was sitting on a cart waiting to be played but Nintendo was delaying it because they wanted the Wii U version out first. People are complaining that a game wasn't delayed... ok then...

Wow, crazy overreactions in this thread.

The only thing I will say about this is that just because the 3ds version has a unique game mode that has been announced doesn't mean the Wii U won't have its own unique features to more than compensate for it. I share the concerns about Wii U sales but not about the 3ds unique game mode announced somehow making the 3ds version eclipse the Wii U version...

Sell to the biggest market first... And hope that some of those people to will buy a Wii U to play that version. Pretty good strategy to be honest... Much better than a simultaneous release.

Also Wii U version takes longer to develop.