If that was the case, surely they would have mentioned it, since this past Direct was for Q1-2 releases? I mean, why mention Mario Party, Kirby, Splatoon, but not Yoshi? It's been knocked back to Q3 methinks.

Mario Maker and Yoshi coming first half is still a possiblity.

This is quite true, although I hope you are wrong haha :)

I think you guys are forgetting something very important here. The direct was 46 minutes long. That was as long as the digital event. Nintendo revealed a lot of information and focused more on the 3ds because the Wii U had more games announced for it than the 3DS did and they need to give people incentive to pick up a shiny "new"3DS. Yoshi and mario maker will come within the first half is still my belief. I'm pretty sure we'll get a Wii U only direct within the next 2 months which will slot in both MM and Yoshi. The april slot for North America is left empty while Japan I think has two games in that slot Yoshi or MM, I think one of them will land in that spot.

Why are nintendo so vague with release dates.

Yoshi is very soon, Q1/2.

Expect Starfox, Zelda, Devil's Third & other games later than May, so after Splatoon.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse was delayed to February 20. So the list for NA is:
Hyrule Warriors Majora'a Mask DLC: February 5
Kirby: February 20
Mario vs Donkey Kong: March 5
Mario Party 10: March 20
Splatoon: May
Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2: May

Didn't Nintendo make a Direct pre-E3 in 2012? Unless they want to bring all of its guns to the event, can't they do that again?

Better than last year´s for sure.

we need an april game.
yoshi or mario maker should fit well. bring it ninty.