Any expected release date for the game?

Yet another Kerotan thread downplaying Nintendo by saying how nice MHW will be. Will he ever learn?

OT: Was story ever really a big deal in MH games? Are there people playing for the story?

As far as I know no but MH fans in Japan are requesting it in Famitsu before so this is a welcome addition to the franchise.
Also, since this will be on the Console I think this is a great idea to have a good meaty story in it because the co-op play will rely on online features.

Interesting, although I hope the story fits the atmosphere of Monster Hunter without detracting from the core of the game. Regardless of what happens with this game, it is nice that they are experimenting.

Or one can get both. I still want handheld Monster Hunter games. Though it isn't even up to us really, considering XX isn't going to be localized and most fans don't feel like replaying 300+ hours of Generations content again in a language they don't understand. 

didn't know that, i thought it was always on portable systems

Technically the portable versions are spin-offs. Monster Hunter 1, 2 and 3 all were console releases.

Will the meaty story revolve around different kinds of Monster Meat?

That is probably the best kind of story they can reproduce.  Monster Hunter was never known for having a great story.

True, but Monster Hunter Tri had really good (humerous) writing! I hope World won't take itself too seriously either.