Interesting rumor.

Looks like you are not using your brains, since SSBM and MKDD were the two best selling games in US for GC (in that order), it doesn't really matter which one gets released first. In the US, that is. But in Europe, MKDD propably sold better, so new Mario Kart is more like system seller than new Smash Bros. in Europe.

So if Nintendo is able to make popular quality games at fast pace, it's not clever to release them all at once at same regions. Releasing different games in different regions at different times, they maximize games (system) selling potential. After news come from NA, that SSBB is very popular, it increases the demand in Europe, and when news come from Europe, that Mario Kart is very popular, it increases demand in NA.
This will also lets people know what games are certainly coming.

Also Nintendo has propably seen the importance of Europe, especially when reaching the non-gaming audience, where Europe provides a lot bigger markets than North-America.

I do prefer Mario Kart over Smash Bros. so it's more the way i like it.

Oh, and Mario Kart most likely (definately) have online play.

This is one of the least believable rumors I've seen this year.

Stupid rumor, sounds like complete BS.

This would be very, very bad for me if true. I have absolutely zero interest in any kind of karting game, while the previous Smash Bros. was my favorite game of all time, and probably the only reason I got back into console gaming a year and a half ago. -_-

what if... Nintendo wants to release different titles sooner for different regions. Just so Europe don't feel so... left out.

Too hard to believe. There's really no reason to pull something like this.

You people should give some basis, about why you think it's not possible.

Just look what happened with Strikers and Paper Mario. Football is more popular in Europe, so it's logic to release it here first. And Paper Mario is more popular in NA, so it's better to release it there first, so it gains a little momentum in there, before releasing it in Europe.

If SSBB gets a late / mid December release in the US - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see if miss Europe for 2007 release. I was always pretty sure *we* (Aust) wouldn't get all three big titles this year  (Galaxy had better launch here though, or I'll be very pissed...).

So... if that happens, I suppose its possible for Kart to arrive here first. I'll rather it does, than we have neither MK or SSBB.

(and we'll definitely play more MK than SSBB at our house - and it should be a better online game!). 

 I disagree, Brawl's the better game!

And a LOT of people expect Brawl to come out this year...and if it doesn't...there will be a lot of pissed off Wii owners.  No promises have been made for Mario Kart...so I don't understand why they'd give us MK instead of SSBB.

@Ben: No, you (in NA) are getting brawl, according to that rumor, but we (in Europe) are getting Mario Kart.