Topic: Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, Wii U Release Windows Revealed

[Br26]

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U slated for this winter.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37090/super-smash-bros-for-3ds-wii-u-release-windows-revealed

The upcoming Super Smash Bros. games have received two separate release date windows. Super Smash Bros. for the 3DS will be released this summer. The Wii U version will be released this winter.

This was revealed today in the Nintendo Direct concerning the upcoming games.

[Ian Sane]

I didn't think having SSB on the 3DS was a good idea.  Now since I own a 3DS and not a Wii U the whole concept is pretty favourable for me but that's the whole point.  Why buy a Wii U for SSB when the 3DS, the system people actually own, provides the same basic experience?  Nintendo thought that Mario would sell Wii U's but both NSMB and 3D World did not and both games had 3DS equivalents that were released first.  It's like the Wii U is an extra luxury.  "Buy the Wii U and get a fancier HD version of your favourite 3DS games!"  It might as well be the Sega CD offering a great, but unessential game like Sonic CD, to those that want to spend more to enhance their experience.  But the Wii U isn't going to sell worth a damn as an expensive accessory for the 3DS owner.

So why offer the 3DS game first unless you're trying to bury the Wii U?  You did this twice already and it blew up in your face!  At least those Mario games have unique levels.  A multiplayer focused title like SSB is going to have a harder time selling both titles as essential purchases.  They'll be more likely to come across as the same game.  And I assume the whole rationale for this decision is to get people to double dip.  Well that might work for someone that owns both systems but who is going to buy a Wii U for a "special edition"?

Frankly I think even having a 3DS version is self-sabotage but, hey, when the development was started the Wii U wasn't in such dire straits and if you spent time on development there's no point in canning the 3DS one now.  But Nintendo can stagger these out to give the Wii U a period of exclusivity that might encourage system sales.

Not only do I NOT have to buy a Wii U for SSB I get my game FIRST!  Sweet!  Hell, there's probably going to be some owners of both consoles that will not get the Wii U version because they don't feel they can justify purchasing both and their impatience will make them get the 3DS version.  Nintendo delayed the Gamecube version of Twilight Princess to give the Wii a boost.  Anyone disagree with that decision in retrospect?  So why is Nintendo doing effectively the exact opposite here?

[Adrock]

I like that there's a 3DS game, especially since they each have exclusive content. Launching the 3DS version first is like 10 different terrible ideas in one. Didn't we read this book already? We all know how this story ends.

[Soren]

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!~?!??!?!?!

[Kytim89]

I am going to buy both versions. I am still upset that the subtitles have not been revealed for each game.

[lolmonade]

Makes sense, it'll get people too impatient to play new Smash to pick up the 3DS version.  Heck, I wasn't planning on getting the 3DS version, but I may pick it up if I find a good deal for it prior to the Wii U release.

[Mop it up]

I guess I shouldn't be surprised at this bad move, yet still, I am.

[Ian Sane]

I'm wondering if Nintendo fears that the "inferior" 3DS game won't have much appeal unless it goes first.  But the things is the 3DS game does have obvious value - portability.  That's the Game Boy strategy in a nutshell.  The "real" game goes on the console and the portable equivalents are scaled down due to the lesser technology but the consumer accepts that to play it on the go.

Though a simpler explanation is that the less advanced 3DS game will simply be completed sooner.  That's not a good reason to release it first but it's a reason.

[Evan_B]

I seriously don't get why people think they're not going to make the Wii U version appealing, like, everyone thinks Smash 4 Wii U will be the most bare-bones experience ever and the 3DS version is the "clearly" superior one.

It's just not true.

[rlse9]

Not that surprising that the Wii U version isn't coming until later, they've only got two major Wii U releases scheduled for the year at this point so I couldn't have seen them releasing Smash Bros this summer.  I wonder how they're defining "winter" because by the calendar winter would imply that it probably won't release until 2015.  But I'm hoping their definition is more like November.

It really is starting to seem like the 3DS is the Wii U's worst enemy.  Mario, Mario Kart, Smash Bros all having Wii U releases not that long after their 3DS counterparts and people not having a need to get a Wii U as a result definitely isn't helping its cause.

[Soren]

I seriously don't get why people think they're not going to make the Wii U version appealing, like, everyone thinks Smash 4 Wii U will be the most bare-bones experience ever and the 3DS version is the "clearly" superior one.

It's just not true.

Well, they had a great opportunity with this Direct to make the Wii U version appealing. And they failed. Big gap in release dates, extra game mode on 3DS and Sakurai "advising" us to get a LAN Adapter if we want a stable experience online(a full 8 months before the game is released no less.).


So you can understand why I'm a bit skeptical.

[Adrock]

I am still upset that the subtitles have not been revealed for each game.

I haven't watched the Nintendo Direct yet so I don't know if it was specifically mentioned that "For 3DS" and "For Wii U" are now placeholders, but last E3, Sakurai said those were the official titles.

I seriously don't get why people think they're not going to make the Wii U version appealing, like, everyone thinks Smash 4 Wii U will be the most bare-bones experience ever and the 3DS version is the "clearly" superior one.

It's just not true.

Who is "everyone?" My understanding is beyond graphics, some stages, and at least one mode, they're essentially the same game.

Besides a very short window when the games were announced, I already decided to get both. Releasing the Wii U game second really hurts Wii U in general.

[broodwars]

Looks like Nintendo is determined to make the same mistake they made releasing the inferior New Super Mario Bros. 2 a few months ahead of New Super Mario Bros. U. Well, at least Nintendo is consistent in their incompetence. May the end result this time be just as underwhelming.

[Evan_B]

With the 3DS coming out first, it makes sense to focus on its features before divulging the Wii U features, which can be hyped even more in the future.

Don't be me wrong, I think they could have done a lot more to differentiate these two versions (costumes, modes, and even rosters), but thinking the Wii U version won't be superior is backwards.

[nickmitch]

I'm still highly interested in both versions.  The Wii U version will give more control options and look amazing.

The 3DS version coming out first just ensures that I won't wait to buy it.

[Adrock]

Besides playing on a TV, I expect the Wii U version to be superior only in that I won't have to replace my entire console when I wear down the analog stick. My 3DS's poor, poor circle pad...

I'm glad the roster is the same between versions. I'm still holding out for costumes. It would be cool if, like the stages, each version had costumes based handhelds and consoles. For example, only in the 3DS version would Samus have the Fusion suit while in the Wii U version, Samus would get the Light Suit from Metroid Prime 2 and/or the PED suit from Metroid Prime 3.

[Soren]

Ah yes, the superior version of a game come on Wii U, albeit months after it was released on other platforms.

I'm sure the folks at Criterion can tell Nintendo how well that strategy works out. That is, if they're still on speaking terms.

[Chad Sexington]

Nice.


Speaking as someone who only owns a 3DS and hasn't owned a (any console) for 10 years, down with the Wii U, all hail the 3DS.  : [size=78%] [/size]

[pokepal148]

I'm wondering if Nintendo fears that the "inferior" 3DS game won't have much appeal unless it goes first.  But the things is the 3DS game does have obvious value - portability.  That's the Game Boy strategy in a nutshell.  The "real" game goes on the console and the portable equivalents are scaled down due to the lesser technology but the consumer accepts that to play it on the go.

Based on what people have said to me in a school setting there is alot of reservation with the 3ds version and concern with the screen being too small.

If it were a 2 month gap I'd be fine with it but it isn't.

Also isn't winter basically missing Black Friday I mean wth

[NWR_insanolord]

Also isn't winter basically missing Black Friday I mean wth

"Winter 2014" taken literally gives them about an 8 day window to launch the game, and I seriously doubt they would even remotely consider any of those days. I guarantee you they mean "right before Black Friday."

[Luigi Dude]

Well on the one hand, Nintendo pretty much killed the Wii U's biggest holiday game.  Good luck getting parents to buy Smash Bros Wii U when they already bought the cheaper 3DS version a few months early. Yeah the Wii U version will still sell a few million, but it's appeal have been greatly reduced since the 3DS version being first just a few months earlier will make that the default game for most people.  Nintendo needed to get the Wii U version out first just so it would be the one with the most power but now the Wii U version is the second banana game that the hardcore fans will still get, but everyone else can live without.


On the other hand though, I'm one of those hardcore fans who'll buy both so it isn't that big a deal to me personally.  It's been over 6 years since Brawl and I really want to play a new Smash Bros and with the 3DS version coming out this sooner, it'll be a great way to hold me over until the superior Wii U version comes out later.  Plus this means we'll get to know the entire roster soon since with a Summer release, character reveals will probably speed up on the website and the inevitable hidden character leaks will appear a few weeks before the official release just like Melee and Brawl.

[broodwars]

Here's a sobering thought: if Smash Bros. U is now the Wii U's big November/December 2014 game, that pretty much means Nintendo's probably not going to announce any new 2014 Wii U games at E3. Aside from the Indies, that's probably it for the Wii U this year. If that doesn't confirm that Nintendo has abandoned the Wii U at this point, I'm not sure what else could.

[MagicCow64]

Here's a sobering thought: if Smash Bros. U is now the Wii U's big November/December 2014 game, that pretty much means Nintendo's probably not going to announce any new 2014 Wii U games at E3. Aside from the Indies, that's probably it for the Wii U this year. If that doesn't confirm that Nintendo has abandoned the Wii U at this point, I'm not sure what else could.

Actually this is the most disturbing implication from the direct. I was holding out for a summer release for the WiiU version, which would require another big gun during the holiday period. Now it's going to be a marginal release or two in the summer and fall until Smash hits in November. Which means they'll tease out Zelda until holiday 2015. And then possibly an epic drought until . . . ?

[broodwars]

Here's a sobering thought: if Smash Bros. U is now the Wii U's big November/December 2014 game, that pretty much means Nintendo's probably not going to announce any new 2014 Wii U games at E3. Aside from the Indies, that's probably it for the Wii U this year. If that doesn't confirm that Nintendo has abandoned the Wii U at this point, I'm not sure what else could.

Actually this is the most disturbing implication from the direct. I was holding out for a summer release for the WiiU version, which would require another big gun during the holiday period. Now it's going to be a marginal release or two in the summer and fall until Smash hits in November. Which means they'll tease out Zelda until holiday 2015. And then possibly an epic drought until . . . ?

I expect we'll see Bayonetta 2 sometime during Summer, Yarn Yoshi in September/October, possibly another $50 GameCube port in October (Mario Sunshine, perhaps), and Smash U in November. That's not the most exciting lineup, and that's a best case scenario right now since we've heard nothing about Yarn Yoshi for quite some time and the GameCube port is pure speculation.

[NWR_insanolord]

I'll say again that I think it's foolish to write off the possibility of X hitting this year at this point. We haven't seen a ton of it, but Xenoblade's been out for four years in Japan now.