What I want to know is, if I'm at work and hit buy, will it download the game while I'm at work and be ready to play when I get home or will I have to hit download on my machine when I get home?

I thought they were going to add pre-load to 3DS and Wii U games? I just went to pre-order Smash Wii U and it said that they will email me my download code when the game comes out. What happens if I can't access my email? Or someone else? This kind of ass-backwards bullshit is pure Nintendo.

According to the instructions on
http://www.nintendo.com/eshop/buy-digital/
you can redeem the download code on your home Wii U system remotely from Nintendo's own website. I assume you'd actually need to be signed in via your Nintendo Network ID or maybe Club Nintendo so it can connect to your hardware. Redeeming it the old fashioned way in person is also available.

However, it doesn't look like the download code is available for Smash Bros. until the game actually officially releases? I wonder how exactly the pre-order for the download codes work out, but right now it certainly doesn't look like there's any official magically-early downloading or code redeeming until the actual date the game is released.

I assume the pre-loading starts a few days closer to the release date. The system should already know you pre-ordered it so it shouldn't be an issue?

Has it been set up so you can use your eShop balance yet?

Like I said, when I pre-ordered, they said they would send the download code to my email the day of release. Does that sound like pre-loading to you?

Per Sakurai on Miiverse: Pre-loading is now available for Smash Bros.

AWESOME! Thanks for the heads up!