Latest Editorial
November2015
Tom Whitehead thinks it's time for more cohesion
If you'll allow this wistful 30-something to get out his pipe and slippers for some reminiscing, there was a time when game releases were a mystery and seemingly scheduled by the Marx Brothers. There could be months - or years! - between regional releases in the West, nevermind localising Japanese...
October2015
Editorial It's Far Too Soon to Go Download-Only, and Physical Retail Still Matters
Increases in downloads don't equal death for discs
Just recently Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water arrived in North America as a download-only game, making it a relatively high-profile retail title to be exclusive to the eShop. It's happened in the past with Ace Attorney titles, yet for fans of the niche horror series - developed by Koei Tecmo -...
Editorial A Wii U Price Cut is Still Worthwhile Despite Its Ongoing Woes
Nintendo's losing the 'value' appeal
In the last generation of home consoles the Wii was an innovative and fun budget option in the market, while the more powerful HD systems - PS3 and Xbox 360 - came with a premium price tag. As the generation wore on prices naturally dropped and bundles grew in number, but the basic market reality was that the Wii...
September2015
Editorial Nintendo is a Toy Company, and That Will Be Vital in a New Era
It's a company of diverse strengths
Nintendo is now 126 years old, on the face of it an extraordinary statistic. Its relevant history in terms of its current identity and status really begins in the early 1980s, however, while a case can be made to go back to its initial days in the toy market in the late 1960s. Even that truncated history is...
August2015
Editorial Paper Mario is 15 Years Old Today, and Provides a Reminder of Nintendo's Wonderful Whimsy
Silly and brilliant, what a combination
Paper Mario is 15 years old today, 11th August, in terms of its Japanese release in 2000. Intelligent Systems, a development company typically associated with Fire Emblem and Advance Wars, took a step back from serious strategising to produce what was, at the time, a bit of a revelation. Actually originally...
July2015
Editorial Super Smash Bros. Should be Integral to Nintendo's NX Future
Tom Whitehead attended a fighting tournament and had his eyes opened
As I'm somewhat reliant on Nintendo success to put food on the table and amiibo on the shelf - the clue's in the site's name - I sometimes ponder and get genuinely concerned about the company. I think Nintendo will be 'fine', courtesy of its talented staff and billions of dollars...
Editorial Nintendo's Strategy Needs to be Global, With a Western Touch in the Boardroom
Combine the vital Japanese culture with a broader outlook
Nintendo is, in the ongoing understatement of the ages, very Japanese. That can be a huge strength, and some of its key successes as a business have resulted from sticking to its core culture and, as a result, winning over legions of fans. In the current day the big N is well known for its...
June2015
Editorial Nintendo's Approach to amiibo is Increasingly Frustrating
Tom Whitehead wonders what the deal is
When amiibo was unveiled in 2014, and it was still relatively mysterious, I wrote a feature outlining the pros and cons of the platform. It was a hugely exciting project from Nintendo, and the concerns highlighted weren't in line with what's happened since the toys made their début. In fact, it's amazing to...
Editorial Cheer Up, There Are Some Exciting Games on the Way
Tom Whitehead looks on the bright side of life
It seems that the clouds are starting to clear after an E3 day one that was largely full of rancour, disappointment and online fury. By day two the feelings lingered but started to ease off, and my hope is that as E3 heads towards its conclusion - and we all return to something resembling normality - we...
Editorial Nintendo's Approach is Often Peculiar, Yet That's An Enduring Strength
Still treats video games as irreverent play-things
A thought has been rumbling around this writer's mind for the past few days - Nintendo is weird. It really is. Writing about the company on a daily basis brings on a permanent state of double taking, and it's when looking outside of the big N bubble it becomes clear how peculiar it is. It simply...
May2015
Editorial The eShop's Pricing Dilemma is the Fault of Many, But Damages Creativity and Risk Taking
More for less isn't sensible or fair
There's a worrying trend at present, in which ambitious and creative independent developers announce a sizeable Wii U exclusive, and then have to defend their pricing. That's happened twice in recent times with Affordable Space Adventures and - this week - Swords & Soldiers II. We've also had a reliable...
April2015
Editorial Nintendo's Problems With Trends and Modern Media Continue to Damage Its Image
Its need for control costs it vital audiences
We've argued the case before that Nintendo needs to modernise and drastically improve its attitudes to modern media, in terms of YouTube and social media platforms. It's easy to be defensive of its efforts, too, but we feel some recent statistics truly highlight the folly of Nintendo's current approach...
March2015
Editorial Nintendo's Heading For a Period of Major Change, and We Can't Fight It
The times, they are a-changin'
Until this week Nintendo's strategy for the future was particularly vague, especially in the area of smart devices. The company's supposed dedicated Mii-based app had been in the works for quite some time and had been due in 2014, but was delayed into this year with talk of finding the right solution for moving onto...
February2015
Editorial Nintendo's YouTube Creators Program 'Beta' Provides Vital Feedback - It Won't Work
Copyright is one thing, but YouTube power resides with the creators
Last week Nintendo launched its YouTube Creators Program, which had been long promised as a compromise between simply preventing monetisation of videos featuring its content and the alternative of leaving video creators with free rein. What's happened since is a typical clash of...
May2014
Editorial Addressing The Tomodachi Life Same-Sex Marriage Issue
Including our policy moving forward
As many of you are likely aware, Nintendo recently released a statement responding to a "Miiquality" campaign seeking the inclusion of same-sex marriages in Tomodachi Life. You can read it in full in our article on the subject, in which Nintendo states that it will not be including the option. The purpose of this...
June2010
E3 2010 Editorial: Nintendo's Competition
What does Nintendo have to beat to be crowned King of LA?
Before we launch into our live coverage of Nintendo's E3 Media Presentation, let's take a look at the competition, particularly Microsoft's opening presentation focusing on the accessory formerly known as Project Natal, the newly-rechristened Kinect. Unveiling the fifteen titles that will...
July2008
E3 2008 Nintendo Media Briefing Predictions
Tomorrow will see Nintendo announce their latest upcoming products at the annual E3 Media Briefing, but what do we think is in store?
Traditionally E3 is the place to reveal any new "killer app" in the gaming world, gamers and fans around the world will be waiting to hear Reggie spill the beans on the latest games that we'll all be playing...
