Thomas Whitehead

Thomas Whitehead

Former Editor, Nintendo Life

Author Profile

Tom has been involved in the games industry for over a decade, mostly writing about it or struggling to sell Indie games. Loves reading, writing, hunting Capcom’s fiercest monsters and watching baseball.

Having joined the site in 2011, Tom took over as Editor three years later, ably steering the good ship Nintendo Life through the Wii U waters and safely into the Switch era. He now serves as a Producer at PM Studios.

Username
ThomasBW84
Articles
11,883 (257 reviews)
First Article
Wed 26th, January 2011
Avg. Review Score
6.8
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  • Aliens: Colonial Marines Cancelled on Wii U

    119

    News Aliens: Colonial Marines Cancelled on Wii U

    Game is actually over this time, man

    Aliens: Colonial Marines on Wii U has had a strange history. It started as a hyped game, with Randy Pitchford of Gearbox waxing lyrical about the Wii U and its GamePad, declaring that the system would enjoy the best of the multi-platform versions. Then it arrived on other consoles and was roundly panned as a poor...

  • The Downside to Delayed Releases on Wii U

    60

    Talking Point The Downside to Delayed Releases on Wii U

    What a difference a delay makes

    At the start of the year we published a list of our biggest Wii U games of 2013; despite the beginning of a software drought on the system, we felt that the list showed the promise of the software lineup to come. There were eight exclusives at that point, either with fixed release dates or windows that we're confident...

  • Latest Miiverse Update Continues to Improve the Platform

    36

    Video Latest Miiverse Update Continues to Improve the Platform

    Socialising on Wii U gets easier and quicker

    While not a system-seller in its own right, Miiverse on Wii U is, for some at least, a major part of the console that can absorb as much time as some games. By blending popular features from a number of social platforms with its own "communities" structure, Nintendo has setup a thoroughly decent and...

  • Warren Spector Asks, Where Are Gaming's Grown-Ups?

    91

    Talking Point Warren Spector Asks, Where Are Gaming's Grown-Ups?

    Questions for a young industry

    As a Nintendo website, we often treasure and talk the most about games that are based in fantastical and, often, family friendly lands — an Italian plumber running and jumping, miniature creatures assisting a stranded rocket man, an adventure played out by LEGO characters and so on. Occasionally we get edgy and...

  • HMV Buyout Saves High Street Retailer

    15

    News HMV Buyout Saves High Street Retailer

    The dog's been thrown a bone

    In recent weeks we've reported on the worrying fate of the HMV brand in the UK; rather like GAME last year, it went into administration and 81 stores were closed down as the administrators worked to salvage the business. As one of only a few retailers that stocks a relatively substantial range of video games on the UK...

  • Nintendo of Europe Apologises for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Stock Shortage

    39

    News Nintendo of Europe Apologises for Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Stock Shortage

    Did you manage to hunt down a copy?

    After a fairly lengthy spell of very few notable Wii U retail releases, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate arrived in Europe on 22nd March as Capcom's latest attempt to popularise the series further in the West. It seemed to help, with the game being attributed as part of the reason for a Wii U sales spike and with the...

  • Wii U Sales Double in Japanese Charts Following New Releases

    46

    News Wii U Sales Double in Japanese Charts Following New Releases

    3DS is still King

    Earlier today we reported on more woes for the struggling Square Enix, with Dragon Quest X posting poor launch week sales in Japan. The overall Media Create results for last week do also tell a few other tales, including a modest improvement for Wii U and some good results for a famous green brother. In terms of the software...

  • LEGO Legends of Chima: Laval's Journey Begins This Summer

    24

    News LEGO Legends of Chima: Laval's Journey Begins This Summer

    Coming to 3DS and DS

    Today seems to be LEGO day, with the fresh screens of LEGO Marvel Super Heroes now being followed up by the announcement of a new title coming to both 3DS and DS, LEGO Legends of Chima: Laval's Journey; it's also on the way to the PlayStation Vita. The 3DS release is set for the Summer, with the DS version pegged for Autumn,...

  • New LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Screens Are Beyond Cute

    29

    News New LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Screens Are Beyond Cute

    Hulk Smash!

    LEGO Marvel Super Heroes was confirmed earlier in the year for Wii U, 3DS and, surprisingly, DS. The franchise has gone into DC Heroes territory before, of course, but combining Marvel characters with LEGO is sure to delight a broad variety of gamers. While the game was revealed earlier in the year, we didn't know much else beyond its...

  • Etrian Odyssey IV European Release Pushed to Summer

    27

    News Etrian Odyssey IV European Release Pushed to Summer

    Darn

    Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan on 3DS is a lengthy, demanding and challenging RPG that has been critically praised since its North American release in February. It's a series and genre that doesn't necessarily enjoy significant mainstream support, but its quality does give it a loyal group of fans. While Atlus handled publication in...

  • 4th April 2013 (North America)

    86

    Nintendo Download 4th April 2013 (North America)

    A chick's adventure, slaying monsters, finding your groove and more

    It's Nintendo Download time, North America, and this week you have options on Wii U, 3DS and Wii. It's a mixture of the old, the new and DLC extras, so let's get right to it. Wii U eShop: Toki Tori 2 (Two Tribes, reduced to $13.49 until 25th April, will be $14.99) — Starting off...

  • UK Retailer GAME to Sell Tablet Devices

    32

    News UK Retailer GAME to Sell Tablet Devices

    It's on like [insert trademarked reference here]

    Not so long ago there were disgruntled retailers in the UK voicing — through a spokesperson or anonymous insider — disgruntlement at the Wii U's sales performance so far and the strategy coming out of Nintendo. For its part, Nintendo has been meeting retailers to offer reassurance and outline...

  • The Biggest Wii U Games of 2013 - Spring Edition

    159

    Feature The Biggest Wii U Games of 2013 - Spring Edition

    Time for a few changes

    At the start of the year we published our Biggest Wii U games of 2013 feature, sharing some of the exciting releases set for Nintendo's latest home console. That list included some titles that are now available, and also some "before 31st March" predictions that have come and gone — those due to drop out due to imminent or...

  • Nintendo UK and BFI Bringing Pioneering 3D Films to Nintendo Video

    9

    News Nintendo UK and BFI Bringing Pioneering 3D Films to Nintendo Video

    A link to the past

    In the past year Nintendo UK and the British Film Institute (BFI) have been working together on 3D film content, promoting not only 3DS but film-making in a broader sense. A number of collaborations have taken place, most notably a contest where a winning film-maker could produce a 3D video that was premiered at the 56th BFI...

  • Time to Celebrate the Two Year 3DS Anniversary, Bring on the Infographic

    40

    News Time to Celebrate the Two Year 3DS Anniversary, Bring on the Infographic

    Let's play "why isn't x here?"

    Last week we celebrated the two year anniversary of the 3DS by finding a picture of a cake based on the handheld. It's been a fascinating journey so far for the portable, enjoying a bumper launch weekend, before tanking to worrying levels, and then rising like a Phoenix — courtesy of excellent games and a price drop...

  • Fantasy Life Trademark Appears in the U.S.

    35

    News Fantasy Life Trademark Appears in the U.S.

    Can you hear the people sing?

    Level-5 may be concluding business with its most famous character, Professor Layton, but it's a studio that does more than whimsical puzzle titles. Another release that's achieved sales success in Japan is Fantasy Life, an adventure RPG collaboration with Brownie Brown (the Nintendo subsidiary now known as 1-UP Studio)...

    • 3DS
  • Toki Tori 2+ (Wii U eShop)

    63

    Review Toki Tori 2+ (Wii U eShop)

    A hatchling of a grand idea

    While Toki Tori was a launch title on WiiWare and seized a lot of attention as a result, its direct sequel has had a more protracted release history. Initially planned as a Wii U eShop launch title, Toki Tori 2 arrives after developer Two Tribes had a late change of heart and delayed release, taking the opportunity to...

  • The Unreal Engine 4 Gaffe Exposes Graphical Snobbery, Again

    80

    Talking Point The Unreal Engine 4 Gaffe Exposes Graphical Snobbery, Again

    The fact it's actually scalable for Wii U should surprise no-one

    A number of articles on Nintendo Life really got the community talking last week, one of which was our April Fools for the year. In terms of stories that were real, however, we had high profile comments from Epic Games' Mark Rein, who essentially stated that developers on Wii U...

  • Nintendo UK Unleashes a Series of Fire Emblem: Awakening Tasters

    37

    Video Nintendo UK Unleashes a Series of Fire Emblem: Awakening Tasters

    It's getting closer, Europe

    Although lucky gamers in North America have now been enjoying Fire Emblem: Awakening on 3DS since the start of February — Japanese gamers have been playing since last year — those of us in Europe are still waiting. It arrives in the region on 19th April, which still seems like a fair old wait considering just how much...

  • Luigi's Mansion 2 Spooks Its Way Into UK Top Ten

    28

    News Luigi's Mansion 2 Spooks Its Way Into UK Top Ten

    LEGO City Undercover can't quite crack the case

    Last week saw two notable new releases on Nintendo platforms in the UK, with Luigi's Mansion 2 — known as Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon in some regions — hitting 3DS, and LEGO City Undercover landing on Wii U. Luigi's ghost-filled adventure enjoyed the best performance of the two, coming in at 5th...

  • 4th April 2013 (Europe)

    50

    Nintendo Download 4th April 2013 (Europe)

    A puzzling chick, chaotic aliens, Mega action and more

    Now that the long Holiday weekend is over the video game world's wheels start spinning once again, starting today with Nintendo of Europe's weekly download update details. It's a busy week with every download store having some new content on offer, so let's get started. Wii U eShop: Toki Tori...

  • Surprise Discounts Hit the 3DS eShop in North America

    52

    News Surprise Discounts Hit the 3DS eShop in North America

    It's not an April Fools trick

    While sales and discounts are becoming increasingly common on the 3DS and Wii U eShop platforms, it seems that Nintendo of America has chosen 1st April, of all days, to sneak some discounts onto the eShop. In total six games have seen a price drop, and when our man checked the details he could see no indication that...

  • Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Beginners

    50

    Guide Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Beginners

    Gear up and be ready

    This is the first entry in a new series of articles that you'll see on Nintendo Life in the coming weeks and months, as we aim to offer a beginner's introduction to a major franchise or release on a Nintendo system. We'll aim to provide a broad, high-level outline of what a particular series or game is all about, while providing...

  • New "Luigi Code" To Provide a Fresh Take on Virtual Console Classics

    123

    News New "Luigi Code" To Provide a Fresh Take on Virtual Console Classics

    Time to go green

    Update: 2nd April - OK maybe this article is telling a few porky pies! Original Article: As the "Year of Luigi" gets into full swing, it appears that the younger member of the Mario Bros. is set to appear in a number of additional titles in the coming months, giving them his own twist in the process. We understand that there are...