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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  • Gunman Clive (3DS eShop)

    59

    Review Gunman Clive (3DS eShop)

    Mega Clive

    When Gunman Clive was announced for the 3DS eShop, some smartphone gamers may have had their heads turned; one of the few complaints of the original release was controlling the gun-slinging hero with a virtual joystick and buttons. Here was an indie-game with a smart visual style and loving references to some of the classic platforming...

  • Let's Talk About Festive Gaming

    20

    Round Table Let's Talk About Festive Gaming

    It's all so jolly

    Well, it's Christmas Eve, and as the famous song said we're "simmmmply haaaaving a wonderful Christmas time" here at Nintendo Life. With Santa currently loading up his sleigh with those rather weighty Wii U consoles for the good gamers of the World, a few members of the team decided to have a chat about festive memories and the...

  • Time to Vote For Your Game of the Year

    108

    Feature Time to Vote For Your Game of the Year

    It won't be easy

    As the end of the year approaches it can only mean one thing — annual awards. The Nintendo Life staff have been putting their heads together in recent days to determine the official NL winners in various categories but, of course, we want you to have your say as well. It's really rather simple, choose your top three games in each...

  • Let's Talk About The Wii U eShop

    37

    Round Table Let's Talk About The Wii U eShop

    A new era of downloads

    This week we've been publishing an extensive range of Developer Interviews with all of the indie studios that released download-only games at launch on the Wii U eShop. Naturally, there's been plenty to talk about, so some of the Nintendo Life team decided to weigh in with their thoughts. Joining features editor Tom Whitehead...

  • Nintendo of Europe's Satoru Shibata Gives a Christmas Message

    26

    News Nintendo of Europe's Satoru Shibata Gives a Christmas Message

    We're pretty sure he mentions Nintendo Life

    It's the festive season and many are starting to put their feet up and eat too much food — not us, we'll be bringing you features every day throughout the Holiday period. Nintendo of Europe's boss, Satoru Shibata, has left a fairly lengthy message for Nintendo fans, talking about his move into hosting...

  • Tomorrow Corporation on the First Days of the Wii U eShop

    14

    Developer Interview Tomorrow Corporation on the First Days of the Wii U eShop

    It's Little Inferno just for Wii (U, and PC)

    So, Little Inferno, what can be said about it? Our own review stated that "it's as much a sandbox or digital toy as it is a game", with the simple fact that the experience can basically be summarised as burning stuff. There's money to earn and collect, as well as puzzle combos to figure out, but it's a...

  • Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Wii)

    32

    Review Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (Wii)

    Golly gosh, Mickey

    When Disney Epic Mickey arrived on Wii in time for the Holiday season in 2010, it attracted a lot of attention due to its concept and the development leadership of Warren Spector, one of the industry's most respected figures. Its relatively late arrival in the system's lifespan meant it pushed attractive visuals "for a Wii game",...

  • Getting Your Nintendo 3DS Online

    37

    Guide Getting Your Nintendo 3DS Online

    Online tips for your shiny new handheld

    For some gamers this year, a shiny new 3DS will be waiting for them as a Christmas treat. Nintendo's Wii U may be hogging plenty of attention, but the handheld deserves some limelight due to its ever-growing games catalogue and range of eShop offerings. Of course, getting the most out of your 3DS really...

  • 20th December 2012 (North America)

    88

    Nintendo Download 20th December 2012 (North America)

    Wario, escaping vektors, Wii U discounts and 3D goodies

    The download information arrived a little later than normal today, and no wonder — there's a lot of content available this week, along with some surprise sales on Wii U. Enough pre-amble, let's get into it. 3DS download software: escapeVektor (Nnooo, $9.99) — The original release on...

  • Broken Rules on the First Days of the Wii U eShop

    10

    Developer Interview Broken Rules on the First Days of the Wii U eShop

    Taking flight

    While the launch line-up of download-only games on the Wii U eShop features some multi-platform releases or exclusives from studios well-known to Nintendo enthusiasts, Chasing Aurora is potentially in a category of its own. Broken Rules had previously released its highly regarded PC title And Yet It Moves on WiiWare, but may not...

  • Wizard Defenders (DSiWare)

    10

    Review Wizard Defenders (DSiWare)

    We have but a fool's hope

    On the surface, Wizard Defenders seems like a promising blend of match-3 puzzling and tower defence; in its best moments it's a concept that works well. Unfortunately these moments are rare, and despite its budget price this title lacks the magic to make a gamer happy. This is a good example of a reasonable idea being...

  • Wii U TVii App Goes Live in North America on 20th December

    44

    News Wii U TVii App Goes Live in North America on 20th December

    Twitter and Facebook integration included

    TVii, the app that was introduced with much fanfare at Nintendo of America's Wii U launch reveal earlier in the year, will go live on the system from 20th December. It meets Nintendo's promise that the service would arrive stateside during the course of December, though a couple of supported features will...

  • Shin'en Multimedia on the First Days of the Wii U eShop

    13

    Developer Interview Shin'en Multimedia on the First Days of the Wii U eShop

    Neo beginnings

    Shin'en Multimedia is a developer likely to be well-known to Nintendo download enthusiasts, with the company having made multiple appearances on Wii and 3DS, in particular. Some of its releases, such as Jett Rocket and Art of Balance TOUCH!, have been among the best titles on WiiWare and the 3DS eShop, respectively, while the small...

  • 7000 Wii U Systems Stolen in Seattle

    50

    News 7000 Wii U Systems Stolen in Seattle

    Nintendo will be sleepless tonight

    Earlier this week there were initial reports in local press that thousands of Wii consoles had been stolen from a distribution warehouse in Seattle, though now the story has spread wider and it's transpired that they were Wii U systems that were seized. If the stock is never retrieved, then it's a loss for Nintendo...

  • 20th December 2012 (Europe)

    44

    Nintendo Download 20th December 2012 (Europe)

    Escaping vektors, Clive in the Wild West and heroes in castles

    It's the final Nintendo Download update before Christmas, so Nintendo's got a helping of festive cheer for us to download. Only Wii is left out to ask Scrooge for some new content, with both handhelds getting new games and Wii U joining in with some juicy price reductions. Let's get to...

  • Mega Man 1 to 6 Blasting Onto 3DS Virtual Console

    52

    News Mega Man 1 to 6 Blasting Onto 3DS Virtual Console

    No need to be blue

    In early November we reported that Capcom was aiming to bring the NES Mega Man games to the 3DS Virtual Console, and it's now been confirmed that this will be a reality. With all of the NES titles already released in Japan and the original Mega Man available on the European eShop, the time for North America to join in has now...

  • Mario And Friends Wish Us All Happy Holidays

    24

    News Mario And Friends Wish Us All Happy Holidays

    Oops, we forgot to send a card back...

    As part of the festive season it's time to exchange messages of kindness and friendship with some cards. Mario and the gang have gone for the electronic approach — a whole forest would have been lost to send cards to every Nintendo gamer — with a dedicated web page to wish you Happy Holidays. If you want to...

  • Wii U Software Falls Off The UK Charts

    36

    News Wii U Software Falls Off The UK Charts

    Nintendo Land the only survivor

    Last week we reported on some struggles for Wii U software in the UK all-format charts, with various possible reasons behind the lack of impact of the system's games. There's a low install base, for one, meaning that it's too early to proclaim the console to be in any kind of trouble; with that said there seems to be...

  • Wii U GamePad Lookalike On the Way

    49

    News Wii U GamePad Lookalike On the Way

    No surprise, really

    One thing is guaranteed when a new high-profile gadget arrives in the market: within months it'll be heavily copied for a tablet device. It happened with the PlayStation Vita, and now it's the turn of the Wii U GamePad. The culprit this time is Chinese company JinXing with its SMART S7300 Console, described as a Dual Core HD...

  • Nintendo Releases a Video Guide for Wii to Wii U Transfer

    28

    News Nintendo Releases a Video Guide for Wii to Wii U Transfer

    Don't forget the extra TV

    Though Wii U has been available in North America for nearly a month, Nintendo is still producing information and videos to help new owners get the most out of their systems. One strength of the new console, something that Nintendo's been offering for a number of years on different systems, is full backward compatibility...

  • Wii U Review Score Average Is Modest, At Best

    62

    News Wii U Review Score Average Is Modest, At Best

    Doesn't necessarily tell the whole story

    Now that the Wii U and its launch library of games has been in the wild for almost a month, in North America at least, a general impression of the critical reaction to these titles and the console is starting to emerge. It's not a complete picture, of course, but gaming enthusiasts can start to see the trends...

  • Test Running Rayman Legends

    42

    Talking Point Test Running Rayman Legends

    The art of a good demo

    Yesterday the demo for Rayman Legends arrived on the Wii U eShop in both Europe and North America, and a number of gamers who wanted this title at launch eagerly started the download. There are a few things to say about it, both in terms of the glimpse it gives us of the game and how it is, essentially, the epitome of a well...

  • What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Festive Edition

    93

    Talking Point What Games Are You Playing This Weekend? - Festive Edition

    Ho-Ho-Holy moly that's a lot of games

    Ah, the Holidays. A time of year when we all run out of money, fight tooth and nail through packed shopping malls and put on lots of weight. Festive greetings indeed, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, bah humbug and all that. Of course, we're only calling this the festive edition of WGAYPTW — let's see if that...

  • Unepic Adventuring Onto Wii U eShop in 2013

    21

    News Unepic Adventuring Onto Wii U eShop in 2013

    "A mixture of platform game, role game and joke"

    EnjoyUp Games has announced this week that it'll be publishing Unepic, an indie RPG platformer released on PC in 2011. In this adventure you play as Daniel, "great videogame player, big lover of sci-fi movies, novice player of role games, pot-head", who is swept away to a mysterious castle which he...