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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  • YouTube Workaround Now Needed For Wii U Web Browser

    38

    News YouTube Workaround Now Needed For Wii U Web Browser

    It works, but is a fiddle

    Many opinions on the Wii U's dedicated YouTube app agree on one thing — it's not the best. With slow load times and in some cases a bad habit of crashing, it seems ripe for some updates and improvements in the future. Many discovered that, courtesy of the system's speedy Web Browser, it was actually quicker and a far more...

  • ZombiU Producer Talks About Beginnings, Reactions and Survival Horror

    41

    Developer Interview ZombiU Producer Talks About Beginnings, Reactions and Survival Horror

    "Some players are not into survival, and that’s totally fine"

    In terms of high-profile third-party exclusives on Wii U launch day, ZombiU was comfortably the biggest show in town. While a number of multi-platform titles brought their HD shine to a Nintendo platform for the first time, those looking for a new experience that was hardcore in nature...

  • 13th December 2012 (North America)

    75

    Nintendo Download 13th December 2012 (North America)

    Crimson RPG questing, ninja action, world music and more

    It's time for another Nintendo Download update, and this one brings with it quite a few titles on all platforms. There are some retail goodies, the conclusion of the Guild01 trilogy, a long awaited 3DS Virtual Console release and more. Let's get on with it, shall we? 3DS download software:...

  • ZombiU Producer "Disappointed" By Early Reviews

    82

    News ZombiU Producer "Disappointed" By Early Reviews

    Additional opinions provided the antidote

    ZombiU was a high-profile system exclusive on Wii U's launch day, grabbing a lot of headlines and even having its own hardware bundle in Europe. It's also a survival horror title that we rated rather highly here at Nintendo Life, yet it attracted a broad range of diverse critical opinions in various reviews...

  • The Wii U eShop Needs Patience

    54

    Talking Point The Wii U eShop Needs Patience

    As did the 3DS eShop

    In our most recent Talking Point that reflected on a potential shift in Nintendo Direct expectations, we described the attitude among many gamers — including us here at Nintendo Life — that demands new content as quickly as possible, a relentless ongoing compulsion for more news and games than we can handle. It's human...

  • Street Fighter X Mega Man Is "A Bit Of A Mea Culpa"

    61

    News Street Fighter X Mega Man Is "A Bit Of A Mea Culpa"

    Accepting blame with a free PC game

    A few days ago Capcom announced Street Fighter X Mega Man, a free PC game to be released on 17th December that blends the two iconic franchises together as one big anniversary celebration. Capcom has assured fans that this download will be just the start of celebrations for Mega Man's anniversary, and that the...

  • Paper Mario: Sticker Star

    20

    Competition Winner Paper Mario: Sticker Star

    Time for the paperwork

    We've had a number of our UK readers tweeting us and emailing us in the past few days asking for the final verdict on the winners of our Paper Mario: Sticker Star competition, keen to know which talented letter writers had walked away with the prizes. This contest was limited to 100 entrants and we received a lot of letters...

  • escapeVektor Hacks Into 3DS eShop on 20th December

    18

    News escapeVektor Hacks Into 3DS eShop on 20th December

    The wait is over

    escapeVektor: Chapter 1 is one of WiiWare's finest games, though its arrival in late September 2011 didn't spark the multiple follow-ups that were expected. Developer Nnooo decided, after the first part was released, that it'd be better served releasing all four planned parts as one title — though Chapter 1 was an excellent...

  • Time to Adjust Nintendo Direct Expectations

    62

    Talking Point Time to Adjust Nintendo Direct Expectations

    How many big reveals can there be?

    It's easy to lose track of time in the helter-skelter video game industry, with games and exciting new projects that are merely months old already being so yesterday. We want the latest, hottest new games and announcements ten minutes ago, so stop telling us about old stuff, ok? For Nintendo gamers, the...

  • Toki Tori 2 Delayed Until Early 2013

    31

    News Toki Tori 2 Delayed Until Early 2013

    This egg's not ready to hatch

    Developer Two Tribes has today confirmed that it's delayed the release of Toki Tori 2 on the Wii U eShop, so it won't be arriving on 20th December. The reasoning is simple; the developer wants to make a better game. Toki Tori 2’s a personal project for us. It’s first game we’ve made without being tied to a...

  • Web Developer Puts HTML5 Games to the Test on Wii U Browser

    22

    News Web Developer Puts HTML5 Games to the Test on Wii U Browser

    It works, sort of

    Prior to Wii U's launch we posted the news that the Wii U web browser posted impressive benchmark results when running resources such as audio and video, its score putting it above Internet Explorer 10. Those were pleasing results, though Matt Hackett, co-founder of HTML5 game developer Lost Decade Games, put the browser to work...

  • Wii U Is The "Greenest" HD Console

    29

    News Wii U Is The "Greenest" HD Console

    Not literally, obviously

    The Digital Foundry team over at Eurogamer.net has been doing a fair amount of work with Wii U since it launched, for the most part putting multi-platform titles through their paces on the system. The results, with Trine 2: Director's Cut being the exception, are that the system has often fallen slightly behind its rivals,...

  • Color Commando Set to Bring the Fight to DSiWare

    13

    News Color Commando Set to Bring the Fight to DSiWare

    Goodbye Galaxy Games' DSiWare swansong

    With the 3DS eShop continuing to expand, many would expect DSiWare to fade away; yet we're still seeing a steady flow of titles for the older platform, no doubt helped by the fact that they also see release on the 3DS equivalent. One of DSiWare's higher profile developers, however, is planning one last fling...

  • Wii U Struggles to Make an Impact in the UK Software Charts

    49

    News Wii U Struggles to Make an Impact in the UK Software Charts

    Stock shortages or poor sales?

    When Wii U initially launched in the UK its system exclusive titles made a modest start in the all-format software charts, which was hardly surprising as only 40,000 units had been available for sale in its first week. This week's results, unfortunately, make slightly grim reading, with no Wii U exclusives making it...

  • 13th December 2012 (Europe)

    49

    Nintendo Download 13th December 2012 (Europe)

    Details updated: crimson battling, a hydroventure and a wizard defence

    This week's European update has swooped in via YouTube, with both handhelds accounted for while the home consoles are neglected. Two 3DS eShop releases can be classified as "highly anticipated", while the DSiWare title is more along the lines of "hm, never heard of it". You can...

  • Entire SNES Game Collection Up For Sale

    36

    News Entire SNES Game Collection Up For Sale

    Yours for just $24,999

    Every now and then an eager retro collector raises eyebrows by offering something unique at an eye-watering price, which in the past has included items such as demo NES cartridges. This time around we have an entire collection of Super NES games up for sale, which includes all 721 retail releases for the system that hit the...

  • Etrian Odyssey DS Trilogy Set For Reprint

    19

    News Etrian Odyssey DS Trilogy Set For Reprint

    Canadian retailer is first out of the gate

    The Etrian Odyssey trilogy of games on DS can probably be regarded as cult classics for the handheld, an RPG series famed for relentless difficulty and harsh punishment of failure. Of course, when you combine that genre with a sufficient level of challenge, there'll be a group of gamers more than willing to...

  • New Super Mario Bros. U Wins VGA For Best Wii / Wii U Game

    44

    News New Super Mario Bros. U Wins VGA For Best Wii / Wii U Game

    No other Nintendo winners

    Another year, another Video Game Awards (VGA) extravaganza on Spike TV. The VGAs are undoubtedly polarising within the gaming community, possibly due to their reliance on celebrity presenters — Samuel L. Jackson made his fourth appearance this year — exclusive premieres of trailers and a lot of glitzy goings-on that...

  • Nintendo Network Premium Website Goes Live

    36

    News Nintendo Network Premium Website Goes Live

    Good news for enthusiastic Wii U eShoppers

    Unlike with the arrival of Wii, Nintendo gamers have an important choice to make when picking up a Wii U — Premium or Basic? Various factors dictate the final decision, and perhaps one is the Nintendo Network Premium promotion, which gives those with the black model points for Wii U eShop purchases. If...

  • Time for Wii U to Treat Us Like Adults

    153

    Talking Point Time for Wii U to Treat Us Like Adults

    The nanny console

    This week has brought us an interesting story about Wii U eShop restrictions that are limited to European consoles, but perhaps provide greater insight into the relationship between gamers and their new Nintendo systems. It came to light that what we initially thought was a botched parental control issue on the platform was...

  • 18-Rated Content on Wii U eShop Only Accessible for Four Hours a Day

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    News 18-Rated Content on Wii U eShop Only Accessible for Four Hours a Day

    Yes, really

    Earlier this week we received messages from readers that couldn't download ZombiU or Assassin's Creed III from the Wii U eShop. We tested this and received the same error message, which made it seem as if there were botched parental controls on the platform. You cannot view this content. The times during which this content can be...

  • Toki Tori 2 Top 5: Two Tribe's Favourite Creatures

    11

    Feature Toki Tori 2 Top 5: Two Tribe's Favourite Creatures

    Going natural

    Toki Tori 2, the sequel to one of WiiWare's best-known titles, arrives on the Wii U eShop on 20th December. This sequel features significant changes from the structure and gameplay of the original release, while the included level editor may give extra life to the experience for any budding game designers with their hands on a Wii U...

  • BIT.TRIP SAGA On The Way To 3DS eShop

    60

    News BIT.TRIP SAGA On The Way To 3DS eShop

    Download some bits

    As the weeks pass Nintendo has been gradually bringing more 3DS retail titles to the handheld's eShop, and it seems that a series that began life as a download exclusive is set to join in — BIT.TRIP SAGA is next in line. According to an updated page on the eShop, the collection from Gaijin Games will be available to download...

  • Guitar Hero 7 Was in Development With a Six-Stringed Guitar

    33

    News Guitar Hero 7 Was in Development With a Six-Stringed Guitar

    "No one could figure out a way to make it so your average Joe could buy one"

    Who remembers the Guitar Hero series? Not so long ago there were a lot of these games, with the rival Rock Band series also weighing in with its own share of titles and plastic peripherals. It was Activision's franchise that arguably grabbed the most attention during the...