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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  • Wii U GamePad Can Play Assassin's Creed 3 in 3D

    31

    News Wii U GamePad Can Play Assassin's Creed 3 in 3D

    All about the software and glasses

    When Wii U was unveiled, just a few months after the arrival of 3DS, some wondered whether the GamePad's screen would feature autostereoscopic capabilities like the handheld's screen. It didn't take long for that idea to fade away, as the realities of a glasses-free 3D screen that size, as well as its constant use...

  • Amazon Instant Video Goes Live on Wii U

    15

    News Amazon Instant Video Goes Live on Wii U

    Just tap the icon

    Much like the arrival of Hulu Plus on Wii U, good things come to those who wait. Joining yesterday's addition to the TV streaming options on Nintendo's new system, and Netflix which was ready on day one, is Amazon Instant Video, live right now. If you're a subscriber to the service, simply tap on the tile visible on the home menu...

  • "What is Wii U?" Adverts Start Quizzing Gamers

    17

    News "What is Wii U?" Adverts Start Quizzing Gamers

    Depends on the game, of course

    With all of the hubbub and excitement it may be possible that some Nintendo fans have forgotten about us Europeans and PAL gamers, still waiting for Wii U to arrive. It's actually the worst for Japanese gamers who'll get the system last — what were the odds on that a year ago? In any case, for many of us the...

  • Hulu Plus Now Up and Running on Wii U

    11

    News Hulu Plus Now Up and Running on Wii U

    Watch TV, on your TV!

    Wii U is a pretty strong offering, in terms of functionality, on day one once the system update is in place. More is on the way, of course, such as the TVii app that will arrive in December, while the Wii U menu on the GamePad is showing some other services that aren't quite up and running just yet. One of these icons is for...

  • Microwave 'Artist' Returns to Melt a Wii U

    123

    News Microwave 'Artist' Returns to Melt a Wii U

    A deluxe model, no less

    So, plenty of you in North America have a shiny Wii U, and you're possibly cradling the GamePad in your arms between game sessions and telling children with sticky hands to stay away. Or maybe you're just playing a load of games, but we're sure most are you are being quite careful to keep your new console shiny. What you...

  • Wii U Becomes Profitable With One Game Sale

    20

    News Wii U Becomes Profitable With One Game Sale

    Buy a game, make Mario say wahoo!

    It was confirmed in late October that Wii U will be sold at a loss, which gave the retail price some context and perhaps made some supporters nervous about the financial impact on the company. According to comments from Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime, however, the loss on each console is evidently small...

  • Wii U on Plenty of U.S. Christmas Lists

    70

    News Wii U on Plenty of U.S. Christmas Lists

    The kids are alright

    With the Holiday season upon us, there are a number of gadgets vying to be the hottest attraction for shoppers, with Wii U doing its best to join in. Of course, so much money at this time of year is spent on kids, and according to surveys conducted by research firm Nielson, Wii U is high on a lot of wishlists. Of those...

  • The Nintendo Network ID's Next Big Step

    80

    Talking Point The Nintendo Network ID's Next Big Step

    Not quite fully “networked”, yet

    We’ve praised the concept behind the Nintendo Network a fair bit here on Nintendo Life, and in various news posts and features we’ve stated or alluded to the fact that it could be the start of a bright new online era for Nintendo. To start this particular article on a positive point, there are plenty of...

  • Wii U Software Discounts Hit Ahead of Black Friday, Analysts Weigh In

    25

    News Wii U Software Discounts Hit Ahead of Black Friday, Analysts Weigh In

    Consoles reportedly sold out, over 2500 on eBay

    Now that Wii U has had a day or so to launch and fly off store shelves, industry analysts are starting to look at the early signs of success, or otherwise, for the system. It's all very, very early days, of course, but nevertheless a couple of interesting trends have emerged. For starters, and to the...

  • Invasion of the Alien Blobs Bringing The Fight To DSiWare

    5

    News Invasion of the Alien Blobs Bringing The Fight To DSiWare

    Fear the blob

    G-STYLE, a developer most prolific and well known for download software released in Japan, is bringing another one of its DSiWare titles to the West. This time around it's Invasion of the Alien Blobs!, which was known as Shunkan Tsubutsubu Tsubushi when released on the Japanese DSi Shop back in March 2010; it'll arrive in North America...

  • 22nd November 2012 (Europe)

    42

    Nintendo Download 22nd November 2012 (Europe)

    Flying, dressing up, fighting spirits and more

    There was a certain big release over in North America at the weekend, but fear not Europeans! You get to find out what downloads are coming first, so that's one-up right there. We have a 3DS launch title flying in as a retail download, as well as offerings on every platform; you can check out the...

  • Hyrule Historia Picks Up New Cover and Trailer

    31

    News Hyrule Historia Picks Up New Cover and Trailer

    Da-da-da-daaaaaaa!

    In case you don't know, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is a rather lovely-looking 272-page hardcover art book that celebrates the series, containing words from Shigeru Miyamoto, lots of concept art, a history of Hyrule and an officially sanctioned timeline. After envious glances towards the release in Japan earlier this...

  • The Wii U eShop Could be a Developer's Dream

    23

    Talking Point The Wii U eShop Could be a Developer's Dream

    Nintendo hands over the reins

    When it comes to download game platforms, Nintendo's had to evolve rapidly. The arrival of the DSi and Wii online stores brought the famous company into the realm of the download market for the first time; both services have produced a number of top-notch gaming experiences, and in some cases proved to be the making of...

  • Nintendo Brings Heat to Black Friday With Flame Red 3DS Deal

    25

    News Nintendo Brings Heat to Black Friday With Flame Red 3DS Deal

    Includes Super Mario 3D Land on the system

    The Black Friday weekend is almost upon us, an annual shopping frenzy in North America that's gradually creeping into retailers in other territories. Naturally, companies are seeking attention and offering tasty deals to part you from your cash, and Nintendo's no different. It's been confirmed that,...

  • Halting Wii U System Update May Brick the System

    125

    News Halting Wii U System Update May Brick the System

    Be careful, gamers

    A number of you in North America likely have your shiny new Wii U setup, and you've probably installed the day one update that's required for access to features such as Miiverse and the eShop. According to reports out in the Twitter-sphere, however, you may also be one of a small minority that's inadvertently bricked your Wii U...

  • Isaiah Triforce Johnson Grabs First Wii U at Launch Event

    34

    News Isaiah Triforce Johnson Grabs First Wii U at Launch Event

    Reunited with his old pal Reggie

    To join in with all of the hubbub of North American gamers picking up Wii U systems today, Nintendo has sent out some pictures of the midnight launch event in New York for us to enjoy. As the headline makes clear, Isaiah Triforce Johnson was on hand with his trusty Power Glove to seize the honour, once again, of...

  • Ubisoft Uplay App On The Way To Wii U

    14

    News Ubisoft Uplay App On The Way To Wii U

    Adding a bit extra

    Ubisoft is comfortably the most supportive third-party developer in Wii U's launch window, releasing a mixture of ports and exclusive titles that cover genres suitable for less experienced players, through to blockbusters for those who'd call themselves hardcore. It seems the publisher's support is set to step up a notch further,...

  • 18th November 2012 (North America)

    90

    Nintendo Download 18th November 2012 (North America)

    U better believe it

    It's a special Nintendo Download update today, as lucky gamers in North America can enter a brave new world of HD offerings on Wii U. There are five download-only titles to choose from and a giddying range of retail options, which shows how seriously Nintendo's taking the idea of selling us games without boxes. Let's get to it...

  • Shigeru Miyamoto - The Father of Modern Video Games

    64

    Feature Shigeru Miyamoto - The Father of Modern Video Games

    An era unlike any other

    Today is Shigeru Miyamoto's 60th birthday, a key personal landmark but also one that should be celebrated in broader terms by the gaming industry. Miyamoto's well-known description as the "father of modern video games" isn't just casually applied praise, it's a title that's deserved and has genuine significance. Nintendo's...

  • New Super Mario Bros. U To Jump Into DLC

    29

    News New Super Mario Bros. U To Jump Into DLC

    Additional courses planned

    New Super Mario Bros. 2 did something new for the core Mario franchise: it introduced DLC. While much of the game may have felt familiar — not always a bad thing — the idea of extra content being made available after release was new for the series, and has added some longevity to the Coin Rush mode. In an Iwata Asks...

  • 15th November 2012 (North America)

    94

    Nintendo Download 15th November 2012 (North America)

    Mickey gets epic, monster shooting, Myst and more

    It's Thursday, which comes before Friday, but also means Nintendo Download day. This week throws up a fair bit of content on 3DS, including four retail downloads with one high-profile release and the return of a PC classic, while DSi owners also have a couple of options to look forward to. Feast your...

  • 3DS Passes Eight Million Sales in Japan

    30

    News 3DS Passes Eight Million Sales in Japan

    Turning over a new leaf

    When it comes to keeping the accountants and shareholders happy, Nintendo can always point to its 3DS sales in Japan. While there's undoubtedly improvement needed in North America and, particularly, Europe when it comes to sales figures for the handheld, Nintendo's homeland consistently shows healthy sales that simply blow...

  • The Realities of Wii U System Memory Have Become Clear

    133

    Talking Point The Realities of Wii U System Memory Have Become Clear

    The fridge will fill up quickly

    Today's unexpected Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast gave us various details to frantically decipher and translate, ranging from confirmation that the Wii U GamePad won't have backward compatibility with WiiWare or Wii Virtual Console games, to some less intriguing information about parental controls. Another section...

  • Nicalis Blasting onto 3DS eShop with Guxt

    30

    News Nicalis Blasting onto 3DS eShop with Guxt

    Shmup from Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya, creator of Cave Story

    Nicalis may have a rather questionable record of localising its download titles in all regions — mention Cave Story on DSiWare or the 3DS eShop to a European and see what happens — but it does actively seek to bring high-quality indie releases to Nintendo systems. When you consider that...