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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  • Pokémon Black and White 2 Designed for Dedicated Trainers

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    News Pokémon Black and White 2 Designed for Dedicated Trainers

    "Let’s open up the complexity of Pokémon for people who want it."

    The Pokémon series is one of the most serious in gaming, with world championships and resources for Trainers that are reserved for the most dedicated and skilled. One trend with the most experienced players is to dig down into the games and understand the hidden stat values for...

  • Super Paper Mario Bros. - Level 1-1 Recreated in Mobius Strip

    19

    News Super Paper Mario Bros. - Level 1-1 Recreated in Mobius Strip

    Yours for $24

    With a franchise like Mario, it's safe to say that there are plenty of arts and crafts projects out there that have been created as a dedication to the moustachioed one. Pins, animations with nothing but post-it notes, and any wacky idea you can imagine have probably been done already. One that involved a fair bit of effort and skill...

  • Pokémon Almost Brought a "Seizure Gun" to the World

    35

    News Pokémon Almost Brought a "Seizure Gun" to the World

    From the U.S. military, of course

    At times we mock video games, particularly those based around war, for their ludicrous ideas and unrealistic scenarios. There's nothing as strange as real life, however, as a report on wired.com has uncovered a U.S. military project from 1998, which was to develop an electromagnetic weapon that would induce seizures...

  • Frozenbyte: "The Wii U eShop is Very Promising"

    19

    News Frozenbyte: "The Wii U eShop is Very Promising"

    Affordable updates and certification on the wish list

    Of all we've heard and seen of Wii U, the eShop remains the biggest mystery. We may have an idea of some of the launch window titles, but we know little of what it'll look like or what additional content it'll feature, beyond games. We do know of Nintendo learning from some past mistakes,...

  • Quarth is Blasting Onto the 3DS Virtual Console Soon

    35

    News Quarth is Blasting Onto the 3DS Virtual Console Soon

    Think of it as Tetris X Space Invaders

    The slow drip-feed of Game Boy titles on the 3DS Virtual Console may frustrate some that would prefer a deluge, but we can confirm — thanks to our source at Nintendo of America — another title from the extensive back catalogue that's due to arrive in the next couple of weeks. This time around it's Quarth,...

  • 3DS System Update Locks Out a Lot of Flashcards, Permanently

    104

    News 3DS System Update Locks Out a Lot of Flashcards, Permanently

    The answer is to buy the games

    Although some may use flashcards on DS systems as a convenient way to store copies of games they own, many people use them to play games they have not bought. Piracy was a big problem for the DS family of systems, and Nintendo always reiterated that it would ensure that 3DS was more secure, closing the door on illegal...

    • 3DS
  • Wii U Third-Party Round-Up

    23

    Hands on Wii U Third-Party Round-Up

    Trine 2, Skylanders Giants, Ninja Gaiden 3, Tekken 2, NBA 2K13 and Sonic Racing

    During this week we've been giving first impressions and hands on accounts of a number of Wii U launch window titles, both retail and downloadable. Nintendo of Europe provided access to a wide range of games we haven't yet covered, however, including some additional...

  • Clever People Turn a NES Zapper Into a Real Laser

    23

    News Clever People Turn a NES Zapper Into a Real Laser

    Ducks beware

    We have exciting news for you today, and possibly the most important scientific breakthrough since the wheel: a laser NES Zapper. Some smart — and we hasten to add, safe — people have changed the famous NES accessory from a light gun to a laser gun, and we're not even kidding. After taking the light gun apart and stripping out...

  • New Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Screens Grant Three Wishes

    24

    News New Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Screens Grant Three Wishes

    Those with memories of Aladdin, enjoy

    Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is not only a 3DS accompaniment to upcoming sequel Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two on Wii and Wii U, but also a nostalgic 2D platformer that's got the interest of gamers with fond memories of the '90s. The latest set of official screens show off the Aladdin themed...

  • Wii U Blockbuster Ports

    30

    First Impressions Wii U Blockbuster Ports

    Mass Effect 3 and Darksiders II put through their paces

    One thing that many will have already noticed about the Wii U launch line-up is that it's showing the beginnings of greater third-party parity for Nintendo gamers. There are exclusives, of course, but there is also a mix of big-budget titles being ported to the new system: some will be...

  • Capcom Explains Wii U and 3DS Cross-Play in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

    36

    News Capcom Explains Wii U and 3DS Cross-Play in Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

    "You can have a Monster Hunter party"

    The announcement of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate for Europe and North America, as part of Nintendo's recent Wii U reveal extravaganzas, finally gave fans of the series a welcome fix after a rather lengthy delay. Some were disappointed with the titles coming in March 2013, especially as Japan will get the new...

  • Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight May Get Groovy in the West

    32

    News Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight May Get Groovy in the West

    Gotta catch the beats

    There are a good numbers of gamers in the West that love Japanese culture and look on with envy at some of the creative, and occasionally wacky, delights that are released in Nintendo's homeland. One of these we may not have expected to see was Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight, a rhythm game on the 3DS eShop from Pokémon developer...

  • Reggie Fils-Aime: "The Nintendo Power Brand is Very Strong"

    58

    News Reggie Fils-Aime: "The Nintendo Power Brand is Very Strong"

    Struggles of the print industry to blame for closure

    For loyal readers of Nintendo Power, or perhaps just those that have fond memories of reading it in their youth, the December issue will be the last print copy to enjoy. Perhaps unlike any other website or magazine closures in recent years this is undeniably one that can be directly traced to...

  • Shigeru Miyamoto: Mario and Luigi Don't Have Last Names

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    News Shigeru Miyamoto: Mario and Luigi Don't Have Last Names

    So stop saying he's called Mario Mario

    When it comes to Mario, Nintendo's number one icon, there are plenty of myths and stories that can be debated by gamers until the moo moo cows come home. One of these, thanks to the Super Mario Bros. movie that wasn't particularly good, is that Mario and Luigi's last name is actually Mario, meaning that the...

  • Ubisoft's Wii U Launch Hits

    26

    Hands On Ubisoft's Wii U Launch Hits

    Taking Rayman Legends and ZombiU for another spin

    When it comes to third-party launch support for Wii U, Ubisoft is the stand-out with its sheer volume of titles on the way. As always, the publisher is wading in with a substantial variety of games to cater to gamers of almost all levels and persuasions, but we recently had a chance to have another...

  • GameStop Closes Wii U Pre-Orders in the U.S.

    42

    News GameStop Closes Wii U Pre-Orders in the U.S.

    Waiting lists opened

    While pre-orders are still very much available, at the time of writing, around Europe and elsewhere, it seems that demand for Wii U in the U.S. is hitting some impressive heights. We previously reported that Wii U pre-orders were selling out in the U.S., in terms of online purchases, but it's now being reported by softpedia.com...

  • Nano Assault Neo

    24

    First Impressions Nano Assault Neo

    Big things from a small world

    Nano Assault on 3DS probably qualifies as an under-appreciated gem, a title that was awarded an impressive 8/10 in our review but unfortunately never arrived in Europe. It's a pity that it hasn't been enjoyed outside of North America and Japan, though thankfully developer Shin'en Multimedia has confirmed that a 3DS...

  • Toki Tori 2

    13

    First Impressions Toki Tori 2

    The bird's still got it

    Toki Tori 2 was one of the first eShop titles confirmed for Wii U, showing that developer Two Tribes is more than happy to take another early plunge on Nintendo's download platform. It seems only right, too, as the developer's first ever release was Toki Tori on Game Boy Color, before a new version of that game had a start on...

  • Nintendo Land

    43

    Hands On Nintendo Land

    Playing together and going solo

    Nintendo Land is going to be played by a lot of Wii U owners, which we know thanks to pre-orders for the system's Premium Set being practically sold out in the U.S., for example. We were able to try a number of its titles in a post-E3 London event, where we gave you first impressions of Nintendo Land's multiplayer...

  • 3DS "Bookstore Anywhere" App Bringing eBooks to Japan

    69

    News 3DS "Bookstore Anywhere" App Bringing eBooks to Japan

    Read into that what you what you will

    There's been some talk about what apps will be available on Wii U, with its GamePad controller bringing its own possibilities, but we shouldn't forget that the functionality of 3DS has plenty to offer. A new app coming to Japan on 20th October is Bookstore Anywhere, which according to Japanese publication Nikkei...

  • Assassin's Creed III

    13

    First Impressions Assassin's Creed III

    Battles on the high seas

    Assassin’s Creed III is one of Wii U’s highest-profile launch titles, with the November date coming just a few weeks after its appearance on the other HD systems. It’s also one of Ubisoft’s most ambitious development projects in its long history, with a number of studios and hundreds of staff working on what it hopes...

  • Sony: Wii U Offering "Something That Vita and PS3 can do Quite Easily"

    167

    News Sony: Wii U Offering "Something That Vita and PS3 can do Quite Easily"

    Ding Ding, FIGHT!

    What do you get when a Nintendo system's big selling point is innovative dual screen play — with a GamePad featuring its own screen — and a competitor's handheld and home console systems also offer various dual-screen connectivity options? You get a lot of corporate boasting and big talk, that's what, and the Nintendo vs Sony...

  • Rodea the Sky Soldier Still Has No Release Plans

    33

    News Rodea the Sky Soldier Still Has No Release Plans

    Former Sonic man is keen to work on Wii U

    Do you remember Rodea the Sky Soldier from Yuji Naka's PROPE studio, the man who many credit with creating Sonic the Hedgehog? It's supposed to be released on Wii and 3DS, with the handheld version being handled by another developer, Kadokawa Games, the same organisation in charge of publishing the Wii...

  • Reggie Fils-Aime Would Love to See GameCube Games on Wii U Virtual Console

    94

    News Reggie Fils-Aime Would Love to See GameCube Games on Wii U Virtual Console

    So would we, Reggie

    As Nintendo's Wii U approaches we can expect a number of announcements, some big and others small, over the coming weeks. There are a variety of things we want to know more about, one of which is the Virtual Console offering on eShop. The latest console to feature on the Wii's Virtual Console was Nintendo 64, so it immediately...