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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  • 23rd August 2012 (North America)

    82

    Nintendo Download 23rd August 2012 (North America)

    Racing, metal slugging and the abyss

    We've seen some pretty busy line-ups for the Nintendo Download update in recent times, but it's rather quiet this time around: will it be quality over quantity? Each platform gets one game, and the heady days of discounted downloads are forgotten. Still, let's get to it. eShop: VectorRacing (Arc System Works,...

  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 Rainbow Courses

    20

    Tips New Super Mario Bros. 2 Rainbow Courses

    A handy pot of gold

    It takes relatively little time to beat the main Worlds in New Super Mario Bros. 2, but it adds many, many hours with unlockable levels, collectibles and secrets to discover. Yesterday we shared two small tips that would allow you to play as Luigi in single player and to keep those hard earned profile stars sparkling. Due to...

  • Nintendo Power Magazine Will End With December Issue

    105

    News Nintendo Power Magazine Will End With December Issue

    Nintendo issues confirmation

    Yesterday we brought you the news that Nintendo Power magazine was set to be shut down, and today Nintendo has confirmed the reports. The short statement clarifies that the magazine will continue until a final issue currently planned for December. We can confirm that the December issue of Nintendo Power magazine will...

  • Conker's Bad Fur Day Madness and Vulgarity The Work of "Twisted Genius"

    66

    News Conker's Bad Fur Day Madness and Vulgarity The Work of "Twisted Genius"

    Warning: poo references

    Although Nintendo systems are notorious for censoring and toning down adult or vulgar content, there have been various mature games released on its consoles. A recent example, to name just one, is Madworld on Wii, which had enough violence and bad language to keep any mature gaming fan happy. If you want to go back to retro...

  • Mario Kart 7 'Fastest Family' Contest is in The Final Straight

    3

    News Mario Kart 7 'Fastest Family' Contest is in The Final Straight

    The last chance to qualify

    In recent weeks we've brought you regular updates on Nintendo UK's Fastest Family competition, which aims to seek out the quickest Mario Kart 7 racers from around the country. Throughout August regional heats have been taking place at HMV stores, with the winners securing a place in the grand final in October; there'll be...

  • Nintendo Grabs Lots of Coins in Japanese Charts

    21

    News Nintendo Grabs Lots of Coins in Japanese Charts

    1-ups for everyone

    Japan is currently enjoying its summer break, which often represents a peak shopping period and, hopefully, plenty of Yen for gaming companies. The chart results for last week have come out rather well for Nintendo, continuing a positive spell of sales for the Kyoto-based company. In terms of software, the entire top ten consists...

  • Pick Up Keldeo For Free in Pokémon Giveaway

    61

    News Pick Up Keldeo For Free in Pokémon Giveaway

    Off to the shops with you

    Pokémon Black and White 2 is getting ever closer, and we can expect the hype machine to continue kicking into gear. One tactic seems to be to remind you that you should really still be playing the original Pokémon Black and White, and one way to get you back into the action is to run a legendary 'mon giveaway. Between...

  • Satoru Iwata: Demand for Rich Experiences on Handhelds "Not Going to Go Away"

    62

    News Satoru Iwata: Demand for Rich Experiences on Handhelds "Not Going to Go Away"

    Smartphones provide "different" competition

    For Satoru Iwata, there are plenty of priorities and challenges to face. Nintendo is currently preparing to brings its next home console to the market, while also generating and sustaining momentum for 3DS. Both are important, but it's perhaps 3DS, and dedicated handheld gaming as a whole, that has been...

  • Two New Super Mario Bros. 2 Secrets

    33

    Tips Two New Super Mario Bros. 2 Secrets

    Don't worry, fun but (relatively) spoiler free

    If you're anything like the members of the Nintendo Life team, you're probably well on your way through New Super Mario Bros. 2, perhaps even beaten it, and are currently scrabbling around levels looking for elusive star coins and secrets. This title may hand out extra lives like they've gone out of...

  • Nintendo Power Magazine Looks Set to Shut Down

    135

    News Nintendo Power Magazine Looks Set to Shut Down

    Could be the end of an era

    Update: The tweet quoted below, from Nintendo Power senior editor Chris Hoffman, has since been deleted, as have a number of others sharing a similar message. As always and as promised in the original article below, we will report any official updates from Nintendo and Future Publishing. Original Article In a surprising...

  • Nintendo's Steady Start in Retail Downloads

    53

    Reaction Nintendo's Steady Start in Retail Downloads

    It’s only half of the picture

    Earlier today we reported that Satoru Iwata had given loose figures for retail downloads in Japan, which started alongside the launch of 3DS XL on 28th July. Speaking to Wall Street Journal, Iwata-san stated that New Super Mario Bros. 2 retail downloads account for 5% of sales in Nintendo’s homeland, but provided...

  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 Worldwide Coin Total Surpasses 36 Billion

    29

    News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Worldwide Coin Total Surpasses 36 Billion

    May be used to buy 17% of Apple

    Those of you that have picked up New Super Mario Bros. 2 have probably also enabled SpotPass, which will be used to contribute your haul to the world coin total. We'd also assume that Nintendo will send regular updates so we can all see how ludicrously high that total gets. While there haven't been any updates as yet...

  • Bookstore Dream In Final Chapter of DSiWare Approval

    23

    News Bookstore Dream In Final Chapter of DSiWare Approval

    eBook support not confirmed

    Bookstore Dream for DSiWare was confirmed earlier this year by CIRCLE Entertainment, a simulation game where you get to run your own book store from scratch and develop it into a successful business. The good news for literary-minded gamers who also want to make some sim-cash is that the title has now been approved in...

  • Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney is "Progressing Well"

    28

    News Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney is "Progressing Well"

    We won't object

    Remember Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright, or perhaps you know it as Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney? It was announced way back in October 2010, and brought fans of both series to a state of giddiness with the very thought of the rookie lawyer and top-hat wearing puzzle master combining forces. Confirmed for Japan, Capcom and...

  • Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles Helped to Save NES

    37

    News Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles Helped to Save NES

    In the UK they were heroes, not ninjas

    It's a popular perception that NES swept all before it when it was released, dominating sales and 8-bit popular culture in the late 1980s. While that's probably true in North America and Japan, Nintendo's debut home console actually had a slow and rather unsuccessful start in the UK, with distribution via...

  • Nintendo UK's 3D Film Contest Approaches Its Finale

    3

    News Nintendo UK's 3D Film Contest Approaches Its Finale

    Budding film-makers need look no further

    Not long ago we brought you news about a competition being run by Nintendo and BFI (British Film Institute), with support from Ridley Scott, to give 3DS owners an opportunity to produce and show a professional 3D production at the 56th BFI London Film Festival in October. With this weekend also bringing a...

  • Rare Final Fantasy II NES Cartridge Hits eBay

    31

    News Rare Final Fantasy II NES Cartridge Hits eBay

    This one's only $50,000

    A little while ago we posted news of a prototype cartridge for The Legend of Zelda on eBay, with the seller pricing it at $150,000 — though ultimately it went for around $55,000. Today brings another NES cartridge with a price tag to make the eyes water; this time it's a copy of Final Fantasy II on NES for $50,000. The...

  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 Retail Downloads Account For 5% of Sales in Japan

    35

    News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Retail Downloads Account For 5% of Sales in Japan

    Demon Training hits 20%

    Nintendo has recently taken its first tentative steps into retail downloads, providing gamers worldwide with the means to download New Super Mario Bros. 2, taking away the need for a box and game cart. In Japan that also extends to Demon Training, the Brain Training follow-up that encourages short bursts of play to help...

  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 Typo Isn't So Golden

    81

    News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Typo Isn't So Golden

    More grammatical 'revelaitons'

    It can be a pastime of some gamers to chortle at spelling errors or sloppy typos in video games, with many recently enjoying a typo by Capcom in its now infamous Resident Evil Revelaitons packaging for, of course, Revelations. While that version of the packaging became, bizarrely, a collector's item of sorts, it seems...

  • The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia Tops Amazon Book Charts

    23

    News The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia Tops Amazon Book Charts

    Now that's epic

    Last week we were rather delighted to share the news that The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is on the way to the West, with all 272 pages of its Zelda goodness making its way out of Japan early next year. We know enthusiasts will be interested in this, but the question is whether there'll be enough demand to make it worth the...

  • Square Enix Teaser Looks Awfully Like The World Ends With You

    52

    News Square Enix Teaser Looks Awfully Like The World Ends With You

    Don't forget to take a breath

    Video games are a funny business, as some titles that don't necessarily achieve record-breaking sales or popular acclaim often become something else: critically-acclaimed titles with a legion of devoted, loving fans. These are often titles that won't necessarily grab the attention of the majority of gamers, but become a...

  • New Super Mario Bros. 2 Finishes Second in UK Charts

    22

    News New Super Mario Bros. 2 Finishes Second in UK Charts

    Letting Sleeping Dogs lie

    New Super Mario Bros. 2 hit UK stores last Friday, and today's all-format chart shows the plumber's latest platforming adventure making its debut at number two. While we may instinctively wonder why it didn't make it to number one, that placing actually matches the performance of the original New Super Mario Bros on DS. It...

  • 23rd August 2012 (Europe)

    49

    Nintendo Download 23rd August 2012 (Europe)

    DK Jr., mascot golf, puzzles and futuristic baseball

    It's another week, and the memories of lazy gaming at the weekend are already drifting away. Still, we have the Nintendo download details for Europe to look over, and it's a rather motley mix of retro titles, puzzles and a super demo for everyone to try. Let's get on with it. 3DS Virtual Console:...

  • 3DS XL Goes Big in North America

    75

    Out Now 3DS XL Goes Big in North America

    And New Super Mario Bros. 2, of course

    It's Sunday, a day of rest and laziness for so many, but perhaps this one has a slightly different meaning for some keen 3DS gamers in North America: it's 3DS XL day. Oh, and New Super Mario Bros. 2 day, as well. 3DS XL graced Europe and Japan in late July, with the North American release seemingly being held...