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
Find Them On
LinkedIn
  • News Reggie Fils-Aime: Fanbase Demands Are 'Insatiable'

    Don't worry, he still loves you

    Reggie Fils-Aime was a busy man during E3, leading Nintendo's main press conference and persistently spreading the word about Wii U and 3DS. As is expected, a lot of what was said was towing the company line, but in a more relaxed exchange with Kotaku, the Nintendo of America boss shared his views on the expectation...

  • Talking Point Another Look at the News - 22nd June

    Topic hint: it's big

    It's Friday, but we're not going to share our weekend gaming plans with you today, remember that's every two weeks. Today we're starting a new feature series where members of staff pick a piece of Nintendo news from the week and give their own opinions, sometimes irreverent, on the story. Normally that would mean that each...

  • News Official 3DS XL Japanese Website Launches

    No blue in Nintendo's homeland

    Now that the new 3DS XL has been announced, Nintendo has wasted little time in launching an official website in Japan. Interestingly, Japan has red + black and silver + black models, like Europe and North America, but doesn't have the blue + black version, opting instead for an all-white console. The all-white version...

  • News 3DS XL UK Prices Will be Decided by Retailers

    Expect prices 'ASAP'

    One of the interesting announcements in the 3DS XL reveal today was a price-point of $199 in the U.S., a fairly good price considering that the original model cost $250 in March 2011. Nintendo did have to learn a cruel lesson that the original launch price wouldn't sell enough units, prompting a major reduction just months after...

  • News Pokémon Typing Adventure Announced for DS

    Gotta type 'em all?

    Satoru Shibata's European Nintendo Direct broadcast had a few moments of charm and Nintendo quirkiness, none more so than the announcement of Pokémon Typing Adventure for DS, which arrives in September. It's Pokémon played by typing, just what we all expected. It will come bundled with a rather sleek wireless keyboard —...

  • News Inazuma Eleven Strikers Scores in Europe

    Arrives 28th September

    European fans of the Inazuma Eleven franchise have so far had to be patient when waiting for localisation, with a number of releases yet to make it outside of Japan. The good news is that Inazuma Eleven Strikers is on the way to European Wii owners on 28th September, though we did think it was a possibility after spotting a...

  • News Ten Games Discounted in European eShop Sale

    Demos and free apps, too

    During this morning's Nintendo Direct broadcast in Europe it was announced that there would be a sale promotion on the platform, to celebrate its one year anniversary. Ten titles will be available at 20% off, with half being reduced this week and the others next week: details are below. 22/06/2012 — 14:59 CET 28/06/2012...

  • News Freakyforms Deluxe Announced for Europe

    Arrives 28th July

    Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive! was one of Nintendo's earliest releases on the 3DS eShop, and during today's European Nintendo Direct broadcast Satoru Shibata confirmed that a full retail title in the series, Freakyforms Deluxe, will arrive on 28th July: the same day that the 3DS XL/LL hits. The retail title will offer a lot...

  • Review Heroes of Ruin (3DS)

    An heroic effort

    If Heroes of Ruin was judged purely on the level of ambition and functionality on display, it would be hailed as the finest title on 3DS. It takes the capabilities of the handheld and attempts to deliver a fully flavoured action RPG, with all of the online play and functionality that gamers could conceivably demand of a home console...

  • News Fifth Mario Marathon Fundraiser Set for 22nd June

    All for the Child's Play Charity

    There are millions of gamers who enjoy playing Mario games, whether it's the NES classics or the latest titles on Wii and 3DS. The world-famous plumber is also the inspiration for Mario Marathon 5, a webcast taking place this Friday to raise money for the Child's Play charity. This event has enjoyed success in its...

  • Feature The Potential of Wii U and Amazon

    More than a games console

    Nintendo has been busy with Wii U promotion in recent weeks, with E3 at the core of a number of interviews and reveals about the system and what it will offer on the day it hits stores. Satoru Iwata has spoken about the console and its GamePad controller becoming the centre of the family living room. An image of four family...

  • News Ubisoft's Killer Freaks Evolved From Rabbids

    Then shifted to zombies for a 'serious' tone

    When Killer Freaks from Outer Space for Wii U was shown at E3 2011, some may have thought that Ubisoft had produced one of the more intriguing teasers for the system. It was a new IP with strange looking aliens that the player could shoot with impunity: it pushed some buttons. This year we've learned...

  • Rumour Wii U Priced at €399.99 by Amazon Germany

    Release date of 21st December, apparently

    We have more news about the exciting innovation in video game retail: the Amazon Wii U guessing game. It was only a week ago that Amazon UK listed a black version of the system at £199, before swiftly removing the listing and cancelling any pre-orders shortly after. That product page had stated it'd be...

  • News Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns European Release Date

    Start farming on 29th June

    A while back we reported that Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns 3D was on its way to PAL regions, which seemed more than likely considering the support that Rising Star Games had shown for localising the franchise in previous years. This well-known secret has now been confirmed through a press release, for Europe anyway,...

  • News Mario Kart 7 Goes on the Road with Big Time Rush

    Mario on tour

    Nintendo of America has certainly shown a willingness to team up with others to spread awareness of the major 3DS game releases, taking Mario Tennis Open on a tour with the USTA for example. More 3DS systems are preparing to hit the road in the latest partnership, with Mario Kart 7 joining Nickelodeon’s Big Time Summer Tour. This...

  • News Miyamoto: Nintendo Focused on Fun, Not Competition

    Worried about reliance on guns in gaming

    Shigeru Miyamoto's reputation and prominence in the gaming industry means that his opinion is sought on a large number of issues, not always those specific to Nintendo itself. As the recognisable face for Mario and the company, he often reflects the opinions and ideology shared by his colleagues, so it's not...

  • News LEGO Batman 2 Launch Trailer is Super

    A true blockbuster

    LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes arrives today on Wii and 3DS in North America, with Europe only having to wait until the end of this week. The LEGO titles are prolific and consistently similar, but clearly have something going for them with the sheer range of franchises and sequels released. As the name suggests, this is the...

  • News New Super Mario Bros. U is 'Accessible and Intuitive'

    Keeps the 'building blocks' of the series

    The extended unveiling of New Super Mario Bros. U at E3 this year prompted a number of reactions from viewers. In our office there were comments that it looked exceptionally pretty, graphics-wise, but also that it looked extremely similar to its 'New' series predecessors on DS and Wii. Whether that's...

  • Talking Point Wii U Bundles Need to Suit Us All

    One size does not fit all

    After the fun and games of Wii U noise over E3, now we probably have to wait until the next Nintendo Direct broadcast for another hit. We learned a great deal about Wii U at E3, with game reveals and system demonstrations giving a broader idea of what the console will offer. Much was left to our imagination, however, such...

  • News Bomb Monkey Gets Explosive New Site

    North American release may be this month

    Renegade Kid has already brought us the highly-rated Mutant Mudds on the 3DS eShop recently, with European gamers finally getting the chance to download it this week. A little while ago the developer announced a new title hot-on-the-heels of its retro platformer, with puzzler Bomb Monkey bringing an entirely...

  • News Nintendo Continues Software Dominance in Japan

    But struggles in UK

    Today brings mixed news on software sales for Nintendo, though perhaps it's a positive in the market that brings the big N the most success. In Japan, Andriasang has translated results published by Enterbrain and Famitsu that show Nintendo as the biggest selling software publisher for May. Covering the period for 30th April to...

  • News Wii U Will be a 'Great Value Proposition'

    No details yet

    One message that Nintendo has been keen to emphasise is that Wii U will avoid the launch day mistakes that hit 3DS, promising that plenty of content will be available from the beginning. There's little doubt that a relatively high price and the lack of a 'killer app' hurt the handheld, so Nintendo faces a task to avoid either of these...

  • News Harmony of a Hunter Follow-Up Album Shoots for Perfect Run

    Available later this year

    Earlier in the year we told you about Harmony of a Hunter, a fan-produced double-album of music from the Metroid series. We also had an interview with director Darren Kerwin and assistant director Torbjørn 'Falcool' Brandrud, who said the project was devised to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the franchise, even if...

  • Round Table Let's Talk About a Year of the 3DS eShop

    Filling up those SD cards

    This week we've celebrated one year of the 3DS eShop, with our own top ten eShop games and a retrospective on a year of the platform. To round off the week a few members of the team discuss the eShop's first year and consider the positives so far, and where it can improve. Joining features editor Thomas Whitehead are...