Kyle Orland from Crispy Gamer scored an informative interview with Chris Slate on what it’s like to be the editor of the most storied game magazine in history. After Orland asks how in the world Nintendo Power can endure another 20 years in light of cyberspace tabloids, Slate responds:

The simple answer is that print is never going to go away; it’s a different type of experience and has a unique relationship with the reader. I check several Web sites every day to keep up with the latest news, but when I sit down with a magazine it’s different — it isn’t about actively searching for things, but passively relaxing and enjoying the experience. Magazines used to be the only way that game players could get information or feel like they were part of a larger gaming community, but now the Internet serves those needs better than we ever could. However, [print] can filter out the endless noise of thousands of online game previews and blog entries, zero in on what is most important to readers for that specific month, and give the biggest stories the extra space and unrestricted design options to present more satisfying articles. That’s the goal, anyway, and we work our hardest to reach it each and every issue.

I spent the better part of the past 15 minutes on the Nintendo Power subscription page, my mouse cursor hovering over the place order arrow button, my mind unsure of how my body got to be where it was, or why.

The catalyst for this weird stage of events was a cool article at Aeropause, which actually examines the dying “hardcore” gaming mag industry as a whole, but has a few choice words of encouragement for Nintendo Power. Put simply, the “popular” gaming mags today are really only popular, on average, with a certain type of person, and as such they cater to games that the audience wants to hear about. It makes business sense for now, but unfortunately for them (and for many gaming blogs today, I might add), it’s indicative of the ostrich head-in-the-sand mentality that will ultimately doom them (or at least lead to massive “restructuring,” i.e. “layoffs.”).

As their audience loses the power they once had over the direction of the industry, so to will they lose their influence as publications. Nintendo Power, however, is now positioned to be THE gaming mag for the mass market video games industry, complete with exclusives (some even faster than the Net), commentary on all games of all types, and the Nintendo Power brand to back it up. Meanwhile, advertisers will abandon the dead weight, and flock to the mag with the most presence and authority, as advertisers are wont to do. Advertising is about eye balls, after all, and Nintendo has more of them.

In light of all this I kept asking myself a simple question. It was wild, and it was incredibly retro 1990’s of me to ask, but I asked anyway. Should I subscribe to Nintendo Power? Again?

As voted by the Chicago Tribune.

The magazine is 20 years old, but it is still stuck in its tweens and that’s a good thing. Just as the Nintendo company has, the magazine has had to adapt and reinvent itself. You can read it for the nostalgia factor or to get a taste of the upcoming games for Wii and DS systems.

I resubscribed in late 2005 for the nostalgia factor, but stayed for the games. I’m not sure I’ve seen another magazine or website so focused on games.

Are you a subscriber?

Now I know what you’re thinking…”Just another pathetic hint for a let down game”. True. Within the last few months Nintendo Power hasn’t really been the top source for big reveals, but their latest issue (August 2008) looks to be hiding a good old fashioned fanboy megaton. The new issue which covers Mad World, Castlevania Judgment, Fire Emblem DS, etc. promises a big reveal for next months v232. As if the above image wasn’t enough the staff goes on to poke fans in the eye…

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Way back in the 1990s, when times were simpler and we didn’t have the Internets, there was a special day that happened once a month that made those long hours in elementary and middle school worth while. It was Nintendo Power day; that day when the mailbox would belch forth a mint copy of Nintendo’s gaming publication. I’d read through it in an hour or so, memorize the cheats, and then take the player’s poll (which I would never win).

I’d also read the Howard and Nester comic, starring Nintendo Fun Club President Howard Phillips and Nestor, a red-headed obnoxious gamer who was always getting in trouble or participating in comic-world representations of NES games. Howard played the straight man, and was always good for a tip or hidden 1-up location (Ninja Gaiden, for example). Eventually, the comic was streamlined to just “Nester” (spelled out in broad paint strokes), and finally discontinued in issue 55.

I don’t subscribe to NP anymore, and the last issue I read was the one my parents got me with a Nintendo DS-themed birthday gift pile in 2005, so I was surprised to learn that this month’s super issue (Mega Man 9 exclusive, new Castlevania fighter), also featured a new Nester comic. Nester is as much a part of Nintendo history as anything—he even made it into a few NES- and N64-era titles—so it’s cool to see a modern day hat tip. He’s older now, married and has a kid and loves Mario Kart Wii, which tells me he’s as much a Nintendo marketing tool as he ever was. I really expected nothing less.

GoNintendo posted information yesterday from the latest issue of Nintendo Power confirming long-standing rumors that Konami is bringing a new Castlevania game subtitled “Judgment” to Wii.

However, the game shares little in common with prior entries in the fabled series. Konami has thrown enthusiasts of its vampire-slaying franchise a curveball; Castlevania: Judgment is a 3D fighter.

According to Nintendo Power, confirmed characters for Castlevania: Judgment include Dracula, Simon Belmont, Alucard, Shanoa and Maria Renard. Classic Castlevania subweapons including holy water, magic spells, daggers and boomerangs will be usable.

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In a follow up to last month’s teasing issue, Nintendo Power has let loose the info on the “shocker” title in this months mag. It’s not Kid Icarus, Harvest Moon, Earthbound, or even Star Fox. It’s the one…the only…Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia for the DS! (*Silence*) Would have been great news had we not of known about this over a month ago. Don’t get me wrong. A new Castlevania game for the DS is great. Just not quite the answer to fanboy hype we were all expecting.

Just when you thought one long month of pointless speculation was finished here’s a new tidbit to chew on. Once again NP teases with an answer to a reader question concerning the best DS game of all time…
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This is the teasing image Nintendo Power readers were given in the “Next Month” section of the mag. They say the above image contains clues to a “big” title that will be revealed next month. More clues were found in the “Pulse” section where a reader asks what games the staff is looking forward to the most. Their answer…

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Studio Fish has posted a collection of 23 art pieces “that were featured in Nintendo Power magazine from the late 80’s to early 90’s,” most of which are nothing short of amazing. Get that.

From the 7.5 review of Okami on Wii (May 2008 issue):

The controls just didn’t make the jump to Wii as well as they should have… Okami is a work of genius, but you should play the original [PS2] game instead of the Wii version if you can.

There you have it.

Nintendo Power has revealed that a new Trauma Center game is in development for Nintendo DS.

According to the May ‘08 issue, the new title is a direct sequel to 2005’s Under the Knife. Players resume the role of Dr. Derek Stiles, accompanied again by Nurse Angie, as they face the aftermath of the GUILT virus and decipher its terrible mysteries.

The magazine also revealed the DS sequel has an easier setting for novice players and wider accessibility, as well as refinements to some surgical tools. Old characters will return and new ones will be introduced in an overly dramatic all-new story with new operations.

Nintendo Power did not specify exactly when the game would be available, but the latest Famitsu has revealed an Aug. 7 release date. Expect an official announcement from Atlus soon.

Will/Alucard from the Infendo Forums (and co-author of the Smash-O-Meter articles) gets his fifteen minutes of fame in the new issue of Nintendo Power. On page 94 of the April issue, there’s a story about the Professor Layton event we told you about. Congrats again, Will!

Nintendo Power was a mag I read cover to cover back in the 90’s, but eventually my stacked subscriptions ran out (free Dragon Warrior with 2-year renewal? GET!) I stopped reading.

This isn’t to say it went away, not at all. It looked much different that I remembered it over the past eight years or so, but it was still a good source for biased, up to date Nintendo news and reviews.

Then Future Publishing rescued the magazine from going belly up last year and promised changes. Infendo reader thesmithsss filed a complaint with us today saying, quite frankly, those changes “suck.”

after reading the newest issue(Feb Issue), its easy to see the magazine is up to its old tricks pimping out terrible games like Destineer’s Summer Sports, and Konami’s Target Terror. Shame on them for trying to shovel more shovel-ware on the innocent gamers who don’t know any better.

Whats your take on this latest sham?

Indeed, Infendo, who amongst us reads Nintendo Power? What’s your take?

Alucard in the Infendo Forums clued us in to the next cover of Nintendo Power and its revelation of details about Bioware’s upcoming Sonic RPG. The new game will be called Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood. Based on the promotional art and title, it actually looks slightly interesting. Still not sure if Sonic is a rich enough character to give us a good RPG.

Thoughts?

[Source]

Another insane Mii collection video by CaliHurBoy. I’d also like to bring attention to the latest issue (v.223) of Nintendo Power, in which our own CaliHurBoy was mentioned in the readers pulse section for his Mii parade videos! Keep it up and lets shoot for a 10,000 Mii parade!

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