Rumor: Nintendo Power shutting down?

[Glorb]

I've always disliked NP's reviews. They need not one, but two lame subititle jokes, usually ABOVE the name of the game, like this:

POOPY

A GAME WITH STUFF THAT EXPLODES
EXPLODING BARRELS 4

That alone is annoying. What's worse is that they never really tell you whether or not a game is good; they just use a constant stream of lame puns and observations, like Gene Shallet. What's worse is that they seem to give every non-Nintendo game a score of 6.5 or less, regardless of quality (now for someone to show me a single example to the contrary and go, "nuh-uh!"). Basically, NP is like one of those 20-page catalogues of games you'd get at GameStop designed to look like reviews.

[Super-Jesse]

I loved that game!

Haha, on a serious note...

My Rant, By Super-Jesse

I think it's easy to call an in-house gaming mag's reviews biased because we have no other systems to base them on. Their paycheck comes straight from Nintendo, bottomline. Now, Nintendo's made a few bad games here and there, and I think the fact that they churn out less games than 3rd parties collectively, it makes it seemed like their scores are a bit skewed. I am not saying I don't agree with both arguments, each have valid points. What I am saying is that I believe Nintendo Power has lost relevance in this day and age, something other print mags are experiencing. What NP needs more of is in-depth features, like what GameInformer, and to an extent EGM, are doing. I think it's not about triyng to be "hip" or "edgy", but moreso about giving older readers something to think about, while not alienating the younger crowd, which is the majority of the readers I'd assume.

It's a fine line Nintendo Power must walk, and I say the best thing to do is to either scrap print mags, or incorporate the mag with a Wii channel. Nintendo needs to start adding incentives, and that's a marketing decision. So, maybe the Bay area will give them better insight :P

[Glorb]

Although I'm sure this isn't what you meant, I'm tired of the "print magazines are dead" thing I'm hearing so much about these days. I actually prefer print mags like GI and EGM, since they generally focus on bigger issues instead of every little news bit. The one thing I dislike is how they're often late with some news. For example, many magazines were still calling the Wii Revolution a month after the name change.

[Super-Jesse]

Although I'm sure this isn't what you meant, I'm tired of the "print magazines are dead" thing I'm hearing so much about these days.

Yeah, I didn't mean to sound as if that was my stance. My stance is that Print magazines need to embrace the advances that the internet has brought. GI does a good job of this, with their Insider. For those who don't know, GI in the last few months has moved to where you get a huge amount of in depth articles and information in their mag and online. This allows to introduce readers to the articles, and then give more details by going on their website and seeing maybe some candid comments from the developer, or openly participate in the discussion on their forums. This gives that immediate satisfaction that the internet is known for, and the traditional feel of a print magazine. This was my point: Nintendo need to embrace the technology, because if they do not Nintendo Power will become the GameCube of print mags: Alot of potential hindered by better technology. I don't want print magazines to die at all, I just want them to evolve, and not become stale. Despite a new look, how much has Nintendo Power changed from times before? Is there more information, better information, more accurate information now?

I also want them to bring back the Nintendo cataloged, because if I could buy Mario plushes again, I'd love that :)

[MEGAߥTE]

Interesting thing is, Nintendo Power was one of the first magazines with a major online presence!  First with an AOL site and later with Nintendo.com before it got all corporate.  You could even download some issues off of the Satellaview in Japan.  Like I said before, old Nintendo Power (80s-90s) was great and fizzled during the N64 years (much like Nintendo).  The newer editions, at least, have been bringing exclusive interviews, and they need to keep doing that kind of stuff to stay relevant.  They're starting to engage fans and the internet more as well, but they could certainly do a better job.  I never saw reviews as their strong point, it was all about the game strategy info, and that's something that almost died completely.  I think part of the problem is just that there are more games released than ever before, and that gums up the magazine.

[Mr. Wiggles]

I agree with MB, the interviews are pretty much the only reason to read Nintendo Power anymore. The Community section at the end of each issue is nice, but it doesn't really interest me because my interest of video games has never really crossed over with any other media.

[SushieBoy]

I also want them to bring back the Nintendo cataloged, because if I could buy Mario plushes again, I'd love that :)

Speaking about that, I have an old catalogue the has all these plushies with Mario and friends, and other assorted Nintendo junk, it was from around the time SSB was released, I could scan some pics if you like.

[Super-Jesse]

I could scan some pics if you like.

Shoot me a PM once you got the scans up, and I'll make sure to save'em.

Nintendo Power, if I'm not mistaken, was originally known for their strats. I only bring this up because it is the one thing Nintendo has going for it. That's where other print mags are lacking, and Nintendo should exploit this difference. I don't see in-depth strategies on other mags like I do with Nintendo Power, plus, when they do "Oh, next level next month", it sorta creates this series for some younger gamers, and that'll be a big hook. I think this line of thinking, going back to the roots, is the first building block to a better mag. They ( the editors) just gotta look at themselves and ask "What do we want Nintendo Power to be about?"

[Glorb]

Well, I was going to say "What about Tips & Tricks?" but lately, they've been adding in all manner of assorted non-strat crap. I remember when they bumped down the strategy guide count to just 2 per issue. I literally said, aloud, in the store, "Who gives half a cup of crap about music in video games?" I remember when they had, like, six guides per issue. That rocked.

[Chupperson Weird]

Glorb, you just made an enemy.

[bobman37]

Two of them.

I personally don't want to see Nintendo Power get shut down. That's where I get all my information on what new Wii and DS stuff is coming out.

[SushieBoy]

Make that three!

[Luigison]

I agree with Glorb about the stupid subtitles above the game names, but I give a crap about game music.  Not a whole crap mind you, but at least half a cup of crap.

[Glorb]

Well, regardless of the quantities of crap given, what I meant was T&T's new section about various stupid bands I don't care about. It's always about the announcement of some song in Guitar Hero VI or how some member of some stupid punk band mentioned something about Mega Man or whatever. It's completely useless information that no one could possibly care about, especially not in a strategy magazine. Furthermore, no one wants useless info about the editors' opinions, upcoming Uwe Boll films, toys, comics, or cartoons in a strategy magazine. Sorry if I'm ranting, but it really annoys me.

[Chupperson Weird]

Nintendo Power is not a "strategy magazine".