| [Edit]
This article is about the Nintendo of America produced publication. For the Japanese-only flash ROM cartridge for the Super Famicom and Game Boy, please see Nintendo Power (cartridge).
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly American news and strategy magazine from Nintendo. The first issue published was July/August of 1988 spotlighting the NES game Super Mario Bros. 2.
top
Design
The magazine was from the start heavily focused on providing video game strategy, in contrast to other video game magazines that often focus on game reviews, previews, and gossip. As the magazine is published by Nintendo itself, Nintendo Power has often featured detailed in-game maps provided directly by programmers and companies. As a result, the magazine has earned a reputation as an "insider" source of game information with "official" content that differentiates itself from the more speculative, "amateurish" approach of its contemporaries.
The magazine has remained financially successful and is one of the longest-running video game oriented magazines still in circulation. Today, though still "officially" affiliated with Nintendo, the magazine has become more similar to its contemporaries (i.e. Electronic Gaming Monthly), with a greater focus on staff reviews, gossip, and fan letters than in previous years. However, it still includes game strategies from time to time.
In July 2005, Nintendo Power created a new design to appeal to a more general audience, including a new logo and article format. However, the change was not merely cosmetic, as more pop culture references and use of terms like "badass" were birthed along with the design, one can only assume to capture a wider teen demographic as well.
In an effort to gain more customers, Nintendo also created a promotional offer that involves registering three products in Nintendo's site, and receiving three Nintendo Power issues for free (as well as receiving the option to order an extra year - twelve issues - for US$12.00).
Additionally, up until near the year 2000, Nintendo Power did not allow any outside ads - only ads were allowed for Nintendo games and accessories, or Nintendo Power promotions.
top
History
Nintendo Power began as the several page long Nintendo Fun Club Newsletter, but quickly changed to its current magazine format. The first issue published 3.6 million copies, with every member of the Nintendo Fun Club receiving a free one. Almost one third of the members subscribed.
The magazine was edited at first by Fun Club "President" Howard Philips, himself an avid game player. Nintendo Power's mascot in the late 1980s and early 1990s was Nester, a comic character created by Philips. After Philips left the company, a more "teenage" Nester became the magazine's sole mascot. Early issues of the magazine featured a two-page Howard and Nester comic, which was later replaced with a two-page Nester's Adventures, which was then reduced to one page, and then dropped altogether. Subsequently, Mario replaced Nester as the mascot of the magazine. Later, during the early 2000s, the magazine made another mascot out of their Senior Writer, Alan Averill. Apparently very camera-shy, Alan himself never appeared in any photos; rather, he was represented by a plush toy of a Blue Slime from Dragon Warrior. Fans often clamored to see what Alan actually looked like, but the magazine instead ran still more photos of the toy, and even claiming that Alan was, in fact, a Blue Slime. Eventually, Alan retired from Nintendo Power to join Nintendo of America's localization department. His true image was never revealed. The inclusion of a photo of Mr. T in the Player's Pulse section became a running gag in the early half of 2005. More recently, running gags have centered around Chuck Norris references and jokes at the expense of writer Chris Shepperd.
During the early 1990s the magazine used what was a unique and very expensive promotion; they gave a free copy of the new NES game Dragon Warrior to every new subscriber. However, this promotion was in part a sly move on Nintendo's part to make money off a failure-the Dragon Warrior (Dragonquest in Japan) games had not sold nearly as well as Nintendo had anticipated, and they were left with a large number of unsold cartridges on their hands. The promotion both helped them get rid of the unsold merchandise, and won the magazine thousands of new subscribers.
Following the release of the Super Nintendo, the magazine featured lengthy, continuous comic stories based on Super Mario World and . After these stories ended they were replaced by similar multi-issue stories based on Star Fox and Super Metroid, and later on, N64 games like Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire and Blast Corps. were made; as well as comics based on the animated series of Pokémon and Kirby: Right Back At Ya!, respectively. More recently, short excerpts of comic books based on Custom Robo, as well as Metal Gear Solid, have been featured (as well as a short Metroid Prime comic). Nintendo Power is currently running a comic based on the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon games, which is translated from the original Japanese version and reads in traditional manga format.
During 2001, Nintendo Power released a spin-off semi-magazine named Nintendo Power Advance, featuring the Game Boy Advance and its games. Four issues of Nintendo Power Advance were printed, the last of which served as a strategy guide for Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.
There are currently over 200 issues. In issues 197-200, Nintendo Power did a top 200 game list with 40 each issue. The top 5 were Super Mario 64, , , Resident Evil 4, with taking the top spot.
There are currently 210 issues.
top
Currently running
Player's Pulse - "Mailbag" section that features letters to the editor submitted by readers. At first, it was two different sections titled Mailbox and Video Spotlight, the latter of which featured mail from really good players. But during 1989, they merged into one section. Currently, it is titled just Pulse. Many of the answers are funny and are just jokes, while others are by the so-called unfunny Chris Shepperd.
Pak Watch / Game Watch / News - A look at upcoming games and gaming news.
Top 30 / Top 20 / Power Charts - The top-rated games as voted by the readers. Originally, it featured the top 30 NES games, then changed to feature the top 20 games for all the systems in 1992. In 1995, the name was changed to Power Charts, with varying numbers depending on which system (the handheld systems would have half the list length of the consoles). It was removed in 2001, but brought back in 2002, this time being listed in order of top sales and the Nintendo Power staff's choice of the "best games". Recently, when a game that the staff gave bad ratings to is the top seller, they make a joke at its expense.
Classified Information - For codes and strategies and gaming secrets. Despite being the magazine's most popular department, it is no longer monthly as of Volume 193, but instead will appear when there are enough new codes and secrets in a given month to justify including it.
Player's Poll Contest / Player's Poll Sweepstakes - Monthly contest where readers send in included cards to enter and provide feedback to the magazine.
Now Playing / Reviews - Editor reviews for the latest game releases. During 1992, the games were reviewed by two employees named George and Rob, but this change was not popular with the readers, and George and Rob were removed the following year. More recently, though, the section has featured reviews by one editor per game, with the occasional "counter-point" by a dissenting editor who feels that a game warrants a different score.
NP 411/Contact Us - Information on how to reach the magazine's departments and where to find information on a specific game in that magazine.
Playback- A section reminiscing about games of old. This department made its debut in the March 2006, volume 201 edition of Nintendo Power.
Game Over- A one-page strategy divulging details on how to conquer a final boss of a selected game. This feature also made its debut in the March 2006, volume 201 edition of Nintendo Power.
Power Quiz- A quiz about a selected game, series, or area of Nintendo. Alternates issues with Game Over. Answers are posted in the next issue, as well as on Nintendo.com.
Point/Counterpoint- In this section, two or more NP staffers go head-to-head on a Nintendo-related topic.
Community- Covers events, music, collections, Pokémon, and other Nintendo-related things.
It is somewhat difficult to firmly establish what is a consistent monthly column in the magazine, as compilation has been fairly unpredictable following its "new look", with sections such as Classified Information, Game Over and Power Quiz printed on and off throughout recent publication (strangely, the "Inside Zelda" series of articles ran more steadily than aforementioned features without being considered a monthly column).
top
Discontinued
Beat the Boss - A number of final bosses were listed every month with strategies on how to defeat them.
Counselors' Corner - Nintendo's game counselors answering game-related questions, such as hints and strategies. It was removed in 2002. Nintendo of America eventually closed its game counselor hotline in 2005, and all employees working as counselors at the time were moved to other departments.
The Crossing Guardian - A little section (about 1-2 pages) about Animal Crossing. It was later made into the Crossing Quarterly, but as the game got old, the section left the magazine.
Epic Center - Role-playing game information and coverage. Originally written by Alan Averill, who has since left Nintendo Power.
NES Achievers / Power Player's Challenge / Arena - Players send in their best game scores to try to win free T-shirts.
NES Journal - A newsletter within the magazine, often featuring media news relating to Nintendo (such as the premieres of the cartoon shows and the release of The Wizard) and celebrity interviews. The column disappeared after Volume 16, but the celebrity interviews remained until late 1992.
The Nindex - A list of all of the GameCube games. Appeared shortly after the launch of the GameCube, and left mid-2004.
Nintendo Online - Showed information and news on video game websites.
Game Boy - Early on in the Game Boy's lifespan, the magazine ran a special column focusing on the handheld, even giving it its own section within. However, it ended shortly after the Super NES came out.
Game Boy A-Go-Go / Title Wave - This section featured short strategy reviews for games that weren't big enough to receive full ones. Originally, it focused on Game Boy Color games, but then changed its name in 2002 to accommodate GameCube games as well. However, it vanished from the magazine during 2003, causing all the games that would've been appropriate for this section to receive two-page strategy reviews.
Power On - Entertainment section featuring caption contests and celebrity interviews. Began in 2002, but ended in mid-2005.
Pokécenter - For latest Pokémon news and updates, TCG strategies, and team analysis. It came into the magazine in April 1999, but ended in the July 2005 issue when it merged with several other sections.
top
Players Guides
Nintendo Power has also produced another series of strategy magazines called Player's Guides. The first Player's Guide was simply called The Official Nintendo Player's Guide. When Nintendo Power switched from a bi-monthly magazine to a monthly magazine in May 1990, every other issue was a Strategy Guide focused on a single game. This didn't last long however, and only four such Strategy Guides were released. Starting in January of 1991, Nintendo Power became a full fledged monthly magazine with issue 20. Issues prior to that have become highly collectible.
The first four Player's Guides in book format were the NES Game Atlas (featuring maps of popular NES franchises), Game Boy (featuring select Game Boy games), Mario Mania (featuring information about Nintendo's mascot, Mario, but was mostly a full strategy guide of the then-new Super Mario World), and Super NES (featuring select Super NES games). All four were mailed free to subscribers of Nintendo Power in 1992 (subscribers had a choice among the four). Later, a fifth free Player's Guide, Top Secret Passwords, featured passwords (and a few cheats) for selected NES, Super NES and Game Boy games.
Beginning with The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past, Player's Guides now feature one specific game, much like the earlier Nintendo Power Strategy Guides. They are separate entities from the magazine itself. The concept is now emulated by other publishing companies such as Brady Games or Prima for Nintendo and other video game consoles. Almost all major Nintendo video games released today will have an official Player's Guide associated with it.
Player's Guides are often sold at gaming stores or can be ordered direct from Nintendo Power. Most Nintendo Power subscription packages include a free Player's Guide as an incentive.
With all of the FAQs for video games on the internet these days, Nintendo's Player's Guides have a tougher time competing, and they have long been a major incentive used for renewing subscription through the mail. T-shirts and the like are in fact offered on occasion through the mail-in offers, however, by subscribing through the internet, many more premiums are available (More T-shirts, for example).
top
Controversy
Due to its format, the magazine has occasionally been met with controversy and criticism from some gamers. It has been argued that since it is a game magazine being published by a game company, it is inherently biased. This is substantiated by the fact that only Nintendo products are discussed in the magazine and always glowingly so. Nintendo Power also did, in fact, publish a few articles bashing the Sega Genesis in the mid-90's (such as "What They Teach at Power U," which was essentially a series of Nintendo advertising claims disguised as an educational article, which reached the inevitable conclusion that Sega's product was vastly inferior to Nintendo's) and for an extended period during its early years they gave extensive, favorable coverage to games published by Nintendo, usually hyping them over third-party titles and often devoting huge multi-section articles to them.
A controversy ensued upon publication of the second issue of the magazine. Parents called in to complain to the magazine's office that the cover, featuring Castlevania II: Simon's Quest with an image of Simon holding the severed head of Dracula, frightened their children and had resulted in many of them having nightmares. Nintendo Power has since steered clear of cover artwork that features such graphic imagery and instead now place it inside the magazine. However, in the milestone issue No. 200, a picture of a zombie from Resident Evil: Deadly Silence was shown on the cover.
top
Milestones
Here is a list of milestones Nintendo Power has had over the years:
First issue: Volume 1 - July/August 1988
Game Boy introduced: Volume 7 - September/October 1989
First of four strategy guides: Volume 13 - June 1990
"Now Playing" column debuts: Volume 18 - November 1990
Super Power Club launched: Volume 41 - October 1992
First Bonus Issue: Volume 44 - January 1993
50th issue published: Volume 50 - July 1993
The new Nintendo Power logo (with a new 3-D look) debuts: Volume 68 - January 1995
First Virtual Boy Cover with the entire issue in 3D by wearing special ChromaDepth glasses: Volume 75 - August 1995
Nintendo Power celebrates 10 years of the NES: Volume 78 - November 1995
Pokémon debuts: Volume 98 - July 1997
100th issue published: Volume 100 - September 1997
Nintendo Power celebrates its 10th anniversary: Volume 110 - July 1998
"Nintendo Online" column debuts: Volume 135 - August 2000
GameCube introduced: Volume 137 - October 2000
The white Nintendo Power logo debuts: Volume 143 - April 2001
150th issue published: Volume 150 - November 2001
Nintendo Power celebrates its 15th anniversary: Volume 170 - July/August 2003
The enhanced Nintendo Power design debuts, which features a bold logo and new article format: Volume 193 - July 2005
First Nintendo DS game cover, Mario Kart DS: Volume 194 - August 2005
200th issue published: Volume 200 - February 2006
First time Wii is Pictured full sized on the cover: Volume 210 - December 2006
top
Comic series in Nintendo Power
Howard and Nester / Nester's Adventures (Volume 1-55)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Volume 32-43)
Pokémon (based on the long-running animated series)
Kirby: Right Back At Ya! (based on the animated series)
Metroid Prime (based on the video game)
Custom Robo (short excerpt from the comic book)
Metal Gear Solid - The Twin Snakes (short excerpt from the comic book)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Ginji's Rescue Team (Manga) (current) Based on a 6-part serial in Japan, the English translation reads right-to-left as in its original format.
top
Nintendo Power Side Pictures
Starting with issue 92, pieces of Nintendo characters were printed on the side of the magazine. When placed upright side by side in order, the magazines form complete characters. When Nintendo Power was redesigned, the side picture idea was abandoned. The printed characters include:
Mario (though some issues were misprinted, resulting in a disfigured Mario)
Mario (from Super Mario Sunshine)
Link, Mario, Samus (Square Pictures From Up to Down)
Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Fox McCloud (Square Pictures From Up to Down)
Nintendo DS (cut off at issue
top
See also
|
|
