Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power is a video game news and strategy podcast and former magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Nintendo of America, then independently, and in December 2007 contracted to Future US, the American subsidiary of British publisher Future.[2] Its 24–year production run is one of the longest of all video game magazines in the United States and Canada.
This article is about the magazine and podcast. For the cartridge rental service, see Nintendo Power (cartridge).Editor-in-Chief
Steve Thomason
Chris Slate
Phil Theobald
Justin Cheng
Chris Hoffman
6x annually, January 1991 monthly
Magazine
475,000 (2012)[1]
July/August 1988
December 11, 2012
285
Nintendo of America (1988–2007)
Future US (2007–2012)
www.nintendopower.com at the Wayback Machine (archived March 19, 2015)
On August 21, 2012, Nintendo announced that it would not be renewing its licensing agreement with Future Publishing, and that Nintendo Power would cease publication in December.[1][3] The final issue, volume 285, was released on December 11, 2012.[4]
On December 20, 2017, Nintendo Power officially returned as a podcast.
History[edit]
Nintendo Fun Club News preceded Nintendo Power as a newsletter sent to club members for free.[5] In mid-1988 it was discontinued after seven issues[6] in favor of Nintendo Power. The new magazine was founded by Nintendo of America marketing manager Gail Tilden in 1988.[7] The first issue, dated July/August 1988, spotlights the NES game Super Mario Bros. 2. Of this issue, 3.6 million copies were published, with every member of the Nintendo Fun Club receiving a free copy.
From the beginning, Nintendo Power focuses heavily on providing game strategy, reviews, and previews of upcoming games. In mid-1998, Nintendo Power first allowed outside advertising in the magazine, formerly reserved for Nintendo-based products only. In its early years, ads only appeared in the first and last few pages of the magazine, leaving no ads to break up the magazine's editorial content.
In July 2005, Nintendo Power introduced a new design to appeal to a limited gaming audience, including a new logo and article format. Along with the cosmetic overhaul came a greater focus on Nintendo fans, staff reviews, rumor-milling, and fan service including an expanded and enhanced reader mail segment (known as "Pulse") and a revamped "Community" section. Nintendo introduced a new incentive promotional offer that involved the registration of three Nintendo (or Nintendo affiliated) products through Nintendo.com to receive a free three issue trial subscription to Nintendo Power. Later, the magazine changed its focus from game strategies and cheat codes to mainly news, previews, and articles on upcoming games.
On September 19, 2007, Nintendo officially announced that the large magazine publisher Future US would begin publishing Nintendo Power. The company's first official issue was released in October, as issue #222 (December 2007). It was also revealed that circulation would be increased to 13 issues a year, with the extra magazine being a holiday season bonus issue. Nintendo Power stopped making the Bonus issue in 2011.[8]
On August 21, 2012, Nintendo announced that it had opted not to renew the licensing agreement with Future Publishing and that Nintendo Power would cease publication after 24 years. The final issue would be December 2012. Senior Editor, Chris Hoffman stated that his staff would "try to make the last issues memorable". Nintendo reportedly did not actively participate in discussions to continue the magazine online.[9][10]
Nintendo Power officially returned on December 20, 2017, as a podcast, using the original logo design.
Nintendo Power Line[edit]
The Nintendo Power Line was a staffed hotline providing gameplay hints about Nintendo consoles, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System.[13] It ran from the publishing of the first issue publication of Nintendo Power in 1988 until June 2010, closing in favor of the Internet.[14] The hotline was revived as automated messages, from November 11 to November 13, 2016, in celebration of the release of the NES Classic Edition.[15]
Spin-off magazines[edit]
During 2001, Nintendo Power released a spin-off semi-magazine named Nintendo Power Advance, featuring the Game Boy Advance and its games. The first issue was complimentary for subscribers, and sold at newsstands. Four issues of Nintendo Power Advance were printed, the last of which is a strategy guide for Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2.[16]
With the release of Pokémon for the Game Boy in 1998, Nintendo Power includes six mini-issues of Pokémon Power mainly featuring tips and strategies for the game.
In 1989, a smaller version of the magazine called Pocket Power was distributed at movie theaters showing The Wizard.[17]
Nintendo Power
Video games, entertainment, talk
English
57 (as of May 2023)
December 20, 2017
