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Promotional Consideration: Advertising with Power
Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out.As of October of this year, Nintendo of America relinquished its hold of Nintendo Power and handed over publishing duties to Future US, the same media corporation behind the official Xbox and PlayStation magazines. Two issues into the transition, Nintendo Power's writing staff and format haven't changed much, but the number of ads certainly has!
Trauma Center ad is bloody brilliant
If, like us, you've been wondering where Atlus' creativity went with its terribly plain Trauma Center: New Blood boxart, you'll be happy to hear that we managed to find some of it in the latest issue of Nintendo Power. While not as hilarious or ridiculous as the Geometry Wars: Galaxies piece we featured late last week, this blood transfusion ad we spotted certainly is creative. Jump past the post break for the full page.
Promotional Consideration: It pays to have word ability (word smarts)
var digg_url='http://digg.com/gaming_news/Practice_vocabulary_get_lucky_according_to_this_ad'; Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out.While we've exposed you to sexually-charged promotional materials in the past, much to the disapproval of your uptight parents, the last game we ever expected to feature for its immodest advertising was My Word Coach, a vocabulary trainer due for the DS and Wii this November 6th. Read on for the titillating piece and our analysis on how Ubisoft put together one of the most salacious ads to appear in Nintendo Power in recent memory without baring a single inch of skin.
Nintendo Power gets a new publisher
Nintendo Power is getting a new publisher, it would seem, based on a job listing posted by Nintendo. The job listing is for a Licensing Manager, which describes that Future US will be taking over publishing duties for the mag. The entirety of the job description reads: Manages monthly Nintendo Power Magazine licensed to the new publisher, Future US Maintains close communication with Future US regarding editorial plan, production plan, and marketing plan Provides necessary material and/or information Manages approval process of magazine content Oversees the approval process with Future US, will be the point person between Future US and Nintendo of America Inc (NOA) Point of contact for requests for access to software, assets, or interview possibilities Coordination of annual marketing plan support program for Nintendo Power Often necessary to change duties, projects or direction on short notice Heavy work volume, fast-paced environment with fluctuating production requirements Periodic adjustments to work schedule and/or usual hours may be required Up to 15% travel [Via NeoGAF]
Promotional Consideration: Come As You Are
Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out.If you missed our spotlight on Leo Burnett's "Communion Day" ad last Sunday, make sure to give it a glance. Even if you've already skimmed through our words on the award-winning piece, we've updated our summation with some insight from art director Rosemary Collini Bosso.This weekend's installment of Promotional Consideration takes a critical eye to an unconvincing ad that might actually drive away consumers. Read on for more details.
Nintendo Power poster: Contra 4 porn
We gasped when we unfolded the poster included with this month's issue of Nintendo Power. JC, reading over my shoulder to see if there were any updates on Barnyard Blast, fainted at the sight of its retro design. Lance and Bill look just as badass as ever, but who are those other two characters firing away in the background? According to NP's preview, they've inherited Mad Dog and Scorpion's code names; we're of the opinion that they look like Bill Bellamy and that dude from Prison Break. Which dude from Prison Break, you ask? All of them. Don't let their identities or the fact that the top-left guy isn't even paying attention to whatever he's shooting at get in the way of enjoying this fantastic work of art. Tie on a headband, throw your shirt aside, and head past the post break for more shots of the Contra 4 centerfold.
Rumor redux: Nintendo Power heading to 3rd party publisher
There are further rumors about Nintendo Power, Nintendo's official gaming magazine, but the rumblings have changed slightly. The latest word is that the publication will continue, just with a new publisher working things behind the scenes, which is how the European Nintendo magazine is handled. It's a good time to to relive some nostalgic moments with the magazine, and Infendo recently clued us in on a shiny new set of covers courtesy of Flickr user kocojim. Go forth and bask, and let's hope this version of the rumor is true.
Rumor: No more Nintendo Power?
Word is that we're looking at the end of an era. IGN's Matt Casamassina reports that Nintendo Power is in its last days, at least, as we know it today. While it may just be that a restructure is in the cards for the magazine, rumor has it that the employees are being told that they need to find new jobs by September.Nintendo Power's been churning out the fanboy news for nineteen years now, but these last few have been a rough time for all sorts of print media, with the rise of the blogosphere and instant information. We wouldn't be surprised to see Nintendo Power shut its doors ... but we would be a little sad.
Nintendo Power rumored to be closing its doors
Nintendo Power magazine may soon be no more. According to IGN, sources close to the publication have highlighted "massive layoffs" and that employees are being told to look for new work by September.Gaming-centric print magazines have been on a steady decline, thanks in large part to the prominence of video game websites. Nintendo Power has been in publication since 1988 -- it's nearing its 19th anniversary in July -- making it one of the longest-running game magazine ever.If Nintendo Power is closing down or restructuring, how will that affect Reggie's idea for turning its archives into a Wii Channel? Regardless of whether or not this rumor turns out to be true, we'll still take this time to direct you to the first-ever issue of the magazine in PDF format.
The Joystiq Weekend: February 17-18. 2007
Flickr user fuzzcat won this in chain chomp soccer ball in a December 2005 Nintendo Power contest. Check out the highlights for this weekend: JoystiqueryAOU 2007: Cave's Muchi Muchi Pork shmup released (from its sty)Today's most inspiring game video: the 1000 Mii MarchWeekly Webcomic Wrapup: XL editionNewsBlue Dragon anime coming to TV TokyoLord of the Rings Online a contender?Halo 3: Fall 2007Oops: Game Informer says Mercenaries 2 Xbox 360 exclusiveDecrypted Blu-ray & HD-DVD movies on PS3, no disc necessaryMicro Center's Xbox 360 Pres. Day saleThe Geordi LaForge future in gaming is nowSalt Lake City mall shooter didn't own video gamesHard questions: Wii novelty and drought in effect?Rumors & SpeculationMicrosoft strongly considering a Xbox 360 price drop?Next Wii channel could be 'Nintendo Power'CultureGrowing old and bored with video gamesRumor: Alien Hominid HD on XBLA next weekThe art of High DeliveryCriticism of racial stereotyping in games Gaming's Kobayashi Maru and how to enjoy itSharing the love of gaming
Wii Warm Up: Vintage Nintendo Power content coming to the VC?
In our fit of righteous anger over the idea of delaying Metroid Prime 3 again, we missed an interesting aside Reggie dropped at the recent DICE conference -- the idea that old Nintendo Power content may turn up on the Virtual Console. While the idea of reliving some of our greatest memories of gaming journalism is intriguing, we're as yet undecided on how we feel about this one. We could go either way, depending on how it's offered. We are, after all, largely concerned with hoarding our money like the misers we are for games ... but if the price is right, we could throw down with some retro mags. How about you?[Thanks, Robert!]
Nintendo Power updates
Nintendo Power, not quite the horribly biased mess it once was, has a few interesting bits of information for its readers this month. There's quite a bit of into after the jump, but here are some of the highlights: Call of Duty 3 is confirmed for launch. An interesting point discussed was how one will arm and detonate an explosive; instead of simply pressing a button, you'll go through the motions and perform the action yourself. The AI has been vastly improved, and the game is now less linear than the previous iterations. Rampage: Total Destruction will allow players the option of playing with the GCN controller or the Wiimote. (Take a hint, Zelda team!) There'll be 40 playable monsters and at least one new environment: Dallas. Time to get Cowboy-stompin'. Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam will have a Create-a-Skater mode that...wait...that isn't really news. Never mind. An interview with the team developing Trauma Center: Second Opinion states that the Wii version is less a "remake" than a "perfect vision" of the original game. Chapter 6 (the seven Sin missions, in the original DS version) will be entirely new, with a different ending. A second playable character will be introduced, and at least one new tool that sounds suspiciously like a defibrillator. Happy Friday!
Mario Galaxy, Wii details predicted in '91 by modern day Nostradamus
The December 1991 issue of Nintendo Power was recently unearthed, revealing eerie similarities between lil' Jimmy Peterford's "ultimate game system" fantasy and Nintendo's forthcoming Wii. As it turns out, Peterford nailed the Super Mario Galaxy name and likely came within a few dollars of the actual Wii launch price with the $259.95 figure he offered up. But the connection between Peterford's seemingly innocent wish and Wii doesn't end there...
NP confirms identical versions of Twilight Princess
The newest issue of Nintendo Power has some good news for the six people who own Gamecubes, but don't want a Wii. With the exception of the control scheme, the Gamecube and Wii versions of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be essentially identical. It's currently unknown whether the Wii version will also allow the use of standard Gamecube controls, but if you want the classic experience, it's nice to know you won't lose anything from buying the current-gen version.O', may time ride as quicksilver toward the Twilight...
New Nintendo Power issue arrives, spills beans [Update 1]
The newest issue of Nintendo Power (shown to the right) has a few interesting tidbits of information. Final Fantasy III DS will apparently have some sort of Wi-Fi compatibility (party vs. party?), and Suda51 (a.k.a. Goichi Suda) has confirmed Contact 2 for an unknown system, as well as another unconfirmed game for the Wii. That guy loves his Nintendo.A few other glimmers of information: There is the confirmation that with the exception of the control scheme, the Gamecube and Wii versions of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will be identical. This is probably to avoid the screaming throngs of Gamecube owners that would certainly resort to outright violence upon hearing they were neglected. [Update 1: Made the post a little more DS-centric and environmentally friendly.]
Koopalings to return in New Super Mario Bros., Yoshi on the sideline
According to a recent Nintendo Power interview with Takashi Tezuka, New Super Mario Bros. for the DS will feature the return of the beloved koopalings. This welcome addition should significantly boost the game's boss element. Tezuka also confirmed that Bowser and Toad would make appearances. As for the green dinosaur, since the game is a throwback to the NES Super Mario Bros., "Yoshi doesn't really fit," says Tezuka.Tezuka also noted that the game will be set in the Mushroom Kingdom and that there will be no boss battles in 2-player mode, no WiFi connectivity, and no microphone functionality. Finally, when questioned about the possibility of a console-bound Mario side scroller, Tezuka replied, "The probability is not zero, but no further comment at this point." Then he just laughed.[Thanks, Ahms]
