Nintendo Power Ending Soon.

[lolrawr]

So yeah rumor has is that Nintendo Power will be ending soon!!!

- Future Publishing is planning to stop Nintendo Power

- source says Nintendo is "difficult to work with"

- Nintendo was uninterested in renewing a contract

- Nintendo also didn't want to take part in a number of digital initiatives that Future saw as necessary

- Nintendo doesn't seem interested in taking over direct control of the magazine again

- editors and staffers were told of last week

- these employees are currently being transitioned to work on other Future properties

- Nintendo Power enjoys a total monthly readership of 475,000

Source

Personally I feel really bad about this. I've been subscribed with them for over 7 years starting with volume 193. Really sad to see them go.

[zx0]

I haven't bought a print magazine for years, I am surprised more have not folded already.

[Minkseru]

Nintendo Power is not folding being as a lack of subscribers.

It is folding because Nintendo is unwilling to change it's views.

Future is asking them to change policies they would not not take teh initiative to change.

Honestly not surprised sadly

[sirstroud]

wow im surpised that it still existed

[madzero5]

nintendo=the most stuborn compeny in the gaming industry

i knew it was going to happen i'm kinda surpised that it lasted this long

[Kasoivc]

That's kind of disappointing. I didn't think they were still around, all this time I've been on Game Informer thinking it was one of the few gaming magazines still around. I remember as a kid having the old Nintendo Power Magazines that were like, back to NES. You know, when gaming magazines actually had a tips/tricks/cheat codes section in the back of the magazine? That's highly disappointing. Their magazines were one of a kind imho, the coverarts were always nice. Even now, I was told awhile ago when I went to renew my yearly subscription for G.I. that it was moving to a digital format the following year.

Like. What the hell? Now what am I going to read while I'm on the toilet; unlike others, I dare not take my digital devices into the bathroom for fear of it getting wet, or worse - SOMEHOW - dropping it in the toilet. Not myself alone, but I'm sure there are plenty of other individuals that would read gaming magazines while taking a dump. Hell, I know friends' fathers that still read newspapers while on the can.

Paper format is slowly dying but it is something that should stay consistent, in my mind at least, regardless of whether or not moving on with the future is the most lucrative and eco-friendly way for a company.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Kasoivc

[lolrawr]

Yeah what I actually like about paper format is that I'm actually "forced" to read things I wouldn't otherwise. With online you can pick and choose what you want to read. With magazines they choose what you will be reading so you may find a game series that you haven't heard of or get some insight into something you wouldn't think you liked.

[zaczac]

I honestly didn't know they still existed. I remember seeing them in stores on the shelves for almost a year untouched..

[Kasoivc]

That's the thing though, more and more people are becoming more digitally entranced by the media. And of course, like any good journalistic company, they need to generate revenues to pay for their journalists to actually be able to go out and do these interviews with developers, review games, take notes. They do all of that already and will continue to need revenues in order to cover those costs, but another cost in the equation is that printing of paper magazine.

Since alot of people don't order paper magazines anymore, they feel the need to eliminate it altogether.

My solution would just be to make it an option to recieve a digital or physical format of the material. Realistically. Would you rather pay $8 for a yearly subscription for a digital .pdf of the magazine or pay $20 for a yearly subscription that provides a physical copy? A lot of people would be hesitant to that paper subscription, while a digital subscription is much more feasible.

@Zaczac; the reason they were probably sitting on that shelf untouched for a year is because places like Walmart are outdated imho for magazines. Does anyone actually go to those sections searching for magazines to subscribe to? Not that I know of. Many of Game Informer's subscribers are a result of being introduced to it in some gaming environment. Gamestop and Bestbuy/Futureshop Employees are trained to ask their customers if they're interested in subscribing, and that's where you primarily get your base customer. You don't go to a general store like Walmart and expect customers to think "I want the newest magazine for game informer or nintendo power"; you get people who go "I need some milk and bread, maybe a new razor and some shampoo for the wife."

Edit: Also arguably, do you ever see a gaming magazine at the checkout lane? No, its all material about the latest hollywood gossip. Complete trash imho.

Edited September 12, 2012 by Kasoivc