Topic: Future US to Publish Nintendo Power

[Jonnyboy117]

The magazine giant will take over Nintendo's official magazine, starting next month.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=14438

 NINTENDO AND FUTURE US TEAM TO PUBLISH NINTENDO POWER MAGAZINE    

Nintendo partners with country's premiere young men's media company to produce one of gaming industry's most well-regarded magazines    

South San Francisco, CA (September 19, 2007) - Nintendo and Future US, Inc., the leading publisher of cutting-edge special interest magazines and Web sites, announced today that they are teaming up to publish Nintendo Power® magazine, which has offered millions of Nintendo fans a comprehensive mix of tips, tricks, reviews, maps and strategies each month for nearly 20 years.    

Future US will produce the title, which was formerly produced in-house by Nintendo of America Inc. Future US will also produce the magazine's Web site, www.nintendopower.com.    

"By teaming with Future US, Nintendo is ensuring the continued growth of the magazine's circulation and bringing even greater value to Nintendo enthusiasts," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "The team at Future will carry on the quality and traditions of Nintendo Power, and the magazine will now be available at more newsstand locations than ever before."    

The first full Future US-published issue of Nintendo Power will be the December 2007 edition (volume 222), on sale in October.  Initial circulation will be 300,000 copies, with the magazine continuing to ship to subscribers monthly, with an additional holiday bonus issue each year.    

Nintendo Power is a pioneering title within the video gaming category and was first published in 1988. Nintendo Power covers all Nintendo gaming systems (Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Game Boy® Advance) and their associated first-, second- and third-party software. Featuring in-depth previews, reviews of all the latest games, tons of codes, and plenty of late-breaking news, Nintendo Power is perfect for both the novice gamer and the veteran player. Future US's parent, international special-interest media company Future  plc, also publishes the official Nintendo magazine in the United Kingdom.    

"We are honored to be selected as the new publisher for an industry touchstone like Nintendo Power," says Future US's President, Jonathan Simpson-Bint.  "This is an opportunity for Future to use its core competencies - great editorial, deep knowledge of young men's lifestyles and technical expertise - in service of one of the world's great entertainment brands.  We couldn't be more excited to get started."    

About Future US    

Future US is a leading publisher of cutting-edge special interest magazines (Official Xbox Magazine, PSM Magazine, PC Gamer, Maximum PC, Mac|Life, Pregnancy, Future Snowboarding Magazine, Guitar World, and Revolver) and websites (GamesRadar, gloob.tv, and Next Generation) which sell in excess of 2.1 million and reach more than 3.5 million unique visitors per month. Future's publications reach a young, active, affluent audience and rank 12th among audited newsstand publishers in gross newsstand revenue.    

Future US is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Diego.

[cubist]

So...what about the writers?  Is it the same staff?

[NWR_insanolord]

I hope they don't change much, the magazine improved dramatically over the past few years and I don't want them to screw that up.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

They need to come up with better free gifts and media.  In fact, the print magazine should just be dropped and turned into a subscription Wii Channel or, gasp, a decent website.

[UncleBob]

I disagree.  I like having the magazines for bathroom reading.

[that Baby guy]

And he likes to show them off to the ladies.

[Mashiro]

Best Gaming Magazine Ever:

The Official Dreamcast Magazine

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Mashiro
Best Gaming Magazine Ever:

The Official Dreamcast Magazine

I was SOOOO mad when they cancelled Dreamcast Magazine, I had just renewed the month before and then they canceled it, didn't get my money back either.

[Mashiro]

Quote
Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix

Quote
Originally posted by: Mashiro
Best Gaming Magazine Ever:

The Official Dreamcast Magazine

I was SOOOO mad when they cancelled Dreamcast Magazine, I had just renewed the month before and then they canceled it, didn't get my money back either.

They sent me a letter and said I would be getting PSM magazine till my subscription ran out . . . pretty lame but at least I got something I guess.

Still, best magazine ever right?

[NWR_insanolord]

Quote
Originally posted by: Mashiro
Best Gaming Magazine Ever:

The Official Dreamcast Magazine

That was such a great magazine, I never got around to subscribing but I think I bought all but a few of them at the newsstand.

[Djunknown]

Maybe this is why they shut down the Nsider forums? That way, Future US will set up their own forums a la 1up or Gameinformer...

[Smash_Brother]

No offense to Nintendo Power, but who still reads magazines when you have the internet? (other than on the toilet, I mean)

[Sarail]

I love my Nintendo Power magazines.  I hope the writers get to stay, though.  I'm gonna miss that blue slime if they take it away...  

[Michael8983]

I love NP too but, let's face it, magazines are obsolete in the internet gaming age.
The only thing it offers that NWR doesn't is a nifty pull-out poster each month and the occassional sticker collection.
Personally I think Nintendo should make the magazine ALL posters and stickers. I'd cover the whole house!

[NWR_insanolord]

Magazines still get exclusives, magazines do bigger features, and, most importantly for me, magazines make it much easier for a game I'd never heard of to catch my eye. I have probably about a dozen game sites in my RSS reader, but I generally ignore stuff about games I haven't heard of or don't have any interest in. I generally read, or at least look at, everything in the magazines I get, and I find things that I would have otherwise missed.

Oh, and Rachtman: Alan (the blue slime) hasn't written for NP in quite a while.

[UncleBob]

Dear Nintendo Power subscriber,

We’re excited to inform you that Nintendo has partnered with
Future US, Inc. to publish Nintendo Power starting with the December
issue, Vol. 222! If you don’t know Future US by name, then you may be
familiar with some of its other industry-leading magazines, which
include PC Gamer, Official Xbox Magazine, and Playstation: The Official
Magazine.

What does this partnership mean to you? Not much, really. Most
importantly Canadian and U.S. subscribers will continue to receive
Nintendo Power with no gaps in your subscription.

You will receive issues each month until your current 12 issue subscription
is fulfilled. Subscription renewals (and new subscriptions) will be
offered for $19.95 in the US and $27.95 in Canada (payable in US Funds)
for 12 issues, and Future US will be sure to let you know in advance when
it’s time to renew so you won’t miss a single issue.

And what about the magazine’s content? The editorial team at Future US
will continue to work very closely with Nintendo to provide the same
high-quality magazine that readers love. In addition, Future US plans
for a bigger and better nintendopower.com. Over time, the Nintendo Power
staff will look for ways to evolve and improve every aspect of the
magazine.

We would also like to reassure you that Nintendo will continue to protect
your personal information in the manner we always have.  Future US will
utilize subscriber information only for the servicing of Nintendo Power
subscriptions and is committed to following Nintendo’s high standards in
regard to privacy when handling your personal information.

After October 15, 2007, if you have a question relating to your
subscription, please contact Future US at:

Nintendo Power
Customer Care
PO Box 5770,
Harlan, IA 51593

or send an email to Nintendocustserv@cdsfulfillment.com, or call
1-866-941-8368.

You can also send letters, art, and photos to nintendopower@futureus.com.

Thank you and we hope you continue to enjoy Nintendo Power for many
more years.

Sincerely,

Nintendo of America Inc.

[vudu]

Does that mean you won't continue to get your subscription until 2017?

[that Baby guy]

UncleBob can't wait to get all those offers to subscribe to OPM, OXM, and PC Gamer!

But seriously, here, why would Nintendo choose someone that does so much work with their competitors?  Besides Nintendo was always higher quality than those magazines Future US made, too.  If I were you, I'd anticipate a steep drop in quality with twenty pounds of extra Nintendo bias in each issue.

[Ian Sane]

I think seperating Nintendo Power from Nintendo is a good idea.  Now we all know "official" mags for a console maker is just a glorified ad.  But Sony and MS managed to do it in a way that seemed less obvious to stupid people.  Somehow it's like having a different company making the mag makes it seem like a bigger deal?  Like if people who aren't employees of the company are willing to dedicate effort to making a magazine covering your product it must be good?  Like Nintendo isn't a big enough deal to get a mag unless they make it themselves?  I don't know but Nintendo Power always seemed to lack cred in comparison.

Another thing that might be better is that with all the mags by the same company then they'll all likely get the same distribution.  I don't see NP in stores as much as the other mags which again gave the impression that somehow Nintendo's inferior mag covering their inferior console didn't attract as much interest so you didn't see it in as many stores.  All this is kind of too late now since Nintendo's made a comeback and the time for a serious NP shakeup was last gen but it's a good idea nonetheless.

Though I guess this isn't so great if you actually READ Nintendo Power.  To me it's just the same shilling, different shill.

[Kairon]

Nintendo power didn't shill. You'd think they would but they didn't. They were great... *sigh*

[Ceric]

When Nintendo Power lost the Comics they Lost More then Just Comics.  BRING BACK NESTER!!!!

[UncleBob]

Don't the official PS and XB mags come with demo discs in every issue?

[Mashiro]

Official DC magazine had a demo disc in many of their issues (I still have every single one of them) <3

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Mashiro
Official DC magazine had a demo disc in many of their issues (I still have every single one of them) <3

Official DC Magazine was the best, I miss it! Anyway I am actually looking forward to getting the new NP to see what it is like.

[that Baby guy]

I think they'll rename it.  In about a year, we'll see Official Nintendo Magazine, with "Nintendo: Great Developer or Greatest Developer?"  as the cover story of at least every other issue.