RIP Nintendo Power

[sdp]

They've made many new IPs since, just probably none you cared about. We've had WiiMusic, Steel Diver, etc. I personally loved motion controls, the only problem was the original Wiimote couldn't give us what we expected and while the remote+ fixed the problem most developers didn't make use of it. I still love motion controls. Nintendo is the one that continues to innovate with their hardware and software including the 3DS, I know most don't care about 3D but I like it as well. That's not to say the other companies haven't innovated either, whether improving something the Kinect is an evolution of motion controls though personally I think Sony got it right mixing camera and controls with their move, too bad they spent no money marketing it and it's dead. All those technologies are awesome we just need good software to use it. Or innovating in otherways like with the online system.

I'm not crazy about the tablet controller but if Nintendo can make it work then I'll love it. The wii motion controls were a bit of a let down but when it worked it worked wonderfully. I guess if moving your wrist around a little is too much work for you then it isn't for you but come on it wasn't that much of a work out, it was hardly ever difficult to do. I personally love moving around.

Now there's a difference whether it's interesting to you or not, but it's another thing to say they haven't innovated or come out with good games recently. Nintendo has always been Nintendo and they'll continue to be Nintendo. Sometimes the produce some terrible stuff but sometimes they strike gold. And they do both of those many times, I can't imagine the VG industry without Nintendo. You really can't say the 360 or Sony have innovated that much this generation besides the fact that their consoles were more powerful than Nintendo's.

But it's always cool to **** on Nintendo and it has been since the Sega Genesis days.

[The Stryker]

Way to completely go off on a tangent. Nobody is sh*tting on Nintendo. I just bought a Wii U.

I was just saying that they've ridden nostalgia to the point where it doesn't work anymore. All of the recent Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid and Kirby games have been "IT'S BACK TO THE CLASSIC STYLE DUDES! REMEMBER?!"

There's no real progression on any of those games. Look at what the Gamecube did for those franchises. Say what you will about the quality of those games but they atleast TRIED to do something interesting.

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Darth Knuckles

Okay thank you very much for that info. Since both of the last two issues were in plastic I couldn't see the issues ans didn't know about the "Star Power" section. If one of them happened to be Knuckles I was going to get my hands on that issue for sure! I'll let you know when I get the last issue in my area.

I'm seeing a few more copies of the final issues pop up on eBay. I've asked the sellers about them and they all say they're store-bought. The first guy I asked, he said his copy is store-bought too, and that his issue hasn't been taken out of its plastic. So I wonder how he could possibly know that even subscribers will get that same exact cover. By the way, they also come with a poster that shows you the covers of all the issues.

Originally Posted by The Stryker

I mean. It's kinda true.

Nintendo has been living off of nostalgia for a long time without actually trying anything new.

Most of the new game's ad campaigns are pretty much "Hey man....remember that old game? That was great. Here's a game with that character." That's all the New Super Mario Bros series is.

Originally Posted by 愛

Stryker is right. What the hell was even their last IP? Pikmin? Remember that time they made that music game for DS that no one cared about? They even had to go third-party for Smash Bros. Brawl.

They may have been original years ago, but even their attempt at original hardware is just a damn chore for anyone who is an actual video game player. I haven't finished Skyward Sword because swinging the controller around is too much work for me to care.

I still could have done without her killing the buzz though. She sounds like a b*tch. Maybe she's actually a "bint" (cross between a b*tch and the "c" word).

Originally Posted by sdp

They've made many new IPs since, just probably none you cared about. We've had WiiMusic, Steel Diver, etc. I personally loved motion controls, the only problem was the original WiiMote couldn't give us what we expected and while the remote+ fixed the problem most developers didn't make use of it. I still love motion controls. Nintendo is the one that continues to innovate with their hardware and software including the 3DS, I know most don't care about 3D but I like it as well. That's not to say the other companies haven't innovated either, whether improving something the Kinect is an evolution of motion controls though personally I think Sony got it right mixing camera and controls with their move, too bad they spent no money marketing it and it's dead. All those technologies are awesome we just need good software to use it. Or innovating in other ways like with the online system.

I'm not crazy about the tablet controller but if Nintendo can make it work then I'll love it. The Wii motion controls were a bit of a let down but when it worked it worked wonderfully. I guess if moving your wrist around a little is too much work for you then it isn't for you but come on it wasn't that much of a work out, it was hardly ever difficult to do. I personally love moving around.

I'm cool with the motion control, but I wouldn't mind if they went back to the traditional type of play.

Originally Posted by The Stryker

Way to completely go off on a tangent. Nobody is sh*tting on Nintendo. I just bought a Wii U.

I was just saying that they've ridden nostalgia to the point where it doesn't work anymore. All of the recent Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid and Kirby games have been "IT'S BACK TO THE CLASSIC STYLE DUDES! REMEMBER?!"

There's no real progression on any of those games. Look at what the Gamecube did for those franchises. Say what you will about the quality of those games but they at least TRIED to do something interesting.

Maybe you're not pissing on Nintendo, but I don't know if we can say the same about the guy after your post (I can't make out his name since it comes out as a strange symbol on my screen for some reason.) I even saw him kind of bash someone for getting a Wii U in another thread. Anyway, I just hope for your sake that you won't end up with buyer's remorse afterwards. Why exactly did you buy a Wii U anyway?

As for the franchises on GameCube, what aspect of them did you find "interesting"? Didn't they try to do something different with the Metroid Prime games? People still weren't too crazy about the first-person perspective that they had.

[愛]

Oh, I'm sorry, did I touch a nerve there? Let me go change my opinion so it's all roses and butterflies for you.

And I'm not hating on Nintendo. I'm just saying they're not original anymore. You don't have to agree with me if you don't want to, but don't go and personally attack me. You want an internet fight or something? Sorry, but I don't play that crybaby game anymore.

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by 愛

Oh, I'm sorry, did I touch a nerve there? Let me go change my opinion so it's all roses and butterflies for you.

And I'm not hating on Nintendo. I'm just saying they're not original anymore. You don't have to agree with me if you don't want to, but don't go and personally attack me. You want an internet fight or something? Sorry, but I don't play that crybaby game anymore.

That's cool with me, because that's not what I was doing. I was just remembering this, and how you said this to him. It just didn't seem Nintendo-friendly, but I'm big enough of a man to leave you to your opinion.

[愛]

He's a friend of mine, and it was partially in jest. I have no actual opinion on WiiU, as I have never touched one.

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by 愛

He's a friend of mine, and it was partially in jest. I have no actual opinion on WiiU, as I have never touched one.

Nice to know there's no bad blood between you two then.

[Storm Eagle]

The poster that comes with the issues shows the cover of every issue, and the different regular covers that some issues had. There are actually 300 images total. There were a couple of issues that I didn't even know had different images. I checked a copy of one of those issues, and it turns out I overlooked something in there that said there were four different covers for it. Some issues even had cover images that only subscribers got, but not all of them are on the poster.

[Darth Knuckles]

I can think of one instance where I think there were four different covers for one issue. Back when the Star Wars Episode I: Racer game came out there were four different covers I think. Is that the one you're talking about?

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Darth Knuckles

I can think of one instance where I think there were four different covers for one issue. Back when the Star Wars Episode I: Racer game came out there were four different covers I think. Is that the one you're talking about?

I guess that's one of them that comes to mind. That's the May 1999/volume 120 issue. Subscribers could get one of the four images, two of which would only be sold in stores, while the other two were subscriber exclusives. As far as the latter goes, 40% of subscribers would get one while 10% of subscribers would get the other. I was actually one of the 10% who got it. The other two that were only sold in stores each had a percentage of 25. The magazine also notes that Canadian percentages may vary. The images for the 40% and 10% could be put together to form a whole picture, and so could the other two.


The January 1997/volume 92 issue featured Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire on the cover, and there were also four different covers for that one. One of the covers were available to 40%, two were each available to 25% (one of which I got), and the other was available to 10% (which I managed to snag on eBay). The four could be put together to form a whole picture. It's too bad that they weren't put together that way on the poster. The aforementioned one wasn't either.


The April 2001/volume 143 issue had a Game Boy Advance unit on the cover, as seen here. That's the Arctic version. The one I got had the Indigo version on the cover, and there was also a variant with the Glacier model. I never knew this issue had three different covers until I saw the poster. The March 2004/volume 177 issue featured Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles on the cover, and this is the one that I got, and overlooked the part in the magazine where it said there were three other variants.

The images for these two weren't divided into specific percentages and made rare or exclusive to any percentages.

The November 2008/volume 234 issue is where they started doing subscriber edition covers all the way until now. You can see a few examples here. Sometimes the image would be the same as the newsstand cover except the only thing on it was the NP logo, and sometimes both the subscriber and newsstand images were totally different. There, you can also see that the only difference between the newsstand and subscriber versions of the covers for the final issue is that one lacks a bar code. I still haven't gotten my issue in the mail, but it's nice to finally see what the subscriber version looks like. Mind you, the poster that comes with the final issue only shows the newsstand covers of volumes 234 and on.

[Darth Knuckles]

Yeah that brings back memories. I was a subscriber and I got Mars Guo from the Star Wars Episode I: Racer covers. I'll have to look back at my issues for 143 and 177 though. From issue 234 on, I sometimes liked the exclusive subscriber edition, and sometimes I didn't. So I have a few of them twice with different covers. I haven't been a subscriber for about a year now but I'll definitely get the last issue....with the bar code I guess. I'll be looking around for it tomorrow.

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Darth Knuckles

Yeah that brings back memories. I was a subscriber and I got Mars Guo from the Star Wars Episode I: Racer covers. I'll have to look back at my issues for 143 and 177 though. From issue 234 on, I sometimes liked the exclusive subscriber edition, and sometimes I didn't. So I have a few of them twice with different covers. I haven't been a subscriber for about a year now but I'll definitely get the last issue....with the bar code I guess. I'll be looking around for it tomorrow.

Why not just order the subscriber version? The one without the bar code. The site says it's out of stock, but perhaps they'll produce more. I can't believe I still haven't gotten mine in the mail yet.

[Powder]

I guess this is out now, will have to pick it up tomorrow along with my new comics.

[Darth Knuckles]

Originally Posted by Storm Eagle

Why not just order the subscriber version? The one without the bar code. The site says it's out of stock, but perhaps they'll produce more. I can't believe I still haven't gotten mine in the mail yet.

I only mentioned it because I'll just get mine in store so it will have the bar code. I'm surprised if you still don't have your issue either because I bought an issue today at my local grocery store. It did feel weird to buy the last issue of Nintendo Power. They only had one other one besides the one I bought so people are wise to it being the last one. I'd be sure and get one now before people on eBay sell them for crazy amounts after they're not available in stores anymore. I think I may just keep mine in plastic and kindly ask Storm Eagle to mention the cooler parts of the issue, if you don't mind of course.

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Darth Knuckles

I only mentioned it because I'll just get mine in store so it will have the bar code. I'm surprised if you still don't have your issue either because I bought an issue today at my local grocery store. It did feel weird to buy the last issue of Nintendo Power. They only had one other one besides the one I bought so people are wise to it being the last one. I'd be sure and get one now before people on eBay sell them for crazy amounts after they're not available in stores anymore. I think I may just keep mine in plastic and kindly ask Storm Eagle to mention the cooler parts of the issue, if you don't mind of course.

The site is saying that the subscriber version of the final issue is once again in stock. So it can be ordered again now. I also STILL didn't receive my copy in the mail. I called last week and they told me I should get it by the 15th. If I don't have it by then, I'm reporting it late. I swear I'm tempted to just do that right now. I wonder if other subscribers are having this issue.

Now that I know that the subscriber cover will just be lacking the bar code though, I'll keep it in the plastic when I receive it. I actually bought three copies from Barnes & Noble on Sunday though, and just opened one. Since both the subscriber edition and retail edition have the same artwork though, I'll see about giving away the two unopened copies somehow. I'm definitely not going to ask for a ridiculous amount of money either, like I've been seeing people on eBay do. There may still be a good amount of them in the stores, and you can even order both versions from the site at the same price. So there's no need to shell out about $100 or so for them.

The things that are listed on the cover are basically all the issue has. There are letters from readers bidding farewell and talking about their best memories as subscribers and all that. Even people in the video game industry share their memories. There are ads for The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses and Digipen that even bid the magazine farewell.

There's a list of 285 of the greatest games as chosen by the editors.

Spoiler:

It goes from Super Star Wars to (surprise, surprise) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

They also have a run-down of all the years that NP was in circulation, and memories from editors past and present.

The final feature in the issue is...

Spoiler:

...a two-page comic featuring Nester and his son Max.
http://www.gonintendo.com/content/up...2_12/1W3h7.jpg

Since news got out about the end of the magazine in late August, I thought I was prepared for the end once I got the final issue and read it all. Now that I have read it all though, it felt weird knowing that there would be no more issues coming after that, and knowing that there will be no more issues showing up in my mailbox. Now if only my subscriber copy of the final issue would show up in my mailbox, that would be just great.

[Darth Knuckles]

Thanks a lot for the update on what is in the issue! I think I will just keep mine in the plastic. I can't believe you still haven't gotten yours in the mail yet. They were always so good with getting them out to you early. It is surreal for this to be the last issue of Nintendo Power isn't it?

[TheCanadiandrome]

I plan to get this today sometime

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Darth Knuckles

Thanks a lot for the update on what is in the issue! I think I will just keep mine in the plastic. I can't believe you still haven't gotten yours in the mail yet. They were always so good with getting them out to you early. It is surreal for this to be the last issue of Nintendo Power isn't it?

I gave one of the copies still in its plastic to some guy at my job, since I told him about it. I told him he could also order the one with the subscriber cover which lacks the bar code, but he said the newsstand version is fine with him. So I've still got one newsstand copy still in its plastic, so I might keep that, or I might sell it.

This may change by the time you see it, but the listing for the copy with the subscriber cover says it's sold out, yet it also says "availability: in stock".
http://shop.futureus.com/games/ninte...cover-533.html
Just out of curiosity, I decided to call the company about that, and the person I got, all she told me is that I can still try to order it. I told her that I've still got an active subscription and I should be getting it in the mail anyway, and that I still haven't gotten it. When I called last Saturday, I was told to give it until the 15th to arrive. Now this one tells me that the date for when the issue is overdue has been extended to the 17th. So you can only imagine how frustrating it was to have her tell me that. I asked her why they extended it, and she tells me she doesn't know. I've seen a couple of subscribers say they've gotten theirs, but I thought of the possibility that they've been getting calls from other subscribers about not getting their issues yet, but I can't believe she didn't know why, or that she and other representatives weren't at least told why. I think the magazine got better treatment when it was being run by just Nintendo themselves, than when Future US came into the picture. Nintendo just always seemed more helpful whenever I had a problem. Future US has done some cool things with the magazine, but the representatives just don't have a clue.

[Darth Knuckles]

Yeah the site still says the same thing. I'm just fine with buying the newsstand version sense I saw one and was able to get it in hand easily. It's crazy that you're going through such a hard time on getting answers about your last subscriber issue in the mail.

I dealt with Nintendo Power a lot of times over the phone and they were wonderful on customer service. A lot of times I bought an offer that included a game, players guide, and an additional year subscription to my Nintendo Power subscription. I never had a problem with them sending me the wrong issue or multiple issues because of it either. They always seemed to know what they were doing. I don't think I had to add a subscription to my existing one by the time Future got a hold of it so I wouldn't know about their customer service. I absolutely love Archie Comics but it sounds like Archie and Future have the same problems with their telephone operators on solving issues. Here's to you getting your issue in the mail within a week!

[Storm Eagle]

Originally Posted by Darth Knuckles

Yeah the site still says the same thing. I'm just fine with buying the newsstand version sense I saw one and was able to get it in hand easily. It's crazy that you're going through such a hard time on getting answers about your last subscriber issue in the mail.

I dealt with Nintendo Power a lot of times over the phone and they were wonderful on customer service. A lot of times I bought an offer that included a game, players guide, and an additional year subscription to my Nintendo Power subscription. I never had a problem with them sending me the wrong issue or multiple issues because of it either. They always seemed to know what they were doing. I don't think I had to add a subscription to my existing one by the time Future got a hold of it so I wouldn't know about their customer service. I absolutely love Archie Comics but it sounds like Archie and Future have the same problems with their telephone operators on solving issues. Here's to you getting your issue in the mail within a week!

What game and player's guide did you get when you renewed a subscription? I remember something like that near the end of 2002, and the promotion involved Metroid Prime, the player's guide, a memory card 59, and a discount coupon for the Wavebird controller. I believe they did the same thing for Super Mario Sunshine.

When my subscription ran out at the end of 1994 and 1995, I renewed late and asked if they could start me off with the first issue of their following years if possible, and they honored my request. It was cool since some time in February of 1996, I received both the January and February issues for that year on the same day. Coincidentally, I even got the Killer Instinct player's guide and Donkey Kong 2: Diddy's Kong Quest CD soundtrack that I ordered from a Super Power Supplies catalog along with the issues. Unfortunately, they couldn't honor my request to start me off with the January 1997 issue since I ended up renewing late again, so my new cycle after that was from February 1997 to January 1998. I'd have probably gotten a copy of the rarest January 1997 issue if I renewed fast enough. I just went and ordered that issue as a back issue instead.

Even though I was still subscribing around this time, I got the newsstand version of the January/February 2012 issue, and thought they stopped doing the subscriber edition covers. That is, until I saw someone's copy of that issue with a subscriber edition cover. Before I saw it though, I called Future US to see if they were no longer doing subscriber edition covers, and the representative actually did not know. Neither did this other one I got when I decided to call again.

For the record, I still didn't get my final issue today. At least tomorrow is a Saturday though. So I won't have to wait through a boring day of work to come home and see if it's in my mailbox.