Another Nintendo Mag Closes as Nintendo Chooses Social Media

[roseofbattle]

Another Nintendo Mag Closes as Nintendo Chooses Social Media

Nintendo has transitioned to reaching its consumers directly through social media and Nintendo Directs.

Nintendo UK and publisher Future have confirmed the UK-based publication Official Nintendo Magazine will end with the release of its 114th issue on October 14. Nintendo has chosen to focus efforts of communication elsewhere while Future will focus on other websites.

Nintendo and Future approached this decision together. A sentence from the statement, absent from Official Nintendo Magazine's page, called the closure a "joint decision." [http://www.gonintendo.com/s/238989-official-nintendo-magazine-uk-to-close-with-issue-114]

Future has published Official Nintendo Magazine since 2006, when it acquired the Nintendo-focused magazine. Future currently publishes Edge, Kotaku UK, CVG, Gamesradar.com, and Gamesmaster.

Nintendo Power Magazine, the US equivalent of Official Nintendo Magazine, also published by Future, closed in 2012. [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119187-Nintendo-Power-Ceasing-Publication-After-24-Years]

The publication's website will close on November 11 and will then redirect to Nintendo UK's website. Staff will move to work on other projects within Future.

"Nintendo will continue to speak directly to fans via Nintendo Direct, our social media and online channels and public events," the Official Nintendo Magazine stated.

Nintendo has moved away from publications to reach consumers. At E3 this year, Nintendo again chose to speak to consumers through their Nintendo Direct presentation rather than a press conference. With social media like Twitter, Facebook, and the Direct presentations with Treehouse, Nintendo reveals game announcements and details itself instead of working closely with publications.

The longer statement includes a Q&A concerning the closure. Future was in the news earlier this year for its global restructuring [http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-05-02-future-publishing-prepares-for-total-restructure-widespread-redundancies], declaring redundancies. Future stated Official Nintendo Magazine's closure is unrelated to Future's redundancies.

Official Nintendo Magazine subscribers will have their subscription transfer over to GamesMaster. Subscribers also have the option of canceling their subscription and receiving a refund for remaining issues. Anyone wishing to do this must contact Future by October 17.

Source: Official Nintendo Magazine [http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/58338/official-nintendo-magazine-set-to-close-with-issue-114/]


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[Fappy]

I always found it silly to have publications like this in the first place. Op-ed pieces will be skewed because obvious reasons and all the "hard" content/information could be beamed directly to the consumer in a much easier and more direct fashion. Sure, I miss reading NintendoPower every month (I think I have some as old as 1990), but the existence of a game publisher-owned publication is an obsolete practice at this point.

Assuming there will be some layoffs, I feel bad for the staff though.

 

[Scarim Coral]

Ah, a mag that I cared about (while those in the state got Nintendo Power, we got this!). In saying so I stop buying their mags years ago and it does make sense to go online these days so it's not a total farewell.

I suppose it's good that they are going to have a proper farewell unlike the other game mag CVG (Computer and Video Game) despite they were the first video game magazine in the UK!

 

[Davroth]

Considering how the press has treated Nintendo in the Wii and Wii U era, I can't blame them for taking that step at all. I suppose it was to be expected.

 

[V4Viewtiful]

This mag was great, such a shame to see it go, I still have the first. I shall buy the last...

 

[Haru17]

Print is the future guys!!! But sincerely, when I was a kid Nintendo Power was great, it introduced me to several games I love like Okami and Tales of Symphonia (and through it the rest of that series). I had long unsubscribed when that magazine closed. Even Game Informer lacks relevance when sites like IGN pick up 90% of everything the day it happens.

 

[flying_whimsy]

Considering how the press has treated Nintendo in the Wii and Wii U era, I can't blame them for taking that step at all. I suppose it was to be expected.

I had't really thought about that. People keep talking about how successful nintendo has been by going the direct route (this year's E3 being a prime example), but spending an entire console generation being casually dismissed and treated as a joke didn't leave them much of an option.

Hmm, someone marginalized by gaming media takes the independent route and finds far more success in being heard. Where have I heard that one before?

I do sort of miss the days of flipping through a nintendo power, looking at the megaman x maps and strategies, and hoping to god that I'll actually be able to beat more than one or two bosses this time. Then again, that's what the internet is for.