Satoru Iwata: 1959-2015

Nintendo’s president will be missed

To say that I’m a Nintendo fan would be something of an understatement. The worlds that they created have always had a special kind of hold on me in the best possible way. Those worlds are more to me than just a distraction. They’ve inspired me, comforted me, and fueled my imagination for as long as I can remember. There are many people responsible for those worlds, but at the end of the day, it was one man’s job to take responsibility for them. I’ve thought a lot about what I would say to that man if I ever got the chance, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I would only need two words.

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The Road back from the Nintendo World Championships 2015

The games have begun

Well, the road back from the Nintendo World Championships qualifying round was a bit different than the road there. In the days leading up to the event, I was nervous and excited. Upon my return, while I’m still glad I went, I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed, especially as I’ve discovered how differently things went at some of the other tournament locations. 

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The Secret Decline of Mario’s Medical Career

Dr. Mario has the cure for fever and the chills, just not for lazy ports

Mario has had a considerable number of occupations over the years. He’s been a tennis player, a kart racer, a plumber, and even a boxing referee, but one of his most prolific careers is that of Dr. Mario. This puzzle franchise from Intelligent Systems has been a staple in Nintendo’s lineup since 1990, and has appeared on nearly every Nintendo console since. (Sorry, Virtual Boy) However, unlike most other Nintendo franchises, Dr. Mario has endured a strange metamorphosis over the years. Where most games obtain more features with each new iteration, Dr. Mario plays host to a different story.

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Amiibotched? How Nintendo of America Let a Sure Thing (Almost) Get Away

Nintendo is more than just Mario

Nintendo wants more people like me. I’m a fanatic. I love their games, characters, and worlds, and I’ve been this way as long as I can remember. When Nintendo announced their line of Amiibo figures, my first thought was at how 6 year old me would have been flipping out about them. Today, I’m thinking about how disappointed 6 year old me would be. 

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Joining the Force

Nintendo Power’s legacy is a sight to behold

About 2 years ago, Nintendo Power announced that it was coming to an end, and with it, my lifelong dream of writing for them. Print magazines had been ceasing publication left and right, but even still, the announcement came as a shock. What started as a relentlessly charming glorified ad campaign for Nintendo had transformed over the years into an incredibly thoughtful, intelligent, honest, and fun magazine. It was everything print media should be, and having spent lots of time over the years collecting every single issue, I admired its evolution over the years. Its cancellation hit me hard, but as it turned out, I was not alone.

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