The Escapist recently
examined Nintendo Power (NP), focusing on the publication's duty to operate as a bridge between
Nintendo, the company, and its loyal consumers. Most interesting is the article's comparison between the March issues
of NP, the Official PlayStation Magazine (OPM) and the Official Xbox Magazine
(OXM) (beginning on page 26). The
article draws upon some striking differences between NP and these other flagship publications.According to The Escapist, NP's editors are dedicated to continuing the development of Nintendo's story, which can be traced back to the coin-op days of Donkey Kong and follows a path populated with memorable characters and innovative ideas leading up to the present — and beyond. Indeed, the March issue of NP features 34 pages of editorial content dedicated to Nintendo-only titles, including a monthly series that brings readers closer to the development team working on Twilight Princess. The article observes that the coverage is tied together with Nintendo's current mantra: break the mold.
By contrast, The Escapist concludes that OPM and OXM's editorial coverage is limited by the scope of the games that predominate Sony and Microsoft's platforms, namely sequels and rehashes. Further, the article finds that OPM and OXM editors dilute their magazines with next-gen tech hype, and in doing so, "are playing right into Nintendo's hands." At this point, it seems pretty clear that the article's author, Jon Schnaars, could be considered a fanboy, but this observation aside, does Schnaars have a valid point? Has Nintendo succeeded in creating a living world — an evolving story — that transcends games, consoles, and joysticks? And more importantly, do consumers care?
