MCV reports that Imagine's Nintendo-only UK magazine, N•Revolution, will cease publication. In this day and age, with ad revenue and readership down – not to mention a little thing you're using called the internet – this move doesn't exactly come as a surprise. Its publisher's reasoning for the closure does.
Imagine's managing director, Damian Butt, says that Nintendo's focus is shifting away from the magazine's readership, i.e. core gamers. "It has become increasingly obvious that Nintendo's strategy...has moved increasingly away from the hardcore gaming community that is our specialty," Butt explained.
Still, Butt says that Imagine – which also publishes gamesTM – will continue to work with Nintendo to "drive purchases of Nintendo software." We're sure it will be in an entirely objective, unbiased, above-the-board way ... of working with a company to positively influence software sales through editorial. What could be wrong with that? Oh.
Reader Comments (107)
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:50PM (Unverified) said
At least change it to "Buttons" or "Butler" or..."Butts"
"Can I speak to a Seymour, last name Butts?"
Reply
"Can I speak to a Seymour, last name Butts?"
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:05PM BananaBoat said
I bet this guy was the "butt" of all the jokes in elementary school.
Ta dum Tsshhhhhhh
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Ta dum Tsshhhhhhh
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 10:49PM (Unverified) said
Crystal Butt
WAHAHAHWAHAHHWHHHAHAHHFKJHFJFHJHGJDGHFGHFGHGHHG *cough* *cough*
good times
Reply
WAHAHAHWAHAHHWHHHAHAHHFKJHFJFHJHGJDGHFGHFGHGHHG *cough* *cough*
good times
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:37PM (Unverified) said
Bat Nipple jokes were always better than Bat Butt jokes anyway.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:46PM (Unverified) said
This was obviously meant as a reply to The Dark Wayne.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:38PM (Unverified) said
It seems like a Nintendo centric magazine would be something that the unwashed casual masses would actually benefit from.
Butt
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Butt
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:38PM (Unverified) said
Well, his last name is Butt, and he used the word hardcore. Coincidence? I think not.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:40PM JoshMilewski said
WTF at the last paragraph. Just gives me more of a reason to stick to blogs and the like.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:54PM Mr Khan said
Well it makes a bit of sense. Magazines on the whole are going down the tubes, N-Revolution was not known for its quality, it has to compete with ONM, this perhaps was just the straw that broke the camel's back
To cite it as the main factor is, of course, needlessly inflammatory, but a dip in focus for a crappy, 2nd-rate magazine's target market isn't without merit
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To cite it as the main factor is, of course, needlessly inflammatory, but a dip in focus for a crappy, 2nd-rate magazine's target market isn't without merit
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:11PM (Unverified) said
Wait wait, first, that statement was true, and yes, it does show that they are shifting focus, if not, they would have put more resources into more "hardcore" games (old or new franchises) instead of putting most of it on casual games, Sony is doing it and so is Microsoft.
Second, why should we forget that was said? most people still don't let go Kutaragi's or Moore's stupid remarks, yet we should forget that one?
It doesn't hurt Joystiq's credibility, it should just be a lesson to Nintendo's PR department, unfortunately, none of them learn, and the 3 companies still making stupid comments.
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Second, why should we forget that was said? most people still don't let go Kutaragi's or Moore's stupid remarks, yet we should forget that one?
It doesn't hurt Joystiq's credibility, it should just be a lesson to Nintendo's PR department, unfortunately, none of them learn, and the 3 companies still making stupid comments.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 4:57PM (Unverified) said
I call bullocks on this one.
While Nintendo does focus on "casual" games, it's hard to say the GameCube was anymore "hardcore" than the Wii is. Same goes for N64.
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While Nintendo does focus on "casual" games, it's hard to say the GameCube was anymore "hardcore" than the Wii is. Same goes for N64.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:32PM Blaquebeird said
The N64 was definitely hardcore. Maybe not compared to now, but back then it definitely was. Although I'd argue that SNES is probably the best system ever, primarily because of all the sweet games.
What gamer in the world doesn't have a fond SNES or N64 memory?
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What gamer in the world doesn't have a fond SNES or N64 memory?
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:45PM (Unverified) said
No, I remember back in the day they were predicting Nintendo's demise because the N64 wasn't as hardcore as PS. Most of the "mature" games, RPGs, shooters, etc etc were on PS and Nintendo survived off 1st party games...as they do now..SNES was the last console that "hardcore".
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:03PM anoffday said
"It has become increasingly obvious that Nintendo's strategy...has moved increasingly away from the hardcore gaming community that is our specialty," Butt explained.
Yet, when a regular gamer says this the new nintendo fanboys are always right there to tell him how wrong and he stupid he is.
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Yet, when a regular gamer says this the new nintendo fanboys are always right there to tell him how wrong and he stupid he is.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 6:22PM Grey Acumen said
what are you talking about? he is wrong.
Whether nintendo is or isn't moving away from core games, that's not what's affecting the magazine's readership.
It's a little thing called the internet. It will always have the most up to date information, and core gamers are the ones most interested in getting the most up to date information. On top of that, while you generally have to pay for internet access, the information on games like this can almost always be accessed for free.
So compare:
Free + Updated on hourly basis + Search for what YOU want to know about vs. purchase or subscription + updated on monthly basis + read about whatever they choose to tell you.
Reply
Whether nintendo is or isn't moving away from core games, that's not what's affecting the magazine's readership.
It's a little thing called the internet. It will always have the most up to date information, and core gamers are the ones most interested in getting the most up to date information. On top of that, while you generally have to pay for internet access, the information on games like this can almost always be accessed for free.
So compare:
Free + Updated on hourly basis + Search for what YOU want to know about vs. purchase or subscription + updated on monthly basis + read about whatever they choose to tell you.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 6:36PM anoffday said
"Whether nintendo is or isn't moving away from core games, that's not what's affecting the magazine's readership."
All I'm saying is Nintendo is clearly targeting a different crowd than the one that made them who they are today. He's right about that. As far as the magazine goes, I don't give a crap.
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All I'm saying is Nintendo is clearly targeting a different crowd than the one that made them who they are today. He's right about that. As far as the magazine goes, I don't give a crap.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 7:51PM (Unverified) said
Is this a reaction to my reply to you the other day? (By the way, you may want to check my response, it clears things up a bit, and any insults I made towards you were either jocular or to place emphasis on the point I was trying to make)
It is clear that Nintendo is targeting a different audience than before, but there is something just as stupid as saying they aren't - acting as though that fact has had a negative effect on gaming over these last few years.
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It is clear that Nintendo is targeting a different audience than before, but there is something just as stupid as saying they aren't - acting as though that fact has had a negative effect on gaming over these last few years.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:06PM (Unverified) said
As I said in another post:
Yesterday I went to the doctor and while I was bored to death in an exam room I flipped through a parenting magazine (believe me, the only thing to do in that room other than make log cabins out of tongue depressers which I had already done) .. and in this magazine was an advertisement for the Wii.
Case. Closed.
Wii is a toy, not a serious game console.
Reply
Yesterday I went to the doctor and while I was bored to death in an exam room I flipped through a parenting magazine (believe me, the only thing to do in that room other than make log cabins out of tongue depressers which I had already done) .. and in this magazine was an advertisement for the Wii.
Case. Closed.
Wii is a toy, not a serious game console.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:38PM Misfit Toy said
Nintendo is legally a toy company, not a gaming company anyways. Or at least according to them that's how it is.
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Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:45PM (Unverified) said
So, how do you feel about Microsoft advertising the amount of "family friendly" games they have and only marketing the bundle that comes with Lego Indy and Kung Fu Panda?
Case.Closed.
Every video game console is a toy, a definition of a toy is "an artifact designed to be played with". Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that describe a 360 or a PS3 or a DS or a PSP as well as a Wii?
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Case.Closed.
Every video game console is a toy, a definition of a toy is "an artifact designed to be played with". Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that describe a 360 or a PS3 or a DS or a PSP as well as a Wii?
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 5:50PM (Unverified) said
I don't think you understand.
This was -parenting- magazine. They are known for being hugely anti-videogame. Yet you can advertise a wii in it, because the wii is something else.
Listen, you fanboys don't have to defend your steed, it's ok, we'll let you read the big boy blogs and eat at the big boy table even if you're playing with toys. I'm just saying any serious gamers I know own either a 360 or a PS3. They may own a wii, but its a secondary item.
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This was -parenting- magazine. They are known for being hugely anti-videogame. Yet you can advertise a wii in it, because the wii is something else.
Listen, you fanboys don't have to defend your steed, it's ok, we'll let you read the big boy blogs and eat at the big boy table even if you're playing with toys. I'm just saying any serious gamers I know own either a 360 or a PS3. They may own a wii, but its a secondary item.
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 6:04PM (Unverified) said
No sir, YOU are the one who doesn't understand. A few things here I need you to clear up:
1. Name of said "parenting" magazine
2. Proof of them being "anti video game" and no, writing an article about violent games does NOT qualify. They must say that video games in general are ruining peoples lives, not just violent ones.
3. How a Wii showing up in said parenting magazine is different from Microsoft running an ad saying "we have X number of family friendly games" and only mentioning the bundle that comes with Lego Indy and Kung Fu Panda which, now I may be wrong here, aren't exactly "hardcore games".
4. How the definition of a toy (an object designed to be played with) doesnt fit every console/handheld ever made dating back to the Magnavox Odyssey
Reply
1. Name of said "parenting" magazine
2. Proof of them being "anti video game" and no, writing an article about violent games does NOT qualify. They must say that video games in general are ruining peoples lives, not just violent ones.
3. How a Wii showing up in said parenting magazine is different from Microsoft running an ad saying "we have X number of family friendly games" and only mentioning the bundle that comes with Lego Indy and Kung Fu Panda which, now I may be wrong here, aren't exactly "hardcore games".
4. How the definition of a toy (an object designed to be played with) doesnt fit every console/handheld ever made dating back to the Magnavox Odyssey
Posted: Dec 3rd 2008 6:09PM Mr Khan said
And you don't seem to understand either. If you actually looked at Nintendo's strategy for the NES, you're going to see so many similarities it will make your head spin
established "serious gamers" had the same feelings towards the NES that established "serious gamers" had towards the Wii. It's a toy, it has less functionality than my computer. It's marketed towards families and little kids. Look at that dumb robot, those kiddie games, and that plastic gun. You look like such an idiot shooting that plastic gun at the screen
History is repeating itself, just in a slightly different way
Reply
established "serious gamers" had the same feelings towards the NES that established "serious gamers" had towards the Wii. It's a toy, it has less functionality than my computer. It's marketed towards families and little kids. Look at that dumb robot, those kiddie games, and that plastic gun. You look like such an idiot shooting that plastic gun at the screen
History is repeating itself, just in a slightly different way
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