NOMUK: Cover Lies Compounded by Bogus Power Brick Claims

Can Future publish a credible Nintendo mag?

Posted by Staff
NOMUK: Cover Lies Compounded by Bogus Power Brick Claims
We reported yesterday that the freshly-launched Nintendo Official Magazine, under the banner of Future Publishing, had gotten off to something of a depressing start by publishing what can only be described as a big fat lie on its front cover. “World's first hands-on session with the Revolution controller!” the magazine trumpeted, knowing full well that many publications had gone hands-on with the device, as long ago as Tokyo Game Show 2005.

As reported, one of the only pieces of new information in the magazine was the surprising news that the stand the Revolution has been pictured with since it was shown at last year's E3, also doubled as the console's power supply, though as we quipped yesterday, “...as to how printing a lie on the cover of a launch magazine impacts on the reliability of the content to be found within remains to be seen.”

Well it turns out to be bogus. The stand isn't the power supply. It's a stand. In fact, according to Nintendo, any information on the power supply for the Revolution could only be made up. “We have not announced or shown any details regarding the power supply for the console,” Nintendo Europe told SPOnG today. “The stand is just a stand, nothing more nothing less.” Nintendo, somewhat kindly, attributes the official magazine's blunder to a “production error.”

Where this will leave the magazine remains to be seen. The first issue is what you might call 'a big deal' in print publishing and the combination of a front cover lie and editorial blunders in what could be described as a content-light offering will not please Nintendo's rabid UK fanbase.

Future Publishing's problems with Nintendo publication don't stop here. NGC Magazine looked to distance itself from Nintendo over a public spat concerning the next Zelda game, a situation made worse by a serious drop in sales. You can read a full report on NGC's troubles here.


Comments

realvictory 22 Feb 2006 02:04
1/10
Well, the latest I heard was that the new Zelda is going to use the Revolution's "functionality" after all. So who is that "making a mistake?"

Still, we'll have to wait and see whether the "production errors" continue...
TigerUppercut 22 Feb 2006 04:04
2/10
realvictory wrote:
Well, the latest I heard was that the new Zelda is going to use the Revolution's "functionality" after all. So who is that "making a mistake?"

You got a link for that, no pun intended?
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ben1210 22 Feb 2006 10:33
3/10
I dont know why you're slating the new magazine, I picked it up the other day and it's a damn sight better than that beano type offering emap produced.
the thing is that everybody has to wait for news on the revolution and it seems people are getting agitated. It must be very difficult to keep everything under wraps with rabid information hunters such as spong commenting on a mere whiff of a rumor.
It seems nintendo will deny anything, even if true to keep everyone in suspense till e3


I bet you;

1- twilight princess will feature revolution compatibility

2- the stand is part of the power supply

in fact the power supply news is nothing new, as I seem to remember talk about the revolution console being able to click out of the stand so you could go to your friends (or grandparents) and click your revolution into their stand.




ozfunghi 22 Feb 2006 13:18
4/10
Like i said: BS.
Dreadknux 22 Feb 2006 13:29
5/10
Wow. First NGC, now even the new official magazine.

I bet Nintendo are chuffed they moved their 'official' publication license to Future now.
jodo4 22 Feb 2006 14:05
6/10
it wouldnt make sense to make the stand a power supply, if you want to lay down your revolution, wouldn't it be better to take the stand off? well E3 is only months away so...
fluffstardx 22 Feb 2006 15:21
7/10
The power lead may lead through the back of the stand for when it's propped in it, but like has already been mentioned the stand would be silly if it WAS the power supply.

I imagine Rev functionality for TP (such a bad acronym) would be download content. We already know it has an online service - the old console games are part of it.
jamess 22 Feb 2006 18:01
8/10
Oi Spong - I love you dearly but you're out of order in your criticism of NOM.

I picked up the first issue on Saturday and read it from cover to cover. It's a huge step in the right direction in terms of coverage of Nintendo in the UK.

There may not have been any really "new" info in the issue but that's more due to Nintendo's policy of keeping tight lipped until GDC / E3. It was still a fantastic read.

So save your criticism for the 101 other things that are more worthy of a good slagging off in the UK games scene. Or else.
Joji 22 Feb 2006 19:44
9/10
Perhaps Spong should have a little review of the new NOM, there seems to be some confusion at play. From what I remember of the last NOM I bought years ago it was really bad before. Lots of pictures and less real news and content. It turned me off the mag because it was also getting immature in places.

I have to check it out now. As for NGC, it lost it's way a long time ago. I just wish it could get back to the brilliance it once was back when it was my favourite mag, Super Play.

Ditto 23 Feb 2006 21:22
10/10
Is the editor of the former "NOM UK" still there?

He was the only person I "liked", since he started out writing the Gameboy column when I was reading it (as Official Nintendo Magazine) in 1998.
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