Press Pass: An Interview With Nintendo Power's Chris Slate
8/14/2008 10:28 PM | 0 Comments | Page 3 of 3
CG: How do you feel about the decision to shut down the vibrant NSider forums? Are there any plans to revamp
Nintendo Power's online presence?
Slate: I wasn't involved with that decision so I don't have much of an opinion on it. I know that Nintendo fans tend to be the most excited and involved people in gaming, which is one of the reasons that I'm such a big Nintendo fan myself. Our current Web site -- which at this moment is still just the old letter informing people of the magazine's switch from Nintendo to Future -- definitely needs to be replaced. I can't say by what just yet, or when a change might occur, but we've been tossing around ideas.
CG: I'm a big fan of the magazine's Community section, which highlights fan creations and events. Is there something unique about Nintendo fans that makes them more devoted to the magazine (and the company)?
Slate: I love rabid Nintendo fans because there's this purity to them. They aren't necessarily concerned with what everyone else thinks, or plays, or values in their games -- they simply want to have fun, and they're generally more open to new kinds of gaming experiences. The people who send in their fan-made creations to Community really exemplify that infectious enthusiasm. The fans that have played Nintendo games for years aren't as easily swayed by trends or what's supposed to be cool at the moment. That may sound strange at a time when Wii is the biggest pop trend there is, but the core gamers -- the ones who really care and have stuck with Nintendo for ages -- just want great, well-crafted experiences. I really respect that.
CG: With more and more people looking online for up-to-date gaming information, how can a print magazine, even one with access to "official" info like
Nintendo Power, last for another 20 years?
Slate: The simple answer is that print is never going to go away; it's a different type of experience and has a unique relationship with the reader. I check several Web sites every day to keep up with the latest news, but when I sit down with a magazine it's different -- it isn't about actively searching for things, but passively relaxing and enjoying the experience. Magazines used to be the only way that game players could get information or feel like they were part of a larger gaming community, but now the Internet serves those needs better than we ever could. However, [print] can filter out the endless noise of thousands of online game previews and blog entries, zero in on what is most important to readers for that specific month, and give the biggest stories the extra space and unrestricted design options to present more satisfying articles. That's the goal, anyway, and we work our hardest to reach it each and every issue. And I still get a big kick when I open my mailbox to find my favorite magazine inside.
