Nintendo Power - Nintendo's Biggest Failure

In this video, Did You Know Gaming takes a look at the history of the Nintendo Power, a Japan exclusive platform that Nintendo hoped to expand the lifespan of the Super Famicom (Super Nintendo) and is possiblly the company's biggest failure.

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Sources/Further Reading:
Nintendo Power Cartridge Book 1
1998 Nintendo Source Book
Monthly Nintendo Power magazine, Jan 1998 issue (JP)
Famitsu Weekly, Oct 24 1997 issue (JP)
Famimaga 64 magazine, Dec 1997 issue (JP)
Dengeki N64 magazine, Dec 1997 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jan 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Feb 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Apr 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, May 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jun 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jul 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Aug 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Sep 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Nov 1998 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Apr 1999 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jul 1999 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Aug 1999 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Sep 1999 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Oct 1999 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Dec 1999 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Apr 2000 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, May 2000 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jul 2000 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Dec 2000 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jan 2001 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Jul 2002 issue (JP)
64Dream magazine, Aug 2002 issue (JP)
snes

#nintendo #nintendopower #supernintendo #snes #superfamicom

[MaestroDrake]

And to think, the Nintendo Power was never featured in an issue of Nintendo Power.

[Minty_Meeo]

I can't believe Nintendo kept the mail-in service alive for so long that it can be mentioned in the same breath as the *Wii Shop Channel*. The point that the Wii Shop channel is the successor to Nintendo Power is very poignant, those people at Nintendo have a vision and they are hell-bent on making it a reality.

[AtomicFolly]

This explains why Nintendo was so hesitant when dlc and digital games were becoming more of a thing. History is fun.

[JoePianist]

I consider myself well versed in video game history, but I’ve never heard of THIS kind of Nintendo Power before!

[knuclearx]

I miss physical experiences at stores like the Snap station, those big demo displays, DS wireless and Spot Pass. Also had no idea "used games" were a problem, i was just more excited about the "new" concept in general

[PikaPhantomVG]

How many people are gonna think this video is about the magazine lol

[safebox]

It's ironic that Nintendo's success in the console market has been because of two factors they often get criticised for; having a niche in the console, and having a weaker console than competitors.
Almost every generation has been "won" by the weakest console, and that's usually (though not always) Nintendo's.
The niche elements in a console such as Wii's motion controls or Switch's hybridisation is what allows them to compete with the more tech-heavy consoles.

[Alphadanielmon]

This has got to be one of the best DYKG videos ever. I never knew about this chapter in Nintendo history. Fascinating stuff guys.

[k-dawg]

Oh so THIS is the Nintendo Power referenced when talking about Fire Emblem 5's original release. Neat

[Ultimate_Charizard]

So the machine had a slot for the cartridge, but you had to print out a receipt to take to the counter where the cashier would put your cartridge in a separate machine and there actually download the game?
...Why?

[ThatGuy-tcuv]

I recommend looking up the menu music for the SNES and GBC kiosks. They're pretty groovy.
And the irony that Nintendo had a preservation initiative (as fumbled as it was) while Sony and co. were trying to get second-hand copies banned is such palpable irony that it feels like it came from a reverse world.

[SatansBestBuddy]

Nintendo with a sales failure, "we will support this limited fanbase for the next decade, at our own expense"

Sony with a sales failure, "it's been eight days and we haven't made a billion dollars, shut it all down and make it impossible for anyone to play"

[JeanieBoxx]

just letting yall know captions for prices are wrong a couple times in the video (specifically around 20:25 ish)

[pokemonduck]

Thank you DYGK for sticking to the pixel art border for so long, I find it really distracting when people fill up the border with moving images, especially blurred out stretched footage

[JoeContext]

The fact that Columns had an official SNES port with plans for a Sonic SNES port is melting my brain

[MizunoKetsuban]

9:10 To be clear, in case the translated title didn't make it obvious: These games are from the Shin Onigashima series. You know, the one with that metal remix in Smash Bros you never looked into.

[xKarenWalkerx]

I thought you meant the magazine??
I loved that mag as a kid.

[SammyEdgeINC]

7:02 hearing "let's preserve good games" in a video about Nintendo has to be some cosmic level irony

[safebox]

Might want to change the title or thumbnail to include "no, not that one" cause I think a lot of people are thinking of the magazine that ended in 2012 and came back in 2017.

[pokemonduck]

''If you've never heard of Lawson, it's similar to 7/11''
*confused European noises*