by J.K. Guise
It was a staple of children from the 80s until the early part of the 2010s, there was one true source of all important game strategy for Nintendo players. That was the juggernaut of strategy and tactics, Nintendo Power! We all eagerly awaited its arrival, turning page after page through it glossy covers, discovering the inner secrets and special strategies to conquer to most grueling of challenges inside the NES all the way to the release of the Wii-U. However, the Daily Rager has uncovered a dark secret about everyone’s* favorite video game magazine.
It’s entire purpose was to sell Nintendo games!
We all assumed it was Nintendo giving back, helping us through their dastardly contrivances. Giving us an extra leg up in the competition vs. their insidious developers. Allowing us to experience the joy of the secrets hidden within their games. That was the purpose our young minds believed.
But no, that was the technique. The point was to get you to buy more games.
This discovery was first realized when, in our research, it turned out that one Gail Tilden, a Marketing Manager at Nintendo of America, was the creative force behind it. That got us thinking, why was a marketing manager publishing a book to help gamers?
Then it hit us, as we pursued our old copies. We saw page after pages of advertisements for Nintendo products. We saw that each article drew us in, wanted us to play the games we did not have to own. These previews, these secrets, these guides, were all meant to draw one thing out of us.
An urge to buy games and peripherals!
While it is true other advertising did appear at times, the heavy focus on Nintendo’s products, games and peripherals makes the point clear. It was nothing but a marketing ploy. Once again, dear gamers, it appears that video game companies do not make games just for our joy, but want to make money.