Official Nintendo Magazine


Official Nintendo Magazine, or ONM, was a British video game magazine that ran from 2006 to 2014 that covered the Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, Wii, and Wii U video game consoles released by Nintendo.
Originally published by EMAP as Nintendo Magazine System, the magazine first covered the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy consoles, and was later renamed to Nintendo Magazine, Nintendo Official Magazine then, briefly, Nintendo Official Magazine UK. Under these names, it was published by EMAP for twelve years, before the rights were sold to the publisher, Future plc.
The first issue by Future plc was released on 16 February 2006. The magazine then ran for 8 years and 8 months, concluding with its 114th issue, released on 14 October 2014.
The similarly titled Australian version was a follow-up of Nintendo Magazine System, not to be confused with the UK publication.

History

Mean Machines, a long-standing British games magazine, split into two separate magazines, focusing on the two then-major video games console companies: Sega and Nintendo. The Sega-based magazine retained the original title, Mean Machines Sega, while the Nintendo magazine was named Nintendo Magazine System.
The first issue of Nintendo Magazine System was released on 1 October 1992. Its name was later changed to Nintendo Magazine, Nintendo Official Magazine then Nintendo Official Magazine UK, before its publisher was changed from EMAP to Future plc. After this change, the magazine was renamed to its current name, Official Nintendo Magazine, and received a new set of staff. Its numbering was also reset. It reached its 50th issue on 20 November 2009 and its 100th issue in October 2013.
On 15 December 2008, the first issue of Official Nintendo Magazine for Australia & New Zealand, a monthly video game magazine based on Official Nintendo Magazine, was published by Future plc. It was the second officially endorsed Nintendo magazine released in Australia and New Zealand, succeeding the Australian Nintendo Magazine System, which ceased publishing in 2000. Issue 60 and the final issue for Official Nintendo Magazine for Australia & New Zealand was published in December 2013.
In early 2011, four guest bloggers were appointed: Colette Barr, Marti Bennett, Chris Rooke, and John Vekinis. These bloggers provided their perspective to Nintendo-related news and events.
In March 2011, the UK magazine underwent a change in the style and layout of the contents in the magazine, while adding new features. The first issue released in this format featured a "3D without glasses" cover for the launch of Nintendo 3DS.
A new version was introduced in November 2012, with the release of the Wii U.
The magazine came to a close with its 114th issue.

Closure

On 7 October 2014, Future confirmed that the magazine would come to a close with its 114th issue, which was released on 14 October 2014. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the website would be closed 11 November 2014. On 15 October 2014, former moderators of the ONM forums set up a replacement site for the forthcoming closure of the forums. One such community was Super ONM, now merged with similar ex-Future community GRcade, formerly of GamesRadar.
Nintendo will now be focusing on its Nintendo Direct, Live Treehouse and other methods to communicate with their fans.

Sections

Each month, the Official Nintendo Magazine included the following sections:
The Official Nintendo Magazine used a percentage scoring system. The final system used was:
The highest rated games ever were ' tied with ', which both possessed a 98% rating, given in the July 2011 issue and June 2010 issue respectively. Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and were all given ratings of 97%. The lowest rated games were the DSiWare games Discolight and Flashlight, which were given scores of 2% and 3% respectively.

Forums

The ONM UK forums were created in 2006. ONM AU/NZ does not have a forum.
In 2011, they were updated along with the magazine to make a cleaner, easier to use website.
The forums closed 11 November 2014. The Moderating team set up a forum to replace this, called Super Online Nintendo Messageboards.