Looking Back on the Game Boy Color

A Nintendo fan roots for the power of simplicity to keep Nintendo special.

The Game Boy Color was an exceptional mid-generation upgrade.

While the majority of the gaming market is looking forward to things like Nintendo’s move into mobile and their upcoming NX console, I wanted to take a minute to look back.  As I turn 30, I see the world around me continue to change in dramatic ways.  Tech devices, while making life much simpler, tend to get more and more complicated.  The days of single purpose electronics are long gone.  Even with the relative success of the 3DS, with it’s online game shop and camera functionality, it should come as no surprise that Nintendo’s most successful device today is still the DS.  

Making a Case for New Nintendo IP

Nintendo Love Affair contributor Matt Hauenstein discusses Nintendo's history with new IP, and how it is beginning to handle introducing new franchises into the Nintendo universe.

The main man Reggie

Gamesbymo and A.N.N.E

We get to chat with Mo, the mind behind A.N.N.E, the vehicle based Metroidvania game coming soon to the Nintendo Wii U eShop.

The gamesbymo logo

Shortly after overcoming the flu, Mo from Gamesbymo was willing to sit down with Nintendo Love Affair, across the internet, to answer some questions about their upcoming Wii U eShop title,  A.N.N.E.  Mo originally had ambitions to become a translator, studying Japanese and French but video games  was his real passion.  As luck would have it, a college friend introduced Mo to a 3D software and school in Toronto, Canada and the rest was history.  After taking out some loans and an 8 hour drive Mo was able to pursue his dream.  

Gunman Clive 2 for Nintendo 3DS eShop - Review

The crazy fusion of the wild west, dinosaurs, and robots is just not enough to make this game fun.

Gunman Clive 2 title screen

Introduction

Gunman Clive 2 is the sequel to the very successful indie iOS(2012) and 3DS(2013) release Gunman Clive. The sequel was directed by Bertil Hörberg and developed by Hörber Productions in Sweden. It was released on 3DS in January of 2015. Since the former sold much better on the 3DS the sequel was promoted heavily on Nintendo eShop.

Meet Wraith Games

Hamilton, Ohio based Wraith Games is the company behind the upcoming Physix, Collapsus, and Jet Pack Hero soon to be released on the Nintendo Wii U eShop.

Jay Kidd, the founder of Wraith Games in Hamilton, Ohio, started getting into game development in high school.  He knew that he wanted to make games ever since he was 9 years old and first played the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  Since he didn’t really understand what it meant to “make games”, Jay jumped into all of the aspects of game development.  He started studying programming, art, design, and even the business side of things.  Without proper guidance, he tried to do it all at once!  We sit down with Jay (across the internet) to find out more about his journey into the world of game development.   

Cally's Caves 3 for iOS Review

Platforming, adventure, weapons, collectibles, Cally's Caves 3 has it all!

Cally's Caves 3 Start Screen

Cally's parents have been abducted, as her arch-enemy Herbert has taken control of the Caves to perform his evil experiments. Join Cally and her friends in this action-packed run and gun platformer, conquering insane bosses, exploring to find secrets, and levelling up EVERYTHING. Source

Meet Smiling Cat Entertainment

Smiling Cat Entertainment is a family friendly gaming company out of central Ohio.  

Smiling Cat Entertainment

Duke Paulus, the founder of Smiling Cat Entertainment out of central Ohio, has been gaming since the Atari 2600.  His parents helped nurture this love for gaming by helping Duke to build an amazing library of games.  This love for playing transformed into a love for programming.  By age 6, he discovered computer programming could result in actually making your own games and that was it.  He dedicated his youth to learning everything he could.  By the time Duke graduated from high school, he was fluent in BASIC, Pascal, C, and the x86 assembly.  Nintendo Love Affair had the opportunity to sit down with Duke and find out more about what he does, and the games that Smiling Cat Entertainment develops.

Make Amiibo Great Again

I love my amiibos.  Many people leave them in the box, they are collectables after all.  Not me.  I can’t.  They look too awesome and are too well made.  My son and I play with them even with the Wii U turned off.  Sure, they may get dirty or scratched but that’s ok.  I’ve even had to glue Donkey Kong’s foot back to the base at one point, finally making perfect use out of that Gorilla Glue.  Every day the value of my small amiibo collection goes down, but you can’t put a price on fun.

Smash Bros. Bowser

Pearler Bead Pixel Art by Carl Williams

Whether you are lucky enough to have lived through the golden age of gaming, or are part of a new generation of pixel art fans, perler bead creations will certainly make any game room pop!

NLA: When were you introduced to pearler bead art? 

Carl: I was introduced to Perler bead art when I went to a local video game convention here in Arkansas. It was in 2014 at the River City Comic Expo, I think that is the name of it. There was a bead artist there who was selling art work. He had some great stuff - nothing Mario related though. He had stuff like a 3D Tardis and a bunch of flat pieces that were magnets and the like. I was interested in the stuff from that point. His prices at the show were fine, he just didn't have anything I was interested in.

Variety of mushrooms

All Hail, The Deer God

We preview The Deer God, an upcoming platformer on the Wii U eShop by Mobot Studios and Crescent Moon Games.

Title screen for The Deer God

No, sorry for the mislead, this is not a historical article about a Celtic deity who can shapeshift into the form of a deer. This is actually a preview of the upcoming Wii U eShop title forebodingly named The Deer God. The Deer God is currently being co-developed by Mobot Studios and Crescent Moon Games. 

Meet the Voice of Star Ghost

Nintendo Love Affair was able to catch up with Michelle Sundholm, the voice behind Star Ghost. She gives us the inside scoop on what it was like to work for Squarehead Studios.

Michelle Sundholm 

Michelle Sundholm, a singer/songwriter from Portland, Oregon, has been singing professionally for the past twenty years.  Her career has brought her many unique experiences including becoming the voice of Maggie in the recently released Wii U eShop title Star Ghost.  

Amazing Metroid Artwork

After wrestling with the idea that Metroid should become an RPG, Nintendo Love Affair scoured the internet to bring you some of the coolest Metroid artwork we could find.  We love to celebrate all of the amazing things that Nintendo inspires.  Be sure to give the artists some love and click over to their page.

Metroid by ImmarArt

Pit Fighter on Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Retro Review

This month in history, Pit Fighter released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.

Pit Fighter's Punchtacular Box Art

In March, 1991 Atari Games' Pit Fighter was ported onto the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  While reviews of the game were mixed at the time, there is no doubting it today that this game is the pits.  Although some forgiveness may be doled out for being a system launch year title, this game simply does not stand the test of time.

Making the Case for a Metroid RPG

It's time for Metroid to transcend, leave action platforming behind and embrace the action RPG genre.

With Nintendo giving Samus Aran the cold shoulder, Matt Hauenstein of Nintendo Love Affair tells us why the dark, suspenseful Metroid series is screaming to be made into an RPG. The pieces are all there and the time is right Nintendo.

Sweet Metroid artwork by Rob Duenas

Cartridge Gaming Brings Retro Home

Just when you thought the good old days were gone, Cartridge Gaming brings them back

The store's Castlevania inspired logo depicts an obvious love for the classics.

It was January, 2015 when Will Long decided to make a big decision.  Up until that point he held his business at the local flea market.  Diligently manning his table, Will bought and sold novelty and antique toys.  Business wasn’t too bad but he knew it could be more.  After he began to dabble in used games he realized there was a lot of potential there for growth.

Will told Nintendo Love Affair, “I realized that there wasn’t anyone else doing it in Lima, so I jumped in.”