Posters, Postage, Paper Supply & More, 2024

Our annual update on the state of physical magazine publishing has arrived, and with it our once-a-year look back at our last 12 months' worth of wall posters.

We're coming off of a particularly popular one, as a lot of fans across social media have praised our selection of classic Chrono Trigger promo art that was included alongside our Tribute to Toriyama issue. Even though Marle lighting up Crono's blade with fire didn't end up being in-game accurate in the final version of that 1995 JRPG masterpiece, that piece of art has always been iconic nonetheless. Chrono Trigger is the pinnacle of classic Toriyama to me! And having Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on the reverse side felt fitting to me too, as it ended up being the final Nintendo release he worked on, and having an image that gathered so many of his different monster designs together demonstrated the visual variety he was capable of as best as possible in one wall poster side.

Our thanks go out to third-party studios for supplying art assets to become posters throughout the past year, from Another Crab's Treasure to Contra: Operation Galuga and beyond. Even when the games themselves end up having some problems (like the Switch version of Contra struggling with a few technical issues), wall posters emblazoned with their bold key art still really hit, capturing the hype and excitement of the months leading up to each new release.

We've continued to pursue doing at least one extra bonus item per year in addition to the wall posters, and this time it was a randomly selected Art Print Postcard from The Impact of Iwata. Kickstarter backers/NintendoForceMagazine.com website customers had the option to get the full set of 16 illustrations commissioned for the chapter intro positions in NF's first-ever book, but I wanted to share at least a little of that love with all of you who subscribe to NF's print magazine issues. Hopefully you got an Iwata card that matched your vibe!

I'm planning to send at least one new art card out to NF print subscribers alongside another upcoming issue fairly soon – artist Greg Melo is currently working to illustrate 10 different classic NES game endings to create a new set of cards that will be offered alongside our Kickstarter for the new NES Endings Compendium, Volume 2 by Rey Esteban! A few of those pieces of art are done already, and they're looking great. I can't wait for you all to see more, soon!

Keep an eye on your email inboxes, as I'll be sending out another set of download links for a three-year set of NF digital back issues as another thanks for your ongoing support of our Patreon page. Paper supplies to be able to manufacture our print issues have slightly decreased in price in recent months, but postage rates have increased again as of just a few weeks ago, so NF once again would not be able to continue to exist in print form without all of your help. Thanks for helping us keep Nintendo Power's torch burning, all these years later!

Speaking of Nintendo Power, if you happen to be going to the Long Island Retro Gaming Expo next week, be sure to stop by the Nintendo Power panel on Sunday, August 11! I was invited to be a part of it! I'll be appearing alongside Gail Tilden, the legendary Editor-in-Chief of Nintendo Power, as well as Jeremy Parish of Retronauts fame. It was a great honor to be asked! NF and NP will be represented together at a major event for the first time ever. Woohoo!

~ Lucas M. Thomas