Pure Nintendo Magazine

Pure Nintendo Magazine (PNM) is a bi-monthly, independently published magazine that features Nintendo-related content and news. The print's first issue of PNM was published in October 2011 by Pure Media, LLC. The magazine joined Metacritic in 2019 with its consistent stream of first-party and third-party video game reviews. Currently, issues of the magazine are released digitally (though physical copies can be purchased), and it is complemented by the company's online website, PureNintendo.com.
Overview.
PNM was created with the intent to complement the online news coverage found on PureNintendo.com. PNM focuses on content such as developer interviews, game previews, concept and fan artwork, game tips, interactive puzzles, and gaming history. This content is supplemented with news, reviews, and other game information. Each issue has regularly featured content as well as additional features written by either Pure Nintendo staff members or contributors. The interactive apps, for the digital version of PNM, add links to external website posts, videos, and a touch interface for the pixel puzzles.
History.
Founder Justin Sharp created the website, Niwifi.net, in 2007 for users to exchange friend codes (a 12-digit code that allowed users of Nintendo's online service to find and connect with each other). Soon after its founding, Justin Sharp teamed up with Pure Nintendo Magazine co-founder James Higginbotham, and the website eventually turned its focus towards Nintendo-related news.
PNM, as it is known now, was founded by Justin Sharp and James Higginbotham and first published October 2011. The magazine was initially conceptualized as a monthly publication until December 2011. PNM switched to a bi-monthly publication schedule beginning with the February 2012 issue. The first 5 issues of PNM were offered in a digital-only format. The sixth issue of PNM was the first print issue and was published August 2012 for the months of August and September 2012. Early issues of PNM were small and only 26 pages by Issue #5. Issue #6 of PNM more than doubled in size and was 62 pages long.
On September 11, 2012, Pure Nintendo launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the magazine and start a subscription service. The Kickstarter funding goal was set at $20,000 and Pure Nintendo reached said goal on October 12, 2012 after raising $22,386 in funds. The subscription service for the magazine began with the seventh issue for October and November 2012.
On January 24, 2013, Pure Media LLC.—with the help and work of Ben Stitzer—released an app on Google Play to facilitate an interactive digital version of PNM on Android devices, which is the first of its kind. On February 8, 2013, Pure Media, LLC., with the help and work of Ben Stitzer, released an iOS app on the Apple AppStore to enable the interactive digital version to function on iOS devices.
PNM was included in the May 2013 Loot Crate, a subscription box service, which featured the theme "Equip."
Name Change to 'PNM'.
Starting with Issue 10 (April/May 2013) of Pure Nintendo Magazine, the design of the magazine was updated and the name was shortened to "PNM," which stands for "Pure Nintendo Magazine", instead of "Pure Nintendo". This was partly inspired by the change in design but was also influenced by Nintendo.
Shift To Digital Only Format.
As of June 2014 Pure Nintendo officially announced that they have discontinued print subscriptions. Pure Nintendo states that the magazine may bring back print subscriptions in the future but at this point in time they are focusing their time and attention on their digital offerings. PNM is still available in digital format. Current subscribers will still receive print subscription service through the end of their subscriptions. Individual print issues are still available for purchase even though print subscriptions are no longer available.
Today.
Beginning with Issue 15 for February/March 2014, PNM the interactive magazine app was made available on iOS and Android mobile phones. This recently added phone compatibility combined with the previous tablet support allows for PNM availability across a full range of iOS and Android mobile devices.
Logo.
After establishing their new website in 2008 and creating the name, Pure Nintendo, it was time to find a logo to represent the company. After looking at several different characters and items from Nintendo's past Pure Nintendo settled on the P-Wing logo for PureNintendo.com and ultimately PNM. When launching PureNintendo.com, the company was looking for something that clearly represented Nintendo as well as the newly established site. That is the history behind the P-Wing logo that represents Pure Nintendo today. Below is a short timeline of the evolution of the Pure Nintendo logo over the years.
Current Features.
Fan Art Gallery.
The Fan Art Gallery is devoted to user submitted Nintendo fan art. Fan art pieces featured in the Fan Art Gallery include paintings, pencil drawings, digital art, crafts, baked goods, and Miiverse art. Fan art is 'curated' by Kaelyn Daugherty and initially appeared in sporadic issues of PNM but has featured regularly since the October/November 2013 Issue #13 of PNM.
The Question Block.
The Question Block is a section of PNM that focuses on the magazine's readers. In The Question Block PNM features correspondence sent in by the readers with replies from the staff. This section of PNM was first published in June/July 2014 Issue 17.
Character Profile.
The Character Profile features the history of Nintendo characters. Character Profiles serve to educate gamers on the history of some of the most popular characters from Nintendo franchises. Character Profiles feature main characters as well as bosses, enemies, and obscure, lesser known characters. The Character Profile has been a staple feature article in PNM since some of the very first issues of the magazine.
Team Notion Developer Diary.
The Team Notion Developer Diary is a section of PNM that chronicles the development of the indie game title Team Notion for Wii U, which is being developed by Notion Games. Andrew Augustin, founder of Notion Games, writes each developer diary for PNM and will release a diary in each issue of the magazine until the Team Notion is released. The developer diary will provides information about development of Team Notion and what life is like as an independent game developer. The first Team Notion Developer Diary was featured in the April/May 2014 Issue #16 of PNM.
Indie Spotlight.
The Indie Spotlight is a section of PNM that highlights an independent game developer. The short spotlight feature focuses on the developers background including when the studio was established, games developed in the past, games that are currently being developed, and platforms that the developer has developed/is developing said games for. The Indie Spotlight also usually includes a few 'Fun Facts' about the developer that someone may not have previously known about the game studio. The Indie Spotlight first appeared in June/July 2014 Issue 17.
Let's Talk.
Let's Talk features short opinion pieces from the Pure Nintendo staff members about a variety of topics. Each issue the Pure Nintendo staff members sound off about a particular subject matter. Topics discussed typically revolve around gaming hot topics but occasionally touch on Nintendo specific subjects. Beginning with the October/November 2013 issue of PNM, Pure Nintendo has invited a guest game developer to contribute their thoughts on the Let's Talk subject for each issue. The first PNM Let's Talk appeared in the April/May 2012 Issue #5 and then appeared for a second time in the August/September 2012 Issue #6, but did not become a regular PNM feature until the February/March 2013 Issue #9.
Reviews.
The Review section of PNM is a large collection of score based reviews on some of the most popular recent releases for Nintendo consoles, both home and handheld. PNM uses a 10-point scoring system for their reviews. Low scores begin at 1 and working up in tenths of a point all the way up to a perfect score of 10.
Pixel Puzzles.
Pixel Puzzles are featured in each issue of PNM. Three Pixel Puzzles are featured in each issue and are solved by filling in the appropriate amount of squares with the corresponding color. After the puzzles are complete, the reader is left with a depiction of a colored in sprite of a Nintendo related object or character.
Upcoming Releases.
The Upcoming Releases section is reserved for information about upcoming releases for Nintendo consoles, both home and handheld. Each game featured in the Upcoming Releases section is represented by available box art at the time of publication and release date information.
Top News.
The Top News section features Nintendo gaming news topics that are pulled directly from the Pure Nintendo website. Top News typically features news from the two months prior to the magazine's release. The Top News section also highlights two major or popular news articles, one rumor and one general news, from the two months prior.
Intermittent.
Gear Review.
The Gear Review section of PNM is a score based review of a product that gamers might find interesting, helpful, or fun to use. Products in the PNM Gear Review may not necessarily be Nintendo related. PNM uses a 10-point scoring system for their reviews. Low scores begin at 1 and working up in tenths of a point all the way up to a perfect score of 10.
Retro Review.
The Retro Review feature focuses on a game from Nintendo's large catalog of past titles. The Retro Review feature is not a score based review but rather a retrospective of the game being featured.
Recipe.
The Recipe features are a how-to guide to creating gaming inspired treats. These recipes first appeared in the February/March Issue 15. Recent issues have featured rice crispy treat 'bombs' from The Legend of Zelda, Professor Layton Hint Coin cookies, Kingdom Hearts Sea Salt Ice Cream, and a cake from .
Culture Corner.
Culture Corner is a series of articles written by a YouTube gamer, Gaijin Goomba, who was featured in the YouTube Gamer article in PNM Issue 15 for February/March 2014. Culture Corner focuses on the cultural influences on gaming, game franchises, and even particular aspects of specific games. Culture Corner first appeared in the 17th issue of PNM for June/July 2014.
Animal Crossing Corner.
As of April 2020 and the release of for the Nintendo Switch, PNM revived the recurring spread to discuss tips, tricks and monthly gets from the newest addition of the Animal Crossing franchise. 
Previously, this was known as "Getting To Know Animal Crossing" feature, which provided helpful tips and information about the game for the 3DS. This section of PNM first appeared in the magazine beginning with the August/September 2013 Issue #12. The last Getting to Know Animal Crossing feature appeared in the April/May 2014 Issue #16.
Retired.
Game Music.
The Game Music feature delves into the music found in Nintendo games. Game Music provides information on the people behind the music in Nintendo games and sometimes features interviews with the composers and creators of game music compositions. The Game Music feature first appeared in the August/September 2013 Issue #12 of PNM. The Game Music articles last appeared in June/July 2014 Issue 17.
YouTube Gamers.
The YouTube Gamers features a gamer's channel from the popular video hosting service YouTube. PNM interviews a YouTube Gamer to provide in depth information about the gamer's YouTube channel, background information about the channel, and other background information that readers may not have known about the gamer(s). The YouTube Gamers feature first appeared in the October/November 2013 Issue #13 of PNM. The last issue to feature YouTube Gamers was June/July 2014 Issue 17.
Linking You To The Past.
The Linking You To The Past (LYTTP) feature focuses on topics from Nintendo's past. LYTTP contains information about Nintendo's company history, past products, side ventures, and events. Linking You To The Past has appeared in PNM since early in the magazine's history and first appeared in the December 2012/January 2013 Issue #8 of PNM. The last LYTTP feature was published in October/November 2014 Issue #19.