I don't really look like this.

As you might take seen earlier this calendar week, our esteemed editor James Newton is leaving Nintendo Life to accept up a new task at Nintendo of Europe. Here he picks some of his favourite moments of the past four-and-a-half years at Nintendo Life.

Being Recognised

Allow'due south face it, this was ever going to be kickoff. I wouldn't say I ever did this to get famous but if that happened along the way, I'd phone call it a bonus. That'south one of the reasons I utilize my real name and my real photo here, another reason existence to remind you lot all I'm actually a human existence and not a prototype for Dreamcast 2 (yet).

A yr or two ago nosotros had the idea to habiliment Nintendo Life t-shirts at events. In an industry where at least 50% of the men look like me, they are very useful indeed.

That said, I've only actually been recognised twice, I think. The first time was at Eurogamer Expo in 2011; I'd been playing some 3DS games when someone stopped me and said "yous're James, right?" It doesn't sound much, but it was a real magic moment — in this business you spend so much of your time interacting via email, Twitter, Facebook, comments etc. it's surprisingly gratifying to meet someone face to confront. The chap in question told me he was a big fan of the site and reads it every twenty-four hour period. I didn't get his name only I hope he'due south reading this now and so he can hear me say "give thanks yous" again.

The second time I was recognised was about three weeks agone when Katy Ellis stopped me and introduced herself. Now she writes for us. I've obviously got a lot ameliorate at this networking thing.

Nintendo Life eShop Shelf

Nintendo Life in the eShop. Amazing scenes.

Hither's something I never saw coming.

In September 2011 we got a shelf in the 3DS eShop. For an independent site to get exposure like that in a console's digital store is something I'd never seen before, or since. Information technology felt to me then, and still does, like a real endorsement of what nosotros offer: a global partnership with Nintendo to offering a curated eShop shelf was just amazing.

I'd love to see information technology happen again.

Seeing Corbie at E3 2010

2010 was the first twelvemonth nosotros sent anyone to E3, and it was also the outset year we had a dedicated (if pocket-size) team at NLHQ in the Great britain to comprehend the news. I was writing something upwards when we spotted some comments and tweets from users saying they'd seen Corbie; nosotros switched over to the video and there he was.

It wasn't only seeing the bandana and knowing my friend was being seen all around the world, it was that his was the showtime reaction to 3DS ever broadcast. Since then Nintendo'south done loads of adverts showing user reactions, but Corbie's was the kickoff. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

Ask James

This started as a empty-headed forum joke merely turned into something I genuinely look forward to every calendar week. I've answered questions ranging from my what my editorial principles are to whether or not I've considered growing a bristles (I have and it looks atrocious.)

One of the things I've always tried to do here is break down barriers betwixt staff and readers. I similar to call back we're accessible and downwardly-to-Earth here, happy to leap into the forums or comments when we can. Being part of Nintendo Life means embracing the community, and I hope you've enjoyed Ask James like I've enjoyed putting information technology together.

A lot of y'all have asked what will happen to Ask James after I leave. I very much doubt Nintendo would be happy with an employee running an all-questions-answered video serial in a Nintendo fan forum, so this week will be the final episode. Nosotros had a good run; 12 episodes is longer than some TV serial last. I consider that a victory.

E3 2012

This twelvemonth'southward E3 was a nail, it really was. For the first time we had a existent team assembled at NLHQ — the whole U.k. editorial team came down to encompass it as one. We did incredible amounts of traffic and had great new features — the live text and comments were fantastic additions — but really it was the atmosphere and sense of team spirit I'll recollect.

There wasn't much of that at 2am though when I decided to stay upwards and cover the 3DS software showcase. The program was to go dorsum to my hotel and sleep earlier the big show, but heavy rain meant I stayed in our offices from ix:30pm until the result finished sometime later 3am (in fact, here's a photo of me arriving dorsum at my hotel!)

And what time do you call this?

But even though I was tired and they didn't fifty-fifty mention Brute Crossing I still really enjoyed myself. We had over 850 comments on that live stream about everything from the lack of 'new' games to what yous had for dinner, and information technology felt like we were friends sat around having a chat. I'll miss that about this place.

Going to SEGA

Yous probably know my story: lifelong Sonic fan, frequent writer of letters to tell SEGA how amazing they are, purchaser of annihilation bluish and white. When I got the invitation to try out Virtua Tennis 2009 at SEGA Europe I was very excited; when I got there and saw the massive Sonic billboard on height of the edifice I was even more excited. Continuing inside SEGA was like going to Graceland only with less worship of a one time-great hero who spectacularly fell from grace (this is my story, not yours.)

It was my showtime ever printing outcome and I met people I withal keep in bear on with to this day — in fact, that's where I first met Mike Mason — and I also touched a giant Sonic statue, then pretty much the best 24-hour interval ever.

I was pleased

Other Events

I've been to quite a lot of events over the years. Here'southward the best of the rest.

3DS date and toll announcement, Amsterdam, 19th January 2010

What started out equally bully fun — hey, they had crepes — apace went due south when it turned cold and I realised I was basically in a warehouse in a big wet field. Not all glamour, this business, although I did get champagne and stroopwafels so that was OK.

Hirsuite Legends easily-on, Poland, April 2010

I don't remember much of this one. I got quite drunk simply I call back women on stilts, getting a taxi from Poland to Berlin and being woken upward by border constabulary shining torches in my eyes. All that for a WiiWare game. A strange twenty-four hours.

U.k.'south Best Nintendo Gamer, Oct 2009

Travel was a nightmare — I missed the first hour of the consequence when my train broke downwards and I had to run up about 146 steps — but I made it in time to see Josh Stevens crowned the best Nintendo gamer in the United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland. I also got to meet and interview Charles Martinet, ate chips with Rising Star Games and went home with a blackness Wii console before it was even out.

Nintendo Media Summit, O2 Arena, London, February 2010

It'southward weird how years later on events you notwithstanding call up some things actually clearly. I call up racing Darren Calvert to clear the Super Mario Galaxy two demo and trying Monster Hunter iii (~Tri) for the first fourth dimension, but more than anything I remember the incredible nutrient. I don't know what it was merely it was meaty and it was delicious. Nintendo hasn't done a big UK media superlative like this since, so it was probably expensive too. Probably the real reason I'm leaving the UK.

Experience 3DS, Millbank Tower, London, July 2010

After seeing Corbie play 3DS I was really excited to get my turn and spent about two hours playing the same two-infinitesimal demos over and over again. Seeing 3DS in action for the get-go time was a existent moment for me. Very special.

I put this on my CV immediately

Mario Kart vii launch event, London, 30th Nov 2011

I won a silvery medal at this event, losing to the brilliantly named Nate Fury in the final when I heedlessly veered into my own banana on the final corner of Luigi Circuit. Maybe I was distracted by the sight of Alexandra Burke. Either way, you might take seen me receiving my silver medal in 3D in Nintendo Telly episode one, out at present in the 3DS eShop.

These were the nearly enjoyable events, simply I've had other unforgettable moments too. Ubisoft took me to Paris in June 2009 to play Red Steel 2 before it was revealed; in November 2011 I fenced with Anthony under the centre of Olympic athlete Claire Bennett — who seemed to remember I had potential — and before that I won a red 3DS console and played Super Mario 3D State. It sounds like I've won a lot more than I actually have.

Good day

As I write this I'm aware information technology could be the terminal article I e'er write for Nintendo Life. I thought you might savor some statistics of my fourth dimension hither at Nintendo Life (up to but not including this article):

Joined: 8th Jan 2008.
First contribution: Endless Sea review, 12th January 2008.
Total news manufactures: iii,220.
Full reviews: 147.
Total comments: 3,239.
Total forum posts: 2,301.
Total words: 924,385.
My articles have had a combined viii,860,294 views and 127,469 comments.

I've genuinely had the time of my life writing here. Events are great fun just they're only every few months: it's the day-to-solar day interaction with staff and readers that gave me the most pleasure over the longest time. In the community I've had as well many great moments to mention, simply know that if we've ever interacted in the forum, comments or conversation, I probably had fun.

And so here nosotros are. My terminal contribution to this wonderful adventure. I can't say thank you enough to everyone who's been a part of information technology: the directors, editors, writers, moderators, readers, publishers, PRs and anyone who's ever said something overnice about what nosotros practice here. If y'all read this far, cheers. You're my favourite.

If you want to keep in bear on, please follow me on Twitter.

Thanks for your back up over the years. See yous around.

James