Author Profile
Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since.
After writing exclusively about TV and film after university, I decided to switch things up and combine my love of entertainment writing with my passion for video games (which had been eating up all my spare time in the background). I'm a sucker for a good story and a fantasy open-world, but I'm increasingly swayed by most things with a turn-based tactics hook.
Experience
Jim joined Nintendo Life as a Staff Writer in 2022. He spends most of his time developing the site's news and feature content.
Features feel like a way for me to talk directly to our readers, be that sharing my nerdy passions with them, or expressing my viewpoint on a hot topic. With a conversational tone and increased length, they give me space to express my interests in the same way I might with a friend over coffee.
It's also a neat way to get those Zelda timeline theories out in the open. Nobody should keep those bubbling away in their head…
Timeline
- 2022: Joins Nintendo Life as a Staff Writer
Qualifications & Awards
- BA English Literature, University of Exeter (2020)
- MA English Literature - Film Studies Pathway, University of Exeter (2021)
Expertise
Jim’s first console was the Nintendo 64, and he distinctly remembers losing his mind over the Gohma reveal in Ocarina of Time!
Since then he’s owned most of the major consoles released by Sony and Nintendo (with the odd Xbox thrown in), as well as every official handheld on the market.
As for his favourite console of all-time? The Switch might be knocking at the door, but ultimately he chose the classic Nintendo DS.
Home to some of his favourite franchises, it’s also backwards compatible and perfectly encapsulates everything he loves about Nintendo’s innovation - such as pioneering touchscreen gaming before it was cool. He also loves the DS’ form factor, which he still finds perfect for playing on public transport today!
When I think about my favourite games of all time, they rarely fit into one neat genre. I love the sense of exploration in an open-world RPG, the planning and critical thinking of tactics games, and the speed and challenge of a platformer or metroidvania. Anything set in a fantasy land…you can probably count me in.
Jim’s Favourite Games
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA)
- Professor Layton and the Lost Future (DS)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)
From the Archive
We asked Jim to pick out his three favourite pieces of work from across his personal archive, and tell us why he picked them!
Hands On: Pikmin 4 Promises Heaps Of Gorgeous Exploration For Fans And Newbies Alike
Pikmin 4 was my first big preview for Nintendo Life and I was blown away by my time with it, making this hands-on coverage a pleasure to write.
Back Page: 'DO NOT MENTION SWITCH 2' - We Infiltrate Nintendo And Sneak A Peek At Its 2024 Calendar
This might be the most fun I've ever had writing a feature. It's silly and full to the brim with bad puns, but I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.
Feature: Keza MacDonald On Meeting Miyamoto, 'Switch 2', And Her Upcoming Nintendo Book
I got the chance to speak to games journalist and author extraordinaire Keza MacDonald after her appearance at LDC 2024. The following feature was full of fun anecdotes and insights into the industry, hitting the conversational tone that I love to capture in interviews.
