For someone as introverted as I am, the somewhat limited community experience of the Miiverse is perfect. I stayed away from Xbox Live, because the last thing I want to hear is some pre-pubescent twit call everyone “faggot” and make racial slurs.

Plus, I’m looking forward to searching an organic community for help if I get stuck on a game instead of looking up a YouTube video or going to GameFAQs. I really think what Nintendo is trying to do with Miiverse is get back to the classic days of gaming, when people didn’t have hint guides and playthroughs; they had each other.

Last week I picked up the final issue of Nintendo Power. Boy, was that a trip. Included with the last issue is a small poster featured every (almost?) cover of Nintendo Power over the last 14 years. I remember my first one: Volume 26 with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for NES on it.

Never played the game; never forgot the magazine.

Later, my mom would get me an Maniac Mansion issue from a K-B Toys (another relic of the past) that never threw out its old periodicals, but this was the first one that came in the mail. It seemed like months and months would pass between issues, instead of just four short weeks, as I eagerly awaited all the new game previews and–more than anything–the monthly Super Mario and Legend of Zelda comics. Man, I loved those, and probably read and re-read the Super Mario graphic novel compilation that came out until it fell apart. I wish I still had that thing…

I’m off track as usual. My point: the Miiverse is the coolest part of Nintendo Power finally brought into the Internet age–the community. Sure there’s still the occasional douche-tard drawing an ugly penis (why are all graffitti penises so ugly? Do the people who draw them also have deformed members?), but they get routed out fairly quickly. The majority of people in Miiverse seem to really want to be there. And that adds a lot of joy to the experience.