EGM and 1up closing doors?

SavedFromSin · 01-06-2009, 07:08 PM

According to IGN, a possibility:

Quote:

January 6, 2009 - The end of an era might be dawning for a stalwart of the videogame industry -- Electronic Gaming Monthly might be closing for good.

Today, paidContent.org, website devoted to the business of digital content, ran a story titled "Ziff Davis sells 1UP digital network to Hearst, shutters EGM." In the article, which has since been removed, paidContent states that publisher Ziff Davis Media is closing EGM with this month's issue being the 20-year-old publication's last and selling the 1UP Digital Network to the Hearst Corporation. Under Hearst, 1UP would fall under the UGO Entertainment umbrella. Ziff Davis Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2008.

A spokesperson at 1UP refused to comment this afternoon and directed questions to Jason Young, Ziff Davis CEO. A message left for Young, an e-mail to paidContent Managing Editor Ernie Sanders, and a message for paidContent Publisher and Editor Rafat Ali were not immediately returned this afternoon. Meanwhile, a UGO spokesperson did not return a phone call.

Today, former 1UP Editorial Director and EGM Editor-in-Chief John Davison wrote an article about the paidContent brouhaha on What They Play, a gaming site he co-founded. Davidson also couldn't get a straight answer as to what is going on in EGM/1UP land, but in an update he stated "Sources have indicated that details will be forthcoming as to the validity of the story by tomorrow morning."

UPDATE: 1UP has posted a story confirming the site's sale -- along with GameVideos.com, MyCheats.com, and GameTab.com -- to UGO, but it doesn't mention anything about EGM.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/942/942015p1.html

The magazine was worthless after they changed the reviewing format. It has been dead to me for years.

murray · 01-06-2009, 07:12 PM

Shame, the 1-up show is the best gaming related show around.

Diavle · 01-06-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by murray

Shame, the 1-up show is the best gaming related show around.

Definitely, its the only one I watch.

That's it though, never cared for the mag or site otherwise.

Seraph · 01-06-2009, 08:06 PM

I wont miss them. It's a magazine/site that covered/hyped mostly western games, games that I have very little interest in. Then to take things further every issue I got seemed to slam japanese games somewhere in the magazine, going on and on about how Japan has "lost its edge" and how Western games were the holy grail. I got it free for a year and it wasn't even worth reading as Can Material.

Plus I didn't like their reviews (the actual write ups, not just the scores), such as their Trauma Center New Blood review. I think they have a great idea of having 2-3 people give their thoughts on each game, but most of the reviews read like groupthink so it kinda defeats the whole purpose of multiple viewpoints.

Crap like this:

Rubeus · 01-06-2009, 08:09 PM

Is Gamespot also part of 1up/EGM network?

Sinful Sam · 01-06-2009, 08:13 PM

Can't say that I'll miss them if they go.

Drunken Savior · 01-06-2009, 08:14 PM

They still make magazines? LOL, print media...

Einhander · 01-06-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seraph

I wont miss them. It's a magazine/site that covered/hyped mostly western games, games that I have very little interest in. Then to take things further every issue I got seemed to slam japanese games somewhere in the magazine, going on and on about how Japan has "lost its edge" and how Western games were the holy grail.

They were actually surprisingly positive in their Persona 4 coverage.

Joe Redifer · 01-06-2009, 08:20 PM

Seraph, what is that picture? EGM was not giving letter reviews in 2006. That is not a review, that is an editorial. Waaaaay out of context.

Seraph · 01-06-2009, 08:44 PM

In my defense, I found it on the internet.

But isn't Hsu the cheif editor for 1up/EGM? It seems strange they would rate a game their perfect best possible score when he has so many bad things to say about it.

I still don't think their reviews are very good. The Trauma Center one that sticks out to me can be summed up with "omg one of the missions was too hard for me". If you own an Xbox and love western games it is probably a more enjoyable read.

Einhander · 01-06-2009, 08:48 PM

He hasn't been for the last.....6 months to a year.

I'm not sure exactly when he resigned.

Joe Redifer · 01-06-2009, 08:49 PM

He was the main guy at EGM for a while, yes. He didn't resign, but moved up I think. But again, they didn't start using letter grades until early 2008, I believe.

Alucard · 01-06-2009, 09:06 PM

Good riddence to both of them. Some of their reviews made me rage. Now just need IGN to follow.

Einhander · 01-06-2009, 11:29 PM

Their podcasts were good though.

And to see that many people out of work just after Xmas (or at any time) is shitty.

Alucard · 01-07-2009, 01:23 AM

The fact these people got paid for the rubbish they did while I sat languishing for so long in unemployment land doesnt make me feel that sad. They'll go on to other places without a problem. Probably open their own place.

01-06-2009, 08:13 PM	#6
Sinful Sam gnarf! gnarf! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Five min away from SavedFromSin Posts: 8,476	Can't say that I'll miss them if they go. __________________ Join The-Magicbox Facebook group page! STEAM: Sinfulsam PSN: Sinfulsam Live Gamertag: Sinful Sam 3DS Code: 1461-6914-4192 (PM me your code if you add me)

01-06-2009, 08:14 PM	#7
Drunken Savior Mahjikbahks is dying. Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 17,593	They still make magazines? LOL, print media... __________________ Steam ID: drunkensavior Windows Live: Jefferson1776 Games I'm hyped for Transistor, DayZ (Standalone), The Last of Us

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01-06-2009, 07:12 PM	#2
murray <insert witty motto> Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: UK Posts: 4,426	Shame, the 1-up show is the best gaming related show around.

01-06-2009, 08:06 PM	#4
Seraph >:3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Troy, MI Posts: 11,002	I wont miss them. It's a magazine/site that covered/hyped mostly western games, games that I have very little interest in. Then to take things further every issue I got seemed to slam japanese games somewhere in the magazine, going on and on about how Japan has "lost its edge" and how Western games were the holy grail. I got it free for a year and it wasn't even worth reading as Can Material. Plus I didn't like their reviews (the actual write ups, not just the scores), such as their Trauma Center New Blood review. I think they have a great idea of having 2-3 people give their thoughts on each game, but most of the reviews read like groupthink so it kinda defeats the whole purpose of multiple viewpoints. Crap like this:

01-06-2009, 08:09 PM	#5
Rubeus Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 3,565	Is Gamespot also part of 1up/EGM network?

01-06-2009, 08:20 PM	#9
Joe Redifer Olé! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 19,070	Seraph, what is that picture? EGM was not giving letter reviews in 2006. That is not a review, that is an editorial. Waaaaay out of context.

01-06-2009, 08:44 PM	#10
Seraph >:3 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Troy, MI Posts: 11,002	In my defense, I found it on the internet. But isn't Hsu the cheif editor for 1up/EGM? It seems strange they would rate a game their perfect best possible score when he has so many bad things to say about it. I still don't think their reviews are very good. The Trauma Center one that sticks out to me can be summed up with "omg one of the missions was too hard for me". If you own an Xbox and love western games it is probably a more enjoyable read.

01-06-2009, 08:48 PM	#11
Einhander The Risen Graphic Whore E-Penis! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Mysterious Far East Posts: 6,312	He hasn't been for the last.....6 months to a year. I'm not sure exactly when he resigned.

01-06-2009, 08:49 PM	#12
Joe Redifer Olé! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 19,070	He was the main guy at EGM for a while, yes. He didn't resign, but moved up I think. But again, they didn't start using letter grades until early 2008, I believe.

01-06-2009, 09:06 PM	#13
Alucard Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 32,641	Good riddence to both of them. Some of their reviews made me rage. Now just need IGN to follow.

01-06-2009, 11:29 PM	#14
Einhander The Risen Graphic Whore E-Penis! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Mysterious Far East Posts: 6,312	Their podcasts were good though. And to see that many people out of work just after Xmas (or at any time) is shitty.

01-07-2009, 01:23 AM	#15
Alucard Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 32,641	The fact these people got paid for the rubbish they did while I sat languishing for so long in unemployment land doesnt make me feel that sad. They'll go on to other places without a problem. Probably open their own place.