Two rather large bits of news dropped on January 7th. The first is that UGO has bought 1up.com and its associated sites (GameVideos.com, MyCheats.com, and GameTab.com). Though some of the staff has been let go as a result of the buyout, the site will remain and supposedly get a boost from the services and financing this deal will provide.
The other side of this coin is that Electronic Gaming Monthly — one of the longest running and most respected magazines in gaming — has officially printed and shipped its last issue, the one for January 2009. News of the closure came rather suddenly, but wasn't completely unforeseen. Many longtime members of the EGM and 1up staff have left the Ziff Davis Media circle over the last several months, including writers/editors Crispin Boyer and Karen Chu, as well as former EGM EIC Dan Hsu. I actually saw Karen Chu at the Penny Arcade Expo and asked her point blank how things were going at the site/magazine prior to her departure, and while she tried to be reassuring that things were fine, it wasn't terribly convincing.
I went to 1up to see if they'd confirmed what I'd read elsewhere, and not only was there no mention of EGM closing its doors, they actually had an advertisement on the front page of 1up encouraging subscriptions to the magazine. What? Had I been misled? Unfortunately not, as openly confirmed on many of the editors' blogs, particularly current EIC James Mielke's write-up on the magazine's poignant demise.
So what's left? The 1up site will continue, and some leftover unpublished content from what would have been the February issue of EGM will end up on the site shortly, but losing this publication really is the end of an era. When other magazines were basically caving in to publishers on reviews and preview coverage simply to get more promo, and quietly inked deals to benefit both parties (despite its relative dishonesty to the consumer), EGM took a firm posture, giving the coverage and scores in a "call it like we see it" manner, praising the games that deserved it and scolding the repetitive, unpolished garbage that kept finding its way to store shelves. This stance became as unpopular with game publishers as it was popular with readers and others in gaming journalism.
Article comments
1 - Tan The Man
I'm surprised that not even the EGM brand is surviving...
2 - Mark Buckingham
Who knows, maybe it'll be resurrected in a couple years, not unlike SNK died and was reborn.
3 - Ken Edwards
One of my favorite mag subscriptions. It is really sad when EGM can't publish any more. Ziff did not have the man power once they sold 1up.com though. And I do not blame UGO for not jumping at the chance to take over a print mag, even a successful? one.
4 - Mark
I'm curious what they plan to do with outstanding subscriptions. When NextGen went under, I think they switched me to PSM. I doubt we'll see refunds, but who knows.
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6 - Windows 7 Information Portal
Oh man, I already Subscribe this for 2 years no wonder I haven't recived any more magazine after January. No more cheap game magazine with good quality :(
7 - Mark
I emailed their subscription customer service department a couple weeks ago and they said subscribers should be getting info in the mail soon regarding how the situation will be resolved for people who paid ahead and won't obviously be receiving issues of EGM. I haven't seen or heard anything further yet though.