Yes, folks, the rumblings were true: 1UP has been sold by Ziff Davis to UGO Entertainment and its parent company, Hearst Corporation, including 1UP's associated Web sites GameVideos, MyCheats, and GameTab.
Sadly, the acquisition will undoubtedly result in many layoffs, which is something we never want to see in this or any industry. Further adding to the sad news, Electronic Gaming Monthly has made like Batman's parents and will no longer be in print as of the current January issue.
All jokes aside, EGM was one of the last great gaming magazines, and while it's not shocking to see the publication come to an end, it's still an unpleasant sight to witness.
As for the 1UP acquisition business, we're already getting word on some of the casualties, namely the 1UP Show. I have always been a supporter of the show and I can safely say that it will be greatly missed. Our hearts go out to all of those who are now out of a job.
[Via Gamasutra]
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Contest:
7:22 PM on 01.06.2009
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Although I loved EGM up to around the mid 100ish, they will be missed. At least I won't have to worry about looking at a EGM mag and wondering why it's so damn small anymore.
I'm definitely going to be C-Blogging on this tonight. I feel undeniably numb inside, because besides Dtoid, the two other sites I trusted to give me the facts and put a smile on my face were 1Up and Giant Bomb.
Where is everyone going, though? I can't imagine there are enough positions open for most of them.
:(
This almost certainly does not look as well for many people at 1UP either.
I guess I'll try to get the final issue. I have a ton from EGM's Long and sorted history
For those who don't know Shawn is currently working at 2K Boston and was a former 1up employee.
Was a reader since issue #7 (loved the Golgo 13 review) Although I do admit it went downhill for a long while after the whole 'purple shadows' debacle in the early 90's. Took awhile for me to get back into it but in the last few years it seemed to be going pretty well.
R.I.P. Sushi-X
I really hope UGO sort their crap out, because 1up.com is a popular website for gamers. Guess we'll have wait and see what they do with it.
What am I gonna do with no more mad Shane Bettenhausen rants in my ears? I hope things work out for all the 1up crew, and that they reunite under better skies and get back to us soon.
As for other mags to read, try Edge and/or Games TM. Both are U.K mags but worth the trouble, even for U.S gamers.
Oh well. I haven't read a gaming magazine in years. I only casually glance at a Game Informer every once in awhile because of all of their exclusive previews.
It's the only monthly publication I cared about.
The 1Up Network podcasts were some of my favorite and EGM was trully the last good video game magazine out there. I gladly payed for my subscription.
With the news of people who got fired, they really sucked the life out of it. While I hardly ever agreed with Shane, he's part of that spirit. I respected the dude regardless.
This news has really ruined my day. I can only wish for the best to all those who have lost their job.
Well, we always have GamePro and GameInformer, right? "sigh"
Oh, and not to be biased or anything, but UGO's website reeks of mediocrity.
My best wishes to all of the 1up staff.
Sure, Game Informer gets a lot more coverage and exclusives, but the writing is about as bland as watered down chicken broth.
This is very, very fucked up. EGM is LEGEND.
THIS CANNOT BE... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
Now theres only Dtoid and Giantbomb, and no 1up show or podcasts is going to be hard on us all.
EGM was also the last great magazine....we really should have a funeral for 1up.
Would be awsome to see the staff do what Jeff did and start thier own site.
Amy Mishra
Amy Moran
Andrea Garcia
Andrew Fitch
Andrew "Skip" Pfister
Anthony Gallegos
Cesar Quintero
Christina Rosa
CoyLou Steel
Derek Chinn
Doug Parsons
Eric Ellis
Giancarlo Varanini
Greg Ford
James "Milkman" Mielke
Jason Bertrand
Jason Wilson
Jervilyn Jaramillo
Justin Frechette
Leslie Gelfand
Marci Yamaguchi
Matt Chandronait
May Tong
Meredith Stowe
Michael Donahoe
Monique Convertito
Ndubuisi Madu
Nick Suttner
Norris Boothe
Philip Kollar
Rey Serrano
Robert Bowen
Rosemary Pinkham
Ryan O'Donnell
Ryan Scott
Shane Bettenhausen
Simon Cox
Tammy Ross
Tipler Ubbelohde
people laid off =(
Are they planning solely to leach off GameVideos and think they'll stay in the clear that way?
Seriously, while print may have been dying for some time, podcasts??? In the hayday of podcasts? With a guaranteed targeted audience base and ubiquity of portable media players?
UGO must be the most batshit retarded business I've ever done heard unless they only wish to scrounge the assets and sell them off, in which case, they paid far too much.
I hope, and expect, they will get their well deserved burning for this.
It will be missed.
they bought the URL's because 1up still gets insane amounts of hits for the podcasts, boards and content. Now that UGO owns them and taking a look at their site for the first time today (apparently they started back in 99) they are going to run the 1up name into the ground and I hope the people who werent laid off, namely Garnett Lee finds somewhere to do another podcast because this is bullshit. The podcasts were 1up and with them not existing within the medium of gaming its just not right. I like the destructoid podcast, but I'm sorry you're just no 1up yours....not at all.
it just felt right.
Ha, I guess this is when the economic crisis starts to get real to people like us...
Good luck guys. Itagaki will be shedding a tear along with us all. I loved their 1up show interview with him, check it out if its still possible.