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Breaking: 1UP acquired by UGO, EGM is officially no more
7:22 PM on 01.06.2009, Jordan Grim Devore 106 comments

Breaking: 1UP acquired by UGO, EGM is officially no more photo
     top stories

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]


Next page: More Magazines stories




Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 01/06/2009 19:26
Really does suck. but in this point in the world, gaming mags were falling behind thanks to the internet. Stuff they'd find out or claim "exclusive" were already leaked or put on the web 1-3 months before said issue.

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.
Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 01/06/2009 19:27
also also, I have that MGS issue. this seems to ask for a "show all your EGM" cblog. one day...
fromagex's Avatar
fromagex at 01/06/2009 19:27
and what about our subscriptions? hopefully they let us know.
Spartacus's Avatar
Spartacus at 01/06/2009 19:27
Goodnight, sweet prince.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 01/06/2009 19:27
There is no God.

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.
Novakaine's Avatar
Novakaine at 01/06/2009 19:35
God fucking damn it. Retronauts was the only podcast I truly loved.
flaming burrito's Avatar
flaming burrito at 01/06/2009 19:36
Shit, this is a sad sad day. I loved the 1up show, and was one of my favorite gaming podcasts. ='[
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 01/06/2009 19:37
This is a sad, sad day. Hopefully the casualties from this news will get back on their feet soon.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 01/06/2009 19:39
Also, it's probably safe to say that we will be getting new people over the next month. A lot of them. Please do not scare them all off.
ThunderHeartXI's Avatar
ThunderHeartXI at 01/06/2009 19:40
Man, 1Up was probably the best large gaming site. This is terrible...
naia-the-gamer's Avatar
naia-the-gamer at 01/06/2009 19:41
I mostly followed their podcasts, and I loved 1up Yours and Broken Pix3ls. I'm sorry for those guys who now have no jobs.

:(
Squealing Mage's Avatar
Squealing Mage at 01/06/2009 19:42
Fuck! My friend told me to get a subscription, and so I literally just subscribed a week ago! This sucks...
C2C Shiro's Avatar
C2C Shiro at 01/06/2009 19:44
Man EGM going down is heart wrenching. To me they were THE video game magazine to go to.

This almost certainly does not look as well for many people at 1UP either.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 01/06/2009 19:44
Pours a bottle of Kris for EGM

I guess I'll try to get the final issue. I have a ton from EGM's Long and sorted history
power-glove's Avatar
power-glove at 01/06/2009 19:45
From Shawn Elliot on the Neogaf forums "I'm hearing some fucked up, sickening things. I hope someone blabs." This is the most depressing thing about this story.

For those who don't know Shawn is currently working at 2K Boston and was a former 1up employee.
Feistygirl's Avatar
Feistygirl at 01/06/2009 19:45
Ah EGM, how you will be missed...

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
scottoid's Avatar
scottoid at 01/06/2009 19:48
man, thats sad news. EGM was awesome, no doubt
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 01/06/2009 19:51
God damn! This explains why I haven't seen the latest 1up Yours podcast online then. And oh man, the loss of the 1up Show is gonna hurt me. I'm from the U.K, and beside Zero Punctuation and Gametrailers TV, 1up Show was always fun and informative vid show, by the gaming people for the gaming people. It was nice to get a games show that wasn't contrived filtered bs, like most tv shows about games.

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.
Origim's Avatar
Origim at 01/06/2009 19:54
Damn I've never been much of a follower of the print gaming press, but I would pick up an issue of EGM every so often. This sucks big time.
-PL-'s Avatar
-PL- at 01/06/2009 19:54
Oh my god. I absolutely loved 1up Show. I loved 1up and their entire staff, their podcasts, etc. This is really terrible news.
Foshi's Avatar
Foshi at 01/06/2009 19:59
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-

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.
PwnanObrien's Avatar
PwnanObrien at 01/06/2009 20:01
Fuck UGO so much for taking away the only non-d-toid podcasts I give a damn about.The 1up show was one of the most journalistic things ever to cover gaming and now it's been axed by the internet's answer to Maxim. If this ever happens here the community should skin and flay Niero.
3r0t1c n3rd's Avatar
3r0t1c n3rd at 01/06/2009 20:02
Dang, just as I started to watch the !Up Show.
LukienAkeela's Avatar
LukienAkeela at 01/06/2009 20:04
This really blows, even though you could see the demise of the mag. I grew up with EGM so this is pretty sad. I wish the best of luck to those guys.
Chaotic Life's Avatar
Chaotic Life at 01/06/2009 20:05
I've been reading EGM for 15 yrs. :(
It's the only monthly publication I cared about.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 01/06/2009 20:10
EGM was the only print magazine that was still worth reading in this day and age. To hear that not only has it been killed, but that many of the key staff of the 1UP network have been fired, is a bitter pill to swallow.
Riegel88's Avatar
Riegel88 at 01/06/2009 20:13
Wow, I've been reading EGM for at least 10 years...this blows =[
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 01/06/2009 20:16
What a way to ring in the new years.

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.
Slick Icarus II's Avatar
Slick Icarus II at 01/06/2009 20:16
Yeah, it's a shame. I really loved reading EGM and listening to their podcasts... I love those guys, and the best thing we 1up fans can do is support these guys wherever they end up. I won't stop reading their stuff until they all quit writing.

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.
monosylabik's Avatar
monosylabik at 01/06/2009 20:18
fucking shit...ive been following this all day on Gaf and 1up. fuck UGO seriously, the've gotten rid of all the content anyone has cared about from 1up (podcasts, talented writers and personalities) and kept the URL's....a world without 1up/egm is pretty shitty. 15 years of loyal egm readership and 5+ 1up gone...sad day.
weedgan's Avatar
weedgan at 01/06/2009 20:19
EGM was the only gaming mag left with JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY. Maybe journalistic isn't a word, but I'm pissed.

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.
Brilliam's Avatar
Brilliam at 01/06/2009 20:22
ZD are useless. They could've monetized those podcasts.
pumpkinhed's Avatar
pumpkinhed at 01/06/2009 20:24
Been a subscriber for almost 8 years... this really sucks. I'll never forget picking up a copy from my college roommate and laughing my ass off while reading about a subject I loved. That moment was unrivaled until I stumbled upon this fair site. I guess my gaming news is now cut by 50%.
ninjikiran's Avatar
ninjikiran at 01/06/2009 20:28
=( I loved EGM, it was good reading material in the bathroom or when I was on the train.
AlucardX24's Avatar
AlucardX24 at 01/06/2009 20:31
no......

THIS CANNOT BE... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH
JohnnyViral's Avatar
JohnnyViral at 01/06/2009 20:35
Thats insane. This news is fucking terrible. I call bollocks and shenanigans on it. EGM was such a good read, it was always entertaining and informative. With them gone Printed gaming journalism is almost 100% dead.
Genebeef's Avatar
Genebeef at 01/06/2009 20:39
you know, Destructoid, you're one of the reasons why print media is phasing out...
VashTS's Avatar
VashTS at 01/06/2009 20:39
This is horrid!!!! 1UP was the last great gaming site!!!! besides detoid of course..

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.
Maziar's Avatar
Maziar at 01/06/2009 20:43
Adrian Frieg
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 =(
realyst's Avatar
realyst at 01/06/2009 20:45
okay....so what the feck is UGO going to DO with the property?

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.
sluxi's Avatar
sluxi at 01/06/2009 20:46
FFS, and I just ordered EGM just to support the 1up show last year. Only one issue arrived so far. Seemed like a quality mag too. This really, really sucks and leaves me without a good gaming show to watch.
Dimly's Avatar
Dimly at 01/06/2009 20:53
What the hell happens to the rest of my subscription?
007's Avatar
007 at 01/06/2009 20:55
WHAT?! Oh man, this is probably the worst news I'll hear all week. I loved that magazine. It was probably the last GOOD mag that was still in production.


It will be missed.
monosylabik's Avatar
monosylabik at 01/06/2009 20:56
@realyst

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.
pascuz46's Avatar
pascuz46 at 01/06/2009 20:57
This is gay! It such a shame to see a long lasting video game mag go down the drain. I hope they eventually bring it back once the economy gets going again. Its a good Mag, what a damn shame.
monosylabik's Avatar
monosylabik at 01/06/2009 20:58
o yeah and

it just felt right.
Butmac's Avatar
Butmac at 01/06/2009 21:03
wowowowow - this is really really sad. As completely useless as the internet had made EGM, it's still sad to actually see freaking EGM go man.

Ha, I guess this is when the economic crisis starts to get real to people like us...
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 01/06/2009 21:04
Well, I'd still say this is far from over. The 1up crew seem like a determined passionate bunch. I do think that they will either join the Ginat Bombcast crew, or just set up a new site and podcast. They still have countless games industry contacts, so I bet they'll bounce back elsewhere.

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.
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