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Ziff Davis files for bankruptcy: Yikes is putting it lightly photo

In news that has caused a lot of surprised "woah" noises around the Destructoid water cooler, and doubtless water coolers all over the games blogging world, it has come to light that Ziff Davis, the name behind 1UP, EGM magazine and Games for Windows magazine, has filed for chapter 11 in a bid to combat rising debts that collectively amount to almost $400 million. Who knew things were that bad?

One thing that is to be made perfectly clear is that this isn't the end of the company, and that 1UP is still, well, up. It's certainly not the kind of decision that any media network owner would like to have to make, however, and the fact of the matter is that good writers could lose their jobs. 

Destructoid and 1UP have come to blows a little in the past, but we're all essentially on the same side, with the same passion for gaming and writing. Nobody should get stung doing what they love, so we hope the damage isn't too great over there. They broke the news about Darth Vader being in Soul Calibur IV, and that's enough to earn them a pint each from me.

Man, some things you just do not see coming.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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121 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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next 50 comments

infinity's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:28
infinity
winston churchill: old and busted.

picard facepalm: new hotness.
RobertSumma's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:30
RobertSumma
"Man, some things you just do not see coming."

Ha, if you didn't see this coming then you really have no clue what's going on. That was pretty funny to read.
Wookiee's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:30
Wookiee
Usen'ye, gar di'kutla trekkise chakaar!
CaptainApocalypse's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:31
CaptainApocalypse
That sucks, I used to be all over 1up until I found Destructoid. I hope they can keep it going.
electristan's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:35
electristan
never a good thing to hear that games related company's are in trouble. best of luck to them.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:36
Cheeburga
I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS.I'M WORLD FAMOUS. I'M WORLD FAMOUS.


Fuck you, you egotistical prick.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:36
MaxVest
Summa sighting! But he... has a point?

This is just... too much.
/wrists
RobertSumma's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:36
RobertSumma
haha, that was pretty funny Cheeburga.
ironmanrules1333's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:38
ironmanrules1333
whoa, I fuckin' love the GFW guys. I used to be huge into 1up until I discovered dtoid.
Sam Spectre's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:38
Sam Spectre
That's too bad. Hopefully no one looses their job.
RobertSumma's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:39
RobertSumma
The saddest thing has been the decline of EGM -- both in content and quality.
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:40
Cheeburga
I'll be looking forward to an email telling me to get the fuck off the site an-
Oh wait.
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:41
MaxVest
Thankfully EG has been filling the aching void with hard-hitting journalism like "Douchebags: Do They All Play Wii?"
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:41
Sharpless
I don't want to live in a world where Summa returns and yet Nex is still lost to us, off on his bounty hunting mission to Ceti Alpha Prime IV to bring back the hide of the elusive gnorknyak wolf. WHY, GOD, WHY?
Cheeburga's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:42
Cheeburga
@ Sharpless

They both suck.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:43
Jim Sterling
Actually no, I didn't see this coming because typically, I don't make the affairs of other Web sites my business unless it's superhuge (I wish others were like that). So yeah, this came as a surprise to me.
bigfatton's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:43
bigfatton
I don't think anyone didn't see it coming, print media is and has been on it's way out for a while
robotplague's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:43
robotplague
The best podcasts in the business, hopefully something happens and these cats still have jobs.
The Wizard's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:44
The Wizard
Well...this sucks...best of luck to them
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:46
Jim Sterling
Actually no, I didn't see this coming because typically, I don't make the affairs of other Web sites my business unless it's superhuge (I wish others were like that). So yeah, this came as a surprise to me.
that1dood's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:46
that1dood
Wow, that came out of nowhere. $400 million dollars? How the hell does that happen with huge subscription based services like that?

There's some serious mis-spending going on.
cbre88x's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:46
cbre88x
Old ghosts need to get the hell out of the house.

ahem.
Eschatos's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:46
Eschatos
That sucks. We are in mourning.
Jaren Face's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:47
Jaren Face
This came to a surprise to me. Then again, I haven't really been paying attention to anything Ziff Davis, so shame on me.

Actually, I remember when I saw OPM's last issue on news stands. I checked to see what demos they included for their final issue, and wow was it pretty lackluster. Sure, they probably got teh shut down after the demos were finalized, but it's still a pretty underwhelming way to go out.
CronosBlade's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:48
CronosBlade
Last I checked, there wasn't a "help wanted" sign around here....
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:50
MaxVest
I'm in mourning that we only had a few precious minutes to take potshots at Summa. He should stop by more often.
power-glove's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:52
power-glove
Summa, EGM has always been the best American-based game magazine out there in terms of quality. No other magazine has come close.
king3vbo's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:58
king3vbo
Fuck off Summa

EGM is the best magazine out there, and its too bad that this happened to Ziff Davis
grrza's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 17:59
grrza
Ziff is one of the coolest names imaginable ever.
-D-'s Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:00
-D-
When Summa shows up it's like your drunk ex stopping by for a booty call. It's equal parts awkward and sexy but 100% wrong.
DeusPayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:02
DeusPayne
Wow.... just wow... (on many counts)
CaffeinePowered's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:03
CaffeinePowered
This is why you don't overdo leverage in a business...
DonWii's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:04
DonWii
Maybe if they handled business like CNet/Gamespot...
zealot9802's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:05
zealot9802
Id file Chapter 11 too if I had to fly James "Milky" Mielke to Japan every other month. Dude is over there often is all Im saying.
Kryptinite's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:06
Kryptinite
Who the fuck is Summa?
MaxVest's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:07
MaxVest
@CaffeinePowered: Good thing our nation's homeowners aren't overleveraged*!

*shit.
DaedHead8's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:19
DaedHead8
This is a sad day indeed. I read EGM throughout the 16, 32/64 and 128 bit eras. I also was a fan of 1up before I found destructoid.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:21
Sharpless
@Cheeburga
NEX IS A SAINT. NEX IS A SAINT.
UMF Skibum's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:23
UMF Skibum
"Who the fuck is Summa?"

Thats the spirit.
Geoff Henao's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:27
Geoff Henao
1up is my favorite "mainstream" gaming website. Game Informer is my favorite magazine, however. I'm gonna miss 1up.
FreePablo's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:30
FreePablo
It's surprising that a video game magazine's publisher has had to file for bankruptcy a full 8-9 years into the internet age? Really? From someone who writes for a video game blogm the very thing that has killed the video game magazine?

How the hell does that happen with huge subscription based services like that?

I get EGM for free. I get nearly every magazine subscription for free. Only ones payed for in my household are Sports Illustrated and The New Yorker.
Kryptinite's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:37
Kryptinite
you know what's funny? Ever since I moved EGM has been coming to my house by the doubles. You know what else is funny? I haven't paid for a subscription ever in the last 5 years. It's my fault guys, I'm sorry :(.
RobertSumma's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:37
RobertSumma
"It's surprising that a video game magazine's publisher has had to file for bankruptcy a full 8-9 years into the internet age? Really? From someone who writes for a video game blogm the very thing that has killed the video game magazine? "

Spot on.

Also, I didn't say EGM sucked, I said they have declined in content (# of pages) and quality (sorry, but if you're a long-time reader, this is true). It will be sad to see EGM go (if they do indeed fold the publication), it was always my favorite.
Kryptinite's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:39
Kryptinite
No seriously, who the fuck is Summa and why does he have an icon of a dude putting on lipstick? So confused.
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:40
BluDesign
"Ha, if you didn't see this coming then you really have no clue what's going on. That was pretty funny to read."

There's that Summa smarm we've all been missing these months.

Seriously Rob, do you think you've got some super secret inside source that leaks everything to you months or years before everything else or do you just purposely amend all your comments with claptrap like "I have inside infos you can nevar see!"

Yeah, writing's on the wall, yada yada yada, every publisher's having a tough time with print. We know this, but to see a big one fall is a pretty big surprise nonetheless.

I apologize in advance for not having an insider view on things, as apparently you've told me in the past that having such privilege makes you a deity amongst the unwashed masses.

Because you have insider info on video games.
Sadie G's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:43
Sadie G
Whose Summa?

Also, I like EGM, they were my replacement when VideoGames went under. :/
They have declined in recent years though...
power-glove's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:47
power-glove
Sadie, you don't want to know.
BluDesign's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:48
BluDesign
Also, no...

Losing Next Generation was the worst.

The original incarnation of Next Gen was to me, the pinnacle of gaming magazines.

Also, other than to try get people to Google who the hell you are and why we don't like you, WHY ARE YOU HERE SUMMA?

Like D said, you're like the dumped ex who shows up at a party that you're not invited to and act like everything's swell. You burned lots of bridges with this community (and I am not speaking on behalf of the editors at all in that regard) and no back room, secret, "you don't know the whole story" line will EVER redeem yourself to the regulars who knew you here.

Go away.
Kryptinite's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:50
Kryptinite
Oh, I remember now. LOL, man.....

That was around the time I was a lurker....

must be close to the time you left or something..having withdrawals I take it?
Novakaine's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/05/2008 18:51
Novakaine
Summa left and went to Epileptic Gaming, didn't he? The same place that brought you this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXb_3Kbb8yw

Yep, them peoples know what quality and integrity are, all right.

Anyway... as long as 1up is okay, then I'm fine. GFW Radio (97.5: The Brodeo) and Retronauts are my two favorite podcasts on the Internet. As long as I get to hear T-Frog, Sharkey, and Kohler on Retronauts and Black Dragon, Sean Milloy, the Quiet Man, and Shawn "God" Elliot, I'm good. The Milkman's cool, too.

Although aside from them, 1up is awfully full of tech/graphics whores who demand gratuitous sex, violence, and profanity in their games, and generally hate Nintendo (that seems to be an industry norm, though).
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