When I was a little boy gamer I would spend a bit of my allowance on Electronic Gaming Monthly a great little gaming magazine. Unfortunately, young gamers will never understand what the industry was like twenty years ago. In a time before the Internet, the only place to get gaming news for a young kid was a glossy magazine. Today, EGM closes its doors and we’re losing a historic piece of gaming history.
Granted, there were other glossy magazines prized by young boys too, but we were old enough to purchase Electronic Gaming Monthly, now known as EGM by the hip and cool. Although EGM was founded in 1989, many adults between the age of 29 and 35 probably spent their youth flipping through the pages reading the reviews and editorials.
The days of the magazine are drawing to an end for many industries, with video game websites covering everything from truly hardcore to highly niche, we all demand our information as soon as possible. If a company like Ziff Davis is selling its properties, we want to know the minute it is announced, when 1UP is purchased by UGO we want to know the minute the ink dries. Why? Because we can.
January 2009 marks the last issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly. After Hearst Corporation (owner of UGO) purchased 1UP from Ziff Davis it was announced that EGM would be seeing its last issue. Sure, there was a chance this would occur without the acquisition as well but the sadness wouldn’t be any different. We’re sure the staff will find a great home writing for another publication or in the online world, but it is sad just the same.
Along with the sad news of EGM closing, we’ve heard a number of folks at 1UP have also been effected by Hearst Corporations purchase of 1UP which has many people out of a job during tough economic times. There has been rumor the 1UP podcasts being ditched as well, but we have heard nothing official yet (please comment with official stories if you hear).
Of course, 1UP is “officially” rejoicing at the news but we know this is part of the “smoke and mirrors” that is an acquisition. A few, now former, 1UP folks have been using twitter and game forums to voice their own “opinions” of the purchase.
This is a rough economic time for many people, printed magazines, online publications and others. The only shining light is knowing many of these individuals will find new places to call home or start brand new online publications to compete against their old company. Talent will not go restricted, they will no doubt group together to form new aged publications to show off why the big boys are flailing in the dark.
We wish them all well in their efforts to find success.
Been a long time since I posted last. Bloody university getting in the way of life. Glad to hear that you guys are now part of the next gen. My opportunity has fallen through, as the Game store that I pre-ordered my console from tried to bait-and-switch me twice for a more expensive PS4 bundle which I did not want. That and I withdrew my pre-order as all the games I wanted to play have been deferred till next year. Probably will get it when Elder Scrols comes out.
@EA
Ok I will admit it. Humble bundle was a stroke of genius. EA tried competing with Steam for years via Origin with poor results. But Humble Bundle blew Steam clear out of the water. They may not be making money with this, but Humble Bundle is a brilliant positive publicity generation tool. That is something that EA needs more than money.
@The name is Bond. James Bond. A level 72 Dark Elf Warlock in service of Her Majesty the Queen.
I can see the point of this. Gamers are impressionable people, mostly in their teens and early adult years. They are perfect targets for criminals. If you are fresh-out-of college/university unemployed, your opinions can be easily swayed. Maybe that’s what the intelligence agencies are looking for.
@Neverwdning Story
The media industry rule of thumb is that a franchise should finish with a number 3. Anything that goes beyond that is just dragging the series out. Unless there is a reasonable time gap between the releases (i.e Final Fantasy, Halo).
Assasin’s Creed is now planing it’s 7th game. I am currently playing the 3rd one. Since I don’t do series marathons I will probably catch up to the series in 2020. That is rather daunting. Maybe they should really bring Prince if Persia back…
@Disney’s Indiana Wars: Raiders of the Lost Ark Strike Back. Excelsior edition.
To be honest, I think it is a good thing that Disney is sponging up all the abandoned IPs. Not only do they inject it with money, they do a good job marketing it as well. Indiana was idle for quite some time. He should be out of retirement kicking Nazi ass about now.
PS: I remember Disney wanted to acquire Mortal Kombat. And now imagine a 12+ Mortal Kombat experience. The horror…