Breaking news for the gaming industry and its press. Ziff Davis’s 1UP Digital Network will be sold to Hearst Corp’s UGO Entertainment which will result in the discontinuation of Electronic Gaming Monthly.
The January 2009 issue is confirmed to be the last print issue for EGM.
“With demand for print continuing to decline amongst both advertisers and readers and the content being produced by 1UP no longer available for use in the publication, it simply did not make sense for us to move forward with this business any longer,” said Ziff Davis CEO Jason Young.
Filefront.com will still continue to operate under the Ziff Davis publishing helm, but will now be under the PCMag Digital Network.
As part of the deal, 1up.com, Mycheats.com, Gametab.com, GameVideos.com will join Hearst’s UGO Entertainment.
Electronic Gaming Monthly began in 1989.
Amist the acquisition, 30 people were confirmed to be laid off. The list of casualties includes the likes of gamevideos.com staff including Matt Chandronait and Ryan O’Donnell
confirming that the 1UP Show video podcast and 1UP Yours audio podcast have effectively ceased production.
These are all the people who have been laid off in the ZD/UGO acquisition thanks to Joystiq.
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
Editorial Note:
The collective minds here at the MonsterVine wish good luck and godspeed to those that have lost their jobs. It is unfortunate to see many talented journalists and press brethren as the consequence of unstable economy. Keep your heads up high ladies and gentlemen.
shadowjak
January 7, 2009 at 1:40 pm
So this is what happened. I had Steam on last night and saw a message pop up saying that 30 people got laid off from 1UP. I hope they all land back on their feet and find better jobs.
But damn I must say, I’m just happy Garnett didn’t get laid off
WarDragon989
January 7, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Yes, it is sad they lost their jobs, but still, there no need to make it sound like you lost a limb and then begin to over-tramatise it.
If they were “that” good and essential to the industry they will be rehired.
It is the same situation I felt about the Jeff G situation (from gamespot now giant bomb), big deal. 1up were never in anyone’s “oh my god there great” lists. Move on someone else will fill there place.