1UP Gone ~ sold, 40 redundant, no more podcasts

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Abooie

Abooie

Abooie

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A dark day in gaming:

"Media business website paidcontent.org posted a story this morning with the headline "Ziff Davis sells 1UP digital network to Hearst, shutters EGM" but has since removed the piece from its website. The original content of the text is still visible using an RSS reader, and it stated,
Looking to conserve its resources for its PC Mag Digital business, Ziff Davis Media has sold off the 1UP Digital Network, its collection of video game sites, to Hearst Corp., which will fold it into the UGO Entertainment division, the companies said. In conjunction with the sale, the related print mag Electronic Gaming Monthly will publish its last issue this month. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Since finishing up its Chapter 11 proceedings last summer, Ziff Davis has sought to devote more energy to building up the PC Mag online network. Before this, Ziff Davis' biggest step in the streamlining process involved the shuttering of PC Mag as a print product in November. As for Hearst's UGO, the addition of 1UP's sites is designed to further consolidate its efforts to build up content for gamers since Hearst bought the 11-year-old male-centric entertainment company in July 2007.

We tried to reach representatives from Ziff Davis for an official comment, but none was forthcoming. We'll continue to do some digging, and find out what might be going on - and whether the paidcontent story is, in fact, true.



Update: Sources have indicated that details will be forthcoming as to the validity of the story by tomorrow morning."

-Whattheyplay.com



EDIT:

1up employees laid off or otherwise gone (incomplete):

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

I was listening to 1UPFM only last night. Very sad and seems to all be true.

(from GAF)
 
Seems like the podcasts are set to return at some point, most likely 1upyours and 1up show. These will never be the same with no skip to do the editing, and no Mangod to balance out the show, he and garnett was the show IMO. By Shanes twitter it seems he was thinking of moving on and has an offer within the gaming industry. There is going to be a podcast out in a few days with some of the people who went, hosted by Nick Sutner, will be good.
 
I remember loads of adverts forthis UGO crap about 8 yrs or so ago. Used to have flash animations on loads of websites trying to get new viewers by advertising 80's crap and things like "batman vs superman who would win?" and randomstuff like that. Very dark website with lots of black and dark colours

Always struck me as an IGN wannabe (IGN was quite big back then) but aimed more at comic geeks and cult show fans (for some reason).

Now I look at their website and there dream has come true, it looks so like IGN it is remarkable!!

I never read games websites tbh and don't have time to listen to podcasts and crap so no big loss.


rp2000
 
rp2000 said:
I remember loads of adverts forthis UGO crap about 8 yrs or so ago. Used to have flash animations on loads of websites trying to get new viewers by advertising 80's crap and things like "batman vs superman who would win?" and randomstuff like that. Very dark website with lots of black and dark colours
Click to expand...

Yeah, you saw a lot of their banners on gaming forums and websites. Judging by what I saw of their content back then, I'm really surprised that they're still around. Not just around, but with enough resources to take on board 1up!
 
Tunney said:
Yeah, you saw a lot of their banners on gaming forums and websites. Judging by what I saw of their content back then, I'm really surprised that they're still around. Not just around, but with enough resources to take on board 1up!
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly!! They must have drastically changed directions (I certainly don't recall seeing their crappy banner advertising on many sites in the last few years, which is a good start).


rp2000
 
I liked 1up back when it was a no frills news site, but I really lost interest in it when they went all bloated and added ads/content/podcasts/etc. I didn't want another IGN, I just wanted news.

It's all about the terribly-named www.piratevsninja.net nowadays.
 
Its a damn shame as some of their content was of a very high standard. I think the writing was on the wall when GFW (Games for Windows) magazine and GFW online ceased publication. Both part of 1UP and Ziff Davies Media. Geff Green and Shawn Molloy were legends when it came to podcasting.
 
I'm gutted. It was bad enough losing the GFW podcast (I loved it for Geoff and Shawn) but at least I had 1Up yours to listen too.

It probably wouldn't be the same without Sony Bettenhausen anyway. Seems Garnett is still there but it's sad to see that all those people have lost their jobs. They played a good part, I'll be sad to see it go.
 
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