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1UP Has Been Acquired by UGO Entertainment [UPDATE: 30 Layoffs, EGM, 1UP Show is Dead]

January 06, 2009 in Industry News comments 37

UGO Entertainment and parent company Hearst Corporation has announced that they have acquired gaming newssite 1UP and its associate websites, GameVideos.com, MyCheats.com, and GameTab.com from Ziff Davis Media, finally confirming rumors about the website's fate from the past months

Currently, it is unknown what will happen to 1UP's associate print magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly. According to What They Play, there stands the large possibility that the magazine will be closed.

UPDATE:

There also some confirmed reports of layoffs from 1UP, including 1UP Show producer Matt Chandronait, as noted on his twitter. Gamasutra reports that 30 employees have been laid off, from employees involved with EGM, and some of the 1UP Network's web staff. Furthermore, the main show The 1UP Show have ceased production, along with gaming news magazine EGM.

Akira_EX via 1up.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Feb 19, 2009

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  • 1
    chautemoc Jan 6, 09
    What the hell. :S
    I assume its the recession in combination with the people moving online thing. Rough times.
    Any comment, Daigoji_Gai?
  • 1
    kspiess Jan 6, 09
    That is pretty rough. I hate to see any one lose a job; but a gaming journalist? That's twice as painful.
  • 1
    GLDarthziggy Jan 6, 09
    Awful. Always disappointing to see a magazine stop its run, especially one that has been around as long - and been published so well - as EGM. If that part's true, sad day indeed.
  • 0
    Storm* Jan 6, 09
    Damn...I hope nothing happens to EGM at least, I'm suscribed to them. Shame it had to happen to 1UP.
  • 0
    Akira_EX Jan 6, 09
    Yeah, EGM has been cancelled, unfortunately.
    • 0
      Storm* Jan 6, 09
      What the...then...what happens to my subscription?
      • 0
        CTCFirebird Jan 7, 09
        You probably might need to get your money back, Storm.
    • 0
      GrEyCrEsT Feb 18, 09
      quote Akira_EX
      Yeah, EGM has been cancelled, unfortunately.


      • disappointing
      • 0
        Daigoji_Gai Feb 19, 09
        See my comments here, wasn't our fault....
  • 3
    Absolute Jan 6, 09
    What the *bleep*, UGO?!

    ...We really need Daigoji to come in here and explain...
    • 0
      Daigoji_Gai Feb 19, 09
      I can explain now. We had nothing to do with EGM. That was a Ziff Davis publication. UGO Entertainment never has been in the print business. So it wasn't even on the table and we never considered it. We had nothing to do, and no input into what happened with EGM. Take that up with Ziff Davis.
  • 2
    tekmosis* Jan 6, 09
    It's a shame that EGM had to bite the dust with this deal. EGM, GamePro and Nintendo Power. Damn shame kids growing up now wont get a chance to experience the magazine joys from that publication. I'll have to pick up the last issue the next time I see it.

    Storm, they'll most likely just refund you the rest of what your subscription would have covered.
    • 0
      chautemoc Jan 6, 09
      Why NP and GamePro? I thought they weren't affiliated. I could do without GamePro these days, but the other two are so nice.
      • 1
        tekmosis* Jan 7, 09
        Oh, I was just speaking of how good all three magazines were at one point in time. NP you used to get cool bonus stuff like cards or the Mario/Zelda/Captain N/Punchout comics and GP used to be on par with EGM at one point.
        • 0
          chautemoc Jan 7, 09
          NP was totally sweet. I still like it today but yeah, it's probably past its prime. But I'll give the benefit of the doubt for sure.

          I loved GamePro too.
    • 0
      Akira_EX Jan 6, 09
      GamePro and Nintendo Power are still active.
      • 0
        GrEyCrEsT Feb 18, 09
        quote Akira_EX
        GamePro and Nintendo Power are still active.


        • glad to hear
    • 0
      Storm* Jan 7, 09
      I hope so Tek, I was covered for a good three years, haha. Hm GamePro is still going strong? I may just go back to them then. That 'fun factor' thing they include in their reviews help.
  • 0
    StarJet Jan 6, 09
    Oh, no, not 1up!
    That used to be one of my favourite news sites before GameGrep. Even now I go there to get news here.
    Is the site gonna be closed down too? I hope not.
    • 0
      Ameer Jan 6, 09
      Now you're just being overzealous. UGO acquires 1UP and it's related websites only to close them down?

      Come on.
      • 0
        StarJet Jan 7, 09
        I'm a pessimist by birth... and also paranoid. I can't help thinking the way I do.
        • 0
          Daigoji_Gai Feb 19, 09
          UGO isn't closing down any of the 1up network sites. They will remain their own entity and keep producing great content.
  • 3
    RabidChinaGirl Jan 6, 09
    Hm, Daigoji hasn't been around lately. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.
    • 0
      CTCFirebird Jan 7, 09
      ... What does any of that have to do with this? Please explain! Maybe the guy is busy or something. Who knows?
    • 0
      Daigoji_Gai Jan 7, 09
      You are brilliant as always.
    • 0
      tekmosis* Jan 8, 09
      Someones gotta haze the new staff
      • 0
        Daigoji_Gai Feb 19, 09
        Actually, I think everyone here fears Teanah - she is no joke in FPS shooters.
        Richard Li is also a beast in Street Fighter 4.
  • 0
    Bale Fire* Jan 6, 09
    Why close them down? Were they competing with UGO Entertainment or something?
  • 4
    CTCFirebird Jan 7, 09
    Geez... This makes me wonder how GamePro is surviving. EGM had one of the best reviews in gaming. I shall miss it... Should keep the magazines as a souvenir.

    I don't remember hearing about EGM competing against another company...
  • 2
    Dio Jan 7, 09
    Noooo! I've been getting free EGM magazines monthly for the past two years. I don't know how, I never subscribed, but they kept coming.

    Now they won't come anymore.
  • 0
    GLDarthziggy Jan 7, 09
    I think we should all gather our friends and buy up every copy of the last issue, and maybe they'll reconsider the decision to not publish the "real" final issue, the February one, which is ready to be printed. Probably not, but it couldn't hurt, right?
    Plus, we'd all have Collector's Editions to sell on ebay in a few years! haha
    • 0
      Akira_EX Jan 8, 09
      The final issue of EGM will be available in all its glory online on 1UP.
  • 0
    chautemoc Jan 7, 09
    Podcasts aren't dead by the way.
    They will be changing but wont die.
  • 0
    kik36 Jan 9, 09
    I JUST subscribed to EGM too.....Guess I will have to look into getting my money back somehow.
    • 1
      Daigoji_Gai Feb 19, 09
      Kik - if you need a source to inquiry about your EGM account go to this Ziff Davis link (sorry for only seeing this now)

      https://www.zdmcirc.com/service/index.html
      • 0
        kik36 Feb 19, 09
        I think you must have been reading my mind today, because I was thinking of PM'ing you about it this morning.......kinda creepy, get outta my head man!!! LMFAO

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