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Gamasutra - Ziff Davis Sells 1UP Network To UGO/Hearst, Closes EGM

Ziff Davis has sold 1UP to UGO/Hearst. UGO/Hearst made the decision to shut down Electronic Gaming Monthly which has been one of the top-tier gaming magazines since 1989.

I've been a subscriber to EGM since...well, probably 1996 or so. It's so sad to see EGM being shut down. All of the editors and writers for EGM are officially laid off.

I read a comment from that site and I agree: I knew about games and got excited about them from EGM, not from a damn websites. Websites fail to ge me interested in any new game. I never read gaming websites for previews...it's always printed publications.

I hope this doesn't start a chain reaction of other gaming magazines shutting down.

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Cynthetiq

a few gaming mags shut down recently I don't remember their titles, but recall that they passed subs to EGM.

I agree, websites don't do it for me when it comes to helping me pick games.

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Baraka_Guru

The reality is, print publishing (particularly magazines and newspapers) is struggling in this Internet age. I read recently that PC Magazine went all digital. Why? Because their readers and advertisers had migrated online. Circulations are down, probably across the board, so it isn't just computer-based magazines. The nature of publishing is changing, and there is little we can do about it. I imagine it is especially the case with computers and video games that Internet-based "magazines" are the big thing. It seems so natural to have these things online rather than in print.

I'm with you guys, though. I prefer print publishing when it comes to just about anything. But maybe that's considered "old school" by now. Are we dinosaurs, or what?

You can't get direct links to advertisers and game trailers/screen shots/demos/reviews, etc., on paper pages. You need web pages for that.

Now consider how ruinous the cost of printing and distribution can be. What's more, there are no retail returns on a website.

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CyCo PL

What really sucks is that a lot of the 1up staff got fired, which is probably gonna kill their podcasts which were awesome. I had subscriptions to 1up Yours, 1up FM, and the 1up Show and listened to/watched them every week. I feel like a bunch of my friends got fired.

YaWhateva

Wow that's awful, I was a subscriber for a really long time. I completely agree with you about not getting excited about games from gaming websites.

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biznatch

I used to be subscribed to gaming mags, but then I found out about kotaku. It takes away from the pleasure of having a nice, sitting down read about videogames, but you'll find some great articles, and many more opinions, so a broader choice of perspective to choose what games you want.

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Redjake

This is terrible news!!!!!!!

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boink

wow, bummer. I used to subscribe too.

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MontanaXVI

I hadn't read an EGM in years to be honest. Actually now that I think about it the only print items I get are stuff that I got as a freebie for signing up for an online service.

I liked EGM and had read it for years but as many have pointed out above it is just the print industry going down. I canceled my Playboy subscription this month after......13 years. When I had Game Informer it was only because I got a bundle deal on my PS3 when it came out from Gamestop and it had a 1 year subscription in the bundle. I get Sporting News magazine as a freebie for signing up to their online Fantasy football and baseball website, same with ESPN the magazine, I get it because I am an inSider member of the ESPN online services.

Then of course there is the firsthand experience, I worked for a newspaper in the pressroom, actually printing the paper until I got laid off on my 3 year anniversary to the day. So I can attest to print media in general going down.

EGM will be missed though, I recall it being a good magazine. Does anyone know if Gamepro is still around?

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Gabbyness

Games for Windows (formerly Computer Gaming Monthly, I believe) just closed its doors. Is PC Gamer the only legit PC gaming mag left?

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Catdaddy33

I've been a PC Gamer subscriber since the first year it came to be and I get the feeling that it will be going away soon. The issues keep getting smaller, and they have changed editor-in-chief about once a year for the past few years. The writing staff keeps getting smaller and the ones they have left aren't as entertaining as years past. Last year when I resubscribed they only gave me a one year option instead of the three years I've usually gotten. If they are the only one left maybe they will make it.

The only reason I still get it was to read during my lunchhour at work, but now that I have an Iphone, I can get the internet anywhere, so more than likely I wasnt going to resub when it ends this summer.

777

NOOOOOOOOOO!

I wanted to work there once I got my journalism career going next decade... (sob sob)

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