Is this the end for EGM?

so what happens to my subscription? Hmm...

SommerMatt wrote:

so what happens to my subscription? Hmm...

My GFW subscription turned into PCGamer.

It's just not the same.

So I guess my next question is, if 1up/EGM goes up in smoke, where will gamefolk turn to find their fellow gamerpeople offering opinions?

Here's a pretty good place.

Yeah, this just sucks. If EGM's down, most of the podcasters are down, unless there's some pretty fancy footwork.

I'm going to start writing for white supremacist newsletters an NAMBLA. I have to use these powers for good I guess.

This sucks, at least a few good people are staying with 1up, UGO sucks, doubt itl get its clicks by firing everyone who mattered.

It's definitely true. The layoff list is absolutely brutal, as is the fact that 1UP Yours is no more.

What a drag. I guess I need to find some new podcasts to listen to. I still listened to 1up FM, 1up Yours, and Lan Party weekly, even after my favorite personalities left.

This is quite the bummer. I've been an EGM subscriber for the good part of the last 13 years. In fact, it was the 1up podcasts that turned me toward the GWJ community. It is a very sad day to see the mag and podcasts end so unceremoniously.

My condolences to the large group laid off at Ziff.

I guess it did not turn out for the best after all.

I think we all know that 1up is going to be a shell of its former self.

Sigh.

What a drag. I guess I need to find some new podcasts to listen to. I still listened to 1up FM, 1up Yours, and Lan Party weekly, even after my favorite personalities left.

I liked Retronauts as well - niche content that I couldn't get anywhere else.

This does suck.

Time to start trying to dig up all of their Twitter accounts and/or blogs to see what they do next.

Here are some Twitter accounts I found on a first look:

http://twitter.com/garnettlee
http://twitter.com/talkingorange (Matt Chandronait)
http://twitter.com/DavidEllis
http://twitter.com/ryanodonnell

Dang it.

I'm really, really going to miss that musical intro to 1up Yours. It just said 'It's Friday afternoon' in such a calm voice. And all the great theme music to the 1up Show, too.

I just today signed up for my GWJ account because 1Up is nothing without all of it's podcasts and personalities--which apparently were given the boot. I subscribed to 1UpFM, GFWRadio ("LAN Party"), 1UpYours, The 1Up Show & 1Up Specials. I had begun listening to Conference Call since Jeff Green and Shawn Elliott guested last fall. I'm a fan and I'm happy this site is here, but I'm still heartbroken over this news.

This is the dumbest move UGO could have made. They aren't earning any new readers/fans with this move. And, their website is a friggin' joke. (Their main games page features "Gary Unmarried Cast Interviews" and a 'hot girl of the week' type thing--something I remember being joked about on the Conference Call).

I really like the comment (not mine, I just read it somewhere on the webz) that "it's like they've thrown away the orange and kept the peel."

I hope that everyone that was laid off finds some way to stay seen, to stay visible. This is truly terrible news.

This sucks for the 1Up crew. I listened to 1Up Yours and Retronauts weekly.

I don't understand why they'd buy 1Up and totally gut it of what makes it good.

Bummer all around.

Darn it UGO. DARN YOU!

Spaz wrote:

I'm hoping UGO has the sense to keep the 1up brand alive, and not cannibalize it a-la G4*TechTV. This undoubtably sucks for all the 1up folks, as the place has cultured some interesting talents over the years.

So I guess my next question is, if 1up/EGM goes up in smoke, where will gamefolk turn to find their fellow gamerpeople offering opinions?

1. They lack the sense. I'm an active 1up community member, and I can tell you about 75% of the editorial staff that we connected with have been laid off. That said, expect me to be around here a bit once I get a feel for things. I've been planning to make a few submissions.

2. On the 1up boards, people are already overreacting and planning an exodus of sorts. This site, Gametrailers, and Giantbomb are among the more frequently named destinations.

It's sad that so many people are losing their jobs. I'm sure most will find new places to write, work, whatever.

I think it's funny that UGO has on their mainpage that UGO + 1up is the greatest teamup since Tom Jam and Earl. They do not get the irony there.

I'm just absolutely heartsick. Good gamers all of them and a real loss to the gaming community as a whole. I really hope everyone finds the work and support they deserve, but the pool of sites offering full time support to game writers is shrinking a bit. This just sucks.

As posted by ilduce in the now locked thread, here is the list of folks who are now looking for work:

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 wouldn't worry about the people you like listening to; you'll hear them again, just on different podcasts no doubt.

You can't stop the signal and all that.

EDIT:

Having just looked at the list (again), it does seem rather odd that one would buy a content company and then ditch all the people making the content.

Maybe UGO want to double the workload of their own staff while 'leveraging the 1up brand'.

1Dgaf wrote:

You can't stop the signal and all that.

I hope you're right. However, historical precedent would suggest that 9 out of 10 people like to eat, and I doubt they'll all be finding jobs in positions that allow them to podcast regularly, much less pay them to broadcast regularly. I hope I'm wrong, and I hope that they all land on their feet. Needless to say, the socialnetworktwitterlinkedinfacebookaimosphere is insane with exchanges of personal email addresses tonight.

Certis wrote:

I'm just absolutely heartsick. Good gamers all of them and a real loss to the gaming community as a whole. I really hope everyone finds the work and support they deserve, but the pool of sites offering full time support to game writers is shrinking a bit. This just sucks.

Any chance of bringing some 1up staffers on the GWJ podcast relatively soon for some final thoughts/closure? I imagine those that were laid off will not be able to vent on any of their official outlets. I bet there are some interesting perspectives out there to hear.

This is a crying shame.

WarrenG1983 wrote:

I really like the comment (not mine, I just read it somewhere on the webz) that "it's like they've thrown away the orange and kept the peel."

That's about the best way to put it that I can think of. This is a loss for the whole community.

Even if they have to do things part time, the barriers to entry to podcasting are really tiny now. You can get hosting packages from $5 per month.

I think the thing that's most likely to knock people for six, at least in writing / talking about games, is the emotional aspect of it all. Leaving a job can be like mourning and if there's a feeling of betrayal in there as well, which would be understandable, perhaps they'll just want to take a break from the subject for a while.

Certis wrote:

List

Holy crap...

There are a number of names on that list that make me sad.

You guys should snag Gallegos and Scott for the next podcast, and see if you can get both Green and Elliot on as well. One final hurrah, of sorts.

rabbit wrote:
1Dgaf wrote:

You can't stop the signal and all that.

I hope you're right. However, historical precedent would suggest that 9 out of 10 people like to eat, and I doubt they'll all be finding jobs in positions that allow them to podcast regularly, much less pay them to broadcast regularly.

There's this... and one must also consider the amount of work that goes into producing a podcast. It is a lot of work, and it takes a lot of time, as Mr. Borges can certainly attest. And yet, when you're doing it as a joint effort with friends, it feels a lot less like work and a lot more like fun.

Many of the podcasters laid off from 1Up today were indeed friends. Whether employed or not, they'll all be drinking together tonight, I'd wager. Now, however, their new jobs (and they'll find jobs, believe me) will send them to the four corners of the nation; and when you're that far apart, with such disparate schedules and differing priorities, any podcasts you may attempt aren't going to be team efforts anymore. And for some folks, that was the main incentive for doing the podcasts: hanging with friends, chatting about games, and generally having a good time. Everything else-- positive feedback from fans, interviewing big-name folks in the industry, etc.-- was gravy.

Dysplastic wrote:

It's definitely true. The layoff list is absolutely brutal, as is the fact that 1UP Yours is no more.

*redacted*

Now that I've actually read about the absolute f*cking bloodbath that UGO has created, this is no time for a lame-ass joke.

I'm completely floored, we will obviously need 3 hour conference calls to fill in the gap in my podcast listening schedule

Sigh, seriously though, I hope them all the best

PyromanFO wrote:
rabbit wrote:

Ah. I read the PDF. That might be the difference.

Yeah the PDF is the way to go if you're going to do a layout like that. I kinda miss the PDF. I wish they'd moved to the current site but kept emailing the PDF to subscribers. Though really, that's twice the work.

I'm with you guys. I stopped reading when the old layout and PDF went away.

I can't get over this.

It just sucks.

Dear Gamers With Jobs Forum:

When the GREAT DISASTER happened, there was much confusion. We were told to come here, so that we may have a new home. I am scared and lost. I've lost everything. May I post here?

Sincerely,
A survivor of the 1up EXODUS.