EGM Closes, 1up sold to UGO [Archive] - Page 3

calgon

01-14-2009, 06:56 AM

If EGM had pulled the plug exactly at issue 100, it would have been the greatest game magazine run. Unfortunately, several editorial and content changes over the years (plus EGM needing to "adapt" to the internet era) drained the soul out of this once great magazine.

I'd still read the newer issues on occasion, epecially during the dreamcast era, where I feel the mag got back on track, but it was obviously not as good.

bangtango

01-14-2009, 01:03 PM

I remember talking to one of the writers for Gamepro at E3 99. I asked what the deal was with the fake names, and he shyly said it was "all in fun," or something to that effect. Probably a canned line he didn;t reallt believe, but rather, had to say. But today, I can't help but wonder what business sense it made in reality.

-Rob

Even if the ProTips were lame, and the reviews full of groan inducing puns, at least it made them (good or bad) stand out from other game magazines.

I don't miss "Linoleum Blown Apart", but at least it was silly enough for me to remember 15 years later.

First off, I thought the fake names were clever and I liked them. I also found it funny when Ed Semrad used to take subtle shots at the whole "fake name" thing in EGM's Editor Letter.

I will say this, though........

I bet those fake Gamepro writer names caused stress on more than one occasion after somebody left the magazine and tried to get another job.

Can you freaking imagine putting Gamepro on your resume and sending in samples of your work for the magazine to some other publisher? How the hell is anyone supposed to know the work is really yours?

Sure, a couple of calls to Gamepro's office could verify it. The point I am making, though, is that applying and interviewing for other writing jobs after spending five years writing under a fake name at Gamepro had to be a minor pain in the ass.

"Yeah, my name's Dan Reed. I wrote for Gamepro for ten years.........What do you mean you read the last 30-40 issues and didn't see any of my work? My handle was Mr. Marbles! You say your gonna need proof? Well just call the magazine....."

Aussie2B

01-14-2009, 03:27 PM

I would imagine the whole idea behind it is that most major magazines want to present a single voice, and eliminating the individuals behind the writing hides their differences that much more. It's the same logic behind editing articles when there's nothing really wrong with them just to make sure they're consistent with the "sound" of the magazine. It's also why they tell writers to refrain from using "I" and "me" in articles, and sometimes they'll even avoid "us", "we", etc., instead just referring to themselves solely as the title of the magazine to remain a single entity.

Personally, I've always found fake names and cartoon characters to go along with them really childish, and I feel bad for writers that don't get proper recognition for their work. Ideally, I like to see each article credited to the proper person, but if you're not going to do that, then at least put a small credits sidebar at the beginning of the magazine and list everyone involved in its creation, as Nintendo Power used to do (or still does?).

Jorpho

01-14-2009, 06:04 PM

I remember waay back when Gamespy reviewers used their nicks, and I thought it added considerably to the site's charm, actually. But I don't think their real names were very deeply hidden.

Zap!

01-18-2009, 03:37 PM

Although this sucks and I am upset about it, in all honesty EGM died when Ed Semrad left. Even then it wasn't the same as when the great Steve Harris ran it, with Don Neuart at his side. Kind of like when Captain America and Green Lantern became different people. It was the same in name only.

ubersaurus

01-22-2009, 04:42 PM

If anyone was a fan of the 1up Show, it's back!

http://area5.tv/2009/01/21/the-producers-of-the-1up-show-form-area-5-launch-new-show-co-op/

ButtonMasher123

01-22-2009, 10:32 PM

I'll miss this magazine for sure. I used to suscribe to it back in the hey day of the Genesis and the SNES when they were pumping out the monster 400+ page issues.

The sad thing is that I stupidly threw away all my issues about a year and a half ago which was right before the time that I started getting back into video games again. What I wouldn't give to have them back now.

The only thing I have left now is my 1995 buyers guide. Its better than nothing I guess.

boatofcar

01-23-2009, 03:03 AM

FYI, the crew at eat-sleep-game.com finally has their stuff together sound quality-wise for episode 3. Thankfully, Retronauts is going to continue without interruption :)

Zap!

01-26-2009, 01:57 AM

makaar

01-26-2009, 02:21 AM

That really does stink. I have many issues throughout the 90's, and will miss them. RIP EGM

Icarus Moonsight

01-26-2009, 02:22 AM

Nope, they got taken out like little biznitches. I wasn't a big EGM fan for the last 5+ years but, even I'd say that they deserved better treatment than that.

bangtango

01-26-2009, 12:05 PM

Wait a second...I just picked up their final issue, the January 2009 issue. I didn't get to open and read it yet, but nowhere did I read the words "Final Issue" on the cover. Let me get this straight...They didn't even go out in style? WTF!

No different than a tv show that gets cancelled. More than half the time when that happens they don't even get to film a farewell episode or just an episode that is able to wrap up a few loose ends.

If I remember right and am thinking of the right mag, "Tips and Tricks" didn't have a farewell issue either.

Zap!

01-26-2009, 01:40 PM

No different than a tv show that gets cancelled. More than half the time when that happens they don't even get to film a farewell episode or just an episode that is able to wrap up a few loose ends.

If I remember right and am thinking of the right mag, "Tips and Tricks" didn't have a farewell issue either.

But the long running shows usually have farewell last episodes (The Jeffersons being an exception), Seinfed, Friends, etc.

bangtango

01-26-2009, 03:39 PM

But the long running shows usually have farewell last episodes (The Jeffersons being an exception), Seinfed, Friends, etc.

Because oftentimes, it is known going into the final season that it will be the last season.

You are right in that long-running tv shows are more likely to get a farewell episode.

However, ABC's "Family Matters" (better known as the Steve Urkel show) ran for 8-9 seasons and didn't get a farewell episode. I'm sure part of the problem was that it had switched networks near the end.

Regardless the writers and producers were planning on an episode where Steve Urkel married Laura, so the series would end with their wedding, and they never got the chance because the plug was pulled on the show.

Jorpho

01-26-2009, 07:57 PM

Regardless the writers and producers were planning on an episode where Steve Urkel married Laura, so the series would end with their wedding, and they never got the chance because the plug was pulled on the show.For some very perplexing reason I want to know more about this. Do you has source?

slapdash

01-26-2009, 10:16 PM

If I remember right and am thinking of the right mag, "Tips and Tricks" didn't have a farewell issue either.

But remember, that dead horse is still being beat, i.e. there are still "issues" being produced, at least as recent as last quarter. It's a pale, pale husk of the magazine it was, but it ain't dead yet. Undead?

Xian042

01-27-2009, 09:58 AM

Wait a second...I just picked up their final issue, the January 2009 issue. I didn't get to open and read it yet, but nowhere did I read the words "Final Issue" on the cover. Let me get this straight...They didn't even go out in style? WTF!

There is going to be a final issue, but its going to be online only at 1up.com. They have the Street Fighter IV feature up already, with the rest of the magazine going up soon. They would have gone to print if they got enough adverts, but they didnt.

bangtango

01-27-2009, 01:51 PM

For some very perplexing reason I want to know more about this. Do you has source?

IMDB.com's entry on the show talks about it. There is a little bit on Wikipedia and I believe TV.com made reference to it as well. Along with a few dozen "fan" pages for Family Matters which chronicle every episode.

If you still want an actual link or two, I could probably find them easily enough.

01-27-2009, 09:39 PM

But remember, that dead horse is still being beat, i.e. there are still "issues" being produced, at least as recent as last quarter. It's a pale, pale husk of the magazine it was, but it ain't dead yet. Undead?

Did anyone with a subscription ever receive any of these quarterly issues after the last "regular" issue?

My subscription was good for almost a year after the magazine folded, yet they felt no need to send any sort of notification nor did they bother sending the quarterly issues to make up the difference.

Let's see, I've been burnt on subscriptions by Gamefan (twice), Gamego, T&T, and now EGM. Hardcore Gamer did convert my sub over to their quarterly format, which was a nice gesture but still did not equal out money-wise.

CelticJobber

01-27-2009, 11:22 PM

Did anyone with a subscription ever receive any of these quarterly issues after the last "regular" issue?

My subscription was good for almost a year after the magazine folded, yet they felt no need to send any sort of notification nor did they bother sending the quarterly issues to make up the difference.

I had 3 issues left on my Tips & Tricks subscription when they folded, and I received 3 of the quarterly issues to make up the difference.

Zap!

01-28-2009, 01:25 AM

Because oftentimes, it is known going into the final season that it will be the last season.

You are right in that long-running tv shows are more likely to get a farewell episode.

However, ABC's "Family Matters" (better known as the Steve Urkel show) ran for 8-9 seasons and didn't get a farewell episode. I'm sure part of the problem was that it had switched networks near the end.

Regardless the writers and producers were planning on an episode where Steve Urkel married Laura, so the series would end with their wedding, and they never got the chance because the plug was pulled on the show.

The Jeffersons is another exception. While on season break, Sherman Hemsley
(George Jefferson) read in the paper that the show was abruptly cancled. He was furious he wasn't told first, and wanted a final farewwell episode.

slapdash

01-29-2009, 12:35 AM

Did anyone with a subscription ever receive any of these quarterly issues after the last "regular" issue?

Yeah, I just received an issue a couple of days ago. I can't see an obvious expiration date on the mailing label, so I have no idea how many more I'll get.

The 1 2 P

01-29-2009, 07:00 PM

I had 3 issues left on my Tips & Tricks subscription when they folded, and I received 3 of the quarterly issues to make up the difference.

I don't remember how many issues I had left when they kicked the bucket(atleast one) but I never received the quarterly issues.

It reminds me of the time I was talking to customer service rep for Game Now to find out how many issues I had left. The lady told me two and asked if I wanted to renew. I said no thanks becuase I wasn't sure if they would be around much longer(Incite and Next Gen had just folded). She then told me that the magazine has been around for along time(EGM 2, Expert Gamer) and wasn't going anywhere. I'm not sure when but less then 6 months later the mag folded. Sometimes you just get that feeling. My next feeling? Gamepro has gotten extremely thin in content lately. The first 6-8 pages of each mag are filled with nothing but huge screen shots from various games(as is the last page). I wonder how much longer until they fold too:?

TheGam3r

01-29-2009, 08:56 PM

Their only good Isuues Were 195,198 And 200 the rest sucked cause the are a bunch of Sony/microsoft fanboys

otoko

01-29-2009, 09:01 PM

I think I've only bought one copy of this magazine... I don't remember what one either...

Zap!

01-30-2009, 03:04 AM

Their only good Isuues Were 195,198 And 200 the rest sucked cause the are a bunch of Sony/microsoft fanboys

What about their pre-1995 issues? They were all good.

CelticJobber

01-30-2009, 05:30 AM

Their only good Isuues Were 195,198 And 200 the rest sucked cause the are a bunch of Sony/microsoft fanboys

Yeah, and that would explain why they always went wild over Mario and especially Zelda games... :rolleyes:

Zap!

01-30-2009, 05:59 AM

Yeah, and that would explain why they always went wild over Mario and especially Zelda games... :rolleyes:

Doesn't everybody?

CelticJobber

01-30-2009, 06:48 AM

Doesn't everybody?

No, atleast a few diehard XBox 360 fanboys I know of would call them baby/kiddy games because there's no guns or gore.

Zap!

01-30-2009, 02:12 PM

No, atleast a few diehard XBox 360 fanboys I know of would call them baby/kiddy games because there's no guns or gore.

I know a PS3 fan that calls the Mario games kid games, but doesn't bash the Zelda games. Twlight Princess isn't baby.

The 1 2 P

01-30-2009, 02:37 PM

Back on topic, I just got my refund check from EGM for all my future issues. Refund check=epic win:)

TheGam3r

01-30-2009, 04:09 PM

Yeah, and that would explain why they always went wild over Mario and especially Zelda games... :rolleyes:

But the said in issue 198 That brian was a baby of the group case he liked pokemon

slapdash

01-30-2009, 10:51 PM

I just got my refund check too. Now let's see if the funds are there, heh.

The 1 2 P

01-30-2009, 11:39 PM

I just got my refund check too. Now let's see if the funds are there, heh.

LOL. I'm not cashing mine until next week when my other paycheck comes. So I guess you get to be the guinea pig:wink 2:

rbudrick

01-31-2009, 02:41 AM

Has the PDF for the Feb issue leaked yet?

-Rob

Vlad Sokar

02-02-2009, 12:34 AM

so i just read that egm declaired bankrupsy about a year ago. And I'm just finding out about this now??? What is going to happen to all the outstanding egm subscriptions out there? i saw an add, when i was looking for info, telling me i should subscribe to egm for $12. how can you sell a product that isn't going to exist? does anyone know what's going to happin? or what is happening?

vlad

Bojay1997

02-02-2009, 12:40 AM

EGM ceased publishing as of last month. In the old days, if a magazine stopped publishing and you still had time left on your subscription, they would give you an alternate, but similar magazine for the duration of your subscription. Nowadays in this economy, I suspect we are all just out the money.

bangtango

02-02-2009, 12:42 AM

God, this is the third thread on the death of EGM since it died.

Vlad Sokar

02-02-2009, 12:44 AM

ziff davis, i would think, should have enough money to where he shouldn't screw us over. i remember when opm stopped production. they gave me more egm, as i was already subscribed. they gave me that on top of my existing subscription and i imagin i have a lot of time left. If i get screwed over. i think i'll stear clear of ziff davis mags all together.

Vlad Sokar

02-02-2009, 12:45 AM

i just found out about it today in my oxm mag

MrSparkle

02-02-2009, 01:36 AM

The 1 2 P

02-02-2009, 07:33 PM

In the old days, if a magazine stopped publishing and you still had time left on your subscription, they would give you an alternate, but similar magazine for the duration of your subscription. Nowadays in this economy, I suspect we are all just out the money.

Not true. All one needs to do is call the magazine and politely ask for a refund of all unmailed issues. Thats what I did and I got my refund check within two weeks.

Zap!

02-03-2009, 01:17 AM

egm was owned by ziff davis? If thats the case i would definitely expect a replacement or a refund they are a fairly large magazine publisher. in the case that the parent company went under i wouldnt really expect anything.

Legally, don't they have to fulfill their end of the contract (subscription)? If they break it, they have to buy you out (pay you remaining months).

boatofcar

02-03-2009, 01:59 AM

White Knight, seriously, can you please make the image in your sig smaller? Why you're advertising a classic gaming forum on a classic gaming forum is a little weird anyway...

Zap!

02-03-2009, 02:19 PM

White Knight, seriously, can you please make the image in your sig smaller? Why you're advertising a classic gaming forum on a classic gaming forum is a little weird anyway...

I have made clear Zap! is not a rival board, it is its own uniquie classic board. I am a huge fan of DP, post here every day, and have links to DP on my board. I post more here than on my own, and am also a customer in the DP store.

Vlad Sokar

02-03-2009, 02:49 PM

does anyone know the email addy i should use to ask for a refound check?

TheGam3r

02-03-2009, 05:21 PM

What about their pre-1995 issues? They were all good.

i was born in 1995 and never got to expirence them

JSoup

02-03-2009, 06:27 PM

Now that I actually look, I only ever had three issues of EGM. The first one about Final Fantasy 7 (with Cloud looking over Midgar on the cover), one with a huge article about Pokemon shortly after the release of GSC and the 100th issue.

Although, I did buy the sellers guides every year.

bangtango

02-03-2009, 06:36 PM

i was born in 1995 and never got to expirence them

Ah, well you missed EGM in its prime then.

Zap!

02-03-2009, 06:47 PM

i was born in 1995 and never got to expirence them

If you ever see any old issues lying around, grab them. Those were the best years.

JSoup

02-03-2009, 06:53 PM

White Knight, seriously, can you please make the image in your sig smaller? Why you're advertising a classic gaming forum on a classic gaming forum is a little weird anyway...

I don't see a problem with the image, personally. There are other users who have bigger images than that.....

TheGam3r

02-03-2009, 06:59 PM

If you ever see any old issues lying around, grab them. Those were the best years.

ok then.off to somewhere will ill find them

Zap!

02-04-2009, 02:42 PM

CelticJobber

02-04-2009, 06:39 PM

While we're on the subject of EGM, does anyone remember the time when they started using four letter words ("f" this, etc.)? They only did this briefly, for less than a year I think. I'd have to say it was around 1999.

I don't remember them actually using the word "fuck", but lesser words like "shit" and "goddamn" were sometimes used around early 1998-1999.

Astrocade

02-04-2009, 06:42 PM

Nope, I distinctly remember a very late nineties issue referencing a game as "fucked up".

The 1 2 P

02-04-2009, 07:41 PM

Play uses ALL the four letter words these days. I think thats funny considering how fucked up to hell their shitty ass rating scale is. Just saying.

Zap!

02-05-2009, 01:08 AM

I don't remember them actually using the word "fuck", but lesser words like "shit" and "goddamn" were sometimes used around early 1998-1999.

Oh, they used it alright. I wonder why they decided to use curses, and why they abruptly decided to remove them. Apparently, in 1998/1999 EGM decided it was dead as a gaming mag and was going Rolling Stone.

Astrocade

02-05-2009, 01:29 AM

I think it was a case of "let's be rebels, that's what the kids dig now" and once they started getting complaints from moms and newsstand vendors they went all "sorry, so sorry, our mistake, please don't be mad".

I myself cuss like a drunken sailor at times but I remember finding it very out of place and unprofessional at the time. I like how mags like Retrogamer will let the "shits' and "damns" surface occasionally but they'll edit the F-word into "F&*%". Obviously not ALL of their readers are adult males aged 18-29, so PG-13 should be the order of the day. Converesly, Retrogamer doesn't find it out of place to run softcore phone sex ads in the back of their mag...

Zap!

02-05-2009, 03:00 AM

boatofcar

02-05-2009, 04:29 AM

Converesly, Retrogamer doesn't find it out of place to run softcore phone sex ads in the back of their mag...

It's a UK thing, I think. GamesTM does that too.

bangtango

02-06-2009, 07:54 PM

I too curse, yet found it very out of place in '99. I remember being totally disgusted with the mag, and saying how Steve Harris, Donn Neuart, and Ed Semrad would be appaled, and how much I truely miss them and the original EGM.

I always got the impression that the later editors, writers and reviewers had little to no respect for the likes of Harris and Semrad anyway.

Zap!

02-06-2009, 08:06 PM

I always got the impression that the later editors, writers and reviewers had little to no respect for the likes of Harris and Semrad anyway.

Yes, and that's a shame. Kind of like young punks who have no respect for their elders, or current gamers who hate the Atari 2600. If it wasn't for Harris, they would have not have been an EGM. There probably isn't even a picture of him in their main office.

The 1 2 P

02-06-2009, 08:18 PM

It's a UK thing, I think.

Agreed. They're much more open about that thing. Almost any UK game-centric magazine you pick up from Barnes & Nobles will have a good collection of sex ads in the back. It's as UKana as corupt politicians is Americana.

Teknik_SE-R

02-25-2009, 01:15 AM

So I'm just coming up to speed here. I was wondering when my March issue was going to show up.

Thanks to whoever pointed out sore thumbs.

As far as vg mags go, I think the industry headed severely downhill when they stopped posting walkthroughs, easter eggs, tips, codes etc. Not that it has been horrible this past decade. EGM has had several times LATELY where the journalism was superb. I think ppl have already mentioned the JP revival issue, VG veteran interviews, etc.

I always felt EGM did a pretty good job of rating games also (I could relate to their ratings anyway) I feel a bit better relying on printed reviews and news since any dimwit can post a review online (hello metacritic score gouging!!).

The situation reminds me a bit of autoblog test drives vs motortrend test drives. I KNOW I can rely on motor trend at least to be consistent, quantitatively backed, and singular in their reviews from reputable industry experts. Autoblog is hit and miss. Their reviews are qualitative "everyman" reviews, no real data, not comprehensive, and each reviewer has differing opinions.

ANYWAY

Any recommendations on new subscriptions? FYI I'm not a PC gamer. And Game Informer just never clicked with me. Seems to commercialized and almost written by "jounalists with a job", not industry experts or enthusiasts.

segagamer

02-26-2009, 12:58 AM

Does anyone know when the final issue (the one with SF4 on the cover) will be posted online? Will it also be available as downloadable pdf file?

boatofcar

02-26-2009, 02:43 AM

Quick podcast update--1Up Yours is still running with a new title, Listen UP. It's still great IMO. I gave up on Rebel FM. It's way too immature and rambling. Now my big 4 gaming podcasts are Retronauts, Listen UP, Giant Bombcast, and Gamers With Jobs.

Yeah, maybe I listen to too many gaming podcasts, especially considering the amount of time I actually spend playing video games these days, but what can I say, those four are really well done.

Jorpho

03-02-2009, 09:31 AM

Have they started to decimate the 1Up website now too? I was just looking for their old "Crucial Classics" article and could not find it.

JSoup

07-25-2011, 05:22 AM

So, necroposting an old topic to point out that EGM started printing again a few months ago.

Colorado Rockies

07-25-2011, 06:08 AM

So, necroposting an old topic to point out that EGM started printing again a few months ago.

Where can I get a subscription? I usually go to Amazon for mag subscriptions but they have been mysteriously eliminating vid game mags subscriptions lately.

JSoup

07-25-2011, 06:34 AM

Where can I get a subscription? I usually go to Amazon for mag subscriptions but they have been mysteriously eliminating vid game mags subscriptions lately.

http://www.egmnow.com/subscribe

You could also check out Tenga or CAD, or just head to your local Walmart and grab a subscription card out of the latest issue.

dairugger

07-25-2011, 12:32 PM

I hope the new EGM mag has gotten better than when they first launched. I was actually very excited when they relaunched the mag only to find out their new layout was too clean looking, it was sparse. they had next to no coverage of the japanese market and focused more on fps. gone were tons of pics and reviews, replaced with tons of articles about how it was to be inside the industry.

it just wasnt the same, and now what i expected when i found out it was under the ownership of the founder of egm. honestly i found the new gamefan more to my liking, tons of glorious pics and tons of niche, import, and rpg coverage. only thing i dislike about gamefan is the huge size of the mag, its uk sized i believe.

JSoup

07-25-2011, 04:08 PM

I've been picking through the latest issues and, honestly......I find them boring. The industry articles are interesting, but not all the time, particularly when it's basically all lamenting.

dairugger

07-25-2011, 05:52 PM

That's what it is, boring. Their layout is white on white minimalist ipod style. I rember I was sad when egn was canceled, and elated when they announced they were coming back. After the first couple issues tho I just didn't care, I NEVER thought that would happen. I've also noticed that the mags hard to find lately, I really hope they turn it around because I'm a big believer in print.

CelticJobber

07-25-2011, 06:33 PM

Yeah, the new EGM is far too sterile and boring compared with the old version.

Not enough photos, and way too much coverage of PC and FPS titles.

To show their mentality, one of the reviewers basically said that he only cares about HALO, CoD, and Gears of War in an article in the latest issue.

And I also hate the way they've gone to the one reviewer format. It was much better with atleast 2 or 3 reviewers for each game.

They also have pretty limited and inconsistent distribution. The only places I know of that sell it are a Target and Walmart in a bad part of town. The other Walmart and Target stores I've been to never have it.

dairugger

07-25-2011, 07:24 PM

i rember when they were talking about relaunching the mag they said it would be for the mature reader, who grew up playing games and grew up with EGM. I didnt know mature meant sterile and boring. Its as if the mag has no soul. and your right about them catering to the pc and fps crowd, which is fine but how about some variety?

I remember thumbing through a couple issues and finding their review were mainly for fps and western games, i remember thinking how jarring it was to see nothing but western made games when 5-8 years ago that was unthinkable. I think its awesome were making great games, years ago people steered clear of western made games or cringed when they got their hands on our favorite franchises (castlevania resurrection for DC), but the east still makes great games too.

its weird, sometimes its like the game industry went bizarro world on me, at my local gamestop they look at you weird when you ask about a anime game, and you can see them trying to see if you were on chris hanson's to catch a predator pedophile catching show if you dont show the slightest interest in the newest call of duty or its like. they make me feel so old and out of touch at the age of 33! lol

sorry for the rambling, thats what no sleep will do to you kids!