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IGN cancels IPL6 eSports tournament
The IGN ProLeague 6 event – intended to take place at the end of the month from March 28-31 – has officially been canceled, following rumors of its demise last week."Now there are more tournaments than ever before competing for people's time and attention, so we're no longer in a position to commit the resources required to run another major independent event," IGN explained in its official statement. "You should also know that we are working on finding a new home for the IPL team and IGN will continue to broadcast partner tournaments in the future."Full refunds for the event and for reservations made at IPL6's intended venue at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas are available. Those with non-refundable plane tickets still have someplace to go, but nothing to see. It's Vegas, we're sure there's something to do.The cancellation follows a review of resources at IGN after its acquisition by Ziff Davis. The organization experienced layoffs a couple weeks ago.
Rumor: IGN's IPL6 eSports tournament canceled
The IGN ProLeague 6 event scheduled for later this month in Las Vegas has reportedly been canceled. GameSpot has been putting the pieces together, which include sponsors receiving products back that had been shipped for the event, links being removed on the IPL site for hotel reservations and certain international qualifiers being canceled.The news isn't exactly surprising following the acquisition of IGN by Ziff Davis, which has already led to layoffs and reorganization of editorial. IPL is currently in the process of being sold to interested buyers.IGN has not responded to our request for comment by this writing. We'll update if we receive official word.
IGN hit with layoffs; 1UP, Gamespy and UGO shutting down
IGN was hit with editorial layoffs today, with sites 1UP, UGO and Gamespy expected to be shut down."We are focusing on our two flagship brands, IGN and AskMen. Unfortunately, as a result, we have made the decision to close sites and restructure our teams accordingly," a company spokesperson confirmed to Joystiq.The news comes less that a month after IGN was purchased by j2 Global through its Ziff Davis subsidiary.
All but one Future publication saw circulation dip in 2009
[Image credit: benben] Can you guess which of Future Publishing's nine magazines didn't lose readership in 2009? If your money was with Edge, you've got our permission to give yourself a nice big pat on the back. Go ahead, we'll wait. Done? Good. Like we were saying, the UK game mag publisher saw shrinking circulation numbers in 2009 -- the same year that saw the closure of PlayStation World by Future and the shuttering of long-running US gaming mag EGM by Ziff-Davis. While Edge circulation numbers rose by (a somewhat meager) 109 readers, Games Master dropped by 6,636 (to 34,313), PC Zone by 7,666 (to 11,357), and Xbox World 360 by 5,156 (to 25,874). While those numbers might seem a bit on the low side, that has more to do with the smaller size/population of the UK than anything else (though, of course, dropping readership numbers don't mean good things for any publication house). According to the GamesIndustry.biz report, Future blames the circulation drops on "slowing sales and ad spend [advertisers spending on print advertising]." We've dropped the entire list of circulation numbers after the break (care of the UK Audit Bureau of Circulations), should you be so inclined to peruse all the stats.
Relaunched EGM subscriptions now available, magazine details remain hazy [update]
Hey, you remember EGM, right? The gaming mag that folded in January 2009 when 1UP/EGM was sold by Ziff-Davis Media to Hearst/UGO? And then the original publisher Steve Harris purchased it for a relaunch earlier this year, only to find out that the relaunch was pushed to April? We have to imagine that, by now, you're positively itching to put your money down on a subscription (if you haven't already subscribed to Kill Screen, of course). It would appear that your wish has been granted, as EGM has officially opened the door to its subscription portal, promising savings of 70 percent off the newsstand price. For 32 issues and access to "EGMi: The Digital Magazine," US customers are looking at dropping $14.99, while 64 issues (as well as the aforementioned digital mag access) will cost $24.99 -- Canadian subscribers are looking at $34.99 and $54.99 for 32 and 64 issues, respectively, minus the digital version. Though we've yet to receive any real idea of the magazine's content, Harris has already signed on ex-EGMers Dan "Shoe" Hsu and Demian Linn, as well as the Co-Op folks, to fill those shoes (or "Hsu's," as it were). We'll certainly find out more this April when the first issue is scheduled to hit subscribers and newsstands. Update: To be clear, the $14.99 and $24.99 subscription deals actually equal a half year or full year of physical magazines (one per month; six and 12, respectively), as detailed in the fine print. "Your subscription includes either six print issues and 26 premium digital issues of EGM[I]: The Digital Magazine for a total of 32 issues OR 12 print issues and 52 premium digital issues of EGM[I]: The Digital Magazine for a total of 64 issues." Confusing enough for you?
EGM sold to original founder, resumes publication this year
Electronic Gaming Monthly, which died when UGO bought out the 1UP brand in January, is being resurrected by its original founder, Steve Harris. Harris, who started EGM in 1989, has regained the print and online publishing rights from Ziff Davis Media as part of an undisclosed agreement. Harris intends to relaunch the magazine in the second half of 2009 and says he has "exciting plans for the evolution of what will once again be a leading independent voice for the gaming community."There's no word yet on whether ex-EGM staff will be making a return to the magazine, or if Harris is in talks with UGO to re-establish a partnership with 1UP, but more details are due to be revealed during E3 next week. We guess in this case print really isn't dead.
FileFront reacquired by original owners, not shutting down
FileFront announced its closure last week, and the gaming community mourned its loss. Mourn no more, however! The original owners of FileFront have reacquired it from Ziff Davis Media, and it will be reopening once more. The notice regarding the reopening states very clearly that this is not an April Fool's joke, nor was the original closure. The timing is suspect, but this absolutely was going to happen without their intervention.I don't know if all of the files have been saved with this change in ownership, but the service will be, at the very least. Will FileFront's founders do a better job keeping the site running? Only time will tell. For now, let's celebrate with all of the other gamers around the world. FileFront is back and hopefully it's here to stay.
FileFront rises from the grave
FileFront died ... and then it came back. We're pretty sure that makes it the world's first zombie file delivery site. Just a week ago, FileFront announced it was shutting down "due to the current economic conditions." Thankfully, some last-minute negotiations revived the site.The original founders of FileFront were able to buy back the site from the struggling Ziff Davis Media, restoring all suspended services. "We thank Ziff Davis Media for their cooperation and willingness to keep the site and community alive," the founders commented.Unfortunately, the announcement of FileFront's revival was made on April 1st, leading many to believe the site's restoration was simply a hoax. The site's statement reiterates three times that this news is real. We're glad to see FileFront is back -- it's always nice to see good news come out during these dire economic times.[Thanks PS36Wii Fanboy!]
FileFront says 'farewell' ... and get your files while you can!
Ziff Davis is preparing to pull the plug on FileFront, the game-related download service currently housed under the struggling publisher's PC Magazine Digital Network. In a somber message posted on FileFront, the site's management and team announced that "due to the current economic conditions" operations would be suspended indefinitely on March 30, 2009. In other words, you have five days to spare the 48-plus terabytes of files currently hosted on FileFront from an irreversible *click* into the virtual trash bin. We suggest you commence downloading -- now! Unfortunately, we can't also download the good people who have kept FileFront running for all of these years. We wish everyone affected by this change the very best in getting back in the game.[Image credit: tomsaint11]
GamePro to publish indie games, free magazine
Set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, GamePro -- and parent company IDG -- has made an unexpected announcement: it's getting into the business of publishing games. As reported by GameDaily, the newly formed label, GamePro Labs, will focus on publishing games from independent developers.The label's official site makes mention of Xbox 360, PC, Zune, iPhone and PlayStation Network platforms, but is light on specific release plans. Game submissions are being accepted, although GamePro does say it will only be publishing a limited number of tiles each year. The company will act as a sort of "middleman" between indie devs and platformer holders, in addition to handling payouts and "regular promotion in GamePro Magazine." The latter hopefully refers to ad space and not any sort of paid editorial consideration. Titles from three currently signed developers will be announced at GDC later this month.GamePro has also announced plans to produce a free, custom edition of its magazine for distribution exclusively at 7-Eleven stores. The convenience chain began selling games last year (and breaking street dates on them shortly thereafter).
1UP's Shane Bettenhausen heads to Ignition Entertainment [updated]
First, a confession: our original headline for this post was "Shane turns down Sony PR job, goes with smaller publisher" – that is, until we heard the kids at Rebel FM jokingly suggest that blogs would use exactly that as a headline. Oh yeah, smart guys? Well, we didn't! Moving on. So, 1UP's Shane Bettenhausen did turn down a Sony PR job ... several years ago. [Update: Shane writes that he "misspoke" and "never interviewed for the position" – so you can stop writing those scathing forum posts, platform conspiracy theorists.] Right now, the recently laid-off Bettenhausen has taken a gig as Director of Business Development (we call that BizDev, folks) at "smaller publisher" Ignition Entertainment. Says Bettenhausen: "they're not on the map as much as other big publishers." Then why take the position, when fellow 1UP alums have moved onto places like Bungie and 2K Boston? At Ignition, Bettenhausen would get to "choose which games to publish" – in other words, he'd rather be a big fish in a smaller pond. Not a bad plan. Up next from Ignition: Blue Dragon Plus for the DS.To get the full story straight from Shane himself, tune into the latest Rebel FM podcast at around the one hour 21 minute mark. (Bonus: Listen for Shane's comment that the "rise of blogs – Kotaku and Joystiq – completely reshaped the landscape." Great! Now we can add "landscaper" to the old CV).
Final EGM issue to be 'printed' on 1UP
R.I.P. Electronic Gaming Monthly1989-2009 EGM's departing final editor-in-chief, James Mielke, has posted the magazine's last cover on his blog, revealing that the issue will be available to read (in hi-res) on 1UP. Protip: You can print it out and put it in your mailbox out of respect for the publication's demise.Mielke's post goes on to discuss his eight-month stint in the captain's chair -- following the departure of longtime editor Dan Hsu -- and features candid images of the mag's final days. Toward the end of the piece, Mielke claims the EGM circulation was between 550-650K and its death "was simply a matter of UGO wanting a website, not a magazine."Bonus: Here's an image of nearly every EGM cover, ever! [Via GameCulture]
EGM en Espaol est muerto
For our unilingual readers whose loose grasp on the Spanish language sent that headline careening over their heads, the Spanish version of EGM is shutting down, according to editorial director Adrián Carbajal. Their upcoming December issue (the one with the Watchmen game on the cover) will effectively serve as their last installment after a little more than six years of publication. It should come as no surprise that the main reason Carbajal cited for the collapse of EGM en Español is the seemingly perilous future of the English language version of the mag. Should yesterday's report that UGO is looking to purchase the 1UP network sans the twenty-year-old EGM come to fruition, it's unlikely that we'll see many more issues of the gaming magazine we tucked oh-so-many times into our Junior High textbooks.[Thanks, Josué]
NYT: Ziff-Davis considering online-only future for EGM
As we near the end of a year that saw outspoken EGM editor-in-chief Dan "Shoe" Hsu resign his post, The New York Times quotes publisher Ziff-Davis as "considering" a course of action that would take the prominent print mag online only. The news comes in an article about ZD's decision to make a similar move with 27-year-old flagship publication, PC Magazine.Ziff-Davis chief executive, James Young, revealed to the paper that an online-only future for EGM is a possibility, but that the publisher "would not make a decision before the end of the year." Recent months have seen the departure of staffers from 1UP, EGM's online sister publication, and a frank admission of the decreasing viability of games-related print media by 1UP editorial director, Simon Cox.
NYC's game-focused DigitalLife 2008 Expo canceled
Ziff-Davis Media's annual DigitalLife Expo – held each fall in New York City's Javits Center – is canceled this year thanks to "poor economic conditions." The last two years had a significant gaming presence (2006 and 2007) and, facing a lack of interest in the show in 2007, Ziff's "apparent strategy was to put more of a focus on gaming for the 2008 edition" according to CNET. DigitalLife Vice President Paul O'Reilly said in an e-mailed statement, "Hopefully, a bigger and stronger DigitalLife will return in 2009."So, if you had September 25-28 circled in your 2008 Hot Men of Ziff-Davis calendar, we'd recommend you spend that time with some of this fall's bigger games. Seriously, what were you thinking anyway? September has Rock Band 2, Spore, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Mercenaries 2 (on August 31). You'll be quite busy.
Dan "Shoe" Hsu ends long career at Ziff Davis
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Dan_Shoe_Hsu_leaves_the_1UP_Network'; [Update: 2:20PM: Shoe has posted a blog about the move, noting that his departure is "my own decision; I'm not being forced out or laid off or anything like that." Hsu writes that he plans to take "some much-needed time off" before considering future career moves.][Update 2:17PM: Ziff Davis Vice President for Editorial Simon Cox has written a blog post on the departure, noting that the move will be effective Friday, April 25.]Ziff Davis announced today that Dan "Shoe" Hsu, former editor-in-chief of Electronic Gaming Monthly, will be leaving Ziff Davis "to pursue personal interests." Site Director Sam Kennedy will be taking over Hsu's current role as Editorial Director of 1UP Networks. The abrupt departure, which comes after an 11-year career with the video game news publisher, follows a Tuesday announcement that Ziff Davis Games For Windows magazine would be going to an online-only format effective immediately. It's not immediately known what Hsu plans to do next. Kennedy will also maintain his current role as editor-in-chief of the online gaming news portal.Hsu started working for Ziff Davis in April 1996. He briefly wrote for start-up Gamers.com from April 2000 - 2001 before returning to Ziff Davis and becoming editor-in-chief of Electronic Gaming Monthly. Hsu was promoted to editorial director last year, when former Editorial Director John Davison left Ziff Davis to start parents gaming guide What They Play.
Games for Windows Magazine goes online-only
The list of defunct video game magazines has grown quite a bit over the last few years: Tips & Tricks; Computer Games; the Official PlayStation Magazine (the old one, not the new one). Well, we can add another name to the list today, as Ziff Davis just announced that Games for Windows: The Official Magazine will no longer exist in its print form.In announcing the move, effective as of the April/May issue, Ziff Davis Vice President Simon Cox assured readers that the decision had "nothing to do with the Chapter 11 stuff," and everything to do with the computer gaming audience's massive migration to online news sources. The magazine's editorial staff will be transferred to computer game coverage on 1UP.com, Cox said, though the magazine's art team will be moving on. Current subscribers will be able to transfer their subscriptions to Electronic Gaming Monthly or request a refund PC Mag, according to 1UP's Dan Hsu [updated with correction from Hsu himself @ 3:09].The decision marks the end of the run for a magazine that started in 1981 as Computer Gaming World and leaves Electronic Gaming Monthly as Ziff Davis' only print video game magazine and Future's PC Gamer as America's only computer game-focused print mag. Will this latest streamlining help attract interest in the long-offered sale of the Ziff Davis Game Group? Given the widespread contraction of the magazine market, we can't say it would hurt.
Ziff Davis files chapter 11 bankruptcy
Damn, we don't normally do too much media-on-media stuff, but reports are surfacing that tech mega-publisher Ziff Davis (owner of PC Mag, EGM, DigitalLife, etc.) is fricking filing for chapter 11 bankruptcy as a shield from some $225m in debt. For those not in the know, chapter 11 just means they're down, but not necessarily out -- although we had no idea it was as dire for the media company as being $225m in the can (not that we're really all that shocked). Apparently when the company anticipates emerging from bankruptcy later this summer it'll have whittled down its debt to under $60m, having given up nearly 90% of the company's equity to its private creditors.
Ziff Davis: EGM, 1UP publisher files for bankruptcy protection
Ziff Davis Media, publishers of EGM, Games for Windows Magazine, and 1UP.com, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, in an effort to get their house in order and pay off some of that $390 million in debt they were sitting on last August. What does this all mean? If approved by a court, Ziff will restructure to lighten its debt load ("a total of $400 million") and, theoretically, all of your video gaming properties should continue on with business as usual (we expect to hear as much from one of the 1UP guys in time). Jason Young, CEO of Ziff Davis Media, framed it this way: "Today's restructuring agreement goes a long way towards resolving the burdens of a debt load and capital structure established seven years ago, during a leveraged buyout of the company." More on this as we hear it.[Thanks, Blizake]
Xboy: Ziff-Davis survey hints at Microsoft handheld
[click for high-resolution] A recent Ziff-Davis survey – distributed amongst subscribers to their 1UP, EGM, and Games for Windows Magazine brands – asked "If Microsoft came out with a portable gaming device (similar to PSP, Nintendo DS/Lite, etc.), how likely are you to purchase the device?" Answers are comprised of the typical survey stuff, Very Likely to Not at All Likely with a Don't Know thrown in for the more indecisive gamers out there. While rumblings concerning the long-rumored Xboy have been plenty scarce of late, Shane Kim did address it during a Q&A at the D.I.C.E. seminar held earlier this month. As reported by Gamasutra, he said, "Never say never ... Launching a portable device is like launching a Zune, launching another Xbox 360... we have a ways to go [to compete effectively in the music space]... Zune is not just about the device, it's about the service as well." Considering that he sure didn't seem eager to say "enn oh" the idea that Redmond is soliciting consumer interest in such a device is far from surprising. However, if they're still at the whole "Does anyone want this thing?" phase, it would be quite some time before any of us got our mitts on an honest-ta-gawd Xboy.%Poll-9601%[Thanks, Matt & Jonas]
