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EGM Now hires industry vet Billy Berghammer as group EIC
Aside from having an excellent last name that gives us the impression he's really into smashing hamburgers, longtime game industry veteran Billy Berghammer was announced late this past week as the group editor-in-chief of EGM Media. In his new role, he'll be overseeing both the print version of EGM Now and EGMi: The Digital Magazine. "Finding someone with Billy's expertise and knowledge of the industry is rare and we're very happy to have him guiding the editorial voice of the new Electronic Gaming Monthly," said publisher and founder Steve Harris of Berghammer in the announcement release. Over the course of his tenure in the game industry, Berghammer served as founder of PlanetGameCube.com (now NintendoWorldReport.com), managing editor of Game Informer Online, and, most recently, as editorial director of gaming at G4 Interactive. And for his part, Berghammer says he'll be focusing on creating "a talented editorial team that our readers wil recognize and respect in the same way they've trusted EGM to delivery honest analysis in the past." So, hiring more former EGM writers then? You can't fool us, Berghammer!
Revived EGM's first issue has Street Fighter covered
It ended with Ryu and Ken, and now it's starting anew with the same pair of World Warriors. The two covers of the first issue of the new EGM relaunch have been revealed. Each variant depicts either Ryu or Ken as seen in the upcoming Super Street Fighter IV. (The last, unpublished issue of Ziff Davis's EGM featured Street Fighter IV on the cover, as well.) Perhaps it's a coincidence, due to the timing of the release of Super Street Fighter IV later this month, but the new covers could certainly be a nod to the magazine's former incarnation. Of course, it's not like Street Fighter covers are unusual for EGM. In addition to those historically relevant images of Ryu and Ken, the covers reveal the contents of the issue, including a large feature about the history and future of fighting games, an in-depth examination of Super Street Fighter IV and a discussion of new retro-style games.
'EGM: The Lost Issue' launches, offers free preview of EGMi: The Digital Magazine
Nearly a month ago, publisher Steve Harris showed off a concept video of what we could expect from the interactive, online version of the now-resurrected EGM, called EGMi: The Digital Magazine. At the time, Harris promised that the real, fully-functioning first "issue" of EGMi -- the "lost issue" of EGM -- would debut on the magazine's website "long before Summer arrives" ... and, lo and behold, it's already here. Creating an account on EGM Now will grant you free access to EGM: The Lost Issue, a browser-sized (or full-screen) version of the never-published final issue of EGM that its editors had already put to bed when the magazine was shuttered in January of last year. It animates, makes sound ... but sadly doesn't scroll vertically (and there's an issue with sluggish loading, which will hopefully be worked out in subsequent "issues.") So, if you've been longing to see the lost EGM of yore -- and get a look at its online future -- it's definitely worth checking out. Once you have, why not offer your opinion in comments?
EGM Now launches with ... digitized final issue of old EGM?
We've been hearing about Steve Harris's digital version of the soon-to-be relaunched EGM for quite some time now, and we're just one month away from the magazine's return to newsstands. However, if you're trying to get an early peek at what Harris has in store for EGMi: The Digital Magazine (that he's said will be released supplementally between print issues), now's your chance. But what's this? The mysterious unreleased "last issue"of EGM? It is! As Harris puts it, "The links on this cover page aren't live yet - but they will be long before Summer arrives." Okay, okay, it might've taken a year for the issue to become available -- and yes, it might be full of content on games that have been out for quite some time now -- but hey, it's a chance to explore "layers and depth that you control." Doesn't that seem enticing? Well, we're not really sure quite yet, as the Screen Paper-based issue has yet to incorporate the promises we've been hearing since last September. With grand plans for the release of a digital magazine every week once the print mag relaunches, we'll certainly see how this shakes out soon enough.
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 relaunches with April issue, explains digital content
EGM Media this morning announced the distribution of its upcoming magazine via an "agreement" with Time/Warner Retail Sales and Marketing (former EGM/Ziff Davis Media distributor), alongside intentions to release its first issue with an April cover. Though no specific date was given other than "March 2010" for the newsstand re-launch of Electronic Gaming Monthly, the press release detailed the "weekly interactive version of the magazine," named "EGMi: The Digital Magazine" (rolls right off the tongue!). Accessed by a "special code" included with each issue, the digital extension of the magazine will be made up of "exclusive article extensions and original content." Also of note, game previews and reviews will make up at least part of the premiere issue, with notorious rumor-monger Quartermann, ex-EIC Dan "Shoe" Hsu (as previously announced), and prankster Sean "Seanbaby" Reiley all contributing content as well. Publisher and prez of EGM Media, Steve Harris, claimed the digital content "is complementary to the print magazine" and gives editors "a way to communicate with our readers and update the print product in an ongoing manner." We'll see how his claims play out when the magazine arrives this March.
Kill Screen gaming mag aiming for highbrow readers
Between John Davison recently promising a revitalization of GamePro, Steve Harris' purchase and subsequent relaunch of EGM (as EGM Now), and now the announcement of "Kill Screen" from Jamin Brophy-Warren and Chris Dahlen, it's been quite the year for gaming magazines. But Kill Screen seems to be taking a decidedly different approach to publishing, aiming its first print run at "2 or 3,000 copies," Brophy-Warren told us this afternoon. With an editorial directive to thematically tackle game writing -- and no obligation to the traditional reviews/previews/news format due to a donation/subscriber-funded, non-profit approach -- Kill Screen intends to avoid the mechanical nitty gritty that plagues game writing. "A great example of that is with Brütal Legend," Brophy-Warren said. "Tim Schafer had to come out and defend the RTS elements ... When we talk about games critically, it's not going to be in that sense." The first issue, the "test run" or "zero issue" as it's being called, will be finished in "the next week or two" and shipping by January. Brophy-Warren added that he's hoping the second issue will be ready for GDC, but he's not so certain. And as for the short initial print run, he says "Everyone's gotta start somewhere, right?" and encourages people to subscribe to insure they'll get a copy. We wish them the best of luck!
Interview: EGM Now's Steve Harris
Following the closure of Electronic Gaming Monthly by parent company Ziff Davis Media earlier this year (after nearly 20 years in the game industry), the magazine's original founder Steve Harris repurchased the rights and promised a rebirth for EGM. We ran into Harris at E3 2009 and cajoled him into speaking with us about his purchase. (He was a bit busy with business at E3, as you might imagine, thus we're talking a few months later.) Though we're still a little ways off from the mag's December 1 "return," he gave us a few hints of what to expect, his explanation of how EGM Now will succeed financially where "old EGM" failed, and a few of his favorite games on the current-gen systems. Hit the break for the whole thing.
