November 21, 2008
Ziff Davis CEO Considering Shuttering Print Version Of EGM
Yesterday, publisher Ziff Davis announced it will cease distribution of the paper version of PC Magazine -- but is its lone remaining print magazine, veteran game periodical Electronic Gaming Monthly, far behind?
According to a New York Times report, Ziff Davis CEO Jason Young is not confident in its continued publication, either.
Buried in the story about PC Magazine is this snippet, which doesn't feature any direct quotes from Young: "Mr. Young said the company was considering taking its other print magazine, the video-game publication Electronic Gaming Monthly, into an online-only format, but would not make a decision before the end of the year."
Young blamed PC Magazine's online move on projected losses for the magazine in 2009 due to "fewer advertisements and rising costs", according to the NYT story. It is unclear how PC Magazine and EGM ad sales and costs compare.
He also pointed out that online had been the publication's primary focus for some time now -- a situation which is potentially mirrored with EGM. Ziff Davis currently operates games-oriented site 1UP.com, which already functions as EGM online.
The magazine and website share content and writers freely. In fact, they some time ago moved to end the distinction between online and print editors, moving its editorial staff into a more generalized pool that works on both properties. EGM also currently maintains a branded presence on the 1UP website.
Earlier this year, Ziff Davis closed its last remaining non-EGM print games magazine, when it moved Games For Windows Magazine online, as a section on its 1UP website.
If this is a shock to you, what cave have you been in? Regardless, I thought it was pretty decent for the most part.
And nothing of value was lost?
No, no... video game publications still have a place in my heart, but they're becoming increasingly obsolete in a world that utilizes the Internet for just about everything. I'm not sorry to see it go, but I'll always remember the good times... making the trip once a month to the local K-Mart (before they packed up and left, the jerks) back in my adolescence to spy the newest 'zines and catch up on what's new in the industry, not to mention the various subscriptions I've had over the years.
I'll give EGM another year before they offically shut down! It's sad to see them go I've been a subscriber to EGM (and still am) since I was a freshman in high school (a long time in other words)! However if this does happen I won't cry for too long! 1up is certainly one of the greatest videogame sites on the web! So making EGM 1up only will be a solid step in what I feel is a better direction for Videogame media!
eh, couldn't care. I have an EGM subscription right now, but that was free from Joystick.com. Between Kotaku and GoNintendo, I'm pretty up to date with my gaming news.
I don't really seem to care much, kinda sad since yeah I've been a subscriber to EGM for years now. But now, the coverage is just crap. Few articles and tons of ads. Back in the day, EGM used to be a "fat" lil mag. Nothing like it is now.
Actually, it's kind of surprising they've been at it as long as they have, considering the percentage of their target audience that're likely to get, or be able to get, reviews, previews, articles, etc. online. Usually for free.
Not gonna lie...I usually only use magazines for pictures to cut out and put on my wall. Now...i'll have to use printer ink. LAME. =P
