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NWR Interactive => TalkBack => Topic started by: NWR_Lindy on May 08, 2010, 08:51:39 PM

Title: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 08, 2010, 08:51:39 PM

The former NWR Site Director is set to helm one of the most revered magazines in gaming.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=23046

 The latest Weekend Confirmed podcast on Shacknews.com features former NWR Director Billy Berghammer, and he dropped a little bombshell at the end of the show.  Billy will soon be taking over as Editor-in-Chief at the recently revitalized EGM (Electronic Gaming Monthly).    

For those following at home, our former chief first left NWR for a gig running the web side of Game Informer, and later wound up doing the same for G4 TV.  Now he's running EGM, a name that longtime gamers are very familiar with, and we here at Nintendo World Report couldn't be happier for him.    

Congratulations Billy!

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BeautifulShy on May 08, 2010, 09:08:26 PM

Wow he gets around.
Has there been an online gaming magazine before?

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: vudu on May 08, 2010, 09:14:23 PM

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/kingvudu/bb_ass.png)

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: MegaByte on May 08, 2010, 09:24:31 PM

Quote from: Maxi on May 08, 2010, 09:08:26 PM

Wow he gets around.
Has there been an online gaming magazine before?

Sure, but it depends what you mean by online gaming magazine.  If you mean something in non-HTML format, The Escapist used to be published as PDF.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BeautifulShy on May 08, 2010, 09:56:02 PM

Well I guess I meant that was there a print mag that didn't work out and they changed the format to online.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: MegaByte on May 08, 2010, 10:00:43 PM

Again, it depends what you mean.  Many of the print mags post their articles online, though not necessarily in magazine format.  Also, EGM is still available in print format.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: pyrokamileon on May 08, 2010, 10:04:06 PM

sooo what about john davison? oh wait he's gamepro...  so who is Billy taking over for?

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 08, 2010, 10:11:57 PM

Steve Harris, the original founder who bought the rights to EGM back from Ziff-Davis.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: UncleBob on May 08, 2010, 10:36:50 PM

Print magazine?  They still make those?

Congrats, though!

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 08, 2010, 10:44:42 PM

It's print+digital.  www.egmnow.com

Title: Billy Berghammer's Ass
Post by: stevey on May 08, 2010, 10:51:01 PM

Traitor.

Well at least it isn't G4 anymore so it's defiantly an major improvement..... ;)

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: ShyGuy on May 08, 2010, 11:12:18 PM

Congrats to Billie, I was shocked to hear it while listening to Weekend Confirmed.

Louie the cat is the new Sushi-X?

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Adrock on May 09, 2010, 02:54:55 AM

I've been meaning to subscribe to the new EGM. I haven't in years, but it was always my favorite magazine and it's only $25. Still, I wonder if it's even worth it considering how fast breaking new spreads on the internet. Even if EGM gets an exclusive, it'll be stolen within minutes.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: nickmitch on May 09, 2010, 04:30:19 AM

I used to have a subscription. I might have to get that going again...

Congrats, Billy!

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 09, 2010, 12:58:37 PM

I was already somewhat interested in this new EGM, and this just increases it. If they put it on the iPad I'll have to subscribe.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Mop it up on May 09, 2010, 02:33:20 PM

An inspiration for aspiring Nintendo fan writers everywhere.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Stratos on May 09, 2010, 04:11:17 PM

Teh Billeh lives!

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: ThePerm on May 09, 2010, 08:00:46 PM

hehe, i was just over in a magazine section today and I was just thinking about how I used to pick up EGM all the time..back when they were thick and not thinned out till non-existence. Magazines should not be anorexic for content. I remember in EGMs downfall thinking how Nintendo Power was a thicker magazine than EGM and they only covered Nintendo systems. Congrats to Billy! May Louie continually get fat.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 09, 2010, 08:55:13 PM

What's funny is that I'm so damn old that I can remember picking up the very first issue of EGM in 1989 (white cover, with Mega Man 2 as the cover story).   I think I actually still have it, although I may have tossed it in a mass magazine purge at some point along the way.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd know the EIC of the magazine I read in high school.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Dirk Temporo on May 09, 2010, 09:52:14 PM

So does this mean EGM won't suck?

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Toruresu on May 09, 2010, 11:06:13 PM

Quote from: Dirk Temporo on May 09, 2010, 09:52:14 PM

So does this mean EGM won't suck?

My question exactly. EGM has been on a suck-train for a while. Billy congrats!

P.S. come back! :D

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: ShyGuy on May 09, 2010, 11:10:43 PM

Mark Bozon is over on EGM now too, for all you haters.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Peachylala on May 10, 2010, 11:49:23 AM

Quote from: Mop it up on May 09, 2010, 02:33:20 PM

An inspiration for aspiring Nintendo fan writers everywhere.

I am not really feeling inspired. Billy is awesome, don't get me wrong, but EGM? ...Uh, hooray?

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Ian Sane on May 10, 2010, 01:56:11 PM

It's interesting to see someone who was just "one of the guys" find such success.  I've never met Billy and he probably doesn't know who I am but I remember the story of him camping out for the midnight Japanese launch of the Gamecube.  I think NWR, from the beginning has had a very good connection to the readers.  It has always felt like a community.  When that Japanese Cube launch article ran it felt like WE had this guy who went out to Japan for US and to get info regarding the Gamecube for US.  Like it might as well been a group of friends who had this one guy in Japan doing the rest of us a favour.

When I think of Billy Berghammer that's what I think of.  I think that demonstrates how successful NWR has been.  So it's cool that Billy is now the EGM guy.  Congratulations. :)

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_Lindy on May 11, 2010, 08:58:52 AM

Quote from: Peachylala on May 10, 2010, 11:49:23 AM

I am not really feeling inspired. Billy is awesome, don't get me wrong, but EGM? ...Uh, hooray?[/quote]

EGM is a legendary magazine.  A lot of people grew up with it, and it was right there during the heyday of the NES.  So don't hate!

Besides, a lot of people were miffed at the way the EGM name was tossed aside when Ziff-Davis was acquired by Hearst Media.  It was a victim of the decline of print media, but nobody really wanted to see it go (especially when there were lesser brands on the web that were doing just fine).  Know what I mean?

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: MegaByte on May 11, 2010, 09:57:38 AM

I still had like 10 years of free subscription on EGM when it shut down.  Guess I'm not going to get those back.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: MikeHrusecky on May 11, 2010, 09:59:42 AM

Good goin' BILLEH. ;)

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 11:10:56 AM

Quote from: MegaByte on May 11, 2010, 09:57:38 AM

I still had like 10 years of free subscription on EGM when it shut down.  Guess I'm not going to get those back.

Me too. But i was sending them to a friends house so he could get his kids interested in reading. I do all my reading online, so it would have only taken up space here.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 11:37:01 AM

Ziff Davis was not bought by Hearst, Ziff Davis sold 1UP.com to Hearst. After Hearst said they didn't want to buy EGM too, Ziff Davis shut the magazine down until Steve Harris bought the name back from ZD. Ziff Davis is still a independent company.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Sessha on May 11, 2010, 11:42:59 AM

I love how the forum cuts off the title to read "Billy Berghammer Ass"

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: Mop it up on May 11, 2010, 05:37:25 PM

It was no accident, I assure you of that.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 11, 2010, 06:09:38 PM

Quote from: Sessha on May 11, 2010, 11:42:59 AM

I love how the forum cuts off the title to read "Billy Berghammer Ass"

That really seems like something that would have been Funhouse'd by now.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 06:33:32 PM

Quote from: MegaByte on May 11, 2010, 09:57:38 AM

I still had like 10 years of free subscription on EGM when it shut down.  Guess I'm not going to get those back.

Unfortunately I knew that for a long time now. After Steve Harris announced last summer that he was re-launching EGM I e-mailed him and asked if past subscriptions would transfer over, he said that it was regrettably not possible. I also had a few years of subscriptions saved up. I would have been pissed if I had actually paid for those.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 06:49:27 PM

That's half the reason they probably went under in the first place. WHo was paying for subscriptions?

I had like 6 years worth at some point and non of them cost me a dime. I received the first 2 issues and switched my address to a friends house so his son could have them. I have no idea if they ever stopped it because he moved about 2 years ago. I don't know exactly when the magazine went under, but there must have been a forest worth of unpaidfree subscriptions getting shipped around every month.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: ShyGuy on May 11, 2010, 07:06:20 PM

At a certain point, a magazine's circulation numbers being high so they can tell advertisers "your ad will be seen by X number of people" is worth more than the money people pay for subscriptions.

I think most periodical print media is going to go to an all ad revenue based financial model in the next couple of decades.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 07:19:34 PM

I think they even admitted that. They gave away subscriptions pretty easily because it boosts the circulation numbers and thus how much they can charge advertisers. I actually really liked EGM, I hated how thin it got near the end (the magazine used to be about 200 pages in 2001, it was down to near 100 by the time it folded).

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 07:51:54 PM

The problem with that (as TJ already touched on) was that the magazine became all ads to supplement cost. went from 200 pages with about 12 ads sprinkled in down to 100 pages with a full 2 page ad every 6-8 pages.

There was very little content left in the end and most if not all the info was readily available on the internet weeks before it hit print with the exclusion of some exclusives that would even show up online days before the magazine arrived in the mail anyway.

I await the day of the digital magazine and newspaper delivered directly to your personal portable media display

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 11, 2010, 08:15:05 PM

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 07:51:54 PM

I await the day of the digital magazine and newspaper delivered directly to your personal portable media display

http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 08:26:26 PM

That's the start, but not exactly what I'm looking for.... yet.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: vudu on May 11, 2010, 08:36:38 PM

Quote from: insanolord on May 11, 2010, 06:09:38 PM

Quote from: Sessha on May 11, 2010, 11:42:59 AM

I love how the forum cuts off the title to read "Billy Berghammer Ass"

That really seems like something that would have been Funhouse'd by now.

Do people really completely ignore my posts?  :(

Quote from: vudu on May 08, 2010, 09:14:23 PM

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v144/kingvudu/bb_ass.png)

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 08:38:01 PM

Not to mention how expensive that is, I don't see anyone buying a $500+ device just for reading their magazines and newspapers.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 11, 2010, 08:52:19 PM

Quote from: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 08:38:01 PM

Not to mention how expensive that is, I don't see anyone buying a $500+ device just for reading their magazines and newspapers.

Well, it's not like that's the only thing it does.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 09:07:51 PM

Quote from: insanolord on May 11, 2010, 08:52:19 PM

Quote from: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 08:38:01 PM

Not to mention how expensive that is, I don't see anyone buying a $500+ device just for reading their magazines and newspapers.

Well, it's not like that's the only thing it does.

when it does that, combined with voice and video chat(cellular & wifi), remote control apps, Video & Audio streaming (internet and cable On Demand) all at a price that I find reasonable and affordable that is when we have arrived at what I'm looking for.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: ThePerm on May 11, 2010, 09:56:04 PM

Quote from: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 07:19:34 PM

I think they even admitted that. They gave away subscriptions pretty easily because it boosts the circulation numbers and thus how much they can charge advertisers. I actually really liked EGM, I hated how thin it got near the end (the magazine used to be about 200 pages in 2001, it was down to near 100 by the time it folded).

QFT

(http://i44.tinypic.com/bga8mo.jpg)

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 11, 2010, 10:31:26 PM

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 09:07:51 PM

Quote from: insanolord on May 11, 2010, 08:52:19 PM

Quote from: TJ Spyke on May 11, 2010, 08:38:01 PM

Not to mention how expensive that is, I don't see anyone buying a $500+ device just for reading their magazines and newspapers.

Well, it's not like that's the only thing it does.

when it does that, combined with voice and video chat(cellular & wifi), remote control apps, Video & Audio streaming (internet and cable On Demand) all at a price that I find reasonable and affordable that is when we have arrived at what I'm looking for.

It already does all those things except video chat, which will be there within a year.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: BlackNMild2k1 on May 11, 2010, 11:00:27 PM

but at a price I find reasonable and affordable?

oh and it must be powerful enough to do decent gaming of my choice and run programs that I want.

no video chat is a deal breaker and last I heard it doesn't do voice calls.

a built in kickstand for both directions would be nice too.
wireless keyboard and mouse support, usb, etc etc.

basically a 12"+ laptop in tablet format for $400 or so.

Title: Re: Billy Berghammer Assumes Head Role at EGM
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 12, 2010, 12:40:35 AM

The price is an issue, and will most likely continue to remain one. There's a fantastic gaming presence on the iPhone OS, though it can be hard to find the good stuff in all the crap. It does Skype, supposedly soon allowing calls over 3G. It supports Bluetooth keyboards, but not mice (that will never happen; it just wouldn't work with the UI).