Topic: UGO boughtout the 1UP network, EGM closes it's doors

[GoldenPhoenix]

Yeah, I TOTALLY AGREE!

It's always best to have the lives of a bunch of individuals turned on their head just so that it becomes impossible for me to accidentally navigate to a site I don't like!  Hurray!

/sarcasm

Seriously people, get your heads out of the clouds.  Luck and timing has just as much to do with landing a dream job as skill.  If you think for one minute these people will all "easily" find jobs if they are "qualified" you have another thing coming.

I hope they all do, but it's still an absolutely terrible thing regardless.

Yeah most don't even have the talent for another job. So I agree. Seriously if I was running a "professional" gaming publication I'm not sure I'd want to hire any of their writers.

[Pale]

/sigh

It was aimed at the general internet response to this whole thing of "good riddance, they sucked anyway." not at anyone in particular.

I just don't think it's a very nice thing to basically celebrate such a crummy thing, especially when none of us even know any of the people personally, so we aren't even qualified to comment on whether or not they "deserve" it.

[vudu]

I still received EGM up until now and the magazine couldn't even make it through a full dump.

Eat more fiber.

[EasyCure]

Yeah, I TOTALLY AGREE!

It's always best to have the lives of a bunch of individuals turned on their head just so that it becomes impossible for me to accidentally navigate to a site I don't like!  Hurray!

/sarcasm

Seriously people, get your heads out of the clouds.  Luck and timing has just as much to do with landing a dream job as skill.  If you think for one minute these people will all "easily" find jobs if they are "qualified" you have another thing coming.

I hope they all do, but it's still an absolutely terrible thing regardless.

I don't think anyone said that the individuals losing their job isn't a terrible thing. And I'm sure everyone here who has landed any job knows how hard it can be, especially with things the way they are. There's no need for condescending sarcasm, from a moderator no less, directed to forum goers expressing they're personal opinions no matter what that opinion is.

I think the lot of us agree that EGM being dead is OK even if it is a terrible thing that tons of people lost their job. If gaming 'journalism' is their dream gig then they'll work hard to find a job in the field no matter how long it takes, but guess what.. when someone hiring looks at your review for Game X and doesn't see an ounce of journalistic proffesionalism and instead sees bias or baseless bashing, the fault for them not getting hired is theres and theres alone.

[Pale]

As I said it was a rant against the general internet response, not anyone in particular.  And sarcasm is valuable when you want to point out how silly something is by phrasing it differently.  I wouldn't really call that condescending.

I guess I just have a different take on this whole thing than most people.  For example, I wouldn't be near as pissed about the whole thing if 1up/EGM just went out of business because they ran out of money or were run poorly....

But to buy another company only to lay off the vast majority of the staff... that's just heartless and cruel.  IMO if they didn't want to run said company, they shouldn't have bought it.

I mean, listen to the December 26th episode of 1up Yours.  They literally talk about their plans for a special new years episode in January.  THAT'S how sudden this garbage was for them.

[GoldenPhoenix]

/sigh

It was aimed at the general internet response to this whole thing of "good riddance, they sucked anyway." not at anyone in particular.

I just don't think it's a very nice thing to basically celebrate such a crummy thing, especially when none of us even know any of the people personally, so we aren't even qualified to comment on whether or not they "deserve" it.

Well you can judge what they've done for the site. There is a chance still that they could restructure and if they feel some of the talent is worth getting back they will. Restructuring HAS to happen with some companies, and while it is sad people lose their jobs, in the long term it can be a good thing.

[Pale]

I would agree if I felt 1up needed a restructuring.

But I fully believe that UGO bought them for one reason and one reason only.  To close them down and eliminate the competition.  If they do decide to keep anything from 1ups legacy, it is just icing on the cake.  That wasn't the reason for the purchase.  And that's just cruel.

Also, I blame Ziff just as much for being willing to sell to a company when that was the obvious motivation.

[NWR_pap64]

/sigh

It was aimed at the general internet response to this whole thing of "good riddance, they sucked anyway." not at anyone in particular.

I just don't think it's a very nice thing to basically celebrate such a crummy thing, especially when none of us even know any of the people personally, so we aren't even qualified to comment on whether or not they "deserve" it.

Well, here's my honest opinion on the matter.

Yes, its heartbreaking that all of those people were laid, especially since its likely they have families to support.

But the reason I believe people are "celebrating" their demise is because in the last few years they have shown a very negative attitide and people were getting tired of it.

If you read the gaming media here you'll see that they haven't been the brightest star out there. So, when people perceive negative vibes from something or someone their instict is to wish misfortune upon it and celebrate if it happens.

Its sad but true. No one deserves bad luck, no matter who they are. But when you piss people off its hard to gain their sympathy.

So to sum it up, gamers are celebrating their demise because they annoyed them for far too long and feel that justice is being served.

[Pale]

Well I guess the other half of my argument is that I disagree with labeling everyone at 1up as negative and bad journalists.

I listened to 1up yours and retronauts every time it came out.  I watched the 1up show every time it came out.

While I never agree with everything they say, the production values and care in what they did was obvious.  They enjoyed games.  They enjoyed discussing games.

So yeah, I guess that's another reason for my response to all this. =P

[GoldenPhoenix]

Well I guess the other half of my argument is that I disagree with labeling everyone at 1up as negative and bad journalists.

I listened to 1up yours and retronauts every time it came out.  I watched the 1up show every time it came out.

While I never agree with everything they say, the production values and care in what they did was obvious.  They enjoyed games.  They enjoyed discussing games.

So yeah, I guess that's another reason for my response to all this. =P

Their reviews were atrocious, I don't know how many times I read a review there with their new system and didn't learn ANYTHING or even when it got a score. So yeah I'd say they needed restructuring, if not for that but for the fact they were losing money like crazy, and that always mean its time to restructure.

[EasyCure]

As I said it was a rant against the general internet response, not anyone in particular.  And sarcasm is valuable when you want to point out how silly something is by phrasing it differently.  I wouldn't really call that condescending.

I guess I just have a different take on this whole thing than most people.  For example, I wouldn't be near as pissed about the whole thing if 1up/EGM just went out of business because they ran out of money or were run poorly....

But to buy another company only to lay off the vast majority of the staff... that's just heartless and cruel.  IMO if they didn't want to run said company, they shouldn't have bought it.

I mean, listen to the December 26th episode of 1up Yours.  They literally talk about their plans for a special new years episode in January.  THAT'S how sudden this garbage was for them.

Relax I wasn't really serious, i just saw an opportunity to 'yell' at one of you guys

Even if you were replying to something i said, sarcasm or not, I wouldn't care because my opinion is mine and mine alone.

Besides, I'm well qualified in job hunting, being unemployed for almost a year before this economic meltdown we're having.

Edit: I can summarise Paps post, once again, in much fewer words: Karma.
Same goes for Pales. Sure not EVERY person there was a crappy reviewer, so hopefully they'll have better luck finding work in the field they love.

[Pale]

Well I guess the other half of my argument is that I disagree with labeling everyone at 1up as negative and bad journalists.

I listened to 1up yours and retronauts every time it came out.  I watched the 1up show every time it came out.

While I never agree with everything they say, the production values and care in what they did was obvious.  They enjoyed games.  They enjoyed discussing games.

So yeah, I guess that's another reason for my response to all this. =P

Their reviews were atrocious, I don't know how many times I read a review there with their new system and didn't learn ANYTHING or even when it got a score. So yeah I'd say they needed restructuring, if not for that but for the fact they were losing money like crazy, and that always mean its time to restructure.

I thought the only WiiMusic review you guys liked was theirs?

=P They must be doing something right... or aren't they???!!

Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnn

I kid, i kid.

[GoldenPhoenix]

The Wii Music review wasn't that great either, at least the text portion, though I did like Jennifer but thankfully she left before the bomb went off. She actually had talent so she went someplace else.

[Pale]

It's funny... I NEVER visited 1up.com.  Just subscribed to their podcasts through itunes.  So I can't really have an opinion on the quality of their reviews. =P

[GoldenPhoenix]

It's funny... I NEVER visited 1up.com.  Just subscribed to their podcasts through itunes.  So I can't really have an opinion on the quality of their reviews. =P

I am the opposite, I read their features and reviews but never heard the podcasts. Though I do wish I would have heard the retro podcast.

[NWR_pap64]

See, their Wii Music review was a great example of how to do things right. They got someone who actually wanted to play the game. THAT'S the kind of restructuring they needed. But she left the site, and it went back to their old ways.

[vudu]

I guess I just have a different take on this whole thing than most people.  For example, I wouldn't be near as pissed about the whole thing if 1up/EGM just went out of business because they ran out of money or were run poorly....

But to buy another company only to lay off the vast majority of the staff... that's just heartless and cruel.  IMO if they didn't want to run said company, they shouldn't have bought it.

Then think of it this way ... Ziff Davis ran out of money and had to shut down the company.  Ugo saved what they could, but they honestly can't be expected to double their workforce, can they?

I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I can draw some parallels between this situation and the auto-industry bailout.  How do you feel about giving GM $100 billion if they're going to continue to run the company the same way they currently are?  It would be a waste because they're just going to be in the same predicament in 6 months.  Things need to change in order for them to turn things around.  Why would EGM and 1UP be profitable under Ugo if they ran things the exact same way as Ziff Davis?

[vudu]

I am the opposite, I read their features and reviews but never heard the podcasts. Though I do wish I would have heard the retro podcast.

FYI, Retronauts is going to continue.  Parish doesn't know how frequently or any of the specifics, but he's vowed to keep it going.

Which is fabulous, because it's the best gaming Podcast out there (IMHO).

[GoldenPhoenix]

I guess I just have a different take on this whole thing than most people.  For example, I wouldn't be near as pissed about the whole thing if 1up/EGM just went out of business because they ran out of money or were run poorly....

But to buy another company only to lay off the vast majority of the staff... that's just heartless and cruel.  IMO if they didn't want to run said company, they shouldn't have bought it.

Then think of it this way ... Ziff Davis ran out of money and had to shut down the company.  Ugo saved what they could, but they honestly can't be expected to double their workforce, can they?

I'm not sure if this is allowed, but I can draw some parallels between this situation and the auto-industry bailout.  How do you feel about giving GM $100 billion if they're going to continue to run the company the same way they currently are?  It would be a waste because they're just going to be in the same predicament in 6 months.  Things need to change in order for them to turn things around.  Why would EGM and 1UP be profitable under Ugo if they ran things the exact same way as Ziff Davis?

Politics! Seriously I was going to make the same comparison but didn't want to get into that!

[KDR_11k]

You listen to podcasts?

Their website was terrible, most of the articles I saw were troll news or reviews so short they were useless.

[Pale]

You especially don't want to talk about the car industry with me.  I can already tell you that you are completely wrong about GM and that the DID deserve any money they got and that they are getting a raw deal for a variety of reasons...

But you are right, we shouldn't talk about that here.

=P

Send me a PM if you really want to hear what I think on the matter. =P

[EasyCure]

/sigh

It was aimed at the general internet response to this whole thing of "good riddance, they sucked anyway." not at anyone in particular.

I just don't think it's a very nice thing to basically celebrate such a crummy thing, especially when none of us even know any of the people personally, so we aren't even qualified to comment on whether or not they "deserve" it.

good riddance?

This is BS. I'm reporting this to the other Mods :p

[Pale]

Yours had a question mark... mine didn't =P

[EasyCure]

close enough!

 besides i already reported it

[D_Average]

Am I the ONLY one who's never heard of UGO before this debacle?  What the hell kind of name is UGO anyway, is sounds like a lame trading card game.