Electronic Gaming Monthly RETURNS!

[heartagram311]

EGM is making it's return to print and Online sometime in 2009!!!

The Press Release:

“ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY” FOUNDER
EXECUTES CONTRACT TO ACQUIRE PRINT AND ONLINE
PUBLISHING RIGHTS TO EGM MAGAZINE

BEVERLY HILLS, CA, May 29, 2009 — Steve Harris, founder of “Electronic Gaming Monthly” magazine, announced today that he has entered into an agreement with Ziff Davis Media to re-acquire certain assets, including trademarks and publishing rights, with plans to re-launch EGM in the second half of 2009.

“The re-launch of Electronic Gaming Monthly represents a welcome opportunity to continue delivering quality content to gaming enthusiasts,” said Harris. “I feel honored to once again be associated with this respected magazine. The talented writers and designers who built upon EGM’s original vision have left behind a publication that is uniquely positioned to be successful.”

“Electronic Gaming Monthly is and always has been one of the most respected publications among the gaming enthusiast community,” said Jason Young, CEO, Ziff Davis Media Inc. “We are pleased that EGM is now in the hands of its original creator, Steve Harris, and wish him and the publication the best of success in the future.”

“We have exciting plans for the evolution of what will once again be a leading independent voice for the gaming community,” Harris continued. “The twenty year success of the EGM brand has always been built upon a commitment to its readers who I believe will enthusiastically embrace the changes we are planning to introduce.”

Additional details and future announcements will be made during the upcoming E3 expo and posted on the magazine’s official website at www.EGMNOW.com or via the official EGM Twitter account at www.twitter.com/EGMNOW .

ABOUT ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY:

Electronic Gaming Monthly (aka EGM) was launched in 1988 by Steve Harris to provide independent news, reviews, and other content of interest to video game enthusiasts. The magazine enjoyed rapid success that continued after Harris sold the publication to Ziff Davis in 1996. It has remained an industry leader for more than twenty years and has enjoyed a strong and loyal readership base during that time.

###

Media Contacts Only:

Dan Harary
Asbury Communications
310-859-1831
dan@asburypr.com

[Maklershed]

Just saw the twitter from Robert Ashley. :whee:

I wonder if my free subscription will continue? Probably not.

[hankmecrankme]

Maybe it won't suck so much ass now.

Old EGM was the shit.

[Poor2More]

Maybe it wont use that cheap sleezy ass paper

[Nibi]

The Internet is going nerdcrazy. This is interesting news, but I hope they get their stuff together and put forth a great effort. It would also be curious to see if any veteran editors are going to be returning (although many have already moved on to bigger things).

[hankmecrankme]

Maybe it wont use that cheap sleezy ass paper

So true. Shit wasn't even good enough to wipe with.

[help1]

Just saw the twitter from Robert Ashley. :whee:

I wonder if my free subscription will continue? Probably not.

I doubt the subscriptions will carry over. Maybe this time they should try to actually sell magazines, instead of mailing them out for free.

[musha666]

Maybe it won't suck so much ass now.

Old EGM was the shit.

They should at least start off with some 200-300 page EGMs like those of past years. I would pay for that. If they just continue with 80 page magazines where 50 pages are ads then Ill hope I can get em free still.

[mtxbass1]

At what point do video game magazines become irrelevant when the Internet has the most readily available information much sooner than it can appear in print?

[heartagram311]

At what point do video game magazines become irrelevant when the Internet has the most readily available information much sooner than it can appear in print?

can't read video game news while taking a shit unless you take a computer with you.

[homeland]

At what point do video game magazines become irrelevant when the Internet has the most readily available information much sooner than it can appear in print?

So true. Print use to be good for toilet reading but, with web browsing cell phones they're not even relevant for shit reading.

[xcopy]

EGM sucks, bring back Gamefan magazine!

[TehMuff1nM4n]

They should at least start off with some 200-300 page EGMs like those of past years. I would pay for that. If they just continue with 80 page magazines where 50 pages are ads then Ill hope I can get em free still.

So true, EGM was the shit around 04-06ish when I had it.

[mtxbass1]

can't read video game news while taking a shit unless you take a computer with you.

Does it really take you that long to go to the bathroom?

[Richlough]

Suck it, Game Informer .

I'm going to pay for a subscription to this .

[chubbyninja1319]

This is so awesome! I literally got goosebumps when I read the announcement. I'm a game-rag whore, I've ready everything over the last 25 years. EGM, especially old school EGM, was the best. Yes, Gamefan had an excellent run. But EGM was a brand. Can't wait to get the first issue.

Thank you Mr. Harris! Looking forward to seeing your work again!

[mentos888]

wish my subscription would carry over, too...

[Chairman_LMAO]

I have to say, my feelings are a cross between unbridled joy and untrusting skepticism. I'm not positive the magazine will actually MAKE it to the stands, and if it does, will it be a return to former glory, or more of the recent mess the magazine ended with, or worse?

Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I was burned by Animerica and other publications. I'll definitely pick this up if it makes it to the shelves.

[chubbyninja1319]

Keep in mind, Steve Harris started EGM as a small time newsletter decades ago. Look at all the distribution methods at his fingertips now. I think we'll see it in some form, even if it's completely digital.

[Vinny]

I'm not that excited... if it comes back, it's not going to have the same staff so who knows what the new stuff will be like. And if it does come back, it'll die again eventually as all print media is destined to.

I didn't really care for EGM in the last few years but it was nice to have magazines for places where internet wasn't available (like the place where I work or on a bus).

[captainfrizo]

I was fairly upset over hearing EGM was killed off several months ago. However, since it's gone out of print I honestly can't say I miss it though.

If old-school EGM comes back (tons of pages and true cover stories) instead of the joke it had become (60 pages and two paragraph cover stories) I'm all for it. If it's going to start back up right where it left off, well, it may be better off dead.

[bardockkun]

Yeah, if they have an actual previews section as opposed to a random mess that they had for the last few years then it'll be off to a good start.

[snookie_wookums]

So true. Shit wasn't even good enough to wipe with.

That's not true, I wiped with it all the time. Had to do SOMETHING with the issues that kept arriving at my door two weeks late at a time.

[Tsukento]

Internet this, internet that.

EGM's thing wasn't about bringing news to people once the internet became a big thing; it was all about the editorials. All the interviews and articles that EGM came up with were excellent reading material. They were the only ones who didn't care if advertisers didn't like their reviews or comments. They said it like it was. Similar to how Peter Moore was put on the spot during an interview about the 360's early games not looking very different from titles on the Xbox.

Meanwhile, you have magazines like GameInformer giving away high ratings to games and raising the average bar to a 7 out of 10 instead of 5 out of 10.

[Scorch]

You can't read the internet on the toilet!

Well, you can, but.. gross.

[Gentlegamer]

Is it going back to the classic title font and full name "Electronic Gaming Monthly" . . ?

[mooshie78]

Good news. I enjoyed my subscription. I don't game much, and it was how I kept up on what was coming out since I don't really bother with gaming sites very often these days--CAG aside and that's recent for me.

[Otherguy676]

Its interestng that there is so much speculation on this about being good or not. The fact of the matter is that EGM's heyday was the first 60 issues or so until sold by Steve Harris. I think the personnel afterwards was always good, but EGM was an independent magazine beforehand and took the kind of risks Ziff-Davis (a big publisher) couldn't. I think Steve can make this a great magazine, as his name carries a lot of weight with gamers and that he'll bring back some staffers. I heard a podcast after EGM died where Trickman Terry and Ken (Sushi-X) Williams talked about how great it would be if Steve got the rights back. House money says that at least one of them will be back and Mielke heavily insinuates Shoe will be back. Also, if you read the old stories about Steve, he takes a lot of hiring risks, usually hired gamers first, writers second, caring more about the passion of gaming above all else.

Last thought, maybe CheapyD should try to do a finding Cheapass games tips contribution to the magazine.

[detectiveconan16]

Yes! Finally. Sure blogs and whatnot have more "news," and stuff but nothing beats a magazine. But it is a shame they won't find enough readers to stay really afloat. Wired only has about 700,000.

[Liquid 2]

It already failed once. I wonder what this guy's gonna do to add value back into the name.

[whitereflection]

Internet this, internet that.

EGM's thing wasn't about bringing news to people once the internet became a big thing; it was all about the editorials. All the interviews and articles that EGM came up with were excellent reading material. They were the only ones who didn't care if advertisers didn't like their reviews or comments. They said it like it was. Similar to how Peter Moore was put on the spot during an interview about the 360's early games not looking very different from titles on the Xbox.

Meanwhile, you have magazines like GameInformer giving away high ratings to games and raising the average bar to a 7 out of 10 instead of 5 out of 10.

You're actually thinking of two different articles: the Xbox/360 graphics comparison was one article, the putting of Peter Moore on the spot was another, and that article was about why some good Xbox games weren't backwards-compatible with 360 when others like Sneakers and Barbie Horse Adventure were.

Either way, it's weird that you would exalt EGM for tripe articles like these [when they often had much better] and for being unprofessional. Of course early next-gen titles will look comparable to the (then) late current-gen titles. The "not caring about advertisers" you refer to is probably the incident with Ubisoft, where Shoe lambasted the company for not providing review material anymore and telling readers that if they wanted coverage on Ubisoft games, to complain to Ubisoft and not EGM. It's similar to when Sony "blackballed" Kotaku: the latter can say, "Hey, this company doesn't want to work with us anymore; readers, get em" since we're not privy to the details and we all have a natural wariness to big corporations.

You can say a lot of things about Game Informer, but I think their review scores have been pretty on the level. Your average game today probably gets more right than wrong, so why shouldn't average be a 7? According to their scale, it is, and a 5 would be just passable, which I take to mean that if given the choice of playing the game or poking a sharp stick in your eye, the game would ultimately prevail, but not without some deliberation. The only publication I know of that used 5 as average is Computer Gaming World, and they revamped their review system countless times. You can also remember that a review is just one person's opinion, so if it doesn't happen to coincide with yours, it doesn't mean that they're receiving moneyhats.

[mooshie78]

It already failed once. I wonder what this guy's gonna do to add value back into the name.

Not giving away so many free subscriptions would probably be a good start.

Some are good to get circulation up to get more advertising dollars, but they went way over board before it seemed, given how often there were various free sub offers out there.

Make it a nicer mag--better paper, better writing etc., charge a bit more at the newstand and for subs, give less away for free and see what happens.

When color e-readers are out, offer e-subscriptions.

[Moxio]

If they can turn it into a decent magazine subscription, I might be willing to actually pay for it this time around.

[Afrodiziak]

I think they're going to have to cut the cost of advertising by a fairly big margin to actually make it work this time. Bring back the huge issues even if they are filled with ads. I know a ton of people that base what magazine they purchase at the airport by how thick it is and EGM had gotten to the point where it felt like you could read through it in 45 minutes.

If this actually does happen I really hope they offer something different.

[Liquid 2]

Not giving away so many free subscriptions would probably be a good start.

Some are good to get circulation up to get more advertising dollars, but they went way over board before it seemed, given how often there were various free sub offers out there.

Make it a nicer mag--better paper, better writing etc., charge a bit more at the newstand and for subs, give less away for free and see what happens.

When color e-readers are out, offer e-subscriptions.

Those are possibilities. Not for sures. That guy could do all of that, or none of it. And, more importantly, none of those really add value except for "better writing." Better paper is a plus, yeah, but it's not enough of a draw.

Regardless, print is a dying medium. They really need value; incentive for people to want to read their content. If what they have can be found online, it's over for them.

I don't see this lasting for very long, honestly. I'm surprised there are even gaming mags out there, considering that gamers are a more tech-savvy crowd and realize that magazines are slow and outdated compared to the internet.

[msdmoney]

I'm really surprised they are going to try and bring it back, it's a pretty bleak outlook for print media, and it remains to be seen if e-readers will catch on. I just don't see gamers paying a lot for a subscription (the Edge model) to offset their advertising needs. I think most of what gamers want, a review score and the latest news with snarky commentary can all be found online quicker and for free. I'm skeptical that there is a big enough gamer audience clamoring for the in depth articles that are better suited for print.

I was fairly upset over hearing EGM was killed off several months ago. However, since it's gone out of print I honestly can't say I miss it though.

If old-school EGM comes back (tons of pages and true cover stories) instead of the joke it had become (60 pages and two paragraph cover stories) I'm all for it. If it's going to start back up right where it left off, well, it may be better off dead.

There is a reason that the magazines were smaller and articles shorter. The number of pages is proportional to the amount of advertising, and the advertising just wasn't there anymore.

[munch]

I think they're going to have to cut the cost of advertising by a fairly big margin to actually make it work this time. Bring back the huge issues even if they are filled with ads. I know a ton of people that base what magazine they purchase at the airport by how thick it is and EGM had gotten to the point where it felt like you could read through it in 45 minutes.

If this actually does happen I really hope they offer something different.

I can get the gist of most video game magazines in one dump.

[dv8mad]

Maybe it wont use that cheap sleezy ass paper

You guys are spoiled!

Seriously, come here and buy a manga. Read the thing more than once and the paper actually starts to disintegrate.

[chubbyninja1319]

I just read James Mielke and Sam Kennedy's blogs at 1up. They hint at ex-EGMer's potential return, with a notable name of Shoe being involved. Sam also mentioned that it would be a magazine + something model. With that something potentially being a DVD.

[Jesus_S_Preston]

I just want read some shenanigans from my favorite colored mohawk, Sean Baby.

[mooshie78]

Regardless, print is a dying medium. They really need value; incentive for people to want to read their content. If what they have can be found online, it's over for them.


Sad but true. I hate reading stuff online as it's rough on the eyes after already staring at a PC screen for way too long everyday between work and goofing on forums etc.

So I still get some print magazines even though all the stories are online for free.

Maybe when color e-ink screens, or something similarly easy on the eyes comes out. I have a Kindle and love it for novels, but the small screen and lack of color sucks for magazines.

[detectiveconan16]

You guys are spoiled!

Seriously, come here and buy a manga. Read the thing more than once and the paper actually starts to disintegrate.

I agree. We really are spoiled, our comics are printed on magazine paper, and even our version of Shonen Jump is printed on the good newspaper.

Besides I wouldn't mind a magazine with rougher paper stock.

[Liquid 2]

Sad but true.It's not sad at all. They're obsolete; there's no inherent value in magazines. They're just another outdated medium, and the sooner they're gone, the better.

(Not to say all will be eliminated; some can make it through.)

[elwood731]

It's not sad at all. They're obsolete; there's no inherent value in magazines. They're just another outdated medium, and the sooner they're gone, the better.

(Not to say all will be eliminated; some can make it through.)

Why the sooner they're gone the better? I could see saying they seem obsolete to you personally and have no value, but actively rooting against a medium? Really? Why?

[Gentlegamer]

I actually pay more attention to print game ads than online game ads. At least in the sense of looking at them and then following up on finding more info if something about it piques my interest.

[bigdaddy]

What's the point? They failed last year, why bother bringing it back now? They should just make it an online site and that's it.

[mooshie78]

It's not sad at all. They're obsolete; there's no inherent value in magazines. They're just another outdated medium, and the sooner they're gone, the better.

(Not to say all will be eliminated; some can make it through.)


I just meant sad for me, as I greatly prefer reading a magazine to a website.

Again, at least until there are color e-readers that are easy on the eyes (like e-ink for b/w text) and have big enough screens to display magazines properly etc.

I hate reading on a computer after working on one all day. But I can go electronic on something like that (like I do my Kindle for novels) as it's easy on the eyes and I still can read easily in bed, on the crapper, etc. etc.

But print media is becoming obsolete from a business standpoint. It's all you damn young, whippersnappers fault. Younger generations read less, and are fine reading online compared to us old fogies. :p

[shoopdewoop1]

I for one am happy EGM is back. I might even buy a subscription rather than the free one I signed up for til I died.

[XxFuRy2Xx]

I'm happy EGM is back. I'll finally have something to read again while on the throne.

[mis0]

I'm happy EGM is back. I'll finally have something to read again while on the throne.

This. EGM is the only game magazine I've actually enjoyed. I won't actually mind paying for a subscription.

[Josef]

I for one am happy EGM is back. I might even buy a subscription rather than the free one I signed up for til I died.

I'd definitely pay for a subscription to show my support.

[evanft]

I have the internet.

[KaneRobot]

Maybe it won't suck so much ass now.

Old EGM was the shit.
Agreed 100%. In my opinion, the era where they were under Harris was the best. Very little stupid snarky humor. This is definitely a good thing.

They need to change though. Having a bunch of previews & screenshots is a useless approach thanks to the internet. They need to aim more towards feature-length articles. If they're going to survive this time it'll have to be due to decent journalism - and more importantly, don't put it online...at least until long after the issue is off shelves.

[Otherguy676]

Still waiting for the alleged E3 announcement, hopefully a startup date , Im def going to subscribe even though law school has taken every penny I have.

[shadowkast]

!!!there is a god huh?!!!

[MadChedar0]

This is good news. EGM forever.

[camoor]

Why the sooner they're gone the better? I could see saying they seem obsolete to you personally and have no value, but actively rooting against a medium? Really? Why?

Once the kindle type of technology is perfected, I really do think paper newspapers and paper magazines will be obselete. Right now there are issues to solve, like portability, image quality, available content, content distribution, etc. However the technology promises many benefits, such as being able to store newspaper stories you like as a softcopy on your computer instead of a yellowing pile of clippings, and eliminating the time/money spent producing the paper and distributing it.

I believe it's going to be a rocky few years while that technology is maturing and reporters are developing the skills necessary to work with the new digital medium. I predict it will be like the first time movies incorporated audio, most of the first "talkies" sucked compared to masterpieces made during the silent era. However eventually the technology and filming direction improved to the point that audiences couldn't imagine going back to a world where movies didn't include an audio track.

Note I'm not rooting against a medium (in fact there's many things about paper magazines I love) - I'm just pontificating here :)

[darthbudge]

So will my subscription continue? I had like 2 more years when they died off, and unlike they promised, my subscription never changed over to anything else.

[Josef]

So will my subscription continue? I had like 2 more years when they died off, and unlike they promised, my subscription never changed over to anything else.

You probably need to take that up with Ziff-Davis.

[mooshie78]

Once the kindle type of technology is perfected, I really do think paper newspapers and paper magazines will be obselete. Right now there are issues to solve, like portability, image quality, available content, content distribution, etc. However the technology promises many benefits, such as being able to store newspaper stories you like as a softcopy on your computer instead of a yellowing pile of clippings, and eliminating the time/money spent producing the paper and distributing it.

I believe it's going to be a rocky few years while that technology is maturing and reporters are developing the skills necessary to work with the new digital medium. I predict it will be like the first time movies incorporated audio, most of the first "talkies" sucked compared to masterpieces made during the silent era. However eventually the technology and filming direction improved to the point that audiences couldn't imagine going back to a world where movies didn't include an audio track.

Note I'm not rooting against a medium (in fact there's many things about paper magazines I love) - I'm just pontificating here :)


Yeah, the tech for that is a few years away. It will require having something like color e-ink on a large screen that can display magazines and newpapers in a format nearly identical to print versions.

It could be done sooner with LCD screen reader tablets, but those aren't idea for an e-reader device. The screens give eye strain, they'd get warm, and battery lifer wouldn't be very good. Compared to e-ink devices like the Kindle that have no more eye strain than paper, don't generate heat, and only need charged once a week or two depending on how much you read (and have the wireless turned on in the Kindle's case).

Color e-ink is feasible, the but tech is still being worked on and is definitely a few years out from being perfected, and for a large screen device to be out and affordable. Though of course some new type of screen tech besides e-ink that has all the benefits could be invented in the meantime.


Where I disagree is that there will be any adjustment period for reporters etc. The form of stories and articles doesn't have to change at all. Device technology just has to improve to display the content in the same way you get it in print.

I mean you can already get tons of magazines and newspapers on Kindle--the layout is just different with just lists of stories in each section you click on, and then the text reflowed to fit the small screen. With larger devices and color screens you just get an e-version that looks more like the print version.

[tangytangerine]

So will my subscription continue? I had like 2 more years when they died off, and unlike they promised, my subscription never changed over to anything else.

Nope, it's been revealed that instead of getting issues under the new owner, subscribers will be received Maxim until their subscription ends.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/696593/EGM-Subscribers-Get-Maxim-As-A-Replacement.html

[willardhaven]

Paper magazines are a great way to catalog gaming history, however for me to pay this magazine would have to cover all console releases. Even giving a few paragraphs for the lesser-known titles would satisfy me. The failed EGM missed a lot of games and filled up a ton of pages with poorly written articles. Game journalists think we read for them rather than the games, which are what really matter.

[Ronin317]

Did the PDF of the "final issue" of the old EGM ever come out? Wasn't someone promising it?

[whitereflection]

No, and it's probably not going to unless Steve Harris wants it to.
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8991643&publicUserId=4549175

[Puffa469]

EGM is back. My new issue arrived yesterday with Jennifer Love Hewitt on the cover, only theres alot less gaming coverage and alot more photoshops of scantily clad women in this 'New' EGM.

[Perfect*Ending]

^

Can't wait for the new "EGM" to arrive!

[ohboy10451]

haven't gotten NADA!

[Perfect*Ending]

Just got my first Maxim issue today: July 2009.


Anyone here actually read Maxim?

[Chairman_LMAO]

Don't mean to bump an old thread, but this was just posted on the EGM twitter.

EGMNOW (http://twitter.com/EGMNOW)Interview from Pub Exec...got a couple things wrong but gives you an idea of where we're going...http://www.pubexec.com/site... (http://www.pubexec.com/site/28/category/21)3 minutes ago (http://twitter.com/EGMNOW/status/2449223016) from web

Here's the article, tweet doesn't link directly.
http://www.pubexec.com/article/im-not-trying-ignore-digital-im-counting-it-big-ideas-behind-relaunch-egm-409029_1.html

[Mr. Anderson]

Chairman_LMAO, you are my new favorite poster!

Awesome article. I wonder if any of the old editors are involved...

[Puffa469]

Anyone here actually read Maxim?

Every time I shit.

[Dr Mario Kart]

I'm wondering what rate the prorated sub refund is if all our subs were free. Can Maxim even distinguish from paid EGM subscriptions vs free ones? I've got Maxim clear through Aug 2011 now and I think I'd rather have the money.

[darthbudge]

So, I still haven't received any issues of Maxim, or anything else for my EGM subscription. Has anyone else still not received anything?

[Matt Young]

So, I still haven't received any issues of Maxim, or anything else for my EGM subscription. Has anyone else still not received anything?

Nothing for me, either.

[Cleaner7]

I received my issue of Maxim last week.

[Chairman_LMAO]

Every time I shit.

What a coincidence, that's when I read EGM. It's also why I'm hyped for it's return. Guitar World is boring as hell if you're not a total metalhead.

[Perfect*Ending]

I'm wondering what rate the prorated sub refund is if all our subs were free. Can Maxim even distinguish from paid EGM subscriptions vs free ones? I've got Maxim clear through Aug 2011 now and I think I'd rather have the money.
I agree on having the money instead. :applause:

[chubbyninja1319]

I sent in for the refund. I need a sub to Maxim about as much as I need a dead unicorn in my basement. Neither one would go over well with my wife or my little kids.