The last printed issue of the just-canceled Electronic Gaming Monthly, will be the January 2009 issue. But production on February issue, which would have been its 20th anniversary, had already begun internally and we've learned that it could still see the light of day...
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The Internet, Twitter, Facebook and message boards exploded last night (and crashed several servers in the process) over the news that more than 30 employees had been laid off from Ziff Davis Media as a result of an acquisition by UGO Entertainment. And as part of the acquisition, Ziff Davis announced the closing of EGM, one of the biggest American magazines in video game history.
EGM was one issue away from its 20th anniversary, February 2009. Editors were hard at work at the landmark issue, but January 2009 will be the last printed issue of EGM.
However, UGO does not own the rights to EGM's material; Ziff Davis does. When I spoke with 1UP site manager Sam Kennedy last night, I asked what would happen to the material that was being written for EGM’s anniversary.
"At this point, Ziff probably has to answer that," said Kennedy. "What I can say is that our plan was to put [EGM's] content online, either in PDF or a larger feature on 1UP, but I don't know if the plan remains still because of [the acquisition]."
For months, the rumor among reporters in San Francisco was that EGM was coming to an end. Kennedy's comments suggest the company may have been planning a non-print version before the acquisition was official, possibly out of concern that the magazine wasn't going to be printed.
If you want to see the last bits of EGM, readers, time to send some e-mails.
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EGM Shuts Down, More Than 30 Ziff Davis Employees Laid Off
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