''1Up.com'' was an American entertainment
website
A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google Search, Google, Facebook, Amaz ...
that focused on
video game
Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...
s. Launched in 2003, ''1Up.com'' provided its own original features, news stories, game reviews, and video interviews, and also featured comprehensive PC-focused content. Like a print magazine, ''1Up.com'' also hosted special week-long online cover stories that presented each day a new in-depth feature story, interview with the developers, game screenshot gallery, game video footage, and video of the game studio and creators. On February 21, 2013,
Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and internet company. First founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology-oriented media websites, online shopping-related services, an ...
announced it would be winding down the site, along with sister sites
GameSpy
GameSpy was an American provider of online multiplayer and matchmaking middleware for video games founded in 1996 by Mark Surfas. After the release of a multiplayer server browser for the game, QSpy, Surfas licensed the software under the GameS ...
and
UGO.com
UGO Entertainment, Inc. was a website that provided coverage of online media in entertainment, targeting males aged 18–34. The company was based in New York, New York, United States.
History
The company started in 1997 as Unified Gamers Online ...
.
Network
''1Up Network'' was a collection of
podcast
A podcast is a program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. For example, an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to at a time of their choosing ...
s hosted by ''1Up.com'' dealing with various aspects of gaming. Most of the shows, like ''4 Guys 1Up'', were about games and general gaming culture. Others were more specific, such as ''The Sports Game Guy's Sports Anomaly'', which focused on sports games. The network also featured ''Retronauts'', an audio retrospective series that chronicled various retro games and game series. The network had shown significant growth, with several new shows having been introduced in 2007–2008. However, in early 2009 ''1Up.com'' was purchased by
UGO
Ugo is the Italian form of Hugh, a widely used name of Germanic origin. Its diminutive form is Ugolino.
It is also a Nigerian Igbo first name.
It may refer to:
People
* Vgo (stonemason), medieval stonemason
* Ugo Bassi, a Roman Catholic prie ...
and its parent company
Hearst Corporation
Hearst Communications, Inc., often referred to simply as Hearst, is an American multinational mass media and business information conglomerate based in Hearst Tower in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.
Hearst owns newspapers, magazines, televis ...
from
Ziff Davis
Ziff Davis, Inc. is an American digital media and internet company. First founded in 1927 by William Bernard Ziff Sr. and Bernard George Davis, the company primarily owns technology-oriented media websites, online shopping-related services, an ...
. This resulted not only in the closure of
Electronic Gaming Monthly
''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' (often abbreviated to ''EGM'') is a monthly American video game magazine. It offers video game news, coverage of industry events, interviews with gaming figures, editorial content and product reviews.
History
The m ...
, but also the loss of over 30 jobs, including several hosts and producers of the site's many podcasts. Because of this, more than half of the network's shows were abruptly discontinued, leaving only a few remaining. While ''1Up Yours'' did not cease to exist, the resignation of the show's co-host Shane Bettenhausen led host Garnett Lee to change the show's name and structure to ''Listen UP''. Several former employees also started their own projects after the firings as well, including ''
Co-Op
A cooperative (also known as co-operative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-control ...
'', the spiritual successor to ''The 1Up Show'', ''Rebel FM'', the follow-up to ''1Up FM'', and ''The Geekbox'', Ryan Scott's replacement for ''Lan Party'' podcast.
Programming
''1UP Yours''
The initial four-man lineup included Garnett Lee, Shane Bettenhausen,
Luke Smith and John Davison. However, Smith later left the network to accept a position at the then-Microsoft game development studio
Bungie
Bungie, Inc. is an American video game company based in Bellevue, Washington. It is a studio owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The company was established in May 1991 by Alex Seropian, who later brought in programmer Jason Jones (progr ...
. On August 24, 2007, Mark MacDonald was declared the show's official fourth chair member. John Davison then announced that he was leaving the 1UP staff, though he would continue his participation with the podcast despite his change in career. The last officially branded ''1UP Yours'' was recorded on January 17, 2009, and was released on January 22, 2009.
On September 30, 2009, Garnett Lee announced he would be leaving 1UP to become the editorial director for Gamefly Media. It was replaced by ''4 Guys 1UP'' hosted by former fourth chair David Ellis. Lee stated he will create a new show for Gamefly Media titled ''Weekend Confirmed''.
On January 6, 2009, it was announced that Ziff Davis would be selling 1UP.com to the Hearst Corporation, in the process terminating Electronic Gaming Monthly and over 30 employees, including Shane Bettenhausen and Andrew Pfister. In the wake of the announcement the future of 1UP Yours was uncertain. On January 16, Garnett Lee confirmed the continuation of the series with a new cast consisting of John Davison, David Ellis, and Garnett Lee and new regular addition Sam Kennedy. However, the show would have to continue under a new name, ''Listen UP''. However, with Lee's departure from 1UP in October 2009, the show would end, its final episode airing October 9, 2009.
''Retronauts''
Retronauts also produced the supplement video podcast, Bonus Stage, which looked at specific retro titles more closely. After a long hiatus, Bonus Stage was finally updated in September 2009. Retronauts returned to producing video content with Retronauts Lunch Break, though this segment was not available as a podcast. Bob Mackey has also crossed over with the Laser Time podcast network. Retronauts survived the demise of 1UP, first existing independently and supported by crowdfunding services, but later under the auspices of the USGamer website, a subsidiary of
Eurogamer
''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 and owned by alongside formed company Gamer Network. Its editor-in-chief is Martin Robinson.
Since 2008, it is known for the formerly eponymous games trade fair EGX ...
. Retronauts is now fully crowdfunded on Patreon.
''The 1UP Show''
''The 1UP Show'' was a weekly videogame podcast produced by the website. The show premiered on October 21, 2005, and featured editors from 1UP.com, ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'', and ''
Games for Windows: The Official Magazine''. The show was initially created by Jane Pinckard and Ryan O'Donnell, and Che Chou. The theme song was created by Jane Pinckard and Eric Haller and the music for the series was composed by Ryan O'Donnell. The show consisted of previews and reviews of video games as well as debates and discussions on videogame news. The podcast contained some scripted content, but mostly consisted of unscripted discussions. The 1UP Network was sold by Ziff Davis to the UGO Network on January 7, 2009, and two days later Matt Chandronait announced on 1UP.com that ''The1UP Show'' would be ending due to the acquisition.
Awards
''Broken Pixels''
The first episode of Season 1 debuted on September 9, 2008, with the crew playing ''Robocop'' for the original
Xbox
Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the na ...
. Former 1UP and GFW editor Shawn Elliott made a guest appearance on the
WWE Crush Hour
''WWE Crush Hour'' is a vehicular combat video game published by THQ and released in 2003 for the GameCube and PlayStation 2. An Xbox version was planned but cancelled.
Plot
The plot of the game consists of Vince McMahon ending up having contro ...
episode during this season. At the end of the Season 1 finale, a teaser was shown announcing that the second season would be premiering January 6, 2009. However, that was the day of the Ziff Davis layoffs that left more than 30 people out of a job, including the entire cast of Broken Pixels. Furthermore, Seanbaby noted that he caused controversy with "media watchdogs" by his use of the term "faggotiest" in the Spiderman 3 episode at the end of season one. Most fans assumed that the show would not continue and that the segments they filmed would never be released, but season 2 premiered on February 6, 2009, with the
Sega CD
The Sega CD, released as the in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. It was released on December 12, 1991, in Japan, ...
game,
Wirehead.
''GFW Radio and LAN Party''
It was announced on September 4, 2008, that
Jeff Green would leave Ziff Davis after 17 years to join
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the d ...
to work on the "
Sim" franchise. Shortly afterward on September 17, co-host Shawn Elliott also announced that he would be leaving the company to work under Ken Levine as associate producer on the next
2K Boston
K, or k, is the eleventh letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''kay'' (pronounced ), plural ''kays''. The letter K u ...
video game. The podcast is often affectionately referred to its nickname "97.5 The Brodeo".
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:1up.Com
Video game news websites
Internet properties established in 2003
Internet properties disestablished in 2013
2003 establishments in the United States
2013 disestablishments in the United States
Defunct American websites
IGN