Sunday, January 11, 2009

After the wake.

On Friday night I attended a "wake" in San Francisco held on behalf of 1up.com and EGM, hosted, coincidentally enough, by my current employer, Electronic Arts. In attendance were people from all over the gaming industry: most of the remaining 1up staff, the recently fired, those who quit or were laid off in the past, game journalists from other outlets, and gaming PR and development folks...all gathering to pay their last respects, in public, to a fallen giant.

At one point, I found myself in the midst of a spontaneous and unplanned Computer Gaming World reunion, surrounded by a bunch of my old staff: Kristen Salvatore, Thierry Nguyen, Michael Jennings, Sean Dallaskidd, Dana Jongewaard, and Darren Gladstone. It was a nice moment, standing outside the overcrowded bar in the cold San Francisco air. What was nicest about it, I think, was seeing how well we were all doing. How, in spite of everything we'd all been through, in one way or another, we were still the same buncha dorks who all still liked each other, and all had nothing but good wishes for one another.

It was a simple but necessary reminder, as we begin a new week, that life does indeed march on, whether we like it or not. And that, ya know, stuff tends to work out. Yeah, those are some hoary old cliches, but, hey, sometimes those are necessary, too. Especially when the alternative doesn't really buy you anything.

And, indeed, all the parties involved are already picking up the pieces, and good things are starting to happen. The most amazing and heartening and just flat-out feel-good satisfying event of the week was the immediate assemblage, and then astounding success, of Rebel FM Radio--with Nick Suttner, Anthony Gallegos, Philip Kollar, Matt Chandronait, Ryan O'Donnell, Jade Kraus and Arthur Gies--which rose from the ashes of 1UP FM. These guys got their jobs taken away from them, and what did they do? Did they whine or mope or post angry rantings on the Internet like some people I know? (HAI). No. What they did is they got their collective asses together, and immediately got a new podcast recorded. And the most incredible, Ron Howard movie moment about it all? This first episode is KICKING ASS on iTunes. Check this out:



Yeah, that's right. Number two podcast on iTunes (and I heard it hit number one for awhile too!). That's #2 OVERALL. Not in the Games and Hobbies ghetto. That's higher than This American Life. Higher than all the NPR podcasts. Higher, in fact, than any actual official 1up.com podcast ever got. Now if that isn't some kind of sweet victory for those just laid off, I don't know what is. And, further, it's a testament to the talent and popularity of all those involved. It speaks for itself. And whether or not this lasts with future episodes--whether this was just a short-term reaction or show of support, or maybe the guys themselves will move on to other jobs---none of that matters or takes away from this moment. (And, hey, personally, I hope it stays at the top of iTunes for as long as it's on air.)

Similarly, the gang that made the 1UP Show have also regrouped right here, with plans to get a new show on the air as early as next week. I'll be downloading it as soon as it's there, and I hope you will too.


"1UP Show? We don't need no stinkin' 1UP Show!"


Finally, there are the "survivors" themselves, those left behind at 1up.com. I've been on both sides of the layoff equation over the course of my career--both fired and saved-and I can tell you, for those who stay, while it may not be as immediately stressful as it is to those now out of work, it still can be quite depressing. At the wake the other night, in fact, those still at 1up looked more unhappy than those who'd been cut, faced with a 2/3 empty office floor, survivor guilt, and the burden of rebuilding the 1up brand. The good news is, as I said in my previous post, this group has more than enough talent to pull it off. It won't be the same--but that doesn't mean it can't find its own voice again and still rise above the common dreck of gaming journalism. Poor Sam looked like he needed about three days sleep, which I hope he got this weekend (though I imagine it might be accompanied with a hangover.) But the good thing for him is that when he starts this week, he still has a staff of journalists who damn well know what they're doing. Far be it from me to sugarcoat the situation--I made it clear how I felt already, and stand by all of it--but none of that is the fault of this group of people. They just have a job to do. And the best thing they could possibly do now is shrug off the guilt, close their ears to any lingering online nerd rage, and get back to doing what they do best--knowing that the vast majority of us, including me, are rooting for them.

Here's to new beginnings.

EDIT: Sam Kennedy has an excellent new blog post on this whole affair, in which he speaks out emotionally and with great candor. You can find it here.

65 comments:

Anonymous said...

First!

Unknown said...

That's a great post Jeff. It's really nice to see everyone who was let go from 1UP sticking together. I downloaded the Rebel FM podcast when I heard it was on itunes from Nick Suttner's twitter. I'll also be donating to the Talking Orange to keep the show going. The 1UP show and the 1UP podcasts where all I listened to and watched. That, and reading the news feeds from 1UP (and Kotaku actually) are how I keep up with the video game industry. It sucks that I won't be able to listen to 1UP radio anymore, but I'm glad we have Rebel FM.

Pepper_ROni said...

so when is the gfw crew gonna start a new podcast? you shawn and everyone could get on skype and record a new show... if u need someone to record and shit id do it

Justin said...

Almost everything I've been thinking about since the "1UPocalypse", you once again have summed up in another great blog.

Anonymous said...

Rebel FM only got that high of a ranking because iTunes ranks podcasts by the number of new subscribers. With all the previous 1up listenership transferring over to a new podcast simultaneously, it's only natural for it to be ranked so high. That surge probably won't last for too long.

Paralax said...

Well said. I visited the 1Up offices a couple years ago. I met Sam on the tour and I complimented him on his Kutaragi piece. We chatted a little while. He was very nice to me. You too Jeff!

Chinoyon said...

All the community is with you guys. No matter which road you take, everyone will be there to support and praise your work. I have been watching the 1up Show and listened to the EGM Live, plus the other shows, and they have no point of comparison from other podcasts I've heard from the competition. Your efforts will be always be praised. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, all the fans will always be there to support one way or the other.

Unknown said...

Yeah, I think it's great news all around. It'll be interesting to see the fruit of everyone's new labor in the near future.

Anonymous said...

Will the 1up staff remain as it presently is - or will Hearst be supplementing the present staff with staff of its own?

ShallNosieUpon said...

So Jeff, when are you going to be a guest on RebelFM?

Ian Jacobson said...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4247

Stephen said...

How hard would it be to create your own print magazine? You have all the industry insiders you need. It is time.

JUST DO IT!!!

DL'ing Rebel FM now...

Unknown said...

Amen brother.

William said...

agreed

Anonymous said...

Um, hai, you left off Anthony Gallegos when you listed the people who are putting together Rebel FM! Other than that, excellent post, sir. :)

Jeff Green said...

Once my editor, always my editor. :)
Thanks, Jongewaard!

Anonymous said...

I agree with the above comment that the gfw crew should try to get together for at least an episode. Plenty of podcasts are done over skype and it works out pretty well. That is, unless your employers don't allow their employees to be on video game podcasts.

Wilson said...

Well said Jeff, I feel in some sort of karma thinking way that this is for the best. I agree that everybody laid off and still working at 1UP are a talented bunch. I honestly want to see them take the next leap like you did. It doesn't mean that they should join a game studio, but maybe their own site could be a huge thing. Never know!

Unknown said...

Rebel FM is still number one on the Canadian iTunes.

Warren G Campbell said...

You are right Jeff, and I've realized it over the past few days: I'm worrying more for the people left behind. I really hope Garnett can pull together a good successor to 1Up Yours. I hope David and Tina can turn Game Night into something really special (the idea has huge potential).

As for the departed, all eyes on them. I'm anxiously looking forward to what 'Project TalkingOrange' puts together (seriously, how did they not already make it onto TV before all of this via some sort of syndication deal? It's a better show than a lot of stuff I see on Saturday afternoons). Also, I could see myself designating Eat-Sleep-Game as a trustworthy, go-to gaming site (and the name has a catchy ring to it).

Here's hoping everyone involved can throw on their thinking caps and blow everybody away. Lord knows they've got the talent and the will. The key ingredient is a great, original idea.

JSD said...

Thanks for sharing Jeff. We have a huge software production release in a few days I was supposed to be testing all last week, but spent all my time reading blog posts and worrying about everyone associated with 1up! I'm trying to get caught up now (and doing a good job, as you can tell).

Rebel FM: Wow. I didn't even get it thru iTunes, just downloaded and listened with MediaPlayer (at work, of course). That IS amazing though, even if what Bobby says is true (only cuz of new subscribers). It was good to hear the voices, even if it wasn't PC only (my gig). It's so good to hear that they are taking action.

I haven't heard much about Ryan Scott, though...

JSD said...

Oh, and Jeff: I loved hearing you and Shawn on the GWJ podcast last month. It would be *fantastic* if we could get you two together on some podcast somewhere at least once a quarter? Please??? Both of you bring such unique and interesting perspectives to our hobby and the industry that creates it.

Gentry said...

We gamers can be a fiercely loyal bunch. I think what has happened with Rebel FM is testament to that.

Broseybrose said...

Yeah, the sudden appearance of Rebel FM was the most surprisingly uplifting sight to see, a scant day or two after the 1up apocolypse.

I had no idea it was THAT popular, though, and Im SO glad that it is. Gentry's damn right about us 1uppers being a loyal bunch. You guys (and gal or two) really earned it from us.
We'll never forget it, either.

Best Wishes to All!

J.F. Grant said...

Thanks Jeff. Now I don't feel quite as guilty when I still look at the UGO-swallowed 1Up.com. Gutted as it may be, it still provides pretty good info, testament to the 1Upers still there. Can't wait for Rebel FM and for the Liberation Army of... (Ok, I honestly can't come up with a PC related word that starts with 'N') Podcast.

Philip Kollar said...

Thanks so much for the kind words about our show, Jeff. Getting out and doing something right away helped us take our minds off the fact that we'd just been laid off well enough on its own, but the fact that we've received such an incredible outpouring of support continues to blow my mind.

Also, you're welcome on the show any time. I'm sure we'll be bothering you for an appearance soon.

Also also, give me a job plz.

Anonymous said...

I'm not shedding any tears for the "1Up survivors", they're not one of em a person I particularly enjoyed hearing on the various podcasts (if they ever featured at all).

The site layout was always shite and the only reason to visit was to read articles the guys on the podcast(s) had mentioned/written/referenced.

buh bye 1 up, this cat won't be back.

Anonymous said...

Jeff,

Any chance to have the brodeo guys/podcast back?

Anonymous said...

Rebel FM also got to 16 on the UK Itunes (13 on just audio podcasts). Considering most of the ones above it are BBC podacasts and the BBC IS britian, thats pretty damn impressive.

Chris Chambers said...

Rebel.FM is at 11 here in Aus and holding!

Anonymous said...

Holy cow, Jeff, how much salad, gnocchi and tomato sauce can one man eat? You've had it for like 5 days in a row now!

Macroe said...

In a crisis there are people who immediately start to think about the next step, like the Rebel FM guys. Unfortunately others will be tied by the painful events of last week. Move on, gather the talent, people will notice and support you. If you build it they'll come? Yes indeed. You are still in a unique and magical place in the whole world where people who write and talk and love their hobby have a chance to actually earn a living at it. I know it's easy to say from the outside, but f-yeah! is the right attitude.

Best Regards from Mexico.

Anonymous said...

You know, the other day I started feeling really optimistic again and I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. That was a brutal way to start off the New Year, but the guys who got laid off are so talented, devoted, and personable that they can't help but succeed somehow. Besides which, I'm beginning to feel that 1UP might be able to rebuild itself and, now that it's free of Ziff and all the associated messiness, will be better positioned to become a viable business.

By the way, I find TV on the Radio's "DLZ" to pretty much sums up my feelings about what happened to the ZD game group. What say you?

Anonymous said...

I seriously hope that Jeff Green will continue to be the sun shining down on the "talking orange video show". There should be a law to carry that detail over from the 1up show.

Other than that, I hope this reboot proves that people prefer opinions from writers they know over advertised brand names.

tomsamson said...

Thanks a lot for this great post Jeff :)
I´m very happy the (former) 1up guys are continuing to do their great stuff :)
Getting the podcast now and already donated as much as i could for them on paypal :)

Dox said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dox said...

I was recently part of a developer team that was laid off and it was really hard to be in that board room with all my friends from the past couple years and hear that news. You work hard to make something great that you all believe in as a team but then the business side of things rises and breaks the levy washing away everything you have worked for. It seems to be a story that has been repeated a lot more frequently in this economic climate. Luckily, I have landed in a good place and am thankful for what I learned on my old project carrying my career forward. Much love to the 1upers.

Lorigga said...

It's fascinating how the fact that it was always about the personalities at 1UP which created that special spark has been such a huge part of the dialog in the fallout of the 1UP buyout. I can't help but feel that that spark, coupled with new technologies, will carry RebelFM and the "Not the 1UP show" forward.

Look at the massive twitter adds..I was part of that. Another example would be this very blog. When you left Jeff I immediately added your blog. I loved the stuff you did for GFW Radio, I loved reading the mag, especially the editors comments where you would rant about random stuff. In fact, I still haven't listened to your last GFW podcast because I knew I'd get sad.

But yeah, with blogs, twitter, iTunes, and facebook, it's fascinating to see how easy it has been for all of us fans to follow all of you guys.

Anyways, thanks for the blog post and all the others! I love reading them, actually, right after reading about that bit of you playing Lost Cities with your young one I headed on over to Eudemonia to get it!

Anyways, thanks. I appreciate your voice.

tomsamson said...

EA often gets smashed for doing this and that, so yeah also wanted to add:
big props to them for organizing such an event

Anonymous said...

Well said that man.

Anonymous said...

Jeff,
I am glad that we all can agree on that the folks that were 1up are all dedicated and professional enough, so that they are able to stand on there own feet. But for us who we enjoyed the chorus of the old 1up so much, it is just unreal to see so many voices fade. I personally can not understand how a serious publishing company can cut away it's legacy on one hand and most polished, future prove and innovative products at the same time. EGM as sad as it is I would understood, even if I don't like it (do to the fact that my first visit to the states and therefore my first own issue of the legendary publication is still in the future). But the podcast, audio and video, to kill those is sheer nonsense. If monetizing of such assets is a problem, the business model has to be reconsidered. The lay-offs to me looked like a the advise of a one-eyed to a blind crowd. The dominate self-imposed blindness of the content industry towards the internet its rules, ways and possibilities brought another great project down.
And you are right 1up is never going to be the 1up I loved again.
Regards
Jens

Anonymous said...

@Jeremy Steven: The inestimable Mr. Ryan Scott has an audio podcast cooking over at his personal site, www.geekbox.net. =]

http://www.geekbox.net/archives/2009/01/12/geekbox-radio-coming-this-week/

Glen Haupt said...

Oh wow, thanks for posting a link to the talking orange website. For some reason I hadn't seen it yet.

That, in turn, pointed me to Ryan Scott's plans for Geekbox Radio! There's a surprising amount of great stuff to look forward to, despite what happened.

Anonymous said...

Yeah go RebelFM! I wonder though if the new, awesome and better name had anything to with it skyrocketing so high.

jus said...

Jeff The Green Forever!

Anonymous said...

Props to Rebel FM and Talking Orange for doing this at such a tough time. Can't wait to see what Ryan Scott has in store for us!

And it's nice to hear from you again, Sean. Hope you've been doing well.

Macroe said...

Sean Molloy!! Such a pleasure to see you 'round here! I had not heard anything about you for some time now. Please let the gaming collective aka the Artichoke Legions of Green know where we can read or hear or see more of you. Suerte amigo!

J.F. Grant said...

I have it! Jeff, we need you, Ryan Scott, Shawn and Sean, Tina, Matt, Anthony and Max Chill on the Liberation Army of Nerds (LAN) podcast!

Anonymous said...

The best thing to come out of this for me, a huge 1up fan, is a break in the tunnel vision I had for 1up. I had started to visit Kotaku some, and go to Giantbomb once in a while.
1up and EGM were my first love though. I subscribe to 8.. yes 8 freaking videogame magazines. Still, with all that info pouring in, EGM was the only one I read over and over again each month.
I look forward to keeping up with where the 1up alums end up, and now, a week later, feel a bit of hope for 1up.
Thank you Jeff! Your first post about the 1up sale echoed exactly how I was feeling at the time. I have nothing but good will to all my former and current EGM/1up heroes.
I can honestly say that without them I would have never ended up moonlighting as a freelance videogame reviewer for my hometown paper if it was not for these guys. Even if the $20 I get for each review is a small suppliment to the money I make as an ass man for Gamestop- every penny of that $20 I can credit to EGM/1up- for making me love games as much as I do.
Thanks,
Frank Anderson

Peter Fall said...

Well, i hope Rebel Podcast doesn't mind being #3...as soon as you and the GFW crew get back together!!!

Anonymous said...

(Please visit www.greenspeak.org)

Greenspeak - saving the world one word at a time!

If you believe the world will be a better place if we each do something to improve our environment, then you're a GreenSpeaker! (You're also in serious need of psychiatric evaluation since we all know that the planet earth is pretty much doomed anyhow.)

Greenspeak.org was formed to give you a voice. We want to hear from you. If you're building wind generators out of found and scrounged objects (such as the box covers of old DOS games that you 'found' in your closet) then we want to know how.

If you're organizing electronics recycling in your community (in other words if you have four dead iPods in a drawer in your home somewhere and have just thought up an idea as to what should be done with them) then we want the details.

If you know of solar flashlights or other cool items that people can use to lower their dirty energy use (or if you just like to flash people on the street in general) then by all means tell us.

If you're building wireless networks powered by wind and solar, we'll shout it from the rooftops! (We might even decide to jump from the roof top, considering how much crazy stuff has happened to us over the course of the past eighteen months! I mean, seriously, how much of this crap are we supposed to take?)

Do you have any GreenSpeak for us? Please let us know. (Or not. It's doubtful that we'll respond to your comments anyhow - it's not like we ever visit this section and read any of this crap that's written by the Greenspeak readers.)

The focus here is on Positive Action (for example, you might want to quit your old job and go to work for EA! This will even provide you with an excuse to go out and purchase a brand new motorbike!).

There are enough sites out there telling everyone what they're doing wrong (just visit 1up if you don't believe us) and we don't want to be just another one in a long line of doom and gloomers. We'd rather show you people who are doing good things (like Robert Coffey, for example, who got himself a real job writing stuff that actually matters) no matter how small. Because if a lot of people do a lot of things right, the affect is cumulative (cumulative effects, some might even say).

And hearing about what other people are doing, and how they're doing it, will hopefully inspire others to contribute in their own way (like hearing about those cats who got fired from 1up, for example, who, instead of just laying down their swords and surrendering, took action and produced their own show, Rebel FM, which quickly became the number one podcast on iTunes!).

------------------------------

Hey, you know what, if you Google Greenspeak, (because somehow you lost your bookmark to the site, and needed to find your way back) then be super careful, because there are actually two Greenspeaks.

And trust me, you DO NOT want to visit the wrong site.

(The above excerpt was of course removed from that other Greenspeak site. I might've altered a few of the sentences though. I tend to do stuff like that a lot.)

The Goose

Padraic o Broithe said...

Someone mentioned above about the GFW crew getting back together and doing a podcast again via Skype. I think this is a great idea. Your buddies at GWJ could probably help set it up and I am sure there is more then enough people that would love to hear the Brodeo revived as well!

Anonymous said...

Great post Jeff. I to have been on both sides of a layoff. Most recently back in August, I was one of the saved. Although at the time I didn't think so. :) I recounted a bit of it on my new 1UP page. Being a long time site visitor and podcast listener, I felt compelled to finally join the 1Up community as a show of support for the ones left and the ones that were let go. Its been a hell of a ride. A lot has changed. I'm glad Sam has a new blog. Boy was it ever from the heart. I hope they truly have the support from Hearst both in money and giving editoral freedom to 1UP. I have a feeling if both those are true then 1UP can rise from these ashes and be something special. I'm pulling for them 100%. On a side note, thanks for your blogs. I've never been much of a blog reader other than the editor blogs on 1UP and N'gai's stuff and a few others. I'm glad you are keeping this blog in your new career. I look forward to more insights on being a Game Dev. A job a dreamed of as a kid many moons ago but sidetracked myself from it. Thanks again Jeff.

dLindner said...

How do we keep track of these people: Kristen Salvatore, Thierry Nguyen, Michael Jennings, Darren Gladstone, etc?

Anonymous said...

I wish the best of luck to all laid off 1UP staff members. I will support whatever products they release and have donated to the new 1up show.

This is terrible news, and I am extremely sorry.

Anonymous said...

Will you be joining them in the podcast making sometime? like by phone or something would be cool.



I got some EGM and computer gaming world magzines in somecardboard boxes in a closet dating as early as 1994.. the 1990-1999 issues was huge thick things with tons of pages good times.

Some of the EGM and computer gaming world have Doom virtua fighter 1 on them. there is an issue devoted to Unreal ETC.

I also ran across the issue with the after 9/11/2001 greenspeak with everquest on the cover very interesting to read them again.


I am going to miss the paper magazine format game news but in kinda some ways happy since I am running out of room to store paper magazines and I just cant bring myself to throw game mags out.... Time magzines/entertainment weekly I don't really care about and throw them in the trash but the game mags I could never do it.

ale said...

Sorry to use your blog Jeff, but I'm sure that this community has some top level business people around. I suggest that they donate brainpower, time and ideas, to the creative teams being formed right now from the remmants of 1up. How great would it be if some of us business owners contribute with them in their start up? I'm sure that they will not be lacking attention nor content, but when it comes to actually setting up a business and running it, who knows, pitfalls can be avoided right now. Send word to them at www.eat-sleep-game.com and www.talkingorange.com

Anonymous said...

I totally Support Rebel FM. We need the Brodeo to try and and get back together there. Plus I sadly Miss Ryan Scott and Tina from Lan Party. They were starting to grow on me :P They were the new Jeff and Shawn! I really HATE how GFW is GONE from 1up.

Anonymous said...

Ok, seriously, how much do we have to grovel and beg to get you to at least mention to us that you're THINKING about doing a podcast? Lots of us clearly want it to happen, and even if there's some kind of EA/Take2 rule about not going on video game podcasts... talk about last night's dinner... we'll still listen!

After all, what else do we have to do besides hang out in our Mom's basement and re-play Fallout 3? Sounds boring huh? Bet you didn't know I was going to switch from PC to 360 when playing this time... how exciting!

ale said...

Wolfen: Sorry to digress, but Ryan and Tina are at least a couple of parsecs away from getting to the level of Jeff and Shawn. Maybe they were on the way to scracthing Darren Gladstone's toes.

velvet elvis said...

@ stephen: print is a dying medium. ink is made from oil and oil is expensive. i used to work for an ink company. they closed my branch.

@ jeff: very nice to see you support of both sides and your honesty. hope to hear you on rebel fm sometime soon. i was one of the many switches to the podcast after big layoff. i just wanted to hear there side of the story, and i found something new to listen to. what luck. and i found your blog... more luck. i hope to see something good come from this on both sides.

Anonymous said...

Though I couldn't say I was a large or minor part of the 1up community, I am so happy to see them go on. All their podcasts were great, and I am so glad to see them move on to hopefully something much better.

This is the best "fuck you" move ever.

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