ZIFF DAVIS TO SHUT DOWN OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION MAGAZINE
I'm sad to report that most internet news sites are reporting that Ziff Davis Media has decided that in response to declining ad revenues and circulation numbers along with the addition of Sony's online service's ability to provide content to gamers, the company will be shutting down the Official PlayStation Magazine following the January 2007 issue. Here's a copy of the full press release as printed over at Kotaku;
"Ziff Davis Game Group to Discontinue Publication of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 14 -- Ziff Davis Game Group, the leading integrated media company focused on the video game sector, today announced that it will discontinue publication of Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine after the January 2007 issue. The Game Group is laser-focused on continuing to expand its rapidly growing digital media presence and on further strengthening its multiplatform properties and powerful integrated network. As such, the Game Group has determined that Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, a property licensed from Sony Computer Entertainment America and limited to print, no longer fits its strategic vision.
"Ziff Davis has had a great run with Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine for the past nine years," said Scott McCarthy, President of Ziff Davis Game Group. "We are very proud of the magazine and its outstanding editorial team, and we're obviously sad to see it go. Unfortunately, given where we are taking the Game Group, it doesn't easily fit into our integrated media network or afford us digital media opportunities."
Mr. McCarthy continued, "In addition, it's a new world. The powerful online capabilities of the exciting PlayStation 3, coupled with ever- increasing broadband penetration in the U.S., allow for much more efficient distribution of game demos, videos, and trailers. With this next generation of game consoles, the days of having to bundle a disc with a magazine to distribute games-related content are over. And the disc has clearly been a major driver for consumer interest in premium-priced, platform-specific magazines in the past, when the magazine disc was the only way gamers could get such content."
Sony Computer Entertainment America will remain a key content and marketing partner for Ziff Davis Game Group, which will cover SCEA's PlayStation 3 and first-party games extensively across all of its media outlets, including EGM, 1UP.com, and GameVideos.com. The Game Group editorial team will also work closely with SCEA in the development of digital content for the PlayStation Network, accessible only through the PS3.
"We are as excited about the PlayStation 3 as the rest of the world, and gamers will be sure to see us reporting extensively on the platform -- and on the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable -- across our various media assets," said John Davison, Senior Vice President and Editorial Director of Ziff Davis Game Group. "We enjoy working with SCEA and look forward to continuing our relationship for many years to come."
Ziff Davis Game Group's digital media presence has expanded greatly over the past year. The reach of the 1UP Network in the third quarter of 2006 was nearly six times larger than in the same quarter in 2005, and the Game Group has launched several new online properties including GameVideos.com, MyCheats.com, the 1UP Show video podcast, and the ESPN.com Video Games Channel in partnership with ESPN.
The Game Group is also aggressively integrating its print and online media properties wherever possible. For example, its flagship multiplatform magazine EGM, the leader among videogame magazines, is now closely aligned with 1UP.com in terms of visual design, content, and its games rating system." - Ziff Davis Media press release
Allow me to say that I really am sad to see OPM go down the tubes. Besides the loss of demo discs, I give them all the credit in the world because despite being the "official" PlayStation magazine, they were generally not afraid to say what they actually thought about the entire situation involving the PlayStation 3 rather than just towing the company line. R.I.P. OPM, I hope your crew finds their place in the industry as soon as possible.
There was no word on how Ziff Davis publications will handle any subscriptions that are slated to go past January 2007's issue. Those of you looking for more information can check out these articles at Kotaku, Gamasutra and Gamespot. While you're at it, why not head on over to OPM"s 1up.com page and show them some love?
Posted by nylatenite
at 1:18 AM EST
