Next year will be EGM's 20th year in print, should it last until summer of 2009 for its two decade anniversary. Young tells the New York Times that Ziff Davis is "considering" moving EGM to an online-only format on 1UP.com, but would not make the decision before end of year.

Young blamed rising costs associated with print and decreased advertising as reasons for the closing of PC Magazine.

Ziff Davis filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and is working on eliminating its debt. The publisher has shut down a number of print pubs over the past few years, including the Official PlayStation Magazine, GMR and most recently Games For Windows: The Magazine.

PC Magazine, a Flagship for Ziff Davis, Will Cease Printing a Paper Version [New York Times via Gamasutra]

The LBP universe will also continue to evolve next year with the release of the PSP version: Q-Mann hears it’s fantastically ambitious and will further flesh out the PS3 LBP experience.

There are no actual facts about the game, but it would be difficult to imagine using the PSP to do any serious level editing. Interestingly, Media Molecule are apparently not involved in the port and are said to be considering new project - including a possible online RPG.

Silicon Knights was reported to be working on a "third-person action/psychological thriller" and enjoying a long term relationship with Sega. It is also not ruling out revisiting Eternal Darkness.

We were told by Sega reps back in June to expect the unveiling of the Silicon Knights project "in the coming months" after a video, incorrectly identified to be that project, was leaked from market research firm Intellisponse.

We've contacted Sega reps to get confirmation on the rumored change in plans.

If so, you'd do well to check out the newest issue of EGM, which features a cover story on Watchmen: The End Is Nigh including first screens, interviews with all involved and probably a heavy dose of disappointment for some of you.

EGM Watches the Watchmen in Our December Issue [1UP]

That's the extent of the details Q-man is willing to give, only noting that the title is "multi-platform" — which we'll interpret to mean Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and (maybe) PC, not Nintendo DS and PSP. We'll hold tight for the EGM cover story on the matter or hope that Cliff just spills the beans in the comments.

Quartermann: Cliff Bleszinski's Next Game a Survival Horror Title? [1UP]

Really though, is this true, and if so, is it a good idea? Part of LBP's appeal is that it managed to create iconic characters that have no other presence outside this particular world. To have Mickey, Minnie and or Goofy tromping all over creation seems more than a little inconsistent with that look. It sounds like Kingdom Hearts meets LBP.

EGM November 2008 Reviews and Rumors [NeoGAF via Joystiq]

Said title will also stay true to its 2D roots, says EGM, which knows what's coming but won't name names, except to exclude Bucky O'Hare or Biker Mice from Mars Wiifanboy runs with the ball of speculation, offering some possibilities Konami could be working.

I guess my question is, why wouldn't it be Contra? Unless they're thinking after Mega Man 9 and Bionic Commando: Rearmed, people will have exhausted their supply of nostalgia for platform action games. If it's Rush'n Attack I'm gonna choke.

Rumor: Konami Trying Its Hand at Retro Revival

“The Court’s confirmation of our Plan is a major milestone for Ziff Davis as we look to emerge from Chapter 11 restructuring,” said Jason Young, Chief Executive Officer of Ziff Davis Media. “We are very proud of the progress we have made during our short time in Chapter 11 to become a healthier company. We remain grateful for the unwavering support of our customers, vendors and employees throughout this process and we look forward to continuing our work with all of our stakeholders after our emergence. After concluding our restructuring, we will be better positioned, with the financial strength to grow and capitalize on our strengths.”

The plan, in a nutshell, splits the $428 million in debt between new stock and a $57.5 million debt.

I'm happy to see that both 1Up and EGM survived the turmoil. Let's hope that they both recover as stronger entities than when ZD first filed.

Court Confirms Ziff Davis Media’s Plan Of Reorganization

Company Expects to Emerge From Chapter 11 on July 1, 2008

NEW YORK—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Ziff Davis Media Inc. (“Ziff Davis” or the “Company”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Ziff Davis Holdings Inc., today announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (the "Court") confirmed Ziff Davis’s “Second Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan Of Reorganization,” dated May 6, 2008 (the “Plan”). Ziff Davis currently expects to emerge from Chapter 11 on July 1, 2008.

“The Court’s confirmation of our Plan is a major milestone for Ziff Davis as we look to emerge from Chapter 11 restructuring,” said Jason Young, Chief Executive Officer of Ziff Davis Media. “We are very proud of the progress we have made during our short time in Chapter 11 to become a healthier company. We remain grateful for the unwavering support of our customers, vendors and employees throughout this process and we look forward to continuing our work with all of our stakeholders after our emergence. After concluding our restructuring, we will be better positioned, with the financial strength to grow and capitalize on our strengths.”

As previously announced, the Plan substantially de-leverages Ziff Davis’s balance sheet by converting over $428 million in funded indebtedness to (a) new common stock of reorganized Ziff Davis Media and (b) a new note of $57.5 million. The acceptance of the Plan by voting creditors was overwhelming. The Plan provides Ziff Davis with sufficient cash to fund its exit from Chapter 11 as well as its ongoing business plan. This funding will enable the Company to finance its Chapter 11 exit obligations as well as ongoing operations for the foreseeable future.

More information about Ziff Davis's reorganization, including the Plan and Disclosure Statement, are available at www.bmcgroup.com.

EGM July 2008 [via GameSetWatch]

You know, we've heard something similar to this recently, reminding us of a photo snapped at the Rare offices that touts "finishing moves", 3-player matches and uses ancient Killer Instinct art. It's a photo that makes us think Rare was just having a bit of cruel fun at our expense, as they're wont to do. Time will tell if Killer Instinct 3 is real, but for the meantime you can catch up on all the nasty rumors at 1UP.

Quartermann: Rare Readying New Killer Instinct? [1UP]

They were probably referring to the inclusion of the Xbox 360's downloadable content and that fixed widescreen mode, plus PS3 version specific features that "extend and augment the game." That's all according to a helpful tipster who is already in possession of the issue. EGM speculates that those features are related to Home and we wouldn't be surprised if that's more than just an educated guess on their part.

BioShock Confirmed for PS3 [EGM - thanks, Walter!]

Today, speaking at the 11th Annual Electronic Gaming Summit, Ziff Davis Media CEO Jason Young told the gathered summit members that the restructuring process will be wrapped up in June. More importantly, he noted that their $400 million debt will be reduced to a paltry $57 million, leaving them with the cash flow to invest back in their products, which includes 1Up, EGM and GameVideos.

Sounds like Simon Cox, , Vice President of Content for the 1UP network, hit the nail on the head when he said they would be bigger, better, faster, stronger when they came out of the restructuring.

Stay tuned later today for reports on talks given to this small group by Microsoft's Jeff Bell;, analyst Michael Pachter; Tanya Giles, of MTV; and the always energetic Peter Moore.

Electronic Gaming Monthly Issue 001 (May 1989) [Retromags via GnomesLair]

The ZD gang reveals that Bottlerocket games—the folks behind the Mark of Kri games for PlayStation 2—are piloting the good ship Splatterhouse. And they even offer up a shot of the in-game model, bigger and bloodier than the wee thumbnail above. Squeal! I'm moving my bed next to the mail slot, for more instantaneous EGM gratification.

Previews: Splatterhouse [1UP]

New-gen Splatterhouse details are non-existent, but EGM subscribers should start seeing their copies hit later this week.

EGM Heads to the Splatterhouse [1UP]

Shu is quick to point out that the decision was his alone and not one forced on him or dealing with any sort of lay offs, or connected in anyway to the recent news about Games for Windows. He says on his personal blog that after 11 years at the company it's time to move on.

It's with a heavy (and relieved) heart that I write this: I've tendered my resignation here at Ziff Davis Media and the 1UP Network. My last day here will be Friday, April 25.

This is my own decision; I'm not being forced out or laid off or anything like that. And this is not related to the recent news about Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (and I hope I'm not stealing any thunder away from those guys — that's not my intention here). It's just time for me to move on. I've been here, mostly with EGM, since April of 1996. That's 11 years (taking off one year when I did a brief stint at Gamers.com)...quite a long time!

While Hsu doesn't say where he's headed he does that that we will hear from him again in the near future.

love the videogame business too much to stay away (plus, I'm too old to become a professional snowboarder). Besides, I will miss you guys too much. You all have been fantastic. I sincerely appreciate all the support you've thrown my way over the years — and that, I'll never forget, either.

Thanks and good bye...for now.

I just hope it's still as a writer. The game industry doesn't need Hsu as much as we do.

Hit the jump for the official release naming Sam Kennedy as his replacement as Editorial Director for 1Up Network.

Goodbye [1Up] [Image]

***1UP Network Media Bulletin***
1UP Network Announces New Management Appointment
Sam Kennedy Named as Editorial Director for 1UP Network

April 11, 2008- 1UP Network, the recognized authority in video game content and industry expertise, reaching over 24 million gamers per month, announced today a new management appointment within the 1UP Network. Sam Kennedy, the driving force behind 1UP Network's online properties as site director will be taking on the added role of editorial director as of April 25, 2008.

As site director, Sam Kennedy's fervent vision for the future of 1UP Network's online properties and respected leadership, coupled with his seasoned experience as editor-in-chief of 1UP.com has helped transform 1UP Network into what it is today— the first family of gaming print publications and online sites to provide fully-integrated content and a comprehensive social network. In the added position as editorial director, Sam will report directly to Simon Cox, vice president of content, contributing to the execution of the strategic vision for 1UP Network, setting and maintaining the editorial voice of the 1UP Network, and fostering consistency and co-operation among the editorial brands.

Current editorial director, Dan Hsu, is stepping down to pursue personal interests.

"Once we re-emerge from the other side of this, fully intact (as we assuredly will be), we will have reduced that debt significantly, and the payments that go with it," Simon says. "Our earnings will once again be our own, and we will have spare cash to invest in building bigger, better, faster, stronger and better-looking websites and magazines."

As soon as ZD gets that debt monkey of its back, the 1UP network and its print brethren are due for some internal investment, which is super duper positive.

So, chin up, subscribers and podcast listeners. It's not the end of EGM as we know it.

That Chapter 11 thing... [1UP]

The raters were viewed as more of an electoral college, and our ratings were not always the final ones issued. Sometimes, we'd see a full letter rating change (a game we gave an M would be lowered to a T, for example, or a T raised to an M).

We highly value our raters' recommendations, and their opinions are always the principal determining factor when assigning a rating. But they cannot be the sole criteria on which a rating is based. To avoid confusing parents, consistency in how age ratings or content descriptors are assigned for similar content must be part of the process.

For more of the story, hit the links. Or better still, pick up an issue of this month's EGM.

Ex-Game Rater Dishes the Dirt... ESRB Boss Fires Back [GamePolitics via Gamasutra][image]

The company has tried to negotiate its substantial debt out of the courts before, following a missed interest payment last summer. Over the past four years, the company had shuttered some of its publications, including the Official PlayStation Magazine and GMR, but continues to publish print properties like eWeek and PC Magazine as well as nearly twenty technology and entertainment web sites.

While we don't know much about the financial health of its video gaming properties, we have heard that the 1UP Yours podcast will be scaled back to a lean three hours in an effort to cut costs. A temporary setback, we hope.

Ziff Davis Media Files for Bankruptcy to Cut Debt [Bloomberg]

When asked by the mag if the now BC-less console kills any chance of offering PS2 games via the PlayStation Store, as it does for original PlayStation games, Lempel said "We haven't talked about that yet, but there are possibilities through technology and software emulation to make that possibles."

Lempell chose not to talk about "specific plans at this point" but that doesn't mean we can't hope. And pray. And start online petitions.

The full interview, which is actually with Sony Computer Entertainment SVP of marketing Peter Dille—he says backward compatibility is "important to us"—is in the newest issue of EGM, which is in subscriber hands now. We hope that 1UP will publish the interview online, in-full, at some point soon.

Other enticing rumor tidbits: a forthcoming announcement from Team Ico, plus ports of Everyday Shooter and God of War: Chains of Olympus. I'm going to check the mailbox one more time. Things often get jammed in there. *checks* Damn it!!

Rumors: Dead Rising 2, God of War PS2 [1UP]

Microsoft Already Working on Game For Next Xbox? [1UP]

It reminds us of that other EGM rumor from last summer that pointed to a Mega Man remake coming to PSN, one that has yet to materialize. Capcom would make the most sense of the three names bandied about, as Konami has already delivered on a number of remakes—Contra, Gyruss, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, et al.—and Square-Enix doesn't know what the hell to do with digital distribution yet. Of course, there are plenty of other candidates, but we'll keep our fingers crossed for that HD Forgotten Worlds remake.

Major Japanese Publisher Working on PSN Remakes [1UP]

Sounds like EGM and 1UP were quite justified in their legal "picking on" of Pereira and Blogeek. He's an EGM Brazil freelancer and has now admitted to swiping the pics from Ziff-Davis' own media servers. EGM editor-in-chief Dan Hsu, who says ZD has the IP logs of the transgression to back it up, explains.

Guys, maybe a little journalistic investigating before you blast us? How about talking to Ziff Davis to get the "full story"? This guy did not get the information from an "anonymous source." He's a freelancer for EGM Brazil who finally admitted to them that he did not have a source, but rather, stole the information from our servers (we have IP logs for this). He used his working relationship with EGM Brazil, stole a password, and took information from our story and posted it up before we could.

If one of Kotaku's freelancers stole a password to steal a scoop, would that be cool? I'd be OK with it if, indeed, he had a source that leaked the information (I stood up for Kotaku for that very act in last year's Sony debacle). But that's not what's happened. What he did was just outright illegal, irresponsible, and is not what journalists are supposed to do.

Please, next time, before blasting us...maybe get the other side of the story?

Thanks to Hsu for clearing up the matter. I'm off to wince!

When contacted over the weekend Pereira denied the allegations and said that he never admitted to anything.

They don't know what they're saying!!! That's right, I in fact write some things for the brazilian mag. Though, I'm a freelancer, and therefore I don't have access to their FTP. I never wrote a story that used the FTP. And I NEVER admitted that I stole the pictures from their FTP, because I didn't. I know it sounds suspicious, but you must believe me, I don't have their FTP login and did not stole any pics form there. They were given to me, and I published them.

"The content you posted in the site blogeek is property of Ziff Davis, given from Capcom only to Ziff Davis and EGM issues, with embargo for the publications. Your publication of this subject is theft of intellectual property and should have immediate legal consequences. Ziff Davis and Futuro want you to cut off the content form your site immediately."

Pereia informed me that a follow up email informed him that Ziff Davis and Capcom lawyers were working to see what they could do to him, and that sales of the Street Fighter IV issue of EGM would suffer from the leak and he was responsible. Pressure is being put on Pereia to reveal his source as well, though Douglas refuses to do so.

He has, however, removed the post from Blogeek and taken the site down, posting a message on the front page apologizing for the leaked information.

IT WAS NOT OUR INTENTION TO MESS WITH ANYONE. LIKE EVERY NEWS SITE AND BLOG, WE JUST WANTED TO PASS INFORMATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE INTEREST FOR ANY SUBJECT.

JUST TO CLARIFY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY NDA, AND FAR LESS WE WOULD HACK ANYTHING FROM ZIFF DAVIS. A SOURCE CAME TO US AND PASSED SOME INFOS AND THE TWO PICTURES, AND WE PUBLISHED THEM.

ALTHOUGH WE STILL DON'T THINK WE SHOULD, WE REALLY WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE WHO GOT HURT WITH THE INCIDENT.

ZIFF DAVIS WAS THREATENING US, AND WE ARE REALLY AFRAID, OF COURSE.

Why pick on Douglas Pereia and Blogeek? Because they know they can. A small site without a very large fan base is much easier to fool with threats than a large website with untold numbers of regular readers. The main gist of this is they want to know his source, and they're trying to strong-arm him into giving it. Just sad.

As of this writing, Kotaku has received no similar threats, despite the pictures and information being available for all to view, right here.

UPDATE: Please see this post for comment from Ziff-Davis via EGM editor in chief Dan Hsu.

Uh oh. That's the day the new Grand Theft Auto IV trailer hits the web. Time to bring in some reserve internets.

UPDATE: Reader Jon points out that these Street Fighter roman numerals have been running for the last three issues. I just checked back issues #221 and #222 which contain I and II respectively on the Next Month page.

Street Fighter IV Info Coming This Week [Next-Gen]
Save the Date: 1UP Coverage You Can't Miss [1UP]

Not true, says Rare to GamesIndustry.biz. If Bettenhausen's rumor holds water, it's for something less furry and feathery. What could it be? Microsoft's upcoming line-up includes titles such as Alan Wake, Marvel Universe Online, Too Human, Fable 2 and Halo Wars among many others.

Which of those games has been in development a "very long time"? And which of those titles would be something that "people are very excited for"? Want to make some bets in the comments?

Banjo-Kazooie not cancelled, says Rare [GamesIndustry.biz]

What will we do with axe blades on pistols? More like, what won't we do with axe blades on pistols.

I told you. Freakin' hot.

PaRappa the Rapper 3 is heading to the Playstation 3, according to the Quartermann's rumors in the latest issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, 1Up reports. Yeah, that's a double attribution there folks.

Quartermann's other rumors include an inkling that Silent Hill 5 is coming to the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 as the product of a U.S., not Japanese development team. Finally . QM guesses that Electronic Arts is looking to book exclusive deals with both the MLB and NBA to complete a lovely sports trifecta. I sure hope that last doesn't happen, I'm a huge fan of competition. Brian Crecente

PaRappa the Rapper [1up]

Mega Man remake watchers are well aware of last year's Mega Man Powered Up for the PSP, which saw a hyper-cute Blue Bomber take out Dr. Wily again... for the first time. Critically lauded but commercially 'meh', Mega Man Powered Up featured two new Robot Masters in Oil Man and Time Man. Will this be a Mega Man remake or Mega Man Powered Up remake? We don't know and EGM ain't telling.

Also teased are a Dead Or Alive PLAYSTATION 3 exclusive and a hint about the future of Kingdom Hearts. Obviously these two games are unfairly overshadowed by the potential release of another Mega Man. Michael McWhertor

New DoA, Mega Man, and Kingdom Hearts for PS3? [1UP]

Looks like that mysterious JSF site is tied to EndWar after all. If you hop on to the JSF site now and click on the passcode button you will be asked to type in a password. Type in s9p1z6 in the box and hit enter.

That jumps you to a recording of a woman giving a future history lesson. In a nutshell: the world realizes peace in 2014 but then an oil shortage leads to a new cold war which moves to space and eventually turns into the EndWar, the final big war.

Throughout the audiocast an image of the EndWar logo is flickering in the background as well as a small EGM216 flickering near the bottom of the screen. Obviously, a reference to the upcoming issue of Electronic Gaming Magazine. I'm guessing we'll be learning a lot more from the mag about EndWar when it hits.

Moving around the blank space left after the audio and video runs, I noticing two blinking yellow dots which start up videos. One video shows a soldier running through some unidentifiable terrain, he looks a bit like the soldiers from Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, the other shows a sleek fighter dropping what appears to be a missile over some desert terrain.

I'm getting a little psyched, but I am a sucker for shooters. Brian Crecente

JSF

Says the mysterious Quartermann:

Word is another Halo game is in the works. No, I'm not talking about Halo Wars (but I hear it might be coming out this year!) or the episodic project famed movie director Peter Jackson is working on. So what is it?

Yeah! What is it? Bungie and pals have the first-person shooter and real time strategy genres covered, so where else can the Spartans take us? I'll admit, I'm stumped, but I've got a hundred Microsoft Points on a DS game. Any guesses? Michael McWhertor

Is Sony doomed? Does anyone care about Ace Combat? What's up with Final Fantasy XIII? Has Olivia Munn's temporary restraining order against me been lifted? These questions may be answered tonight!

So get your VCRs ready and watch for the secret message I'll deliver to awaken the Kotaku sleeper cells who regularly watch basic cable. Michael McWhertor

Attack of the Show [G4]

The lovable Ewok-like Luke Smith reports that the next Ratchet & Clank Title will send Ratchet to the future. The title: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. Get it? Tools?

"The name Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction works on many levels. It signals a new era for the franchise, ties into the game's story, and includes one of our signature subtitle double entendres." — Brian Allgeier, design director, Insomniac Games.

The upcoming EGM will offer insight into what the tools will be up to. Brian Crecente

Next Ratchet & Clank Gets Name [1up]

ZD, owner of the likes of 1Up and EGM, was once purchased for $2 billion, but now the company, which is being split into the gaming group and the enterprise division, might not clear the $780 million mark it was purchased for in 1999.

The Post's Keith Kelly reaffirms what I pointed out last week, that the company is insisting that the gaming group include both print and online publications, but goes on to flout my opinion that MTV isn't going to go for the company.

Bidders still looking at parts of the company include Apprise Media and Viacom's MTV publishing unit. Quadrangle is said to have dropped out.

Bids for the company are due at the end of the week. Brian Crecente

See you in Boca [NY Post]

Gaming Target reports that the latest issue of EGM has a look at Guitar Hero: 1980s Edition.

I'll give you a second to stop squealing. It's OK, I did that too. The game is already in production and due out this spring, according to the article.

No word on whether it will be hitting the Xbox 360 version as a download pack, but why wouldn't it? Brian Crecente

Magazine Watching: Big games in 2007 [Gaming Target]

When Sony unveiled a motion sensor "tilt" controller at this year's E3, the critics jumped down the company's Blu-ray lined throat. But, we've been working on this for years, replied Sony. Other haters wrote off the controller as a Wii-mote, rip-off. That's not true, replied the company.

An issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly from 1994 points to the JS-306 Power Pad Tilt made by third-party peripheral maker Champ. Looking somewhat like a SNES controller, the Power Pad had turbo buttons and a special "tilt" function. According to EGM, "actual physical movement of the pad controls your on-screen character."

Champ's product may have faded into nothing, but the Sony wizards have been toiling away to make the end-all tilt controller. Originality like that takes time to perfect. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Go Nintendo]

By groups they mean EGM, OPM, CGM and websites 1Up and GameTab. I sure hope any possible sale doesn't lead to "restructuring." Brian Crecente

Ziff Davis for Sale? [VE3d]