CGW No More… Kinda – Quarter To Three Forums
CGW No More… Kinda – Quarter To Three Forums
This caught me by surprise, sort of. I mean, we all know that the print mags have been suffering over the years as online stuff rose in prominence and had the added advantage of timeliness. But the way this is happening is interesting: Microsoft is basically launching a “Games for Windows” magazine, and CGW is going to turn into it. Jeff Green says nothing will change…
Ziff Davis Announces Online and Print Media Alliance with Microsoft
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 2 — Ziff Davis, the prominent gaming magazine and online publisher, today announced an integrated media collaboration with Microsoft. Ziff Davis will serve as the independent editorial voice for Microsoft’s Games for Windows initiative. As part of the strategic relationship, Ziff Davis is launching a new magazine called Games for Windows: The Official Magazine and a companion website on the 1UP Network. Microsoft will drive traffic and readership to the magazine and to the 1UP Network, and will promote the Games for Windows magazine as part of their Games for Windows marketing efforts. The magazine and integrated online components will launch in Fall 2006.
Ziff Davis’ online integration will include a Games for Windows website on the 1UP network. The website will host editorial features, social networking, and blogs, as well as game demos, patches, downloads, trailers and original video content from FileFront.com and GameVideos.com. In addition, Ziff Davis will collaborate with Microsoft in the area of online and interactive content for Games for Windows. Microsoft’s website, GamesForWindows.com, will also link to the 1UP Network for users who want additional content.
“We believe Ziff Davis Game Group is the ideal industry partner for Microsoft as we advance the Windows platform and Games for Windows initiative,” said Rich Wickham, director of Games for Windows at Microsoft. “We value Ziff Davis’ innovation in integrating diverse media together and wanted that creative force driving the official Games for Windows magazine and website on the 1UP Network.”
The collaboration with Ziff Davis Game Group represents a significant step in Microsoft’s larger marketing push for the Games for Windows brand: the magazine shares the same “Games for Windows” branding that will appear on game packaging and in leading retailers throughout the U.S. beginning this Fall.
“We share Microsoft’s passion for expanding the Windows gaming market,” said Scott McCarthy, President of Ziff Davis Game Group. “This alliance will enable us to reach a wider audience than ever before, both in print and online, and it affirms Microsoft’s commitment to gaming on the Windows platform. We’re looking forward to working with Microsoft.”
To ensure clear market leadership position, Ziff Davis will transfer Computer Gaming World’s veteran editorial staff and mission to Games for Windows: The Official Magazine. The new magazine and web initiative will carry on the editorial, production and art staff of Computer Gaming World, incorporating CGW’s best-of-class style and tone while broadening the outlet’s reach, influence and editorial content to complement the coming renaissance in Windows gaming.
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In related news, Michael Russell of Ritual Entertainment recently published a weblog post, I’m Pro-“Games For Windows”. As someone who has also worked on the quality assurance side of the business, I have to agree that Games for Windows is a good thing. I read about this story at Gamasutra.
I’m reasonably certain that more than nothing will change, but I don’t think the changes will be for the worst. Having been a subscriber to Computer Gaming World, I think CGW could have tackled more games for the Mac platform, but the focus remained steady on games for the Windows platform anyway. To me, this partnership is a branding effort to more strongly push the Games for Windows initiative. The magazine will benefit from sharper positioning whereas the initiative will benefit from a dedicated channel for public relations activities. The power of the channel, however, remains dependent on retaining journalistic integrity. Hopefully, that integrity isn’t compromised.
Nothing will change? I can’t imagine that PS2(3), Wii, and Mac games will get much press in a “Games for Windows” magazine. Good for ZD, though … I’m sure they made serious bank.
Then again, maybe that was CGW’s MO all along …
Man, that’s TWO idiot counts against me today!
(Only counting today, please – maybe Raph can post my month-end along with his site stats 🙂 )
I wrote something of a eulogy to Computer Gaming World last night. I still have a bunch of back issues from “the golden days.” Before it started sucking. And hurting for cash. (Hmmm… the two may be related, though I’m unsure of the causality of the relationship).
I thought it had been improving over time…. particularly when Jeff Green stepped in to lead it. The last few months were particularly interesting, with their dropping of game ratings and greater emphasis on indie games and on industry commentary (one of the reasons I subscribed in the first place, many summers ago…)
Well, I hope the new magazine is going to be good. But I’m not holding my breath. I may be done with print gaming mags for a while.
Something dies inside of me every time Microsoft makes another grab. Yay monopoly?
Morus wrote:
So, when a major software company (Microsoft) partners with a major publishing company (Ziff Davis) to replace a major publication (Computer Gaming World), suddenly there’s a monopoly? That sounds more similar to collusion than monopolization. Microsoft and Ziff Davis engaged joint venture to produce Games for Windows to replace Computer Gaming World. That’s neither a merger nor an acquisition; therefore, Microsoft has not made "another grab". Whatever’s dying in you must be caused by some other ailment.
Well, it can be seen as leveraging their monopoly into another area. No one can argue that Microsoft doesn’t have a stranglehold on the consumer desktop, and they’ve used it heavily to take related markets and build competitive advantage. You have consumers that can’t move away even if they wanted to because they would lose compatibility.
Yes, I think I’m justified in disliking anything that helps them hold their marketshare.
[…] The Ziff Davis Game Group, which produces consumer game site 1UP and Electronic Gaming Monthly and Official PlayStation Magazine in North America, has announced that it is shutting down its US print magazine Computer Gaming World and replacing it with an officially Microsoft-branded ‘Games For Windows’ magazine and website. Saw this a couple of days ago, and was wondering what everyone’s feeling was on this. Me personally, I used to buy an issue of CGW every once in a while, but now I’m less sure how objective they’ll be. I’m pretty sure that 98-99% of the magazine was already "Windows" anyway, seeing as there aren’t many game titles that are MAC only. I also wonder what special "deal" Microsoft made with Ziff-D to actually bring about this "branding" of the magazine. edit: Heh, just saw that Raph also posted about this today. Hurry for big Corporations!!_________________Humans learn from the Earth The Earth follows the Heavens […]
I like this! I’m a long time fan of CGW and Jeff Greens smarty ways.
I am also hoping that Microsoft’s emphasis on Games for Windows includes some DOS game support, in fact alot! I have so many older things I’d like to play again that are DOS only.