100, 200, 400, 800, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000, 1UP, 1UP, 1UP, 1UP....

I would like to take a moment to talk about 1UP.com . I started reading 1UP because I followed Jeremy Parish's website ToastyFrog (now GameSpite). When Jeremy began working at 1UP, I , being a fan of his writing, eventually followed his work over there as well. Like a gateway drug, this prompted me to read more of the site, and begin following other writers as well. Soon I was listening to three different podcasts, and reading reviews of various writers. The podcasts especially have helped me through many days of work over the past few years.

For those that may not know, shortly after the first of the year 1UP, which was formerly part of Ziff Davis publications, was bought by UGO, and half to two thirds of the editorial staff was let go. This included everyone that was involved in the creation of The 1UP Show, which if you haven't seen, I highly recommend, and the closing of EGM magazine, which was just shy of it's 20th anniversery.

I was down for weeks because of this. I know that I have never actually met any of these people, but after listening to their voices week after week, I feel like I'm watching this happen to my best freinds. Even so, as the former staff themselves said, this is not the end.

The last few confirmations of this have trickled in over the last week:
Philip Koller, Nick Suttner, and Anthony Gallegos have started the site Eat-Sleep-Game, and have reformed the 1UP FM podcast into the Rebel FM podcast.

A plethora of other former 1UP staff members have started the Geekbox podcast at geekbox.net.

Now, the final missing 'cast has resurfaced. All the members formerly involved in The 1UP Show have started Area 5, which has just launched with the new CO-OP videocast. At least for the time being, it is being offered for free.

All of the people involved in these projects are very talented, and their sites and various 'casts most definitely deserve a look. If you are interested in videogames, hardcore gamer or not, give them a listen (or watch).