Welcome Back 1up!!!

Welcome back 1up!!!

For those of you wishing that I was baring that news that 1up members are not being made redundant then look elsewhere.  The topic of this article though ironic is meant to signify a new chapter in the gaming medium.   Though I am saddened that 1up will change structurally, I am excited about the opportunities which could also come out of it.  Don't get me wrong, I am not rooting for UGO, instead I am rooting for the former and current 1up staff. 

I think that we can all agree that with new situations come new opportunities and it should be no different for the hardworking 1up staff.  They have proven themselves over the past several years to be the most dedicated of video game journalists, who have not only provided the basic news and reviews, but have also provided hard hitting features that delve deeply into the psyche of the video gaming culture (though I exaggerate, you get the point if you have followed 1up even if as an in-active user as myself).  No one can argue theriveting sensation you get when reading a James Mielke feature or the anticipation you had when downloading the new episode of the 1up show.   What made it all great is from feature to podcast the entire 1up community (staff and members) were intertwined and from there, brilliance was created in more than one occasion.   On the front cover it may seem that the front runners of the 1up brand (the staff members who appeared on the podcasts and the shows) such as Mielke, Shane, John, Ryan, etc… are the ones that kept it all together, but in fact it was a combined effort of the entire 1up staff, whether they were the front runners or the editors and producers who worked behind the scenes to ensure that the quality of the site and its affiliates are kept to high standards. 

Which brings me to the topic of this blog; What do I mean when I say welcome back 1up? Well, what made 1up great were its personalities and their creativity and now with no corporate restrictions they are freer to do as they please.  What is great about it is, instead of getting a multitude of personalities working on 1 project on 1up, we now have a multitude of personalities working on multiple smaller gaming projects at a time.  Imagine having collaborative blogs, starting new podcasts not only with the same people but with the ability to bring in any guest without having to subdue to any corporate pressure, and the list goes on.  As an example, a new podcast entitled Rebel FM to be produced by 1up Alumni's such as Nick Suttner; new blogs are to be created and old quirky blogs are to be initiated such as http://www.eat-sleep-game.com/news/ (in fairness just checked it out for the first time today, so my assumption that it's quirky is an off the rail first impression).   Now imagine when these multiple project launch and become successful, it would be like the first time you watched the 1up show; even better, imagine when the 1up alumni start co-collaborating, it would be reminisant of when John Davison came back as a regular member of 1up yours after leaving the Ziff Davis Group. 

Many people may be saddened by the loss of 1up yours, 1up show and 1up FM; but from that loss we are getting new projects that are sure to stand up to par. 

Therefore yes, I do say welcome back 1up.  I am saying welcome back to the heart and the creativity that was seen several years ago during the 1up boom with the introduction of the 1up show and 1up yours; but instead we are now saying welcome back to new projects, we are saying welcome back to a whole multitude of projects; and even though they may not be presented with the 1up sticker, they will still have the heart and ambition which was poured into 1up by its great staff.

To the current and former staff of 1up, if you are reading this; I am truly sorry for the sad news, I hope that you guys get back on your feet soon and I can't wait to witness your new creative endeavors.   You may no longer be a 1up employee, but you will always be the soul of 1up.  I wish you guys the best of luck.  Till we meet again.

Yours Truly

Middle Eastern Gamer