Wikipedia

Gamer Network

(Redirected fromRoad to VR)
Not to be confused withGame Network.

Gamer Network Limited(formerlyEurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based inLondon.Founded in 1999 by Rupert andNick Loman,it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating tovideo game journalismand other video game businesses. Its flagship website,Eurogamer,was launched alongside the company. It began hosting the video game trade showEGXin 2008.ReedPopacquired Gamer Network in 2018 and sold it toIGN Entertainmentin 2024.

Gamer Network Limited
FormerlyEurogamer Network Limited (1999–2013)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryDigital media
Founded1999;25 years ago(1999)
Founders
Headquarters
London
,
England
Key people
Simon Maxwell (MD)
Parent
Websitegamer.networkEdit this at Wikidata

History

edit

Gamer Network was founded under the name Eurogamer Network in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman.[1]It was formed alongside the opening of its flagship website,Eurogamer,which itself launched on 4 September 1999.[1][2]Nick Loman left the business in 2004 to pursue a career in medicine and "competitiveBBQ".[3]

In February 2011, Eurogamer Network acquired American publishing house Hammersuit, alongside its IndustryGamers and Modojo websites.[4]On 1 March 2013, in line with the international expansion, Eurogamer Network announced that it had changed its name to Gamer Network.[5]As part of the rebranding, Eurogamer Events was renamed Gamer Events, while Hammersuit also adopted the Gamer Network name.[5]In October, Simon Maxwell was promoted from group publishing director tochief operating officer.[6]

On 26 February 2018, it was announced thatReedPop,thedivisionofReed Exhibitionsthat organises pop culture conventions such asPAX,had acquired Gamer Network.[1]While Rupert Loman remained Gamer Network'schief executive officer,Maxwell became the company'smanaging directorand avice-presidentfor ReedPop's UK operations.[1][7]Loman left the company in February 2020.[8]ReedPop implemented a number of layoffs across many of the Gamer Network sites in September 2020. In November 2020, the remainingUSgamerstaff, which had been reduced from nine to four after the earlier layoffs, reported that ReedPop was shuttering the site by the end of the year.[9]

In November 2023, ReedPop announced its intent to sell Gamer Network with its editorial brands, though excluding its events business.[10]IGN Entertainmentwas announced as the buyer in May 2024, and it immediately implemented layoffs of some editorial staff atGamesIndustry.bizandRock Paper Shotgun.[11]Following the takeover,Dicebreakercancelled their Tabletop Creators Summit atMCM Comic Con.[12][13]In an overview on the state of tabletop gaming journalism, Chase Carter ofRascal Newshighlighted that "the other professional website that fostered amateur talent,Dicebreaker,seems to be poised on the edge of collapse ".[14]Carter, who formerly freelanced forDicebreaker,commented that nothing has been published since the May 21 sale of the Gamer Network and the outlet's "ultimate fate remains unknown at time of writing" in June 2024.[14]Later that month, theDicebreakerstaff reported that they were made redundant.[15][16]

List of websites

edit

Owned

edit
  • Eurogamer– Gamer Network's flagship website for video game news; launched in 1999 alongside the company.[1]The Eurogamer brand is licensed to six regional sub-outlets, which report in their region's languages.[17]Its editor-in-chief is Tom Phillips.[18]
  • GamesIndustry.biz– A website focused on the business aspects of thevideo game industry;launched on Eurogamer in 2002.[19]Its editor-in-chief is James Batchelor.[20]
  • Jelly Deals – A website highlighting sales for video games; launched in 2016.[21]
  • Outside XboxandOutside Xtra–YouTubechannels focusing onXboxand non-Xbox game news; launched in 2012 by Andy Farrant, Mike Channell and Jane Douglas, three editors of other Xbox-focused outlets,[22]and launched in 2016 by Outside Xbox, Ellen Rose, and Luke Westaway, writer and presenter of Xbox On, and Senior Editor atCNET,respectively.[23]
  • Rock Paper Shotgun– A website focused onpersonal computergame news launched in 2007 byKieron Gillen,Alec Meer, John Walker andJim Rossignol;partnered with Eurogamer Network in 2010 and acquired by it in 2017.[24][25]Its editor-in-chief is Katharine Castle.[26]
  • VG247– A video game news site formed in 2008 in a partnership between Eurogamer Network and Patrick Garratt.[27]Its editor-in-chief is Dom Peppiatt.[28]

Former

edit
  • Dicebreaker– Aboard gameandtabletop role-playing gamenews and reviews website andYouTubechannel launched in August 2019.[29]Dicebreakerlaunched the Tabletop Awards in 2022[30]and the Tabletop Creators Summit in 2023.[31][32]The site was closed without public comment and staff including editor-in-chief Matt Jarvis made redundant in June 2024 following the sale of the Gamer Network.[15][16]
  • Gamer Creative – Gamer Network's in-housecreative agency;founded and headed by Josh Heaton.[33]
  • Gamer's Edition – A project that producesmerchandiseandspecial editionreleases for video games; launched in 2013, its first projects were special editions forPapers, Pleaseand a compilation ofHotline MiamiandHotline Miami 2: Wrong Number.[34][35]
  • Metabomb– A video game news website with emphasis onesports;launched in 2013.[36]
  • USgamer(USG) – Aimed at the United States, a sister site toEurogamer;launched in 2013[37]and shut down in 2020.[38]After closure, the website's content was migrated toVG247.
  • Cosplay Central – A website founded in 2020 and focused primarily onCosplay.[39]The website's content is now part ofPopverse.

Partnered

edit
  • Nintendo Life– A website focused on news and reviews ofNintendoproducts, including video games and software, owned and operated by Hookshot Media (formerly Nlife Media).[40]It has sections covering theNintendo Switch,Wii U,Wii,Nintendo 3DS,Nintendo DSi,WiiWare,DSiWareand classic titles re-released through Nintendo'sVirtual Consolegames. It was founded in late 2005,[41][42]acquired the sitesWiiWare WorldandVirtual Console Reviewsin April 2009,[42]and partnered with Gamer Network (then Eurogamer Network) in 2011.[43][44][45]In 2015 the site expanded its YouTube channel to receive regular content.[46]Its editor is Gavin Lane.[47]
  • Mod DBand Indie DB – A database website forvideo game modifications;launched in 2002 and partnered with Gamer Network in 2015.[48][49]And sister site for Mod DB that coversindie games;launched by Mod DB in 2010 and partnered with Gamer Network alongside Mod DB in 2015.[48][50]
  • Push Square– A website focused inPlayStationgame news; launched in 2012 byNintendo Life.[51]Its Editor is Sammy Barker.[52]
  • Pure Xbox– A website focused inXboxgame news; relaunched in 2020 by Nlife Media.[53][54][55]
  • Road to VR– A video game news website with emphasis onvirtual reality;launched by Ben Lang in 2011 and partnered with Gamer Network in 2017.[56][57]
  • Time Extension– A website focused on retrogaming; launched in 2022 by Hookshot Media.[58]Its Editor-in-Chief is Damien McFerran.[59]
  • Video Games Chronicle(VGC) – Aspiritual successorto magazineComputer and Video Games;launched in partnership with Gamer Network in 2019 by a team led by Andy Robinson.[60]

Reception

edit

In October 2015, Gamer Network siteVG247retracted their preview ofUncharted 4: A Thief's Endand issued an apology after being contacted by the publisher that the game they had played wasUncharted 2: Among Thievesfrom theremasteredUncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection.[61]

References

edit
  1. ^abcdeFrank, Allegra (26 February 2018)."PAX organizer acquires USgamer, Eurogamer and more".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on 17 June 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  2. ^"EuroGamer opens!".Eurogamer.4 September 1999.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  3. ^"History – About".Gamer Network.Archivedfrom the original on 2 May 2019.Retrieved5 July2019.
  4. ^"Eurogamer acquires Hammersuit".MCV/Develop.21 February 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 21 July 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  5. ^abParfitt, Ben."Eurogamer Network is no more as it rebrands to Gamer Network".MCV/Develop.Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2013.
  6. ^"Simon Maxwell becomes Gamer Network COO".MCV/Develop.22 October 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  7. ^Dring, Christopher (26 February 2018)."PAX organiser ReedPop acquires Gamer Network".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 27 February 2018.Retrieved30 June2019.
  8. ^Martin, Matt (26 February 2020)."Rupert Loman leaves Gamer Network and ReedPop after 20 years".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2020.Retrieved16 February2021.
  9. ^Sinclair, Brendan (16 November 2020)."USgamer staff laid off".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved16 November2020.
  10. ^Kerr, Chris (27 November 2023)."Reedpop investigating sale of Eurogamer, GamesIndustry.biz, Rock Paper Shotgun and more".Game Developer.Archivedfrom the original on 2 December 2023.Retrieved27 November2023.
  11. ^Webster, Andrew (21 May 2024)."IGN scoops up Eurogamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and more".The Verge.Retrieved21 May2024.
  12. ^"Tabletop Creators Summit London has been cancelled".Dicebreaker.15 May 2024.Retrieved6 June2024.
  13. ^"Dicebreaker owner Gamer Network bought by IGN, redundancies begin across group -".Boardgame Wire.22 May 2024.Retrieved6 June2024.
  14. ^abCarter, Chase (6 June 2024)."Tabletop journalism deserves better than this, and so do you".Rascal News.Retrieved6 June2024.
  15. ^abDidymus-True, Mike (12 June 2024)."Dicebreaker's future remains unclear as silenced site makes editor-in-chief, senior staff writer redundant after IGN takeover -".BoardGameWire.Retrieved12 June2024.
  16. ^abPlunkett, Luke (12 June 2024)."Things Are Not Looking Good For Dicebreaker, One Of The Few Good Board Game Websites".Aftermath.Archivedfrom the original on 13 June 2024.Retrieved13 June2024.
  17. ^"Eurogamer in Europe".ReedPop.12 November 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 2 June 2023.Retrieved2 June2023.
  18. ^"Hello from Eurogamer's new editor-in-chief".Eurogamer.net.28 April 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 29 April 2023.Retrieved11 May2023.
  19. ^Fahey, Rob (9 June 2017)."Launching GamesIndustry.biz: 15 years ago".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 30 June 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  20. ^"Articles by James Batchelor".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2021.Retrieved21 July2021.
  21. ^Wallace, Jamie (9 July 2016)."Introducing a weekly deals roundup from Jelly Deals".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2016.Retrieved30 June2019.
  22. ^Weber, Rachel (15 August 2012)."Eurogamer launches new dedicated Xbox website".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 25 November 2012.Retrieved30 June2019.
  23. ^"Outside Xbox launches multi-platform channel, expands team".GamesIndustry.biz.19 October 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 9 January 2018.Retrieved8 January2020.
  24. ^Martin, Matt (1 June 2010)."Eurogamer strikes Rock, Paper, Shotgun partnership".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 6 March 2016.Retrieved30 June2019.
  25. ^Pearson, Dan (3 May 2017)."Gamer Network acquires Rock Paper Shotgun".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 28 June 2018.Retrieved30 June2019.
  26. ^Smith, Graham (2 July 2021)."I'm not editor-in-chief of RPS anymore, here's who is".Rock Paper Shotgun.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2021.Retrieved21 July2021.
  27. ^Garratt, Patrick (1 February 2011)."It's our third birthday – welcome to the new VG247".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on 30 June 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  28. ^Peppiatt, Dom (3 July 2023)."Dom Peppiatt is the new editor-in-chief of VG247".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2023.Retrieved3 July2023.
  29. ^Chiodini, Johnny (22 August 2019)."Introducing Dicebreaker, a new hub for tabletop gaming".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on 14 September 2019.Retrieved23 December2019.
  30. ^Gechev, Krasen (19 October 2022)."Dicebreaker Announces Their New Annual" Tabletop Awards "".The Meeples Herald.Retrieved10 July2023.
  31. ^Jarvis, Matt (19 May 2023)."Want to turn your video game into a board game? Free industry event Tabletop Creators Summit next week".GamesIndustry.biz.Retrieved10 July2023.
  32. ^"Dicebreaker's owner investigates putting site up for sale alongside video game stablemates -".BoardGameWire.30 November 2023.Retrieved12 June2024.
  33. ^"MCV's 30 Under 30 2017".MCV/Develop.24 November 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  34. ^"Gamer Network moves into physical games publishing".MCV/Develop.9 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  35. ^Purslow, Matt (9 March 2015)."Gamer Network is crowdfunding collector's editions of Hotline Miami and Papers, Please".PCGamesN.Archivedfrom the original on 20 July 2016.Retrieved30 June2019.
  36. ^Bedford, John (17 May 2013)."Welcome to Metabomb!".Metabomb.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  37. ^Owen, Dave (16 December 2013)."Gamer Network websites record 20 million unique visitors in November 2013".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on 3 October 2018.Retrieved30 June2019.
  38. ^Bailey, Kat (29 December 2022)."Press Start to Continue".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on 14 July 2021.Retrieved17 July2021.
  39. ^"New Website Launched Dedicated to Cosplay | Invision Game Community".20 April 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 2 June 2023.Retrieved2 June2023.
  40. ^"Publishers of Nintendo Life & Push Square".Nlife Media.19 July 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2018.Retrieved19 December2018.
  41. ^Dickens, Anthony (7 November 2005)."Our Nintendo Life Begins..."Nintendo Life.Archivedfrom the original on 26 January 2018.Retrieved30 June2019.
  42. ^ab"About Nintendo Life".Nintendo Life.Archivedfrom the original on 12 August 2019.Retrieved13 September2019.
  43. ^Cullen, Johnny (9 September 2011)."Eurogamer partners with Nintendo Life in ad deal".VG247.Archivedfrom the original on 23 August 2015.Retrieved17 September2015.
  44. ^Pearson, Dan (9 September 2011)."Eurogamer partners with Nintendo Life in ad deal".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 23 August 2015.Retrieved17 September2015.
  45. ^Dickens, Anthony (9 September 2011)."Site News: A Better Nintendo Life".Nintendo Life.Archivedfrom the original on 27 September 2017.Retrieved30 June2019.
  46. ^Calvert, Darren (18 September 2015)."Site News: Nintendo Life's Alex Olney Revealed As YouTuber Finalist For Games Media Awards 2015".Nintendo Life.Archivedfrom the original on 26 May 2019.Retrieved17 January2020.
  47. ^"Author: Gavin Lane | Nintendo Life".nintendolife.Archivedfrom the original on 2 June 2023.Retrieved2 June2023.
  48. ^ab"Mod DB and Indie DB join Eurogamer parent Gamer Network".MCV/Develop.21 July 2005.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  49. ^Helps, Rachel (30 July 2012)."ModDB celebrates 10 years of modding".Kill Screen.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  50. ^Tim (19 June 2010)."ModDB Launches Indie Community Site IndieDB".Indie Games Plus.Archivedfrom the original on 16 February 2021.Retrieved30 June2019.
  51. ^Newton, James (2 February 2012)."Push Square is Open for Business!".Nintendo Life.Archivedfrom the original on 4 May 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  52. ^"Author: Sammy Barker | Push Square".pushsquare.Archivedfrom the original on 2 June 2023.Retrieved2 June2023.
  53. ^McFerran, Damien (17 March 2020)."Site News: Say Hello To Our Resurrected Sister Site, Pure Xbox".Nintendo Life.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2020.Retrieved16 July2020.
  54. ^Barker, Sammy (17 March 2020)."Site News: Don't Forget to Visit Our Sister Site Pure Xbox".Push Square.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2020.Retrieved16 July2020.
  55. ^"Site News: Pure Xbox Is Back!".Pure Xbox.13 March 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2020.Retrieved16 July2020.
  56. ^Lang, Ben (13 October 2011)."Following the Road to Virtual Reality".Road to VR.Archivedfrom the original on 21 November 2014.Retrieved30 June2019.
  57. ^James, Paul (31 May 2017)."Road to VR Partners with Eurogamer Parent Company Gamer Network".Road to VR.Archivedfrom the original on 6 June 2017.Retrieved30 June2019.
  58. ^"Say Hello To Time Extension, The Newest Member Of Our Network".Nintendo Life.29 July 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 21 September 2022.Retrieved21 September2022.
  59. ^"Author: Damien McFerran | Time Extension".timeextension.Archivedfrom the original on 2 June 2023.Retrieved2 June2023.
  60. ^Dealessandri, Marie (5 April 2019)."CVG veterans form games news website Video Games Chronicle".MCV/Develop.Archivedfrom the original on 21 April 2019.Retrieved30 June2019.
  61. ^Leack, Jonathan (14 October 2015)."Journalist Mistakes Uncharted 2 For Uncharted 4, Hilarity and Embarrassment Ensues".Game Revolution.CraveOnline.Archived fromthe originalon 15 October 2015.Retrieved15 October2015.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gamer_Network&oldid=1251386229#Partnered"