UGO Networks
 | |
Type of site | News |
|---|---|
| Owner | IGN Entertainment |
| URL | www |
| Launched | 1997 |
| Current status | Inactive, defunct early 2013 |
UGO Entertainment, Inc.was a website that provided coverage of onlinemediain entertainment, targeting males aged 18–34. The company was based inNew York, New York,United States.
History
[edit]The company started in 1997 asUnified Gamers Online,billed in directories as a "hand-picked network of professionally managed gaming sites and services."[1][better source needed]In 1997, founder Chris Sherman hired Ken Margolis Associates to manage sales and marketing to the Game Industry. Chris sold UGO to Actionworld, Inc.,[2]a subsidiary of InterWorld, which incorporated the company in the state of Delaware in April, 1997.[3]That same year, InterWorld spun off the company "in order to permit UGO Networks to build a separate management team...and to position UGO Networks to seek private parts equity financing."[4]
In 1998, UGO—then described as "the largest independent gaming community on the Internet"[5]—created the prestigious UGOE3Awards, now theGame Critics Awards,to recognize high qualityvideo gameentertainment.[6]In 1999, UGO changed its name toUnderGround Onlineas part of its efforts to expand its target audience. The company streamed various forms of media entertainment on its website as well as offering articles on topics of interest to its target audience. Topics included comics, television, music and film. Its main competitors includedCNET Networks,IGN,andYahoo!.[7]On July 24, 2007 it was announced thatHearst Corporationwould acquire UGO Entertainment to expand its interactive media division.[8]On January 6, 2009, UGO Entertainment acquired1UPand its associated sites from publisherZiff Davis.[9]
In May 2011,IGN Entertainmentannounced that it would acquire UGO from Hearst in a cash and stock. At the same time, its parent companyNews Corporationalso announced that the profitable IGN division would be spun off into a new company. In March 2012, UGO ceased to exist as a staffed website and was dormant for a short period. Later in 2012, UGO relaunched as a self-described "pop culture comedy site",[10]which focused on producing original videos about movies, comics and videogames with a humorous tone. On February 4, 2013, UGO was purchased as part of theIGNnetwork of websites acquired byZiff Davis,[11]and was shut down on February 21, 2013.[12]
The network
[edit]The UGO Networks featured websites such as Hero Machine, a Flash-based website allowing to create one's own superhero and share it; Studio UGO, featuring exclusive live music performances; Actress Archives, a website focusing on actress and female entertainer related news, photo galleries, and videos; and Caster's Realm, a blog that featured news and information onMMORPGs.
References
[edit]- ^"Kids & Games".Ultrabrowser. Archived fromthe originalon December 24, 2013.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^Sherman, Chris (July 21, 1998)."Sherman, Chris. Re: ONLINE-ADS Zapata is nuts..."online-ads. Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2013.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^"InterWorld Corps. Form:10-K. Filing Date:2/28/2000".sec.edgar-online. Archived fromthe originalon September 30, 2007.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^"InterWorld Corps. S-1. On 2/7/0".sec.edgar-online.Archivedfrom the original on 2007-09-30.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^"Thrill Kill Nominated for Best Fighting Game of E3 Show".AtariSIG Historical Archive.Archivedfrom the original on 2007-09-28.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^"Sherman Ventures, LLC".Sherman Ventures. Archived fromthe originalon December 18, 2014.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^"UGO Networks, Inc".Hoovers.Archived fromthe originalon March 6, 2009.Retrieved2007-04-20.
- ^"Hearst Corporation To Acquire Ugo Networks: Deal Signifies Hearst'S First Major Step Into Digital Entertainment | Hearst Corporation".Hearst. 2007-07-24.Archivedfrom the original on December 24, 2013.Retrieved2013-12-21.
- ^"UGO Entertainment Acquires 1UP".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-02-25.
- ^"What Is".UGO. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-12-24.Retrieved2013-12-21.
- ^Alexa Ray Corriea (2013-02-04)."IGN Entertainment bought by digital publisher Ziff Davis".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-12-31.Retrieved2013-12-21.
- ^McWhertor, Michael (2013-02-21)."IGN hit with layoffs, 1UP, UGO and GameSpy shutting down".Polygon.Archivedfrom the original on 2013-12-17.Retrieved2013-12-21.
