So here’s what’s next for yours truly: I, and a big team of talented folks, are going to be building the best video game site ever.
We’re doing it with an astonishing level of support, an unprecedented set of tools (many of which we’re still making up!) and an absolutely unparalleled team of talent that, for my money at least, hasn’t been approached since 1UP in its heyday.
How good is our founding team? Well, let’s see. You’ve got Brian Crecente and Chris Grant, two of the guys that helped write the book on how you write about games online. There’s Russ Pitts, who shepherded The Escapist from PDF to burgeoning media empire. There’s Arthur Gies, one of my favorite critics working today. There’s the hilarious, insightful Chris Plante (who I’ve always wanted to work with) and the astounding Russ Frushtick who, in addition to being a great writer, is probably the most skilled gamer I know in real life. (He used to be #1 in the world at Jetpack Joyride!) Then you’ve got my favorite video game journalist (Griffin McElroy) helping Crecente to lead our news coverage, and me, who was hired solely to do weird stuff that horrifies, delights or horrifies and delights in equal measure (and to manage the team too, I guess, but that other thing sounds better, right?).
And we’re not done looking, not by a long shot.
Building off the amazing tech already in place at The Verge, we’re going to be making a site that’s as fun to play with as it is to read. And once your eye jellies have absorbed every word, you’ll be able to chat about games with a community you’ll really want to interact with.
I used to have the best job in the world with people I loved. I was as comfortable and safe as I was happy. I left that job to do this, which I hope says a lot about just how exciting I think this opportunity is. We’re building a new video game site, one that I believe is in a position to become one of the giants. I’ve always wanted to be in on the ground floor of something like this, and I hope you have too.
Go get on already.
Congrats! The collection of talented writers and editors that have come together is fantastic. Really looking forward to what you have in store.
Very exciting, I totally relate with your decision to move away from something safe and awesome to try and do something even more awesome. I look forward to the new site!
It’s a well-known fact that I can’t read, but I hired a deaf person to shout every line of every story that appears on the new site to me, so that I may feel not only involved, but also overcome.
I’ve never been more excited for you, my dear friend. I’ve also never been more proud. Congratulations and I’m eager to watch this take off from the ground up. You deserve greatness. I’m lucky to see it actually happen.
Eat ‘em up!
The great Joystiq Mass Exodus of ’11 killed my dreams. And then they rose up, like a a slaughtered lamb transmogrifying into a phoenix-hippo of the stars
I’m on board with that interstellar phoenix-hippo imagery. Official mascot?
That’s a crazy line up you’ve got going there, expecting great things from this new site and if there’s a podcast, you had better be on it!
As great a job as the new crew is doing, I was devastated first at the death of the original Joystiq Podcast, and then the departure of all my favorite contributors. Congratulations! I can’t wait to see the new site!
That’s a pretty crazy all-star lineup you guys are swinging there. I was hopeful when everybody bailed that it was going to be something of this sort. I would also like to point out that if you guys need access to some sexy freelancers, I may happen to know one… *AHEM*
Seriously, congrats, guys! This is going to be amazing.
So exciting! Can’t wait to see what you guys come up with! :D
It’s wonderful to know you all will still be involved in this industry! At first I was worried, but as I saw more and more people leaving, I became hopeful you were doing something together. This is quite exciting!
Having been a massive Engadget fan when Josh + Co. left, I called this the SECOND I heard you left Joystiq. So happy it’s true. Movie and car blogs better get their acts together before Vox swoops in and eats their lunch :)
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Great new Justin, can’t wait for it to go live.
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