The Escapist (magazine)

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The Escapist

Cover for The Escapist's first issue: "Gaming Uber Alles"
URL http://www.escapistmagazine.com
Type of site Video game website
Available language(s) English
Owner Themis Group
Created by Themis Group
Launched July 12, 2005

The Escapist is an online magazine covering video games, gamers, the gaming industry, and gaming culture. Published by the Themis Group, it is edited by Julianne Greer, and was first published on July 12, 2005.[1] The Escapist, which claims "print-quality writing"[2], runs weekly with a main edition published on Tuesday; originally, a weekend extra edition was published on Friday.[3] Each issue addresses a particular theme related to gaming culture. It is free and only available online.

Contents

[edit] History

The premiere issue featured pieces from well-known gaming-community authors including Jerry Holkins (a.k.a. Tycho Brahe), Kieron Gillen, and John Tynes. Following issues included work by Tom Chick, Allen Varney, Jim Rossignol and other top writers from in and outside the game industry, including a four-part piece by leading game designer Warren Spector.[4] According to Themis, by late 2006 the website had 150,000 monthly readers.[5] The website MMORPG.com noted that the webzine had become the "flagship brand" for Themis, which runs other websites and ventures related to the gaming industry, with the reputation of "a widely read and highly respected form of game journalism" and "paying writers top dollar".[4]

On July 9, 2007 the site relaunched with a completely new design, which also saw the end of the weekly PDF issues and a shift in layout to one more similar to other websites.[6] Although the weekly topic and publish schedule was retained, new regular content additions included more game reviews, editorial articles, conference coverage, and a relaunch of Shoot Club by Tom Chick. The most notable new feature added is Zero Punctuation weekly, animated video reviews narrated and drawn by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw. Croshaw's work first appeared on YouTube, before he was hired in August of 2007 to produce video reviews for The Escapist. His reviews led to a four hundred percent increase in the Escapist's traffic.[7]

[edit] Awards

In May 2008, The Escapist won the Webby Award and 2008 People's Choice Award for Best Video-Game Related Website.

[edit] Trivia

  • Editor-in-Chief Julianne "Julip" Greer is a lifelong gamer with a background in advertising and new media consulting. The Escapist's video producer, Russ Pitts, is the former screenwriter and producer of TechTV's Screen Savers. [5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Themis Group (July 12, 2005). Themis Group Launches The Escapist. gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
  2. ^ About the Escapist. The Escapist (magazine). Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
  3. ^ The Escapist Escapes From Pseudo-Print Chains. GameSetWatch/CMP (July 13, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
  4. ^ a b Dana Massey (May 19, 2006). Support company thrives as the MMO giant grows. MMORPG.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
  5. ^ a b Gaming's Top 50 Journalists. Next Generation Magazine (October 17, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-11-13.
  6. ^ Julianne Greer (July 9, 2006). Editor's Note: Pens, Paper and Pretzels. The Escapist (magazine). Retrieved on 2007-09-28.
  7. ^ Zero Punctuation Equals Millions of Views. NewTeeVee. Retrieved on 2008-02-07.

[edit] External links

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