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"The Problem With EGM Magazine" - A writer speaks out
- Thread starter V_Ben
- Start date
The_Darkest_Red
Member
I'm pretty sure that's exactly what it is. You nailed it. I don't even see the veil, to be honest.Smision said:
funkystudent
Member
sucks for the writer. Hope he gets what he is owed.
I feel bad for anyone working for EGM is this is what that magazine has come to.
Who the fuck restarts a print magazine in this day and age anyway? EGM should have stayed dead.
I feel bad for anyone working for EGM is this is what that magazine has come to.
Who the fuck restarts a print magazine in this day and age anyway? EGM should have stayed dead.
DoctorWho said:
The problem is, statements like "dragging you down" are things you're in no position to say unless you're running the company. That's like me telling Apple, "Stop making desktop computers. They're just dragging you down, when all of your efforts should be put into laptops and iOS."
That's me, on the outside, having not one clue how profitable that portion of the company's output is.
Big Chungus
Member
R.I.P
No, it has more to with Steve being a relic who acts like it is still the mid-90s for the print industry, and he has no fucking clue what he is doing despite his claims to the contrary.Averon said:
For the record if Harold has never run into an issue like this in his career, he has been incredibly lucky. I've been lucky enough to be "on staff" for most of my career, but I've also done a fair bit of freelance. And.... yeah. You get paid late more often than you don't.
For me, IGN was far & away the most rock-solid with payments. Everyone else varied from regular late to "WHERE'S MY MONEY?!? GIMMY MY MONEY!" - late.
For me, IGN was far & away the most rock-solid with payments. Everyone else varied from regular late to "WHERE'S MY MONEY?!? GIMMY MY MONEY!" - late.
Red Nightmare
Banned
I can't judge the legitimacy of this guy's claim, and neither can you. There are at least 2 sides to every story.
But I do know that he's a dick for publically ripping his employer like that. I wouldn't pay him or hire him again after that.
But I do know that he's a dick for publically ripping his employer like that. I wouldn't pay him or hire him again after that.
HamPster PamPster
Member
From Casey Loe's twitter
@snowjew
I can second these EGM accusations. They owe me $350, and don't even have the courtesy to reply to invoices and queries. bit.ly/mGCfVd
Now this has gone too far!
@snowjew
I can second these EGM accusations. They owe me $350, and don't even have the courtesy to reply to invoices and queries. bit.ly/mGCfVd
Now this has gone too far!
The guy isn't being a dick at all. He did his job and isn't getting paid. Plus other writers are joining in agreeing with his side of the story. It's a good thing that the public is being aware of what's happening to pressure up EGM to stop screwing over their writers.Red Nightmare said:
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I'm part of the problem in some sense.. I haven't bought a single issue of the new EGM. Ive been a reader since 1992 (!!), and when the mag got shuttered by Hearst I was devastated..
But that year or more that it was dead.. That was enough to break my print media habits altogether. It got me used to relying on my iPhone for games media. I might think that I wanted the mag back, but when it was amazingly ressurected, I couldn't be bothered to pick up a copy..
But that year or more that it was dead.. That was enough to break my print media habits altogether. It got me used to relying on my iPhone for games media. I might think that I wanted the mag back, but when it was amazingly ressurected, I couldn't be bothered to pick up a copy..
Print media is dead to me, and to be fair EGM is probably having a tough time keeping up with its finances. But clearly they shouldn't hire a writer whom they can't pay -- then you end up with this sort of thing where it comes back to bite you ten times over. If they can pay him and they're just being assholes, then they need to pony up the cash for some damage control.
The good old days of 3/4" thick issues with a 3 page ad every other page are over I'm afraid.
The good old days of 3/4" thick issues with a 3 page ad every other page are over I'm afraid.
RandomVince said:
To be fair, I have a stable (at least I think stable) job at a publication that I currently have no reason to believe is treading water.
However, if people would like to fund my making WAHP or one of my other projects into a full-fledged gig I can live off of, please do so! I will absolutely no refuse your money!
goldenpp72
Member
shidoshi said:So you're wishing for me to be out of a job?
no offense as unemployment sucks balls, but working at a killed then resurrected magazine of all things is probably something i'd not assume will last too long, I'm surprised it's still here to be honest. I do hope the mag last just because work is work, but I'd not personally subscribe to the mag based on what I've seen of it.
Them not paying the freelancers is a damn shame, cool job or not, it's still work.
shidoshi said:
OK, seriously?
If the company is solvent, why would they not be paying freelancers and employee expenses in a timely manner?
Does Steve think everyone else is also a reclusive millionaire or something, and these mere hundreds and thousands of dollars are just chump change to them?
Steven_Jitters
Member
Just heard about this after reading this week's EGMi of all the things.
Situation really sucks and I hope they give the writer what he is owed.
Situation really sucks and I hope they give the writer what he is owed.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
Say it aint so, Brady! Say it aint so!
They just lost something in the move to SF. Something dear.
Jenga said:
They just lost something in the move to SF. Something dear.
boutrosinit
Street Fighter IV World Champion
Gazunta said:Sucks
I don't miss freelance at all. Having to stay up to 2am local time so I could make international calls to GameSpot asking where my checks were sucked big time. And by the time I eventually got them I'd end up owing so much on my phone bill from those calls
Don't miss it either.
Worked with EGM when it first launched. Brady's a friend, though I've rarely seen him in the last year or so as I imagine the hours are awful.
Was definitely a hassle to get paid. A real shame. They've worked with and sadly lost a lot of very talented guys since the start.
Barely interacted with Steve Harris, but when I did, he apologized for the late payment and sorted me out.
Seems like accounts are still not solved as a problem there. Hope they figure that out.
And yes, it sucks, but this is sadly all too common in freelance writing. Future Publishing and Dennis Publishing were an absolute *nightmare* in the UK.
Had to personally go to the accounts offices of both companies and pick up late checks on multiple, multiple occasions. Seems accounts departments are filled with incompetent people, or they're told to be incompetent.
Oh, and when Paragon (*I think*) shut down, they decided not to pay any freelancers and I was *lucky* with my loss of $400. Another freelancer I knew was short on $1800 worth of payment. Fighting with liquidators was his option.
Freelancers get FUCKED. It sucks that's the norm. Publishing houses are just run too thin and typically I've not seen many care for their freelancers as if part of the crew.
My honest advice: don't do it; go get a more sustainable job or work with people and publications with good people relations, unless you really are tight with the boss.
Kikizo/VGD/Adam Doree always paid on time. ***** too.
The Antitype
Banned
I pretty much only read Game Informer and EDGE now.
And let's be honest, Game Informer only makes enough money to stay around cause they were savvy enough to cut that deal with Gamestop.
And let's be honest, Game Informer only makes enough money to stay around cause they were savvy enough to cut that deal with Gamestop.