The gaming site has been bought by IGN, and has lost its last editor. Kind regards

It was announced yesterday that IGN has acquired a number of English-language gaming sites, as well as German site Eurogamer, which is backed by media group Ziff Davis. Some positions were eliminated the same evening. You don't want to carry that everywhere. Strategy site Rock Paper Shotgun is sending a sweet greeting to the new owners today, May 22nd.

This message was:

• It has been known for some time that Gamer Network is up for sale. Parent company ReedPop wanted to sell gaming sites associated with Eurogamer.
• It was announced yesterday evening that Ziff Davis has acquired Gamer's Network properties, including GamesIndustriy.biz, Eurogamer and their six local releases, as well as Rock Paper Shotgun, VG 247 and Dicebreakers, for an “undisclosed sum.”

Rock Paper Shotgun website specializes in computer games, especially role-playing games and strategy games such as Crusader Kings 3:

On the evening of the purchase, news of layoffs came

This was not nice news: News arrived relatively quickly that long-time page editors had been fired. Positions at Eurogamer and Digital Foundry appeared to be secure. But it costs jobs at GamesIndustry.biz and strategy site Rock Paper Shotgun. Employees reported: It appears that many, perhaps all, employees who were not based in the UK have been made redundant (via After the disaster).

The consequences were reported critically: the takeover had been discussed for a long time, but the news that people had to leave was new. Some employees have already been explicitly assured that their jobs are safe.

The last editor of a gaming magazine had to leave – I didn't expect that

The chapter is particularly painful: So Alice Bell, editor of the strategy magazine Rock Paper Shotgun, had to go.

The magazine, which specializes in computer games and focuses on strategy and role-playing games, was founded in 2007, but the founders gradually left the company. The last one left in 2019. Gamer's Network bought the site in May 2017.

Alice Bell has worked at Rock Paper Shotgun for 6 years, since June 2018, and still holds the position of Deputy Editor. The reason for her downfall, she believes, is that she lives in Ireland. She did not expect to be fired because she was the only editor still working at Rock Paper Shotgun. Without them there would be no editorial management there. Which is why I was particularly surprised by her dismissal.

She said goodbye on Twitter on the day of the acquisition, May 21, saying: “Guess who has two thumbs up and is made redundant now that my company has new owners” and sent two thumbs up.

Article publishes the list as a subversive tribute

How does the magazine react? Rock Paper Shotgun published an article today titled “The Best Alice in PC Games” (via com. rockpapershotun). The article is the featured article on the page in the Features section.

In a slightly subversive way, not to mention the editor, someone says: At Rock Paper Shotgun, we love Alice. When you meet Alice, you should greet her respectfully and say “Alice.” You should not take an Alice like this lightly nor should you leave her unattended. You have to reckon with Alice.

Then you list some Alices from video games, of course “America MCGee's Alice”, plus three others and end with: These are every Alice that comes to mind.

I added a poll asking if people still support the Rock Paper Shotgun, with some bad answer options like “I used to support it, but I can't justify it now” and “No, but I might, now that it's cheaper than before.” “

Readers are also asked if they know of another Alice they might want to celebrate.

The comment with the most likes then says: “This seems a bit redundant” – an apparent reference to the editor being fired.

This is a subtle way to rebel against the conditions prevailing on the website. Someone in MeinMMO also rehearsed an uprising, but it was quickly and mercilessly put down: Curtin's Day Job – An Oppressed Demon Disintegrates