crispy-gamer posts

Report: Crispy Gamer web site fires editorial staff; CEO quits in protest

by John Callaham Jan 22nd 2010 @ 10:00AM

Launched less than two years ago, the gaming news and editorial site Crispy Gamer is now in the midst of a massive shake-up. As first reported by our sister site Joystiq, the company's board of directors has laid off the site's entire eight person editorial staff. There's no word on why the board made this decision but it has reportedly caused the company's CEO Chris Heldman to resign in protest.

Crispy Gamer launched with much fanfare in beta form in February 2008 and secured a total of over $8 million in venture capital funding. Last month the company seemed to be in the midst of expanding as it bought the social networking and stats web site GamerDNA.com. There's no word on what direction the Crispy Gamer company will now take.

Filed under: Culture

Crispy Gamer gains gaming social network GamerDNA

by John Callaham Dec 17th 2009 @ 10:00PM

It may be near the end of the year but there are still some business deals that are being made. Today the gaming news web site Crispy Gamer announced that it has bought GamerDNA, a social networking company that among other things keeps track of player stats in online games. Specific financial terms were not disclosed.

GamerDNA launched in 2006 but despite bringing in some venture capital money it apparently wasn't enough to keep the operation going by itself. Indeed the already small company laid off half its staff members in October. GamerDNA CEO Jon Radoff won't stick around the newly merged company for long; he's already stated he will launch a new venture in 2010. There no word yet on how many of the other GamerDNA employees will stay with the new management.

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Biz, Culture

GamePro to get new head man; plans to launch major reboot

by John Callaham Oct 5th 2009 @ 10:00PM

There's been some interesting shifts in the world of game journalism recently. We've already reported that former 1Up.com edtior Garnett Lee is taking over as editorial director at GameFly (and therefore at Shacknews). Now Kotaku reports that former Ziff Davis gaming director John Davison is taking over as GamePro's new "executive vice president of content". He replaces former GamePro head man George Jones who quietly left in September.

Davison was previously the co-founder of the family oriented gaming web site Whattheyplay.com which was purchased by IGN last month. According to Davison he plans to do a reboot of GamePro and will be trying to "expand the coverage of gaming's culture and personalities."

Kotaku also notes two other game journalist departures: John Keefer has left as editor-in-chief of the Crispy Gamer web site to "explore other opportunities". Meanwhile Billy Berghammer is no longer the director of gaming editorial at the G4 cable TV network. There's no word yet on replacements, if any, for either position.

Filed under: Biz, Culture