Luke Smith leaves 1UP to be Master Chief's poolboy

by Justin McElroy { Apr 24th 2007 at 9:30AM }

No, we don't actually know that 1UP's news editor will be fishing leaves out of the pool at the Spartan's summer home. But we do know, thanks to the most recent 1UP Yours podcast, that Smith, who has wasted no opportunity to express his love for Halo, will soon leave the world of gaming journalism for an unannounced position at Bungie. Smith did hint that he would still be in front of a mic at his new job, and Bungie's Frankie said in recent update that something was in the works that "might make the next official Bungie podcast that much better," so we probably have a pretty good idea of what he'll be doing.

Smith's path may remind readers of that of Che Chou, who left his job as 1UP's managing editor for community management at Microsoft Game Studios or former Gamespot chief Greg Kasavin who left the site to work as an associate producer for EA.

No matter what Smith ends up doing at Bungie, we here at Joystiq have to consider this a loss for video games journalism. He was an honest writer and a fearless interviewer and, though a polarizing figure in many respects, he was a games journalist, and one of the few you could apply that title to without cracking a smile. We can think of no more fitting tribute to Smith than his infamous "Smarmy" interview with David Jaffe. Take care Luke, we hope to hear from you soon.

Tags: 1up, 1upyours, bungie, chechou, frankie, halo, lukesmith

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kelvin @ Apr 24th 2007 9:46AM

Luke Smith is a very funny Guy, I wish him the best in his new position.

Also If some can confirm this, I do think he started the the idea that wii games are just ps2 games with added "waggle" control.

I'm pretty sure he started the whole "Confirmed" thing after a rumor about a product is made.

DJ Jazzy Jeff circa 1987 @ Apr 24th 2007 9:49AM

Countdown to some idiot trying to steer the conversation towards "Halo is overrated, I don't see what people see in it."

Yeah, well a shit-ton of other people do, so shut the fuck up already. I don't even like it that much myself, but I can respect the fact that it's popular as hell.

Anyway...

There HAVE been a lot of ex-"journalists" leaving for game companies lately, and not just of the print magazine variety. Leaving print I can understand; that's a sinking ship. I guess the inner desire of a fanboy is to eventually be on the "inside," so good for him to get a job @ Bungie.

Todd @ Apr 24th 2007 9:56AM

Halo is underrated, I do see what people see in it.

FrankTheCrank @ Apr 24th 2007 10:04AM

And now the payoff!

We'll pump your console/game, then you'll pay me off with a cushy job.

Nice.

heretrix @ Apr 24th 2007 10:07AM

Luke was great to listen to. Brutally honest and a equal opportunity basher, he made the 1up podcast a blast to listen to.

Good luck dude. All the best.

Unit @ Apr 24th 2007 11:00AM

MS fanboy confirmed!

copa @ Apr 24th 2007 11:16AM

"former Gamespot chief Greg Kasavin who left the site to work as an associate producer for EA."

Really? An associate producer? Just how crappy does it pay to be editor-in-chief of Gamespot?

jsundoth @ Apr 25th 2007 9:49PM

Good luck Luke, you were my favorite part of the 1up show. I do admit once i checked out your gamertag you arent as good at Halo 2 as I thought you would be.
http://tinyurl.com/pv8do

GJM @ Apr 24th 2007 11:59AM

Frank, didn't you get warned already?

john @ Apr 24th 2007 12:14PM

Selling out FTW!

hmd13 @ Apr 24th 2007 12:20PM

David Jaffe, complete tool, CONFIRMED!

dsub @ Apr 24th 2007 1:17PM

I don't see why these guys wouldn't opt to take jobs with gaming companies. With Ziff Davis up for sale, there's no telling how long it will be before they lose their jobs. Also, these guys have dreams of working IN the industry directly. By getting a job with a company like MS, EA, or Bungie, you are essentially "one-step higher" on the food chain in the game industry. Also, the workload is probably alot lower as well. These guys (that work for gaming mags/sites) likely seem as if they merely sit around and play games all day, but they have alot more to do. Working for a magazine or any media outlet is a 24/7 grind sort of job. Late hours, low pay. Not cool.

MegaMan @ Apr 24th 2007 1:30PM

A gaming journalist taking a job with a game company/console manufacturer, since Bungie is owned by Microsoft?

Isn't that like a congressman taking a job with a lobbyist?

And he will continue to work for 1UP? Isn't there a conflict of interest there?

radjago @ Apr 24th 2007 1:38PM

Remember that Bungie's Frank O'Connor came from the Official Xbox Magazine. It's not totally unheard of or unprecedented.

Patrick @ Apr 24th 2007 3:41PM

@12, no hes leaving 1up

AL @ Apr 25th 2007 9:27AM

He was the best thing about the 1up podcast and will certainly be sorely missed :-(

stick_man @ Apr 25th 2007 1:08PM

Just another valid point as to why game journalists are complete shiite, and have no place in the video game community. Seriously, I wonder if Dan Rather or Micky Rooney would take a job with Haliburton or Blackstone? If you don't want to be a journalist then don't be one, but for the sake of journalistic integrity don't use (or portray) game journalism as a stepping stone. Just makes it looks like one can be bought off very easily, and in this case I wouldn't take anything he has written about video games as anything more than bought and paid for advertising. 1up should make an example of him and pull everything he has written for their company, and issue a written apology for allowing such flagrant misuse of such a position.

Ohhhhh wait... video game journalism is a thinly veiled advertising scheme posing as journalism. Ahhh now i remember. Either way he did a crappy job.

At least joystiq doesn't claim to be journalism. i like that.

Johnathon @ Apr 29th 2007 9:40AM

look...print is not a sinking ship. people still do subscribe to mags of any sort [me being one of them...] so all this talk about print dying is poppycock. i think they would complement one another more so then kill each other, but thats just me.