GFW's Jeff Green leaves 1UP for Sims team

by Justin McElroy { Sep 5th 2008 at 8:00AM }

Jeff Green is the kind of game journalist we want to be when we grow up: Seasoned, funny and imbued with the perfect blend of skepticism and passion, even after 17 years on the job. Now, the former CGW and GFW editor and (just as importantly) GFW Radio/Brodeo cornerstone is leaving Ziff-Davis to join The Sims development team.

We have too much respect for Green to use this as an opportunity to note all the high-profile names that have jumped the Ziff-Davis ship recently. We'll only say that we'll miss you Jeff, and we wish you all the best.

[Thanks, Jonah]

Tags: 1up, jeff-green, the-sims

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

BananaBoat @ Sep 5th 2008 8:05AM

Wow...this is a shocker. God speed. Make the sims rock a little harder for all of us.

Sam QforQ Houston @ Sep 5th 2008 8:12AM

It would be awesome if Jeff and some of the Brodeo originals started their own podcast separate of 1up so that we could get "the band" back together again. Definitely going to miss Jeff from GFW Radio and 1up.

Good luck Jeff!

Dracula Jones @ Sep 5th 2008 8:18AM

Jeff Green is one of my favorites. I'd say he will be missed, but the truth is he has been missed since CGW/GFW closed shop and his PC column in EGM had an abbreviated run. Good luck, Eggbert!

Fox318 @ Sep 5th 2008 8:29AM

1up should install a revolving door at their office.

John-IRL @ Sep 5th 2008 9:44AM

Yeah...cos he only just started in Ziff...oh wait.

Matt @ Sep 5th 2008 8:50AM

I had just gotten into GFW radio a couple of months ago, and this is a huge loss for the podcast, and for 1up in general. I really do hope they take Sam's idea and make a podcast of their own.

Brittany @ Sep 5th 2008 8:55AM

noooooo!!! I loved jeff green on gfw radio :(!!!

J.Goodwin @ Sep 5th 2008 8:56AM

Damn.

Good luck Jeff. :/

ZenGaijin @ Sep 5th 2008 8:59AM

You gotta be kidding me, the Brodeo just isn't going to be the same. Jeff was probably the funniest of the cast and knew just the right moment to bring Shawn outta some his longer rants about the ins and outs of games.

Good Luck Jeff, you will be missed.

Tango Charlie @ Sep 5th 2008 11:39AM

Exactly. The play between Jeff and Shawn on GFW Radio frequently delivered the most thoughtful and entertaining insights into gaming.

What a shame.

Lakewell @ Sep 5th 2008 12:23PM

Jeff was Batman to Shawn's Joker. I'm glad Jeff will be out of the journalism and into game making. Perhaps there will be a 97.5 Brodeo reunion at some point. I'll miss Jeff saying "HELLO and welcome".

Lakewell @ Sep 5th 2008 12:34PM

P.S. Jeff was also awesome because he had Reed-Richards hair.

Scotto @ Sep 5th 2008 9:00AM

If you have respect for him, then you don't make a note of saying what you "aren't" going to say out of respect for him.

- Scott

zombienutz @ Sep 5th 2008 9:04AM

I wish Jeff the best. He has always brought a lot of passion to what he has worked on. He will be missed on the Brodeo.

ScottG13 @ Sep 5th 2008 9:05AM

Wow. What a way to start a Friday. Best wishes for success, Jeff. You've left an indelible mark on games journalism with your professionality. We'll miss you out here.

tooPrime @ Sep 5th 2008 9:15AM

I like how a bunch of game journalist have used their careers as a launch pad to become game designers. I would think being a game journalist (a well respected and influential one especially) would be a much better job than assistant game designer. Game Design is one of those things I think sounds really cool, but when you break it down, making a game is so time consuming and arduous you can't do the one thing that got you into the business in the first place... play games. Obviously making something is maybe more rewarding that playing other peoples stuff and passing judgment but still, it's amazing how many of these people with jobs most people would kill for give it all up the second a job with a game studio opens up.

Tom @ Sep 5th 2008 9:27AM

People would "kill" for jobs yes. But not many people understand what goes into making games. It is hard work, but a lot of people who try to get into the industry don't actually know the little details. One thing about someone like Green going into games is he has a vast knowledge of games and how they work at a fundamental level. Which in turn leads me to believe he will be good working on an existing franchise like The Sims while he learns the other aspects of game design.

WhoMe @ Sep 5th 2008 9:36AM

You know, I asked Greg Kasavin once whether he would rather be writing about games, or making them. In short, he told me that he would rather be writing about them. Not too long after that, he went to work for EA.

Now, I think a lot of people from the gaming press (and probably some bloggers too), would like nothing more than to be making them, instead of just writing about them. However, many of them completely lack technical skills required to be making them.

Some start off as a designer, because supposedly, after playing so many games for such a long time, they know what makes a good game. However, I don't think the industry is lacking is people who think they know how to design a game (hell, we all play games all the time) and without some more technical background, I don't think you'd make for the best designer.

What you do see is that a lot of these guys end up as "community managers" or something similar. Which, as far as I'm concerned (I'm sorry to say), isn't really making games. But then, it can be your foot in the door.

Don't know what Jeff will be doing though.

Stuttering Billy @ Sep 5th 2008 11:19AM

Hey tooPrime,

I don't know about you, but everyone that I know that works in the game industry have plenty of time to play games, along with making AAA titles. Some days at work, half the days is spent with a office wide lan parties or XBL. If you are getting into the game industry to play games, you just spend way to much money in schooling for the wrong reasons.

BingeBoy @ Sep 5th 2008 9:23AM

nooooo jeff we need you!! Your the best man in podcasting.

Tom @ Sep 5th 2008 9:20AM

OMG!! Well I am done with the 1up podcasts now. Jeff Green was the one keeping me there. Wonder if the sprinkler had anything to do with it LOL.

WhoMe @ Sep 5th 2008 9:22AM

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! :(

Why, God why? GFW Radio just won't be the same without him. There are too few good gaming podcasts as it is, and now the king of the hill just lost one of it's key members.

Ugh, I'm sure this is what he wants and I wish him best of luck on his new job, but man what a loss...

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Sep 5th 2008 10:24AM

Let's not get dramatic. 1UP Yours and FM are still excellent audio podcasts. And that's only sticking within the 1UP family. Hell, I'm not sure GFW will die even though Jeff, good man that he is, leaves. One of the reasons I listen to so much 1UP is that they employ engaging people for all the podcasts.

blakbuzzrd @ Sep 5th 2008 11:03AM

I absolutely feel the same way. What makes it worse is that I couldn't care less about The Sims. It's as if he just died.

WhoMe @ Sep 5th 2008 11:57AM

Who said anything about dying?

Also, I don't think you get to tell me what I do and do not like. I listen to 1UP Yours and 1UP FM, they're on the higher end of the spectrum as far as I am concerned, but they are nothing like GFW Radio.

anime_virus @ Sep 5th 2008 9:58AM

Good luck Jeff, we will miss you!

Jomolungma @ Sep 5th 2008 9:56AM

This really bites. I am sad.

borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Sep 5th 2008 10:16AM

I enjoy 1UP Yours a bit more than GFW, but both have a good cast. The loss if Green is a blow, but if the past is any indication there will be frequent "drop-ins" by Jeff.

As an aside, the fact that even the most polished podcasts still have a amateur feel about them is a good thing to me. They have a genuine feel to them that just isn't there in TV or talk radio.

Chase @ Sep 5th 2008 10:31AM

rip brodeo

x'[

Juno @ Sep 5th 2008 11:58AM

That bites. I will miss the brodeo.. Looks like the joystiq podcast is now number one by deafault..

Ranus Studios @ Sep 5th 2008 10:58AM

Not really familiar with the guy, but he sure is a happy fella.

Vizruy @ Sep 5th 2008 11:03AM

Aw... I loved this man... this news hurt.. ;(

FSK405K @ Sep 5th 2008 11:00AM

Also Maxis announced simultaneously that the next expansion to The Sims 2 is titled "Magazines."

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 5th 2008 11:57AM

A+ You get a cookie

Myke @ Sep 5th 2008 11:24AM

Ech, that sucks, I have confidence in Shawn Elliot being able to make show worthwhile.

macgyver @ Sep 5th 2008 11:20AM

i don't play WOW or any games on my windows pc other than minesweeper, but i listened to both podcasts on 1up. my favorite GFW ever was the Second Life episode, the whole time Jeff Green was like the "mature friend" who couldn't help but laugh. good times, he will be missed.

mismajor99 @ Sep 5th 2008 11:36AM

sad pandas all around... :(

ogvor @ Sep 5th 2008 11:39AM

Good luck man, you've been a great critic and podcaster. You will be missed.

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 5th 2008 11:56AM

Justin, if you're going to thank me, at least link my name to the article I wrote:

http://www.gamestooge.com/2008/09/04/jeff-green-joins-the-sims-team/

My own commentary is:

While Garnett Lee is saddened, I’m happy for Jeff, since it’ll give him some real work (and joy) doing some creative work. Since Jeff bade farewell to GFW, it seemed awkward for him to still be at Ziff-Davis. Here’s to Jeff and The Sims 3.