First, a confession: our original headline for this post was "Shane turns down Sony PR job, goes with smaller publisher" – that is, until we heard the kids at Rebel FM jokingly suggest that blogs would use exactly that as a headline. Oh yeah, smart guys? Well, we didn't!
Moving on. So, 1UP's Shane Bettenhausen did turn down a Sony PR job ... several years ago. [Update: Shane writes that he "misspoke" and "never interviewed for the position" – so you can stop writing those scathing forum posts, platform conspiracy theorists.] Right now, the recently laid-off Bettenhausen has taken a gig as Director of Business Development (we call that BizDev, folks) at "smaller publisher" Ignition Entertainment. Says Bettenhausen: "they're not on the map as much as other big publishers." Then why take the position, when fellow 1UP alums have moved onto places like Bungie and 2K Boston? At Ignition, Bettenhausen would get to "choose which games to publish" – in other words, he'd rather be a big fish in a smaller pond. Not a bad plan. Up next from Ignition: Blue Dragon Plus for the DS.
To get the full story straight from Shane himself, tune into the latest Rebel FM podcast at around the one hour 21 minute mark. (Bonus: Listen for Shane's comment that the "rise of blogs – Kotaku and Joystiq – completely reshaped the landscape." Great! Now we can add "landscaper" to the old CV).
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Jan 14th 2009 9:39PM (Unverified) said
Good luck, Shane. We'll miss you in the podcast world.
But seriously dude, try to stop sucking so much Sony sausage.
Reply
But seriously dude, try to stop sucking so much Sony sausage.
Posted: Jan 14th 2009 9:41PM PixelPerfect said
Ignition has a branch here in Gainesville, FL. Is that the one he is at now? I actually know people who have interned there, and I have thought about working there myself.
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Posted: Jan 14th 2009 10:13PM DonaldMick said
On the podcast he mentioned moving to LA, so I guess he's in that office.
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Posted: Jan 14th 2009 9:58PM (Unverified) said
Yea he was one of my favorite person to listen on the 1up yours.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2009 12:43PM Knight Marquise said
Copa~
LOL...that would be cool. As with others around here, he was the reason I quit listening to their podcasts as well.
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LOL...that would be cool. As with others around here, he was the reason I quit listening to their podcasts as well.
Posted: Jan 14th 2009 10:10PM (Unverified) said
You have your facts wrong. Shane wasn't laid off, he quit. UGO and Hearst offered him a job and he declined.
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Posted: Jan 14th 2009 9:52PM (Unverified) said
Oh sure, you're welcome Mr. Grant. Psssshhhht. ;)
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Posted: Jan 14th 2009 10:04PM (Unverified) said
Back when I got a PS3 (shortly after launch day), Shane was the ONLY person on the net who wasn't mocking us early adopters on a regular basis. He's also probably the funniest/most knowledgeable podcaster around.
As a listener, I will miss his contributions. As a fellow human being, I wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.
Reply
As a listener, I will miss his contributions. As a fellow human being, I wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor.
Posted: Jan 14th 2009 10:06PM BananaBoat said
It's a shame that some of the EGM staff will never return to editorial work. Who do I look to for reviews now? Yahtzee? Forget about previews, since there is noone left that can be trusted to do an honest preview.
I hope Shane can bring some niche games to the US that otherwise wouldn't have made it.
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I hope Shane can bring some niche games to the US that otherwise wouldn't have made it.
Posted: Jan 14th 2009 10:19PM (Unverified) said
In retrospect I feel bad that I never visited his website. I am too much stuck on IGN. Just used to that site and watching vids there. Never really found 1UP to be interesting...
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Posted: Jan 14th 2009 10:27PM (Unverified) said
I'm a senior in high school, and I'm mortally wounded that I wont be listening to 1up yours till 2 in the morning on friday nights anymore while trying to sleep in bed. After a long week of crazy high school shenanigans, it feels good to wind down and listen two four hilarious adults talk about games. Shane is the funniest sony fanboy along with Garnett, John, and David. I've been listening since March of 2007. YOU GUYS HAVE TO DO REUNION SHOWS ONCE IN A WHILE PLEAAASE. Best of luck in your future endeavors Shane, and everyone else from 1up who go laid off. I hope our paths cross one day....
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Posted: Jan 15th 2009 12:12AM NightVortex said
I had to go to wikipedia to find out what the company even did, well one of the notes about Shane joining the company said:
"Shortly after his hiring, Ignition announced King of Fighters XII would be coming to North America in 2009 as a Playstation 3 exclusive."
If it's a joke edit, pretty funny, if it's true, fucking hilarious.
Reply
"Shortly after his hiring, Ignition announced King of Fighters XII would be coming to North America in 2009 as a Playstation 3 exclusive."
If it's a joke edit, pretty funny, if it's true, fucking hilarious.
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 1:13AM (Unverified) said
Shane sucked on 1up. He was totally biased. I bought Heavenly Sword on his advice. Have you played this game? It sucks huge balls. What the hell?
The list of games overrated by Shane is endless. That guy had no clue. Good riddance loser!
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The list of games overrated by Shane is endless. That guy had no clue. Good riddance loser!
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 1:49AM (Unverified) said
Shane's bias wasn't why he was so bad, it was his shitty attitude. You ever notice how many times he would just make everyone shut up so they could move along ? He acted like they were a real radio show with commercials.
He can like Sony as much as his heart desires, but I always wondered if his co workers even liked him. He was such an asshole. Fuck him and fuck Kentucky.
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He can like Sony as much as his heart desires, but I always wondered if his co workers even liked him. He was such an asshole. Fuck him and fuck Kentucky.
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 5:15AM (Unverified) said
Interesting point about Joystiq and Kotaku changing things.
I certainly never go to any of the major sites now, busy man, things to do. My hourly dose of Joystiq is all i need.
Maybe we all just have the attention spans of 5yr olds now.
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I certainly never go to any of the major sites now, busy man, things to do. My hourly dose of Joystiq is all i need.
Maybe we all just have the attention spans of 5yr olds now.
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 7:58AM falcomadol said
If Ludwig had written this article, the title would have been "1UP's Shane Bettenhausen Ignites His Bridges"
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Posted: Jan 15th 2009 11:13AM (Unverified) said
Good riddance! Shane Bettenhausen SUCKED!Just listening to him annoyed the hell out of me! He don't take anything serious, just mocks every good game, and praises every piece of shit out there! Next to go Garnet lee!!!!
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Posted: Jan 15th 2009 9:37AM Jack Tretton said
Kotaku reshaping the landscape? Well, sure, if you're digging a hole for an outhouse.
From its bush league staff to its commenters, Kotaku is precisely what's wrong with corporate blog culture, and it doesn't help they're a Gawker Media property either.
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From its bush league staff to its commenters, Kotaku is precisely what's wrong with corporate blog culture, and it doesn't help they're a Gawker Media property either.
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 10:02AM (Unverified) said
My life feels empty without 1UP yours. At least the old 1UP staff are finding new homes.
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Posted: Jan 15th 2009 11:07AM (Unverified) said
Shane!?? The guy who drinks Kojima's bath water, and praises everything mgs/playstation?? Not working for sony?? -oh, he's working for them alright.. As a spy and a tool.. I listened to him once on 1up yours and they were ripping him on mgs -some online game and how it sucked, but he kept praising it, leaving his partners shocked.
He works for Sony/konami, screw him.
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He works for Sony/konami, screw him.
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 2:03PM Deck said
Grats to Shane! Nice to see that he found something to move on to. Though it is sad that we wont be hearing from him in a journalistic sense anymore. I thought he was great on the 1UP Yours podcast. Ahh well, he's moved on to something he feels is bigger which is good for him.
So congrats Shane! Have fun and good luck!
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So congrats Shane! Have fun and good luck!
Posted: Jan 15th 2009 3:45PM (Unverified) said
Hate for Shane Bettenhausen? You guys suck. Shane is a great guy who isn't afraid to express his honest opinions, which we all have btw. Not to mention him bringing life to one of the best gaming podcasts out there.
I really wish him and the company the best of luck.
//My opinion of this sites readers just dropped off the charts.
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I really wish him and the company the best of luck.
//My opinion of this sites readers just dropped off the charts.
Posted: Jan 25th 2009 5:13PM (Unverified) said
Shane is definitely biased... I always take what he has to say with a grain..well, maybe boxes of, salt. However, I have to give it to him that he does make the show more interesting, taking extreme angles on issues, never afraid to have an opinion, and having great knowledge about games.
I'll miss the show. Thanks 1UP crew...
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I'll miss the show. Thanks 1UP crew...
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