Garnett Lee becomes editorial director for GameFly media, including Shacknews [update]
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Sep 29th 2009 at 9:00AM }
Lee was one of the few survivors in the great 1UP culling that occurred earlier this year, when the former Ziff-Davis property was purchased by UGO. GameFly, as we've mentioned before, is slowly shifting from its core competency of being a game rental service to becoming an internet publishing outfit.
Update: We spoke with Garnett Lee and his comments about the change are after the break.
Speaking with Joystiq, Garnett Lee told us, "Leaving 1UP was definitely a heart-wrenching decision. It really came down to having such an amazing opportunity with GameFly Media. They are not only committed to but passionate about making Shack and the group around it one of the top game sites on the Net. It's like being asked to take a driver's seat on a racing team."
"There's a lot I'll miss about 1UP but it really breaks down into two parts: the friends I've worked with there and the audience. The silver lining is that those relationships carry over to my new position. My friends at 1UP know what a great thing this is for me so while sad they're also excited for me. We're a pretty close group in games media and I know we'll still be seeing each other. And Shack has a great community already with I hope many more members to come."
Whether he'll continue podcasting?
"That's easy: Most definitely. What and when are TBD. As I get settled in I'll be formulating a new show plan that draws on what I've learned and heard from the audience over the past few years and fits in with our editorial vision at Shack."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Daxter @ Sep 29th 2009 9:07AM
Wait so, listenUP, 1UP yours, no more?! honestly. I really need these podcasts for my work... especially the two hours + long ones like ListenUP, the Bombcast and the Joystiq podcast. I am honestly gutted, I cant believe the Listenup that i'm half way through right now is Garnetts last one.
Punishment4Gluttons @ Sep 29th 2009 10:48AM
I'm with you on that man. ListenUp is my favorite podcast. It won't be the same without Garnett. You know they'll continue though. I just pray that they don't put Tina in his place. I'll drop it like a rock if that happens.
Daxter @ Sep 29th 2009 11:03AM
Yeah man, no offence to tina but she hasn't got the presence for being a podcast host, thats why listenUP was the only 1up podcast I really got into, I felt most of the people on it always had excellent presence and it didnt just sound like they were trying to put a podcast together but it's actually enthusiastic guys talking about games. The same thing with the Bombcast.
Jonafun @ Sep 29th 2009 11:22AM
I completely agree. I've heard Tina is cool chick in real life, but
her audio presence is that of a stoner with very limited gaming
experience.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 29th 2009 11:38AM
I think Listen Up was already on the rocks when John Davison was bought by IGN. That would likely have made it difficult for him to be on the show.
I guess the good news on this is now CheapyD won't have to pay up to renew Wombat's Gamefly subscription, as Garnett and Cheapy are apparently pals.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 29th 2009 11:41AM
Oh, and I agree about the Tina thing. She's especially bad on Rebel.FM. The prurient nature of that show just seems to goad her into acting especially dopey. Or maybe they're just high or drunk when they make the show or something.
George McBain @ Sep 29th 2009 12:21PM
"I just pray that they don't put Tina in his place. I'll drop it like a rock if that happens."
Yeah, I would do that as well. I used to be able to just deal when she did the letters, but not a full show. Had to grit the teeth to get through the Rebel.FM with her, since I really like the show/guys.
Mullinsmcd @ Sep 29th 2009 9:09AM
I hope he can leverage his industry connections and set up a great new podcast since he will still be console agnostic. Gotta say it but 1upyours was going downhill and with the aquisition the replacement podcast was never up to snuff. Heres hoping for the best!
Martin @ Sep 29th 2009 9:16AM
I'm sure it won't but it'd be nice if ListenUP continued. It's one of the more intellectually stimulating gaming podcasts. I never though it lost anything when converting from 1UP Yours to ListenUP, but to each their own.
Sounds like a sweet gig for Garnett though.
Haon @ Sep 29th 2009 9:34AM
I will really miss Garnett if they chose to stop 1up yours/listen up even though he constantly makes up words. I must look crazy walking down the street murmuring "thats not a word Garnett!".
MLS @ Sep 29th 2009 9:41AM
I never thought Garnett was a genius or anything, but I really did enjoy his personality and enthusiasm in the 1up podcasts. I think the podcast trend bubble is bursting.
Bboy Izilla @ Sep 29th 2009 9:42AM
well sir...it all sounds like poop to me...
[happy for ya garnett...whiskey on the way]
il_duce620 @ Sep 29th 2009 10:00AM
Garnett's Twitterfeed just said David Ellis will continue as host of ListenUp.
TwistedBishop @ Sep 29th 2009 11:03AM
Ugh
ScottG13 @ Sep 29th 2009 11:13AM
Taco stands all over SF fear the Ellis.
BananaBoat @ Sep 29th 2009 3:49PM
As do toilets, and I think the correlation there is obvious.
I like David Ellis, but the show is nothing without John, Shane, and Garnett. I don't think I'd listen to a podcast that was two hours of David Ellis and Jeremy Parish going back and forth.
This really blows.
jraf @ Sep 29th 2009 10:10AM
OMG 1UP is dead... Everybody i like there already left.
chrisredfield31 @ Sep 29th 2009 10:12AM
wait so does this mean he's quitting 1up? HUZZAH! I quit listening to 1up podcast since E3 because this asshole went all fanboy and trashed the PS3 which didn't deserve it, if he doesn't do 1up podcasts anymore I'll come back and listen to it which I liked, before that fanboy rage.
Trance Addix @ Sep 29th 2009 10:13AM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - what will happen to my podcasts :( Sigh - big ultra sigh.
ChomskyKnows @ Sep 29th 2009 10:17AM
He was informative but always sounded like a control freak. "STAY ON TOPIC!!!!" Why? It's just a dumb podcast...
Donald @ Sep 29th 2009 11:08AM
Because it's HIS GODDAMN SHOW.
Dan Diemer @ Sep 29th 2009 10:17AM
So this leaves me with Jeremy Parish as the only reason to keep an ear on 1up. :(
Alton Brown [ XBL: LordToastington, Soon-To-Be-PSN: OrIsItAltonBrown] @ Sep 29th 2009 12:13PM
Don't forget Scott Sharkey.
JoeTheBlow @ Sep 29th 2009 10:20AM
This shouldn't continue.
Its his goddamn show.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 29th 2009 12:10PM
Wasn't it Jane Pinckard's goddamn show before it was Garnett's goddamn show?
Sean @ Sep 29th 2009 10:21AM
Los Angeles steals another...seems to be luring everyone south.
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Sep 29th 2009 12:06PM
Somehow, in some manner...Jack Bauer is involved in this.
N8 @ Sep 29th 2009 10:37AM
This is good for Garnett, it's obvious that 1up doesn't have the resources anymore to continue to be a leader in the video game space.
Garnett has always had plenty to say on crankygreeks, he's very much a technophile.
ZenGaijin @ Sep 29th 2009 10:40AM
And ListenUp/1UP yours is DESTROYED!
I won't make any crazy statements as such until I hear from the guys. This is a heavy blow to the show though.
SoxFan13 @ Sep 29th 2009 10:48AM
I'm happy for Garnett, but I'll miss Listen Up. It's definitely NOT the same show with David Ellis as host of Listen Up.
ScottG13 @ Sep 29th 2009 11:12AM
A loss for 1up, but they've been losing their best and brighest for some time. It happens in that industry.
Best wishes to the Old Man. He's been a terrific voice in our industry and I expect him to continue to be such for some time.
Follow his Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/Evilgarnett
>:)
Hoffer @ Sep 29th 2009 11:24AM
Hmm, that stinks. I just finished listening to an episode of Listen Up. I guess that will be the last one with Garnett. Assuming they continue the podcast without him, I wonder who will be on it? I can't get into the other 1up podcasts. I subscribe to them, but only listen to them if I have nothing else. If Listen Up becomes another 1up podcast I don't care about, that will be sad.
The Adventures of Cesaria Across the 8th Dimension! @ Sep 29th 2009 11:24AM
Great news for Garnett but shit news for fans of ListenUP. I thought he was one of the few level headed journalists in the games industry.
Donald @ Sep 29th 2009 11:31AM
btw, there's going to be one last episode of Listen Up with Garnett a week from Friday so get the tissues ready.
Good luck to Blazyr, and I'll be following Shack more now that it has two of my favourite non-Joystiq podcasters (Garnett and Nick Breckon).
And I hope that Chris/Ludwig/Justin can fill the void of confirming weekends. ;)
Chris Mahoney @ Sep 29th 2009 11:36AM
I stopped listening to all the 1up podcasts except for Restronauts after many of the podcast people left. I still wish Garnet good luck with his new job though.
Josh @ Sep 29th 2009 11:56AM
1UP Yours (Listen Up) jumped the shark when Shane left. They never even tried to fill the gap he had left behind. The hosts continued to show their ignorance towards Japanese offerings, and it started blending with many of the other podcasts I've listened to in the past. Sometimes, it felt like you needed to be on the NeoGAF forums to even understand their point of view.
I wish Garnett the best, and I thank him for many years (but not this one) of enjoyable podcasting at 1up.
Phish @ Sep 29th 2009 12:01PM
ok ok i need to calm down...as long as Scott Sharkey is still there i am cool.
Maxathon @ Sep 29th 2009 12:01PM
I'm 27 years old and what is this?
What does it say about my life that this hits me emotionally as the end of an era? Hopefully whatever new podcast Garnett joins/starts will feature people who can tell him to shut up when he needs to...
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 29th 2009 12:08PM
That can't be a real quote from Garnett, as it doesn't contain any malaprops.
borland502 (SDF Macross) @ Sep 29th 2009 12:16PM
It's rather sad, but while the rest of the supporting cast is great...the two luminaries of the show were unquestionably Shane and Garnett. I still listened without the one, but I'm afraid I can't go without the other.
I hope they still do the reunion shows at places like PAX or TGS.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 29th 2009 12:25PM
They're both in LA now...
Sam @ Sep 29th 2009 1:48PM
Wow, this is seriously upsetting to hear. I'm going to miss what was 1up yours
I wish garnett luck with his new gig, and hopefully the new podcast will be just as good. His personality is what makes the show great regardless of who else sits besides him. I'm seriously bummed though, but I guess his leaving was just a matter of time.
Lepton @ Sep 29th 2009 2:02PM
Not that I am a huge fan of Garnett but perhaps he will at least finally have a venue wherein people aren't constantly goading him or trying to knock him off balance when he is trying to make a point. ListenUp/1Up Yours has certainly been hurt by all the transitions that have unfortunately brought to the forefront folks that I'd rather not hear from at 1Up, in particular, David Ellis. If I don't hear another word from this professional contratrian/blatant self-promoter, it will be too soon. However, I am sure we will be seeing and hearing from his corpulence soon enough and the camaraderie that characterized most of 1Up's podcast will be dead and gone.
RIP.
B @ Sep 29th 2009 2:47PM
"I'll continue podcasting" Yeah, That's what everyone that left 1UP said.... and none of them (Maybe with the exception of John) have came back.
ListenUp has been pretty unlistenable lately anyways.
why not the LS2LS7? @ Sep 29th 2009 4:32PM
You apparently don't listen to the Insomniac podcast or Rebel.FM.
Some of them kept it up. Coming back isn't necessarily what they meant.
J.Goodwin @ Sep 29th 2009 9:06PM
Nice of him to stay on just long enough to get one more free trip to Tokyo.
Benjamin T.E. @ Sep 29th 2009 11:36PM
I always found Mr. Lee to be kind of a grating, buffoonish, wet blankety presence on the podcast, but I wish him the best in his new endeavor! *breaks bottle of champagne on his hull*
Pixelationist @ Oct 7th 2009 9:50AM
It's true, the podcast started going downhill after the buyout. I stuck with Listen Up because I like Garnett, but without Shane there the entire thing became perhaps a little too western-centric.
I have no problems with criticism of the Japanese gaming industry, I myself have become a regular detractor of it. But both John and David seem to be completely ignorant and abivelant to it, which makes for some frustrating listening for anyone with half an opinion on the subject. John Davison riles me especially when he makes flippant remarks about how archaic Japanese devs are, without acknowledging or celebrating any of the uniqueness they are capable of.
Garnett at least tries to maintain some semblance of impartiality, which I admire a lot. You will be missed dude.
KeyserSoze @ Nov 1st 2009 11:05PM
this is a sad day. one of my favorite things to do was boot up 1up yours and listen up once a week