VG247

Last updated
VG247
VG247 logo (2021-present).svg
VG247 Website.png
VG247 as of 25 August 2021
Type of business Subsidiary
Type of site
 Video game journalism
Available inEnglish
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Area servedWorldwide
Created byPatrick Garratt [1]
EditorDom Peppiatt
Key peopleTom Orry, Patrick Garratt, Alex Donaldson, Matt Martin, Dave Cook
Industry Video game industry
Parent Gamer Network
URL vg247.com
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
Launched1 February 2008;16 years ago (2008-02-01)
Current statusActive

VG247 (previously videogaming247) is a video game blog published in the United Kingdom, founded in February 2008 by industry veteran Patrick Garratt. Its current Editor-in-Chief is Dom Peppiatt. [2] In 2009, CNET ranked it as the third best gaming blog in the world. [3]

Contents

History

Founded in collaboration on 1 February 2008 between games journalist Patrick Garratt and Eurogamer Network, VG247 was set up to be a news-only blog, the first of its kind in the UK to have a specialist games blog found among the likes of American sites Kotaku and Joystiq . [1] At launch, VG247 did not review video games and focused instead on news, interviews, and previews. Garratt was the only staff member at the time of launch, although grew in time with the addition of contributors Mike Bowden and Nathan Grayson. [1] [4]

In early 2009, the site relaunched itself, rebranding from videogaming247.com to VG247; at the same time the site changed its primary url to www.vg247.com, and launched a new site design, with improved features, and staff. [5] The site added additional staff over the next year. [6] [7] [8]

VG247 began to create original video content in 2012 [9] and had some staff changes. [10] [11] Matt Martin became the site's editor-in-chief and website founder Patrick Garratt moved into a full-time publisher role in 2014; [12] in the same period the website launched its third design iteration. [13] The site launched an Italian edition in March. [14]

In October 2015, VG247 pulled their preview of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and issued an apology after being contacted by Sony that the game they had played was Uncharted 2: Among Thieves from the remastered Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. [15]

In February 2018, ReedPOP acquired the Gamer Network, making VG247 a subsidiary of RELX Group. [16] Starting in September 2019, the site started to add reviews for recent games, using a 5-star ratings system. [17]

In May 2022, VG247 started its first podcast, titled The Best Games Ever Podcast. [18] In May 2024, the Gamer Network was sold to IGN Entertainment, making VG247 a subsidiary of Ziff Davis. [19]

Awards

VG247 has been nominated twice for Best Website and Best Online Blog at the Games Media Awards in 2008 and 2009. While it did not win either award in 2008, [20] in 2009 it won Best Online Blog, with Garratt winning Best Specialist Online Writer. Garratt was awarded three Games Media Legend awards in 2009. [21]

The site was nominated for the Best Online Blog award at the 2010 Games Media Awards, [22] but lost to Rock Paper Shotgun . The site was nominated again for the Best Online Blog at the 2011 Games Media Awards. [23]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Patrick Garratt. "Staff". VG247. Archived from the original on November 29, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  2. ↑ Peppiatt, Dom (2023-07-03). "Dom Peppiatt is the new editor-in-chief of VG247". VG247. Archived from the original on 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  3. ↑ Top ten gaming blogs Archived 2021-09-28 at the Wayback Machine CNET Last accessed October 23, 2021.
  4. ↑ Garratt, Patrick (1 February 2011). "It's our third birthday – welcome to the new VG247". VG247. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  5. ↑ "VG247 Gets a relaunch and an American associate editor, Stephany Nunneley", www.gamesindustry.biz, 4 Feb 2009, archived from the original on 9 August 2017, retrieved 9 August 2017
  6. ↑ VG247 freelance spot available, possibly to you Archived 2009-08-10 at the Wayback Machine VG247.com. Last accessed June 8, 2009
  7. ↑ Johnny Cullen becomes latest addition to VG247 team Archived 2010-06-11 at the Wayback Machine VG247.com. Last accessed December 14, 2009.
  8. ↑ VG247 becomes first and only 24-hour UK-based videogames news site Archived 2017-08-02 at the Wayback Machine VG247.com. Last accessed January 4, 2011.
  9. ↑ VG247 pushes on original video with Sam Clay signing Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine VG247.com. Last accessed March 21, 2012.
  10. ↑ Dave Cook joins VG247 as new UK editor Archived 2012-08-25 at the Wayback Machine VG247.com. Last accessed October 10, 2012.
  11. ↑ Weber, Rachel (2012-07-23). "Cook takes news editor role at VG247". Gamesindustry.biz . Archived from the original on 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  12. ↑ Parfitt, Ben (2 Jan 2014), "VG247 appoints new editor", www.mcvuk.com, archived from the original on 6 January 2014, retrieved 9 August 2017
  13. ↑ "VG247 relaunches: the new features and what they mean to you", www.vg247.com, 27 Jan 2014, archived from the original on 14 July 2014, retrieved 11 July 2014
  14. ↑ Weber, Rachel (2014-03-24). "VG247 launches in Italy". Gamesindustry.biz . Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-05-21.
  15. ↑ Leack, Jonathan (2015-10-14). "Journalist Mistakes Uncharted 2 For Uncharted 4, Hilarity and Embarrassment Ensues". Game Revolution . CraveOnline. Archived from the original on 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2015-10-15.
  16. ↑ Dring, Christopher (2018-02-26). "PAX organiser ReedPop acquires Gamer Network". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  17. ↑ McKeand, Kirk (17 September 2019). "VG247 brings innovative new review technology to the masses – review scores". VG247. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  18. ↑ Orry, Tom (2022-05-27). "VG247's The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.1: Best game with a named horse". VG247. Archived from the original on 2023-06-06. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  19. ↑ Dring, Christopher (2024-05-21). "IGN Entertainment acquires Eurogamer, GI, VG247, Rock Paper Shotgun and more". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  20. ↑ UK's media darlings hailed | Games Industry | MCV Archived 2016-10-24 at the Wayback Machine MCV. Last accessed October 16, 2009
  21. ↑ Stephany, Stephany (October 15, 2009). "VG247 takes home three Games Media Awards". VG247. Archived from the original on 21 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  22. ↑ Games Media Awards finalists revealed | Games Industry | MCV Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine MCV. Last accessed August 11, 2010
  23. ↑ GMA 2011: The finalists | Games Industry news | MCV Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine MCV. Last accessed August 11, 2011
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