One of the more memorable quotes from Ghostbusters was Egon Spengler’s comment “Print is dead.”

While in the context it was made more to perhaps attempt to discontinue being quizzed by the receptionist Jeneane, it was a mildly profound statement.

Fast forward to the announcement today/yesterday about the decision by Ziff-Davis to terminate CGW in print form. A year ago (or so), CGW had attempted to reinvent itself by aligning itself much closer to Microsoft publishing and rebranding itself as “Games for Windows”.

I guess the economic picture of the magazine still didn’t meet Ziff-Davis’s expectations, and so the print magazine was put to rest this week.

It will venture forth in the online marketplace as an online-only mag, complete most likely with built-in link, text and content advertising, along with popups on every page hit as another attempt is made to monetize.

CGW WAS the shit when I was growing up and heavily gaming during my single years. It had excellent content, reviews and opinion pieces which made it more than a mouthpiece for EA marketing, but as a beacon for what was going on in the industry (even though I’m sure a lot also happened that never made an issue..*wink*)

There’s an online petition here and you never know. If something like Family Guy can be revived after a period of death, why not CGW?

Here’s Jeff Green’s own words on the moment and you can just imagine what’s going through his head..

Well, goddamn. Here’s a post I hoped I’d never have to write… This is tough. This is just not in any way “good news.”

For me personally, the closing of Games for Windows: The Official Magazine is not just a business decision (though, obviously it’s exactly that in reality), but feels more akin, in fact, to the passing of a loved one… It feels like a giant gaping hole in my life…

What began life as a fairly humble, black-and-white, pamphlet-sized ‘zine under Russell Sipe and Johnny Wilson grew over the years into an industry titan, the game magazine by which all others both modeled themselves and were judged. Times changed, winds shifted, editors moved on, but I can tell you that in all these 27 years, the magazine known first as CGW and then GFW was always known for its integrity, for its intelligence, for neither talking down to the readers nor to the hobby itself…

Interestingly, the Ziff-Davis website still continues to take print subscriptions, and I’m going to be watching to see what becomes of my own current subscription. Does this guarantee me access to the online edition, or will they force all existing print subscribers to re-enroll online?

If so, I’m out.