“Plans put in motion today for EGM to return on December 1…”, he posted on his Twitter account earlier today. Now, these are plans. Not a concrete, definitive announcement.

Also, we still don’t know what guise the mag will be back in! Surely there’ll still be a tangible, proper magazine forming the cornerstone of EGM’s output, but Harris’ previous comments on “fully transportable” content have us more interested in that than some bound pieces of paper.

[Steve Harris @ Twitter]

Twelve-year-old Jake O’Donnell of Boston got an eyeful of side- and under-booby when Maxim showed up this past month, and mum Kathleen is—I gotta go with her on this—understandably a bit peeved.

Not that Maxim’s out-and-out porn, but it’s definitely for a readership that’s a bit older—note I didn’t say “more mature”—than a 12-year-old. It’s not just the boiyoiyoinggg photos, stuff about drinking, bad hookups and stupid stunts with painful endings, seriously. That’s not age appropriate.

Boston’s WBZ-TV smelled the big stinker and filed an investigative report on it. Basically, the news is—while subscribers could opt out and get a refund for the remainder of their EGM subs, that notice was accompanied by the first replacement issue of Maxim, meaning there was no way for a mum to head off her junior high-schooler’s encounter with his new subscription and a roll of Charmin. On top of that, although Mrs. O’Donnell wrote in to cancel the sub, the August 2009 copy—with Joanna Krupa vamping topless on the front—arrived right on time.

12-Year-Old Gets Maxim Mag, mum not Happy [The Escapist via Joystiq]

On Baran’s own 1Up page, he wrote this about himself:

I was an editor for EGM and the host of Sendai/Ziff-Davis magazines, enjoying a tenure that lasted from the days of the NES and continued all the way through to the Xbox. (1991-2001) I started out counseling players on a variety of videogame tip lines and ended my extensive career as Senior Editor…

On the magazines, I was once known as Cyber Boy. Historically speaking, I had one of the longest runs on the Review Crew-where I even held the top slot for a time. Sadly, this was mostly incognito as I wrote under Ed Semrad’s name over the years. If you have your old issues, you can find plenty of hidden references in “his” reviews that would hint at the truth. Eventually I got to use my real name and had enjoyed the top slot of the Crew with my own identity.

A ZD buyout spun me into the fringes of EGM2 where I produced over 125 strategy guides. When the company was sold to an investment firm, I found myself cast out of the gaming media’s light, but into the warm embrace of gaming retail instead.

This past January, Baran was one of the writers laid off when UGO swallowed EGM publisher Ziff-Davis. Former EGM Editor In Chief Dan Hsu has a tribute to Baran over at BitMob.

Rest in peace, Andy, rest in peace.

RIP: EGM’s Andy Baran [BitMob]

Owner Steve Harris says:

First and foremost, we’re planning to incorporate digital content within the magazine. This includes professionally-produced video, audio and other types of content. We’re also going to make this content fully transportable. … There’s now a heightened consumer interest in the transportability of information and using applications to do things like read content on an iPhone. We benefit not only from the technology but from the consumer’s willingness to use it. The new Electronic Gaming Monthly will let you take your magazine and its content from print to computer to wireless devices — even to your television — as well as enable subscribers and single-copy purchasers to enhance that experience every step of the way. We are embracing that reality [and] will enable it and encourage it.

So you pay for the “mag”, and in return receive content that can be read (or watched, or listened to) across multiple formats. Interesting. Very interesting.

Big Hints at EGM’s Future [Bitmob]

While EGM folded as a print publication earlier this year, interest in the magazine and 12 to 24-month long subscriptions didn’t. Rather than issue a refund, subscribers appear to be getting a replacement in Maxim. The 14-year-old men’s mag does cover video games in addition to breasts, so readers won’t be at a total loss. But given Maxim’s preference of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand to Killzone 2, we’re not sure how well-served in reviews they’ll be.

I have yet to receive my replacement copy of Maxim, but reader Jordan has. His first replacement issue comes with a note that subscribers can opt for a pro-rated refund for the balance of their EGM subscription.

It’s doubtful that balance can be transferred to the attempt at reviving Electronic Gaming Monthly by magazine founder Steve Harris. But, hey, boobs.

According to an announcement, Harris has acquired publishing rights and trademarks to EGM, with plans to restart the print publication in the second half of this year.

Harris calls the relaunch of Electronic Gaming Monthly a “welcome opportunity to continue delivering quality content to gaming enthusiasts,” saying the new EGM team has “exciting plans for the evolution of what will once again be a leading independent voice for the gaming community.”

The mag has the enthusiastic, but not necessarily financial backing of Ziff Davis.

“We are pleased that EGM is now in the hands of its original creator, Steve Harris, and wish him and the publication the best of success in the future,” says Ziff CEO Jason Young.

The press release states that we’ll hear more about the new EGM at next week’s E3 expo. For now, a placeholder site featuring the announcement, with links to the resuscitated mag’s Twitter and Facebook accounts resides at EGMnow.com.

“ELECTRONIC GAMING MONTHLY” FOUNDER EXECUTES CONTRACT TO ACQUIRE PRINT AND ONLINE PUBLISHING RIGHTS TO EGM MAGAZINE [EGM]

1UP is a husk. EGM is dead. Sad news, especially for subscribers, especially for those anticipating what would have been the magazine’s 20th anniversary issue. But hey, chin up, here’s your silver lining.

Former EIC James Mielke has posted the cover of the ill-fated February 2009 issue of the magazine, an issue that should have been a celebration, but instead won’t ever rattle a subscriber’s mailbox, won’t ever be seen on a store shelf.

It will at least be seen, however. Mielke writes that the magazine’s final “issue” will be made available on 1UP.com, print ads and all, for everyone to read. Won’t fill that void of “what can I read on the can?”, but can at least give you some closure.

The Last Day of EGM, The Secret Lost Final Issue of EGM [1UP]

1UP says we’re looking at Wolverine’s in-game model, illustrating just how expertly someone at Raven can render a bulging vein. Do make sure to check out the Hugh-mungous hi-res version to see the little details.

What scant details 1UP provides — Sentinel boss fights, ultra-violence, “a new approach to seamless cinematic in-game cut-scenes” — certainly have us interested. Hopefully our upcoming issue of EGM is already well on its way to Kotaku Towers West. Until then, we’ll just ogle that single screen.

First Screenshot and Info For X-Men Origins: Wolverine [1UP]

Next year will be EGM’s 20th year in print, should it last until summer of 2009 for its two decade anniversary. Young tells the New York Times that Ziff Davis is “considering” moving EGM to an online-only format on 1UP.com, but would not make the decision before end of year.

Young blamed rising costs associated with print and decreased advertising as reasons for the closing of PC Magazine.

Ziff Davis filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and is working on eliminating its debt. The publisher has shut down a number of print pubs over the past few years, including the Official PlayStation Magazine, GMR and most recently Games For Windows: The Magazine.

PC Magazine, a Flagship for Ziff Davis, Will Cease Printing a Paper Version [New York Times via Gamasutra]

EGM’s head of rumour mongering Quartermann wrote,

The LBP universe will also continue to evolve next year with the release of the PSP version: Q-Mann hears it’s fantastically ambitious and will further flesh out the PS3 LBP experience.

There are no actual facts about the game, but it would be difficult to imagine using the PSP to do any serious level editing.

Interestingly, Media Molecule are apparently not involved in the port and are said to be considering new project – including a possible online RPG.