Dan Hsu
Encyclopedia
Dan "Shoe" Hsu is the former editorial director of the 1UP Network
, as well as former editor-in-chief of the video game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly
, a position he held from 2001 to 2008. Hsu attended the University of Michigan
. His nickname, "Shoe", refers to the pronunciation of his surname.
Hsu first joined EGM' s magazine staff in 1996. Including a year-long absence in 2000 to work at website Gamers.com, Hsu spent 12 years working for EGM before announcing his April 25, 2008 departure from the 1UP Network. Immediately after leaving 1UP, Hsu started a personal blog with former EGM Senior Editor Crispin Boyer called Sore Thumbs Blog. This blog is no longer active.
Hsu currently works at Bitmob.com. He co-founded Bitmob (and parent company Bitmob Media, Inc.) with Demian Linn, the former executive producer of GameVideos.com and The 1UP Show. Bitmob.com soft-launched in May 2009.
On December 1, 2009 it was announced via press release that Dan "Shoe" Hsu would be returning to Electronic Gaming Monthly as part of its relaunch, along with Demian Linn.
In the video game Retro Game Challenge
, there is a character called Dan Sock who is based on Hsu.
about the practice of gaming magazines and websites selling article and editorial opportunities to gaming publishers in exchange for advertising agreements. Citing an unnamed contact at a major game publishing company, Hsu refused to name the parties involved, but condemned those responsible for not maintaining journalistic integrity
. The matter was publicized further when Slashdot
linked to a Games.net editorial response written by Chris Cook
, a writer for game magazine GamePro
, who admonished Hsu for not specifying which companies were involved in the practices that were alluded to.
Following the launch of the Microsoft
Xbox 360
in November 2005, Hsu interviewed Peter Moore, then the head of marketing for the Home and Entertainment division of Microsoft. At the time of the interview, there was much negative publicity in the media regarding technical problems with the system
, as well as some complaints of the limited software line-up at launch within the gaming community. Much of the interview focused on these issues, as well as other various complaints by some gamers over limited backwards compatibility with original Xbox games on the 360 and a possible lack of improvement in graphics
and game play over previous console generations. Hsu's questioning were viewed as inappropriately rude, confrontational, or aggressive by some readers. This reaction caused Hsu to defend the interview in his blog twice; the first time saying that there had been much positive response to the interview as well, and a second time featuring an e-mail of support from Moore following the backlash. Third-party observer Penny Arcade
noted in a satirical webcomic strip that the interview was a necessary departure from the easy-going tendency of most gaming journalists.
1UP.com
1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
, as well as former editor-in-chief of the video game magazine Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Electronic Gaming Monthly is a bimonthly American video game magazine. It has been published by EGM Media, LLC. since relaunching in April of 2010. Its previous run, which ended in January 2009, was published by Ziff Davis...
, a position he held from 2001 to 2008. Hsu attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. His nickname, "Shoe", refers to the pronunciation of his surname.
Hsu first joined EGM
Hsu currently works at Bitmob.com. He co-founded Bitmob (and parent company Bitmob Media, Inc.) with Demian Linn, the former executive producer of GameVideos.com and The 1UP Show. Bitmob.com soft-launched in May 2009.
On December 1, 2009 it was announced via press release that Dan "Shoe" Hsu would be returning to Electronic Gaming Monthly as part of its relaunch, along with Demian Linn.
In the video game Retro Game Challenge
Retro Game Challenge
Retro Game Challenge, known in Japan as , is a Nintendo DS game developed by indieszero and published by Namco Bandai Games. It is based on the television series Retro Game Master . Shinya Arino himself gave much input into the game creation process...
, there is a character called Dan Sock who is based on Hsu.
Controversies
Hsu created a stir in the gaming industry in late 2005, when he wrote an editorialEditorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
about the practice of gaming magazines and websites selling article and editorial opportunities to gaming publishers in exchange for advertising agreements. Citing an unnamed contact at a major game publishing company, Hsu refused to name the parties involved, but condemned those responsible for not maintaining journalistic integrity
Journalism ethics and standards
Journalism ethics and standards comprise principles of ethics and of good practice as applicable to the specific challenges faced by journalists. Historically and currently, this subset of media ethics is widely known to journalists as their professional "code of ethics" or the "canons of journalism"...
. The matter was publicized further when Slashdot
Slashdot
Slashdot is a technology-related news website owned by Geeknet, Inc. The site, which bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters", features user-submitted and ‑evaluated current affairs news stories about science- and technology-related topics. Each story has a comments section...
linked to a Games.net editorial response written by Chris Cook
Chris Cook
Chris Cook may refer to:* Chris Cook , NASCAR racing driver and instructor* Christopher Cook, English swimmer* Christopher Cook , American journalist* Chris Cook , professional bodybuilder...
, a writer for game magazine GamePro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
, who admonished Hsu for not specifying which companies were involved in the practices that were alluded to.
Following the launch of the Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
in November 2005, Hsu interviewed Peter Moore, then the head of marketing for the Home and Entertainment division of Microsoft. At the time of the interview, there was much negative publicity in the media regarding technical problems with the system
Xbox 360 Technical Problems
The Xbox 360 video game console is subject to a number of technical problems and failures that can render it unusable. Many of the issues can be identified by a series of glowing red lights flashing on the face of the console; the three flashing red lights being the most infamous...
, as well as some complaints of the limited software line-up at launch within the gaming community. Much of the interview focused on these issues, as well as other various complaints by some gamers over limited backwards compatibility with original Xbox games on the 360 and a possible lack of improvement in graphics
Graphics
Graphics are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers, symbols, geometric designs, maps, engineering drawings,or...
and game play over previous console generations. Hsu's questioning were viewed as inappropriately rude, confrontational, or aggressive by some readers. This reaction caused Hsu to defend the interview in his blog twice; the first time saying that there had been much positive response to the interview as well, and a second time featuring an e-mail of support from Moore following the backlash. Third-party observer Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade (webcomic)
Penny Arcade is a webcomic focused on video games and video game culture, written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. The comic debuted in 1998 on the website loonygames.com. Since then, Holkins and Krahulik have established their own site, which is typically updated with a new comic...
noted in a satirical webcomic strip that the interview was a necessary departure from the easy-going tendency of most gaming journalists.
External links
- Bitmob
- Sore Thumbs Blog
- Dan Hsu's old blog at 1UP.com1UP.com1UP.com is a video game website owned by IGN Entertainment, a division of News Corporation. Previously, the site was owned by Ziff Davis before being sold to UGO Entertainment in 2009....
- "Editorial Integrity" by Dan Hsu
- Reply to "Editorial Integrity" from Chris Cook
- Interview with Peter Moore