“Journalism often feels like shining a spotlight at an issue and then hoping someone else will come and fix it.”
TheExitor It’s time to break the Magloop This issue marks my fifth anniversary at what is now MCV/DEVELOP. And it’s also my last issue, as I’m heading off immediately after typing these words on my final day. No change there, as running things right up to the deadline has always been our way. It’s not been an easy five years. Many people leave a job because they’ve become tired of doing the same old thing, trapped in a hamster wheel. By contrast MCV/DEVELOP’s Magloop has been defined by nothing ever staying the same – except the picture above! Across 73 print issues, plus thousands of online stories, the brand has seen three owners, three offices (four if you include my home for the last 18 months), three different print schedules (weekly, fortnightly and monthly), and three CMS. And just when things started to settle the pandemic came along and upturned them once again. Throughout all of that the Magloop never broke, deadlines were hit, events were delivered, MCV/DEVELOP went on. An amazing feat of continuity by all who worked on it. And it wasn’t simply a grind. Every E3 and GDC was a jetlagged joy – Gamescom too was incredible but somewhat marred by having to create daily magazines. Visiting studios up and down the country was always a highlight. There were some lengthy lunches, and big nights out, that I’ll remember forever. Our own events, once in full swing, were a huge buzz. Four MCV Awards, four Women in Games Awards (one virtual) plus a Develop Awards (with an England World Cup semifinal). And most recently we held our IRL comeback event and a better swansong I could not have hoped for (see page 12). Thanks to all who worked on the brand over the last five years: editorial & freelance, biz dev, events, design and production. It was not always easy but I’d happily have a pint with any of you if you’re in town. The same goes for all of our regular supporters in the industry, across platform, publishing, engine, development and beyond. Thanks for supporting the ever-changing brand across the last five years, I hope you’ll extend my successor the same support (whilst thinking to yourself, ‘they’re good but Seth was more funny/handsome/organised/ clever’ – delete my hubris as appropriate). And now, having written about the ‘Great Resignation’, I’m now taking part in it myself. I’m off to make the lives of developers and publishers better in a different way. I’ll be working on the tools you all use to bring your games to market. Journalism often feels like shining a spotlight at an issue and then hoping someone else will come and fix it. So it’s about time I moved over and tried to do a little bit of fixing myself for a change. The games industry is a fantastic one. Those spotlights must remain vigilant but don’t forget that games are an incredible medium with an incredible business behind them. You should all be very proud of what you do. Finally to paraphrase Douglas Adams: “So long, and thanks for all the quotes.” Seth Barton seth.barton@biz-media.co.uk
October 2021 MCV/DEVELOP | 05
