Ziff Davis Alumni: Luke Smith

1up News Editor/1up Yours Co-Host

March of 2006 to April of 2007

Bio:

Born in 1981. Luke Smith graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan. He began writing for college newspapers about music and film before graduating, and after graduation he worked for weekly papers such as Real Detroit Weekly. When Kotaku Founder Brian Crecente started looking for the first writers to hire for his site, it was Luke Smith he hired, and in Luke's words "Kotaku was where I totally got my chops." After a short time at Kotaku Luke was hired by EGM/1up, and was instantly on the 1up Yours podcast. In April of 2007 he announced that he was leaving Ziff Davis to work at Bungie as a Content Editor/Community Manager and Co-Host of the Bungie podcast.

Opinions of Colleagues/Press:

Brian Crecente from Kotaku:

"He also became part of the 1Up Yours show and with his addition the show seemed to take off."

Susan Arendt from Wired:

"Luke, as famous for his sweaters as he is for his take-no-prisoners attitude, is appropriately humble, attributing his success to the guidance and influence of folks like Dan Hsu and John Davison."

Justin McElroy from Joystiq:

"No matter what Smith ends up doing at Bungie, we here at Joystiq have to consider this a loss for video games journalism. He was an honest writer and a fearless interviewer and, though a polarizing figure in many respects, he was a games journalist, and one of the few you could apply that title to without cracking a smile."

Samples of His Work:

Broken Halo: Five Ways Bungie Can Fix Halo

Halo is My Mario

Words from Luke Smith:

"I was living in this nightmare of an apartment with this couple who just fucked and fucked nightly. I tried to stay in my room, eat microwave food, play WoW and write for Kotaku." - Kotaku

"I think there is a really rich opportunity for someone to come in and tell the stories that people want to know. I think there is a very interesting potential shift about how people are going to cover and get information about games." - Kotaku

"I've absolutely loved my time here and I don't like watching my time with the group wane. I was made an offer that, for lack of a non-cliche, I couldn't refuse." - 1up

"Why would you want readers who believe that 'X site is the only place for Y information'? It seems like they aren't using the full power of the Internet, then." - Gamedaily

Opinion of a Fan:

Luke Smith was the guy who got me listening to Video Game Podcasts. On numerous occasions he made me laugh so damn hard that I had to start being more careful when I listened to 1up Yours at work. Unfortunately, it was January 2007 when I first started listening to his podcast, and Luke Smith would soon leave Ziff Davis for Bungie. I was ticked that this Dude with a great personality was leaving the best Video Game magazine and website around, but it was Bungie.

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE_N2inFhbE"

Luke Smith is currently on the Out of the Game podcast with Bitmob's own Voice of God, Robert Ashley, and other Ziff Davis Alumni, Jeff Green and Shawn Elliott.

Tags: EGM, luke smith

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Omar Yusuf

July 29, 2009

I've always enjoyed that Luke Smith Farewell video. I used to play it often, simply because I loved the acoustic "1UP Show Theme". Luke Smith was the coolest. I really did think he was awesome, mostly because he didn't conform to ideal standards of journalism. He pressed hard against developers, regardless of etiquette or social convention. He remember him making CliffyB promised to lock Gears of War at 60fps. He would crticize developers - to their faces - something which is often frowned upon. In the games industry, journalists normally wear two faces. The first face is positive and welcoming. It's worn during interviews and press conferences. When the first face is worn, the journalist will never question or nay-say a game. The journalist will instead, swallow any lame PR lines they are fed, reserving ALL negative judgement (however deserved). The second face is worn when the journalist finds him/herself within the safety of the company offices. At this point, the journalist is free to insult and berate the game - knowing full well the worst that could happen would be to receive an angry email. Luke Smith never played that two-faced demeanour. He was a straight shooter, and I admired that.

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I remember him making Cliffy be promise to lock Gears of War at 60fps!* These comments need an edit button!

Toby Davis

July 30, 2009

Maybe I am slow which happens most of the time, but I think i only followed few 1up people. Yes I mean like very few. The way you and others keep popping out ex 1up/EGM staff is like astronomical to me. Sounds like one cool dude and hope he is living the dream at bungie even though i don't play Halo games except that Halo Wars one.

Lance Darnell

@Omar - I agree with everything you said. I think McElroy from Joystiq got it right in his comment. @Toby - Listen to some of his old episodes of 1up Yours, and you will see why he was so popular. And to attest to how cool Luke is, when some Fanboys at PAX were attacking Shane it was LUKE who came to his rescue. Luke is the Man.