'Game information portal' Gamers.com laid off around 60% of its staff (50 out of 80) last week, citing the need to secure the long-term viability of the company.  Gamers.com provides a database of games (including nearly 2000 roleplaying and collectible card games), summaries of reviews, expert help, and other features.

Gamers.com was co-founded and initially run by 23-year-old wunderkind Dennis Fong, a Doom champion who parlayed his gaming expertise into $11 million in funding from CMGI and private investors in November, 1999 at the height of the Internet funding frenzy.   Fong was eventually replaced as CEO in May, 2000.  While Fong is bright, passionate, and mature beyond his years (ICv2 met him at a CMGI conference last spring), the $11 million in funding he was able to raise was definitely a high water mark in Internet venture funding.

In related news, F***edcompany.com is reporting that the entire Games.com staff has been wiped out by new owner Infogrames, which recently acquired the site (along with the interactive rights to Wizards of the Coast games) as part of its purchase of Hasbro Interactive.  Games.com was primarily an online gaming site based on classic Hasbro games and old arcade properties.