Ziff Davis staff holds impromptu GameSpot rally
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Dec 1st 2007 at 3:45PM }
A number of Ziff Davis staffers (including a few writers for 1UP, arguably GameSpot's biggest competition) recently crafted an uplifting banner and marched to the GameSpot offices just two blocks away. The demonstration was a response to the recent unexplained firing of GameSpot contributor Jeff Gerstmann. After hearing the rumors that Gerstmann was fired due to pressure from advertisers following his lackluster review of Kane and Lynch, the ZD staff decided to show their support for their fellow gaming journalist.
Patrick Klepek, news editor for 1UP, stressed to us that the rally was not intended to mock Gerstmann or the GameSpot staff. He said he recognizes that "even though 1UP and GameSpot are competition, what's happening over there includes industry-wide ramifications, when the dust finally settles." That is, assuming that the rumors of shady dealings surrounding Gerstmann's termination from the company prove to be true.
While 1UP's status as GameSpot's lead competitor might raise concerns that they're just fueling the anti-CNET fires that have been popping up around GameSpot's forums, it's our opinion that this was a sincere showing of solidarity and good will among video game writers. We certainly hope that GameSpot's staff gets the message.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Myke @ Dec 1st 2007 3:51PM
That's an awesome show of support, bravo to those guys!
hil sev @ Dec 2nd 2007 1:37AM
Both sites are crap when it comes to reviews, this is one big joke.
Shockgamer @ Dec 1st 2007 3:51PM
Shameless attention grab.
God, I love 1up.
The English Student @ Dec 1st 2007 7:06PM
nah, i wouldn't say that 1up is doing it to grab attention. Not say, like me publishing my take on the whole incident...
http://theenglishstudent.blogspot.com
*cheesy grin*
License to ill @ Dec 1st 2007 3:54PM
6 whole people protest now thats amazing...
Trickob @ Dec 1st 2007 5:10PM
*ch!* I know! I mean, there's no way that anyone else could be standing off-camera to the front, back or sides. how very lame
DangerMouse @ Dec 1st 2007 5:30PM
They should've invited master chief or something.
License to ill @ Dec 1st 2007 6:22PM
Damn chill out I was only joking...
Steve @ Dec 2nd 2007 12:05AM
If you were holding a protest, and you started taking pictures of it, wouldn't you make half an effort to show all the people at the protest?
As someone who's been to MANY protests, the first rule of photographing it is to demonstrate the size of it. The fact that this photograph is close in on a few people indicates to me there can't possibly be more than 20 people in attendance.
Jason @ Dec 1st 2007 3:54PM
Unfortuanly, many more consumers are protesting about beeing fooled by biased and swayed reviews.. (Xbox owners, you know who you are...)
ruben magana @ Dec 1st 2007 6:36PM
doesn't you comment imply bias?
eugene @ Dec 1st 2007 7:12PM
talk about shameless attention grab...
quickshade @ Dec 1st 2007 3:55PM
This is going to get dirty. I'm wondering if gamespot can stay serious. No PR statement. The same rumor keeps popping up and many gamespot employee's and former employees say they all wanted more money. About 3-4 years ago gamespot was unrivaled in the market. Now they are on the edge of losing it all.
AlexP @ Dec 1st 2007 6:41PM
Okay, you think Gamespot is going to lose it all because of a bunch of people on the Internet? I mean, this event isn't making the world news or anything, what's stopping regular e-Joe from visiting Gamespot for information?
We're not going to stop Cnet from milking Gamespot, nor is Anonymous going put an end to the life of its biggest mistake ever (Tay Zonday).
Truepatriot @ Dec 1st 2007 4:01PM
i guess this means ziff davis has a job for jeff right?!
id read 1up alot more if they got him.
copa @ Dec 1st 2007 4:23PM
I'd love to see Gerstmann to a guest stint on next week's 1UP Yours.
Tom @ Dec 1st 2007 7:52PM
Me too, however he wouldnt be able to talk about getting fired. It would get him in major legal trouble, and probably hurt his longterm employment opportunities.
I'd really like to see him on 1up yours though, if only to talk about games. Now that he's off of gamespot, I'd love to know what his game of the year thoughts are.
I Dex I @ Dec 1st 2007 4:02PM
Kathleen Sanders FTW. That chick is awesome!
Obie @ Dec 1st 2007 7:05PM
Agreed, she actually knows what she talks about.
hoob @ Dec 1st 2007 4:07PM
To be fair, Gerstmann wasn't that great of a reviewer..
where's Kasavin when you need him?
Fox318 @ Dec 1st 2007 5:26PM
Kasavin is doing Command and Conquer.
I actually like the G-man and his reviews.
Lazrius @ Dec 1st 2007 4:10PM
1Up should take Jeff in, that would be awesome!
Van Faulk @ Dec 1st 2007 5:53PM
Yeah, that way I could ignore them both at the same time.
Yuccadude @ Dec 1st 2007 4:10PM
I don't know how impromptu it was, I mean, they had a professionally printed banner and everything. I'm sure this wasn't just any old ploy for attention, because I don't read game reviews anyways, I base my liking of a game on how the game plays, not how someone else likes it.
ageary @ Dec 1st 2007 4:53PM
Doesnt look very professional a banner to me, looks like black marker and some brown wrapping paper.
Fox318 @ Dec 1st 2007 5:28PM
Like the fruit cake you get on X-Mas mourning, its the thought that counts.
Trickob @ Dec 1st 2007 5:29PM
a good detector of sarcasm, you are not...
Obie @ Dec 1st 2007 6:59PM
Unfortunately not all of us can rent every game that looks interesting to gather our own thoughts on it.
We rely on reviews to get a general feel for the game before we make the jump.
TheQFactor @ Dec 1st 2007 4:11PM
Nice to know that the video industry is one big happy family.
Steve @ Dec 1st 2007 4:13PM
I thought IGN was Gamespot's main competition, while 1Up was just a bunch of losers.
Oh, turns out I was right.
Fernando Rocker @ Dec 1st 2007 4:18PM
Off Topic: Who is Joystiq main competition?
Shockgamer @ Dec 1st 2007 4:23PM
IGN is the 7-10 reviewing scale defined.
copa @ Dec 1st 2007 4:24PM
Girlfriends and employment.
rom @ Dec 1st 2007 4:25PM
Kotaku?
Justin McElroy @ Dec 1st 2007 5:25PM
Congrats Copa, that's ... The Confirmed Burn of the Day.
jronjr @ Dec 2nd 2007 12:45AM
Well, if he does get a job at 1up maybe he can fix their messed up scoring system. Just look at what games they give 10's to and you'll know what I mean.
Wubbytoes @ Dec 1st 2007 4:23PM
I don't really see how this is an attention grab. They don't have their whole staff out there, and it's not like this was something that they turned into a featured story on their front page. I think it's just a nice show of support. It is probably a shitty time to work at Gamespot.
Mookie @ Dec 1st 2007 4:37PM
Man, I really don't understand 1up hate. In my honest opinion, and this coming from someone who used to read IGN and Gamespot regularly, 1up is the last truly good big game site out there. Just listen to their podcasts and watch the 1up show. Thats genuine awesome right there folks.
Anyway, sidetrack aside, I liked Gerstmann, and really hope he finds a good place somewhere away from CNet.
Po0py @ Dec 1st 2007 5:03PM
100% agreed. 1up Yours and GamesForWindows podcasts are among the very best gaming podcasts out there. You can just tell they are genuine, passionate gamers. I trust these guys. They know their shit when it comes to games coverage.
steve @ Dec 2nd 2007 12:59AM
well if anything, this proves one thing. money is the root of all evil. As soon as any company starts getting to big, too rich, they just turn into corrupt crap. That's all this is. So, even if 1up becomes the next big thing, getting a majority of gamespots traffic, you'll see something happen. The advertising will get shinier, and the meaning of the site will be lost. Well, maby they'll learn from this and avoid doing what gamespot has done. Just looking at that gamespot screen shot, with the kane and lynch crap plastered across the whole site just turns my stomach. whores...
eugene @ Dec 1st 2007 4:47PM
I'm betting that the suits who run the cnet family just figure gamers are a bunch of losers who will forget about this and it will be business as usual next week.
jorojoserojas @ Dec 2nd 2007 5:59AM
Depends...what games release this week?
Po0py @ Dec 1st 2007 4:58PM
I have been visitiing 1up.com for ages now and I have to say that I don't think this is in any way trying to take the piss or steal gamers who are leaving Gamespot in droves right now. I watch the 1up show, listen to the podcasts and read most of the writers blogs on 1up and I genuinly beleive this is a show of support for fellow writers at Gamespot. They are a genuine bunch of writers at 1up who are passionate about what they do.
Po0py @ Dec 1st 2007 5:03PM
Erm.. 1up are comprised of a network of games magazines. They have many graphic designers on their staff. Of course it's gonna look professional.
IoHek @ Dec 1st 2007 5:03PM
Awesome, people need to realize this IS a big deal for the entire Ad-fueled web ecosystem.
IoHek @ Dec 1st 2007 5:04PM
Awesome, people need to realize this IS a big deal for the entire Ad-fueled web ecosystem.
MOT @ Dec 1st 2007 6:32PM
You know, I've been saying for the past week, 1up is the perfect place for Jeff Gerstman and his style.
quickshade @ Dec 1st 2007 5:12PM
Still way to many people who will visit these sites for updates. No matter what we do. Thats why making a big deal out of this is important. Make sure everyone knows they are money hungry pigs.
Psycle @ Dec 1st 2007 6:22PM
that's a horrible attitude. ask don imus what happened when people got upset over his actions. ask ludacris what happend to his endorsement deal when fox news came down on pepsi. we are the ones who have the power here. the video game audience is a highly educated market, these things do not go unnoticed. all you have is your integrity, don't sell yourself short like that.
bottom line, we cannot let this stand. it's become quite evident that Jeff was let go because of his review, and he took gamespot's (previously my favorite site) credibility with him. Gamespot is run on ad-revenue and subscruber revenue....if both of those go down dramatically, it will send a strong message that this is unnaceptable. I know i have already cancelled my subscription, and many others have as well. i also plan on never visiting the site again after this week, if they don't fire the execs who fired Gerts.
always remember, we live in a consumer driven economy, we, the consumers, are the ones who ultimately have the power.
Fox318 @ Dec 1st 2007 5:17PM
Fuckin Awesome.
This is why 1up pwns.