Rumor: Gerstmann to team with Gamespot founder Broady on new site

by Justin McElroy { Jan 22nd 2008 at 10:30AM }

If you haven't perused it yet, 1UP's Sam Kennedy's piece on Gerstmann-gate is really fascinating. Not only do you get a not-quite-insider's view on the whole situation, but there are also some really eye-opening nuggets on the methods GameSpot uses both to track users and to cater to its marketers. If you like the inside baseball side of games journalism, it's a must-read.

There's also an interesting rumor buried within: Kennedy reports that "word on the street" is that ousted Jeff Gerstmann and GameSpot founder Vince Broady would be teaming up to create a new site to "take on GameSpot." We don't know if it's true, but we'd keep an eye on Gerstmann's blog for more info.

Tags: gamespot, gerstmann-gate, gerstmanngate, jeff-gerstmann, journalism

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NATO_Duke @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:34AM

Go get em tiger!

StarFoxA @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:41AM

This would be so badass and kickass.

Badkickass?

Rocketboy @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:44AM

Nelson Muntz called. He wanted to let you know "Ha-Ha".

Todd @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:09PM

Beautiful Simpsons reference.

RCizzle65 @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:51AM

It would be interesting if he leaked their secrets or something.

Blazur @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:55AM

I support your vindictive website plans. Best of luck to you, sir...

ScottG13 @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:12AM

Seems like they could collect former Gamestop contributors like Gold Skulltulas and rebuild what was once a great collection of gamer journalists and reviewers.

LiK @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:59AM

Cha-ching! can't wait to see Jeff return to reviewing games again.

Sam @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:03AM

GERTSMANN SMASH!

I DeX I @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:09AM

They Gots my money. I'm in.

Obie @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:16AM

Count me in! But they will need a name that is painfully close to a videogame store chain.

"gameslut"?

mafafu @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:19AM

Isn't this story's 15 minutes up yet?

Marty @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:30AM

They are completely ignoring the fact that this wasn't ma big deal because everyone loved Gerstmann. We are (were?) pissed because it was a breach of trust between reviewers and advertisers.

B1gC72 - PSN: KillaKornbread @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:30PM

exactly, i didnt know if i was the only one or not, but im really having trouble caring about this story now. i could care less about Gerstmann, but advertisers influencing reviews and scores, that's the real story here. i actually do base alot of my purchases on these reviews, and inflated ones are terrible for the consumer in general. i love that the whole Gerstmann thing has shed light on these practices but i had given up on Gamespot a long time ago because of there weird reviews.

EMaster @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:33AM

Wow, I'm so looking forward to flaming the comments on that site. With lines such as "Go back to eating Ice Cream on your couch and sticking your dick through Phantom Hourglass since you love it so much". This guy did not get fired over advertising pressure. He was fired because his reviews were terribly written and spiteful at times for no reason. Maybe cause he ran out of Rocky Road Ice cream that particular day.

Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:14PM

More or less correct here. I didn't know it was possible to express ones' biopolar disorder through text but damn old "Shovelface" Gerstmann sure pulled it off. Good luck to you "Shovelface" and may all you're dreams come true until you are supposedly stabbed in the back for being a lunatic. And no I don't like Kane & Lynch, this guy is just a nutjob.

Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:15PM

To add to what I just said Jeff's reviews would commonly rant off subject and become "rabid fanboy/forum poster" in nature. It was really unprofessional and annoying because I just wanted to know about the game, not how it gave him mood swings.

ClarkyCat @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:38AM

If Jeff possessed an ounce of talent it might've been interesting.

Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:18PM

Ah ClarkyCat, we haven't gotten along in the past but damn it fills me with great joy being able to relate with someone on this matter. I'm not sure why he garnered so much attention, perhaps because the mindless fanboys and the crazy forum posters could relate to his writing? Whatever the case is Shovelface Gerstmann had an unatural level of charisma for a crazy person.

Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:19PM

Maybe if you read his reviews backwards they become all satanic and brainwash you into blindly trusting his word? That's the best I can come up with.

aristokrat @ Jan 22nd 2008 2:04PM

This was all part of his plan, turning his martyrdom into financial gain. I think his silence on the matter was the most damning. He didn't back up the claims, though he could have if they were true without consequence, but since he didn't I read through that as he was going to let popular opinion become truth instead of whatever he really got let go for (like being a terrible reviewer).

CaptCaveman @ Jan 24th 2008 2:33AM

If they did create a rival site I would subscribe just to show my support. What they did to Gerstmann was just plain wrong.

celticwulf @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:39AM

I'm glad people do keep updating this story. I for one am one of the people who has elminated the entire CNet line of sites off my radar. Ever since this went down, I have not gone to any of thier sites for reviews, forums, cheats, etc. I used to be a major user of Cnet alone for reviews of hardware and gadgets, but I personally can't use a site that will do this to a reviewer out of the blue. Thanks for keeping up the coverage, and I'll continue to use your site to get reviews and info on things I'm interested in.

Poisoned Al @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:19PM

It seems to be the same old story. Something is set up by people with passion, they leave and are replaced by suites you just want to slap just by looking at them (http://www.imediaconnection.com/profiles/iMedia_PC_Bio.aspx?ID=3346) before they even open their mouths to say something like "core focus" and "envision," by which time you'd want to garrote them with their ugly tie. And as always, the rot seeps in slowly. "Oh it's okay to sell front page links becuase THAT'S not effecting the reviews, is it?"

Ted @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:20PM

This could turn out well if Gerstmann creates founds his new site on the principle of transparency on the relationship between advertisers and the reviewers.

schatten529 @ Jan 22nd 2008 12:28PM

Joystiq, I know you will keep us posted when Gerstmann and Broady have their new site up.

Worthwhile read if you got the time and want further insight into the the changes within GameSpot. The short version is editorial & advertising, like oil & water, shouldn't be mixed.

imnotshyjustquiet @ Jan 22nd 2008 1:03PM

From my rocking chair:

So, good news, Gerstamnn will apparently resurrect himself and move onto new and exciting opportunities , and bad news, Gamespot, if they survive this, will never repair the damage to their integrity. The biggest losers in all of this is the beleaguered Gamespot staff who have had to bear the brunt of this “scandal” and continue to work. Let’s all send them some positive vibes and hope a lesson has been learned and Gamespot has grown because of it and will for now and the foreseeable future continue to contribute to our mutual affection for all things gamey.