Former GameSpot eds reunite at Gerstmann's Giant Bomb

by Christopher Grant { Jun 6th 2008 at 1:01AM }

Despite our obvious misgivings over naming a new internet venture "Giant Bomb," the fuse on Jeff Gerstmann's post-GameSpot outing keeps on burning, getting us closer to its eventual proper unveiling this summer. In addition to Gerstmann and GameSpot BFF Ryan Davis, you can add former 'Spotters Vinny Caravella and Brad Shoemaker to the still shortlist of Giant Bombs, as confirmed on the latest podcast for the still infant site. With GameSpot still smarting over Gerstmann-gate, will Giant Bomb succeed in attracting enough readers to warrant the growing headcount? We'll find out soon – Giant Bomb is "blowing up this summer."

[Thanks, giantenemycrab]

Tags: Brad-Shoemaker, Giant-Bomb, Jeff-Gerstmann, Vinny-Caravella

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ridgecity @ Jun 6th 2008 1:10AM

of course it will do fine. it's not like there a ton of gaming sites...

giantenemycrab @ Jun 6th 2008 1:12AM

When Giant Bomb officially comes out this summer, it'll be huge. It has some of the best video game reviewers, and if Dan Hsu winds up over there, it'll be awesome.

princeofshapeir @ Jun 6th 2008 1:14AM

It sucks that Alex Navarro decided not to join GiantBomb (instead he went to Harmonix), but its nice to see 4 major pieces of the GameSpot puzzle land in the same place.

DangerMouse @ Jun 6th 2008 1:16AM

epic pl0p

Obie @ Jun 6th 2008 1:18AM

Hell-frackin'-yeah!

Now all we need is a Kane and Lynch re-review and the party is rollin'!

arkweld @ Jun 6th 2008 1:27AM

they've already got my podcast subscription.

Gamespot was held up by the "on-air" personalities and nearly all have left. Without those people Gamespot is just another very bloated, slow, commercial game site.

ClarkyCat @ Jun 6th 2008 9:58AM

GameSpot's on air personalities were Rich Gallup, the end. The rest were good second and third fiddlers, but it was painfully obvious how intrinsic Gallup was to the whole thing once he left. Gerstmann is a bad reviewer and his new age John Candy shtick is grating at best. Davis is just there to make him look thin in comparison.
The only way Gerstmann was tolerable was when the site had Kasavin for great reviews, Gallup for great video features and the site's overall sense of humour, Carrie for the obligatory T&A, but Gerstmann on his own doesn't have enough talent to create anything of substance. Giant Bomb will, hopefully, be just that.

Anchorman 2! @ Jun 6th 2008 1:28AM

Really? people actually like Gerstmann? I mean sure, he got fired by an evil corporation for a shitty reason, but he should have gotten fired for being a douche anyway.

Obie @ Jun 6th 2008 1:45AM

I like Gerstmann, he is one of the most knowledgeable game reviewers in the industry and I never seen him get caught up in the hype like others out there.

I agree his personality is a bit aloof, but to me that would seem the opposite of a douche.

But that's just me I guess.

4MyFriends @ Jun 6th 2008 9:53AM

It's not wise to badmouth Gerstmann on gaming blogs, he has fanboys everywhere that defend him to the death.

RoboChamp @ Jun 6th 2008 1:39AM

They have no execs to pester them, no ad agencies to please, and no publishers to bend over for. You have to admit, even if you dislike Gerstmann and friends, you'll have some guaranteed honesty here.

Saneless @ Jun 6th 2008 10:31AM

So in other words, no business model and no revenue? Yeah, that'll work.

I DeX I @ Jun 6th 2008 2:06AM

Brad Shoemaker is a cool dude. I am glad he joined the crew. I have listened to the Bombcast every week since the beginning.

Anticrawl @ Jun 6th 2008 2:27AM

*grabs his trusty shovel*

I guess Gerstmann didn't learn the first time.

986768 @ Jun 6th 2008 2:36AM

Sounds like someones pissy because he gave a game you like a bad score.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 6th 2008 3:23AM

I've been listening to Giant Bomb for awhile, and it's fucking awesome. Can't wait for the site to launch.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 6th 2008 3:26AM

god dammit I did not mean to respond to you.

Anticrawl @ Jun 6th 2008 4:13AM

Nah, it's just Gerstmann is a raving bipolar fanboy.

Obie @ Jun 6th 2008 8:20AM

Really? A fanboy to whom? If someone is a raving bipolar, your post history seems to suggest that more.

Anticrawl @ Jun 6th 2008 4:08PM

I suppose NONE of you have actually read his reviews in their entirety. Try reading them on gamespot and then get back to me.

gamerprophet @ Jun 6th 2008 2:50AM

As long as these guys don't nit pick at shit that doesn't really matter (unlike nearly all critics) Giant Bomb will be fine.

Robert @ Jun 6th 2008 3:03AM

ill be a loyal reader and blogger. hell i will even join as a paid subscriber if offered. Seeing as i havnt paid for gamespot since last year. Hell gamespot has even started getting blonde bimbos to try to regain some readers. why i dont know seeing as they hate any console besides the 360 can tell by thier reviews anything other then the 360 gets low scores and seems like every title for the 360 gets a 7-8 of late.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jun 6th 2008 3:26AM

I've been listening to Giant Bomb for awhile, and it's fucking awesome. Can't wait for the site to launch.

Chase @ Jun 6th 2008 6:18AM

While Joystiq is my favorite podcast, Giant Bomb comes in at a close second.

If I have any complaints, it's that their blog software needs a better comment system.

NATO_Duke @ Jun 6th 2008 9:59AM

Yeah they do need a better comment system. They also need more stories flowing through there. I just don't find much to read when I visit the site.

FSK405K @ Jun 6th 2008 4:11AM

Now if they could just lure Kasavin back.....

Sounds like a perfect site, just those few names together. No reason to go to gamespot anymore.

David @ Jun 6th 2008 5:24AM

I really do hope they manage to get Dan Hsu. It would just complete the package of awesomeness.

GenBanks @ Jun 6th 2008 5:36AM

I'm sure this will do well. These guys are geniuses for exploiting the negative gamespot publicity the way they have. They're getting loads of coverage (including from this site) so I'm sure they will open up with lots of hardcore gamers wanting to check out their site. If their reviews are good and original when they launch, they will definitely be very successful since they already have the 'buzz' going for them.

Chase @ Jun 6th 2008 6:17AM

I love Gerstmann's personality and commentary during Giant Bombcast. If they add Shoe, I... I dunno, folks, but I may just explode in delight. Not unlike a bomb.

Kryptinite @ Jun 6th 2008 9:55AM

Gerstmann is damn hilarious.

...that is all.

ScottG13 @ Jun 6th 2008 10:06AM

Great personalities make a great site.

As much as we like to poke fun, the Joystiq is successful because of great personalities doing great writing.

I fully expect Giant Bomb to be met with great and deserved success.

Kilo720 @ Jun 6th 2008 12:44PM

i had a big feeling that would happen after ryan davis left , then over the coming week another n another person left but i like it giant bombcast is very funni to listen too

FoxHoundADAM @ Jun 6th 2008 3:15PM

I'm excited. Been listening to the pod cast since day one. Sounds like they have some nice ideas for teh site as well.

Mathew @ Jun 6th 2008 4:18PM

I know I was super happy when I listened to this weeks podcast. Also, as soon as they get the site up I won't even be going to GameSpot once a week. Especially since the people I cared about at GameSpot are pretty much with Giantbomb now.

gamer1 @ Jun 6th 2008 5:53PM

Vinny Caravella was the last great personality to hold down the fort for the HotSpot podcast. Sadly, many of the rest of them sound like nerdy reviewers that simply aren't very interesting. The HotSpot crew just doesn't sound like they flow well together either. It's unfortunate, but I think many listeners will be removing them from their iTunes subscriptions simply because their podcast pales in comparison to the Giant Bomb's. I did that just today.

The Giant Bomb podcast is now like an All-Star team of former HotSpot personalities. Comparing them to the the HotSpot crew is like comparing a fine-tuned well oiled machine to a cardboard box of incompatible bolt-on parts. Really, all they need is a guest appearance with Rich Gallup to be complete. Or maybe Razor Callahan and Paul Walker...