Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gerstmann-gate 'villain' leaves CNET for advertising company]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/gerstmann-gate-villain-leaves-cnet-for-advertising-company/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/gerstmann-gate-villain-leaves-cnet-for-advertising-company/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/18/gerstmann-gate-villain-leaves-cnet-for-advertising-company/#commentsFiled under: ,


GameDaily reports Joshua Larson, former VP of Games at CNET Networks and the man often blamed for GameSpot's Gerstmann-gate scandal, has been named VP of Business Development at in-game ad agency Double Fusion. Please let the deliciousness of that flow over you for a brief moment.

Double Fusion's President and CEO announced Larson's hiring along with several others, saying that the new folks share a love of games and a "history of strong results and success in their prior roles." Larson's previous role was to manage business strategy and product direction at GameSpot.com. He's been dubbed the point man in the firing of Jeff Gerstmann and the exodus which followed, leaving GameSpot an editorially tarnished brand. If "success" is determined through money and not reputation, then it's probably being used to describe Larson's small roll in CNET's purchase by CBS for $1.8 billion earlier this year.

JoystiqGerstmann-gate 'villain' leaves CNET for advertising company originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamespotgamespot.comgerstmanngerstmann-gategerstmanngatejeff-gerstmannjoshua-larsonlarsonMon, 18 Aug 2008 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gerstmann talks firing on X-Play tonight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/gerstmann-talks-firing-on-x-play-tonight/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/gerstmann-talks-firing-on-x-play-tonight/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/gerstmann-talks-firing-on-x-play-tonight/#commentsFiled under: ,

In his first television appearance since his controversial firing, Jeff Gerstmann will appear at 8 p.m. tonight on G4's recently redesigned news show X-Play. According to a G4 press notice, Gerstmann will be discussing innovation (or the lack thereof) in Japanese gaming and will also "field questions regarding his previous position with Gamespot, as well as his current and future endeavors."

For those who've missed Gerstmann's calming presence on On The Spot, this will provide a great opportunity to see the big guy back in action. For everyone else, er ... there's another story right below this one!

JoystiqGerstmann talks firing on X-Play tonight originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyfiredG4gerstmannjeff-gerstmannX-playThu, 07 Feb 2008 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Ryan Davis talks Gerstmann, Gamespot departure]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/ryan-davis-talks-gerstmann-gamespot-departure/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/ryan-davis-talks-gerstmann-gamespot-departure/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/05/ryan-davis-talks-gerstmann-gamespot-departure/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's fair to say that the controversial firing of Jeff Gerstmann was a contributing factor to Ryan Davis' recent decision to leave Gamespot. But it was far from the only factor.

"Jeff's firing just destroyed me, and I think it shed a light on the other stuff that I had been kind of rolling along with," Davis told Joystiq in an exclusive interview.

For Davis, who had worked for the popular site since 2000, the daily grind of working at such a large site was beginning to take its toll. "It's just that I had been at the job for a long time, and a lot of the stuff that made the job fun for me has dissipated," he said. "Sometimes you don't love the job, but you make your way through it by focusing on the good stuff. Gamespot is also a huge site, and an organization of that magnitude comes with a fair amount of bureaucracy, and everyone ultimately ends up spending a fair amount of time doing stuff other than producing the content."

Continue reading Ryan Davis talks Gerstmann, Gamespot departure

JoystiqRyan Davis talks Gerstmann, Gamespot departure originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CNetcontroversydavisgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismryan davisRyanDavisTue, 05 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamespot exodus continues: Ryan Davis to leave]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/gamespot-exodus-continues-ryan-davis-to-leave/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/gamespot-exodus-continues-ryan-davis-to-leave/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/gamespot-exodus-continues-ryan-davis-to-leave/#commentsFiled under: ,

Update: Davis discusses his departure with Joystiq.

Joystiq has confirmed with new Gamespot editor-in-chief Ricardo Torres that longtime staffer Ryan Davis has given notice that he intends to leave the site. While we haven't been able to get in touch with Davis directly, a source close to Davis inside Gamespot told us, on condition of anonymity, that the controversial firing of editorial director Jeff Gerstmann was the catalyst behind the decision. The planned departure follows similar decisions by freelancer Frank Provo and staffer Alex Navarro in the wake of the scandal.

In a Dec. 1 blog post, Davis spoke of his close relationship with Gerstmann since before he started writing for Gamespot in 2000. "Jeff Gerstmann has been a significant figure in both my personal and professional life for a long, long time," he wrote. "By my recollection, we were fairly fast friends, though I was also kind of pushy about it." The pair played together as part of alternative rap group Suburban All-Stars.

JoystiqGamespot exodus continues: Ryan Davis to leave originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyexodusgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismquitryan-davisMon, 04 Feb 2008 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[New GameSpot Editor in Chief wants to regain your trust]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/02/new-gamespot-editor-in-chief-wants-to-regain-your-trust/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/02/new-gamespot-editor-in-chief-wants-to-regain-your-trust/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/02/new-gamespot-editor-in-chief-wants-to-regain-your-trust/#commentsFiled under:


We know that a lot of you harbor resentment towards GameSpot in the wake of the whole Gerstmann-gate affair, and we can't blame you. We've all got hefty, Gerstmann-shaped holes in our hearts, and our faith in the once great review database is now shaken. However, Ricardo Torres, GameSpot's recently appointed Editor in Chief, is determined to regain your trust in the site, regardless of how many stern 7.5s he'll have to hand out in order to do so.

In a recent interview with GameDaily,Torres claims that GameSpot staffers are coming back to work (those who haven't resigned), and that "people are getting back into the swing of things." He also hopes that their strengthened dedication to putting out untainted content will win back their original readers. What do you think, gang? Is it possible to forgive and forget? Or has that ship sailed, been boarded by pirates, then viciously torpedoed by U-Boats?

JoystiqNew GameSpot Editor in Chief wants to regain your trust originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamedailygamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannricardotorrestorresSat, 02 Feb 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ricardo Torres promoted to GameSpot EIC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/ricardo-torres-promoted-to-gamespot-eic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/ricardo-torres-promoted-to-gamespot-eic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/28/ricardo-torres-promoted-to-gamespot-eic/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ten-year Gamespot veteran Ricardo Torres has been promoted to editor-in-chief of the site, CNet announced today. "I'm excited to have the opportunity to help further GameSpot's position at the forefront of the industry," Torres said in a statement. "I'm eager to continue the site's tradition of excellence and I'm confident we can move forward into 2008 and set a new industry standard for how video games are covered."

The position has been unfilled since former editor-in-chief Greg Kasavin resigned to work in game development just over a year ago. Torres and Jeff Gerstmann headed served as co-editorial directors afterthat departure, until Gerstmann's controversial firing in December. In an official notice about the firing posted on the site, Torres said he and the rest of the Gamespot team "wish him nothing but good luck in his future endeavors."

JoystiqRicardo Torres promoted to GameSpot EIC originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyeditor-in-chiefEICgamespotgerstmannjournalismpromotionricardo-torrestorresMon, 28 Jan 2008 15:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamespot staffer Alex Navarro quits in wake of Gerstmann-gate]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/gamespot-staffer-alex-navarro-quits-in-wake-of-gerstmann-gate/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/gamespot-staffer-alex-navarro-quits-in-wake-of-gerstmann-gate/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/14/gamespot-staffer-alex-navarro-quits-in-wake-of-gerstmann-gate/#commentsFiled under: ,

Joystiq has confirmed with longtime Gamespot staffer Alex Navarro that he will be resigning his position at the CNET gaming site in response to the controversial firing of editorial director Jeff Gerstmann.

"I felt like it was just time for me to go," Navarro told Joystiq in an exclusive interview. " Certainly [the decision to leave] had a lot to do with the whole Jeff [Gerstmann] situation. ... I wouldn't have left if this situation hadn't gone down the way it did. ... Sometimes you just realize a place isn't for you anymore, you know?"

Navarro has been a mainstay on the site since early 2003, writing hundreds of reviews and appearing regularly on video podcast The Hotspot. His last day at the site will be Jan. 24.

Continue reading Gamespot staffer Alex Navarro quits in wake of Gerstmann-gate

JoystiqGamespot staffer Alex Navarro quits in wake of Gerstmann-gate originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CNETcontroversyfiredgamespotgerstmanngerstmann-gatejeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchquitMon, 14 Jan 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Long-time freelancer leaves Gamespot over Gerstmann-gate]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/long-time-freelancer-leaves-gamespot-over-gerstmann-gate/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/long-time-freelancer-leaves-gamespot-over-gerstmann-gate/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/07/long-time-freelancer-leaves-gamespot-over-gerstmann-gate/#commentsFiled under: ,

While the major developments over last month's Gerstmann-gate fracas kind of petered out in the midst of vehement official denials, the reverberations are still being felt around Gamespot. Frank Provo, a freelancer and major contributor to the site for nearly eight years, recently announced he would no longer be contributing to the site.

Provo made no bones about the reason for his departure. "I believe CNet management let Jeff go for all the wrong reasons," he wrote. "I believe CNet intends to soften the site's tone and push for higher scores to make advertisers happy." And Provo is in a position to know, according to an earlier post on his LiveJournal. "All the proof I need is in the way the staff reacted to Jeff's dismissal and to what went on in the closed door meeting that took place on November 30th," he said. "Any staffer that continues to work there once this fervor dies down does so with the fear that, one day, management will ask them to soften up their tone and scores... and they will either have to swallow their integrity and abide, or risk taking a stand and being let go," he added back in December.

All that remains to be seen now is whether Provo's will be alone in his action or whether others will follow his lead and depart what Provo calls "the ultimate soul-crushing work environment."

[Via GameDaily]

JoystiqLong-time freelancer leaves Gamespot over Gerstmann-gate originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CnetcontroversyEidosgerstmanngerstmann-gateGgamespotjeff-gerstmannjournalismKane-and-LynchMon, 07 Jan 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GameDaily's 'Persons of the Year': #4 Greenberg and #5 Gerstmann]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/gamedailys-persons-of-the-year-4-greenberg-and-5-gerstmann/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/gamedailys-persons-of-the-year-4-greenberg-and-5-gerstmann/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/gamedailys-persons-of-the-year-4-greenberg-and-5-gerstmann/#commentsFiled under: ,

GameDaily is counting down who it believes are 2007's industry "Persons of the Year," and the site started things off with a bang yesterday picking Gamespot's former editorial director Jeff Gerstmann. Today GameDaily did a much softer pick with Xbox Live's Aaron Greenberg. As group product manager for Xbox Live, Greenberg has been the point man in what every console should strive for in its online experience.

Unlike a lot of the Microsoft execs, Greenberg has actually been with the Xbox for the last seven years. As GameDaily points out, the success of Xbox Live probably rests quite strongly in that the Xbox 360 seems to have been designed around the service which Greenberg heads.

GameDaily also has a Reader's Choice award, so check it out if there's someone in the industry who you think should be nominated.

Read -- #5 Jeff Gerstmann.
Read -- #4 Aaron Greenberg.

JoystiqGameDaily's 'Persons of the Year': #4 Greenberg and #5 Gerstmann originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamespotgerstmanngreenbergmicrosoftxboxXbox-360Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameSpot addresses Gerstmann-gate concerns in depth]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gamespot-addresses-gerstmann-gate-concerns-in-depth/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gamespot-addresses-gerstmann-gate-concerns-in-depth/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gamespot-addresses-gerstmann-gate-concerns-in-depth/#commentsFiled under: ,

Update: Gamespot's Tor Thorsen weighs in with his personal commentary on writing the story: "I know many of you out there are going to see this as the latest in a series of attempts at damage control. Guess what? You're right. It is damage control, because--let's face it--GameSpot has taken a beating over the past week. However, just because it's damage control doesn't mean we're being disingenuous or misleading."

Original Story:
After nearly a week of non-stop rumor, speculation and discussion fueled by insufficient comment from all parties involved, GameSpot has finally opened up and answered many outstanding questions surrounding the Gerstmann firing controversy. Tor Thorsen's recently posted On the Spot Q&A contains official comment on numerous matters that GameSpot was unwilling or unable to address before. Among the important new information revealed in the piece:
  • Gerstmann's firing followed " an internal review process" by management.
  • Eidos did express displeasure with Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch review, though GameSpot is adamant that this displeasure did not cause the review to be edited, the video review to be pulled, or Gerstmann himself to be fired.
  • On why the text review was edited: "The copy was adjusted several days following its publication so that it better meshed with its score, which remained unchanged." (Is this fair? Read the edits and judge for yourself).
  • The Kane & Lynch video review was taken down because the "audio was deemed inferior due to a faulty microphone. There were also concerns about the limited amount of footage that was unrepresentative of the game in the review." It was not put back up immediately because the busy holiday release schedule left "insufficient resources to reshoot and re-edit the video review." The version that was reposted recently is identical to the original and was put up "in the spirit of full disclosure."
  • Eidos' Kane & Lynch ad buy was made weeks before the firing decision or the review were made. The prominent front page "skinning" of the site was automatically removed at midnight on Nov. 29, when the ad buy was previously scheduled to run out.
  • Tim Tracy's departure was "completely unrelated."
  • The company is coming up with this information now because of the "widespread misinformation that has spread following Jeff's departure."
While the full Q&A still won't directly address the specific reasons for Gerstmann's departure (citing "accordance with California State Law"), it does sufficiently explain almost all the outstanding issues surrounding the matter and should do a lot to quiet this controversy. Whether or not it actually will depends largely on whether readers can accept these explanations after six days of effective "no comments" left the rumor mill to grind out of control.

JoystiqGameSpot addresses Gerstmann-gate concerns in depth originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsCNETcontroversyeidosgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchreviewsWed, 05 Dec 2007 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Gerstmann-gate: Wednesday update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gerstmann-gate-wednesday-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gerstmann-gate-wednesday-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/gerstmann-gate-wednesday-update/#commentsFiled under: ,

Editor's note: This post has been edited to point out the latest updates from around the web on the controversial firing of Gamespot editorial director Jeff Gerstmann (Further note: the post hasn't really been edited -- we just thought that would make a funny intro.)
  • If you missed it, check out Joystiq's analysis of the edits to Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch review.
  • Gamespot staffers have further addressed the controversy on the site's Hot Spot podcast.
  • After being taken down on Friday, Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch video review is back up on the Gamespot this morning. The reasons behind this move and the initial removal are still unclear. UPDATE: On the Hot Spot podcast mentioned above, Ryan MacDonald said that the review was taken down not because of pressure from advertisers but because "the quality was not what [they] do."
  • 1UP digs up another potential wrinkle to the story: "Our sources indicated CNET management had been dealing with a series of advertising vs. editorial issues on GameSpot -- Sony Computer Entertainment America came down on the site for scoring Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction a 7.5 just a few weeks prior to the Kane & Lynch incident -- and the Eidos Interactive situation was where they finally drew the line.
  • Kotaku hears rumors that there may be "mass resignations" at Gamespot over the whole incident: "Our credibility is in ruins," says anonymous source.
  • Also from Kotaku, the misleading "five star" review graphic on the Kane & Lynch site has been removed.
  • MTV's Stephen Totilo talked to Gerstmann about editorial standards in the game press: "As for the future of game journalism, you asked if it's realistic for readers to expect a church and state separation between editorial and sales. Realistic or not, I think readers should demand that from a publication."
  • Newsweek's N'gai Croal uses the Gerstmann controversy as a jumping off point to talk about the symbiotic/parasitic relationship between game publishers and the game press: "One would have to be naïve or foolish not to understand that there has always been a mutually beneficial relationship between journalists who cover consumer products or entertainment and the manufacturers or publishers of the goods in question."
  • The controversy was mentioned briefly during Tuesday's edition of The Kojo Nnamdi Show on Washington D.C.'s NPR affiliate, WAMU (discussion begins around 44:50): "Apparently [there's] no firewall there between editorial and advertising. ... It certainly looks and smells fishy."
  • Gamespot Associate Editor Kevin VanOrd, on losing a colleague: "It is confusing, upsetting, and hurtful. In the blink of an eye, my mentor no longer sits 50 feet from me. When I need advice and encouragement and shielding, my greatest advocate is no longer there to offer that kind of support."
  • Sarcastic Gamer isn't feeling too sorry for Gerstmann: "Getting fired was the BEST thing to ever happen to the man. He has become an instant internet celeb, without the taking the sleazy amateur video route, and can basically cash his own ticket anywhere he chooses."
  • Organizer Drew Watson talks to Audiogame about the in-person protests being planned for the CNET offices this weekend.
[Thanks again to all the tipsters sending in links. Keep 'em coming]

JoystiqGerstmann-gate: Wednesday update originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CNETcontroversyfiredgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchWed, 05 Dec 2007 11:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Comparison shows significant edits to Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch review]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/comparison-shows-significant-edits-to-gerstmanns-kane-and-lynch-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/comparison-shows-significant-edits-to-gerstmanns-kane-and-lynch-r/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/05/comparison-shows-significant-edits-to-gerstmanns-kane-and-lynch-r/#commentsFiled under: ,

The editor's note at the bottom of Jeff Gerstmann's controversial review of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men notes that "this review has been updated to include differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions and a clarification on the game's multiplayer mode." While this is true, a comparison between the original and edited versions of the review shows that the edits went significantly further than that.

An archived version of the review found in a Google cache of an EBGames page shows that, while the review's overall determination remained the same, significant changes were made to its tone and focus. Nowhere is this more apparent than the very first paragraph, which was changed whole cloth to remove references calling the game "ugly" and the artificial intelligence "clunky." While the new introduction still says the game "squanders much of its potential and just doesn't come together as well as it probably should have," the new version is unquestionably less harsh than the original.

Some edits to the text seem shoehorned in to point out potential positives for the game. Consider a post-edit addition that specifically notes the game "does a good job of moving the action around, and you'll see a variety of different environments ..." and another that suggests, "if you've been waiting patiently for a game to really dive into the whole 'crew-based heist tale' concept, you might be able to look past some of the story flaws."

Then again, there are other additions that specifically point out negatives, such as one that says the multiplayer mode "doesn't translate into a great or long-lasting experience," and another that calls the disappointing multiplayer a "bummer." But there are further edits that circumstantially seem designed specifically to placate Eidos, such as one clause that points out "how well this same sort of stuff worked in the developer's previous squad-based game, Freedom Fighters," and another that asks readers to consider "the somewhat unique nature of its story."

While the edits are interesting in and of themselves, it should be noted that they are not proof of any wrongdoing on either CNET or Eidos' parts. Many questions remain, such as whether or not Gerstmann himself was involved with the edits, whether Eidos specifically requested any of the edits, and whether or not CNET executives intervened in the editing process. Neither Gerstmann, nor CNET or Eidos representatives were immediately available to respond to requests for comment on this matter, but we will let you know if and when they do (A CNET spokesperson made an oblique reference to the edits in a previous public comment).

A full accounting of the differences between the original review and the edited version appears after the break. Read it over and decide for yourself whether the changes were justified and suitably covered by the editor's note that appears at the end.

Continue reading Comparison shows significant edits to Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch review

JoystiqComparison shows significant edits to Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch review originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewscontroversyeditseidosfiredgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkand-and-lynchreviewWed, 05 Dec 2007 08:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Gerstmann-gate: Tuesday update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/gerstmann-gate-tuesday-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/gerstmann-gate-tuesday-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/04/gerstmann-gate-tuesday-update/#commentsFiled under: ,



Official statement or no, fan reaction to the firing of Jeff Gerstmann continues practically unabated:
  • Gamespot readers have tagged the official Gamespot news story rather, er, harshly (see image above).
  • Not everyone is on the anti-Gamespot bandwagon, though. Check out IGN's Hillary Goldstein, CrushedBefore.com and the possibly satirical KeepGirthmanFired.com.
  • The story continues to drip slowly into the mainstream press. Check out Fishbowl LA, TheStreet.com and the Syracuse University Daily Orange.
  • GameBump takes Eidos to task for misleading "review" quotes and a "five-star" rating image in the intro. for the official Kane & Lynch web site. GameSpy and Kotaku are confused as well.
  • Pronet Advertising uses Gamespot as a case study in "How To Destroy Your Brand And Alienate People"
  • GameSetWatch's Kevin Gifford: "Game publishers ... don't care what Jeff Gerstmann or any reviewer has to say about their games. They care about the score, the Metacritic average, and it's been that way ever since the Internet became the primary vehicle for game media."
  • More from Gamespot freelancer Frank Provo: "Even if they don't get pressured to cut me loose because I've made a few posts here, I personally cannot write for a site that, for whatever reasons, wants to bring its review scores and tone more in line with the Metacritics/GameRankings medians, and is willing to pressure its writers to nudge in that direction."

JoystiqGerstmann-gate: Tuesday update originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyeidosgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchTue, 04 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GameSpot posts official Gerstmann firing notice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gamespot-posts-official-gerstmann-firing-notice/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gamespot-posts-official-gerstmann-firing-notice/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gamespot-posts-official-gerstmann-firing-notice/#commentsFiled under: ,

It took nearly four long, controversy-filled days, but GameSpot has finally posted notice on their web site that editorial director Jeff Gerstmann has been fired. Or, as the notice itself puts it, "after over a decade in a variety of editorial roles, Jeff Gerstmann's tenure as editorial director has ended."

Besides praising Gerstmann's work and offering him best wishes, the notice echoes the company's earlier statement by saying that "details of Gerstmann's departure cannot be disclosed publicly" because of "legal constraints and the company policy of GameSpot parent CNET Networks." The posting also firmly denies (yet again) that advertiser pressure had any role in the firing.

"Neither CNET Networks nor GameSpot has ever allowed its advertising business to affect its editorial content," said Greg Brannan, CNET Networks Entertainment's vice president of programming. "The accusations in the media that it has done so are unsubstantiated and untrue. Jeff's departure stemmed from internal reasons unrelated to any buyer of advertising on GameSpot." Strong words, but ones that might come too late for many gamers who have already made up their minds about the controversy.

Oddly enough, Gerstmann does still appear on the site's About Us page, nearly a week after his termination last Wednesday. The notice about the firing currently appears on the front page of the site as the top news story.

Even with the posted statement, many questions remain surrounding the firing. Why was Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch video review removed from the site? Did Eidos (or any other company) bring pressure to bear on Gamespot, even if it was ignored? (Eidos continues to ignore repeated requests for comment from Joystiq). How does Gamespot plan on addressing the sizable outrage in the gaming community over the issue, justified or not? We'll keep looking for answers to these and other questions surrounding the controversy and will of course let you know what we find.

JoystiqGameSpot posts official Gerstmann firing notice originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CNETcontroversyeidosgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchMon, 03 Dec 2007 21:32:00 EST<![CDATA[CNET podcast hosts comment on Gerstmann controversy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/cnet-podcast-hosts-comment-on-gerstmann-controversy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/cnet-podcast-hosts-comment-on-gerstmann-controversy/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/cnet-podcast-hosts-comment-on-gerstmann-controversy/#commentsFiled under: ,

While today's episode of CNET's Buzz Out Loud podcast was delayed for a "mandatory meeting," (hmmm, we wonder what that might have been about ...) the wait was worth it, as hosts Molly Wood, John (Update: Typo fixed) Tom Merritt and Jason Howell were able to comment on Gamespot's firing of executive editor Jeff Gerstmann from a somewhat insider perspective. Their overall impression? As Merritt put it, "Wow does this whole situation suck."

While Merritt did say up front that "there are things that we're not allowed to talk about because they're internal matters," the team said they weren't sitting on any super-secret information about the reasons behind Gerstmann's firing. "[Human resources is] not going to come and tell us why a dude got fired," Wood said. That said, the hosts could offer their commentary on the matter, and their thoughts on that score were somewhat of a mixed bag.

Continue reading CNET podcast hosts comment on Gerstmann controversy

JoystiqCNET podcast hosts comment on Gerstmann controversy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CNETcontroversyeidosgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchMon, 03 Dec 2007 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Gerstmann talks, protests start and it continues ...]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gerstmann-talks-protests-start-and-it-continues/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gerstmann-talks-protests-start-and-it-continues/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gerstmann-talks-protests-start-and-it-continues/#commentsFiled under:

And so saga that encompasses the events, rumors and nastiness surrounding the firing of Gamespot editorial director Gerstmann continues.

Over the weekend lots of Gerstmann-gate (that's everyone's new "it" name for this) news has been flooding in including rumors, forum lockdowns and zero official responses from CNET or Gamespot. And then today, Joystiq got in touch with Gerstmann who expressed some thoughts about the whole fiasco and where he's headed, but didn't disclose any concrete answers to this giant headache. Finally, Gerstmann supporters are calling for a Gamespot Blackout Monday and ask that nobody visit or support CNET owned websites ... it's all too much! Ahhh! We advise jumping on over to Joystiq to get all the details and linkage you need. Anyone have an aspirin we can bum?

JoystiqGerstmann talks, protests start and it continues ... originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnetgamespotgerstmannMon, 03 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gerstmann-gate: Blackout Monday update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gerstmann-gate-blackout-monday-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gerstmann-gate-blackout-monday-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/gerstmann-gate-blackout-monday-update/#commentsFiled under: ,

Big wheel keep on turning. Gerstmann-gate keep on burning.
[Thanks to all the tipsters who sent in links.]

JoystiqGerstmann-gate: Blackout Monday update originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyeidosfiringgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchMon, 03 Dec 2007 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Blackout Monday: virtual boycott targets GameSpot, CNET sites]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/blackout-monday-virtual-boycott-targets-gamespot-cnet-sites/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/blackout-monday-virtual-boycott-targets-gamespot-cnet-sites/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/blackout-monday-virtual-boycott-targets-gamespot-cnet-sites/#commentsFiled under:

blackout
GameSpot user 'Subrosian' has called for a boycott of all CNET-operated sites today in response to the controversy surrounding the firing of GameSpot executive editor Jeff Gerstmann, GamePolitics.com reports. Dubbed "Black Monday," the virtual boycott is to last 24 hours and instructs participants to avoid viewing, Googling, or clicking external links to the sites, particularly GameSpot. "Rather than live in a world where the media is controlled entirely by those with the most money, I want to live in a world where gamers who are living for their hobby ... can say what they truly feel about a game. So let's do the right thing and show solidarity with Jeff Gerstmann -- if he can't go to work on Monday at GameSpot then neither will we," declares Subrosian's manifesto.

Posted at 9:31pm ET last night, the call to action likely went unnoticed by many potential protesters before the blackout's midnight start time. Further discouraging any chance of effectiveness is the lack of a prominent external page for the boycott (try Googling "black monday gamespot" or other relevant search terms) -- um, the original post is a GameSpot.com link! If anything, Blackout Monday may serve as a seed for birthing a better-organized boycott before the Gerstmann story becomes "old news." Hardcore game forum posters-turned-activists need to appeal to the mainstream technology consumer to really stick it to the CNET network. But for anyone to get behind the issue, organizers must first wait for the swirl of rumors to settle and the truth to be made public. What's less legitimate than a rumor? The boycott of a rumor. (Reminder: the details of Gerstmann's firing are still unconfirmed.)

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Continue reading Blackout Monday: virtual boycott targets GameSpot, CNET sites

JoystiqBlackout Monday: virtual boycott targets GameSpot, CNET sites originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blackout-mondayboycottcnetgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannMon, 03 Dec 2007 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Gertsmann speaks about K&L review, future]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/exclusive-gertsmann-speaks-about-kandl-review-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/exclusive-gertsmann-speaks-about-kandl-review-future/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/03/exclusive-gertsmann-speaks-about-kandl-review-future/#commentsFiled under: ,

"Losing a job you've held for over 11 years in an abrupt manner is shocking, yes."

While the above quote should perhaps win Jeff Gerstmann the 'understatement of the year' award, the former Gamespot editorial director is still staying silent about the specifics surrounding his recent firing (citing the previously mentioned "legal reasons," among others). He has, however, told Joystiq that he still stands behind his controversial review of Kane & Lynch.

"I stand behind my work, regardless of where I do it," Gerstmann told Joystiq in an e-mail. "If there was content that I felt I couldn't support, it wouldn't see the light of day." Gerstmann did not comment specifically on the edits made to his text review of Kane & Lynch, or the site's removal of the video review, but he did support the editing process in general. "If factual errors are made, I have no problem owning up to that error, correcting it, noting that a correction has been made, and feeling like an idiot for making the mistake in the first place," he said.

Gerstmann also directly addressed the somewhat pernicious rumor that he did not complete Kane & Lynch before he finished his review. "A reviewer's Xbox Live Gamercard is rarely a good place to look for answers about how much that reviewer has (or hasn't) played a game," he said. "For the record, I saw both endings in Kane & Lynch before writing about it."

As for his future plans, Gerstmann seems to be keeping his options open. "I'm not really sure what I want to do next," he said. "This whole situation has left me with a lot to think about. While this sort of clean break would be an acceptable time to think about trying game development, I feel like I still have more to say and do on the editorial side of the fence, too."

Surprisingly, the experience doesn't seem to have soured Gerstmann on video game journalism as a whole. "Despite the number of people who are taking these rumors ... to mean that game writing is ethically bankrupt, I don't feel that's the case," he said. "Either way, I'm currently keeping my options open and have been in contact with interesting people on both sides."

JoystiqExclusive: Gertsmann speaks about K&L review, future originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewscontroversyeidosexclusivefiredgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchMon, 03 Dec 2007 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gerstmann-gate: Sunday morning update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/02/gerstmann-gate-sunday-morning-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/02/gerstmann-gate-sunday-morning-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/02/gerstmann-gate-sunday-morning-update/#commentsFiled under: ,

Developments have slowed down a little bit over the weekend, but there is still plenty of chatter around the web about Gamespot's controversial firing of Jeff Gerstmann. Among the juicier bits from around the intertubes:
One thing is clear: This story is not going away anytime soon.

[Thanks to all the tipsters who sent items in]

JoystiqGerstmann-gate: Sunday morning update originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 02 Dec 2007 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyeidosgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchSun, 02 Dec 2007 10:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Ziff Davis staff holds impromptu GameSpot rally]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/ziff-davis-staff-holds-impromptu-gamespot-rally/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/ziff-davis-staff-holds-impromptu-gamespot-rally/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/ziff-davis-staff-holds-impromptu-gamespot-rally/#commentsFiled under:


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.

JoystiqZiff Davis staff holds impromptu GameSpot rally originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1upGameSpotGerstmannjeff-gerstmannJeffGerstmannSat, 01 Dec 2007 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumorang: Gerstmann-gate edition]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/rumorang-gerstmann-gate-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/rumorang-gerstmann-gate-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/rumorang-gerstmann-gate-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,

We're sure you'll agree our reporting on the continuing controversy surrounding Gamespot's firing of Jeff Gerstmann has been quite extensive. Still, there are a few angles that have come up that we still feel a little questionable reporting on as fact, or even credible rumor. Still, they are getting play elsewhere around the web, so we'll let you have a little peek behind the curtain and in to the sausage-making world of the news process. Here's what we know and why we're a bit skeptical:
  • Some sites are reporting that Gamespot staffer Tim Tracy has also been fired and/or left the company, possibly for reasons related to Gerstmann's dismissal. The sole source for this rumor seems to be a cryptic post on Tracy's Gamespot blog where he appears behind a stack of shoeboxes with the footer, "It's been real." This could mean that he's no longer with the company ... but it could also means he just has a shoe fetish. We're working to get an official comment on the situation from Tracy or Gamespot and will let you know what we hear, but for the time being we don't want to speculate on what, if anything, this could mean.
  • Some commenters around the web are suggesting that the firing was due to the influence of some recent hires at CNET, specifically Executive Vice President Stephen Colvin and Director of Games & Entertainment Josh Larson. These commenters will point to Colvin's previous involvement with bastions of journalistic integrity like Maxim, Blender, and Stuff magazine (read: sarcasm!) and Larson's heavy career focus on marketing to gamers. This circumstantial evidence doesn't do much for us, and while we've heard some rumblings of their involvement from somewhat credible sources, nothing has been better than second hand information. We'll keep digging, but right now it's too early to implicate anyone specific (or in general, for that matter).
  • Finally, some commenters are claiming that Gerstmann wasn't fired because his Kane & Lynch review was negative in tone, but because he did not actually play the game sufficiently before reviewing it. The supposed evidence, as often happens with such allegations, is Jeff's Xbox Live Gamercard, which only has six achievements and 90 Gamerscore points for the game (some overstate this claim to say he only got one achievement. Fact check your rumors, people!) Reviewers often start reviews playing early code that might not have achievements unlocked. Gerstmann could have been playing on Microsoft's private PartnerNet system when reviewing the game, or simply been on a separate system/Gamertag when doing some of the playing. Furthermore, the content of both the text and video reviews seems to clearly indicate deep involvement with the game. We're waiting to hear back from Gerstmann on this issue directly, but until we do, it'll take more than a Gamercard to convince us Jeff was anything less than a professional in this matter.

JoystiqRumorang: Gerstmann-gate edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>controversyeidosfiringgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchrumorangSat, 01 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest developments in "Gerstmann-gate"]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/latest-developments-in-gerstmann-gate/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/latest-developments-in-gerstmann-gate/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/01/latest-developments-in-gerstmann-gate/#commentsFiled under: ,

More tidbits surrounding Jeff Gerstmann's controversial firing from Gamespot, from around the web and our own reporting:
  • Gerstmann has confirmed to Joystiq that there are "legal reasons" why he can't comment on the controversy, in addition to questions of "respect for the product team still on board at GameSpot, who are some of the most amazing people I've ever met." He added that he is not under any sort of non-compete agreement regarding future work in the industry.
  • Eidos issues a 'no comment' to 1UP: "Eidos is not able to comment on another company's policies and procedures." Valleywag says Eidos "insiders" are "freaking out" over being blamed for something they say they had nothing to do with. Still no response from Eidos to our requests for comment.
  • Former Gamespot editor-in-chief Greg Kasavin, on his GameSpot blog: "As the longest-tenured GameSpot editor, Jeff Gerstmann deserved a respectful send-off."
  • Current Gamespot editor-in-chief Alex Navarro compares the whole situation to hitting the disaster button in SimCity.
  • Former Gamespot staffer Bob Colayco and Adam Buchen clarify that just because Gerstmann was fired doesn't mean Gamespot staffers routinely get paid off for good reviews. Buchen also cancels his Gamespot account and urges others to do the same.
  • An anonymous Valleywag commenter going by the handle "gamespot" and claiming to be a company insider: "There has been an increasing amount of pressure to allow the advertising teams to have more of a say in the editorial process." More: "Also, despite the fact that this occured [sic] two weeks ago, there was no way they were going to fire him then; the last big games didn't come out until just before Thanksgiving, and there was no doubt that management knew that the rest of the reviewers would refuse to write any reviews after his termination, which is indeed what is happening. [emphasis added]"
We'll continue to update as more information comes out. Thanks to Gamespot user subrosian and all the tipsters who sent in information. Keep it coming.

JoystiqLatest developments in "Gerstmann-gate" originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingeidosfiringgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchSat, 01 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GameSpot denies Eidos pressured firing of Gerstmann]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/gamespot-denies-eidos-pressured-firing-of-gertsmann/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/gamespot-denies-eidos-pressured-firing-of-gertsmann/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/gamespot-denies-eidos-pressured-firing-of-gertsmann/#commentsFiled under: ,

We just got off the phone with Sarah Cain, a CNET spokesperson who wanted to amend CNET's previous statement to Joystiq on the recent firing of executive editor Jeff Gerstmann. While reiterating that CNET does not discuss personal employee matters with the press, Cain said directly that "we do not terminate employees based on external pressure from advertisers." When asked specifically about whether any such pressure was even attempted on Eidos' part, Cain had no comment. We're still waiting for a response to multiple e-mail requests for comment by Eidos PR.

While we had Cain on the line, we also asked her about the odd disappearance of Gerstmann's video review of the game from the GameSpot site. She responded by pointing out a note at the bottom of the still-running text review for the game, which states that "this review has been updated to include differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions and a clarification on the game's multiplayer mode."

When pressed for clarification, Cain said that this note applied to the video review as well. "At the bottom of the post of the [text] review we made a note that we have updated the review, and we made those decisions based on our own editorial standards," she said. "It was our decision to take down the [video] review." Given this justification, we can't help but wonder why GameSpot couldn't just edit the video review, as they did the text version. Why remove the entire thing if the problem was really just a "clarification?" When asked just that question, Cain reiterated her initial statement.

JoystiqGameSpot denies Eidos pressured firing of Gerstmann originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingnewsCNetcontroversyeidosfiredGamespotGerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchFri, 30 Nov 2007 17:45:00 EST<![CDATA[GameSpot issues short comment on Gerstmann firing]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/gamespot-issues-short-comment-on-gerstmann-firing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/gamespot-issues-short-comment-on-gerstmann-firing/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/gamespot-issues-short-comment-on-gerstmann-firing/#commentsFiled under: ,

In the wake of the rumors surrounding Jeff Gerstmann's suspicious removal as editorial director of Gamespot, Gamespot owner CNET has issued a short, official comment on the situation. "GameSpot takes its editorial integrity extremely seriously," the statement reads. "For over a decade, Gamespot and the many members of its editorial team have produced thousands of unbiased reviews that have been a valuable resource for the gaming community. At CNET Networks, we stand behind the editorial content that our teams produce on a daily basis."

As for Gerstmann specifically, CNET repeated their assertion that "it is CNET Networks' policy not to comment on the status of its employees, current of former."

While it's nice to see CNET taking the accusations seriously, the statement doesn't confirm or deny the facts behind the controversy, or add any significant information to the story. With the rumor still generating significant discussion throughout the online gaming community, such a short, pat statement seems unlikely to stop the gathering storm of attention.

JoystiqGameSpot issues short comment on Gerstmann firing originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BreakingNewscontroversyeditoreidosfiredgamespotgerstmannjeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchFri, 30 Nov 2007 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Eidos and Gamespot forums exploding over Gerstmann incident]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/eidos-and-gamespot-forums-exploding-over-gerstmann-incident/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/eidos-and-gamespot-forums-exploding-over-gerstmann-incident/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/eidos-and-gamespot-forums-exploding-over-gerstmann-incident/#commentsFiled under:

Although Gamespot and publisher Eidos have not yet made public statements over what led to the firing of Gamespot's Editorial Director Jeff Gerstmann, the accusation of publisher pressure is exploding all over the companies' forums. Gamespot currently has numerous threads on the incident, with one thread in particular having thousands of posts. Eidos has taken a different approach, locking down all threads on their site after apparently purging derogatory posts from thousands of angry gamers reacting to the rumor yesterday night.

More sources are now confirming that Gerstmann's firing was indeed over his Kane & Lynch review. The situation will likely continue to escalate among the gaming community until somebody either tells the truth or gives some reasonable spin to what's going on. At this point the reputations of Eidos, Gamespot and Gerstmann actually do hang in the balance within the industry. In the wake of Sony's stumbles attacking Kotaku, we just can't imagine that the Gamespot executives didn't expect this to explode as it has. Are they so out of touch? The simple fact of the matter is until someone talks, this isn't going away.

JoystiqEidos and Gamespot forums exploding over Gerstmann incident originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisercontroversyEidosfiredGamespotGerstmanninfluencejeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchFri, 30 Nov 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Gamespot's editorial director fired over Kane & Lynch review]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/rumor-gamespots-editorial-director-fired-over-kane-and-lynch-rev/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/rumor-gamespots-editorial-director-fired-over-kane-and-lynch-rev/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/30/rumor-gamespots-editorial-director-fired-over-kane-and-lynch-rev/#commentsFiled under: ,



Update 2:45 PM EST: Gamespot has issued a massive Q&A addressing many outstanding issues surrounding the firing.

Update: 11:50 AM EST Dec. 5, 2007: Check out Joystiq's analysis of the edits to Gerstmann's Kane & Lynch review. GameSpot editors comment on their Hot Spot podcast. Also: Tuesday and Wednesday updates from around the web.

Update 10:00 PM EST: Gamespot has posted official notice of the firing on their website. Meanwhile, some editors at CNET have commented on the controversy in a podcast.

Update - 11:20 AM EST Dec. 3, 2007: Further updates, and Gerstmann's exclusive comments to Joystiq.

Update - 11:00AM EST Dec. 2, 2007: More updates from around the web.

Update - 3:45PM EST: Ziff Davis employees rally for Gerstmann

Update - 9:00AM EST Dec. 1, 2007: The latest developments on the story.

Update - 5:45PM EST: CNET has amended their earlier statement with Joystiq.

Update - 3:20PM EST: We just noticed that Gerstmann's video review, previously accessible only through a direct link, has been removed from the site. Here's an alternate YouTube link.

Update - 2:20PM EST: We got a response from CNET, GameSpot's parent company, that totally explains the whole thing away ... you see. Actually, they don't say much.

Update - 12:52 AM EST: Penny Arcade, which helped popularize this story with their comic last night, has posted an accompanying commentary piece on the issue. The story they were told (by whom, we do not know) has Gamespot management angry at Gerstmann for long-standing problems with his reviewing "tone." The Kane & Lynch review, which allegedly caused Eidos to withdraw "hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of future advertising from the site," served as the straw that broke the camel's back. There's no named source for this information, but the piece does say that "the firm belief internally [is] that Jeff was sacrificed."

Update - 11:00 AM EST: The anonymous source/speculation train rolls on. Rock Paper Shotgun has posted a story citing an unnamed "very reliable source" as saying that "while Gerstmann wasn't the most popular man with the CNET owners, it was his Kane & Lynch review alone that saw him lose his job." Meanwhile, a poster at Forumopolis who claims to be directly involved with the Kane & Lynch ad campaign says that the whole thing is just a matter of bad timing. "I sincerely doubt that Eidos made Gamespot fire him," the poster writes. "CNET doesn't kowtow to its advertisers, and I've more than once seen the higher-ups turn away big advertising dollars for the sake of the company's integrity." Make of this what you will.

Update - 10:44 AM EST: Gamespot PR representative Leslie Van Every has responded to Joystiq's request for comment with ... a predictable 'no comment.' "It is CNET Networks' policy to never comment on individual employees--current or former--regarding their job status," Van Every told Joystiq. "This policy is in place out of respect for the individuals' privacy."

Update - 7:12 AM EST: Jeff has confirmed his firing to us via e-mail, but says he's "not really able to comment on the specifics of my termination." He added that he's "looking forward to getting back out there and figuring out what's next." We're still digging.

Update - 1:35 AM EST: The Kane and Lynch ads that blanketed Gamespot's front page are no longer being shown. Check out the picture above to see what the site looked at just an hour ago.

Original Post:
So before we get going, we should make it clear that this post is still just a rumor and many of the facts behind it are still up in the air. That being said, word around game journalism's virtual water cooler is that Gamespot Editorial Director Jeff Gerstmann has been fired because publisher Eidos was unhappy about his negative review of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men.

What seems in little dispute, going by forum chatter as well as multiple published sources (referencing conversations with multiple CNet employees), is that Gerstmann has indeed been fired after over ten years working at the site. We were not immediately able to confirm the firing with Gamespot or Gerstmann directly, but an e-mail sent to his Gamespot address did get returned with a "permanent failure" error. Seems pretty serious to us ... (see 7:12 AM update above)

Continue reading Rumor: Gamespot's editorial director fired over Kane & Lynch review

JoystiqRumor: Gamespot's editorial director fired over Kane & Lynch review originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertiserbreakingbreakingnewscontroversyEidosfiredGamespotGerstmanninfluencejeff-gerstmannjournalismkane-and-lynchFri, 30 Nov 2007 00:30:00 EST<![CDATA[RSS this!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/30/rss-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/30/rss-this/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/30/rss-this/#commentsFiled under:

Every week PSP Fanboy brings you a great new podcast that you can use your PSP's RSS feature to subscribe to. We were told by the god of war to call it: RSS this!

This week we set our PSP's RSS feed to Gamespot's The HotSpot. Out every Tuesday, this podcast of course features game news and discussion, drawing from Gamespot's site and staff. Usually The HotSpot has the talents of Jeff Gerstmann, Ryan MacDonald, Greg Kasavin and Rich Gallup. While the podcast is definitely done in a professinal manner, that doesn't mean the hosts take themselves or the subject matter too seriously.

The staff seem to get along well and have fun with the podcast and that makes listening to it all the more enjoyable. While everyone on The HotSpot has a great sense of humor, but just the lines from Jeff Gertsmann alone make it worth listening to. If you don't mind laughing loudly while listening through headphones and getting strange glances from your co-workers, than check out The HotSpot.

If you want to add The HotSpot to your PSP's RSS, just bring up this site with your PSP through our mobile version at m.pspfanboy.com and click on this link: http://www.gamespot.com/misc/podcast/podcast.xml Then you can exit your web browser and the show should be in your RSS channels. From there you can set a timer for auto-download of episodes, or stream them and save memory stick space.

Got something you have RSS'd and would like us to feature? Just let us know in the comments, or let other readers know what you think of The HotSpot.

JoystiqRSS this! originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Jan 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamespotgerstmannhotspotrss thisrss this!rssthisRssThis!the hotspotTheHotspotTue, 30 Jan 2007 21:30:00 EST