Termination at GameSpot... Scandal?

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 02 Dec 2007, 15:51

"Kane & Lynch: Dead Men has a lot of promise, but nothing in this game works out nearly as well as you'd hope.", Jeff Gerstmann wrote in his <a href="/http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/ ... >review</a> of the latest XBox360 release, giving it the low grade 6/10. The termination of Jeff's contract in the wake of this review has stirred up rumours all over the Internet, as the game's producer (Eidos) had their ads plastered all over the GameSpot pages at the time. The heart of the rumours is now: was Jeff G. sacked for being too honest? For refusing to write/edit his review in line with the wishes of the marketing department? According to <a href="/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_pa ... try.biz</a>, the original review was edited, although the grade was left unaltered. This is where the land of facts end, and the realm of speculation begin. And as we know gaming fans all to well; speculation abounds.

Penny Arcade let their <a href="/http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/11/29">newest comic strip</a> speak for itself, while they also comment on the story in their <a href="/http://www.penny-arcade.com/">blog</a>.

Neither GameSpot nor Gerstmann himself have commented on the story as yet, but rumours are escalating into disgruntlement; fans are even advocating the cancellation of subscriptions to the GameSpot page. Meanwhile, there can be no doubt of the weight of the person surrounded by this controversy, as gamesindustry.biz sum up:

"Gerstmann had been with GameSpot for 11 years, and was part of the team - which included Greg Kasavin, now at EA - who drove the site's core values of editorial excellence and independence over that time."

If you would like to take a look at the original page visit this link:
https://www.celestialheavens.com/1196610666

ThunderTitan · Unread postby **ThunderTitan** » 02 Dec 2007, 15:59

Infiltrator · Unread postby **Infiltrator** » 02 Dec 2007, 16:23

Yea I heard about it.

But that same guy gave Halo 3 a 9.5/10, I think any editor giving that pile of poo a 9.5/10 should get fired instantly, or better yet have a trapdoor open up below them and fall in a pit of crocodiles.

arturchix · Unread postby **arturchix** » 02 Dec 2007, 16:41

Burn, Gamespot, burn!

Deadguy118 · Unread postby **Deadguy118** » 03 Dec 2007, 00:44

wow... even a site that has nothing to do with gamespot (besides everyone freaking out about TOtE getting a 5.5) is posting this.

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 03 Dec 2007, 01:12

That's business for you.

asandir · Unread postby **asandir** » 03 Dec 2007, 01:57

I picked this story up from PA .... be interesting to see how it develops

Muszka · Unread postby **Muszka** » 03 Dec 2007, 10:46

arturchix wrote:Burn, Gamespot, burn!

Should we be that evil?

"Abeshed the Devil stood; and felt how awful Goodness is."

AngelEyes · Unread postby **AngelEyes** » 03 Dec 2007, 16:12

Corporate shenanigans at its best.

PhoenixReborn · Unread postby **PhoenixReborn** » 03 Dec 2007, 18:40

asandir wrote:I picked this story up from PA .... be interesting to see how it develops

How could it develop exactly?

Surely not a tidal wave of people taking a hard critical look at video game journalism?

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 04 Dec 2007, 03:07

GameSpot's response.

"We can't comment on specifics due to legal constraints... blah blah blah... Neither CNET Networks nor GameSpot has ever allowed its advertising business to affect its editorial content blah blah... Jeff's departure stemmed from internal reasons unrelated to any buyer of advertising on GameSpot blah."

Internal reasons... maybe he shagged the boss' wife?

Omega_Destroyer · Unread postby **Omega_Destroyer** » 04 Dec 2007, 17:33

Anyone read through the GSpotter comments? There's an angry mob and rightfully so.

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 04 Dec 2007, 17:56

I don't know about the "rightfully so" part; I don't know what really happened, I just know it smells a bit fishy. Doesn't mean it has to be true. Most companies don't comment specifically on contract terminations period, for very good reasons.

What's very clear, is that Jeff has a lot of street cred with the gaming community, and that GameSpot (partly thanks to him) is well known for what can be called journalistic integrity. The fans are angry because they are disappointed.

ThunderTitan · Unread postby **ThunderTitan** » 04 Dec 2007, 22:08

If it smells like a fish...

plus, it's only in movies that they plea the 5th amendment to cover up some misdemeanor when they're accused of murder....

Grumpy Old Wizard · Unread postby **Grumpy Old Wizard** » 05 Dec 2007, 14:36

Kalah wrote:GameSpot's response.

"We can't comment on specifics due to legal constraints... blah blah blah... Neither CNET Networks nor GameSpot has ever allowed its advertising business to affect its editorial content blah blah... Jeff's departure stemmed from internal reasons unrelated to any buyer of advertising on GameSpot blah."

Internal reasons like the client calling and demanding his head.

GOW

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 06 Dec 2007, 18:39

It seems appropriate to quote the Right Honorable James Hacker:

"Nobody KNOWS it's not true. Press statements aren't delivered under oath."

ThunderTitan · Unread postby **ThunderTitan** » 06 Dec 2007, 19:29

Because no one lies under oath... which reminds me, how Billy holding up now that the missus is running for president?!

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 06 Dec 2007, 19:38

He's fine. And if you're thinking about that "I did not have sexual relations..." speech, that was on adressing the nation, not giving testimony. But that's not the point here...

ThunderTitan · Unread postby **ThunderTitan** » 06 Dec 2007, 20:05

You do know that the charges against him hinged on perjury, right? That's why "oral sex isn't sex" came about. I mean really, did you think they wanted to impeach him just cause he cheated on his wife?

Kalah · Unread postby **Kalah** » 09 Dec 2007, 04:12

And the votes were according to party lines... big surprise.

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