GameSpot Staff Speaks Out

GameSpot May See Mass Resignations Over Dismissal on Kotaku hears from a GameSpot employee whose identity is being withheld as he discusses allegations that the departure of editor Jeff Gerstmann was over a negative review (story). The story states that "mass resignations" may yet take place in the site's disheartened editorial staff as the source says "our credibility is in ruins." The story offers speculation about friction between Gerstmann and a new boss and possible issues with his work and goes on to verify the credibility of this post on ValleyWag based on postings reputedly from a GameSpot staffer discussing the way reviews are vetted at the site and describing the pressure their advertising department places on their editorial process.
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28.
 
Oh, did I?
Dec 5, 2007, 21:40
28.
Oh, did I? Dec 5, 2007, 21:40
Dec 5, 2007, 21:40
 
"Nothing happened, Golem has taken their review of Witcher personally because the reviewer did not complete the game."

You are certainly entitled to your opinion but since you never responded to the other thread I assume you didn't see this...

"This has nothing to do with The Witcher besides the fact it's the game he attempted to review. This is more about poor journalism than anything else. We could just as easily be talking about CoD4 or some other game."

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=83165

I don't really care to debate the Cliff Notes method of game reviewing... again.

27.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 21:26
27.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 21:26
Dec 5, 2007, 21:26
 
Pfft, what site can I go to that doesn't do this kinda thing? No one in their right mind thought Halo 3 thought it deserved all those high review scores, but every site gave it 9.0+. We all thought it was the corruption of marketing that brought that about, but we all just shrugged and accepted it...
Adventures of a video game mercenary
http://virtualmerc.blogspot.com
26.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 20:46
26.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 20:46
Dec 5, 2007, 20:46
 
I still visit it everyday.
Then you are part of the problem.

This comment was edited on Dec 5, 20:46.
25.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 20:22
25.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 20:22
Dec 5, 2007, 20:22
 
I still visit it everyday. I guess I feel that every site, person, and organization is a capitalist whore sometimes.. or most of the time... so I don't see the big deal behind all this stuff. We're just hearing about it this time, when we usually don't hear a thing.
Adventures of a video game mercenary
http://virtualmerc.blogspot.com
24.
 
readers are what generate revenue really
Dec 5, 2007, 16:43
24.
readers are what generate revenue really Dec 5, 2007, 16:43
Dec 5, 2007, 16:43
 
You have to have readers to sell advertising. And GS's shortsightedness will cause them to hemorrhage readers. I like many people used to go to GS for reviews because they were like a winston cigarette, straight up with no BS. The only way GS can recover this fumble is to fire the suit (i think larson was his name), beg Gerstmann to come back, and guarantee that the editorial department is immune from backlash from advertisers and GS's internal sales department when they publish a review, which would show their dedication to integrity. Otherwise this could well be a fatal mistake for GS.


This comment was edited on Dec 5, 16:49.
"Think for yourself. Question authority."
-- Timothy Leary
23.
 
Re: There was word...
Dec 5, 2007, 12:27
23.
Re: There was word... Dec 5, 2007, 12:27
Dec 5, 2007, 12:27
 
Hi Golem, what happened to the Escapist? Sorry I don't quite keep track on that site/online mag.

Nothing happened, Golem has taken their review of Witcher personally because the reviewer did not complete the game. He played about 10 hours worth and wrote the review. (Which he stated in the review...?!)

I didn't think the Escapist had credibility at this point, I had never heard of them until the Zero Punctuation started popping up.

I don't think anything has added to or taken away from credibility of the escapist recently.

Ending Song on Portal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjGfgV7rJHI
22.
 
Re: 'Staff speak out'
Dec 5, 2007, 10:31
ibm
22.
Re: 'Staff speak out' Dec 5, 2007, 10:31
Dec 5, 2007, 10:31
ibm
 
Yeah it's wrong, there's meant to be some employment law that protects them (in the UK anyway) but employers can always find some other reason to sack them.

It's a shame that there's no ethics regulatiopns that govern these sort of things - the advertising/editorial relationship.

21.
 
No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 08:46
21.
No subject Dec 5, 2007, 08:46
Dec 5, 2007, 08:46
 
This sounds a heck of a lot more likely: internal strife between the brand new boss and a cranky staffer who has been around for 10 years. Boss finds a way to get rid of long-term staffer. Boss should have covered his tracks better.

"However, the source did speculate that disagreements between Gertsmann and VP of games Josh Larson may have been the root cause of the former being terminated. Larson, successor to former editor in chief Greg Kasavin, was described as out of touch with the employees who report to him. The VP is the one allegedly responsible for telling Gamespot editorial staff that it was Gerstmann's "tone" that was at the heart of his dismissal."

20.
 
Re: 'Staff speak out'
Dec 5, 2007, 07:52
20.
Re: 'Staff speak out' Dec 5, 2007, 07:52
Dec 5, 2007, 07:52
 
ibm...

whistle blowers have bills to pay...in the US & Canada whislte blowers always end up jobless & broke. Their families end up paying the price for their integrity!

Avatar 19242
19.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 07:49
19.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 07:49
Dec 5, 2007, 07:49
 
Zolmaz Zo'Boto

I'll just tell you what every politician says....MOney has more influence on policies that are adopted than public opinion and....Money is the lubricant of the political system or Washington...

So punks who vote can complain all they want but the end result will be the same. People in power will do what they feellike doing.

Bottom line like Kissenger says...when they have the choice between doing what is right & what is intheir best interest they will do what is in their best intrest!

Avatar 19242
18.
 
'Staff speak out'
Dec 5, 2007, 06:52
ibm
18.
'Staff speak out' Dec 5, 2007, 06:52
Dec 5, 2007, 06:52
ibm
 
Mass resignations but wants to keep anonymity?

Stand up or sit the fuck back down, make up your mind.

Gaming Steve also goes into the details of how things work in these situations in his podcast, talks about the GS stuff at about 31:00 until about 46:00 http://www.gamingsteve.com/archives/2007/12/gaming-steve-episode-64-12042007.php
This comment was edited on Dec 5, 07:12.
17.
 
Escapist
Dec 5, 2007, 06:33
17.
Escapist Dec 5, 2007, 06:33
Dec 5, 2007, 06:33
 
I like the escapist, and was surprised at how bad they rated "the Witcher". The guy who wrote the review bravely went to the RPGCodex boards to defend his review and admitted that the Escapist had given him an early unpatched version (beta even?) that only worked for 10 hours... a short demo basically.


16.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 05:22
16.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 05:22
Dec 5, 2007, 05:22
 
Standard troll. Got too much attention from his papa when he was young and tender, wants it back now.

15.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 04:20
15.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 04:20
Dec 5, 2007, 04:20
 
I avoided the site and assumed it was just another GamePro - a cl*st*rf*ck of advertisements built around the occasional bit of gaming information.

You assumed correctly, Ray. GameSpot hasn't been worth visiting in years.

And what is the deal with this Zolmaz guy?

This comment was edited on Dec 5, 04:21.
14.
 
Half-life 2
Dec 5, 2007, 03:50
14.
Half-life 2 Dec 5, 2007, 03:50
Dec 5, 2007, 03:50
 
Remember when Valve's code was stolen and forced the industry to re-evaluate their security? Use what happened at GS as an opportunity to ensure that integrity and credibility exists within your organization... because in the end that's all you have.

-----
http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/
Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
Avatar 18786
13.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 03:34
13.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 03:34
Dec 5, 2007, 03:34
 
Zolmaz Zo'Boto, give at least one, half assed verifiable and specific example or shut the fuck up, you dumb ass redneck.
Scorpio Slasher: ... What about you boy, what do hate?
Marcus: ... Bullies. Tiny d*ck egotists who hurt people for no reason, make people lock their doors at night. People who make general existence worse, people like you.
Avatar 1858
12.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 03:27
12.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 03:27
Dec 5, 2007, 03:27
 
A corporation that says they're not influenced by money is like saying a horny heterosexual male isn't influenced by pu-nay-nay. Seriously, the suits at Gamespot need to quit while they're behind. While the general populous at large may not be rocket scientists, no one is that fucking dumb to buy the bullshit they're shovelling.

We're all pulling for the Gamespot staff here. Here's hoping you guys can get other jobs elesewhere fast. While we all may have to whore ourselves for money to some degree, you know it's time to go when they start shafting you without the benefit of lube.

"Grab a napkin, homie. You just got served."
- Wolowitz

This comment was edited on Dec 5, 03:28.
“With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably." - Aaron Sati
11.
 
Re: No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 03:24
11.
Re: No subject Dec 5, 2007, 03:24
Dec 5, 2007, 03:24
 
Zolmaz we're talking about a situation that occurred at GameSpot. I think you took a wrong turn on your way to DailyKOS. To get back on the information superhighway click this link: http://www.google.com

Glad to be of service.


-----
http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/
Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/
This comment was edited on Dec 5, 03:55.
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
Avatar 18786
10.
 
Ladies and Gentlemen
Dec 5, 2007, 03:18
10.
Ladies and Gentlemen Dec 5, 2007, 03:18
Dec 5, 2007, 03:18
 
To quote Saliva's awesome song!

Ladies and gentlemen please
Would you bring your attention to me?
For a feast for your eyes to see
An explosion of catastrophe

Like nothing you’ve ever seen before
Watch closely as I open this door
Your jaws will be on the floor
After this you’ll be begging for more

Welcome to the show
Please come inside
Ladies and gentlemen

woa
Do you want it?
woa
Do you need it?
woa
Let me hear it
Ladies and gentlemen

Boom
Do you want it?
Boom
Do you need it?
Boom
Let me hear it
Ladies and gentlemen

Ladies and gentlemen good evening
You’ve seen that seeing is believing
Your ears and your eyes will be bleeding
Please check to see if you’re still breathing

Hold tight cause the show is not over
If you will please move in closer
You're about to be bowled over
By the wonders you’re about to behold here

Welcome to the show (welcome to the show)
Please come inside
Ladies and gentlemen

Boom
Do you want it?
Boom
Do you need it?
Boom
Let me hear it
ladies and gentlemen

boom
Do you want it?
boom
Do you need it?
boom
Let me hear it!


circus time! Serious...


-----
http://www.gamemusicjukebox.com/
Game p/reviewer for http://www.gameindustry.com/
This comment was edited on Dec 5, 03:25.
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
Avatar 18786
9.
 
No subject
Dec 5, 2007, 03:02
9.
No subject Dec 5, 2007, 03:02
Dec 5, 2007, 03:02
 
Payola is BACK. New and improved. Now featured at your latest Game review website.

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