Robert Summa fired over Joystiq Fiasco

Firestorm · 04:53 AM

http://www.destructoid.com/free-at-l...m-free-at-last

Quote:

Hello Destructoid faithful, Robert Summa here.

As you may or may not know (depending on your Internet game journalism knowledge) I was fired today for what happened yesterday at Joystiq. Apparently, there are already rumors and heresay about what exactly happened, so let me just set the record straight on the events … from the inside of Joystiq’s crude belly.

First of all, I mean no ill will toward Joystiq and the guys that run it. They are trying to do their thing, and I respect that. But, overall, I feel that they are headed in a direction that was counter to what I felt was the real reason I visited it and other gaming blogs in the first place. I went to game blogs to not only get info quickly without resorting to sites like IGN, but also to have a little fun with the whole thing. Afterall, isn’t that what video games are supposed to be, fun?

I feel Joystiq takes themselves WAY too seriously and that’s evident in their over reaction to the fan over reaction to my post. Was I wrong in teasing to later events? Maybe, but that’s all subjective isn’t it? And let me tell you, my purpose was not to create undue hype or bring traffic to the site. All I wanted to do was let the readers know they could come to Joystiq for the news and not some other site. Where’s the wrong in that?

Anyway, Joystiq knew the news (I told them) and they knew I was posting a note to let readers know to come back later. If they, at any point, thought I was sensationalizing things or was not in line with their “mission,” then they had an entire day to edit or take down the note. But, of course, they left it up. Why?

So, in order to save face (from what, I have no idea), they decided to run a lame apology which not only looked pathetic, but also put me in a very bad light. I felt running that apology was in poor taste and not professional as it was made to try and ruin my credibility.

Either way, I am very happy to be free from Joystiq’s shackles. From day one, they were very critical of nearly everything I did. I was treated like a child and made to feel like I was basically worth nothing to them — when in fact their traffic increased during my time there and they received a ton of original content and exclusives from me. Now, Destructoid faithful, you’ll be the ones who get that content, as I have now signed on board to contribute to this site. And happily, I might add. I want to have fun with blogging, I want to be free, and most importantly I want you, the reader, to have fun with me.

Let me end by saying this, so that we’re clear here: I in no way meant to hype anything. There was no ulterior motive to bring increased traffic. The entire affair was blown way out of proportion. Joystiq fired me because of fan reaction and their fear of losing whatever credibility they think they have. Also, we were both headed in different directions. They wanted content that was long, boring, and obscure. I want to write about fun stuff like rumors, culture, and everything that is humorous out there.

So, I hope you all will accept me with open arms and understand that we’re just here to have a good time.

Joystiq loses any respect I had for them. The guy did absolutely nothing wrong. The internet hyped up that thing, not him. The news that came out was actually more than I expected. I thought it'd be some third party exclusive nobody really cared about. The fact that he got fired for this is mind boggling. It's a blog. The reason people visit sites like Joystiq, ****** (censored for some reason), QJ, 4cr, etc. is because they're more laid back than mainstream sites like GameSpot and IGN (1up is a bit different). Fired over this? Wow.

EDIT: For those who missed where this came from
Hype: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/07/ma...oming-tonight/
News: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/08/sh...y-hint-of-pow/
Apology: http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/08/an...-note-on-hype/

drohne · (09-09-2006, 04:42 AM)

internet: serious business

Bog · (09-09-2006, 04:43 AM)

That's kind of...

Dynamite Shikoku · (09-09-2006, 04:43 AM)

Joystiq sucks balls

jko · (09-09-2006, 04:43 AM)

holy...smokes....
serious business indeed.

Spencerr · (09-09-2006, 04:44 AM)

Joystiq am serious business.

Edit: Wow do I feel original right now -.-

omg rite · (09-09-2006, 04:44 AM)

Wow, that's bullshit

And I really liked Joystiq

Tom the Enchanter · (09-09-2006, 04:44 AM)

Post article and apology.

Rody · (09-09-2006, 04:45 AM)

Poor guy. Now go get a real job.

HomerSimpson-Man · (09-09-2006, 04:45 AM)

Sheesh.

Hayami · (09-09-2006, 04:45 AM)

Let's SMEAR IT!

BorkBork · (09-09-2006, 04:46 AM)

They get paid at gaming blogs?

Polari · (09-09-2006, 04:46 AM)

Uncool.

Y2Kev · (09-09-2006, 04:47 AM)

HOW DO I BROKE NEWS STORY

the year 20XX · (09-09-2006, 04:47 AM)

That didn't seem like anything worth firing a guy over. That's really awful.

Dr. Kitty Muffins · (09-09-2006, 04:47 AM)

I don't understand why he says he has no ill will towards Joystiq but later talks as if he had major issues with them.

JoJo13 · (09-09-2006, 04:48 AM)

Joystiq?

Odysseus · (09-09-2006, 04:48 AM)

OK, so he was fired. From... uh... what? Does Joystiq actually pay people?

impirius · (09-09-2006, 04:48 AM)

save the drama for yo mama

Bog · (09-09-2006, 04:49 AM)

Originally Posted by Hayami:

Let's SMEAR IT!

Not a bad idea.

jobber · (09-09-2006, 04:49 AM)

Originally Posted by drohne:

internet: serious business

damn right son

PepsimanVsJoe · (09-09-2006, 04:49 AM)

That shit just ain't cool.

Agent X · (09-09-2006, 04:50 AM)

Originally Posted by Firestorm:

Joystiq loses any respect I had for them. The guy did absolutely nothing wrong. The internet hyped up that thing, not him. The news that came out was actually more than I expected. I thought it'd be some third party exclusive nobody really cared about. The fact that he got fired for this is mind boggling. It's a blog. The reason people visit sites like Joystiq, ****** (censored for some reason), QJ, 4cr, etc. is because they're more laid back than mainstream sites like GameSpot and IGN (1up is a bit different). Fired over this? Wow.

Wow, indeed. That really sucks.

And I agree with most of what you said above. The news did get blown out of proportion, but it seemed to be caused by rampant fan speculation rather than any wrongdoing on Robert's part. In any case, it's genuine news, which was later reported on CNET and other sites. How users choose to interpret it is up to them.

Joseph Merrick · (09-09-2006, 04:50 AM)

sheesh. didn't give a shit about joystiq before, even less shit is given now. what pathetic nerds

Faizal · (09-09-2006, 04:50 AM)

You can get paid writing dumb rumours for a gaming blog? What the heck?

Ponn01 · (09-09-2006, 04:50 AM)

OHHH it's a blogger fight! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

Firestorm · (09-09-2006, 04:50 AM)

Originally Posted by Odysseus:

OK, so he was fired. From... uh... what? Does Joystiq actually pay people?

Yes, most of the major blogs pay people to write for them. I don't know how it's done on ****** or Joystiq because I don't work for them. I'm fairly sure they get paid though.

Scalemail Ted · (09-09-2006, 04:51 AM)

Is that a pancake?

DarienA · (09-09-2006, 04:51 AM)

That was something worth getting fired over?!?!?! So why do a few folks over at IGN still have jobs? ;)

Smiles and Cries · (09-09-2006, 04:52 AM)

stupid to fire him over that... it was all GAF's fault... we start a thread all the rest of the interweb tries to match us... the servers here even suffered

Damn even the Drinky Puppy Club made it to MTV from here

don't fire him over GAF bashing show some balls and own up to it by releasing some good Wii news next week

drohne · (09-09-2006, 04:52 AM)

are joystiq writers paid in the first place? does he really mean "fired" when he says "fired"?

Kangu · (09-09-2006, 04:53 AM)

Someone shot us up the blog.

PantherLotus · (09-09-2006, 04:53 AM)

Joystiq didn't really have a choice.

+1 for them, leaving them at -10

Oldschoolgamer · (09-09-2006, 04:54 AM)

Originally Posted by DarienA:

That was something worth getting fired over?!?!?! So why do a few folks over at IGN still have jobs? ;)

LOL

kojacker · (09-09-2006, 04:55 AM)

Serves the twat right

/compassion

DarienA · (09-09-2006, 04:55 AM)

Originally Posted by PantherLotus:

Joystiq didn't really have a choice.

+1 for them, leaving them at -10

Explain

Dr. Kitty Muffins · (09-09-2006, 04:56 AM)

Originally Posted by Firestorm:

Yes, most of the major blogs pay people to write for them. I don't know how it's done on ****** or Joystiq because I don't work for them. I'm fairly sure they get paid though.

Probably didn't pay him enough to quit his day job though, I assume.

DECK'ARD · (09-09-2006, 04:58 AM)

He should have waited till 12:01 to post this.

NomarTyme · (09-09-2006, 04:58 AM)

Wow, this is some serious shit.

forgeforsaken · (09-09-2006, 04:59 AM)

Originally Posted by Smiles and Cries:

stupid to fire him over that... it was all GAF's fault...

I wouldn't say it was GAFs fault by any means. He overblew the announcement in his article with his "...you have our word that this announcement is something worth waiting for" line.

bumpkin · (09-09-2006, 04:59 AM)

Okay, wait a minute... What exactly did this guy get "fired" for?

Edit: Nevermind... See the links that were posted explaining.

Dr. Kitty Muffins · (09-09-2006, 05:00 AM)

Originally Posted by DarienA:

That was something worth getting fired over?!?!?! So why do a few folks over at IGN still have jobs? ;)

A measely blog has wayyyy stricter standards than a big site like IGN.

Oh my this is funny.

For some odd reason, this brings me back to the days when Gamespot and IGN people used to post at Teamxbox and other forums to defend their sites "good name".

Tom the Enchanter · (09-09-2006, 05:01 AM)

WHY IN THE HELL DID THEY FIRE HIM?!

He did nothing wrong. Raagh, I hate people.

Smiles and Cries · (09-09-2006, 05:01 AM)

Originally Posted by forgeforsaken:

I wouldn't say it was GAFs fault by any means. He overblew the announcement in his article with his "...you have our word that this announcement is something worth waiting for" line.

Matt still has a job

Quote:

Oct. 27 would be nice.

Matt

FirstInHell · (09-09-2006, 05:02 AM)

He deserved to get fired. I think it was a cheap attempt to get hits over to the site. You cannot promote some exclusive news and not deliver. He was completley misleading in his hyping of the news. He Got what he deserved.

impirius · (09-09-2006, 05:04 AM)

I can't get over how huge this is

Has Wikipedia been updated yet

SHOTEH FOCK OP · (09-09-2006, 05:05 AM)

Fired from a blog. LOL.

That would be one secret I probably wouldn't tell anyone.

Joeroll · (09-09-2006, 05:06 AM)

Lol blog drama.

Ark-AMN · (09-09-2006, 05:07 AM)

Where's the gif of those Frog brothers?

Dr. Kitty Muffins · (09-09-2006, 05:07 AM)

Originally Posted by Smiles and Cries:

Matt still has a job

Way back in the day, I remember Matt's GAF/IGN forum posts get being reposted in forums all over the net with fanboys speculating like crazed mad men over every little tiny thing he said.