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CBS Interactive (GameSpot parent company) buys Giant Bomb
- Thread starter snoopeasystreet
- Start date
CloakedPuppet
Member
Good to see blind, naive idealism is alive and kicking. Grow up.
dude, you need to watch what you say. ideals is what this nation was built on.
DevelopmentArrested
Banned
What industry? Because someone who goes around spouting shit like 'ipad 3 will kill consoles' certainly isn't the best of the videogame industry. But we're factually wrong, right.
Is... this sarcasm?
CloakedPuppet
Member
Good thing I'm Canadian.
MikeE21286
Member
Should have bought more subscriptions. This is our fault 
oneils
Member
I kind of wish GB would come clean. I dont think they are being transparent enough. Let us know that this was to save the site. Right now it is being explained as if they needed to do this to take it to the next level. I'm not buying it. I did not watch their whole announcement, though. So, maybe I missed something.
It is a great site and I hope it remains one. good luck gb.
Should have bought more subscriptions. This is our fault
Hopefully this means we're past denial and anger and up to the bargaining stage.
You mean just like when Jeff got fired... oh wait!?
This. A thousand times this.
How many times are people going to doubt this dude? He sticks to his guns, gets fired for sticking to his guns, and people doubt him.
Launches Giantbomb, people doubt him. All he does in response is help create one of the greatest videogame websites out there.
Subscriptions? HOLY SHIT GOD NO GIANTBOMB IS RUINED!!! Except that it isn't, giantbomb continues to be awesome.
UGH FUCKING ADS! GIANTBOMB IS RUINED FUCK THIS SHIT!! Except that it isn't giantbomb continues to be awesome.
FUCKING KLEPEK SHOVED DOWN MY THROAT!! AAGHH I HATE THIS SHIT!! Except that Patrick is awesome, and is actually 1000 times more open and friendly to the fans than any of core group. (Seriously, Patrick has answered me directly a few times, and it made my day)
WHAT GODMAN MEEBO BAR IS RAPING ME!! Except that it isn't, giant bomb continues to be awesome.
Obviously these examples are hyperbole, but they aren't hyperbole by much. I hate how negative the internet gets anyways, but I especially hate it when it's against a group of people who have come through every single time you've doubted them.
P.S. The guys who sit and doubt Jeff's sincerity and integrity can go fuck themselves, he has done nothing but prove he has both in spades for the past decade.
SteveWinwood
Member
Idealism.
Should have bought more subscriptions. This is our fault
I was thinking this too, haha.
Not really thrilled about this. I really enjoy Giantbomb, and I hate Gamespot. After all that Gertsmann-gate stuff, this feels like a symbolic defeat. The team that leaves to protect their journalistic integrity returns to make more money!
jediyoshi
Member
Watch the interview and it'll all sink in.
The Antitype
Banned
Ugh. The stupidity in this post... it felt like a punch to the gut.
Just like George Washington.
transience
Member
I wish we could know what the conversation was like when this was brought to them for the first time. That could have made one hell of a video.
brianmcdoogle
Member
I want a new official Giantbomb iPad app now that they have that CBS money.
Not to single you out, but I think it does Jeff and co a HUGE disservice to assume that they're somehow not being honest about this.
Hey Jeff!
BudokaiMR2
Member
Hah. Wait, do you remember how Giant Bomb came about?
I don't really care as I don't go to many gaming news sites outside of researching for work, but still....
History tends to repeat itself.
Mr. Enigma
Member
Jake Tower
Banned
First the ME3 ending, now this.
Jeff has actually already posted in this thread, pretty sure.
It is likely not that simple. Angel investors are not a charity - eventually they seek a return on their investment. And that usually means selling assets and coming out clean, not funding startups forever. Giant Bomb is steadily growing not shrinking, and even if it seems callous that is a great time for investors to start seeking out potential buyers. Especially if the financial outlook for 2-3 years down the line is cloudy. By going to a parent company that gets what they do and wants them to do more of it, it gives Giant Bomb room to grow and hopefully with bigger budgets and better advertising support.
That's a lot of speculation, and there are obvious tradeoffs to no longer being completely independent. But I still think there could have been way worse fits, especially if investors got desperate and didn't really care where they ended up, so long as they made their money back.
I love you for this post.
Jeff is Monsterdunk on the forums dude. (I realize your being sarcastic, but this is for anyone who didn't realize that and thought there might've been a kernel of truth in what you said).
SatelliteOfLove
Member
This is my only real concern at the moment: I still remember all those Gamepros I bought during his tenure, and what happened last November.
Agreed with everything apart from this, no one likes Klepek and nobody wants him around.
GillianSeed79
Member
If they fuck with the GOTY deliberation podcasts there will be no limit to the amount of tables I will overturn and magazine racks that will be knocked over. We got Jeff on tape asking Davison for 5-hour E3 podcasts. I respect you John. It's on tape you here me. ON TAPE. I shall hold you to that handshake.
Very controversial stance you are taking.
outunderthestars
Banned
I like Patrick, and think he brings an interesting perspective to the site.
Angry Fork
Member
Has Jeff talked about the firing debacle yet. If not when?
Also perhaps the most reasonable.
Already did, its on their twitch.tv page.
Ah, come on. I think he brings a pretty hard-nosed journalistic edge to the team. He tries very hard to be investigative, and his editorial pieces are always interesting to read.
He's one of the only video game journalists I can think of who actually has a passion for journalism.
Harlock
Member
Pretty much amen, man.
While I'm afraid that the buyout might negatively impact Giant Bomb at some point, I'm glad that they're getting resources and are now financially backed. It'll be weird to see them do videos from a standard office with cubicles and not Whiskey Media central but I'm sure they'll have it all decked out and crazy in no time. I'm really glad for them.
GillianSeed79
Member
Yeah, I like Patrick too. Besides, he's the “hard news” face of the site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsQN0myBWMY starts 6 minutes in
I thought he was terrible during the 1UP days but gave him a chance when he joined GB. In the beginning when he was on here and there he was decent once he became a permanant part of the bombcast he just went back downhill for me.
I like Klepek and I think he's one of the only true gaming journalists in this industry.
I should say that even though I'm a bit skeptical now, final judgement is reserved until it becomes obvious that the new set-up doesn't compromise that good ol' Giantbomb style. My concern's solely out of love. Giant Bomb's entire existence is based off a foundation of integrity and transparency. Besides being awesome, those are the concepts that set them apart, and I'd hate to see them compromised.
Besides all that boring stuff, the one thing I'll miss for sure is the "35 year old kids in the basement" vibe that all of Whiskey Media gives off
Besides all that boring stuff, the one thing I'll miss for sure is the "35 year old kids in the basement" vibe that all of Whiskey Media gives off
Just watched the TwitchTV footage. Glad to finally hear what happened to Jeff and I am more confident that he just wants to make GiantBomb bigger and crazier. I look forward to their new rush of content and where the site goes next.
I am kinda like having Patrick on board. His way or drawing out interesting news articles is pretty refreshing. Yes he does talk a bit fast on the Podcast but he is at least more entertaining than the Interns.
I am kinda like having Patrick on board. His way or drawing out interesting news articles is pretty refreshing. Yes he does talk a bit fast on the Podcast but he is at least more entertaining than the Interns.
shadyspace
Banned
I've thought of Patrick the most during this whole situation. How odd it must be for him, being the most recent hire, not even around for a year, and facing this big move. A move that is a hugely symbolic one to all of your coworkers, but not you. He definitely stands apart in all of this.
infinityBCRT
Member
I think people need to take a step back and realize that Giant Bomb was a hot commodity in the market. Everyone from IGN to AOL were probably also in the bidding process. Chris Grant mentioned Giant Bomb as really being the only site in games media that stood out above the rest when he had his first interviews after moving to Vox.
And this is not Arianna Huffington taking control of AOL Media either (which caused a bunch of people to leave for Vox). JD is an industry veteran and is not going to censor editorial content. Just go back and listen to GFW radio-- the stuff that they did on that podcast was like 10 times more out there than anything Giant Bomb has ever done. And the fact that they did that under an official MS brand was even more insane.
I'm guessing Jeff had a financial stake in GiantBomb and got paid handsomely for it. The only awkwardness I think was the fact that it seemed as though everyone really only wanted Giant Bomb and not the other sites. But Tested looks like it landed on their feet (at least for now). If anything, I'd be worried about Tested if they aren't able to justify the expansion of their website thats about to happen. But considering 98% of the WM subscribers were there for Giant Bomb, I'm sure GB will be able to carry their own weight at CBS, and even more than before with the savings they will get by sharing space and technology with GameSpot instead of having to carry the load for WM.
Well, he gets to work with John Davison again... so thats something.
And this is not Arianna Huffington taking control of AOL Media either (which caused a bunch of people to leave for Vox). JD is an industry veteran and is not going to censor editorial content. Just go back and listen to GFW radio-- the stuff that they did on that podcast was like 10 times more out there than anything Giant Bomb has ever done. And the fact that they did that under an official MS brand was even more insane.
I'm guessing Jeff had a financial stake in GiantBomb and got paid handsomely for it. The only awkwardness I think was the fact that it seemed as though everyone really only wanted Giant Bomb and not the other sites. But Tested looks like it landed on their feet (at least for now). If anything, I'd be worried about Tested if they aren't able to justify the expansion of their website thats about to happen. But considering 98% of the WM subscribers were there for Giant Bomb, I'm sure GB will be able to carry their own weight at CBS, and even more than before with the savings they will get by sharing space and technology with GameSpot instead of having to carry the load for WM.
Well, he gets to work with John Davison again... so thats something.
Yeah, cuz CBS Interactive is the only company in the world covering video games with some cash in the bank. Srsly.
Had it been ANY OTHER COMPANY IN THE WORLD, this somehow wouldn't seem so completely fucking stupid. I don't give a shit who you are, shit-talking someone for a lack of integrity and then taking their dirty money later is bordering on hypocrisy. Obviously, their behavior wasn't so fucking terrible if the bribe money from review scores is worth taking.