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Penny Arcade 11/30/2007 Jeff Gerstmann fired from Gamespot, allegedly for K&L review
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WasabiKing
Member
within two blocks evenezekial45 said:Both offices located in S.F.
Jeff has an open invitation to come on GFW Radio any time to talk about this. As Shawn and others have said, this (if true, which we DONT know for sure yet) is just the most blatant and sad manifestation of a trend that has been building and building the last few years.
To those of us close to some of the horseshit maneuvers the big publishers have been pulling, it also hardly comes as a surprise--I mean, the part about a game publisher possibly applying pressure to a media outlet about a score. The nightmare here--again, if it's true--is that the media outlet may have buckled to the pressure. That is a fucking betrayal of epic proportions. So let's hope, for everyone's sakes, that there's more to the story than what we're hearing so far.
To those of us close to some of the horseshit maneuvers the big publishers have been pulling, it also hardly comes as a surprise--I mean, the part about a game publisher possibly applying pressure to a media outlet about a score. The nightmare here--again, if it's true--is that the media outlet may have buckled to the pressure. That is a fucking betrayal of epic proportions. So let's hope, for everyone's sakes, that there's more to the story than what we're hearing so far.
White Man said:Fine, I say we ban CNet and Gamespot, then. Not that Cnet shit pops up often.
CNET is a parent company of so, so many websites... if it's at that level, might be hard to completely do away with it here.
Nonetheless, I'd completely support that action.
Superblatt
Member
AgentOtaku said:jesus...is this shit for real?
I know. That was my initial reaction too. But, at this point, I don't really see any other potential reasons that have been introduced for Jeff getting terminated. However, it is really important to note that he did work there for 10 years. Every company, of any decent size, has an HR department.
Unless the executives at Cnet/Gamespot were able to come up with other legitimate reasons outside of "his review scores didn't match our cooperative marketing plan with these publishers" it is highly unlikely this is his official termination justification. No HR department would accept this as a morally sound rationale for firing someone. It might make good reading, it might make good comics, but officially it just doesn't add up. For those of us working in big companies, this is really obvious...isn't it?
No matter how powerful or smart the executives that had him terminated are, they still had to interact with HR and cooperate fully when dealing with his firing plan. And, unless he did something really heinous, he had to be warned multiple times. This is especially true of someone as seasoned as he was. It might appear to be a scandal in the making, but I assure you the powers that be already put a contingency plan in place and have a totally separate and "justifiable" reason for his firing. They knew this would happen.
It's not fun, but it's reality.
rollingstart
Banned
watching the video review, the game looks really bad.
however, the idea for the multiplayer is actually kind of neat, it reminds me of the days I used to...role play inside of The Specialist and me and other guys on the server would choose roles inside Mecklenberg. I was always the Private Detective who was the best, besides the guy who played as Spiderman.
however, the idea for the multiplayer is actually kind of neat, it reminds me of the days I used to...role play inside of The Specialist and me and other guys on the server would choose roles inside Mecklenberg. I was always the Private Detective who was the best, besides the guy who played as Spiderman.
John Dunbar
correct about everything
Firestorm said:Er, this is more over the fact that game publications in general have this issue where game publishers have FAR too much control over content. When someone gets fired because he expressed his opinion in a REVIEW, which in this industry is supposed to tell the reader what is a good game and what isn't, there is a problem.
I agree that it sucks, but the problem was that somebody else owns the site he posted his review on. If they want to have their site to have certain policy when it comes to reviews, it's their right to to choose to let go those who don't fit their mold. As I said, I don't visit Gamespot, and this most certainly won't change that, but I don't feel like there's anything horribly wrong here.
More mod postings
"I just got home. I'm not happy about this. **** CNET and **** Edios. "
BURN THEM!!!!!!
"I just got home. I'm not happy about this. **** CNET and **** Edios. "
BURN THEM!!!!!!
Why ban Gamespot if they didn't do anything wrong?White Man said:Fine, I say we ban CNet and Gamespot, then. Not that Cnet shit pops up often.
None of the GS staff is allowed to comment right now, so we're just as much in the dark as anyone else right now. However, to extrapolate from the comic/rumors, this wouldn't have come from GS, since Jeff is the EIC right now. It would have come from CNet corporate.
White Man said:Fine, I say we ban CNet and Gamespot, then. Not that Cnet shit pops up often.
But how will we get valuable gamespot exclusives otherwise?
Also, despite the fact Jeff was my least favorite reviewer at GS, and would normally not care (maybe even be somewhat glad) that he got fired, this is extremely fucked up.
oh oh oh can we please ban all the CNET sites, they all suck.Amir0x said:CNET is a parent company of so, so many websites... if it's at that level, might be hard to completely do away with it here.
Nonetheless, I'd completely support that action.
If this story turns out to be totally true than that's some really fucked up shit. Wow.
Graphics Horse said:Sure, but their policy of only being sponsored by games that the enjoy means that they don't have to deal with any dilemmas involving angry publishers demanding resignations.
There's money changing hands, pure and simple, it's like being hired as a spokesman by a car company and saying you really like the car, even if you like the car in the first place before you agreed to get hired, YOU ARE STILL THE FUCKING SPOKESMAN and your opinion is tainted by fact that the car company is now paying you to be their spokesman.
I'm not saying Gerstmann's situation is the same, quite the opposite, he ripped K&L a new one in his review DESPITE Eidos putting up ads on Gamespot. In Gerstmann's case he has MORE credibility.
You can ban all of Cnet websites except for GameFAQS please.Amir0x said:CNET is a parent company of so, so many websites... if it's at that level, might be hard to completely do away with it here.
Nonetheless, I'd completely support that action.
California has at will employment. CNet needs no reason to fire an employee.
Superblatt said:No matter how powerful or smart the executives that had him terminated are, they still had to interact with HR and cooperate fully when dealing with his firing plan. And, unless he did something really heinous, he had to be warned multiple times. This is especially true of someone as seasoned as he was. It might appear to be a scandal in the making, but I assure you the powers that be already put a contingency plan in place and have a totally separate and "justifiable" reason for his firing. They knew this would happen.
It's not fun, but it's reality.
GitarooMan
Member
Because they've lost any shred of credibility that they had, this is the moneyhats myth brought to reality potentially.ant1532 said:Why ban Gamespot if they didn't do anything wrong?
The Sphinx said:I'm not certain the mods really know anything over there... Is he a paid employee or just a volunteer? He may be theorizing as much as the rest of us.
GameSpot mods are probably like GameFAQs mods as the two boards have merged. They aren't paid anything, are just volunteers, and get little to no perks. They would have absolutely no idea what's going on this early in the debate. They might get filled in on what to do about topics pertaining to it and maybe the truth so they can shut other users up, but no way in hell he knows what's going on at this moment.
disappeared
Banned
JeffGreen said:Jeff has an open invitation to come on GFW Radio any time to talk about this. As Shawn and others have said, this (if true, which we DONT know for sure yet) is just the most blatant and sad manifestation of a trend that has been building and building the last few years.
To those of us close to some of the horseshit maneuvers the big publishers have been pulling, it also hardly comes as a surprise--I mean, the part about a game publisher possibly applying pressure to a media outlet about a score. The nightmare here--again, if it's true--is that the media outlet may have buckled to the pressure. That is a fucking betrayal of epic proportions. So let's hope, for everyone's sakes, that there's more to the story than what we're hearing so far.
I definitely hope Jeff gets on at least one or two podcasts over at 1UP to discuss this.
I frankly don't care how PA operates their advertising.
At the end of the day, Gabe and Tycho act as marketing and editorial - a fundamental conflict of interest, and ultimately I have to take all their viewpoints with a large grain of salt. But the fact that they jumped on their high fucking horse and tried to bash reviewers for giving AC a bad score puts is pretty much ethical highwire which makes it hilariously hypocritical for PA to be calling CNET out on this.
At the end of the day, Gabe and Tycho act as marketing and editorial - a fundamental conflict of interest, and ultimately I have to take all their viewpoints with a large grain of salt. But the fact that they jumped on their high fucking horse and tried to bash reviewers for giving AC a bad score puts is pretty much ethical highwire which makes it hilariously hypocritical for PA to be calling CNET out on this.
Bye bye MetaCritic and GameFAQs.studio810 said:oh oh oh can we please ban all the CNET sites, they all suck.
If this story turns out to be totally true than that's some really fucked up shit. Wow.
That reminds me, oh most divine Whitus Manigula, I placed thy holy visage upon the wiki as per thy orders; not for several hours, but six days.White Man said:Fine, I say we ban CNet and Gamespot, then. Not that Cnet shit pops up often.
Aaaanyway, this is just appalling. How the fuck can a site do that. This is one of the lowest lows in gaming journalism history. We all joke about moneyhats and people getting fired or taken out by corporate ninjas... it's just so damned shocking when it actually happens.
Amir0x said:CNET is a parent company of so, so many websites... if it's at that level, might be hard to completely do away with it here.
Nonetheless, I'd completely support that action.
Yeah but i fail to see how gamerankings for example would be affected by this kind of stuff. So...no point there.
JeffGreen said:Jeff has an open invitation to come on GFW Radio any time to talk about this. As Shawn and others have said, this (if true, which we DONT know for sure yet) is just the most blatant and sad manifestation of a trend that has been building and building the last few years.
To those of us close to some of the horseshit maneuvers the big publishers have been pulling, it also hardly comes as a surprise--I mean, the part about a game publisher possibly applying pressure to a media outlet about a score. The nightmare here--again, if it's true--is that the media outlet may have buckled to the pressure. That is a fucking betrayal of epic proportions. So let's hope, for everyone's sakes, that there's more to the story than what we're hearing so far.
That's right, fight the power, we ain't standing this shit
Gamespot earns CNET money. They must take one for the team.ant1532 said:Why ban Gamespot if they didn't do anything wrong?
Suburban Cowboy
Member
Apparently Gaf knows Gamespots employees better than Gamespot itself if they didnt expect this sort of thing from gertsman
StopMakingSense
Member
MC Safety said:California has at will employment. CNet needs no reason to fire an employee.
Beat me to it.
Defuser said:You can ban all of Cnet websites except for GameFAQS please.
i'd actually want to keep Metacritic. GameFAQs sucks.
bigmit3737
Member
Defuser said:You can ban all of Cnet websites except for GameFAQS please.
:lol
Exactly.
WasabiKing said:within two blocks even
All the more reason why he should head to 1up.
thetrin
Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
Amir0x said:CNET is a parent company of so, so many websites... if it's at that level, might be hard to completely do away with it here.
Nonetheless, I'd completely support that action.
Burn the fuckers. They need to be taught a lesson.
Lazy vs Crazy said:That is not a 6.0 review. That is a 3.0 review.
I think Gamespot lists 7 as average, though.
Yes please kick that shit out the door.M3wThr33 said:Bye bye MetaCritic and GameFAQs.
Grimm Fandango
Member
You guys are really freaking out over this... I'm waiting for more news.
Superblatt
Member
MC Safety said:California has at will employment. CNet needs no reason to fire an employee.
That's true of many states -- but 99% of companies still give you a reason. I don't know anyone who's ever been fired and and asked "Hey, why did you let me go?" only to be told "We don't need a reason, go pack up your shit."
At will employment gives this flexibility. But believe me...he KNOWS why he was fired. Whether that's the real reason or a made up one to fire him is an entirely different story.
Son of Godzilla
Banned
It's not like anyone actually links to GameFAQs anyway.Amir0x said:i'd actually want to keep Metacritic. GameFAQs sucks.
And Metacritic ain't great anyway.
The point of a ban is to hurt CNET's reputation and revenue. They shouldn't be allowed to shield themselves simply by using multiple URLs.WrikaWrek said:Yeah but i fail to see how gamerankings for example would be affected by this kind of stuff. So...no point there.
That's right, fight the power, we ain't standing this shit
John Dunbar said:I agree that it sucks, but the problem was that somebody else owns the site he posted his review on. If they want to have their site to have certain policy when it comes to reviews, it's their right to to choose to let go those who don't fit their mold. As I said, I don't visit Gamespot, and this most certainly won't change that, but I don't feel like there's anything horribly wrong here.
At the same time, GameSpot has a duty to readers to not let publisher interests get in the way of their opinion pieces. If everything they tell us is what the publishers what us to hear, we can just read the press releases. Reviewers should not be restricted by publisher needs and wants. If they are, the reviews on the site are nothing more than re-worded press releases.
Link648099
Banned
Wow, the people at that corporate office are SO fucking dumb. They just handed a veteran over to some competing site. The more I think about it the more ridiculous it is.
gregor7777
Banned
I think his Bioshock review was shit, and I once made fun of his appearance...but all that said it's too bad he lost his job.
Wish him the best.
Wish him the best.
Amir0x said:i'd actually want to keep Metacritic. GameFAQs sucks.
I don't understand why they have both Metacritic AND GameRankings.
For what its worth, Jeff still has his "Staff" emblem in his profile... http://www.gamespot.com/users/Jeff
Amir0x said:CNET is a parent company of so, so many websites... if it's at that level, might be hard to completely do away with it here.
Nonetheless, I'd completely support that action.
Other CNET websites include GameSpot, GameFAQs, Metacritic, MP3.com, TV.com, and FilmSpot, which operate under the "CNET Networks Entertainment" brand name; Chow, Chowhound, Webshots, UrbanBaby and Consumating, which operate under the "CNET Networks Community" brand; Webware, a blog launched in November 2006 dedicated to web applications.[7]
CNET owns many domain names, including download.com, upload.com, news.com, search.com, tv.com, mp3.com, chat.com, computers.com, help.com, shopper.com, radio.com, and com.com.
I don't see anything that's not worth losing if an across the board ban was in place. On the other hand, I think limiting to CNet and Gamestop is largely good enough. The head and the one tentacle that we know is rotten.
The Sphinx said:I'm not certain the mods really know anything over there... Is he a paid employee or just a volunteer? He may be theorizing as much as the rest of us.
That guy probably was picked to be a mod and not on Gamespots payroll or editorial staff. Still, in my experience, the mods have direct access to the editors and staff and I imagine he pulled his info from mod/staff only forum or discussion.
Superblatt
Member
No_Style said:I don't understand why they have both Metacritic AND GameRankings.
Gives the illusion of competition when you actually own both. It's a really common corp practice.
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