Report: GameSpot's Gerstmann Fired Due to Negative Kane & Lynch Review

Vikingod · Nov 29, 2007, 11:03 PM

Source: ShackNews
______________
Rumors have been swirling today that Jeff Gerstmann, executive editor at CNET-owned major video game site GameSpot, was fired after giving a generally unimpressed review of Io Interactive's Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. Gerstmann awarded the game a 6.0. (Though Shacknews does not score its reviews, our own Kane & Lynch review was similar in its verdict.)

According to the reports, the layoff came after Kane & Lynch publisher Eidos took issue with the review and threatened to pull its considerable ad contract. GameSpot's front page is currently almost entirely re-skinned with Kane & Lynch imagery.

The rumor began bouncing around various industry circles over the past day, and this evening was reported by Kotaku. Popular webcomic Penny Arcade posted a strip about the alleged incident tonight, outside of its normal publishing schedule.

OmegaRED · Nov 29, 2007, 11:28 PM

I can't wait to see how Gamespot responds to these accusations. That's the first site I go to for game reviews (love the video reviews) and there's been lots of criticism on the forums about biased ratings. I guess we know now there's some truth to that.

BlueMak · Nov 30, 2007, 04:09 AM

I like his reviews. I don't always agree with him, but he seems honest. I am glad I quit my subscription to gamespot.

Also interesting that the USER score at their site is even lower at 4.5

***Zardon*** · Nov 30, 2007, 05:04 AM

the game is rubbish, 6 is a fair rating. id give it 5.

WhO_KnOwS · Nov 30, 2007, 06:29 AM

Makes you wonder about the scores these sites give out though, doesn't it?

Customgamer1 · Nov 30, 2007, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhO_KnOwS

Makes you wonder about the scores these sites give out though, doesn't it?

Well I knew some times it's all about who is getting paid. Gamespot must have god a sum of money from them for ads and in turn would give the game a higher score? He must not have got the memo lol?

Anyways thats crap someone gets fired over 1 review plus the game sucked anyways.

YAYitsAndrew · Nov 30, 2007, 10:55 AM

Some other dude who works for CNET (parent company) quit today without saying why. I hope this airs out any bias in the gamespot reviews and puts some slaps on the wrists.

***Zardon*** · Nov 30, 2007, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YAYitsAndrew

Some other dude who works for CNET (parent company) quit today without saying why. I hope this airs out any bias in the gamespot reviews and puts some slaps on the wrists.

mmm. Not sure how two people leaving who are perhaps being honest would help that, unless you mean the negative publicity surrounding gamespot today?

Zelig · Nov 30, 2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhO_KnOwS

Makes you wonder about the scores these sites give out though, doesn't it?

I find better reviews are often from smaller review sites, and from people's opinions on forums.

I'll often check the top and bottom couple reviews from gamerankings.com, I find that helps give me a decent idea of the good things, and problems with the game I'm interested in.

And actually, good demos are a major plus for me, if I'm interested in a game with a good-looking demo available, I'll often try that, make up my own opinion, and skip reading reviews for the game.

OmegaRED · Nov 30, 2007, 04:05 PM

Best thing about Gamespot is you see who the reviewers are and can tell most of the time if they're full of it or really psyched about a game. Plus, some of the reviews are fun like the Oblivion review/marathon.

Vikingod · Nov 30, 2007, 10:24 PM

The story continues... GameSpot denies Eidos pressured firing of Gerstmann

Skull · Dec 2, 2007, 09:57 AM

Eidos forums were rather wild a while ago

http://home.comcast.net/~olsen31/Images/eidos.jpg

**temeteus82** · Dec 2, 2007, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skull

Eidos forums were rather wild a while ago

http://home.comcast.net/~olsen31/Images/eidos.jpg

yeah looks like they have some serious issues now... oh well time will tell how it goes but all this is bad PR for both companies me thinks. In my eyes they have lost credibility to zero or close to it...

BlueMak · Dec 2, 2007, 10:38 AM

Good, I hope they get hurt over this.

Nov 29, 2007, 11:03 PM	#1
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,149 Rep Power: 85 System Specs	Report: GameSpot's Gerstmann Fired Due to Negative Kane & Lynch Review Source: ShackNews ______________ Rumors have been swirling today that Jeff Gerstmann, executive editor at CNET-owned major video game site GameSpot, was fired after giving a generally unimpressed review of Io Interactive's Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. Gerstmann awarded the game a 6.0. (Though Shacknews does not score its reviews, our own Kane & Lynch review was similar in its verdict.) According to the reports, the layoff came after Kane & Lynch publisher Eidos took issue with the review and threatened to pull its considerable ad contract. GameSpot's front page is currently almost entirely re-skinned with Kane & Lynch imagery. The rumor began bouncing around various industry circles over the past day, and this evening was reported by Kotaku. Popular webcomic Penny Arcade posted a strip about the alleged incident tonight, outside of its normal publishing schedule. __________________ *How You Can Help DriverHeaven By Using Digg*

Nov 29, 2007, 11:28 PM	#2
OmegaRED In Fedor We Trust Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 4,788 Rep Power: 85 System Specs	I can't wait to see how Gamespot responds to these accusations. That's the first site I go to for game reviews (love the video reviews) and there's been lots of criticism on the forums about biased ratings. I guess we know now there's some truth to that. __________________

Nov 30, 2007, 04:09 AM	#3
BlueMak DH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 8,246 Rep Power: 118 System Specs	I like his reviews. I don't always agree with him, but he seems honest. I am glad I quit my subscription to gamespot. Also interesting that the USER score at their site is even lower at 4.5 __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Nov 30, 2007, 06:29 AM	#5
WhO_KnOwS The Knows Mister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Slovenia, Europe Posts: 415 Rep Power: 41	Makes you wonder about the scores these sites give out though, doesn't it? __________________ How you can help DriverHeaven by using Digg!

Nov 30, 2007, 10:55 AM	#7
YAYitsAndrew Anti-Piracy Poster Boy Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,583 Rep Power: 64 System Specs	Some other dude who works for CNET (parent company) quit today without saying why. I hope this airs out any bias in the gamespot reviews and puts some slaps on the wrists. __________________ "It is because the resistance to paying for copyrighted material, although often characterized as arising from a supposed technical burden or principled concern for the public interest, arises rather from exactly the same segment of the brain that is dominant in shoplifters." - Mark Helprin, Digital Barbarism So you think piracy isn't hurting anyone? www.yayitsandrew.com

Nov 30, 2007, 05:04 AM	#4
*Zardon* enchanted Join Date: May 2002 Location: Driverheaven Posts: 32,260 Rep Power: 3150	the game is rubbish, 6 is a fair rating. id give it 5.

Nov 30, 2007, 04:05 PM	#10
OmegaRED In Fedor We Trust Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 4,788 Rep Power: 85 System Specs	Best thing about Gamespot is you see who the reviewers are and can tell most of the time if they're full of it or really psyched about a game. Plus, some of the reviews are fun like the Oblivion review/marathon. __________________

Nov 30, 2007, 10:24 PM	#11
Vikingod Int'l Fish Liaison Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: By the light of lamp I sit and type... Posts: 16,149 Rep Power: 85 System Specs	The story continues... GameSpot denies Eidos pressured firing of Gerstmann __________________ *How You Can Help DriverHeaven By Using Digg*

Dec 2, 2007, 09:57 AM	#12
Skull Boney Admin Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: somewhere over the rainbow Posts: 659 Rep Power: 43	Eidos forums were rather wild a while ago http://home.comcast.net/~olsen31/Images/eidos.jpg

Dec 2, 2007, 10:38 AM	#14
BlueMak DH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 8,246 Rep Power: 118 System Specs	Good, I hope they get hurt over this. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*