Spot On: GameSpot on Gerstmann
SPECIAL REPORT: Following days of controversy and the first post-Jeff podcast, GameSpot answers burning questions about the most controversial staff change in its history.
For the past week, controversy has rocked the game news media--a controversy that originated here at GameSpot. The affair began last Wednesday when near-11-year veteran reviewer Jeff Gerstmann's tenure as editorial director ended. In keeping with the human-resources procedures of GameSpot parent company CNET Networks and in accordance with California State Law, no public comment was initially made about his departure.
HotSpot on Gerstmann
In the void of information that followed, numerous conspiracy theories sprang up. First and foremost was that, as a result of pressure from publisher Eidos Interactive, GameSpot terminated Gerstmann because of his review of the multiplatform game Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. The game was released on November 13, 2007 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. (The PC version of the game was released on November 20, but has not yet been reviewed.)
Hundreds of reports pointed to the fact that the Kane & Lynch video review was pulled and the text review's copy was altered as evidence substantiating this hypothesis. In many readers' eyes, the fact that the entire GameSpot site was "skinned" with advertisements promoting Kane & Lynch all but confirmed the theory behind his firing. In the gaming press, the subsequent furor has been dubbed "Gerstmanngate."
Due to legal restrictions and corporate HR policy, GameSpot could not initially comment on Gerstmann's departure. Though the site officially addressed the issue on Monday, the full story behind his exit could not be told--until now.
In the spirit of full disclosure to our readership, GameSpot News has been provided the following answers by management to the questions below regarding the circumstances surrounding Gerstmann's exit.
Q: Was Jeff fired?
A: Jeff was terminated on November 28, 2007, following an internal review process by the managerial team to which he reported.
Q: Why was Jeff fired?
A: Legally, the exact reasons behind his dismissal cannot be revealed. However, they stemmed from issues unrelated to any publisher or advertiser; his departure was due purely for internal reasons.
Q: Why was the Kane & Lynch review text altered?
A: Jeff's supervisors and select members of the edit team felt the review's negativity did not match its "fair" 6.0 rating. The copy was adjusted several days after its publication so that it better meshed with its score, which remained unchanged. The achievements and demerits it received were also left unaltered. Additionally, clarifications were made concerning the game's multiplayer mode and to include differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game.
Q: Why was the Kane & Lynch video review taken down?
A: Both the text and video reviews of Kane & Lynch went up on Tuesday, November 13. The morning of Wednesday, November 14, the video was taken down due to concerns of quality. Specifically, its audio was deemed inferior due to a faulty microphone. There were also concerns about the limited amount of footage, which was unrepresentative of the game in the review.
Q: Why wasn't the video immediately reposted?
A: Due to the crush of high-profile games being released the following week, there were insufficient resources to reshoot and re-edit the video review.
Q: Why hasn't the video review been reposted since the "Gerstmanngate" controversy broke?
A: A determination was made by GameSpot Live, GameSpot's multimedia division, that reposting it would seem reactive and might exacerbate an inflamed situation. However, in the spirit of full disclosure, it has since been reposted, and is viewable on the site in its original form (See above). For those who want to be sure that it has not been altered after the fact, the video review is also available on YouTube for comparison purposes.
Q: Was Eidos Interactive upset by the game's review?
A: It has been confirmed that Eidos representatives expressed their displeasure to their appropriate contacts at GameSpot, but not to editorial directly. It was not the first time a publisher has voiced disappointment with a game review, and it won't be the last. However, it is strict GameSpot policy never to let any such feelings result in a review score to be altered or a video review to be pulled.
Q: Did Eidos' disappointment cause Jeff to be terminated?
A: Absolutely not.
Q: Did Eidos' disappointment cause the alteration of the review text?
A: Absolutely not.
Q: Did Eidos' disappointment lead to the video review being pulled down?
A: Absolutely not.
Q: Why was GameSpot "skinned" with Kane & Lynch ads when Jeff was terminated?
A: Due to design and development considerations, media buys on GameSpot are made weeks in advance. The timing of said ads was extremely unfortunate but was purely coincidental and determined solely by the game's release date of November 13, 2007.
Q: Why did the Kane & Lynch ads disappear from GameSpot right as the "Gerstmanngate" controversy began to heat up?
A: Advertising sales on GameSpot are sold by the day. The end of the Kane & Lynch "skin" promotion had been predetermined long beforehand. Internal documentation filed before the review appeared shows that the site skin was scheduled to run from November 17 to 29, 2007. Site-wide ad campaigns automatically change at midnight, hence the "skin" being removed after hours.
Q: Was Jeff's termination somehow tied to the departure of former GameSpot Live managing producer Tim Tracy?
A: No. Tim and Jeff are childhood friends and had been colleagues until Tim transferred over to other CNET Networks Entertainment properties. His exit was completely unrelated.
Q: Why didn't GameSpot write about Jeff's departure sooner?
A: Due to HR procedures and legal considerations, unauthorized CNET Networks and GameSpot employees are forbidden from commenting on the employment status of current and former employees. This practice has been in effect for years, and the CNET public-relations department stuck to that in the days following Jeff's termination. However, the company is now making an exception due to the widespread misinformation that has spread since Jeff's departure.
Q: When will the PC version of Kane & Lynch be reviewed?
A: We haven't decided when that will happen.
Q: GameSpot's credibility has been called into question as a result of this incident. What is being done to repair and rebuild it?
A: This article is one of the first steps toward restoring users' faith in GameSpot, and an internal review of the incident and controversy is under way. However, at no point in its history has GameSpot ever deviated from its review guidelines, which are publicly listed on the site. Great pains are taken to keep sales and editorial separated to prevent any impression of impropriety.
For years, GameSpot has been known for maintaining the highest ethical standards and having the most reliable and informative game reviews, previews, and news on the Web. The colleagues and friends that Jeff leaves behind here at GameSpot intend to keep it that way.
For a special report on Jeff Gerstmann's dismissal and a tribute to his legacy, tune in tomorrow to GameSpot's weekly live webcast, On the Spot. For a personal look at Gerstmann's exit, listen to the latest HotSpot podcast in which host Vincent Caravella discusses the controversial event with longtime Gerstmann colleagues Ricardo Torres, Ryan MacDonald, Alex Navarro, and Ryan Davis.
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2987 Comments
at least brad shoemaker's still here
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I've finally found out what happened to Jeff, after I saw comments on him I just wondered what happened. Now I know.
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I smell bullsh1t
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O what a bunch of BS
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Whatever the technicality of why Jeff's video review, or even text review, of Kane & Lynch may be, your journalism in the gaming industry is despicable and you, Gamespot, will forever be hated by the former fans, and former employers, of your site.
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i can see how luigi's comment makes him so mature...COUGH
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@The_Luigi
You're right, not every game has to have a "goody two-shoes character" but what Jeff was trying to say was the character's personalities were so bad that the player would not like them. Take the GTA series for example, the characters in the game are not all "good two-shoes" but most of the time they have such a great personality that you actually care about what happens to them.
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@SidV101
His review for this game was pretty bad. ie Whining about how the characters were unlikeable? That's just laughable, not every game must have a good two-shoes character all gamer neckbeards can relate with.
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excuse me? you say you're credible but you don't say why he was fired except that it was for "internal reasons" yeah, real specific. Maybe it wasn't because of the review but we still have a right to know what the reason is then.
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still true?
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@ The_Luigi
How the hell could you call Jeff mediocre? He was one of the coolest and most interesting guys on this site! He always wrote fair reviews and he never should have been fired over a stupid advertising problem. And for anyone thinking that his being fired didn't have anything to do with Eidos and CNet. . . you're an ignorant douche.
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I love how the comments here boil down to "Waaaah waaaah we are a bunch of pre-prepubescent butthurt nerds, I have never played X game but I'm gonna bash it anyway because a mediocre reviewer got fired!"
Classic.
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i dont know gertsmann that much but i truly support that guy. I also think that his review has nothing wrong with it. Its gamespot's job to review games, and criticize it if necessary. Gamespot has the right to hold games at a high standard and no company could change or try to change that standard. Developers should be thankful for that kind of sites cause it gives them more insight on how to improve their games.
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i wish he wasn't fired I'm glad he made his own site: giantbomb.com
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Honestly I think the Kane and Lynch has nothing to do with it. I honestly think it was another reason that either violates some conduct thing or something like fooling around Really bad or something.
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That what happen when business comes over, shame on Eidos really the game sucks totally and Jeff Gerstmann were right . now gamespot loses their credibility I'll watch my futur review on 1up.com .btw stop covering up this scandal .
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I blame management for ruining Gamespot for so many loyal readers and staff.
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Wow, that article was total bull **** I don't see how they think it's going to help rebuild their credibility, it's destroyed it for most of us. I'm serious, they sound like a politician who's just barely able to cover up the huge scandal they just caused. X_X
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The On the Spot explained nothing! Neither did the article.
It's all a cover-up. C-Net is a group of idiots
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Terrible Game.
Terrible attitude from Gamespot.
Shame on you and Eidos.
End of discussion.
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I'm glad I canceled my subscription. I saw the signs last year when they started to change everything and you could catch glimpses of the 'corporate machine' running this show. F*** gamespot, I don't give a d@mn if they ban this account. They aren't worth a s*** anymore anyways. First Kasavin, then Gallup, and most recently Navarro and Gerstmann. It's never a good sign when the people who are the heart and soul of something start jumping ship. Haha, maybe all the articles from now on will be written by "Staff". How's that for connecting with your clients? See you in the life rafts folks, the Titanic is goin' down.
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The game SUCKS ! What gamespot did, fiering jeff gerstmann was PURE TRASH !! They did that because they are slaves to money. Its totaly true i see no ther reason except the publisher threat them . Shame on you gamespot.. he was with you guys for soooo manny years and he was good. SHAME ON GAMESPOT ! this is the last time i enter this site.
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This is all **** all my favorite guys on on the spot are now all quit or fired. Been coming to this site for a decade. I hope Gerstmann does start up a new site... I know I'll be there.
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At least Gamespot have tired to answer some questions here about why Jeff left but the fact remains that Gamespot's reviews system looks in doubt. Who is next to leave I wonder?
Gamespot is one place to see game reviews but it's not the only place. To get a balanced view look around.
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anyone guess that maybe he was fired because he was a crappy reviewer?
i'm playing k&l right now and frankly, the game is amazing! i have no idea what people are complaining about.
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Yeah talk about a joke. Just because a game sucked ass doesn't mean a guy deserved to lose his job. Maybe Eidos should fire some people interaly for making such a steaming pile of dung. I enjoy gamespot and I base a lot of my purcahses off their reviews. Now I am more liable to blow my money on a worthless game because of the bias reviews and money being thrown around. The consumer, and Jeff, lose in this case.
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Its not fair we cant find out why he left.
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I never thought gamespot was so corrupt! Do they really think anyone will believe their lies? I mean its SO obvious, they removed his video and changd the text in his review... They are just making it worse for themselves by lying about it! Well, at least I will never ever, ever, EVER trust gamespot again! I hope all users end thier subscriptions...
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HE WAS HONEST !!!!
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He was one of the best and honest reviewer . but he was very angry about Kane & lynch and turned the game into a trash. let me add something: he was quite right the game S****. he was honest .
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He was one of the best and honest reviewer . but he was very angry about Kane & lynch and turned the game into a trash.
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He was one of the best and honest reviewer . but he was very angry about Kane & lynch and turned the game into a trash.
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Kane and Lynch sold 1 million copies... so it looks like this was really overblown.
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That game sucks anyway, dont go banning me now
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Everything about this article screams "WE'RE LYING, AND WE THINK YOU'RE STUPID ENOUGH TO BELIEVE EVERY WORD WE SAY!!" great F-- U-- C-- K-- I-- N-- G-- job GameSpot. insult your subscribers intelligences.
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Does Gamespot really think gamers are so dumb that they won't find out a game is s**** after buying it and (trying to) play it? If the review was good, but the game bad, who do you think they're going to blame, for making them buy a s**** game and therefore wasting their money? You need only read the gaming forums to realise that gamers don't trust the Gamespot reviews anymore. These days I only buy games based on other players' opinions and if possible, demos, which is a sad state of affairs.
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Don't believe their lies!
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The problem is that it doesn't matter whether it's true or not, because a question mark is going to remain over the editorial integrity of any future reviews or articles, not just of this site but of any site on the CNet Network. I gave it a couple of months, but now with the Navarro walk out, I've cancelled my subscription simply on principle because I feel that I will be double guessing anything published here in the future.
Coincidences probably did play a roll here, and the situation was clearly made worse by poor decisions probably made by a weak management structure.
Another reason why a clear line must be seen to be drawn between the Editorial and Advertising. Gamespot obviously aren't worried about losing a few subscriptions over this, but they should worry about the amount of trust and respect which has been.
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Ok, I never like the fat dude, but Kane & Lynch SUCKS! I would've given that game a 4.0 rating. I think he was generous in his review. He's a damn reviewer, let him speak his mind. $*** Eidos, $*** Kane & Lynch, and $*** you too gamespot !!!
Just bring the fat boy back!
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what's happening with gamespot, just tell us the true we are not idiots, now i hate kane & lynch
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FIRE JOSH LARSON!!!!!
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8587828&publicUserId=4561231
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The only "legal" reason they have not to discuss the details of the firing is that they might be sued by Jeff Gerstmann if they lie about the reasons for his firing. Since they clearly want to keep lying about it, they aren't telling.
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I wonder what jeff will do now!
I wish gamespot would just re-hire him!
Everything is dull w/ out him, even ces!
I think a lot more people would return to paying acc.s if you rehired!
I hope jeff is happy but you could have at least given some non-robotic and more logical reasons to why he left, we already know why, you just need to admit it openly!
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i wonder what Jeff is thinking when he reads all this crap about him.
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rehire jeff
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