GameTap axes editorial staff

  • By Polybren, GameSpot
  • Posted May 28, 2008 3:51 pm PT

Last summer, online rental service GameTap expanded its offerings to include a full-featured gaming site with news, reviews, previews, and video programming. To help get the initiative off the ground, the company picked up a number of veteran writers who had previously worked for GameSpot, IGN, and...

Last summer, online rental service GameTap expanded its offerings to include a full-featured gaming site with news, reviews, previews, and video programming. To help get the initiative off the ground, the company picked up a number of veteran writers who had previously worked for GameSpot, IGN, and other high-profile enthusiast publications.

Today, the service announced a change in direction, and one of its employees confirmed to GameSpot that the change is resulting in layoffs for the entire editorial team. GameTap creative director Ricardo Sanchez announced the revamp on the service's forums.

"While we have been very happy with the work done by our editorial and video teams, we've made a decision to focus the business on our biggest strength, which is our game catalog," Sanchez wrote. "As a result, we will be restructuring the site to focus exclusively on gameplay."

Visitors of the site will notice that "Read" and "Watch" areas that currently house editorial content will instead be integrated directly into GameTap's individual game pages in the future.

35 Comments

  • Gaming-Gavan

    Posted May 30, 2008 10:31 am PT

    I've enjoyed gametap for it game catalog, but not it's news. it was the right thing to do, but I feel sorry for the people that loss there job, but now they will most likely get jobs at some other gaming site that does a better news Job. Now I wish gametap would start working on a windows 64bit fix, because I'm stuck on that now, and it pissing me off I can't play the games I want on there service!! If you have a 32bit version of windows, I believe it worth the money!!

  • gamehostreviews

    Posted May 29, 2008 2:04 pm PT

    As long as they keep the price low, that's what counts.

  • Hvac0120

    Posted May 29, 2008 12:49 pm PT

    I never read their news & reviews anyway. I was only there to download and play the games. Sad that people are getting laid off, but that's how it goes.

  • Megawizard1

    Posted May 29, 2008 11:29 am PT

    I never even bothered to look at review on GT; was never a point for it. Most of the time it didn't even pertain to one of the games in their repertoire.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted May 29, 2008 10:21 am PT

    Everyone complains about the reviews and stuff anyhow. Now they can focus on giving the games and letting us make our own choices. With some odd 40+ sites all trying to do reviews and be relevant it's a no brainer to focus on one thing instead of trying to do it all... especially the part no one agrees with or just complains about.

    PS: on a somewhat funny note, I bet they heard about it by one of those editorial writers wanting their job back at GS... I bet that was an interesting conversation.

  • LinconSixEcho

    Posted May 29, 2008 10:21 am PT

    That just sucks for those employees. Getting fired is never fun, especially in this sort of economy.

  • kos1085

    Posted May 29, 2008 7:52 am PT

    They could have saved just as much money by just removing the advertisement from TV.

  • tengen23

    Posted May 29, 2008 6:25 am PT

    wow, deja vu... its jeff gertsmann all over again

  • LURCH87

    Posted May 29, 2008 6:16 am PT

    not really into gametap like that

  • TheSlanger

    Posted May 29, 2008 5:31 am PT

    I only use GameTap for gaming, all the other stuff I get from Gamespot.

  • jomicbro

    Posted May 29, 2008 5:16 am PT

    "just like gamespot axed jeff gerstmann just for giving an honest review"

    Let it go already...

  • Lord_Tigger

    Posted May 29, 2008 4:05 am PT

    Gametap had news, previews, video programming? Hmm...obviously it wasn't just real noticeable. Not the best idea they had to hire a staff to make "just another gaming review site". They have the rental service market cornered for games; they're doing the right thing focussing on it but I feel sorry for everyone out of a job.

    Bone_Claws don't be dense. They fired the entire staff, not just one reviewer. I doubt it had anything to do over bad reviews.

  • -HCMF-

    Posted May 29, 2008 4:02 am PT

    Insert bad "tapped out" punn here....

  • Bone_Claws

    Posted May 29, 2008 12:42 am PT

    just like gamespot axed jeff gerstmann just for giving an honest review

  • ThaSod

    Posted May 28, 2008 11:36 pm PT

    Ouch... Too bad for all those people...
    Maybe GS can refill their decimated editorial staff from GameTap?

  • mikethemonkey

    Posted May 28, 2008 10:37 pm PT

    Gametap.. Don't care...

  • Danthegamingman

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:46 pm PT

    So I guess that means Douglas Perry who was the Editor of Xbox 360 on IGN left to join Gametap last year got axed, oops guess that was a bad move for him.

  • ps360fan

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:40 pm PT

    Cobra5 "Does GS not realize that they too are IGN, maybe not fully, but for all intensive purposes, they are the same, just with a different face plate, and different types of information accessible."

    No they are NOT the same company. They may present the same NEWS and info to a degree.. it IS videogames after all, but they are entirely seperate corporations. Gamespot was recently aquired by CBS (Gamespot is a part of CNET) and IGN is owned by Rupert Murdoch I believe.

  • gellis1981

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:18 pm PT

    Dawg9000 "Man I hate having games on Gametap and steam too. I need a connection to play games which I bought. I had hell when my internet got cut off suddenly. Now I go offline everytime on steam."

    I repeat!! you don't need to be online to play your games on steam!!! you can even make a backup on your HDD!!!

  • gellis1981

    Posted May 28, 2008 8:16 pm PT

    nate1222 ""I have both Gametap and Steam accounts. But I don't like the fact that I have to be connected to the internet just to play what I've already purchased. I'm cancelling my internet service next month as I stack funds for a major move and I'll be selling my PC shortly after. When I buy a new (Dual Core) PC, I won't be able to play what I've bought until I'm back online. I love Quake 3 Arena - but I can ONLY play it if I'm connected. I'm reluctant to PURCHASE games via Gametap for similar reasons. Needless to say, I'm pretty weary on the issue of DLC. "" Dude just create backup of your games on your harddrive. You dont need to be online to play games on steam, unless there online games. Steam rocks, but i never tried Gametap their catalog seems weak.

  • Dawg9000

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:58 pm PT

    Man I hate having games on Gametap and steam too. I need a connection to play games which I bought. I had hell when my internet got cut off suddenly. Now I go offline everytime on steam.

  • ocdog45

    Posted May 28, 2008 7:52 pm PT

    never got into gametap.

  • nate1222

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:50 pm PT

    I have both Gametap and Steam accounts. But I don't like the fact that I have to be connected to the internet just to play what I've already purchased. I'm cancelling my internet service next month as I stack funds for a major move and I'll be selling my PC shortly after. When I buy a new (Dual Core) PC, I won't be able to play what I've bought until I'm back online. I love Quake 3 Arena - but I can ONLY play it if I'm connected. I'm reluctant to PURCHASE games via Gametap for similar reasons. Needless to say, I'm pretty weary on the issue of DLC.

  • Cobra5

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:31 pm PT

    "Does GS not realize that they too are IGN, maybe not fully, but for all intensive purposes, they are the same, just with a different face plate, and different types of information accessible."

    So you are saying... they are exactly the same... but totally different? I don't get it.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted May 28, 2008 6:08 pm PT

    I guess from the few users who post on here, this is a good move for GT since they need to focus on their game selection and not on everything. Now maybe gamespot should just finish their unions v2 ... then people will use this site more again.

  • RaptimusPrime posted May 28, 2008 5:52 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    RaptimusPrime

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:52 pm PT (hide)

    ill give this article a 4/10

  • NA3D posted May 28, 2008 5:45 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    NA3D

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:45 pm PT (hide)

    Does GS not realize that they too are IGN, maybe not fully, but for all intensive purposes, they are the same, just with a different face plate, and different types of information accessible.

  • Fighter_of_Foo

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:11 pm PT

    I've been a member of GameTap since it was new, and this is sort of a relief. Updates game-wise have been so scarce over the last few months, that I've considered dropping it.

    Also, I've never considered it a "rental" site. You pay 15 bucks a month and the 800+ games are yours.

  • akiwak

    Posted May 28, 2008 5:02 pm PT

    I don't think I game enough for a gametap membership! I would much rather own the game I will be playing. Besides with this and other reviewing websites available it makes purchasing a game much easier!

  • xmg0

    Posted May 28, 2008 4:57 pm PT

    o well. never visited GameTap in my life

  • maverick_76

    Posted May 28, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    Gerstmann is alive! That sucks, I think that was not the best move, they should have set up a site where gamers could generate their own reviews and rate the games, like netflix or blockbuster does.

  • derachi123

    Posted May 28, 2008 4:36 pm PT

    So true, Generic_Dude.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted May 28, 2008 4:20 pm PT

    Well that's what we have Gamespot for... or it was until THEY axed all their editorial staff, lol.

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