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nmwhite

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#1 nmwhite
Member since 2005 • 26 Posts
Wait... people actually believe GS's mumbo jumbo? .bretthorror
No - I think they've just used clever wording which while accurate doesn't really tell the true story. I could easily believe Eidos threatened to pull advertising without explicitly asking for a change of the review or Jeff's termination (in which case their statement is correct), and that if the the revenue from the advertising was significant, management would almost certainly do something about it. That's business. I'd be gullible if I thought balancing these two fundamental conflicts of interest weren't normal practice and a consideration for *any* commercial organisation reviewing products for which it also carries advertising - including Gamespot's competitors.
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nmwhite

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#2 nmwhite
Member since 2005 • 26 Posts
[QUOTE="R-Dot-Yung"]I still think this sites integrity has been destroyedBlueBarad

Wouldn't dispute that - but potentially for the wrong reasons (i.e. managements complete failure to anticipate and handle the situation) If Gamespot survives the fallout it's going to take a lot of work, and a long time, to lose the tarnish and stigma they now have - irrespective of the cause. Probably has increased traffic to the site though
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nmwhite

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#3 nmwhite
Member since 2005 • 26 Posts
Whether we like it or not, pigs will fly before the exact detail and reason for Jeffs 'termination' are made public. Remember, the law is there to protect Jeff's interests, just as much as CNET/ Gamespot. Shouting and screaming "I want to know the real reason" isn't going to make any difference. Think about it - a very public disclosure of why Jeff's previous employers don't want to continue his employment is hardy going to do his CV any good. Any employer making this kind of disclosure would be taken to the cleaners real fast for obvious reasons. How would you like it if you got fired and your previous employer posted full details on the internet or national papers? What do you think it would do to your prospects of future employment? One has to believe that if Jeff has grounds for unfair dismissal (such as the advertising scandal as rumoured), then he would be pursuing legal action. Since he doesn't appear to be doing so, it's logical to assume he believes the reasons for his dismissal are legal. Also, reading between the lines on the statement (http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6183666.html) - it doesn't say the K&L review, or commercial considerations in general, weren't a factor in his dismissal - it just states Eidos & the associated K&L advertising weren't the significant factor everyone has assumed them to out to be. I'm inclined to think there's some clever wording going on here - i.e. while Eidos may not have directly asked for Jeff's termination or a revised review, general commercial considerations (including advertising pipeline) within Gamespots business model probably did come into play. Jeff did, after all, pretty much tell people to *not* buy the product, which he didn't really need to do (a review should inform our decision, not make the decision for us). I happen to like Jeff's style and personality (and as such will be keeping an eye on where he ends up), but if I were taking a hardline employer/ management based view, the review perhaps wasn't as professional, or commercially astute, as one might expect of someone at Jeff's career level. Given the review is pretty indicative of his style, the commercial implications of his final statement might just have been enough to make management snap. Guess we'll never know. Still, there's no disputing the truly incompetent management & handling of the situation ... that truly was a sight to behold.
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#4 nmwhite
Member since 2005 • 26 Posts
For what it's worth, and without taking any advertising pressure into consideration, this whole situation smells of a complete lack of appreciation on the part of senior management with respect to the contribution individuals make outside of their legally stated roles & responsibilties, irrespective of any valid business reasons for termination. For better or worse, Jeff was a very public facing representation of the Gamespot "brand" (particularly since the departure of Geff and Rich), and appears to have been considered as a mentor to a significant percentage of the incumbent editorial staff. Management appear to have completely missed this, and by terminating his employment in less than favourable circumstances, have effectively discredited the Gamespot brand through association (as he is, to all intense purposes, synonymous with the brand). Needless to say staff morale also appears to have been significantly undermined. Given the circumstances, one has to question the complete lack of vision senior management had with respect Jeff's association with the brand, and the resulting public response. Irrespective of whether Jeff's termination was for entirely appropriate business reasons (and there's fat chance we'll know the circumstances anytime soon), the (should have been anticipated) fallout has been handled appallingly from a PR/ Management perspective. Bottom line - they should have had a mitigation plan in place. I for one will miss Jeff's personality around Gamespot - his confidence and casual approach had that "best mate on the couch" type feel to them which, for me at least, was endearing, even if I didn't always agree with his viewpoint. Not all feel the same way of course, but a dry, clinical and professional approach isn't my kind of thing, and I think Jeff added a 'personality' element to the equation. As a final thought to those going elsewhere - I'm not convinced Jeff would want the Gamespot brand, or the remaining staff, to suffer significantly (or at all!) as a result of the circumstances in which they now find themselves. He has, after all, had a vested interest in both Gamespot, and the professional development of his peers, for a long time. If rumours/ speculation are true, the remaining staff need support, rather than desertion, in what appears to be their darkest hour. So I'm inclined to stick around for now, to support the remaining staff who believe in Gamespot's associated historical values of integrity and impartiality, and want to resist any pressure to be otherwise. If they don't succeed, I can always go elsewhere, but for now I'm not ready to throw in the towl until they are. (assuming of course, that current speculation proves substantive)