GameSpot's Gerstmann Fired Due to Negative Review
- Thread starter zakhal
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I'm a member, and I can tell you that it must have been serious bucks for the extent that we've been pounded with this Kane and Lynch for the last couple months! I have zero interest in the title purrsonally, but I did want to check out the video review, tho it is indeed pulled. I havent read the review (here at work, doing this one the sly) but once glance at this page of player reviews does not bode well for the title. Merely backlash for the rumored scandal?
Only one person that can clear this up, and that's Jeff himself
Ive found Jeff a competent reviewer, if this rumor truly is the case it's a dark day for GS and the industry.
Only one person that can clear this up, and that's Jeff himself
Ive found Jeff a competent reviewer, if this rumor truly is the case it's a dark day for GS and the industry.
Squeek
connoisseur of tidbits
You would think an executive editor would know which side his bread was buttered, whether or not he was in a position to be objective with the opinions he expressed at GameSpot.
Well, now he knows. And so do we.
Well, now he knows. And so do we.
magerette
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Yup, almost posted this on the front page but figured I'd posted enough non-rpg stuff for one day.
It's all part and parcel of the "You are teh consumer--you have no brain, only a wallet." approach that seems to drive marketing and advertising these days. Sometimes it's been known to backfire, though. I give the guy marks for writing his honest opinion of the game. He had to know it wouldn't be popular, even if he didn't know it would get him canned.
It's all part and parcel of the "You are teh consumer--you have no brain, only a wallet." approach that seems to drive marketing and advertising these days. Sometimes it's been known to backfire, though. I give the guy marks for writing his honest opinion of the game. He had to know it wouldn't be popular, even if he didn't know it would get him canned.
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Well, assuming that the rumor is true of course.
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This is really sad. Gamespot used to be the only big gaming site of which reviews were more or less reliable
I don't get why eidos got so pissed off. Anyone can tell by looking at the video that this game is standard rubbish. Character movements feel quite akward and on top of everything the game a.i seems to be total moron and if you listen to what reviewer says....its a miracle Kane&lynch scored even 6.
Eidos should make better games.
I don't get why eidos got so pissed off. Anyone can tell by looking at the video that this game is standard rubbish. Character movements feel quite akward and on top of everything the game a.i seems to be total moron and if you listen to what reviewer says....its a miracle Kane&lynch scored even 6.
Eidos should make better games.
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This does not bode well for Deus Ex 3.
How to write a sponsor review.
Gallifrey
Keeper Of Traken
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I read about this earlier this morning, and it's pretty depressing. I do worry though that there's going to be a large backlash against reviewers rather than marketing folks. There are a lot of people who believe all reviewers are "on the take" and something like this will only confirm that suspicion, whereas the real problem lies with the publishers who try to pull this crap, and worse yet those who succumb to it by screwing up honest people's lives.
The people who need to look badly here are Eidos and Gamespot's upper management. Eidos shouldn't pull stuff like this, but Gamespot certainly shouldn't go along with it either. Marketing people do this sort of thing, it's their job, yet by no means does that imply that their targets must comply.
It's all quite absurd. I'd hope this Jeff guy tries to argue the matter based on wrongful dismissal.
The people who need to look badly here are Eidos and Gamespot's upper management. Eidos shouldn't pull stuff like this, but Gamespot certainly shouldn't go along with it either. Marketing people do this sort of thing, it's their job, yet by no means does that imply that their targets must comply.
It's all quite absurd. I'd hope this Jeff guy tries to argue the matter based on wrongful dismissal.
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Squeek
connoisseur of tidbits
Jeff Gerstmann surely understood the position GameSpot was in after courting and accepting Eidos advertising dollars. To then turn around and trash the game... I don't blame Eidos for flexing their muscles. Advertisers pay GameSpot's bills, and they know it.
It never should have worked out the way it did, but it was up to GameSpot -- not Eidos -- to avoid that situation. Gerstmann blew it. He's going to have some explaining to do for a while, every time he interviews for a new job.
It never should have worked out the way it did, but it was up to GameSpot -- not Eidos -- to avoid that situation. Gerstmann blew it. He's going to have some explaining to do for a while, every time he interviews for a new job.
txa1265
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Definitely - people might be upset with Eidos, but in their position I'd do the same - we paid good money for this, now we want blood!
I am not so sure - I think that anywhere outside of gaming he'll do fine. He can point to his journalistic integrity and use all of the editorial articles being written to back him up. Gaming media is terribly immature in this regard ...
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Squeek
connoisseur of tidbits
It's more than a question of honesty. GameSpot doesn't just review games. They advertise them too. They are, in fact, trying to make a buck. There's obvious potential for conflict of interest there. That makes it a question of tact as well as honestly and having the good judgement to know how and when to avoid those situations.
How hard could that have been, anyway? If nothing else, Gerstmann might have just skipped reviewing that particular game. Or he could have refused to advertise it. But he did both instead. GameSpot ran ads that claimed it was a great game, and then they trashed it in their review.
txa1265
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I seriously doubt he had any say in that whatsoever. As for refusing to review a game ... that would cause significant issues. I would rather put up a review that gets me in trouble for its' honestly that try to avoid controversy by not reviewing it at all.
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