Dec 3
GameSpot officially confirms Jeff Gerstmann’s departure
By now, I’m sure everyone knows about the sacking of longtime Gamespot editor Jeff Gerstmann. Many rumors have been flying these past few days, including speculation that publisher Eidos used their advertising clout to force his termination after Gerstmann’s review of Kane and Lynch and threatening to pull tons of advertising. Gamespot has now publicly revealed that Gerstmann has in fact left the site.
Here’s a choice quote from the announcement:
Due to legal constraints and the company policy of GameSpot parent CNET Networks, details of Gerstmann’s departure cannot be disclosed publicly. However, contrary to widespread and unproven reports, his exit was not a result of pressure from an advertiser.
There is no doubt that Gerstmann did not leave through his own choice, but it appears we will never learn the full story due to the legal red tape preventing full transparency.
Personally, I can’t wait for Gerstmann’s tell-all book: Don’t Show Me the Money: How I Learned to Review Games Objectively and Bait Flame Wars Everywhere: The Jeff Gerstmann Journey. Some have called these events GerstmannGate. Personally, I enjoy the Iplay-Contra scandal, or the K&L Affair.
P.S. Feel free to digg it. GameSpot doesn’t really deserve the traffic. Also, why not discuss this in the forums?
15 Comments so far
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I’m really curious to know just what happened, but I fear we never will. I don’t entirely trust the rumors, nor do I trust the official press release issued by CNET.
One of my contacts said something about Gerstmann leaving for a different reason than what was publicly stated or rumored. Not sure exactly why though.
Jeff liked chicken wings, and constantly greased up controllers I heard.
Two brands are taking a pounding. Easily hundreds of thousands of dollars in goodwill is floating down the toilet bowl. Neither Jeff nor Gamespot is willing to break some BS HR policy to save the gamespot brand? Makes no sense at all. The rumors are true until we hear otherwise imo.
welcome to yesterday
Wow, we’ve been graced by the almight namelessted!
Just thinking about it give me boners!
And welcome to today. It seems you’re stuck in the past when this was posted - yesterday.
Just because Gamespot/CNET can’t (or won’t) say doesn’t mean that we’ll “never learn”. It’s rarely prudent for an employer to discuss the dismissal of an employee. I’m very confused that people seem surprised to learn that reviewers are actually part of the gaming industry’s marketing/PR. It’s just like the movie industry. Haven’t you wondered how these stinker movies are always getting “two thumbs up”?