Topic: Gamespot Editor fired for 'unfavorable' review?

[Djunknown]

The story so far...

If this is true, then its a sad, sad day for professional gaming journalism. I know there are some people here who have written off Gamespot, or called for bloody murder for their Twilight Princess review. But the day that dollars and cents undermines your own honest opinion (Even if others disagree with it) is the day that economic censorship becomes real...

Because of this I will:

A) No longer go to Gamespot. I've stuck with them thick and thin for 10 years, from my teen years to my young adulthood.  The reviewer in question is one of the original staff members, who's contributions to said site have been fundamental to their popularity (Let's Gamespot, the Gamespotting columns and On the Spot one of my personal favorites)

B) No longer go other sites that are affiliated with Cnet (which includes gamefaqs)

C) Not buy any products made from Eidos(Which isn't that hard for Nintendo systems). But if for some reason, Lara calls to me, buy it used as for them to not see my money...

I won't stand for this. I'm not going to make a rebel yell, but if you feel the same way, do what you gotta do. If you could care less, move along, nothing to see here, just some lunatic  ranting about ethics...

[GoldenPhoenix]

I don't really care because I didn't like the reviewer and I don't respect Gamespot.  

[UncleBob]

While I don't think I've been to GameSpot in several years (perhaps I've read a story or such linked from there), I have to say, it's not about GameSpot or this one single reviewer... it's a nasty situation all around...

[GoldenPhoenix]

Regardless I think it is silly to be freaking out (which I'm seeing a lot of in NeoGaf and Gamespot) before there is anything more than rumor instead of confirmation he was fired for that reason.  

[UncleBob]

Quote
Originally posted by: Djunknown
I won't stand for this. I'm not going to make a rebel yell, but if you feel the same way, do what you gotta do. If you could care less, move along, nothing to see here, just some lunatic  ranting about ethics...

Does this sound like freaking out to anyone?

[Crimm]

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob

Quote
Originally posted by: Djunknown
I won't stand for this. I'm not going to make a rebel yell, but if you feel the same way, do what you gotta do. If you could care less, move along, nothing to see here, just some lunatic  ranting about ethics...

Does this sound like freaking out to anyone?

Yes.

I mean no!  If its true it is a possibly bad precedent.

[that Baby guy]

Just avoid games that aren't on Nintendo, and then listen to NWR about the ones that are.  It's that easy.  Ignore Kotaku's opinions all the time, and forget everyone else's reviews, too.

[Bloodworth]

With so many people already making baseless accusations that reviewers are being paid off, this situation (and all the evidence that seems to support it) just makes it harder for any of us to be trusted.

[that Baby guy]

I think the key is to not trust members of the gaming press before they become members of the gaming press.  That way, your distrust won't really be an issue of prejudice.

For what it's worth, I like how GameTrailers handles things, since I can easily form an opinion based on videos that play at the same time, and I can see proof of what the reviewer is mentioning.  The thing that gets me most of the time is the score, and the fact that so many people affix themselves to the score.  I care more about the substance in several cases.

[IceCold]

He gave Jungle Beat a 7..

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

^ That's enough to close this thread.

[Crimm]

I don't know why any of us should be surprised if people are being paid off.  It was only a few years ago that we were hearing about DJs being bribed by record labels (again).  Why should game publisher's be any different?  They invest a lot of money in these games.  That's not what's going on here, but it's not unrelated.  It just brings back the "who are you reading and can you trust them" stuff all over again.

Paying off is one sad thing, but to think that the publishers might have enough sway to get people fired for doing their job is pretty horrific.  

[Shift Key]

Quote
Originally posted by: Crimm
It just brings back the "who are you reading and can you trust them" stuff all over again.

Exactly. Move along, nothing to see here.

[KDR_11k]

Quote
Originally posted by: Crimm
I don't know why any of us should be surprised if people are being paid off.  It was only a few years ago that we were hearing about DJs being bribed by record labels (again).

Yeah and because it was a repeat offense to the nth degree they were fined ONE MILLION DOLLARS! /pinkytomouth

[UncleBob]

Can someone explain to me what's so wrong about a record label paying a radio station to play a song vs. McDonald's paying a radio station to play a jingle?

[nitsu niflheim]

If his firing was based solely on his low score review for the game then Gamespot is not making themselves look good because is pretty much shows that they base reviews on some form of compensation from the game makers, and this now puts into question just about every review they have done because now we can question if the score was a true score or on based on compensation from the game maker.

[nitsu niflheim]

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob
Can someone explain to me what's so wrong about a record label paying a radio station to play a song vs. McDonald's paying a radio station to play a jingle?

because usually the money paid out is not claimed and the IRS doesn't like tax evaders.  And also because they make it seem like the song is popular on its own, whereas instead it's popular because it's being paid to be popular.

[Nick DiMola]

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Originally posted by: GoldenPhoenix
I don't really care because I didn't like the reviewer and I don't respect Gamespot.

No need to say more.

[UncleBob]

If you want to get someone for Tax Evasion, get them for tax evasion...

And who cares if a song "looks" popular? Buy the music you like, not the music everyone else likes.

[ShyGuy]

Maybe Gerstman lied and said he was going to give this game a higher score.  

[Ian Sane]

I'll admit having a poor review score when your game is plastered all over the site in ads is rather embarassing for Eidos.  But then maybe they should make better games.  Videogame companies always act like their games are perfect.  Eidos should be firing those involved with the game itself since they're truly at fault for this.  If they made a better game this wouldn't have happened.

Gamespot should have the balls to tell Eidos "if we fire this guy and it gets out it will kill our credibility with readers and we'll lose traffic as a result".  From a business point of view the damage caused by this I think would outweigh Eidos pulling their advertising.  But it's too late.  Gamespot is officially worthless as a source of reviews.  Eidos and Gamespot have f*cked up and hopefully they'll pay for it.

And I had a feeling Kane & Lynch would blow.  Look at the ads.  They're all about the characters and story and not once does it give any indication of how the game actually plays.  That's sign numero uno for a game that's all flash and no substance.

[Pale]

Or maybe they should have just allowed their advertising to do its job, knowing that plenty of people still buy games that get 6s.

[mantidor]

Quote
Originally posted by: Djunknown
If this is true, then its a sad, sad day for professional gaming journalism.

I hate to say this because I like the people reviewing here, but... those three words don't go well together. specially the one underscored.

[vudu]

Underline, not underscore.

Also, as Evan or Jonny (I can't remember which) pointed out in the latest podcast, NWR isn't comprised of professional journalists.  No one on staff (except Karl) gets paid.  

[ShyGuy]

NWR pays Karl?