Jeff Gerstmann fired from Gamespot for Kane and Lynch review

I want to say Gun Valkyrie was one of the big reasons I didn't like him, since it was incredibly apparent he had no idea how to play the game.

In fact, that was my problem with him most of the time, he NEVER seemed to understand how to play ANY game he gave a bad review to. It always felt like, "Well I don't know how to play this so fuck this game."

I doubt this is the case with Kane and Lynch or Twiligh Princess, but I think he reviewd Senko no Ronde as well and came out equally incompetent.

 

As mentiond numerous times, this really is nothing new per se'...

The amiga days were full of this (as also mentioned) Back them my bro worked on a couple of titles that made the 'front page' of X magazine purely because they had paid for it. Naturally the reviews inside were totally congratulatory....(even when the games sucked.) The games were hurried and plagued with poor management but that didn't matter; Top marks all round as long as you could afford it.

No doubt this crap has gone on since the dawn of journalism which is a shame because today it's virtually impossible to trust anything you read/see in the media...take it all with a pinch of salt, apply filter and maybe (just maybe) you may find a grain of truth...

(boy, am I cynical this morning!)

The only mistake in this story about Kane and Lynch (I keep wanting to type 'Abel' there for some reason?! .) ...is that Gamespot should have just 'let him go...' without any reason. Openly stating he was fired for a bad review sets up (I guess?) a decent legal challenge he could make against Gamespot for unfair dismissal. You really cannot fire someone for speaking their mind....can you?

:shrug:

 

Except in rare cases, you can.

 

Yep, is the infamous "company policy".

Thats why after they leave the company everything from low ranks to CEOs tend to talk alot about the shit that was going on there...

 

More like "at-will" employment, but even contracted employees can have their comments turned against them.

I must say though, after watching the video review of the game (which was removed from GS), I see absolutely nothing wrong with his comments from a journalistic point of view.

 

http://kotaku.com/gaming/advertorials/1up-shows-support-for-gamespot-reviewers-328882.php

I'm glad the guy is getting support from others accross the industry. Journalistic intergrity really is on the line here. Especially when you consider that Gamespot is one of the heavy hitters.

 

If nothing else, it is amusing to watch the aftermath:

They always go in threes...

Destructoid gets skinned...

 

Even when a reviewer's job description involves his speaking his mind??!?

 

I'm sure there was a lot more to it than sacking him for an honest review. This kind of thing shouts scapegoat to me.

 

im sure there wasnt, honestly.

 

You can't get fired for giving an honest review when your job is that of a reviewer. It's another case of the gaming forum communities getting worked up into a lather over rumours and an idea of something rather than cold hard facts. We have no real proof that he was sacked solely because of his review, it could have been the straw that broke the camel's back, or it could be completely unrelated to the review.

We won't know either way because Gamespot will take the corporate "No Comment" line, which is the correct one to take. And then all the forums will be alive with "NO COMMENT? THAT PROVES IT!!!!" type threads.

 

I'd have to agree. But, if this isn't the case, I'd be deeply troubled with the whole thing.

 

Honestly, I've little or no respect at all for game reviewers these days.

Like most of them are complete egomaniacs, they are "always right" and nobody can discuss that. If they like a certain game or genre then anything else if barely above trash, and therefore not good enough.

And the worst thing is that most of these guys know very little about actual game development. They seem to have this idea that making a game is like a mix between the westgood ads and movie making

They dont represent the mainstream nor the hardcore parts of the gamer crowd.

Anyway, it also seems destructoid is whoring the scandal:

 

You're about 20 hours behind... :110:

 

I saw that yesterday, I just didnt care to reply:110:ong:

 

I'm surprised to see the support Jeff's getting from all of this. He might have gotten fired for other reasons, but we'll never know.

I'm sure this made many 13 year old Nintendo fanboys happy though.

 

There probably was more to it that lead up to his getting canned but even if the review was the final "straw" CNET sure picked the wrong one to fire him over.

 

That Destructoid review is pretty funny. I'm just tired of it working like this: X game is hyped up like crazy even though it's really damn stupid or bland looking, everyone goes nuts for it, and then it turns out its garbage. I had a friend jonesing for this game because a bunch of different game sites/mags tried to make it appealing (I think, I don't really keep up so I dunno) and I keep saying it looks like it's not worth 60$. He gets it, uh oh! I was right.

 

I wonder if this situation wont actually be good for him on the long run...

About the fanboys, is becos he gave TP an 8? jezz big deal!

I didnt even know about this game before this. Dunno, I dont pay attention to all these GTA clones since true crime...

And well, upping the ante with a game possibilities before launch is one of the holy commandments of this industry.

 

Let me say this. I'm a Diehard Nintendo Fan, and Twiilight princess deserved the 8. Yes I loved the game, but it just wasn't "fresh".

But, awhile back I made a thread on my detailed feelings
http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13834