A number of Ziff Davis staffers (including a few writers for 1UP, arguably GameSpot's biggest competition) recently crafted an uplifting banner and marched to the GameSpot offices just two blocks away. The demonstration was a response to the recent unexplained firing of GameSpot contributor Jeff Gerstmann. After hearing the rumors that Gerstmann was fired due to pressure from advertisers following his lackluster review of Kane and Lynch, the ZD staff decided to show their support for their fellow gaming journalist.
Patrick Klepek, news editor for 1UP, stressed to us that the rally was not intended to mock Gerstmann or the GameSpot staff. He said he recognizes that "even though 1UP and GameSpot are competition, what's happening over there includes industry-wide ramifications, when the dust finally settles." That is, assuming that the rumors of shady dealings surrounding Gerstmann's termination from the company prove to be true.
While 1UP's status as GameSpot's lead competitor might raise concerns that they're just fueling the anti-CNET fires that have been popping up around GameSpot's forums, it's our opinion that this was a sincere showing of solidarity and good will among video game writers. We certainly hope that GameSpot's staff gets the message.
How do you even know Jeff didnt have an episode and provoked his termination, which was minorly reflected in his kane and lynch review, he could have assaulted an empoyee, told off the worng person in the company, etc. Knowbody knows but everyone just assumes he got fired for a unreasonable review.
it's 1up, and I think they realise that this a quite a big deal for all game journalism nowkarin_dreijer
Yep. If all of the stories are true over Jeff's firing, and if game journalism isn't careful, game companies could be practically buying reviews in the near future.
How do you even know Jeff didnt have an episode and provoked his termination, which was minorly reflected in his kane and lynch review, he could have assaulted an empoyee, told off the worng person in the company, etc. Knowbody knows but everyone just assumes he got fired for a unreasonable review.Montaya
Exactly. His employment history is not public and won't be, but everyone jumps on one review as fact. I doubt very much that is the sole reason, if it even played a part.
[QUOTE="mfacek"]This is great, our movement is gaining strength guys, CNET needs to pay for this shady BS and their biased reviews.-Wicked_Sick-
If you believe that to be true then a reviewer that lasted 11 years was posting biased reviews.
I don't follow? Jeff wasn't posting biased reviews, and that is why he was fired, because CNET wanted him to, right after he was fired they edited his text review and took down his video review, he isn't biased and that's why he was fired.
[QUOTE="mfacek"]This is great, our movement is gaining strength guys, CNET needs to pay for this shady BS and their biased reviews.-Wicked_Sick-
If you believe that to be true then a reviewer that lasted 11 years was posting biased reviews.
I forget for how long exactly, but CNET hasn't been running the show for 11 years. And from my experiences (who knows, maybe not with these guys) but when XYZ is under new management, seniority plays a very, very small role of importance.
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