OH NO... Veteran Gamespot freelancer quits in protest of CNET!!

New at the GAF forums...

the plot thickens
Gamespot say it aint so....

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=224575

and...

http://www.gamingsteve.com/archives/2008/01/gerstmanngate-isnt-over-yet-gamespot-writer-quits-over-the-debacle.php

January 5, 2008

Gerstmann-Gate Isn't Over Yet: Gamespot Writer Quits Over the Debacle

While Gamespot and Eidos all wish we would just forget, the impact of Jeff Gerstmann's "complicated" firing still lingers over the industry. The latest development of the debacle is Frank Provo's departure from Gamespot. A freelance writer with over 7 years at Gamespot and who wrote 751 reviews, his reasons for departure can hardly be called respectful. From Provo's Gamespot blog:

"I believe CNet management let Jeff go for all the wrong reasons. I believe CNet intends to soften the site's tone and push for higher scores to make advertisers happy.

I won't lie to people and tell them a game is good when it isn't. I won't downplay negatives that readers have a right to know about."

All I can say is ouch. With only unconfirmed rumors that Gerstmann's firing from Gamespot was the result of advertisement pressure over his unflattering Kane & Lynch review, this will only deal another blow to Gamespot's reputation. Provo also directly targeted the management of Gamespot and CNet in order to defend his fellow writers at Gamespot by saying, "The Gamespot staff did not fire Jeff. The Gamespot staff are NOT corrupt. Gamespot itself is NOT the problem. CNet is. CNet's management is."

The video game journalism industry, like any industry that reviews and covers a medium, has only its reputation to rely on. Review readers rely on the integrity and taste of the reviewer, and if you feel you can't trust them, you won't read their reviews. I can easily see why the writers at Gamespot would want to leave, because whether or not Gerstmann was fired for his review Gamespot can not be a pleasant place to work these days.

His comments will put all of the other Gamespot editorsin a weird position. I hope Provo fully understands exactly Jeff was fired and has knowledge that CNET is puttting pressure on other people , rather than just going off of speculation.

How Gamespot responds to this should be telling , do they just give us the standard PR song and dance and try and sweep Provo's comments under the rug ?

dammit all...its so hard to find a reliable review site now a-days.Duo75

Just use gamerankings.com

man, Gamespot was the only site i thought was credible for reviews........i guess 1up and ign are alright.....but that 9.9 for Jade Empire from ign and that 10 for Bully from 1up still gives me some doubt......
funni_lov3

I prefer using IGN. The Nintendo team and I have often the same opinion.

This is all a load of hot air..I don't care about reviews and you shouldn't either.

Reviews are just glorified opinions, telling you what a game is supposedly like. Make your own opinions about games when you play through them, rental or otherwise.

Do we still go by GS scores? And if so... why?surfer_dude_

"I believe CNet intends to soften the site's tone and push for higher scores to make advertisers happy." :|Heil68