Click here to see my blog post about it.

Just because I want to be a trend follower, I've started my own blog off-site. thought it would be a lot harder to do so, and figured I might learn something...not really. Lol! Just so you all know, I'll be posting something of varying quality daily there.

Having received the dreaded phone call Friday afternoon, my first attempt at landing a job in the game industry is over and done with.

Although I'll never truly know what it was that allowed my opponent to beat me, I'm quite satisfied and honored having had the opportunity to make it as far as I did in the selection process; especially with this being my very first try!

This opportunity exposed me to many news things, and put me in the same room with people this small town guy had only previously read about in game publications or listened to on podcasts.

The team I would have been working with has an absolutely awesome dynamic and insight, which boosted my respect for their line of work,their company and their products significantly! If they happen to read this, I wish them continued success in everything they do, and look forward to working with them as colleagues sometime in the future.

While the final result wasn't quite what I hoped for, I believe in fate and strongly believe that things happen for a reason. A few years ago, I was ready for a career in IT. A few semesters ago, I was poised to begin my journey into medicine. A few months ago, the gaming indsutry was my calling. Who knows what crazy idea I'll come up with next, or where I'll actually end up in the coming years as I strive to find the perfect place to put myself to good use.

Until then, all I can do is continue my journey with my head held high.

The local school board has begun the process of firing one of the most knowledgeable teachers in the entire school district, why? Because he has a high failure rate and refuses to simply babysit students without attempting to teach them something useful, andactually grades them on their true performance.

In his defense, I posted the following in a local city-wide publication. If any one actually reads this, let me know what you think.

------------------------------------------------------------

Mr. Menzel is a great asset to the district!
His physics c-lass was the first c-lass I ever failed...EVER!
After that, I saw him as an evil communist Nazi...or some of the other ignorant names that the high school kids came up with.

But the next year, when he found out I decided to get my final science credit in a babysitter c-lass the next semester, he personally tracked me down and convinced me to give his physics c-lass another shot. He told me I would be wasting my time in that joke of a c-lass..Integrated Science and Physics. He had a long talk with me and hesitantly I enrolled in his c-lass

Once there, he pushed me hard to meet his demands. He already knew my name, so he'd constantly ask me to answer questions, solve problems on the board, and even help out other students. I felt as though he was pushing my buttons waiting for me the break...I regretted signing up for his c-lass

At the end of the year, and even now, I look back and I'm glad he did that. I'm proud to say that I truly worked my ass off to pass his c-lass. To this day, I don't think I've worked as hard to meet the demands of any other teacher, and I took AP c-lasses!

Yes Menzel fails people, but he doesn't do so because he takes pleasure in it.
Menzel fails people to snap them into shape, he doesn't sit back and allow students to pass simply because they play football, or they're good lookin girls.
He fails them because they fail themselves.

Having sat in his c-lass a second time, I was able to better see my mistakes from the first time around.
I came in expecting an easy ride.
I came in expecting to do the minimum amount of work required...just enough to get by.
I came in expecting threats of failing grades to be bluffs, much like other "AP" teachers on campus.
Boy was I wrong.

Menzel is the kind of teacher this district needs.
Forget football, you're son will never go pro!
Forget cheerleading, you're daughter is just another pretty face in a world full of pretty faces.
Forget band, your mijo/mija isn't going to be the next musical prodigy.
Take a Menzel c-lass for some real education.

AlexN will be leaving GameSpot on Jan 24.
The man is probaby know to most users for his very humours, and brutally honest video review of 'Big Rigs'. He is also know to speak his mind both on and off the camera, which makes him another fan favorite editor at GameSpot. This upcoming departure is another in a long list of recent departures by Gamespot staff following Jeff Gerstmann's own, but it is said Alex is leaving on his own accord and not one made or suggested by CNet.

Lets let the guy speak before everyone dashes for their tinfoil hats!
AlexN will have a chance to 'speak freely' ,on this coming week's episodes of 'On The Spot' and 'The HotSpot', to say goodbye and adress all the fans before his departure on the 24th of this month.

Gamespot is trying to be very open and honest on his upcoming departure with the site, a clear sign that CNet has learned from their mistakes. Editorial Director Ricardo Torres personnaly spoke with Kotaku staff over the phone to avoid any confusion on the issue, and help prevent another 'Gerstmann Gate' type scandal. Its also known that various other gaming news sources/blogs, such as Joystiq.com, have been contacted with the news story.

Although his pressence at GameSpot will surely be missed by staff and user alike, I wish Alex Navarro the best of luck in future endevours, and look forward to continue reading his personnal blog. I would also like to commend him on his choice of forum avatar. Ray Stanz, the heart of the Ghostbusters!

Although this story has been beaten to death, and I've made my peace with what happened...I just couldn't help but to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/v/KUn5aJ6F3zg&rel=1&border=1

These last week has been a roller coaster for every member of the GameSpot community, staff and users alike.
Jeff Gurstmann brought a lot to the table, and has been the frontman for GameSpot for the past 11-years.
All the greatest GameSpot moments from all my years as a user, involve Jeff in some way.
Upon reading the news of Jeff's termination that night, I began searching for answers. I stayed up very late that night, catching a first hand look at the destruction and mass hysteria as it spread through the GameSpot community, and onto several other websites. As more and more information was available, my heart sank deeper and deeper. When several sites began confirming Jeff's departure, citing various 'reliable' sources, I thought this was the beginning of the end. The end of days for GameSpot.

I followed the blogs of various GameSpot employees, and even former employees, just to help me understand what exactly was going on, and how people who experienced this first hand were taking it. As each editor posted his/her writings on the matter, I was slightly relieved to find out GameSpot staff was just as devastated as the user base.

With that said, I want to extend my sincerest apologies to the GameSpot staff for my overreaction to this entire debacle. I was around for Tournament TV, I listened to the HotSpot Wednesday morning, and I watched the 'On The Spot' Jeff Tribute. The GameSpot staff has demonstrated the utmost professionalism on and off the camera, even with this entire ordeal that obviously struck them emotionally deep and hard. I know that most of us will never TRULY know what transpired in the CNet offices that cost Gurstmann his job. However, I'm sure the management staff also realizes now that silence wasn't the answer. For management to believe that the users wouldn't "notice" or wouldn't care about the sudden, and unexplained departure of a fan favorite editor is just plain ignorant! Do they really understand us so little? Or does the management think so little of us?

As a user, I'm not familiar with the management practice employed by your new boss, or the rules and regulations you must adhere to. I am glad to know that CNet's upper management has launched a high level investigation, to get to the bottom of this issue. What will the investigation turn up? I don't really know, but if CNet's current management isn't suited for this job, then I hope new management is put in place, or that an entirely new management structure is established. The best way for the gaming community to gain closure is for something to be done. We want to know that our favorite editors and staff members aren't being bullied by unfair managerial practices, or whatever the case may be.

To the GameSpot staff, I want to thank each and every one of you for being there and supporting the community at a time like this. We truly appreciate your prompt blog posts, your continued professionalism on and off camera, and your dedication to your jobs. A lot of us have realized that lashing out at GameSpot wasn't the answer, but as you've already acknowledged, it was done with the best intents in order to support Jeff, and to help us get some answers. As a long-time member of the community, I can assure you all that I will continue to support GameSpot. Although my Total Access subscription was canceled in support of Jeff, I am sticking around to see what becomes of this. My confidence in you has been shaken, but once I find everything is ok, then you'll have my subscription again. Should GameSpot never recover from this fierce blow, then so be it. But I truly wish for GameSpot to flourish once more, and as GameSpot demonstrates it is still the same place we've all grown to love, I'm positive users will begin to trickle back. Thank you!

I encourage all users to participate! Don't visit GameSpot.com ALL DAY MONDAY!
Its that simple!! Don't visit the forums, don't visit the page, don't watch any of their videos, don't download their podcasts, NOTHING!

If you truly know me, then you must realize by now that I have mixed feelings about our economy and the way big businesses can get away with anything. Big businesses constantly employ 'bait & switch' schemes, or falsely advertise. What can the little guy do about it? In our government, very little can be done by just one person fighting against a corportation.
Especially since most people these days have no integrity, and their silence in the matter can easily be bought off.

This brings me to my next topic. Media Journalists, but more specifically, Video Game Journalists. The video game industry is growing by leaps and bounds each year. New developement studios are forming everyday, new game publishers signing undiscovered develpers. Its the job of our Video Game Journalists to investigate, report, and review the progress of such games. Why? Because gamers are always looking towards the future. They are always on the look out for the next big game, the next Halo! Its just in their nature to do so.

Game Journalists and the companies they work for like GameSpot a subsidiary of CNet, and others like them are a gathering ground for gamers looking for information & reviews from people we've trusted for years to devlier us great Gaming news and Reviews.

Unfortunately, businesses, even internet videogame websites need money to cover their operational costs, which of course includes paying their staff. Advertising is a widely used method of generating revinue for a company with a major online pressence. Google, Yahoo, MSN, they all work based on revenue from their advertisers.

Now that I've covered the basics, its time to get to the main point of my blog today. GameSpot.com a very trusted Video Game news & reviews website has been the victim of a tragedy against freedom of speech. Jeff Gurstmann, the VideoGame Review Editor in Chief, and an 11-year veteran of the staff, has recently been fired. Why? All because of HIS opinion of a video game!

Kayne & Lynch published by Eidos was recently reviewed by him and assigned a numerical score of 6.0 on a 10.0 scale. Meaning that the game was FAIR at best. In Gurstmann's written & video review, he has very little good things to say about this game. The writing is sub par, the violence is over the top, certain 'features' of the game are broken. He did his job by letting US the consumer know that this game has some issues, and we might not want to spend our money on it.

Eidos recently spent a ton a money purchasing ad-space for their latest game. (Kayne & Lynch) It was expected for the game to do fairly well in the reviews, but when Gurstmann posted a less than favorable review, the company threatened to pull their ad compain, and refuse to do any future business with GameSpot.com.

The man currently in charge of Gamespot.com didn't take this threat lightly, and made the call to fire the 11-year veteran. The next morning when Jeff shows up to work, he comes to realize that his office lock has been changed, and is escorted off the premises. He is later informed that he has been terminated, effectively ending a decade of service to the community which has grown to trust his judgement on games. Why? Because this guy had the integrity to watch out for the consumers, and let us know exactly what HE thought of the game.

CNet, GameSpots parent company, has taken their stance on the issue. They chose to listen to the big companies and turn on the consumers. GameSpot would rather have a Positive Review bought and paid for by companies, rather than to tell the truth to the consumers about a subpar product.

Well, the internet is a big place, and if there is one thing people shouldn't underestimate, its a massive group of tech savvy gamers. GameSpot.com, CNet, Eidos, are definately feeling the pressure as massive amounts of gamers take interest in this prime example of "Selling Out". What do us gamers hope to accomplish? We hope to make damn sure that these companies learn that we are not your average consumer! We are far more knowledgeable, and this will not be tolerated! Gamespot is free to all users, but premium accounts are available and come with added benefits which I myself have enjoyed for several years. With GameSpot officially picking their side, a Mass Exodus has begun of majority users with these premium accounts. Companies worry only about the 'bottom line', well this is the first step.

The second step is to make sure Eidos Interactive fails to push their substandard product to those consumers who don't know any better. Kanye & Lynch on the PS3, PC, & Xbox 360 should be avoided by anyone willing to take part in this cause. GameSpot currently has means for users to post their own reviews of games. Kanye & Lynch has since been reviewed by over 800 people in just under 12 hours! Each reviewer has rated this game a 1.0, also known as an "Abysmal" & a failure. Games rated anything lower than a 6.0 should be avoided if you value your money. Eidos had GameSpot to take stance on a 6.0, gamers have pushed back and rated the game even lower!

From Kotaku

Alleged Gamespot Employee Spills Guts On Valleywag

A commenter on sister site Valleywag, who claims to be a current Gamespot employee, wrote anonymously about the current situation surrounding rumors of former editorial director Jeff Gerstmann's termination. The new user, known as "gamespot", who does a fairly solid impression of a bitter employee of CNet, if nothing else, provides possible insight into the emotional state at Gamespot's editorial staff. In response to a Valleywag post that quoted another supposed CNet employee, one whose "gut" had informed them that Gerstmann was fired for unspecified "larger" reasons, "gamespot" chimed in. Many had questioned the timing of the termination, wondering why, if the Kane & Lynch: Dead Men review had been published over two weeks ago, was Jeff fired just two days ago?

Commenter "gamespot" responded.

The main problem here is that no one in the entire editorial team was aware that this was about to occur, least of all Gerstmann. We're very clear in our review policies that all reviews are vetted by the entire team before they go live - everything that goes up is the product of an entire team's output. Our freelancers are especially guilty of making snide comments, but those are always yanked before the review goes live, because everyone in the office reads these reviews and makes sure they're up to our standards before they get put up.

If there was a problem with his reviews, then it would've been a problem with the entire team. Firing him without telling anyone implies that anyone else on this team can be fired at the drop of a hat as well, because none of us are writing any differently or meaner or less professionally than we were two years ago before the management changed. I'm sure management wants to spin this as the G-Man being unprofessional to take away from the egg on their face that results after a ten-year employee gets locked out of his office and told to leave the premises and then no one communicates anything to us about it until the next day.

Addressing the timing, "gamespot" weighs in again.

Also, despite the fact that this occured two weeks ago, there was no way they were going to fire him then; the last big games didn't come out until just before Thanksgiving, and there was no doubt that management knew that the rest of the reviewers would refuse to write any reviews after his termination, which is indeed what is happening. After thanksgiving nothing major comes out in games; everything is either before thanksgiving or comes out in January. They waited to fire him until they knew that any strike or walkout by the rest of the staff wouldn't have much of an effect.

Also, keep in mind that these salespeople do have axes to grind with editorial. I know a lot of people busted their asses to get not only this large deal with Eidos done, but also other huge ad deals. The salespeople and the marketers are the ones who have to deal with the publishers when a heavily-advertised game gets a bad review, so obviously they like it if every game that comes out is peachy keen and gets a 9.0 or above. If a salesperson knows anything about unprofessional review practices, then that says a lot about the management team that we have in place because not a single other member of the editorial team had heard word one about this until Jeff was fired. Surely site management would want to let us know about their concerns before firing the most senior staff member and one of the most respected game critics in the industry? If they're sharing their concerns with the salespeople and not with us then that says a lot about their priorities.

In response to Valleywag write Paul Boutin's opinion that he doesn't believe the rumor that Gerstmann was solely fired for his Kane & Lynch review, partially based on the fact that no named sources have weighed in on the topic, "gamespot" responded again.

No one wants to be named because no one wants to get **** fired! This management team has shown what they're willing to do. Jeff had ten years in and was **** locked out of his office and told to leave the building.

What you might not be aware of is that GS is well known for appealing mostly to hardcore gamers. The mucky-mucks have been doing a lot of "brand research" over the last year or so and indicating that they want to reach out to more casual gamers. Our last executive editor, Greg Kasavin, left to go to EA, and he was replaced by a suit, Josh Larson, who had no editorial experience and was only involved on the business side of things. Over the last year there has been an increasing amount of pressure to allow the advertising teams to have more of a say in the editorial process; we've started having to give our sales team heads-ups when a game is getting a low score, for instance, so that they can let the advertisers know that before a review goes up. Other publishers have started giving us notes involving when our reviews can go up; if a game's getting a 9 or above, it can go up early; if not, it'll have to wait until after the game is on the shelves.

I was in the meeting where Josh Larson was trying to explain this firing and the guy had absolutely no response to any of the criticisms we were sending his way. He kept dodging the question, saying that there were "multiple instances of tone" in the reviews that he hadn't been happy about, but that wasn't Jeff's problem since we all vet every review. He also implied that "AAA" titles deserved more attention when they were being reviewed, which sounded to all of us that he was implying that they should get higher scores, especially since those titles are usually more highly advertised on our site.

I know that it's all about the money, and hey, I like money. I like advertising because it pays my salary. Unfortunately after Kasavin left the church-and-state separation between the sales teams and the editorial team has cracked, and with Jeff's firing I think it's clear that the management now has no interest at all in integrity and are instead looking for an editorial team that will be nicer to the advertisors.

When companies make games as downright contemptible as Kane and Lynch, they deserve to be called on it. I guess you'll have to go to Onion or a smaller site for objective reviews now, because everyone at GS now thinks that if they give a low score to a high-profile game, they'll be **** Everyone's **** scared and we're all hoping to get Josh Larson removed from his position because no one trusts him anymore. If that doesn't happen then look for every game to be Game of the Year material at GameSpot.

Please note that this post is tagged "rumor" for a reason. We have no way to confirm that commenter "gamespot" is actually employed at Gamespot or CNet or has access to information about the current situation.