The author of the petition writes: "We the games community, based on the recent events that have transpired with the game review conglomerate GameSpot.com hereby present the following petition to Metacritic's chief operations officer in charge of content.

On November 29, 2007 GameSpot.com fired its chief editor in charge of game reviews Jeff Gerstmann. Because of a number of issues relating to game reviews, a number of employees left GameSpot completely even while their reviews are still up on that site. In the process, it became immediately clear that GameSpot's reviews are largely inconsistent as well as possibly fraudulent for certain games across all platforms.

We as gamers can not, and will not tolerate shady business practices in the video games industry as in the end that ruins gaming for everyone who will not tow the line".
» Read More

Dec 2, 2007

"Freaked-out" Eidos ducks CNET firing rumor

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

ValleyWag reports that Eidos is "freaking out" over l'affaire Gerstmann; top management there, an insider says, sincerely believes they didn't prompt CNET to fire Gerstmann, but fears they'll get the blame anyway.
» Read More

Dec 1, 2007

Sony, Pepsi, Dell, Support Gamespot

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - Sony, Pepsi, Dell, Support Gamespot

Not all advertisers are headed out the door, over the Gamespot controversy. Several companies, like Mountain Dew (Pepsi), Dell, and Sony are devouring the now available inventory left by the exodus of game ads.

From the article: "Despite boycotts and canceled subscriptions, it seems at least some companies recognize a hot topic when they see one. Unfortunately for those companies, many gamers are taking mental notes."

"If they want to support Gamespot's total breakdown in editorial credibility, then they have to understand that there are consequences involved," said 'HulleyToe', a gamer from San Mateo, CA. "It may not hurt them now, but just as advertisers use their dollars to influence companies like Gamespot and CNET, I can use my money to influence the advertisers."
» Read More

Dec 1, 2007

Ziff Davis staff holds impromptu GameSpot rally

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - Ziff Davis staff holds impromptu GameSpot rally

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.
» Read More

Dec 1, 2007

GameSpot denies Eidos pressured firing of Gerstmann

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - GameSpot denies Eidos pressured firing of Gerstmann

Joystiq just got off the phone with Sarah Cain, a CNET spokesperson who wanted to amend CNET's previous statement to Joystiq on the recent firing of executive editor Jeff Gerstmann. While reiterating that CNET does not discuss personal employee matters with the press, Cain said directly that "we do not terminate employees based on external pressure from advertisers." When asked specifically about whether any such pressure was even attempted on Eidos' part, Cain had no comment.
» Read More

Dec 1, 2007

Gamespot Boycotts Get Nasty

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - Gamespot Boycotts Get Nasty

Who says the average Joe is powerless against "the man"?

From the article: "And now, a cry that could end up hurting Gamespot even more than any of the above. A boycott is being organized, a very, VERY creative boycott."
» Read More

Dec 1, 2007

1UP confirms reason for GameSpot editor was fired

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - 1UP confirms reason for GameSpot editor was fired

1UP confirms through their own source that Jeff Gerstmann was fired for his negative review of Eidos Interactive's Kane & Lynch.

According to 1UP, Gerstmann already came under fired from Sony for scoring Ratchet & Clank Future a 7.5, for which he as the (former) GameSpot editorial director was responsible for overseeing and defending.

1UP's source also points to CNET's new management under the new executive VP Stephen Colvin as the real catalyst for the firing.
» Read More

Dec 1, 2007

Gamespot Readers Push Back

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - Gamespot Readers Push Back

Apparently gamers aren't very pleased with Gamespot's removal of Editorial Director Jeff Gerstmann.

From the article: "According to a forum thread on their site, more than 400 of Gamespot's paid subscribers have already cancelled their subscriptions in direct protest of the move, with many more vowing to do so if Gamespot and parent company CNET do not answer up to the fairly heavy charges of putting advertising dollars ahead of editorial integrity."
» Read More

Nov 30, 2007

Eidos and GameSpot forums exploding over Gerstmann incident

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - Eidos and GameSpot forums exploding over Gerstmann incident

Although GameSpot and publisher Eidos have not yet made public statements over what led to the firing of GameSpot's Editorial Director Jeff Gertsmann, the accusation of publisher pressure is exploding all over the companies' forums. GameSpot currently has numerous threads on the incident, with one thread in particular having thousands of posts. Eidos has taken a different approach, locking down all threads on their site after apparently purging derogatory posts from thousands of angry gamers reacting to the rumor yesterday night.
» Read More

Nov 30, 2007

Confirmed: GameSpot's Gerstmann Fired

360 News from N4G | Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

360 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men - Confirmed: GameSpot's Gerstmann Fired

Rumors have been swirling today that Jeff Gerstmann, executive editor at CNET-owned major video game site GameSpot, was fired after giving a generally unimpressed review of Io Interactive's Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. Gerstmann awarded the game a 6.0. (Though Shacknews does not score its reviews, our own Kane & Lynch review was similar in its verdict.)

Shacknews can confidently confirm via its own sources that Gerstmann was indeed fired yesterday from his position at GameSpot.
» Read More