Joystiq Interviews Jeff Gerstmann

December 3, 2007 -

Over at Joystiq, scribe Kyle Orland has scored an interview with deposed GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann.

Among Gerstmann's comments:

Losing a job you've held for over 11 years in an abrupt manner is shocking, yes.

Gerstmann wouldn't talk specifics of the Kane & Lynch review that proved his undoing, but said:

I stand behind my work, regardless of where I do it... I'm not really sure what I want to do next. This whole situation has left me with a lot to think about... Despite the number of people who are taking these rumors ... to mean that game writing is ethically bankrupt, I don't feel that's the case...

Posted in

Media
People

Comments

Submitted by Robert (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 15:49.

Exchanging an email is not an "interview." It cheapens the term to misuse it like this. An interview is when you speak with someone directly and have a spontaneous conversation of questions and answers, not when someone responds in writing to a canned list of questions.

Submitted by Rammsoldat (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 08:43.

Well jeef when you have as little faith in game reviews as I do this whole situation basically justifies my stance. However I know that alot of people have a hard time making their minds up about stuff and so I can see the merit in reviews.

Im just hoping gamespot get ripped a new one over this debaucle.

Submitted by Skylar (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 08:48.

I personally have never felt that game reviewers were completely objective to begin with. Even terrible games get average scores.

I don't hang my purchasing decisions on people I don't even know based on a number and a 2-page description.

It sucks that he lost his job, but this isn't some far-reaching conspiracy to bury a bad game review. This doesn't warrant a boycott, but maybe more people will start to be more skeptical about videogame reviews, as they already should have been.

And maybe, just maybe, it will motivate developers and publishers to make quality products instead of rushing derivative crap to the market. But probably not.

Submitted by Gray17 (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 11:25.

@Skylar

I don't think people see this as a far reaching conspiracy to bury a bad review. Rather they see it as the first step in burying all future bad reviews if a game's creator buys enough advertising.

That'd switch reviews from being one person's opinion that's attempting to inform others, to reviews being just another advertisement that won't actually warn you about any bad aspects.

Submitted by Video Games Blog » Joystiq Interviews Jeff Gerstmann (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 13:09.

[...] Source: Joystiq Interviews Jeff Gerstmann Bookmark it: [...]

Submitted by Dave (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 17:21.

I wonder if "independent" gaming sites will make their triumphant return following this situation. The cost of bandwidth has gone down considerably since The GIA closed, so the possibility exists.

Submitted by Wallo (not verified) on Mon, 12/03/2007 - 22:47.

hmmmm. sounds like a couple people who wanted what they say to get heard. Instead of really commenting on the article, you gave your own version of "right". Not terribly useful to the reader.

Shout box

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

james_fudge: I think Evan killed it. He's a great guy and super smart.10/17/2014 - 6:38pm

All shouts

<< Return To Top

Forgot your password?
Username :
Password :