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GameSpot Goes on Hiring Binge
Posted by Brian Crecente at 5:00 AM on March 5, 2008
In the wake of GameSpot's fairly publicised shake-up in their reviews department, the Cnet owned company is on the prowl for a number of new reviewers.
Tom's Games points out that the company posted three job listings over at JournalismJobs.Com from Feb. 15 through Feb. 27 for copywriter; associate editor, reviews; and associate editor II, PC previews and reviews.
Hit the jump for some of the responsibilities for each job. On a side note, I was a little disturbed to read that their copywriter position might include the unholy wedlock of advertising and editorial, with the person being responsible for writing banner ads, print ads and, perhaps, headlines?
Associate Editor, Reviews
The associate editor will be responsible for 3-5 regular game product review assignments per week in a timely manner.
The associate editor will be expected to contribute to the reviews editing process both by receiving and giving feedback on his/her own reviews, as well as reviews written by other editors and staffers.
The associate editor will be expected to contribute to additional review-related duties, such as appearing in video reviews or potentially helping to compile game assets.
The associate editor will be expected to contribute to GameSpot's editorial product in other ways, such as attending press events, covering games for previews, and contributing to editorial features.
Associate Editor II, PC previews & reviews
The associate editor will be responsible for 3-5 regular PC game preview and review assignments per week in a timely manner, and potentially some console-related coverage as well.
The associate editor will be called on to interface with game industry contacts and attend game-related industry events and may be required to travel, schedule appointments, manage press assets, and keep track of deadline and designated publish dates.
As part of the process of contributing to reviews, the associate editor will be expected to contribute to the reviews editing process both by receiving and giving feedback on his/her own reviews, as well as reviews written by other editors and staffers.
The associate editor will be expected to contribute to additional review-related duties, such as appearing in video reviews or potentially helping to compile game assets.
The associate editor will be expected to contribute to GameSpot's editorial product in other ways, such as attending press events, covering games for previews, and contributing to editorial features.
Write banner ads, landing pages, print ads, ads, microsites, videos, and, of course, email. Work autonomously with partner designer during concept development and design. Integrate the brand personality into all consumer communication and maintain a consistent look and feel that reinforces and builds the brands as innovators.
Work with Marketing, Product and product design teams to understand our customers, the nuances of the product and the key strategies for each project. Attend user lab studies to witness consumer experience with the product first hand in order to better understand their motivations, stumbling blocks, etc. Develop a strong command of our brands, their positioning and detailed product features.
Like Video Games? Cnet/Gamespot Going Hiring Crazy (must Like Eidos) [Tom's Games]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Zensation
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
3-5 reviews per person/week. Wow thats crazy, no wonder game reviews always seem like they talk about the first 4 hours of a game.
"The starting missions..."
Zensation
zdude255
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
They probably need to hire a bunch of people after everyone started leaving...
zdude255
skrutop
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
There seems to be some confusion about what a "copywriter" does, both in the column and in the comments. Unfortunately it's leading to "omg, gamespots still teh corruptz" arguments again.
Copywriters are marketing people, not editors. They write copy for the ads, whether that be for external partners (like Ubisoft) or for stuff on the site. You don't think Jeff Gerstmann writes those dumb little slogans and crap talking about "Check out the brand new fresh content in the features section!" do you? That junk is farmed out to some advertising shill.
skrutop
StartRunning
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Dear Gamespot,
I would like to apply to the position of Head of operations at Gamespot. In my opinion I am extremely suited to the task and I expect to see you all in my office tomorrow morning at seven.
Best regards, yada yada yada
StartRunning
cactaur
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
For hire: Editor of Negotiable Affection
cactaur
Fyren
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@rkr215: You obviously missed a note of huge success.
[www.sitemeter.com]
says different about kotaku.
Fyren
J-Fro
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@J-Fro: *on a regular basis. Sheesh.
J-Fro
J-Fro
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Applicants must have a friendly demeanor, and be willing to take it up the rear from advertisers on the regular basis (3-5 times a week). Lube not provided.
J-Fro
arstal
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
I know at least one credible game reviewer is applying for the position.
arstal
ninjadoom
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
How do they expect someone to do 3 reviews a week? How can you even play through 3 games in that amount of time? Especially if you end up doing RPG's WTF?
ninjadoom
Intellectualdiot
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Hmm, maybe I should submit my resume. Do they have an opening for someone who sleeps far more than any healthy human being should? They could even pay me in Easy Mac if that'll grease the wheels a bit.
Intellectualdiot
ph15h
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Let's all apply as a very well known ex-reviewer en masse...
j/k Let's all get hired then fired
ph15h
skullivan
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@rkr215:
The point is though, you have to be an enthusiast yourself in order to be in this line of work. I have no doubt Gamespot's userbase hasn't been affected much, but the kind of people who would want to work there ARE the enthusiasts. Traffic has nothing to do with credibility.
I've always wanted to work someplace incredible, but that's not what I had in mind :P
skullivan
Cronofan
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@PearceShea: exactly
Cronofan
darthmole12
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
3-5 reviews a week? Seems like it would be pretty hard to be accurate when you are just grinding through the game to review it.
darthmole12
xgenius
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Anyone know what gigs like these pay?
xgenius
Cpryd001
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@skullivan:
Ha! Somebody hasn't been keeping up.
Cpryd001
DaPress
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@GhaleonUnlimited: Dude, Gamespot gave Phoenix Wright 8.8/10.
DaPress
rkr215
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@skullivan: The messageboard enthusiast might not take Gamespot.com seriously anymore, but according to Compete.com, traffic to the site is still pretty stable, comparable to IGN.com. As a point of comparison, Kotaku.com (obviously a more accurate news source) only receives 1/8th the traffic of Gamespot.com.
rkr215
GhaleonUnlimited
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
They could use them -- I like how the tagline on their new Phoenix Wright game review is "If you can look past the inherent flaws of the series..." -- fucking great "journalism". Like that phrase would ever get slapped on a Linear Fantasy XXI, God of War, Halo -- anything funding their site.
GhaleonUnlimited
JohnnytheFuture
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@beanman101283: Very true. I love video games, but if I HAD to play that much, it'd be a total turn-off.
JohnnytheFuture
TheSonicGamer
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@PearceShea:
True. Not only that, but really, how many games out there are going to be Mario Galaxies or Call of Duty 4s'? Some games are ok ,but I would think alot of times reviewers have to dea lwith god awful games and point out their numerous flaws.
I'd still endure it, though.
TheSonicGamer
DaPress
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
A chunk of their staff left. They need to fill the jobs. They post three job ads. Slow news day.
DaPress
gaijira
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@rkr215: True. It should be obvious when the post refers to "print ads".
gaijira
Indrajit
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Join gamespot. All it costs IS YOUR SOUL!!!
Indrajit
PearceShea
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
3-5 reviews a week? Doesn't this seem like an impossible task? How could you ever dream of having accurate reviews when the reviewer has only a couple of days to play a single game?
PearceShea
beanman101283
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
3-5 game reviews a week.. I can think of no better way to cure me of my love of games than to have to grind through something like that. You could spend 40+ hours playing games before you even get to the review writing.
beanman101283
skullivan
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@Trowble (XBL/PSN):
7 out of 10 years? What does that mean?
Gamespot's gonna have a hard time finding anyone who has been in the business for any length of time willing to work for them. Why would you compromise your name to work for a publication no one takes seriously now? There's a reason everyone is jumping ship.
skullivan
ErskinPig
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
DIE GAMESPOT! DIE!!!!!!
ErskinPig
cdammers
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
What rkr215 said. I don't see any editorial/ad crossover in that description.
cdammers
yashichi8bit
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
@Trowble (XBL/PSN): Ha! Nice one.
yashichi8bit
TheSonicGamer
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Damnit on a stick, I want a job in video game journalism...
TheSonicGamer
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
You need 7 out of 10 years of experience in the business in order to be considered for an interview...
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
rkr215
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Way to sensationalize a fairly mundane job posting. The position for copywriter is in marketing, not editorial. It reads as though this job of the copywriter in marketing is to promote the brand, Gamespot.com, in external communications such as media kits. No where does it state the copywriter position will marry advertising and editorial.
rkr215
mikeluisortega
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Can't they just get a spam bot to do the reviews, it's as easy as taking the amount the game publisher pays to determine the score and then adding in key words like Innovative, multiplayer, experience, fps etc.
mikeluisortega
SSJPabs
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
Why so disturbed? It's not like it just happened. Of course they didn't learn anything.
SSJPabs
silkylove
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
This won't help. The new hires will just be viewed as scabs.
silkylove
ashjaw
Posted 5:33 AM 6/3/08
they got DDR machines in their break room
ashjaw