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Awesome City Builder, Made By The Oz Bureau Of Statistics, Is Narrated By Shaun Micallef
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The First Time I Played The Last Of Us...
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Big Layoffs Hit The Studio Behind Defiance And Rift
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Talking To The PS4, Hints Of Rockstar's Agent And Other Secrets
Regulars
Rumor: Microsoft Replaces Head Xbox Designer
Don Coyner, who has been leading the design experience group for Xbox since the console’s launch, has been replaced at Microsoft, Cnet reports. Coyner, who has been working with the Xbox since the console’s inception, was replaced by Emma Williams, according to Cnet sources. Williams was in charge of the redesign of the Live interface that just hit.
Digital Distribution Dos And Don’ts
Craig Simms’ Bitstream section of CNet Australia has just released a digital distribution code of conduct for publishers, which sets out a list of Dos and Don’ts, in which Ubisoft comes out as the “most consumer hostile publisher online”.
Breaking: CBS Snags GameSpot In $US 1.8 Billion CNET Acquisition
CBS Corporation just announced an agreement to buy CNET for $US 1.8 billion dollars. Through the deal, all of CNET’s network sites, including GameSpot, TV.com mp3.com, CNET news.com, UrbanBaby, CHOW, Search.com, BNET, MySimon and TechRepublic all become property of CBS.
CBS’ existing online network already includes CBS.com, CBSSports.com, CBSCollegeSports.com, MaxPreps.com, CBSNews.com, last.fm, Wallstrip, MobLogic, and the CBS Radio and CBS Television Stations digital media platforms. CBS says its distribution net, the Audience Network, comprises 300 partner sites and reaches 82% of U.S. web users.
“CNET Networks operates some of the most important premium online brands, serving the most sought after online audiences,” said CNET CEO Neil Ashe. “Today’s announcement brings together two organisations that complement each other and working with Leslie, Quincy and the talented people at CBS, we look forward to taking our business and our brands to the next level.”
Full announcement follows the jump.
The Man Who Fired Jeff Gerstmann From GameSpot Has Been Sacked
When long-time GameSpot reviewer and editorial director Jeff Gerstmann was let go from the site last November—with sources pointing to his review of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men as the catalyst for his termination—fingers were also pointed at executive Josh Larson, VP of games at parent company CNET. Larson, who replaced former Editor in Chief Greg Kasavin, was implicated by anonymous GameSpot employees to have had the “church-and-state” separation between the sales teams and the editorial team” “cracked” under his tenure. Whether the VP, Jeff’s supervisor at the time, was the key decision maker in letting Gerstmann go we can’t confirm, but we can confirm that Larson will be leaving the company next week.
GameSpot Goes on Hiring Binge
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?
GameSpot Loses One More Editor
Ryan Davis, an associate editor, experienced reviewer and nearly 8-year GameSpot veteran, has become the latest to quit in the wake of former editorial director Jeff Gerstmann’s termination. GameDaily.biz reports today that it has confirmed with new GameSpot editor in chief Ricardo Torres that Davis will follow Frank Provo and Alex Navarro as the latest casualty to the site’s editorial staff. News of the most recent resignation comes two months to the day that we warned of a mass walkout at the CNet Networks owned site.
GameSpot Names New Editor In Chief
CNet Networks announced today that GameSpot veteran Ricardo Torres has been named the new Editor In Chief of the online publication, replacing former site lead Greg Kasavin in the role. The site had been without an official EIC since Kasavin’s departure in January of last year to work at Electronic Arts. Torres, who shared editorial director duties with former GameSpotter Jeff Gerstmann, has been with the site since 2001 and has been focused on previews and worldwide event coverage.
Torres, who spoke to us recently about the departure of longtime reviewer Alex Navarro, said of the new responsibilities via press release “I’m eager to continue the site’s tradition of excellence and I’m confident we can move forward into 2008 and set a new industry standard for how video games are covered.” Torres recently set editorial standards for wearing cornrows, pictures of which we desperately wish we had in our possession.
We wish Torres the best in his future endeavors at GameSpot. Full statement from CNet after the break.
The SNES Was The Best Console EVAR
CNET just published a story by Don Reisinger claiming that the Super Nintendo was the greatest console of all time. He argues that the console was the ultimate successor, “a follow-up that was worthy of the ‘Super’ moniker and gave developers the license they needed to create the legendary titles that we still play today.” Personally, I’d agree with his casually argued logic—there’s a reason I’m anxious to port Super Mario World to every device on the planet but bored by the thought of playing PSOne games on the PSP. Of course, this is all just one man’s opinion and many of you won’t agree. So go ahead and vote below before elaborating in the comments.
GameSpot Owner CNet Eyed for Hostile Take Over
The New York Times is reporting that a consortium of “prominent investment funds” have managed to grab up 21 percent of CNet and are now working to kick out the company’s directors and take over the majority of the company’s board.
The Times piece is based on people who were privy to a memo sent from the consortium to the board about two weeks ago. Among CNet’s assets, of course, are gaming site GameSpot and tech site TechCruch.
The consortium is led by Jana Partners and includes Sandell Asset Management, a venture capital firm and entrepeneur Paul Gardi, the guy behind Ask Jeeves tech.
No word on if or how this could possible impact GameSpot.
Longtime GameSpot Reviewer Leaves, Cites Gerstmann Firing
After the termination of established GameSpot reviewer and editorial director Jeff Gerstmann, we heard from employees of the site who spoke of the threat of “mass resignations.” Today it would seem we have at least one confirmed casualty from the CNet/Gerstmann fallout, longtime freelance reviewer Frank Provo. The reviewer, with over seven years worth of contributions to GameSpot and some 751 reviews, confirmed on his work blog today that he was no longer writing for the site. “I believe CNet management let Jeff go for all the wrong reasons,” wrote the reviewer “I believe CNet intends to soften the site’s tone and push for higher scores to make advertisers happy.”
