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Why Robin Makes Batman Better 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 whole Jeff Gerstmann/GameSpot affair was a mess. An unsightly one at that. Now that the dust has settled, however, it’s probably a good time to read a comprehensive history of the thing, like the one Sam Kennedy has posted over on his 1UP blog. While some/most of the details will already be familiar to you, it’s worth checking out some of the new stuff he brings to the table, like comments from an advertiser who’s worked with the site to excerpts from GameSpot’s advertising kit. Most interesting, though, is Kennedy saying he’s heard whispers of Gerstmann joining up with GameSpot founder Vince Broady with the goal of launching a site to “take on GameSpot”. GameSpot’s Sad State of Affairs [1UP]
Long time video game reviewer Alex Navarro, a frequent contributor to GameSpot’s podcast The HotSpot and go-to video review narrator, will be leaving the site, according to the site’s Editorial Director Ricardo Torres. We learned in a phone call with Torres earlier today that Navarro, who many will remember from his infamous (and hilarious) video review of Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing, had given his notice yesterday, with the rest of staff told his last day of GameSpot editorial duties would occur on January 24th.
We haven’t been in touch with Navarro yet to learn more about his decision to leave GameSpot or if the termination of Jeff Gerstmann played a role in his departure. Navarro has made appearances on Jeff Gerstmann’s personal blog and Points! webcast over the past month, so it’s possible the two may work together in some capacity in the future.
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.”
“Best of” awards are fun, sure, but it’s the screw ups that give us the most joy during the depressing holidays, not the accolades. Watching others fail so spectacularly makes our own lack of accomplishment that much less memorable. Fortunately, Next-Gen knows what we like and have rounded up the year’s biggest blunders in its latest list, which not only includes the familiar Sony blackballing incident from March, but also touches on other fun and interesting topics like the dismissal of Jeff Gerstmann and the whirlwind of confusion surrounding this year’s PlayStation 3 SKU confusion. Even better are trips down memory lane with execs Shane Kim and Jack Tretton.
I won’t spoil number one, but it’s certainly the most expensive of the lot. Let loose the finger pointing and HAHA-ing!
TOP 10 BLUNDERS OF 2007 [Next-Gen]
Jeff Gerstmann’s departure from GameSpot, sometimes referred to as Gerstmanngate, was one of the bigger sexy scandals of 2007. (Note: we fully recognise that “bigger” is grammatically incorrect, but if enough people keep saying it, the rules will change). That’s why this trailer for JFG, a reinterpretation of Oliver Stone’s highly controversial JFK, cracked us up. It’s pretty well done. But like most internet videos, the idea is incredible for about half its run.
Thanks Laurens!
If you happened to miss yesterday’s episode of Attack of the Show on G4, featuring Wired Game|Life‘s Chris Kohler and yours truly chatting about the Jeff Gerstmann-GameSpot situation, now’s your chance. Notice that it’s Kohler representing with a bird shirt this time, not a Kotaku editor. Now that we’ve had ample time to process, with tempers cooled, we rapped about the long term effects of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Score-gate. I know, that doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?
I’m on my way to the Attack of the Show set to chat about things related to the Jeff Gerstmann-Gamespot brouhaha. If you feel like watching someone with a face and voice for blogging speak on rumour and speculation, tune in to G4 for The Feed today. It promises to be a Gerstmann good time! As always, comments about grooming choices are welcome in the comments.
Here’s the latest episode of GameSpot’s On the Spot series, which features a look back at the life and times of Jeff Gerstmann, who recently passed on (from GameSpot.) It certainly feels like the man died though. Ryan Macdonald nearly bursts into tears at several points during the introduction, and no one looks particularly happy to be there. I just hope that when I am eventually fired from Kotaku due to my tone that it winds up being so controversial that the guys here have put together a retrospective that is nearly as poignant and touching. If I had to bet, I’d say McWhertor would be the one in tears. Such a sensitive guy. The video is over an hour long, but the tribute only takes up the first 8 minutes, so feel free to do something more productive with your time afterwards.
GameSpot has finally responded in force to the Jeff Gerstmann situation, addressing the topic once and for all…though still not revealing why he was fired for unspecified legal reasons. With no more ado, let’s just cut right to the chase. Q: Was Eidos Interactive upset by the game’s review?
Well, were they??
A: It has been confirmed that Eidos representatives expressed their displeasure to their appropriate contacts at GameSpot, but not to editorial directly. It was not the first time a publisher has voiced disappointment with a game review, and it won’t be the last. However, it is strict GameSpot policy never to let any such feelings result in a review score to be altered or a video review to be pulled.
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