“Gerstmann-gate” has become something of a watershed moment in the games journalism industry. Many cynics had assumed that things like that had been occurring for years, but it wasn’t until the end of last November that we found out about it in such a highly publicized manner. Though we still don’t (and probably won’t ever) know what truly happened in the chain of events that led to CNET’s firing of eleven-year veteran GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann, the games industry has been forever changed by it.
But I’m pleased to be able to bring you an uplifting update on this sad story. Josh Larson, VP of games at GameSpot’s parent company, CNET — and the guy who was Gerstmann’s boss when he was fired — will be laid off next week as a casualty of restructuring.
Kotaku was forwarded some “internal communication” that explained the move:
“...new management structure means that Josh Larson's position as VP, Games is being eliminated and Josh will be leaving the company.”
While it’s unclear if Larson was the guy who made the call to let Gerstmann go, we know for sure that Larson’s last day at CNET will be next Wednesday, April 9; this was confirmed to Kotaku when they contacted GameSpot’s current Editor-in-Chief, Ricardo Torres. Last week, CNET announced that
they would be laying off 120 employees (10% of their American workforce), and it would appear that this change comes as a result of that move.
I wasn’t officially working in the industry when the scandal first broke, but as a gamer and an avid reader of games journalism, I was certainly very worried. Many Dtoiders felt the same way — remember the rash of “Has Destructoid sold out?” c-blogs when the site was skinned with Turning Point: Fall of Liberty advertisements? But ultimately, I have faith that the nascent industry will survive, if only because of sites like Destructoid. To read more about Larson and what CNET’s next move is, hit the jump.
[via Kotaku]
Larson was apparently never too popular with the GameSpot staff to begin with; around the time of Gerstmann’s firing, a member of the site’s reviews team supposedly posted on Valleywag with his view of the situation, including comments on Larson’s qualifications (or lack thereof):
“Our last executive editor, Greg Kasavin, left to go to EA, and he was replaced by a suit, Josh Larson, who had no editorial experience and was only involved on the business side of things.”
“...after Kasavin left the church-and-state separation between the sales teams and the editorial team has cracked, and with Jeff's firing I think it's clear that the management now has no interest at all in integrity and are instead looking for an editorial team that will be nicer to the advertisors.”
I wonder, though, if CNET is just trying to buy some credibility, which was lost — perhaps forever — when they got rid of Gerstmann. When you have GameSpot users canceling their subscriptions en masse, there’s a serious problem. In fact, word on the street has it that CNET will replace Larson with Shawn Rose, who currently works for TV.com, a CNET Networks site.
Have you all completely lost faith in GameSpot and removed them from your bookmarks? (I did.) And do you feel that this move could start them on the path to redemption? Scroll down and spill your guts in the comment box.
Contest:
8:05 PM on 04.04.2008
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But I’m pleased to be able to bring you a uplifting update on this sad story..
Samit I present into evidence that the "a" in question should in fact be a 'AN'.
CASE CLOSED.
I want my prize now, please.
Anyway, I happy to hear he was let go, but it sucks that all those other people were fired as well.
*Subject to terms and conditions not listed here.
Anyway, about Josh Larson. Karma baby. Kar------ma, with a capital K. I wasn't a ra-ra fan of Jeff Gerstmann in particular, but I sure was a Gamespot fan for a good while, especially while Greg Kasavin was looking over things.
This move to replace/eliminate Josh Larson's position is part of a larger movement at CNET and doesn't, in my eyes, come close to fully reinstating faith and integrity in the Gamespot enterprise. I have only glanced at the site twice (maybe) since this whole thing went down, and I don't see myself committing any of my substantial online time to the site simply because they got rid of one person who was apparently involved in a very shit-headed personnel move.
Ricardo Torres is cool, but because I haven't even bothered to see who all remains (and has been added) to Gamespot.com, like I just said above, this move doesn't make me want to go running back with open arms. Or even with a tentatively friendly gesture. More needs to be done.
Jeff G
Ryan
Alex N
Rich
Brad
Jason Ocampo
...
Now they've all gone within a year. The thing that held me to Gamespot was those personalities. Now the only guy at Gamespot I still root for is Brian Ekberg (who is a champ) but still Im much more compelled by the snarky bastards at IGN and 1up...
Oh well, sorry gamespot.
That's one thing the gaming blogs have down pretty well that for some reason the corporate sites can't get right. I've never used IGN, Gamespot, or 1UP because I have no aesthetic values in common with the people who designed those sites.
;)