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Strength and honor! Ziff Davis rallies outside CNET offices

3:57 PM on 12.01.2007, Aaron Linde 57 comments

Strength and honor! Ziff Davis rallies outside CNET offices photo
     Reviews

In a showing of support for the recent review debacle still underway at CNET, staffers from Ziff Davis including 1UP writers (and that oh-so-dreamy Jeremy Parish) put together a small but profoundly effective demonstration in front of CNET's offices. I say "effective" because it's quite uplifting to see competition swept aside in favor of solidarity within our profession; Jeff Gerstmann's firing, provided the circumstances surrounding it turn out to be true, is one of the creepiest goddamn things to happen in recent months and will likely prompt a lengthy discussion on the nature of the gig. 

Gerstmann's canning might be a settled matter, but the aftermath is still brewing on both ends of the table. Expect to see a lot of discussion about reviews, the nature of reviews and the brave men and women who kick out the jams without crapping on their own integrity in the coming weeks. Good on you, Ziff.

[Via the 1UP Show Flickr


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Shin Oni's Avatar
Shin Oni at 12/01/2007 15:58
It's great to know people care for other reviewers even outside the rival office. That's more of a true gamer spirit anyway.

It's still such a shitty excuse to fire someone. But it shows even the bigwigs in gaming do the dirtyness of even the bigger industries in america.
Racoon's Avatar
Racoon at 12/01/2007 15:59
Thats pretty fucking cool, 1up gets a 1up for that.
winojesus's Avatar
winojesus at 12/01/2007 16:02
this is fucking brilliant. brilliant.
Guagloves's Avatar
Guagloves at 12/01/2007 16:02
Its good to see that reviewers support other reviewers. +2 for 1up.
MrSadistic's Avatar
MrSadistic at 12/01/2007 16:04
I hope riot control stops by and pull out the water hose.
boylie's Avatar
boylie at 12/01/2007 16:11
That's fucking awesome. Hats off to you 1up, you classy sons of bitches.
Los Tres Ojos's Avatar
Los Tres Ojos at 12/01/2007 16:12
If anything, Gamespot should be thanking Gerstmann for trying to uphold their credibility.

If a game site starts giving mediocre games great reviews, people will certainly start to realize it, and quickly.
JJ Rage's Avatar
JJ Rage at 12/01/2007 16:18
Simply awesome.
JonDarkwood's Avatar
JonDarkwood at 12/01/2007 16:20
Good show, reviewing games isn't about competition, it's about getting to write about what you care about. And it's great that they honor each other for that.
TheToiletDuck's Avatar
TheToiletDuck at 12/01/2007 16:21
Word on the street is that Tim Tracy has left Gamespot too
frozenbabylon's Avatar
frozenbabylon at 12/01/2007 16:21
I love you, Ziff-Davis.
CrackaSlim's Avatar
CrackaSlim at 12/01/2007 16:30
I give this support rally an 8...out of 10.
TheBrain's Avatar
TheBrain at 12/01/2007 16:40
We need an army of Destructoid robots outside of Cnet
Im OK's Avatar
Im OK at 12/01/2007 16:42
This is pretty awesome.

Let's just hope now that it doesn't turn out that Gerstmann was fired for legitimate reasons, or else these guys will kinda look like douchebags. Anyone recall when the WWE had that tribute episode of RAW in the wake of Chris Benoit's death, only to find out afterward that he'd actually murdered his family himself and then committed suicide? Yeah, this could possibly turn out to be like that (though obviously on a much smaller scale) if it is shown that Gertsmann's firing was actually justified.

And, to play devil's advocate for a moment, this could just be a sort of publicity grab: "Hey, look at us! We aren't money grubbing assholes like GameSpot! Come to 1up instead! We rock! Oh, and WE SUPPORT our fellow Game Reviewers." I don't think that's the case, myself, because I'm not quite that cynical and jaded yet, but just throwing the possibility out there regardless. The fact that I even considered this as a possibility makes me a bit depressed.
Pre's Avatar
Pre at 12/01/2007 16:51
I seriously doubt that he was let go for legit reasons, all signs are pointing to CNET bowing down to the all-mighty dollar.
Aaron Linde's Avatar
Aaron Linde at 12/01/2007 16:53
Im OK, Patrick Klepek over at 1UP made a comment about that to Joystiq:

"Patrick Klepek, news editor for 1UP, stressed to us that the rally was not intended to mock Gerstmann or the GameSpot staff. He said he recognizes that "even though 1UP and GameSpot are competition, what's happening over there includes industry-wide ramifications, when the dust finally settles." That is, assuming that the rumors of shady dealings surrounding Gerstmann's termination from the company prove to be true."
Ed Cetera's Avatar
Ed Cetera at 12/01/2007 17:00
"Let's just hope now that it doesn't turn out that Gerstmann was fired for legitimate reasons, or else these guys will kinda look like douchebags. Anyone recall when the WWE had that tribute episode of RAW in the wake of Chris Benoit's death, only to find out afterward that he'd actually murdered his family himself and then committed suicide? Yeah, this could possibly turn out to be like that (though obviously on a much smaller scale) if it is shown that Gertsmann's firing was actually justified."

Well, of COURSE they are going to try to justify and legitimize the firing. It's called "spin."
bottled dark's Avatar
bottled dark at 12/01/2007 17:03
stick it to the man.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 12/01/2007 17:05
Video game reviewer solidarity FTW!
DonWii's Avatar
DonWii at 12/01/2007 17:06
I was listening to the Gonintendo Podcast, and they mentioned the banner on this site.

Great banner.
robotplague's Avatar
robotplague at 12/01/2007 17:06
Classy dudes. I love 1up.
Crackhippo's Avatar
Crackhippo at 12/01/2007 17:13
FREE GERSTMANN!
Oni's Avatar
Oni at 12/01/2007 17:27
Jeremy Parish was cooler before he sold out.

Thank God Scott Sharkey is still around, though. He makes my knees weak.
dougtgraham's Avatar
dougtgraham at 12/01/2007 17:37
I think its funny that 1up is the ones doing the awesome move here. If Gerstmann gave a game a 6 on 1up I believe it would fall into the 'average-good' catagory.

That would be like firing a movie critic for a two and a half star review! damn you advertisers.
Teta's Avatar
Teta at 12/01/2007 17:44
Thatīs a good action from my point of view.
Im OK's Avatar
Im OK at 12/01/2007 17:50
@Ed Cetera

Well, of COURSE they are going to try to justify and legitimize the firing. It's called "spin."

I mean legitimate reasons like "He was caught smoking crack in the bathroom" or "He was caught loading company computers into the trunk of his car" or something less obviously exaggerated but equally bad that may not have come to light yet. Not "legitimate" reasons like whatever bullshit spin they put on his being fired for giving K&L a bad review.

On the surface, it's very highly unlikely that the firing was on the level, and for now I'm going to treat it as such just like everyone else is, but I'm just saying that if it turns out that Gertsmann was actually a pedophile and was caught fucking some little kid in his cubicle (again, obviously, just in case someone thinks I'm serious, this is exaggerated for effect and not to be taken as an actual theory on why he was fired), the guys in that picture (and we) are going to have egg on their (and our) faces.
MissHinasaki's Avatar
MissHinasaki at 12/01/2007 17:51
Good on them. *salutes*
hoydensnare's Avatar
hoydensnare at 12/01/2007 17:59
Strength in solidarity. Down wit da man!
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 12/01/2007 18:02
I'd give this rally an 11/10, but 1up's check hasn't cleared yet.
Zero Iscariot's Avatar
Zero Iscariot at 12/01/2007 18:08
You think Roger Ebert and his robotic jaw would take hats made out of money for biased reviews? Hold yourself to higher standards if you want your customers business. Fuck Gamespot & CNET & Eidos. Tomb Raider Anniversary is garbage, Kane & Lynch is garbage but had cool lasers in a packed club.

Gerstmann was probably fucking around at work though.
xper's Avatar
xper at 12/01/2007 19:15
1up is the best site out there. period. their reviews are the best, their podcasts are the best and the 1up Show is the best. 'nough said
BFeld13's Avatar
BFeld13 at 12/01/2007 19:22
FREE GERSTMANN
Origim's Avatar
Origim at 12/01/2007 19:52
I wonder if Cnet still thinks this will just quietly go away
Barcode's Avatar
Barcode at 12/01/2007 20:21
I used to go to Gamespot's site for alot of information. I'm never going back to that site. From now on it's Desctructoid, IGN, and 1up.
UNDERSTAR's Avatar
UNDERSTAR at 12/01/2007 20:53
Wheres Mr.Destructoid?
Oni's Avatar
Oni at 12/01/2007 20:56
NihonTiger wins the internets.
shizzam911's Avatar
shizzam911 at 12/01/2007 20:59
i would do the same but i don't have a company that reviews games.
shizzam911's Avatar
shizzam911 at 12/01/2007 21:00
i would do the same but i don't have a company that reviews games.
wearafrown's Avatar
wearafrown at 12/01/2007 21:56
I don't like 1up at all. I read everything they write and hear and watch all their podcast and shows... and well, i guess that's the reason why i don't like them. They're pretentious, subject to all kinds of trends, give 10's like candy but then bash on games just cause they don't give a shit about them without giving them enough playtime for them to form an unbiased opinion. They're not an independent videogames site, they're more like a blog... but worse. I see more thorough coverage over games on blogs such as Destructoid, Joystiq or Kotaku than in 1up.It drives me nuts to see all of the following they have on the boards and everything, seriously, so much ass licking. I know i'm kind of alone on this one, but it's just how it feel it and see it :/


THAT SAID, i think the support for gamespot staff is ok, because all this shit the internet is spreading over gamespot... i think it's too much, i believe all this hate should've gone towards Cnet, cause for what i know, gamespot was basically a bunch of reviewers and by calling it now 'cashwhore' and all that... i don't think you're making them feel any better. I SAY FUCK CNET, NOT GAMESPOT!
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 12/01/2007 22:09
Gamers are too apathetic. My heartfelt praise to those who shirked such apathy and showed they truly give a shit.
BluFire's Avatar
BluFire at 12/01/2007 23:10
I applaud them. Very good job, 1UP.
xBBx's Avatar
xBBx at 12/01/2007 23:52
I'm glad to be associated with such fine individuals. I would have been happier if I came up with the idea. j/k ;) Classy move boys.
Sharpless's Avatar
Sharpless at 12/02/2007 00:06
@Linde
The sad thing about this is that we probably never know what really went down. CNET will probably never 'fess up to it, if it's true. And if it's not, we'll still never know what to believe. As far as I'm concerned, though, it's true. I'd be shocked if it wasn't.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 12/02/2007 00:12
Major kudos to the Ziff Davis employees for that.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 12/02/2007 03:23
Yet another reason why 1UP is the only major games site that I take seriously: their employees are actual people who don't kowtow to pressure and genuinely love the industry. They definitely might not be as free and unrestrained as Destructoid due to their major corporate position, but the staff are definitely like-minded gamers who many people unfairly give a bad rap.
Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 12/02/2007 05:04
Hurray for Ziff Davis!
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 12/02/2007 09:02
Hell yeah. Support is all you need.
BluFire's Avatar
BluFire at 12/02/2007 09:45
I listen to some of CNet's podcasts, and on Buzz Out Loud, Tom Merritt actually did mention Gertsmann getting fired possible because of a low game score, but then said that he was not allowed to talk about it any further until they said he could.
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