2 December 2007 - 20:36Was GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann fired for objectivity?

This has been an interesting weekend for GameSpot readers, video game reviewers and geekier advocates of ethical behavior. Following rumors that GameSpot’s Jeff Gerstmann had been fired for his 6.0/10 review of Kane & Lynch, comments sections on video game blogs all over the web have exploded with support for Jeff and criticism for CNet and GameSpot. Representatives for CNet GameSpot of course haven’t shed any light on the situation, but the rumors as I understand them are as follows:

Gerstmann’s less-than-flattering review of Kane & Lynch: Dead Men came at a bad time, as the GameSpot site was running an Eidos-sponsored K&L promotion. Somebody with money pressured somebody who wanted money, and Jeff was let go. Actually, Friday’s Penny-Arcade sums it up pretty well.

Kotaku quoted an “anonymous tipster” as saying, “As writers of what is supposed to be objective content, this is our worst nightmare coming to life,”. If the rumors are true, this has horrible implications for the rest of the CNet empire, which includes download.com, mp3.com and tv.com, which I’ve never actually been to.. but I bet they get a lot of hits with a domain like that.

I’ve listened to The HotSpot, GameSpot’s weekly podcast, religiously since I first heard it a little over a year ago. Much more than just co-hosts or coworkers, the HotSpot guys legitimately seem like they’re all good friends with each other. It should be really interesting to hear what they have to say about Gerstmann’s departure on Tuesday’s show. Best case scenario; they all walk off the job in support for Jeff. More likely, they’ll downplay the whole thing, or at least set the record straight.