[netburnr]

Rumor: Gamespot's editorial director fired over Kane & Lynch review - Joystiq

What is in some dispute is the reason behind the firing. The current leading theory is that Eidos, a major Gamespot advertiser (just look at the current Kane&Lynch-ified front page shown above) was unhappy with Gerstmann's review of their game and brought pressure to bear on the site to remove the longstanding editor (Eidos representatives were not immediately available for comment). Gamespot's text review of the game is definitely very negative, and the 6/10 score rather low, but it's the video review of the game that really eviscerates it for "impossible to like" characters, a "lazy" script and excessive profanity, among other things. It does seem plausible that Eidos might not be too happy with either review, and that Gamespot might be willing to do anything to prevent losing such a large advertiser (notwithstanding the site's posted review guidelines, which state they have never "altered our verdict about any game due to advertiser pressure").

Penny Arcade even noticed it and made a comic about it:


Here is GameSpots short and useless response:

Gamespot issues short comment on Gerstmann firing - Joystiq

Thats pretty messed up if you ask me. A guy does his job, gives a game that is being advertised on their site a bad review, and then gets fired for it. Hopefully another company will pick him up soon and give him more money.

[Jump]

Yeah well, that's why I avoid those corporate sites like the plague.