By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Gaming - Gamespot reviewer resigns, but blames CNET, not Gamespot.

LordTheNightKnight on 05 January 2008

Longtime GameSpot Reviewer Leaves, Cites Gerstmann Firing

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."

Provo specialized in critiquing games for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and PSP during his tenure. He was often tasked with reviewing less than enviable portable fodder, as well as copious amounts of movie licensed games and retro releases via XBLA and the Wii Virtual Console.

He was especially vocal about the Jeff Gerstmann dismissal via his LiveJournal and message board NeoGAF, having harsh words for CNet management and expressing sympathy for peers still at Gamespot. He recently addressed his separation from the outlet by writing "I feel sad about the whole thing, but I can't write for a site that could one day punish me for honesty."

In a response to a comment posted on his GameSpot blog today, Provo defended his former compatriots, writing "The GameSpot staff did not fire Jeff. The GameSpot staff are NOT corrupt. GameSpot itself is NOT the problem. CNet is.

 



A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.

Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs

Around the Network
Auron on 05 January 2008

Meaningless to me, i like to watch actual game footage and perhaps rent a game before i buy it. Reviewers are biased always, it just depends how much in each case. It seems though that what Cnet is doing is actually defeating the purpose of having reviewers.



Avinash_Tyagi on 05 January 2008

A note to ioi, don't link VGC to Cnet



 

Predictions:Sales of Wii Fit will surpass the combined sales of the Grand Theft Auto franchiseLifetime sales of Wii will surpass the combined sales of the entire Playstation family of consoles by 12/31/2015 Wii hardware sales will surpass the total hardware sales of the PS2 by 12/31/2010 Wii will have 50% marketshare or more by the end of 2008 (I was wrong!!  It was a little over 48% only)Wii will surpass 45 Million in lifetime sales by the end of 2008 (I was wrong!!  Nintendo Financials showed it fell slightly short of 45 million shipped by end of 2008)Wii will surpass 80 Million in lifetime sales by the end of 2009 (I was wrong!! Wii didn't even get to 70 Million)

Rath on 05 January 2008

CNET has shot Gamespot in the foot. Then decided to go for the headshot.

The spotters themselves will be might pissed about what will seem to be a confirmation of the Kane & Lynch saga.



grandmaster192 on 05 January 2008

Gamespot was my favorite review site, too. Were will I go now? I don't like the others. They give out 10's to any over hyped shooters, ect...



Around the Network
RDBRaptor on 05 January 2008
grandmaster192 said:
Gamespot was my favorite review site, too. Were will I go now? I don't like the others. They give out 10's to any over hyped shooters, ect...

 And Gamespot didn't? 



Kingdom Hearts 3 Bet: If Kingdom Hearts 3 becomes a multiplaform title/is not Wii exclusive then I will be banished from this land for 1 week and sing my praises to those who have proved themselves to be more intelligent than I.http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/RDBRaptor/rdbraptor_sig16.jpg%5B/IMG%5D">
My Anime List

grandmaster192 on 05 January 2008
RDBRaptor said:
grandmaster192 said:
Gamespot was my favorite review site, too. Were will I go now? I don't like the others. They give out 10's to any over hyped shooters, ect...

And Gamespot didn't?


 9.5 is the highest possible score on there scale. They don't give out anything higher than that.



finalsquall on 05 January 2008

Damn. I just rejoined last night. I thought I'd give GS another chance... I'll see how it goes. I'm a sucker for 'On the Spot'. I Know, I know.



  Unleash The Beast!  

End of 2011 Sales: Wii = 90mil, 360 = 61mil, PS3= 60mil

MrPickles on 05 January 2008

Well, finally, someone had the guts to do it! Kudos to Frank Provo!

It's sad--Gamespot was the first review site I ever went to, and for a long time the only one. It used to be, if GS gave a good score, you made a good game. For a while, even an 8.0 was a difficult score to get from them, but they (or maybe CNET) have made it impossible for me to trust them anymore.



grandmaster192 on 05 January 2008
MrPickles said:
Well, finally, someone had the guts to do it! Kudos to Frank Provo!

It's sad--Gamespot was the first review site I ever went to, and for a long time the only one. It used to be, if GS gave a good score, you made a good game. For a while, even an 8.0 was a difficult score to get from them, but they (or maybe CNET) have made it impossible for me to trust them anymore
 Exactly. Halo and Mario would not have gotten 9.5's, if this were the normal Gamespot. They were the only site that scored the game itself. Now sites just toss out high scores for any hyped game.