GameSpot-Gerstmann controversy updates: the domino effect

With the dust far from settled and details still hazy, what remains clear is that Jeff Gerstmann‘s controversial termination from GameSpot has induced a domino effect of detriments for the website. Among other things, GameSpot has halted user reviews of Kane & Lynch and there are reports that numerous paid subscriptions to the site are being canceled, with a boycott on the way. Read more in the full article.

With the dust far from settled and details still hazy, what remains clear is that Jeff Gerstmann‘s controversial termination from GameSpot has induced a domino effect on the website. One can only guess where the last domino will land.

To speed you up on the story, it goes that Jeff Gerstmann was fired from his post as editorial director of GameSpot recently. The alleged reason for this is his negative review of Kane & Lynch (PS3, 360, PC), which caused the site to lose advertising revenues for Eidos Interactive.

According to Joystiq, GameSpot is currently experiencing a series of detriments, including losing a number of paid subscriptions and reports of planned boycotts for the website and its advertisers in protest of Gerstmann’s termination.

GameSpot has also disabled user reviews of Kane & Lynch because of a deluge of 1.0 ratings that lowered the game’s userscore to 2.6/10. An employee of GameSpot, Aaron Thomas, explains that he and other employees can’t speak up on the matter saying:

This isn’t GameSpot suddenly clamping down on me or any of us here–this is how it is for anyone with a job.

Destructoid has also registered cashwh0re.com and changed the banner of their front page to match the new name. GameSpot freelancer Frank Provo also expresses his disappointment saying:

Personally, my respect for CNet is shot, and writing for GameSpot is going to feel like a chore for quite some time going forward.

Finally, a rumor has also been circulating that the forum moderator at GameSpot has been instructed to prevent discussion of the controversy. GameSpot’s Manager of Community Development commented that “official word” will be released on Tuesday.

Via Joystiq