Fanning the Fire: Critic leaves GameSpot, cites Gertsmann’s dismissal

Further fanning the flames of the firing of Gamespot’s Editorial Director Jeff Gerstmann, freelance writer Frank Provo is calling it quits from the site

Here’s his open post about it, grabbed right from the site before it’s noticed and likely removed:

Farewell, GameSpot

It’s true, I’m no longer contributing to GameSpot.

I believe CNet management let Jeff go for all the wrong reasons. I believe CNet intends to soften the site’s tone and push for higher scores to make advertisers happy.

I won’t lie to people and tell them a game is good when it isn’t. I won’t downplay negatives that readers have a right to know about.

And so, the “Frank Provo era” at GameSpot ends after nearly 8 years of contributions. March 2000 through December 2007. It was a nice run.

I feel sorry for the GameSpot staff that have to continue to work there because they have no choice if they want to be able to pay bills and feed their families. For such upstanding people, the CNet overloads have created the ultimate soul-crushing work environment.

Category: Editorial
Posted by mosaic, Jan 4, 2008 1:20 am PT

One of his followup posts in response to a comment on the site reads:

It’s not that I dislike the GameSpot community… it’s that, in the past, all of my writing effort for the site has gone toward “official” content. I’m a poor multitasker. Heck, the only message board I post to frequently is NeoGAF. But I do read user editorials and reviews from time to time, and I think you guys are awesome.

Unfortunately, I don’t see myself now increasing my contributions to the user community, because doing so ultimately benefits CNet and its coffers. And CNet is one organization I don’t want to benefit, at least not until major changes regarding disclosure and separation of advertising and editorial are made. I mean, come on, the fact that PR representatives are told the impending score of a “AAA” title before the review goes up is INSANE. That needs to stop.

But you reminded me of one thing I’d love to re-iterate: The GameSpot staff did not fire Jeff. The GameSpot staff are NOT corrupt. GameSpot itself is NOT the problem. CNet is. CNet’s management is. The problem lies with the puppet masters. Unfortunately, those masters have RUINED GameSpot’s credibility and reputation… a reputation built up for more than a decade.

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