Editorial: When Money Buys You an Opinion

The following writings are solely the opinions of Evan Minto, and do not reflect the opinions of Ani-Gamers or any of it's affiliates.

Jeff Gerstmann has quickly moved from relatively unknown GameSpot writer to gaming celebrity nearly overnight. He was Editorial Director over at GameSpot until just recently, when he was dismissed from the site after 11 years of service, allegedly for writing a very critical review of "Kane & Lynch: Dead Men," a game being heavily advertised on GameSpot. (I wrote a detailed article on the controversy over at the blog, so you can read up on the major events there) The main thing that has been troubling gamers and writers alike is the underlying reasons for Gerstmann's firing. If one man is promptly sacked for simply criticizing a game sponsoring his site, how are we supposed to trust reviewers on websites like IGN, 1UP, which also contain heavy amounts of ads. What does a GameRankings or MetaCritic score even mean when faced with the possiblity of reviews being skewed to fit a publisher's desires? These are questions for us to ponder, but what gamers must first do is organize some way to fight back.

Gerstmann-gate, as many have dubbed the controversy, is more than an example of GameSpot's often less-than-honest advertising practices; it is a stern reminder of what is happening with video games as they come of age as a true mass media. We cannot continue to sit idle as positive game reviews become nothing more than a trophy of companies with lots of purchasing power.

GameSpot user Subrosian had the right idea when he started the mass boycott of GameSpot titled "Blackout Monday." I not only support Subrosian's desire to boycott the site for a day, but I also support a long-term boycott of the website. If we, as gamers, are to make our voices heard, we must show websites like GameSpot that we do not support the corruption of honesty in games journalism. It is for this reason that I provide a furthering of Subrosian's ideas. We shall institute a full boycott of GameSpot and other CNET websites, permanently ceasing all page views on the site, until they admit to their guilt.

The problem of skewed reviews and dishonest reporting is growing, as we see from the high reviews given to clearly flawed games. Hype is not the only factor here. There are more sinister forces at work here, as the truth is silenced by those who wish to profit from an innocent hobby. Do not sit back and watch gaming be destroyed by corporate greed. Do not show your support for the seedy business practices at CNET. And most of all, never let other people control our industry. We all play video games for different reasons; some to stave off boredom, some to experience a powerful piece of art, and others simply to escape reality. Whatever our reasons, we must band together to keep the gaming press as the honest and trustworthy entity it is today.

For Honesty, Truth, and Jeff! Boycott CNET!