Kotaku
Ryan Davis, an associate editor, experienced reviewer and nearly 8-year GameSpot veteran, has become the latest to quit in the wake of former editorial director Jeff Gerstmann's termination. GameDaily.biz reports today that it has confirmed with new GameSpot editor in chief Ricardo Torres that Davis will follow Frank Provo and Alex Navarro as the latest casualty to the site's editorial staff. News of the most recent resignation comes two months to the day that we warned of a mass walkout at the CNet Networks owned site.
Gerstmann and Davis appeared to have been close cohorts, with the pair performing as the musical outfit Suburban All-Stars. Davis wrote in his GameSpot blog within days of Gerstmann's firing that "I would not be in the video game business at all were it not for Jeff Gerstmann," adding that the controversial termination "absolutely breaks my heart" and signaled "the end of an era for both GameSpot and myself."
The GameSpot Exodus Continues as Ryan Davis Leaves [GameDaily.biz]
Comments
Ever since Kasavin left that ship has been sinking.
Ah, the exodus as prophesied.
Gee I wonder if these guys are going to team up at a new gaming site anytime soon?
lol, I sense a conspiracy, they are all making a new website together and Jeff recruits them :D
Is there anyone not leaving Gamespot? Yikes!
@Irenicus-the one and only:
This
Sometimes a porky, overweight, middle-aged man has to do what a porky, overweight, middle-aged man has to do.
Damn! That guy is fat.
Nice to see principles have a place in society somewhere. Even if it'll be crushed soon enough by the people who stay behind.
It's HUGE!!!!
I wonder when they are going to actually tell us the truth about why he was fired. We all know what it is, but we need to hear it also.
Hey it's Bam's dad! PHIL!!!
fat jokes in 3...2...1...
Oh wait it has already started.
Makes me wonder if that gaming site supposedly rumored to be launched by former GameSpot owner (before it's incorporation and buyout) and Gerstmann is true.
With all his old cohorts coming back out, it'd make for a huge publicity stunt and promotion for the new site just by their names themselves.
@NotSoCool: Not funny.
Meh, I've always preferred IGN to GameSpot, especially in light of all the recent controversy surrounding the site. GameSpot's ship just keeps taking on more and more water as time goes by...
@NinjaBurg3r: I never knew you dictated what was humorous to all people.. Hmm.. Thanks for clearing that up. I'm also glad you could read so deep into my post to get caught-up on me calling him fat and middle-age.
The reality is that I was suggesting that he has to do what he has to do. Also, that I'm concerned about his health and age. The reality is that he'll be going down like most people who confuse morals and business.
Does this mean their hiring!?
@NotSoCool: Funny.
Hey look, har har har. Fat people.
I'm really missing that whole auditioning aspect of Kotaku.
So... that means an opening!?
@Irenicus-the one and only: We can only hope.
And fat jokes? Really? Cuz your mom looks like Davis, with a bigger beard. Yeah! I went there!
@Masters, @NotSoCool: Hey look a hammer!
So anyone else want to play stand up comedian too?
With nearly all the people on the internet (you know, their only audience) hating on them, I can't imagine any of the employees aren't looking elsewhere. Good luck to him.
"did you fired Jeff Gerstmann because of his review?"
"absolutely not." - Gamespot
I guess I shall believe gamespot.
Those guys quitting are just a coincidence.. I´m sure of that.
...
*sarcasm mode off*
Does his weight really matter?
@Witzbold: Good work.
They're like rats fleeing a sinking ship. GameSpot will have no one left at this rate.
@Witzbold: You wield the banhammer good.
@Witzbold: pwnt. man, i love the smells of hammered nubzz in the morning ;]
[on topic:] i'm REALLY glad they've left actually, there was no way Gamespot would be without Jeff, and now it pretty much needs just sending to the morgue with a toe tag...
Heres to hope they start their own thing x]x]
@Furious_Liver: Yeah, maybe Witzbold can come in here later and clean up. I think there are some middle school kids in here that need to feel the hammer.
@NotSoCool:
If you really believe morals have no place in bussiness then you're already lost. They may not be the complete morals that we use in everyday life but they're there. If you want a better explanation you should take a game theory class.
And no ones going to believe you were insulting him because you're concerned with his health.
I remember this guy being a good editor. Especially during E3 last year interviewing all those developers. This is a huge blow to Gamespot in more ways than one.
Witz, you've totally got to scan in that far side cartoon of one viking saying to another "There's something about holding a hammer that just makes you want to smash something" as a third viking walks in blowing a huge bubble of bubble gum.
@Witzbold: Thanks Witz. A lot of people like them have been joining and it's good to thin the ranks.
I mention this when the controversy started...it's far from over. CNET is now paying the price. The collapse of GameSpot has just begun.
@Witzbold: Wow, as I posted my comment I found you already got them. Well done.
That's the sound of the ship crashing to the bottom. Good news for those who want to write about videogames, though. Bet Gamespot will be hiring big time soon.
@Witzbold:
GJ Witz.
@Furious_Liver: Wait. You don't have to get approved anymore?!?!? Say it ain't so.
@Witzbold:
Wooo good work.
At first I had a bit of doubt that he really was fired for the review, well at least recognition of the possibility, but the more people leave the more I'm convinced corruption did occur.
People constantly quiting like this also keeps the issue in the public eye, which is nothing but a good thing. I know personally I've refused to visit their site prefering instead to visit Gamespy or IGN. If the rumor are true that Gerstman really is starting up his own site I'm going to make it my gaming destination.
With all these people leaving I am guessing there is a huge demand for video game reviewers?
I hope they have something else to turn to in the meantime.
@the-hypnotoad: Excellent example!
Or the chicken tied to a balloon in the samurai bar.
Oh how I do miss far side strips.
---
You know I wonder how GS is gonna hold up now that a good amount of the writers who the fans seemed to have liked have left. Anyways heres to hoping those who have departed from GS go off and form together a new team or something.
Man cant say I didn't see this coming. Ryan is such and awesome dude! I mean come on he's the man behind this!!!: [www.cocainemountain.com]
@NotSoCool: Did I ANYWHERE mention that I represented the mass-population? No!
Glad to see that you're so mature you can berate someone on the principals of their physical appearance.
"The reality is that I was suggesting that he has to do what he has to do. Also, that I'm concerned about his health and age. The reality is that he'll be going down like most people who confuse morals and business."
Yes, because that was SO discernible from your original post. I'm sure you're so concerned about his health and age.
"The reality is that he'll be going down like most people who confuse morals and business."
Any examples? If you know that you are working for a company with such a tarnished public image - why not leave? He is obviously an experienced writer and could easily find work elsewhere. Look at all the execs from Enron whose ethics apparently didn't cross. Where are they now?
wow... just wow. Ryan Davis was one of the good ones. How the mighty have fallen, eh? Gamespot, once a monolithic titan, fading like a summer's breeze...
also Witz is awesome.
Hopefully he and Alex join the new website that Jeff is supposedly starting in the near future.
@Witzbold: Sorry for the double, but thanks Witzbold.
Didn't see your reply until I had already posted
@TwinkyC: Nope, unless you're an immature internet moron that is clinging to any comedic angle they can get attention for. Yay fat-jokes (twirls finger), such comedic depth, such humorous prowess, if only I possessed the intellectual insight to comment on the physical "quirks" of others, and to do so and laugh...that takes a certain type of "special".
anyways, mud-slinging aside...I'm glad to hear that more GS staff are taking their leave, I'm looking forwards to see the reunion of these guys on a new Uber-review site! please please?
@Witzbold: Thanks Witz :3
This is the slowest train wreck I can remember watching in a long time. I wonder just how far GS can fall before it implodes entirely.
As a Gamespot gold member for 3 years now, this is extremely disappointing. This is the gaming equivalent of Ed Bradly, Andy Rooney, and Mike Wallace leaving CBS' "60 minutes".
This is turning out to be the most dunderheaded moves in gaming history.
Cnet, I hope that check from Eidos was worth it, because you just lost more then you could ever imagine.
@NinjaBurg3r: No worries.
@Witzbold: I second the banhammering praise.
I always thought Gamespot did quality stuff, but I find it hard to visit the site anymore without being suspicious. So I don't. I hope there will be a new site with these guys.
This really seems like everybody is jumping ship. I can't say much else as I'm trying to figure out the hidden meaning behind Morberis' post.
@Witzbold: I was hoping you would have another snippy response. Cleansing of the wicked is supposed to be funny too.
Whoa, good thing I read the other posts, cuz I was going to make a joke...
It would have been a funny one though.
@Witzbold: Splendid work as always mate, I tip my figurative hat to you.
@NotAZombie: Yeah, unfortunately. Its been so for quite some time.
@dadeisvenm: Your last sentence summed it up pretty well.