Game critic allegedly fired over negative review

Jeff Gerstmann, long-time editor for GameSpot, was abruptly fired on Thursday, though reasonings for his dismissal were not disclosed.

Former GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann

Former GameSpot editor Jeff Gerstmann

Gerstmann confirmed his firing in an email to Joystiq saying that he's not able to comment on the specifics of his termination.

That didn't stop numerous reports yesterday, however, from speculating that the seasoned game critic lost his job due to advertiser pressure.

On Nov. 13, GameSpot published their review of Kane & Lynch for Xbox 360 and PS3 in which Gerstmann unfavorably called the Eidos shooter an "ugly game not worth a purchase." A final score of 6 out of 10 was given.

The video review in question has since been pulled from GameSpot, though a text-only review remains.

Coincidentally, a very large advertising spread (rumored to be in the six-figure range and pictured here) for the game was removed from GameSpot's homepage only hours after news broke last night of Gerstmann's removal.

GamePro gave Kane and Lynch an equal score of 3 out of 5.

Others, however, say Gerstmann's pink slip is the result of bad timing among other things -- for example, that GameSpot management was already unhappy with the reviewer and that the Kane & Lynch occurrence was simply the last straw.

Whatever the real story, allegations of payola and advertiser pressure are nothing new to the video game industry. Several long-standing reports maintain that some reviewers often inflate scores in an effort to appease game makers and their advertising dollars given the direct correlation of favorable reviews to greater sales.

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Slyslus

This guy was a freaky, fat, FREAK! Kayne and Lynch is a great game! Fuk ya'll who don't like it! Go play the gay Halo..

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