Author Topic: Giantbomb bought by CBS Interactive (Read 11027 times)

fistfulofmetal · « **on:** March 15, 2012, 01:48:57 PM »

.... the company that also owns Gamespot.

cliffnotes:

-Giantbomb is staying a separate website
-All the core GB staff stays, including Dave Snider
-Gamespot is a different site than it was 3-4 years ago. John Davidson works there now (british dude from 1up)

At 7pm EST today Jeff will have a live podcast with John Davidson regarding his firing from Gamespot back in the day.

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #1 on:** March 15, 2012, 01:54:52 PM »

hope they give refunds for us premium members

demi · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2012, 01:55:04 PM »

pwned

maxy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2012, 01:56:46 PM »

and the circle is complete

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:02:19 PM »

updated with some info

i'm not gonna be all doom and gloom regarding this. they are saying it'll remain "the same". i know it probably won't but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

demi · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:04:41 PM »

2012: THE YEAR VIDEO GAME REVIEWERS TELL THE TRUTH FROM PUBLISHERS

... and then are bought back by the same company

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:05:36 PM »

anyone who says its "going ot be the same" is dumb. CBS won't have two sites competing against each other that they won. Eventually GB will merge into GS

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #7 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:10:19 PM »

the other huge is:

Tested and Mythbusters

Joe Molotov · « **Reply #8 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:10:21 PM »

Quote from: Thomas Householmes Lane on March 15, 2012, 02:05:36 PM

anyone who says its "going ot be the same" is dumb. CBS won't have two sites competing against each other that they won. Eventually GB will merge into GS

And then GS will fire Gerstmann again.

Trent Dole · « **Reply #9 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:11:46 PM »

Quote from: Thomas Householmes Lane on March 15, 2012, 01:54:52 PM

hope they give refunds for us premium members

They'd fucking better. Seriously, the hell is this? I thought they were able to keep going on their own because of the support of the kids. Rather tragic since while I don't always agree with the guys opinions I love the general vibe they have on their videos and podcasts of not taking this stuff too seriously.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:15:49 PM »

I hope it means $$$ for the GB guys, I don't think they are really getting paid tremendous amounts there

Momo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:17:04 PM »

this fucking sucks ostrich dicks

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:18:58 PM »

Quote from: Sho Nuff on March 15, 2012, 02:15:49 PM

I hope it means $$$ for the GB guys, I don't think they are really getting paid tremendous amounts there

from what i understand, they were basically existing off the the subscriptions.

tiesto · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:19:45 PM »

I overheard my brother watching a Giantbomb video and they were making fun of the Hot 97 (shitty rap station we have over here) announcers and that was about my only experience with the site - I don't think I've ever visited the site ever before.

Trent Dole · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:30:10 PM »

But, that's not fun. It's not fun at all!

Verdigris Murder · « **Reply #15 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:31:29 PM »

I knew it was inevitable GB etc would be bought by a larger entity, but this bodes serious ill in the long term. Not renewing sub, because they won't need the dough. And poor Tested.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #16 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:33:13 PM »

Quote from: Martin Raperman on March 15, 2012, 02:31:29 PM

And poor Tested.

They're working with the Mythbusters THE MYTHBUSTERS. i'm sure they're doing ok.

Momo · « **Reply #17 on:** March 15, 2012, 02:39:57 PM »

Mythbusters has sucked gigantic donkey balls for years. real talk.

Poor Screened/ComicVine and AnimeVice(lol)

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #18 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:06:46 PM »

ComicVine is going to make out like bandits. Theyr'e already highly succesful, and they will be CBS premiere comic site unless im missing one they own already.

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #19 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:13:13 PM »

I wish them well. Eventually everybody wants to make money.

Hopefully it won't destroy the character of the site.

Momo · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:14:04 PM »

I spend an hour or two a day on comicvine randomly reading about comics I know not of. i'm all good as long as they keep the wiki and the quality of content the same.

bork · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:14:19 PM »

So Jeff Gerstmann (sp) is "back" at Gamespot now.

Sho Nuff · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:15:40 PM »

Quote from: lyte edge on March 15, 2012, 03:14:19 PM

So Jeff Gerstmann (sp) is "back" at Gamespot now.

Eidos must be fuming

:gerstmann

Cerveza mas fina · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:20:38 PM »

Credibility lost

Verdigris Murder · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:22:25 PM »

Quote from: fistfulofmetal on March 15, 2012, 02:33:13 PM

Quote from: Martin Raperman on March 15, 2012, 02:31:29 PM
And poor Tested.

They're working with the Mythbusters THE MYTHBUSTERS. i'm sure they're doing ok.

I'm not really familiar with the type of program Mythbusters is, as I'm neither a housewife, unemployed or a student. The pair look like massive wankers irl.

tiesto · « **Reply #25 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:26:05 PM »

Quote from: Martin Raperman on March 15, 2012, 03:22:25 PM

Quote from: fistfulofmetal on March 15, 2012, 02:33:13 PM
Quote from: Martin Raperman on March 15, 2012, 02:31:29 PM
And poor Tested.

They're working with the Mythbusters THE MYTHBUSTERS. i'm sure they're doing ok.
I'm not really familiar with the type of program Mythbusters is, as I'm neither a housewife, unemployed or a student. The pair look like massive wankers irl.

Never really saw the show before but Kari Byron can wank me off...

Tasty · « **Reply #26 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:27:50 PM »

Quote from: fistfulofmetal on March 15, 2012, 01:48:57 PM

At 7pm EST today Jeff will have a live podcast with John Davidson regarding his firing from Gamespot back in the day.

Looking forward to it, but this is still bummer news.

Edit- Wait I didn't think about ComicVine NOOOOOO I just got into the site/comics.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #27 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:33:23 PM »

Quote from: Thomas Householmes Lane on March 15, 2012, 01:54:52 PM

hope they give refunds for us premium members

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/premium-members-faq/4036/

Momo · « **Reply #28 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:33:42 PM »

If comicvine has the option to download their entire database like wikipedia does, now would be the time to have at it Andrex.

Tasty · « **Reply #29 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:41:35 PM »

Well there's always scraping but that would be a major pain.

brob · « **Reply #30 on:** March 15, 2012, 03:44:52 PM »

prolly a good thing long term. doubt their output will be changed for the worse, if it changes at all.

EmCeeGrammar · « **Reply #31 on:** March 15, 2012, 05:25:23 PM »

I kinda figured they were never really making money to subsist off of. Now begins the cowtowing to publishers they so eagerly ran from.

Huff · « **Reply #32 on:** March 15, 2012, 05:30:54 PM »

Quote from: Momo on March 15, 2012, 02:39:57 PM

Mythbusters has sucked gigantic donkey balls for years. real talk.

It's not that bad. Still semi entertaining on a rainy day

cool breeze · « **Reply #33 on:** March 15, 2012, 10:18:56 PM »

a real hero:

spoiler (click to show/hide)

[close]

Momo · « **Reply #34 on:** March 15, 2012, 11:03:31 PM »

Quote from: Huff on March 15, 2012, 05:30:54 PM

Quote from: Momo on March 15, 2012, 02:39:57 PM
Mythbusters has sucked gigantic donkey balls for years. real talk.

It's not that bad. Still semi entertaining on a rainy day

Nah it is. The concept became paint dryingly boring after 2 seasons or so.

Momo · « **Reply #35 on:** March 16, 2012, 12:03:37 AM »

There's only so many times you can watch people blow random shit up and use flimsy science to test myths that any semi intelligent teenager would be able to deduce the validity of within seconds.

They build damn good gadgets though, that I will give them.

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #36 on:** March 16, 2012, 04:12:16 AM »

So, Cruncheons sell out in what, 2015? I WANT MY FUCKING CHECK YOU ASSHOLES!

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #37 on:** March 16, 2012, 07:58:39 AM »

Quote

Giant Bomb to remain editorially independent
Giant Bomb’s acquisition by Gamespot parent company CBS Interactive will not result in its closure or a change in editorial direction, founder Jeff Gerstmann has said.

In a livestream, Gerstmann and GameSpot VP John Davison both assured users that the two sites are not going to be “merged” in any way.

“We’re not folding back into Gamespot, we’re not going to start posting our stuff there,” Gerstmann said.

“This is about Giant Bomb becoming a better Giant Bomb. Basically keep doing what we’re doing and then hitting [Gamespot] up to make sure we’re getting what we need to make it even bigger, even weirder.”

The pair said the deal had been in the works for a while, and that both went into the 2011 holidays expecting it to go ahead, but only got final confirmation yesterday.

The Review Scandal

Gerstmann said he’d had no opportunity to talk about his high profile 2007 firing from Gamespot due to non-disparagement clauses in his termination agreement, but that both parties appreciated the need to air the issue as part of the acquisition.

Gerstmann was Gamespot’s editorial director, primarily responsible for reviews, at a time when the site was going through several changes.

“We had a new management team in place around here who hadn’t really worked with an editorial team very closely,” Gerstmann said.

“Working in tandem with that we were working on rolling out a new scoring system and we went from this arcane math formula.”

Gamespot’s original review scoring system used a weighted formula which unfortunately resulted in a small range of scores appearing – and frequently being misinterpreted. The new system, used ever since, uses a one to ten range with half point incerements. The average review score on Gamespot dropped sharply as a result of a broader range of scores being awarded.

The Kane & Lynch: Dead Men review for which Gerstmann has become notorious was not the first major release under the new system, but it was the first to attract major publisher attention.

“The publisher threatened to pull advertising money,” Gerstmann confirmed. “That happens a lot in this industry.”

The pair said standard practice is to “stand by your man and eventually it blows over” but in this case, things went wrong.

Gerstmann said the new management team “wasn’t experienced in dealing with those kinds of issues”, and called him away for a serious chat.

“A lot of crazy things were said to me, threats as to what was going to happen to me as a result,” he said.

“Things were tense around the office.”

Nevertheless, business continued as usual until November when Gerstmann was suddenly fired.

“They felt they couldn’t trust me in the role,” he said.

“We did what an editorial team does. We were completely honest. There wasn’t anything shady happening inside of Gamespot editorial.

“This management team buckled when faced with seeing a lot of advertising dollars walk out the door. Just a few simple mistakes from people who didn’t have a clear picture of what we did for them.”

Davison and Gerstmann both mentioned putting the past behind them and looking forward to sharing office space.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #38 on:** March 16, 2012, 08:54:08 AM »

Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on March 16, 2012, 04:12:16 AM

So, Cruncheons sell out in what, 2015? I WANT MY FUCKING CHECK YOU ASSHOLES!

the offers we've gotten so far have consisted of an opened pack of gum, a sample pack of tampons, and a quick fingering for each of us on a paid city bus trip

i'm not saying we should take any of them, but gas is expensive

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #39 on:** March 16, 2012, 04:02:16 PM »

I can't believe I'm reading posts of people all shocked and sad for Will and Norm from Tested.

They've been paired with huge celebrities, their site will get much more traffic, way more people will know who they are. it's literally the best thing to happen to them.

Verdigris Murder · « **Reply #40 on:** March 16, 2012, 05:26:09 PM »

I just watched the interview. It's probably been said before, but. The body language was seriously awkward, the Brit seemed to be permanently worried about what Gerstmann might say next (which is never a good sign, as it means the shareholder whip is ever present). The Brit does a lot A LOT of body posture movements, and hands to face gestures, which evinces a not good vibe. Blah blah
It makes me think of that classic Star Wars bit when Picard realises he can't fight the Borg, but if he joined them, perhaps he could change them from within. Sadly Ryan isn't Data or Yoda, and it's going to be heartbreaking when GBs soul is consumed. Within 2 years I guess.
CBS also has the all seeing eye as a permanent figurehead, which means Torah alert in my mind.

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #41 on:** March 16, 2012, 05:41:42 PM »

Quote from: Billy Rygar on March 16, 2012, 01:49:09 PM

Quote from: Dr. Feelbad on March 16, 2012, 08:54:08 AM
Quote from: Creepy Old Guy on March 16, 2012, 04:12:16 AM
So, Cruncheons sell out in what, 2015? I WANT MY FUCKING CHECK YOU ASSHOLES!

the offers we've gotten so far have consisted of an opened pack of gum, a sample pack of tampons, and a quick fingering for each of us on a paid city bus trip

i'm not saying we should take any of them, but gas is expensive
That's a one way bus trip, mind you. I thought I made that clear.

i'm still in

Human Snorenado · « **Reply #42 on:** March 16, 2012, 05:44:49 PM »

This fingering... how quick is it?

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #43 on:** March 16, 2012, 05:48:20 PM »

Quote from: Martin Raperman on March 16, 2012, 05:26:09 PM

I just watched the interview. It's probably been said before, but. The body language was seriously awkward, the Brit seemed to be permanently worried about what Gerstmann might say next (which is never a good sign, as it means the shareholder whip is ever present). The Brit does a lot A LOT of body posture movements, and hands to face gestures, which evinces a not good vibe. Blah blah
It makes me think of that classic Star Wars bit when Picard realises he can't fight the Borg, but if he joined them, perhaps he could change them from within. Sadly Ryan isn't Data or Yoda, and it's going to be heartbreaking when GBs soul is consumed. Within 2 years I guess.
CBS also has the all seeing eye as a permanent figurehead, which means Torah alert in my mind.

That brit is John Davison and he is awesome. He's be the last person to give Giant Bomb problems. There may be other dudes around who will but Davison is one of the good guys.

Verdigris Murder · « **Reply #44 on:** March 16, 2012, 06:08:44 PM »

Yep. I totally agree. He's always great on his weekend confirmed appearances too.

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #45 on:** March 16, 2012, 06:10:18 PM »

yeah its not like he has a history of closing down magazines or anything. oh wait.

Verdigris Murder · « **Reply #46 on:** March 16, 2012, 06:24:01 PM »

originalz · « **Reply #47 on:** March 17, 2012, 02:16:05 AM »

wtf, after the firing GS swore up and down that it was unrelated the the Kane and Lynch thing. Goddamn liars, good to know the truth finally.

maxy · « **Reply #48 on:** March 17, 2012, 06:25:50 AM »

Devil is now Mr. Nice Guy?

Sellouts.

zzZZZZ

AdmiralViscen · « **Reply #49 on:** March 18, 2012, 07:56:55 AM »

Those guys are gonna be laid off inside of 6 months

Eel O'Brian · « **Reply #50 on:** March 18, 2012, 09:50:54 AM »

Then, Kickstarter for new websites "Gargantuan Explosive" and "Evaluated"

Stoney Mason · « **Reply #51 on:** March 18, 2012, 12:11:38 PM »

I love Giant Bomb but the subscription service thing always seemed weird to me. That era of gating your content behind premium subscriptions for an info website seems so late 90's early 2000's weird to me unless its like the Wall Street Journal or something. Especially when you condemn DLC or subscription based gaming in some cases, the double standard seems a bit odd.

Although I understand why they had to do it hopefully that subscription stuff eventually goes away.

fistfulofmetal · « **Reply #52 on:** March 18, 2012, 12:32:05 PM »

the subscription system peeved me a bit at first. then i saw the kind of content they produced because of it. they've already stated that it's the thing that kept them afloat and let them do weird and dumb stuff. so i'm OK with it as long as that can continue.

Olivia Wilde Homo · « **Reply #53 on:** March 18, 2012, 01:16:45 PM »

I like Giant Bomb but if the content takes a nose dive or resort more and more to PR puff pieces, I'll just move onto something else.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #54 on:** March 18, 2012, 01:20:16 PM »

This weeks podcast rules. Also their premium content is fantastic, totally worth the couple bucks a month

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #55 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:03:17 PM »

im 1.5 hrs into the new jar time video but jeff was mean to me :'(

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #56 on:** March 19, 2012, 09:48:23 PM »

Jar time rulllllessss!!

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #57 on:** March 20, 2012, 01:21:06 AM »

Yeah you got told.

MyNameIsMethodis · « **Reply #58 on:** March 20, 2012, 01:23:11 PM »

not really it was unfair I asked a simple question and he flipped out on a paying customer not cool.

MrAngryFace · « **Reply #59 on:** March 20, 2012, 01:26:01 PM »

YOU GOT JARREDDDDD

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Author Topic: Giantbomb bought by CBS Interactive (Read 11027 times)