Dell, Sony, and Pepsi Support Gamespot

**Doc** · 12-01-2007, 04:47 PM

Yesterday, video game ads began to disappear from the Gamespot front page faster than free beer at a Lynrd Skynrd concert. First, the obvious one, Kane and Lynch, followed shortly thereafter by Assasins Creed and several others. But not all advertisers seem to mind swimming the boiling waters in which the once-respected gaming site now resides. Just 24 hours after a massive backlash descended on Gamespot following the dismissal of Jeff Gertmann, allegedly for his low review of Gamespot advertiser Eidos' Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, several companies seem to be gobbling up the open inventory.
Sony's PS3 ads now share space with Dell on the front page, while Pepsi saw fit to splatter the background of the site with Moutain Dew. Despite boycotts and canceled subscriptions, it seems at least some companies recognize a hot topic when they see one. Unfortunately for those companies, many gamers are taking mental notes.
"If they want to support Gamespot's total breakdown in editorial credibility, then they have to understand that there are consequences involved," said 'HulleyToe', a gamer from San Mateo, CA. "It may not hurt them now, but just as advertisers use their dollars to influence companies like Gamespot and CNET, I can use my money to influence the advertisers."
Frankly, unless HulleyToe has a LOT of friends, I seriously doubt Pepsi is going to feel a pinch from the bad publicity and association of a Gamespot ad campaign. I doubt they're even aware of it.
I find it very interesting that people are going to such lengths over a matter that hasn't even been officially explained. Perhaps that is Gamespot's problem. While the PR tactic of "wait a bit until this blows over" has been proven to work in the past, they really need to get a handle on this before the clueless mainstream media (Network News) picks up this story and turns it into the next Enron.
In the mean time, it's interesting to watch some advertisers move in like vultures to gobble up what is likely some really cheap ad inventory, while others, specifically game publishers, are jumping ship and heading for the hills. This whole thing can't last forever.
Which side are you on? Do you believe that Gerstmann was fired due to pressure from an advertiser? Do you think Gamespot probably has a valid reason for firing him that they just can't discuss?
Tell us here, or jump to our forums and sound off!

KeavyRain · 12-01-2007, 05:02 PM

Let's see...I own a Mac, an Xbox 360, and can't stand Mountain Dew.

I am successfully boycotting GameSpot's advertisers without even trying! Hurray for me!

iPlayPC · 12-01-2007, 05:17 PM

Damn beurocracy

animathias · 12-01-2007, 07:11 PM

... I've got a Dell computer and a six pack of Code Red sitting next to me.. I'm a blatant pawn of Gamespot's advertisements... The horror!!

Nah, but really. If they had a reason other than this fiasco to fire Mr. Gerstmann, they should have already come out and said that. All this sneaky "no comment" business only seems to point to their guilt in the matter. Even if they can't specifically say why he was fired, they should be able to come out and say it had nothing to do with his review or advertisers.
It might also be possible that he got laid into for not following the money trail, and because of that, he quit on them. Admitting to that would put Gamespot in a bad position as well. Thus far, I don't see them coming out of this too well.

MasonicOne · 12-01-2007, 07:25 PM

Well...

Dell has been trying to market to Gamers for sometime now. Pepsi will market to whomever, lets not forget Pepsi ad's of the past showing Pepsi off as this hip slick 'hiphop' like drink, coke drinkers as old people that like classic rock. Really some of the dumbest ad's ever, not like the Game Fuel ad's where any better. And as for Sony, I think at this point they will do any and every marketing they can. Remember the first PS3 ad's, by that I mean the ones they showed off at E3 2006. Hell I wouldn't blame Sony for paying people off right now, Sony Online Entertainment is a running joke along with the PS3.

Sorry for the PS3 crack, but well lets face it all 3 most likely don't care what some Gamer nerds really have to say.

Bauer22 · 12-01-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeavyRain

Let's see...I own a Mac, an Xbox 360, and can't stand Mountain Dew.

I am successfully boycotting GameSpot's advertisers without even trying! Hurray for me!

Same here! Go Macs!

l33tm45732 · 12-01-2007, 08:55 PM

Ya I noticed that too, weird.

SWSilentkiller · 12-01-2007, 10:34 PM

well let's see I HP laptop, I like pepsi better then coke, however, I can't drink either of them, I dislike Mountain Dew, and as for sony I own a PSP. so aside from sony I am not supporting any of them

Dexyn · 12-01-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasonicOne

Sony Online Entertainment is a running joke along with the PS3.

Really?

I have a PS3 and it's no joke to me. In fact, I find it quite awesome.

**darkwonders** · 12-02-2007, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexyn

Really?

I have a PS3 and it's no joke to me. In fact, I find it quite awesome.

I got a Sony Vaio, PSP, and PS3... So yeah... *whistles innocently and walks away*

ProNinjaX · 12-02-2007, 11:36 AM

I got nothing against Dell or Pepsi. I have no respect, however, to Sony. Looks like Eidos and Gamespot are going the same way as Sony.

I used to enjoy checking out Gamespot, to know what games are coming out when and what the previews say. I'm the kind of guy who prefers to know where I'll be spending my money before I walk out the front door to buy a game. I guess I'll depend on other sources now. By other sources I mean Kotaku, Sacrastic Gamer and Destructoid (or Cashwh0re, as they call themselves now.)

Dexyn · 12-02-2007, 02:18 PM

If everyone would calm down and pay attention, Sony doesn't have anything to do with Gamespot anymore. Even if you refresh the site millions of times you'll only see XPS (Dell) and Intel.