GameSpot editor leaves amid review rumours

GamesIndustry.biz has learned that GameSpot's US reviews editor has left CNET Networks following an incident involving the site's recent Kane & Lynch review.

A source close to the editorial team has revealed that the row focused on the tone of the content of the original review, which was apparently subsequently altered.

The game scored 6 out of 10, and although it's unclear how the text of the review may have changed from its original format, it's not thought that the score was altered.

GameSpot reviews are regularly submitted to the wider editorial team for quality and accuracy reasons, and small changes can be made at this point before the article is published.

Rumours elsewhere cited possible reasons for the editorial changes as being the result of pressure from the Kane & Lynch publisher Eidos, which had marketed the game on the site.

The source revealed that members of the editorial team were extremely disappointed by the incident.

Gerstmann had been with GameSpot for 11 years, and was part of the team - which included Greg Kasavin, now at EA - who drove the site's core values of editorial excellence and independence over that time.

As well as heading up the reviews team, he also hosted weekly video show On The Spot, and wrote the music to several of the site's audio or video publications, including the GameSpot UK podcast.

CNET representatives have so far declined to comment on Gerstmann's departure, and the precise circumstances - whether or not he left of his own accord - have not been disclosed.

Tim Tracy, former head of video at the company, has also departed, although it's not clear at this time whether or not the two are linked.