210°

The Solved Mystery Of Gamespot Journalist Jeff Gerstmann’s Firing

On November 28, 2007, Jeff Gerstmann was terminated from his position as Editorial Director after 11 years at the company. Initially after the firing, Gamespot and its parent company, CNET, did not give out the reason why Gearstmann lost his job. This news came as a surprise for many people involved in the gaming industry because Gerstmann was one of the most popular game reviewers at Gamespot and one of the website’s most respected members. After Gerstman’s firing, fellow editors Ryan Davis, Vinny Caravella, Brad Shoemaker, and Alex Navarro all left the company in protest.

The mysterious firing of Jeff Gearstmann sent the internet gaming community into a frenzy. Rumors and speculations started flying around regarding the mysterious termination. What did this senior Gamespot writer do that cost him to lose his dream job? The one theory that gained the most traction at the time involved a game called Kane & Lynch: Dead Men. It was Gerstmann’s last review at Gamespot and he gave the game a “low” score of 6.0. This was unacceptable to the game publisher, Eidos, because they spent huge advertisement dollars on Gamespot. Many came to believe that Gerstmann lost his job over this review. However, no one was able to confirm the theory.

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reaxxion.com
nucky643394d ago (Edited 3394d ago )

my honest reaction at reading the headline was : "who is jeff gerstmann?"
so he lost his job.....the world will somehow go on. S

Anon19743394d ago

Wow! Just a yungun, I'm assuming. :)

The Gerstmann firing was a big deal back in the day and, as you can see, resounds with gamers to this day as we're still talking about it. While everyone suspected the influence that publishers and advertisers had behind the scenes at the larger game sites was massive, it really didn't come to light until Jeff was fired for his review of Kane and Lynch.

Quite frankly, the influence advertisers and publishers have over the games media is a problem that needs more attention instead of focusing on the relationships between never heard of journalists who influence no one and struggling indie developers who's games are often unknown.

Godmars2903394d ago

A lead writer on Kotaku is "no one"?

Anon19743394d ago

I wouldn't consider that Kotaku blog a big game site by any stretch of the imagination (and they've had a pretty dodgy past if you ask me) so yeah...I'd say that their bloggers aren't of much consequence, wouldn't you?

Godmars2903394d ago (Edited 3394d ago )

Yes, I would.

Just as I consider the direct and indirect influence of game companies on the game review community since well before the internet a concern, the corruption of the indie scene is just as big. If not more so.

Unfortunately, because of how that corruption came to light, the public concern is on something else. Has been put on something else as distraction.

nucky643394d ago

I'm a "yungun"? I played donkey kong when it first came out in the arcades. and no, the gerstmann firing is not a big deal - look at the world news - far more important things than whether jeff gerstmann keeps his job on an internet game site.

Anon19743394d ago (Edited 3394d ago )

My apologies to nucky64! I didn't mean any offense by the comment, I just assumed that you were young having not heard of the Gerstmann controversy.

As for your flippant remarks regarding world news, you're being obtuse. Not a damn piece of news related to gaming is as important as world news, and everyone knows that. What the hell are you even doing on this site if gaming news is so unimportant? But in the bubble of the gaming world and news related to it, the Gerstmann thing was undeniably noteworthy.

As for Godmars290...yeah, I just simply don't agree. Small time indies, videogame blog sites and their bloggers, they're small fish. Not sure what world you live in that the issues related to indies and bloggers is somehow "just as big if not more so" compared to major publishers/advertisers and the influence they have over the high traffic game review sites, but it sure as hell ain't the reality most of us live in. And this is coming from an indie developer.

Godmars2903394d ago

Speaking of obtuse, this will most likely come as a shock to you, darkride, but your opinion isn't the only valid one on the internet. Its not even close.

Like with the indie scene, you might consider it below any real notice, but then a title such as Minecraft wasn't a blip on anyone's radar once upon a time. Neither were the likes of Slenderman, Gone Home and Depression Quest. The latter two titles which by the accord of some received undue praise.

Anon19743394d ago (Edited 3394d ago )

"this will most likely come as a shock to you, darkride, but your opinion isn't the only valid one on the internet"

We're straying off topic here but I just thought I'd clarify. I say all the time in my comments my opinion doesn't matter and that gamers should get informed and make up their own minds. But to claim, on a game news site, that we shouldn't be talking about game news because it's unimportant compared to world news? That's about as simpleminded a rebuttal as you can make. He might as well have responded "Nuh nah!"

But seriously, you're trying to convince me that indies and bloggers are more important to the industry than large sites and the large publishers because...Minecraft won the indie game lottery? You're fooling yourself and I suspect trying to elevate the level of importance of these blogs like Kotaku simply because that's been GamerGate's ridiculous focus (given how often you feel forced to bring Gamergate into conversations).

I mean, come one. Listen to yourself. You can't honestly believe what you're saying? Who in their right mind puts the importance of indies and blogs on the same level as AAA devs, publishers and the major game sites? There's some cool indie games out there and I'm not saying their unimportant, but get real.

Is there no topic you GamerGate types won't try to twist around to make about your talking points? I mean, how did we get from Gerstmann to some game blog you disagree with?

Godmars2903394d ago

How isn't Kotaku not a well recognized site? They've had people on MSNBC and CNN. Likewise indie vs AAA is one of the major gaming arguments along with MS vs Sony and PC vs consoles.

And how am I twisting things when this has everything to do with undue influence on gaming? Gerstmann was fired because he didn't tow the line.

Jarrettjawn3393d ago

If Gone Home and Depression Quest's praise is "undue", wouldn't that be you elevating your opinion over others on the Internet?

Gone Home made a great deal of money for a game its size, and that wasn't simply because of Kotaku. People liked Gone Home, and they spread the word to other people who would like Gone Home. Such is the power of any big website with reach, something not exclusive to Kotaku. Kotaku wasn't the only media source singing that games praises, either.

Depression Quest was free, and was gonna get its hype spring boarding off of the Robin Williams suicide, if it weren't for, well, you know... Kotaku latched on to the story and beat the Depression Quest drum, but they didn't force people to play the game and donate to Quinn. People did that of their own accord because they liked it. Kotaku kept running stories about it because people kept reading them.

The power isn't with them, its with us. As it was with Minecraft and Slender Man. And we spoke. Nothing "undue" about it.

If a games journalist's job is to cover the news, wouldn't "look at this game that's awesome" qualify as news? Especially if it's a game that wouldn't have been on your radar without them?

Palitera3393d ago

"I wouldn't consider that Kotaku blog a big game site by any stretch of the imagination (and they've had a pretty dodgy past if you ask me) so yeah...I'd say that their bloggers aren't of much consequence, wouldn't you?"

It may be a POS site, but it one of the most relevant, sadly.

This pretty much proves you're just plain clueless.

http://www.google.com.br/tr...

http://www.ebizmba.com/arti...

SilentNegotiator3392d ago (Edited 3392d ago )

"If Gone Home and Depression Quest's praise is "undue", wouldn't that be you elevating your opinion over others on the Internet? "

Feel free to check out the user scores.
http://www.metacritic.com/g...
http://www.metacritic.com/g...

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 3392d ago
SpiralTear3394d ago

Why are they covering this now? It was confirmed ages ago that he was fired for his review of Kane and Lynch.

blakstarz3393d ago (Edited 3393d ago )

Because there are those that don't follow or the young people that are just getting into games and already have an "opinion" of the game industry may not know who he is and how instrumental he was in the industry back in the day.

Volkama3393d ago

Strange that they would lift the NDA for the sake of this deal. Giantbomb must be really valuable, considering just how damaging the story is to Gamespot's reputation.

CorndogBurglar3393d ago

Thats pretty crappy. He gave his honest review of a game and didn't care that the publisher of said game advertised a lot with his company. Thats admirable, especially in this day and age of shady reviews.

blakstarz3393d ago (Edited 3393d ago )

The gaming community knew why he was fired, but for those that don't pay close attention or care that much don't know the whole story.

I remember when I read the news he was fired, I knew why...because of that score he gave as there was no other reason to get rid of him because game publishers and devs respected his opinion and EDIOS just couldn't handle it. Kane and Lynch wasn't a bad game, but it was no AAA title either and Jeff calls it like he sees it.

Show all comments (30)
870°

Developer claims ‘many’ studios are asking Xbox to drop mandatory Series S compatibility

Bossa Studios dev argues the console had "turned out to be an albatross around the next of production."

Microsoft’s entry-level console Xbox Series S is limiting the potential of new-gen games, a developer at indie studio Bossa Studios has argued.

VFX artist Ian Maclure made the claim on Twitter in response to a comment from veteran games journalist Jeff Gerstmann, who said he thinks the whole ‘Series S is holding back next-gen games’ argument doesn’t hold up.

“Most of these games also come to PC and already have to cover a wide variety of configs,” Gerstmann pointed out.

Maclure, who worked on last year’s Xbox Series X/S and PC game I Am Fish at Bossa, which also develops and publishes the Surgeon Simulator series, responded: “It might sound broken, but the reason you are hearing it a lot right now is because MANY developers have been sitting in meetings for the past year desperately trying to get Series S launch requirements dropped.

Read Full Story >>
videogameschronicle.com
generic-user-name556d ago

You want to know what's anti-consumer? Crippling a generation of games because the only way your hardware can chart is if it's below $300.

rlow1556d ago

How is it anti consumer offering people a cheaper entry point? That’s actually a pro consumer strategy.
What you seem to be trying to infer is it’s anti hardcore, for those willing to spend the big bucks and want all the bell and whistles. Their’s a difference.

generic-user-name556d ago

The anti consumer part is forcing devs to support the S when they clearly don't want to. In doing so, reducing the quality of the game.

CrimsonIdol556d ago (Edited 556d ago )

I don't think you understand what anti-consumer means dude. For a start the developer isn't the consumer.

generic-user-name556d ago

@Crimson

And who do you think buys the product that the developers make? A product of reduced quality to allow for Phil's demands.

CrimsonIdol556d ago

I'm guessing you never lived through the PS2 era then from the perspective of literally any other platform.

generic-user-name556d ago

@Crimson

You'll have to remind me of the PS2 X which was gimped to allow for the weaker PS2 S, I can't recall that.

Crows90556d ago (Edited 556d ago )

It's not a cheaper entry point though. So you're telling me then it's not antu consumer however just 100$ more gets you all the bells and whistles with the PS4 digital?

They artifically created an "entry point" that is more affordable but doesn't actually give you a next gen experience. It's basically a remake of the Xbox one x. It's disgustingly deceptive.

Games are already struggling on the series s. It's not a 1440p machine.

CrimsonIdol556d ago

My point (as it is apparently not immediately clear) is that many multiplatform games were indisputably held back on every other platform by the fact they had to release and run on a PS2 (the PS2 had a mere 4MB of video ram). And yet I would seriously struggle to call this "anti-consumer" to all the other consumers of different, more powerful platforms.

I'm trying to make you apply your logic to a different case to perhaps isolate your blinding bias. Obviously the developer motivation and market situation is different. But we're supposedly talking about consumers here aren't we?

HardKnockKid24556d ago

Get outta here, you know very well he’s referring to the power difference between the PS2/GC/Xbox @generic-user-name
Everything that Sony does is clearly perfect though smh

SurgicalMenace556d ago

You guys are aware that there is no such thing as anticonsumer, right? It's nothing but a buzz word created to provoke unrest between companies and consumers. There are those who can afford products and those who can't. It's simple as that.

-Foxtrot556d ago

Thing is how cheap do you go? There's no end to it.

It's a luxury item and I couldn't afford many of my consoles in the past as a young kid, I had to save or get super lucky as Christmas. If I wanted a new game or console I had to trade the other one in.

If saving up to get a new console means that when I finally get it I'm (along with others who have one) a full on NEXT GEN experience where developers are taking advantage of it then so be it.

Just because I couldn't afford past consoles didn't mean I wanted other games to suffer so developers could cater to me and the old console. I mean what would then be the point of me saving up money if I could just stay on my PS2 or something.

shinoff2183556d ago

The difference with the ps2 you guys seem to be missing is that sony didnt have 2 models of ps2s on the market. Where as ms does. So the ps2 argument doesnt hold up at all.

Hofstaderman555d ago (Edited 555d ago )

It is anti consumer knowing that piece of hardware will become redundant within a timeframe that a consumer reasonably expects it to offer what it was advertising it does. Consoles are not PCs and cellphones. You can’t escape the generational model despite what bullshit Microsoft spouts. People always said that this would happen when the Series S was announced and its why Sony stuck to same specs with their PS5 models.

Angyobangyo555d ago

They why have a more expensive console, only for it to be held back because MS enforces parity? The Series S is a great budget system, but there is no need for the Series X to be held back. Anti-hardcore is something you made up to validate your point. It is holding back devs and limiting what they would like to implement, fact! Let me get this right, you're saying MS enforces an "anti--hardcore" policy because they're against their own superior system with the Series X outperforming the Series S. Wow, such genius.

VariantAEC553d ago

@CrimsonIdol
PS2 had most of the best looking games that gen. Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, Gran Turismo and Tourist Trophy, even games like Ace Combat, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 broke new ground in real time animation and graphics.

The irrefutable game that defined the entire generation is one you never heard of, Haven: Call of The King the space opera epic that had you jumping from one planet to the next in a tightly honed linear action adventure. It wasn't the best game nor the best looking but considering the underlying tech and the fact that it was still lightyears better looking than games like GTA: San Andreas and still ran at 60FPS. Imagine Squadron 42 as if it took place in a more fantasy sci-fi world made for PS2 and they got everything right. That was Haven and yet it wasn't made for Xbox or the GameCube.

+ Show (11) more repliesLast reply 553d ago
Sonyslave3556d ago (Edited 556d ago )

No crippling a whole generation is releasing games on the ps4 and low end pc 😩😩 like you guys got to make it make sense.

Any devs saying other wise is hack and please don’t bring up I’d studio lonely dev, who also said the series s is a fantastic system but he would like a little more muscle but it still a nice system that ran Doom enteral at 120fps at 1440p and that was two years ago.

The Gotham dev who didn’t even work on the game hate Xbox series s going by his twitter history, which is the main reason he deleted his page.

Watch the Witcher 3 devs somehow get the Xbox series s version at 1080p or 1440p 60fps but Gotham Knights with less things on screen and effects struggle with 30fps on all consoles.

generic-user-name556d ago

Please show me Sony forcing Capcom to make RE4 for PS4. You can't.

Every XSX title will be held back as long as Phil continues this anti dev/anti consumer practice.

jznrpg556d ago (Edited 556d ago )

Sony is not forcing anyone to release games on PS4 . MS is forcing devs to make a Series S version even though it’s basically an Xbox One X .

wiz7191556d ago

@jznrpg the series s can do things the one x cannot .. the Series S has the same CPU as the Series X just slightly down clocked. So I don’t see how the series s is really holding the generation back.

ABizzel1556d ago

@wiz

It's not holding the generation back, but it's creating more unnecessary work for developers by having to optimize for a third device that already struggles with cross-gen content.

It's like you doing your job and completing a month's worth of work so you can go on vacation, only for your employer to tell you well John only did two weeks of worth, so we're canceling your vacation and splitting his remaining work between you and John so your vacation request is denied.

Not to mention the Series S GPU and VRAM are noticeably worse than the One X which is another factor into why developers are complaining. They have to make their games on a pretty straightforward spec with the PS5 and even the Series X. But then they have to optimize a version for a GPU that's at its best is 1/3 the performance of the Series X, with dramatically less CUs, lower clocks, and a dramatically smaller and inferior VRAM solution, only to sell your game on the Xbox platform that has a smaller install base, and a user base that is slowly being programmed to "Wait for GamePass".

Developers aren't really benefitting from this, MS is.

Personally I think the Series S was a good idea, however, the execution was awful again due to the GPU and VRAM. It should have been $349 with better cooling for safer clocks, RX 6600m for TRUE 1440p targets, and 12GB GDDR6 based on the Series X slower pool of RAM. But MS wanted $299 Day 1 without taking a loss like the Series X.

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Profchaos555d ago (Edited 555d ago )

The thing about low end PC's is that phrase is dependant on the date is being said a low end pc today probably has a 2070 card but 3 years back that would have been a higher end card and a high end pc.

So in 3 years time a 3070 may be a low end card which easily trumps the xss and devs will still have to design for that SKU while they can easily abandon a PC gpu or a last gen system you can't do that if you are making a game for current gen and it doesn't run on xss but works on xsx you need to abandon the entire game for the Xbox platform

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 555d ago
Lifexline556d ago

So I guess every company is anti consumer most companies provide cheaper products for those limited with money. Lol. The things people say here.

The thing holding back consoles is developers themselves still making games for last gen. Plus I really doubt and indie developer has the money to really make a AAA game so he is just trying to get attention. It would be nice to get a completely next gen only game but as long as there are 100’s of million of f last gen consoles they will keep making those games I really don’t think it’s about forcing anyone more so of reaching the most consumers and making the most money

generic-user-name556d ago

The judges' scores are in:

9
10
8

LifeXline putting in a good performance in the mental gymnastics event.

Crows90556d ago

No. Gaming is not the phone industry. In gaming each generation brings new capabilities. The series s does not bring new capabilities. It's the same and in some instances worse than Xbox one x.

Lifexline556d ago (Edited 556d ago )

@generic lmao who would have thought I had loser fans on n4g. Kids Who don’t like hearing the truth…..

Stanjara556d ago

You do realize that Xbox one X is more powerful than Series S, but they could not bring that down to $300.

darthv72556d ago

@Stan... no, its not. The only advantage the One X has is 2gb more memory pool. Every other performant aspect of the Series S is better. cpu, gpu, memory speed and bandwidth, ssd... its only blemish is the 10gb memory pool compared to the One X 12gb memory pool.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 556d ago
SullysCigar556d ago

One developer actually said, when speaking about xbox series S, that the generation was "being hamstrung by this potato". He later apologised, of course, but they feel strongly about it.

There's no point everyone getting up in arms that they haven't yet dropped last gen consoles, when Series S exists. Microsoft's policy states games MUST release on it.

We've discussed the specs before, but the fact is in some ways Series S is actually a step back from last gen's XB one X. This is why devs aren't happy.

darthv72556d ago

Not in some ways... in only one way. memory capacity. it doesnt matter the S has the more efficient and faster memory. There just isnt enough of it. 10gb of faster memory is no match for 12gb of slighly slower memory. Its the pool size that makes the difference.

Series S has the better cpu, gpu, memory speed, hard drive, overall capabilities... but that memory pool is just not bigger than the One X. And it is that reason alone that the One X would be considered better. If they had just stuck with 12gb it then would have been a perfect replacement but as it is it is just a good replacement.

556d ago Replies(1)
agnosticgamer556d ago

Having an additional cheaper option to play games isn't Anti-Consumer. Having an additional cheaper option at $300 would be Pro-Consumer. Forcing games to come out on a cheaper console also is still not Anti-Consumer. The biggest game this studio made is "I am Fish"... What a resume! Maybe they need better developers? Series S has more games at 120fps than the PS5. Is the new God Of War hamstrung because it will also come out on the PS4?

generic-user-name556d ago

"Is the new God Of War hamstrung because it will also come out on the PS4?"

Absolutely. As was HFW, ever wonder why the flying mounts were so slow in that game?

556d ago
556d ago
TicklefistCP556d ago

Come off it. Sony has its Series S equivalent: The PS4.
Or are you going to argue that the Series S is holding back Gran Turismo 7, Horizon Forbidden West & God of War Ragnarok?
Clown.

shinoff2183556d ago

Actually despite what you might say horizion plays just fine and is one of the best games out on next gen.

VariantAEC553d ago

At some point PS4 will get no new games. Xbox Series S is part of this gen PS4 isn't.

Petebloodyonion556d ago

LOL really?
It's anti-consumer for a company to release a product that ppl are happy to buy due to price/performance ratio and what it offers to consumers?
Wow let me guess Switch is anti consumer, selling the PS4 up to recently was anti-consumer because of the PS5,
Your basic TV at Walmart must be anti-consumer because tv shows don't bother to make things for my 8K tv
Quest 2 must be anti-consumer since it's a cheap VR headset built around an Android chip.

Orchard556d ago

"Releasing a cheaper $300 entry level SKU is anti-consumer"

Welp, there's one I didn't have on my bingo card for today.

Imalwaysright556d ago

It's a stupid statement now and will be even more stupid once we enter the recession stages of the current financial crisis.

JL2930556d ago

That's about the dumbest shit I've ever heard.

shinoff2183556d ago

They did it with 360 gen to when theybstuck with dvd. You cant be switching discs for open world games.

dumahim555d ago

The Xbox came out before HD DVD and Blu-ray were on the market.

The 360 came out Nov 2005. HD DVD first player came out in March 2006 in Japan and Blu-ray was June.

Obscure_Observer556d ago

"The anti consumer part is forcing devs to support the S when they clearly don't want to. In doing so, reducing the quality of the game."

If that was true, Playstation 5 exclusive games should be miles ahead of anything Microsoft has in stores now. And that´s not the case at all.

Forza is miles ahead of Gran Turismo and the same can be said about Hellblade vs God of War
Too much talk too little to show

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dumahim555d ago

"Too much talk too little to show"

Sums up your comments pretty well. How much have we seen of Hellblade so far?

jlove4life555d ago

Yo who is this man I wanna give him a prize straight facts

jwillj2k4555d ago

No one’s forcing a dev to make a game for Xbox. Target ps5/pc if you want no limitations, just understand your maximum audience is a fraction (large fraction) of the whole and adjust accordingly.

ActualEngineer555d ago

There might be more to it, maybe they want to retain processing parity with a handheld dockable future console. Running an x86 soc at 4tflops in dock mode is doable, especially with a clip-in dock that has an aluminum to aluminum cooler.

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 553d ago
LucasRuinedChildhood556d ago

If true, it says a lot that some devs are willing to lose money to avoid having to develop for the S and dealing with its memory constraints.

I've always felt that MS should have just made a Series X Digital Edition like the PS5. All of the stock would have sold out either way.

JEECE556d ago

Yep, even if they were still going to do all digital and a smaller SSD, the CPU, GPU, and RAM should have been the same.

Eonjay556d ago

Correct. Of all of these things you listed the biggest hurdle to current gen development is the memory.

Outside_ofthe_Box556d ago

Their goal was to beat Sony in price AND specs. That's why they didn't go the Sony route of disc and digital X. They want to have their cake and eat it too.

badz149555d ago

and yet still getting outsold regardless. and now they know they can't compete with 3rd party games available on both consoles, they want to buy all the 3rd parties they can tot ake away games from PS. shameful

Crows90556d ago

Exactly. But MS marketing is even more deceptive as they tout the series s as a next gen machine. It's a easier point of entry into a false narrative. Therefore...deceptive.

Petebloodyonion556d ago

And how so?
Does it use the same core processor?
Does it use a similar chipset?

wiz7191556d ago

@Pete the exact same , that’s where I’m confused at to where ppl can say the series s is really holding back this generation. It runs the same games as the Series X just in a lower resolution.

gerbintosh555d ago (Edited 555d ago )

@wiz7191
There is also the difference in RAM as well. (More and higher speed on the X). If there really wasn't that big of a difference between specs then MS wouldnt have to force developers to support the series S. It is not as easy as PC where a user can turn down graphics capabilites and settings to make a game run on older/inferior hardware. There is no option for that on consoles so those developers have to essentially spend more time developing an inferior version of their product

It appears they gimped the S so that it can appear cheaper and sell. However, all i see available at stores are the Series S while the X and both PS5 versions are consistently sold out

https://www.destructoid.com...

Crows90555d ago

@pete@whiz

Not just resolution but also frame rate and graphical settings. Well yeah but guess what...the Xbox one x could also play the same games so that argument is meaningless. To that same point right now many titles are cross gen and on Xbox pretty much all are that so downs it make it not a next gen machine? What's the difference? Yes exactly...the difference is the power of the machines and the series s is more close to the Xbox one x than the Xbox series X...therefore it's a last gen machine that is going to struggle like the one x to play next gen games.

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blackblades556d ago

Its just another bad decision by MS obe after the other. Yet people dogged on Sony over some small sh*t decision.

roadkillers556d ago

How? When every single game is being made for last gen as well?

Either way it doesn’t matter to me. Just make the game playable on Cloud (que the downvotes) and I will be able to enjoy on any console.

execution17556d ago

And if they do that it screws over people with potato internet if they made future games cloud only for the series s. Good idea for an entry level next gen system but they shot themselves in the foot for making it weak incomparison

roadkillers555d ago

How did they shoot themselves in the foot? I was a Sony Nintendo guy before the Series S and Gamepass. They made a new customer.

porkChop556d ago

Personally I don't see how this person would know what the rest of the industry thinks. They made I Am Fish and Surgeon Simulator. If they had trouble getting those games to run on Series S that speaks volumes about the technical ability of Bossa Studios.

Profchaos555d ago (Edited 555d ago )

Devs are not focused on money typically that's the publisher who will also determine the scope of the games target ie we want this game on everything including mobiles they tell the dev team who design it around the lowest common denominator.

So devs will happily not work on a painful console if they can avoid it just like if your job was to was cars but someone decided to go home and do it themselves no skin off your back you still get paid it's the bosses that lose out

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XiNatsuDragnel556d ago

The series S was a mistake imo Microsoft change this soon.

Brazz556d ago

Normaly i would agree, but in times of low Chips production séries S is a genius move! I mean, that mother board is f$@$# small, they can likely produce almost 2SeS for each SeX. Consumers want next gen consoles, and If you can't find Sex or PS5, SeS is on shelves ready for you.
It's a bad move from MS that due to current chip production problems turned in a genius move!

abstractel556d ago

The series S is not a proper next-gen console, that's what devs are trying to say. It's holding back this generation.

When you look at when the PS4/Xbox One launched, for 1-2 years while we got a true generational leap in games people complained about PC performance, called devs lazy, etc. So the PC argument doesn't hold a lot of water. You need a great baseline to step from one generation to the next. The series S has ruined that baseline for this generation.

crazyCoconuts556d ago

I don't think they can change course this generation. Imagine the backlash from existing owners

abstractel556d ago

This is unfortunately the problem.

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ocelot07555d ago

How can they change it? They can't just discontinue to series s and lift the mandatory requirements for developers.

I think the series s is there best seller out of the s and x. That would effect so many people just 2 years into the systems life.

dumahim555d ago

They won't. They're stuck on this path with the promises they made for this generation.

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556d ago Replies(3)
JEECE556d ago

Maybe someone should tell these devs about scalability.

garos82555d ago

have you developed for series s or x?

JEECE555d ago

Yeah, I'm a prolific developer, that's why I spend so much time on N4G complaining about cross-gen games.

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190°

Jeff Gerstmann on the DualSense Controller “it’s awesome”

Jeff Gerstmann is one of the longest running games journalists out there with around 28 years in the industry. So it is fair to say he might know a thing or two about controllers and in the latest edition of the Giant Bombcast he made his views on the DualSense controller public.

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playstationing.com
LoveSpuds1278d ago

I was really surprised by Jeff and Brad's excitement and enthusiasm in the GiantBomb quicklook given that they are generally quite jaded and snarky about most things. Really excited to get my hand on PS5 in a few weeks time.

SullysCigar1278d ago

Same. I guess that goes to show how God this thing is - literally everyone is pumped that ha had their hands on DualSense!

RosweeSon1278d ago

Never doubted moment I heard about this controller I was in. It’s new exciting and can change the way we play I’m all for it. Add in the top quality games they’ve provided all gen I’m sold 😂🙌🏻

The_Sage1278d ago

I can't wait to try this out for myself.

neutralgamer19921278d ago

Why are we surprised Mark Cerny made huge improvements with the deal shot for and now he's making huge improvements with dual sense controller. He's one of the legendary game developers and overall a well-known person in the gaming industry he knows what he's doing. What's amazing about him is he never officially worked for Sony even though he was working with them for such a long time

ElementX1278d ago (Edited 1278d ago )

I love bombcast and beastcast

LoveSpuds1277d ago

Yup, it's a toss up between GiantBomb or Easy Allies for my fave podcast, whilst Jeff and Vinny are funnier, I prefer Easy Allies more upbeat and positive tone.

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610°

Giant Bomb’s Jeff Gerstmann on E3, the State of the Industry, and Scorpio vs. PS4 Pro

"On this week’s episode of The1099 Podcast, Giant Bomb co-founder and former GameSpot mainstay, Jeff Gerstmann, joins host Josiah Renaudin to talk about the past, present, and future of the games industry. The two discuss Giant Bomb’s focus on video over written content, what the company would look like if it started in the age of Patreon, the possible storylines to come out of next week’s E3 conference, how console half-steps like Pro and Scorpio have changed the industry, what Microsoft needs to do to succeed moving forward, and what you can expect from Giant Bomb for the rest of the year."

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2518d ago
2518d ago
Bigpappy2518d ago

Scorpio is the story going into E3 and it will continue to be after E3. It is just a very interesting product, that could change the industry drastically of it performs way above it's weight. Console will be much more powerful and may even use recent mid-range PC components.

Eonjay2518d ago

How does that change the industry? I think the power of Microsoft's next console has been overly dramatized as an end within itself. I played Last of Us on the PS3 and it is generally better than any game on any system regardless of power. The story of the show will spoil quickly if the games that come along aren't equally as impressive. They will eat it alive.

optimus2518d ago

Are you seriously comparing a game from last generation made by some talented developers to a console that can do anything you saw last generation with very little effort?...Scorpio can change the industry because developers haven't had the means and technology that the Scorpio provides....you talk AS IF you've already seen or know everything the Scorpio can do without even seeing a single game for it. It's more than just optimizing current games like you would see on buying a new graphics card on a PC. It's the Xbox infrastructure as a whole that has the potential to change the industry.

traumadisaster2518d ago

Idk about change the industry but I think he means with more power that changes the purchase choice of the pc crowd that happen to be at an upgrade point in the cycle. I for example went 4k before the X1 was even revealed. I played all of the PS360 multi plat games on pc in 4k or 1080/60 but now I'm coming to a point where I need to upgrade my gfx card, already upgraded cpu/mb last year and the rest of the components are fine (psu, case, cooling, etc.).

So I can buy a $500 card or Scorpio. If SW Battlefront 2 will by 4k/60 on Scorpio then I will have to reevaluate things because I will need a new card to do that on pc.

OB1Biker2518d ago

While waiting for E3 I spent some time watching previous E3 and other shows from different sites and Giant Bomb too.
Interestingly they were excited with the Xbox 1 reveal but found Sony E3 2016 weird and boring. Enough said haha

Bigpappy2518d ago (Edited 2518d ago )

@Eonjay: I am sure Last Of Us was a good game, many PS fans have pushed that point. But it being the best game is subjective by a mile. That has nothing to do with the influence of a very powerful console like Scorpio, if it meets expectations.
traumadisaster's response is I good example of who the potential buyers are for the Scorpio and why the power and ability to run many games at native 4K is being understated by the PS only crowd.
But my point, as he and optimus saw and you missed, was that it now puts Sony in a position where it minimal spec can't be 4K30 native and may even have to innovate more on their new console whenever that is released. To accomplish make a next gen statement with that new console, is going to require some impressive tech since we are already hearing of some games running at 4K60 native on Scorpio already. Add to that possible improvements in the VR realm and load times, and we have a very formidable console which sets the bar way higher than what the PSpro and switch were aiming for. Tech like that allows for developers to do much more impressive stuff that anything you have seen on your PS3... that's why you upgraded to PS4 and don't care to play "old games".

JackBNimble2518d ago

Some of you seem to talk about Scorpio as if it's next gen, how far are dev's really going to be able to push it while also having to cater to the xb1?

If you want to see the true power of the Scorpio then MS needs to forget about the xb1 and push Scorpio to the next gen.

Death2518d ago

@Jack,

Devs don't have to target the Xbox One, Scorpio or even PC for that matter. Windows 10 is the target and it will scale games across all three platforms. Devs can choose to target the metal so to say, but then like you stated they will have to target multiple platforms. You need to look at how PC's handle games with their vast amount of GPU and CPU options to have a better idea of what Microsoft is trying to achieve.

Armyntt2518d ago

I think it will change the industry. It only has to be a moderate success to change the whole industry. Console gaming, atleast on Xbox, will mirror more the PC world and a little cell phone. New consoles every 3 years, and every game BC.

2518d ago
Bruh2518d ago

Yeah but the TLOU was also a technological marvel when it came out due to the hardware prowess of the PS3 lol, I get its story was incredible, but it isn't exactly an example of weaker hardware portraying its advantage through software

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 2518d ago
bez872518d ago

Just no to most of you on this topic, how will it change drastically?? do you really think a console is going to truly have native 4k??? My PC with a i7 cpu, a top of the range M7 gaming motherboard, 32gb DDR4 ram, GTX1080 GPU can only just about push 4k out at under 30fps that costs near 2000 to build. I give scorpio credit and from what digitalfoundry says it's good but the only thing we have seen running at 4k is Forza, a genric racing game where the main world is static and only the car has moving parts, nothing like a halo or gears, plus the leaked document stating that developers may want to use a form of checkerboarding upscale to up other aspects, tells me it's more likely a beefed up version of a ps4 pro.
Even then some here seem to forget games are where it's at and looking at there line up of games, it has nothing but a racing game, a fps game, a third person action game. 3 of which are always the same franchises. If you ain't got a solid first party line up with a bunch of diverse games it will not do well. PC gamers won't care for it, due to the fact every game on a microsoft console can be bought on a PC now anyway and are pretty well optimized as well for PC.

rlow12518d ago

Dude you sound desperate.

Shadyceaser2518d ago

Lucky for me .i only like racing games as I am shite at every other type of game

_-EDMIX-_2518d ago

Trust me it's not going to be much of a story ,that's like saying the new latest GPU being released is going to be the biggest Story of the Year

at the end of the day it's content that drives this industry ,it's whose publishing the best games that's determining Victory and at the end of the day even the weaker PlayStation 2 beat the original Xbox simply because Sony had the games they still have the games this generation regardless of performance the vast majority of Gamers actually don't care they simply just want to play good games.

noksucow732518d ago (Edited 2518d ago )

PS2 did also have over a year head start. Not to mention the Xbox didn't stay in the market long before moving forward to the 360. I do agree with you about games though, and that's really all that matters. That's why I love my Dreamcast so much. It had such great games in such little time.

_-EDMIX-_2517d ago

@nok-the year Headstart is completely irrelevant you have to understand that they already had most of the support from the previous success of the PlayStation and worldwide appeal.

That doesn't explain why the PlayStation 2 went on to sell 150 million units while the Xbox only sold 24.

The Wii U had a year head start ahead of PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, is it moving Mega units?

I'm not even going to try to entertain that the 360 success is simply due to a head start ,they did a lot of smart things with the 360 to get where they were at so I don't necessarily believe in headstarts determining the next five to eight years of gaming that's a bit ridiculous.

The Xbox has been continuously beat by the PlayStation because Sony has a stronger first party, they have stronger third-party relationships in they have worldwide appeal.

In order for the Xbox to start to gain those sort of sales they need to actually build a stronger first party.

frostypants2518d ago (Edited 2518d ago )

If Scorpio is such a big story why is Microsoft's E3 presence looking so weak? Their floor space reservation is tiny compared to Sony and Nintendo.

DashArrivals2518d ago

I think you're completely delusional

paulogy2518d ago

Scorpio won't "change the industry" if all its games still have to run on Xbox One as well.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 2517d ago
Bronxs152518d ago

Awesome. Can't wait to listen to this. Jeff is awesome and has great insight.

spaceb0y2518d ago

Is anyone here a premium member of their site?

spaceb0y2518d ago

What is the single most important thing that keeps you subscribed?

TheROsingleB2518d ago

A bit of everything, honestly. Unprofessional Fridays have always been fun and the Giant Bomb East play dates. As for recent series, their Yakuza 0 play through (Beast in the East), Murder Island (PUBG Team games) are great, as I'm not likely to play either of these. Former premium offerings like Metal Gear Scanlon, and classics like Thursday Night Throwdown and Whiskey Media Happy Hour are great to go back to (RIP Ryan Davis). I watch their E3 Live coverage which is always a blast with everyone together.

As for the single most important thing? The crew, man. I love the blend of personalities and shenanigans. If they weren't the entertaining bunch that they are, the site wouldn't have been what it is now.

DefenderOfDoom22518d ago

I still miss RYAN DAVIS , RIP . One of the co-founders of GIANT BOMB.

NarooN2518d ago

All of this. I just love how they all have such strong personalities and aren't hindered by bullshit obligations to shill out for various publishers and companies. It's nice that they're 100% impartial and honest. Been a fan pretty much since the site's inception.

TheOttomatic912518d ago (Edited 2518d ago )

I became one last year but only have the time to listen to podcasts but I don't regret it at all.

LordJamar2518d ago

it definitely has potential and i believe it will deliver on most of it ppl are loving to hate xbox and down play it i would love for xbox to prove them wrong would be a great time and see them eat there crow also it would be better for gamers underdog Microsoft is best Microsoft dont underestimate xbox

noksucow732518d ago

N4g is so full of Sony fanboys it's ridiculous! Anything to praise xbox 1 , Scorpio, or anything xbox and you get down voted. It's laughable. I know most of Sony's userbase is fine, but its their rabid fanboys that are alive and kicking on this site.

LordJamar2518d ago

yep im already getting tons of down votes

frostypants2518d ago (Edited 2518d ago )

It would help your cause to come with more than generalities and wishes. The knock on Scorpio is Microsoft's ongoing struggles with intriguing software. Yes, Scorpio could on paper do some awesome things, but unless devs make such things, it's all for naught. What have you seen to counter this? I mean, you even say you'd "love for xbox to prove them wrong", but that's another way of saying you haven't seen anything yet that MIGHT prove them wrong. We haven't even heard whispers of anything that generates such hope, and that is a bad sign.

From an objective perspective, there's plenty of reason to be skeptical. I'd love MS to give me a reason to get back into their ecosystem for the first time in a couple of years, but that would involve them pulling something incredibly unexpected and soon-to-be-tangible from their posterior at E3. If the best they can do is a Crackdown update or "hey look it's CoD in 4K", they are going to get absolutely ravaged by the media.

LordJamar2518d ago

meh ppl like you who wont be please no matter what you are not the target audience you expect xbox to fail no matter what why would they target you? you dont want a xbox an dont plan to get one or play one i mean look how cynical you are if i was like you i would just stop gaming tbh im excited about new hardwar and plenty of potential also stop putting words in my mouth pretty sure they have more then crack down way to down play a game you never played are you sure your a gamer? just admit your bias your one of "those" kinda people wont be happy until xbox is out of the market huh

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