The termination of Jeff Gerstmann at Gamespot has erupted quite a response. As it should, and fortunately it is opening dialogue about game reviews and game critics. Some of it is rather interesting, most of it is just bitch fest and a lot of ‘I knew game reviews were all lies anyway.’ But I think it brings up the discussion of how game reviews have evolves, and that the stakes regarding game reviews, and game sales, are at a point where they are uniquely high, especially since the purchasers of games are more likely then ever to read reviews.

Here is a bit of speculative history. Go back to the 80s and early 90s. When the majority of gaming was a market for kids. Video game reviews were sparse, precisely because there was little market for them. Children, and their parents, didn’t want to read reviews of games, they just got they wanted. Game journalism emerged as ‘tips and tricks’, I remember subscribing to Nintendo Power in 1992, why? I wanted the level maps, the cheat codes, and also a heads up on what new cool games was coming out. The reviews were something I never paid attention to.
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