Patrick Klepek leaves Giant Bomb
- Thread starter LiK
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Not to diminish anything Patrick has done, because I hold a tremendous amount of respect for him and I believe that he has significantly contributed to Giant Bomb's future... But......
A lot of the stuff that people are saying they're going to miss from him in Giant Bomb is literally in the description of the job posting from linkedin. They're going to be fine, but whoever is coming in obviously has some huge shoes to fill.
A lot of the stuff that people are saying they're going to miss from him in Giant Bomb is literally in the description of the job posting from linkedin. They're going to be fine, but whoever is coming in obviously has some huge shoes to fill.
Reading Patrick's last piece on the site made me quite emotional. He's not my favourite member of the GB family but he's certainly someone I hold very dear to me.
Reading through his summary of his time got me thinking about how long 3/4 years of our lives actually are. His Dad died. Ryan died. He moved. He got married. The site moved around a lot.
I moved from England to Canada. I had a kid. I changed jobs. I bought a house. I had arguments, tantrums, etc.
Life moves on and it's rare that I sit back and have a look at what we accomplish and Patrick's short summary really moved me.
I look forward to whatever he's doing next.
Cheers. Happy new year
xoxo
Reading through his summary of his time got me thinking about how long 3/4 years of our lives actually are. His Dad died. Ryan died. He moved. He got married. The site moved around a lot.
I moved from England to Canada. I had a kid. I changed jobs. I bought a house. I had arguments, tantrums, etc.
Life moves on and it's rare that I sit back and have a look at what we accomplish and Patrick's short summary really moved me.
I look forward to whatever he's doing next.
Cheers. Happy new year
xoxo
Without (hopefully) sounding overly creepy, I've really enjoyed watching the quality of Patrick's work mature as he grew into his niche within the industry. He was so goddamned horrible in those first 1UY podcasts, but you could already see some great stuff going on in the way that he approached his writing.
The personal, speculative bullshit here is...personal, speculative bullshit. What, oh what, are you going to do?
It's leaves a messy, bloody gaping hole in GiantBomb's content offerings, though. Those guys are great, but they're the very definition of clique and Jeff...sharp and savvy dude he be...rules the roost a bit too easily at times. Still the best podcast, as far as I'm concerned, but the hivemind, 'me too' bullshit makes it difficult to listen to sometimes. Thank god Brad turns it on during the GOTY casts...otherwise, those would be a dreadful bore as well. Point being -- as others have noted, Patrick's content was the most unique, and often the most insightful.
Hopefully, the goal is to bring someone in who can offer something similarly unique. Best wishes, Patrick...keep up the great work, and thanks for putting together some great stuff over the years.
EDIT:
As someone with a couple of decades of management and hiring experience under my belt, let me be the first to say that...just because you add it to the JD, doesn't mean you're going to get it. Most of what Patrick brought to the table would probably be considered "nice-to-haves" and not "must-haves". Many other factors involved...timeline to have a replacement hired, gaps in current processes, who has final call on hiring, etc.
The personal, speculative bullshit here is...personal, speculative bullshit. What, oh what, are you going to do?
It's leaves a messy, bloody gaping hole in GiantBomb's content offerings, though. Those guys are great, but they're the very definition of clique and Jeff...sharp and savvy dude he be...rules the roost a bit too easily at times. Still the best podcast, as far as I'm concerned, but the hivemind, 'me too' bullshit makes it difficult to listen to sometimes. Thank god Brad turns it on during the GOTY casts...otherwise, those would be a dreadful bore as well. Point being -- as others have noted, Patrick's content was the most unique, and often the most insightful.
Hopefully, the goal is to bring someone in who can offer something similarly unique. Best wishes, Patrick...keep up the great work, and thanks for putting together some great stuff over the years.
EDIT:
As someone with a couple of decades of management and hiring experience under my belt, let me be the first to say that...just because you add it to the JD, doesn't mean you're going to get it. Most of what Patrick brought to the table would probably be considered "nice-to-haves" and not "must-haves". Many other factors involved...timeline to have a replacement hired, gaps in current processes, who has final call on hiring, etc.
Mr. Enigma
Member
They really were. I hate to say this because it's not meant to demean any other person, but Giant Bomb lost a lot of specialty to me when Ryan died last year. It's no one else's fault. I wasn't even Ryan's biggest fan. I've always liked Jeff the most out of everybody. But when Ryan died, it was just totally different. It just hasn't been the same even though everyone else is still awesome.
Someone earlier in the thread nailed it: They were YouTube personalities before "YouTube personality" was a thing. Something that will probably never be captured again due to the total oversaturation of people now who want to hit it big being an Internet gaming personality.
What condescending nonsense.
Patrick's a good guy although I do differ in opinion and taste and therefore never really sought out his work.
Always felt he didn't completely fit in but he always produced quality work, Dan is the first time they have found an outsider that actually fits.
Good luck in the future.
Leafhopper
Banned
I can't say I am surprised. He has been doing less and less lately and seemed like he wanted to do other stuff for probably the last few months anyway.
Mad Season
Banned
no thank you
backflip10019
Member
Totally agree. That was just a fantastic mix of personalities and knowledge about different types of games. Those episodes were so fun to listen to.
Fantastapotamus
Wrong about commas, wrong about everything
It was pretty obvious. Being alone in Chicago, the New York office hiring a news editor etc.
Good luck Patrick
Good luck Patrick
sammyCYBORG
Member
It's true. Patrick brings more smart and interesting content than any of the others combined.
See his Spelunky and Binding of Isaac series for proof.
We'll not get that out of the other guys.
That is definitely the classic GB combo. I've actually been thinking if Patrick would leave throughout the last couple of months. The reason is because he's still really young and had been doing GB for a while now, so he might want to try something new.
As someone with no experience, I'm sure you're correct. It wouldn't make sense for whoever the new person is to just do those things because Patrick did them. But I think the fact that they put them in the job description indicates that they're aware the new dynamics Patrick brought to the site and that they want more of it. Whoever comes in will have ideas of their own, I'm sure.
Change is ok, guys.
You're bang on here, but I don't necessarily see that as a particular negative.
I dont really have the time (nor the real inclination) to watch a lot of the content Giantbomb pumps out on their site. If I've got a spare 45 minutes to watch a quick look then I'll more than likely use that time to actually play a videogame and not watch it.
Regardless, my point is that I listen to Giantbomb exclusively because of that hivemind bullshit you find difficult. It's coming up to a decade of listening to those guys talk about videogames in a couple of different formats. I'm done with editorial themes that differ to my own tastes. I've found a formula that works for me and I enjoy it and I don't necessarily want it to be changed or challenged too much.
I felt Patrick was intelligent enough to know when to fight and when to back down from the Jeff/Ryan/Vinny thought process on podcasts. For me, that's what I want from the new person whomever that might be.
Kabuki Waq
Member
Exxy 
That's blatantly false. Not like it's worth arguing with someone who already made up their mind. But everyone brings something unique to the site. It's what makes it great. And I'm not going to call someone stupid or uninteresting simply because their interests don't perfectly align with mine.
Winterfang
Banned
Giant Bomb has sucked for a while. I was watching a recap video the other day and it was painful to look at.
Feels a little weird talking about this stuff, but I bet you're not the only person to feel this way. So do I, as a matter of fact! Not going to speculate on any of that stuff, but you don't have to, really...they lost someone that they were incredibly close to. More to the point, they had to change things up because they couldn't do what they'd been doing (successfully) before, so they needed to move in a different direction. For me, Patrick was one of the primary reasons I stuck with GB post-Ryan.
EDIT:
No argument there. Well said.
I get this, too. I just haven't had the benefit of having too many gaming personalities with perspectives that so closely align with my own. Quite frankly, I don't really feel as though any of the GB folks (including Patrick) represent my interests and perspective. I'm a 40yo married professional with 2 kids who used to have much more time to devote to gaming, but now spends most of my time playing kid-friendly fare with my kids while keeping up with all of the other games and industry news out there as much as I can manage. I appreciate critical thinking, and Patrick seemed consistent in trying to apply that. People are entitled to their opinions, but when you're putting out a podcast that you know others are downloading to listen to what you have to say, wrapping up what some might consider a provocative conversation by saying "that shit is stupid" or "I don't know" rather than taking the time to try to break it down a bit seems ...I'll just call it unfortunate, and perhaps a missed opportunity.
World SkiFree
Member
Although I wasn't a huge fan of Tricky and Alex on the regular GBcast, I really enjoyed Bombin' because they got to the vidya game talk without a lot of filler. It had become my new GB fix, really. I had started tuning out the Bombcast proper after Ryan passed away. I tried and tried (and I love the other guys), but the magic was gone. Ryan was a great personality and an underrated showrunner/host.
Hmmm, I didn't realize he had been going the "social issues" route. My podcast listening has been a bit spotty as of late. The heavy-hitting stuff isn't my jam in the video game universe. I also couldn't care less about the "video games as art" argument, but I guess that's for another thread. I just want to hear about whatcha been playin', I'm not running for video game pope or anything.
Agreed, I really admire that quality. Props to him. That's a no-BS approach to career choice.
Hmmm, I didn't realize he had been going the "social issues" route. My podcast listening has been a bit spotty as of late. The heavy-hitting stuff isn't my jam in the video game universe. I also couldn't care less about the "video games as art" argument, but I guess that's for another thread. I just want to hear about whatcha been playin', I'm not running for video game pope or anything.
Agreed, I really admire that quality. Props to him. That's a no-BS approach to career choice.
Patrick has known Brad since he was 13???!!? WHAT!!??
WHAT!!??
Leafhopper
Banned
They are always corny as it is, this one seemed to have some thought behind it this time, as opposed to last yeah, I think anyway.
petethepanda
Member
It'll be sad to not have him around GB anymore, but when it's time to move on, it's time to move on. Good luck man. Looking forward to seeing whatever comes next.
He's been part of the 'scene' for years. He was interning at 1UP when he was still at College if I'm not mistaken?
World SkiFree
Member
Good words! Yes, I loved the original Fab Four. Patrick definitely grew on me, though.
World SkiFree
Member
He's known CJ from Player One since he was a wee one, yes? BTW, Player One is excellent. Maybe they will chat with Patrick in a future podcast.
Hell no, he definitely doesn't fit the mold, even more so the Patrick.
Wonder what chances Danny moving sideways onto GB.
Doubtful. He's basically the face of Gamespot while also getting to participate in all the gb content he wants to anyway.
Twin Tails
Member
he doesnt fit in there any ways , best of luck
I like Patrick too
I like Patrick too
I'm ok with this.
I really enjoyed his content in 2013, when he was cranking out videos. But then worth playing stopped, and spookin grinded to nearly a halt in 2014. I don't really find his stuff that interesting anymore. I was never a fan of the morning show.
He was kind of stuck swinging in the wind in chicago. The less than 5 CAH/IG office shows in over a year proved that didn't really work out either.
I'm glad he's not going the lame patreon route, hopefully he has more people to produce with at his new job.
I really enjoyed his content in 2013, when he was cranking out videos. But then worth playing stopped, and spookin grinded to nearly a halt in 2014. I don't really find his stuff that interesting anymore. I was never a fan of the morning show.
He was kind of stuck swinging in the wind in chicago. The less than 5 CAH/IG office shows in over a year proved that didn't really work out either.
I'm glad he's not going the lame patreon route, hopefully he has more people to produce with at his new job.
chrominance
Member
I can't remember exactly when Patrick's first E3 was but it was young, like 12 or 13. And yeah, interning for 1UP out of high school or while in college.
Very few of those guys write anything anymore.
VeryGooster
Banned
The weird thing is though I didn't always agree with him he was somehow the one I related to most at GB.
Best of luck to him.
Best of luck to him.
Alex and Dan are the biggest Nintendo fans on staff, not Patrick.
They've had an opening for a Senior news editor in New York now for a couple of months, so we'll see.
Oh you mean the single biggest reason to follow the site?
Fantastic idea. Why aren't you in charge?
Yup lets lose the founder of the site.
Shining Sunshine
Banned
He's the single biggest reason I don't follow the site.
ErinIsADrunk
Member
This is certainly bummer. I've followed Patrick since his early days when he was sending drunk messages via Xbox Live to Che Chou on an early episode of the 1UP Show. I always thought he was a great addition to the site. He didn't always get things right but nobody does and I always appreciated the effort he put into the site.I'll certainly keep tabs on whatever he does next.
Good luck Scoops!
Wonder what happens to new non-premium features now. Patrick has been holding down that side of the site for a while now. Maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention but any new feature coming from folks other than Patrick these past couple of years have ended up being premium only.
Good luck Scoops!
Wonder what happens to new non-premium features now. Patrick has been holding down that side of the site for a while now. Maybe I haven't been paying close enough attention but any new feature coming from folks other than Patrick these past couple of years have ended up being premium only.
If anything good comes out of this, hopefully its a Vinny podcast and more GBEast content.
You are probably taking it way too seriously. The site is more entertainment than anything else.
M.W.
Member
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