Which is why he's not asking for a refund. Do you think he is obligated to keep supporting them indefinitely even if they make decisions contrary to his desires?
CBS Interactive (GameSpot parent company) buys Giant Bomb
- Thread starter snoopeasystreet
- Start date
Which is why he's not asking for a refund. Do you think he is obligated to keep supporting them indefinitely even if they make decisions contrary to his desires?
There is nothing wrong with wanting to get bigger, but that doesn't mean the audience that has supported GB wants them to get bigger. I am at the brink of what I can watch as far as volume of quick looks, so MORE CONTENT does not appeal to me. BETTER CONTENT is a subjective thing, sure they will have more money to fund their ideas, but I'm not for sure that it will really matter to me. I'm happy with the content they produce now.
At the end of the day, I am more than happy to support GB with whatever they want to do. I slapped down my money day one when subscriptions came around, and everyone freaked out then over nothing. However, I am beginning to believe that what I want GB to be and what they want GB to be are starting to drift apart.
youre "excited" because you are gullible to PR spill like "nothings changing guys, we'll still be the same"
people who are predicting the demise are the ones who realize whats going to happen to the site because they have seen other similar take overs. and not only is this some random company, its the SAME FUCKERS WHO OWN GAMESPOT.
if you seriously think they will be doing similar content they are doing now and have the same amount of freedom to do so you are more naive than i can describe
The sad thing is that I'm sure there's a few employees of CBSi who are super confused about that sign right now.
BobTheFork
Member
One positive thing is that they were only purchased because they were successful in creating their own popular name and brand and found a dedicated audience. In that, they did something that can be very to do. One would hope that they are allowed to continue that brand because it was woth buying.
When our Resturant Company was bought out by another brand, both continued to exist because they offered a difference experience and both could exist with what they were working for the same company. Some rules changed, some people left (like me), but the customer experiencewas very much the same. Maybe I'm reaching who knows.
All I want is to be able to put giantbomb.com into my address bar and click on the newest bombcast, TNT or quicklook. I think I'll be able to do that.
When our Resturant Company was bought out by another brand, both continued to exist because they offered a difference experience and both could exist with what they were working for the same company. Some rules changed, some people left (like me), but the customer experiencewas very much the same. Maybe I'm reaching who knows.
All I want is to be able to put giantbomb.com into my address bar and click on the newest bombcast, TNT or quicklook. I think I'll be able to do that.
Idle Thumbs is still just three/four guys talking into microphones once in a week. Even the Double Fine Adventure-project is just for a game that will be developed over the next seven or so months. How would you fund GiantBomb? Paying for an editorial staff, behind-the-scenes designers/programmers like Dave, hosting, (video-)equipment, rent, not just for the next few months but indefinitely: that's pricy. It'd require a looooot of Kickstarter-money.
When mergers like this happen, key personnel are often required to sign some kind of contract stating they will stay with the company for N months/years, 1-2 years usually. It wouldn't surprise me if Jeff and some of the others had to agree to something like this in order to complete the sale.
Position isn't the only reason people change jobs. Someone could offer him the same job with much more money if they really wanted him.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
oh, phew, Drew is coming along.
MichaelEM3
Banned
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
I can't think of a single case where something positive has come of a cool website getting bought by a big corporate entity, but I kind of hope Giant Bomb is a special case. It's certainly a very different kind of website than any past sites that went through a similar situation.
Hot Coldman
Banned
Well of course not! But the way he phrased it sound like they'd implied they'd remain as they were and now they've reneged on that.
Very cool.
MarshMellow96
Member
With Geof Gerstmenko
EternalGamer
Banned
See but that's all I need or want from Giant Bomb. I want four dudes on microphones once a week and I want a handful of quicklooks a day where they do voice overs. That's why I like them.
You are right that I'm not sure it is an indefinitely supportable business model; I'm not actually sure one way or another how much it would cost for them to do just that. I know I would have liked to see them try rather than be merged with CBS.
Isn't it often the same kind of sad story? It's cliche at this point how this cycle works. Granted, it may turn out better for these guys, but I don't like them even taking the risk.
When I hear Jeff talking about all the cool stuff they are going to do, I think of the Hollywood producers coming to single guy and knocking him off his feet with a lot of "Picture this..." scenarios.
This.
They would probably get a ton of money, but they still would need to find a way to be sustainable. They had about 4 years to develop some kind of business model, and this was the result. Would they just have pledge drives every 2 years?
IC_Champion
Member
Poetic Justice or Irony?
They can hire me. I'll move tomorrow.
SnakeswithLasers
Member
If CBS Corporation is looking like it is under-performing in any given quarter, they'll look at their subsidiaries, which include CBS Interactive. If the websites aren't meeting growth expectations, they risk getting restructured, facing layoffs, or being sold outright.
If a small business posts steady year-on-year performance, everyone gets paid, and theoretically everyone is happy--they're doing what they like, and they are making money. As part of a corporation, stability isn't what is rewarded, constant profit growth is expected. As part of a media conglomerate, you are at risk of facing management restructuring and shared services which will change things, maybe for better, maybe for worse.
If GB doesn't constantly expand, they are going to be in a possible bad situation as part of a conglomerate; as an independent website, they could grow at their own pace, now they are beholden to the pace that is dictated by a board's expectations.
I'm not here to make judgments on what is going on, but the gains/profit expectations for a corporation and a small business are certainly quite different.
The beginning of the end?
lambs to the slaughter house
I don't think some of you understand how GB exists in the first place.
They were not independent, they were owned by WM who was founded by shellby bonnie, who was a co founder of Cnent in the first place. Well GB was clearly the most popular site of WM it was still a part of a COG. I'm sure most of GB would rather stay smaller but it was never an option, I'm sure shellby was trying to recreate his success but it didn't happen, so now he is selling everything off to break even. It isn't up to the GB guys, they can't just go to kickstarter and ask for money.
At least now they exist for awhile longer.
They were not independent, they were owned by WM who was founded by shellby bonnie, who was a co founder of Cnent in the first place. Well GB was clearly the most popular site of WM it was still a part of a COG. I'm sure most of GB would rather stay smaller but it was never an option, I'm sure shellby was trying to recreate his success but it didn't happen, so now he is selling everything off to break even. It isn't up to the GB guys, they can't just go to kickstarter and ask for money.
At least now they exist for awhile longer.
It's a pictorial equivalent of a date rapist popping open a bottle of Prosecco at the arrival of his latest victim to his luxury penthouse flat.
You may be right, but this isn't the case. In fact, this is a non-sequitur. You're conflating all growth with 'blind growth'. Jeff has talked about growing before. Again, see http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=29934321&postcount=11229
They've been planning for this. This is categorically not 'blind growth'. Again, your position is not reasonable, it's beyond pessimistic and into 'the sky is falling' territory.
First of all, all Faustian bargains end up for the worse. They wouldn't be deals with the devil, otherwise. Second, your statement is false. Not every bargain is a faustian bargain. Not every corporation is the devil.
EternalGamer
Banned
I'm down with pledge drives every two years.
This is entirely why NPR and PBS is awesome and even though they have way less money, they are way better than any cable news channel. User funded stuff can keep it's integrity and it's quality control. It doesn't have to answer to market pressures.
infinityBCRT
Member
Things won't change that quickly. And hell, even when Jeff left GameSpot I'm pretty sure he had to wait a certain amount of time before he could launch GiantBomb due to contractual reasons.
Splash Wave
Member
Bravo.
infinityBCRT
Member
BTW another thing to consider is that CBS bought CNet after Gerstmann was fired. So they have way more financial backing now than they did 5 years ago.
DOBERMAN INC
Member
One thing I've been wondering, How will they deal with long podcasts? will there be someone who disapproves of the amount of time spent podcasting and will they have a feature/content quota a week to adhere to? If that affects their ability to get podcasts out in their current form that could be an issue or is GB mainly being purchased as an audio/video division?
EternalGamer
Banned
Not true. Faust's bargain ended up pretty good for him. He ended up with a wealthy kingdom AND he ended up recieving eternal salvation. He got to enjoy all the pleasures of this life and the next. (see Goethe's Faust Part 2--the part rarely taught in literature classes).
Granted Marlowe's Faust ended up with his brains splattered all over the ground but Goethe's version is the the more popular one.
Except that we have a post from Jeff, on this fucking board, talking about how he wants GB to get bigger.
IC_Champion
Member
So, the last couple of posts I've been reading, that Jeff is going to talk about his firing from Gamespot, right? Since that is the case, everything is going full circle - GS is allowing Jeff to talk in detail of why he was let go, in exchange for them acquiring GB. Not the main reason for the deal, but a way for the fans to know what happened.
BobTheFork
Member
It's the equivalent of a Rhianna/Chris Brown video....
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Gamespot better play this GB NWO style Titantron when they enter the building:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2WQFbf7oVQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2WQFbf7oVQ
Mr. Enigma
Member
EternalGamer
Banned
Couldn't they have bought back the rights to the site? Or even just start with a new one now that they all have a clear fanbase and recognition. Hello Quick Starter campaign either way.
The literary source of the phrase is irrelevant. It's a deal with the devil, it carries heavy connotation. More importantly, you're not addressing my point, which is that what you are saying is obviously false.
Your role so far in this thread has you saying that all growth is bad because some growth is bad.
I'm confused at how people can be so cynical about this. They keep bringing up Jeff being fired from Gamespot - as if Jeff forgot about this?
If Jeff and the rest of Giant Bomb are willingly going back to Gamespot, it's obviously because Gamespot has changed substantially to the point where those people involved in that decision are no longer there.
All that + John Davison running the show = nothing to worry about here. Even if John leaves, it's not like things will magically change.
If Jeff and the rest of Giant Bomb are willingly going back to Gamespot, it's obviously because Gamespot has changed substantially to the point where those people involved in that decision are no longer there.
All that + John Davison running the show = nothing to worry about here. Even if John leaves, it's not like things will magically change.
Knux-Future
Banned
This helps them get more revenue and get bigger while for the most part remaining their own thing.
But nope because they are giving in to the demands of The Man and losing their independence(which they never really had but details). Fucking sell outs.
Seriously guys lets wait and see if this negatively effects them before you panic and shit.
But nope because they are giving in to the demands of The Man and losing their independence(which they never really had but details). Fucking sell outs.
Seriously guys lets wait and see if this negatively effects them before you panic and shit.
IC_Champion
Member
That is great! I almost spilled my tea.
Sorry that only happens in Boston.
EternalGamer
Banned
No, I explicitly gave the example of a small developer who can benefit from more resources and funding through expansion. You are misrepresenting what I said.
I certainly don't think all growth is bad or that all corporate mergers end up worse. But a lot of the time they do and it's not worth the risk if you don't care about "growing" the organization. I have made clear the reasons why I don't need or care if Giant Bomb grows therefore I don't like this risk.
innocence
go listen to that shit they had on GS for a podcast, thats the future of the bombcast
brooklyniteOne
Member
This. I worked for them for over 4 years at and that's exactly why I quit. The budget goal stress placed on Directors and VP's is just simply out of this world. Not only that but my friend who I worked with was one of the healthiest people I ever met and caught cancer and died and we all swore (we don't have empirical proof obviously) it was because of the budget related stress of the job. Good luck GB.
Bigger then what they are, but I doubt they wanted to be GS big. They needed to grow out of necessity for the business model.
I doubt they have enough money to do that, and it probably wouldn't be worth it even if they did. They also probably don't want to jump ship so soon again. Cnent is very different then what it was back then, so probably more willing to give it another shot.
ThingontheFloor
Member
Point taken, but the automatic pessimism that occurs when something like this happens is tired. All it does it make everyone sound like their favorite punk label signed to a corporate label and immediate claims of sell out! and predictions of 6 months, tops start coming out. And if by similar mergers, youre basing this on the 1UP/IGN thing, 1UP was on seriously shaky legs before and they had no place in the current video game media world. It would just be a little bit more encouraging to see people support them regardless if they had to make a business decision. The idea that they had zero say in this as well Id find very hard to believe; if they werent in full support of this, I doubt this would be happening. At least not in the manner it is now.
Jeez, what a nightmare.