Yesterday, video game ads began to disappear from the Gamespot front page faster than free beer at a Lynrd Skynrd concert. First, the obvious one, Kane and Lynch, followed shortly thereafter by Assasins Creed and several others. But not all advertisers seem to mind swimming the boiling waters in which the once-respected gaming site now resides. Just 24 hours after a massive backlash descended on Gamespot following the dismissal of Jeff Gerstmann, allegedly for his low review of Gamespot advertiser Eidos’ Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, several companies seem to be gobbling up the open inventory.

Sony’s PS3 ads now share space with Dell on the front page, while Pepsi saw fit to splatter the background of the site with Moutain Dew. Despite boycotts and canceled subscriptions, it seems at least some companies recognize a hot topic when they see one. Unfortunately for those companies, many gamers are taking mental notes.

“If they want to support Gamespot’s total breakdown in editorial credibility, then they have to understand that there are consequences involved,” said ‘HulleyToe’, a gamer from San Mateo, CA. “It may not hurt them now, but just as advertisers use their dollars to influence companies like Gamespot and CNET, I can use my money to influence the advertisers.”

Frankly, unless HulleyToe has a LOT of friends, I seriously doubt Pepsi is going to feel a pinch from the bad publicity and association of a Gamespot ad campaign. I doubt they’re even aware of it.

I find it very interesting that people are going to such lengths over a matter that hasn’t even been officially explained. Perhaps that is Gamespot’s problem. While the PR tactic of “wait a bit until this blows over” has been proven to work in the past, they really need to get a handle on this before the clueless mainstream media (Network News) picks up this story and turns it into the next Enron.

In the mean time, it’s interesting to watch some advertisers move in like vultures to gobble up what is likely some really cheap ad inventory, while others, specifically game publishers, are jumping ship and heading for the hills. This whole thing can’t last forever.

Which side are you on? Do you believe that Gerstmann was fired due to pressure from an advertiser? Do you think Gamespot probably has a valid reason for firing him that they just can’t discuss?

Tell us here, or jump to our forums and sound off!

UPDATE: Mountain Dew ads are gone from_Gamespot.

Previous coverage of this Gamespot Controversy:

Eidos_Strategery_101

Gamespot_Readers_Push_Back

Rumor: Gamespot_Fires_Editor_over_Bad_Score

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