Rumors and questions have been raised over the recent firing of Gamespot game reviewer Jeff Gerstmann. Website Primotech, citing unnamed sources, is suggesting that Mr. Gerstmann was fired recently for giving Kane & Lynch 6 out of 10.

Eidos owns the Kane & Lynch property, and a great deal of Eidos advertising for the game can found on Gamespot, adding fuel to these speculations that Mr. Gerstmann's unflattering review of the game made some people unhappy, and that he was canned because of it.

Penny Arcade's comedic take on things can be found here.

Jeff Gerstmann is a very experienced game reviewer, and has been an editor for Gamespot for more than 10 years. But was he fired because of this review? Their are only rumors at this point. But another insider has recently talked in confidence with Primotech, saying that there may be other reasons involved for his termination.

Mr. Gerstmann was supposed to represent Gamespot at the Spike TV video game awards next week, so it is uncertain what will happen there.

Expect further rumors, counter-rumors, conspiracy theories, and anonymous insider-information to surface in relation to this story.

Update: At the very end of Jeff Gerstmann's Gamespot video review of Kane & Lynch, Mr. Gerstmann says the following: "...the multiplayer is probably worth-seeing -- so if you do have the oppourtinity to see it -- without paying full price --  take a look at it." This odd statement can seen as Mr. Gerstmann implying that the pirating of Kane & Lynch is not a bad idea, but buying the game is. Conversely, he could have meant that this game makes a good rental. The comment is ambiguous.

That important last sentence of the video review was brought to my attention by a Youtube comment. The commenter's name was rainerk2. Here is a link to the video.

Update 2: Gamespot made an official comment on the subject. Unfortunately the comment did not shed any light on the matter, as they say they say "it is CNET Networks' policy not to comment on the status of its employees, current of former" (probably out of fear of lawsuits.)

Update 3: Joystiq recently talked to a spokesperson for CNET (which owns Gamespot.) In a weird coincidence, her name is Sarah Cain. While she did not offer much more light on the subject, she did tell Joystiq that CNET does "not terminate employees based on external pressure from advertisers." When questioned on why Gerstmann's video review of Kane & Lynch was pulled off of Gamespot, Sarah Cain said that the review had to be updated to include information about the differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game, and a clarification about the game's multiplayer mode.