[Giant Bomb] The (FM)Vinny signal is lit

Hardtarget

From the pod today:

https://twitter.com/Fobwashed/status/1389650906237390850

Alex, Brad, and Vinny, you will be missed!


ps.

Hardtarget

Pains me to say this but I've made sure my auto-renewal is not turned on. Looks like I'm premium till December, who knows what is going to happen now. Gamespot and Giantbomb merger I would think as a start though.

captaink

Yeah my premium was about to renew. I'm not gonna pay for another year with this happening. I hope to hear Vinny/Alex/Brad's "what we're doing next" updates soon. I hope that is even happening.

Cormac

I'm not crying. You're not crying.

My sub is set to renew on the 13th and the only reason I'd keep it now is to be able to watch all of the premium content (that interests me) that I haven't gotten to yet. However, if all of that goes free in the next week or so I can safely save my money.

I'll also need to find at least one new gaming focused podcast because Giantbomb and The Beastcast were the only two I listened to every week for almost 10 years.

Hardtarget

It's bananas the site doesn't have a statement ready to go and posted. Lots of misinformation already spreading re people like Rorie, etc

Peas

My premium literally ends tomorrow
This is lowkey making me really sad deep inside

SatanIsMyMotor

I'm actually a little pissed that there's no statement.
I can't tell if this is because:
A. I really care about these people and want to know they're "ok"
B. I really care about the site and want to know what happens to it
C. I'm paying for premium and feel I'm "owed" some insight.

I'm going to go for a walk instead.

Stabbity Style

I renewed earlier this year, so I've got it til early 2022. I'm curious where they're gonna end up going or if they're just gonna shut it down/consolidate. Honestly, if Jeff decides to keep it going and hires some new, young people, I'd probably be ok with that. I think I've liked all of the new people they've brought on over the years. Sucks to see Vinny/Brad/Alex leave, though. They're great. I wonder if Vinny is gonna go do something more behind the scenes and production related for his next job.

admanb

I haven't really watched more than a random video here and there in a while, it just hasn't fit into my life. But I used to listen to every Bombcast and then every Beastcast and watch every video. Ryan's death hit me harder than any other "celebrity" death. I've had premium this entire time and never regretted it (it was going to renew in June, so this timing works out). So this still hurts.

I guess I'll listen to one last Bombcast, since it's just going to be reminiscing.

GnomeTank

Hardtarget wrote: »

It's bananas the site doesn't have a statement ready to go and posted. Lots of misinformation already spreading re people like Rorie, etc

My guess? This wasn't planned. The talk of a 6 month bonus payout clause may be true, but it seems very sudden, and that perhaps they weren't prepared for it. Red Ventures may be the one pulling the bonus parachute, paying them out, and then pushing them out the door. It's not an uncommon tactic. Jeff is usually a pretty prepared guy and saying they will have a statement later this week just screams of sudden corporate reaping.

bloodyroarxx

Vinny says there was frustration between them and Red Venture

welp thats that then.

Undead Scottsman

Jeff said they've been talking about this for a few weeks at least; that's enough time to come up with a statement.

Hardtarget

GnomeTank wrote: »

Hardtarget wrote: »

It's bananas the site doesn't have a statement ready to go and posted. Lots of misinformation already spreading re people like Rorie, etc

My guess? This wasn't planned. The talk of a 6 month bonus payout clause may be true, but it seems very sudden, and that perhaps they weren't prepared for it. Red Ventures may be the one pulling the bonus parachute, paying them out, and then pushing them out the door. It's not an uncommon tactic. Jeff is usually a pretty prepared guy and saying they will have a statement later this week just screams of sudden corporate reaping.

seriously doubt it, in the video clip above Jeff says they've been talking about it for weeks. GB just isn't 'professional', there is no internal HR, etc. This is one of the reasons it's great btw.

GnomeTank

*shrugs* Don't know than. They probably don't have a statement because they don't know what the future is. It's possible there are tense, not particularly friendly, meetings going on in the background with Red Ventures. Sounds like none of them are happy with the merger.

SniperGuy

Well this is hugely gutting. I listen to the bomb cast and the beast cast every week. And the hotspot! I am so sad.

Henroid

A couple of tweets with some info:

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1389648500124790788

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1389649440001175556

So basically they stuck around as part of a business deal when she got sold and now that the timeframe is up they're out.

It's a hypothesis at any rate but I mean, it makes sense.

reVerse

I haven't really been keeping up with GB for a couple of years now, just checking out the occasional video or live announcement commentary here and there, but this still sucks.

Penumbra

My sub is set to renew on the 15th. I like Jeff but I just don’t know if I’ll cancel or roll it one more ‘gain.

ronzo

I’m going to wager the following:
1: Vinny and Alex were not going to get a new studio in NYC/Jersey, with the bonus guess of being ask to move back to SF

2: GB and GameSpot getting rolled together, with Jeff as the head. Explains why the video production guys and general support wizard Rorie are staying.

GONG-00

Cancelled my auto-renewal until we hear more.

Cormac

Ah shit. They started playing "Synthetic Life" during the break and now I'm literally tearing up.

el_vicio

RIP video games

Hardtarget

edit - omg

https://twitter.com/jeffbakalar/status/1389662691992743942

OneAngryPossum

If gamespot doesn’t have any sort of premium membership, that might be where any future GB content goes. Essentially Giant Bomb (in some form) as a subscription add-on to basic Gamespot.

Edit: Complete speculation here.

el_vicio

Oh wow Jeff G has a second kid on the way?

TehSpectre

RIP Giant Bomb

bloodyroarxx

el_vicio wrote: »

Oh wow Jeff G has a second kid on the way?

announced it ....yesterday?

bloodyroarxx

Ok i needed this levity

https://twitter.com/tha_rami/status/1389660188316209154

Undead Scottsman

Hardtarget wrote: »

Okay, this one did it. Now I'm actually crying.

el_vicio

bloodyroarxx wrote: »

el_vicio wrote: »

Oh wow Jeff G has a second kid on the way?

announced it ....yesterday?

Yeah I just saw the tweet. I doubt he'll be too forward-facing in the near future then, he mentioned a few times that he'd like to be more present for his kid(s)

Hardtarget

these tweets were fucking back to back

Henroid

bloodyroarxx wrote: »

Ok i needed this levity

https://twitter.com/tha_rami/status/1389660188316209154

I saw that a bit ago and was like "OH NO HOW DO I REACT"

Nosf

So, odds of a new site "colossal explosive device" launching soon with departed players?

Knight_

Nosf wrote: »

So, odds of a new site "colossal explosive device" launching soon with departed players?

probably zero.

vinny has 2 children.

Cormac

Jeff just announced all subs extended through May. It's not clear though if premium is going to continue to be a thing yet.

Six

I’ve loved Quick Looks for years, but got super into the podcasts and other content during covid. They’ll always be a big part of my 2020 memories and it sucks to see it end.

There’s so much past premium content I’ve been exploring like Vinnyvania and Metal Gear Scanlon so while it’s a bummer, I’m sure I’ll be able to enjoy plenty until my sub runs out next year. I’m very curious of Brad will focus more on the Tech Pod and what else he and Vinny might do.

TubularLuggage

Well fuck.

Between things like Jan's storytime on the latest UPF, and Bakalar's recent job change, I was feeling pretty optimistic about the future of GB too.
At the same time, I will say, there was a segment or two in the latest Hot Spot about the future of the industry, where they all just seemed uncertain and a bit down about it.

Who knows. This is a huge bummer though. One of the few video game sites/podcasts I regularly check in on these days. Definitely hope for the best for all of these folks, but man, this is a big 'ol gut punch I wasn't expecting today.

bloodyroarxx

not going to lie

this was very poorly planned and I get Jeffs explanation but like


....not good enough?

Hardtarget

Cormac wrote: »

Jeff just announced all subs extended through May. It's not clear though if premium is going to continue to be a thing yet.

like may of 2022? Cause i've already paid till December, if premium goes away am I getting some sort of pro rated refund? lol

SyphonBlue

Nosf wrote: »

So, odds of a new site "colossal explosive device" launching soon with departed players?

0%

el_vicio

Hardtarget wrote: »

Cormac wrote: »

Jeff just announced all subs extended through May. It's not clear though if premium is going to continue to be a thing yet.

like may of 2022? Cause i've already paid till December, if premium goes away am I getting some sort of pro rated refund? lol

Mine's until June '22, although I can't remember extending past '21 haha