WiiNintendo

So to continue my trend of full coverage on this story. Here is an email response from Gerstmann.

If you’re running a publication and you’re comfortable running infomercials and advertorials, they should be clearly marked as such. If you’re covering a game that you have a vested interest in, that should be disclosed. And I think if you’re striving to deliver unbiased, honest coverage of an industry, you should spell out the policies and processes that you use to meet that goal.

As for the future of game journalism, you asked if it’s realistic for readers to expect a church and state separation between editorial and sales. Realistic or not, I think readers should demand that from a publication. Some people probably think that’s a little old-fashioned or hopelessly idealistic, given the changing nature of advertising these days, but there you go.Honesty and transparency are also key. Let’s use your blog as an example. You’re part of the MTV family, so you’re tied in with “Rock Band,” “Pimp My Ride: The Game,” and the upcoming VH1 “I Love The ’80s” fighting game, where Michael Ian Black throws fireballs shaped like Alf at Rachael Harris.

Full response here