Crispy Gamer Lays Off Writing Staff, CEO Resigns

Consumer gaming site Crispy Gamer has shed its entire editorial staff, prompting CEO and co-founder Chris Heldman to resign according to online reports, with the site likely refocusing on its metrics and ad network businesses. According to a Joystiq post this week, all of the site's writers as well as its managing editor and chief marketing officer were laid off. The list includes notable game journalists like Kyle Orland, Scott Jones, and others. The site was founded in February 2008 by former Google executive Chris Heldman, former eMusic executive Chris Hoerenz, former GameSpy editorial director John Keefer, former E2open engineer Andre Srinivasan, and current Ratdog Industries owner Aldis Porietis. The site has gained a reputation for running frequent feature articles and taking review positions that often run contrary to mainstream opinion. Last month, Crispy Gamer acquired GamerDNA, a social network and tracking firm centered around gamer activity, and it seems that subsidiary will comprise a much more significant part of Crispy Gamer's business going forward. A source close to the company told Gamasutra that Crispy Gamer will be structuring the business around its metrics and ad network components going forward. Keefer, who left the site to take a position at the law-oriented blog GamePolitics last September, told Joystiq that the news has been "hard" on him. "It's hard to see a dream die, especially one you put your heart and soul into," he said. "The site was created for the readers and to give them an alternative voice, to dig deeper than many of the sites out there and to make readers think about what they play and why they play."