Meet GameSpot’s New Editor-in-Chief

GameSpot is slowly putting the pieces back together after the firing of Jeff Gerstmann and the exit of several key members of its editorial team with the announcement that it has appointed Ricardo Torres as its new Editor-in-Chief. While the popular gaming destination has its share of problems right now, Torres certainly has the credentials to handle the job (he’’s been with the company since 2001).

I”m excited to have the opportunity to help further GameSpot’’s position at the forefront of the industry, said Torres in a press release issued by CNET Networks today. I”m eager to continue the site’’s tradition of excellence and I”m confident we can move forward into 2008 and set a new industry standard for how video games are covered.

The press release also featured a quote from former Editor-in-Chief Greg Kasavin, now working at Electronic Arts:

Ricardo was one the hardest-working, most dedicated people I knew during my 10 years with GameSpot, and he always had a real vision for how the brand could keep growing to best serve game players around the world. As a former colleague and a fan, I”m excited to see how GameSpot will evolve under his direction.

It’s tough to be cynical about Ricardo Torres taking the editorial helm when Kasavin speaks so highly of him, but I suspect he”d speak highly of most of his former employees.

Here’s to hoping that 2008 will be a less controversial year for GameSpot and that it can turn the corner, returning to the principles on which it was founded.