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ABC: Good Gamer “made life difficult”

ABC TV denies Jeremy Ray's claims that he was replaced because of gender, citing behind the scenes issues impacting on the running of the show.

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ggjABC TV has issued a further statement in the light of the online feud that has spilled out from behind ABC2’s Good Game.

It denies statements made by Jeremy ‘Junglist’ Ray (pictured, left) that he was replaced because of gender and blames his behind the scenes performance allegedly making life “difficult for the rest of the team.”

Ray made comment on the Good Game message board following a joint statement issued by the members of the team that he has been replaced was because “they wanted a girl on the show.”

A spokesperson from ABC has today issued the following statement to TV Tonight:

The ABC categorically dismisses Jeremy Ray’s assertion that he was replaced because of his gender.

The reason for replacing Jeremy Ray was ongoing behind the scenes performance based issues. Jeremy Ray’s performance issues were severely impacting the quality and smooth-running of the show, as well as making life difficult for the rest of the team.

Replacing Jeremy Ray has nothing to do with “mass appeal” and a desire to get a female host on the show. The Good Game team is sad and disappointed he has taken this attitude. The program already enjoys mass appeal to its target audience. His replacement was nothing to do with getting a female, it was a matter of getting the best possible person for the job.

Stephanie Bendixsen is a modern young gamer with a passion for video games and for the culture that surrounds them, Hex will present pertinent, intelligent and engaging video game information in an interesting and accessible way.

At its heart Good Game will be exactly the same it has always been – the show for gamers by gamers – with a new energy and fresh perspectives on gaming. In addition to the existing program, in 2010 Good Game’s on air presence will expand to include Good Game: SP on ABC3 – a show catering to the needs of younger gamers (8-15).

Earlier this week the network added a new co-host claiming it wanted to refresh the format.

52 Responses

  1. What a typically vague excuse.

    On screen he was the best part of the show. Good knowledge, reviews, presenting ability, interviews and had chemistry with his co-host. In three years we never heard any rumours of behind the scenes problems.

    But an ABC spokesman assures us that his off screen performance was poor.

    I feel a lot of animosity towards the ABC. The initial decision was poor and justifiably scrutinised. Now they are trying to clumsily bury the issue.

  2. Bajo’s comments have made me think twice about this and I’m now feeling like a mutual mate stuck between two ex’s. Can’t we just bang their heads together and start again?

  3. “Stephanie Bendixsen is a modern young gamer with a passion for video games and for the culture that surrounds them, Hex will present pertinent, intelligent and engaging video game information in an interesting and accessible way.”

    Should read:

    “Stephanie Bendixsen is a modern young Female gamer with a passion for video games and for the culture that surrounds them, Hex will present pertinent, intelligent and engaging video game information in an interesting and accessible way.”

    What a joke, the ABC can get lost as far as I’m concerned. Bajo + Jung were good together, but if the ABC are keen on ruining that, then I don’t care, they lost my viewing.

    Go do your own show Junglist!

  5. In my earlier post I meant to say “more time for game reviews”. It is well-known that many game producers put extra expense into the earlier parts of a game, in the expectation that, with hundreds of games released each year, game reviewers will not penetrate deeply. It is simply impossible to properly test and review a game with hundreds of hours of playtime in a single day. A cynic would suggest that axeing a host mid-season is a publicity stunt – if not, then it is an appalling decision and heads should role.

  6. I can understand the argument that you need time to properly review a game, but if they need to make the episode and he’s not finished what are they supposed to do? You’ve got to do the best you can with the time and resources you have. ABC have been caught out by their own spin but it would been extremely poor form to release a press statement saying someone was leaving a show because they were a pain. It’s interesting that when you create this idea of talking directly to your audience and giving them a sense of ownership in a show it can really backfire on you.

  7. Tim Bennett says:
    >Expect to see more games that can be reviewed within a few hours. Dumbed down indeed.

    It is telling that the ABC avoids this point. Any *real* gamer knows that some game genres require more time to assess than others. And as you point out, RPGs in particular can be enormous. So an ABC policy that demands all games be reviewed within 24 hrs, simply isn’t in the best interests of viewers, who want an accurate review before they buy a $100 game.

  8. Now, I have heard a rumour out of the GO! department at Nine that they are looking at doing a Gamer show next year – certainly fits into their target demo. I wonder who they might have in mind now as a host ? Hummmmmmm !!!

  9. So were ABC lying to us before, or are they now? Are they denying that Jeremy was told directly from management it was to broaden the audience by introducing a female host? It sounds like they’re now trying to find any lame excuse to cover things up. If this was the issue – why wasn’t he told the real reason? None of this would have flamed up if that was the case.

    Jeremy’s been there for 5 seasons – 100 episodes – surely one wouldn’t get that far with “performance issues”? We know there have been issues about the time it takes to review some of the more complex games (RPGs, multiplayer etc) is this the performance issue they speak about?

  10. So demanding more game reviews is a “performance issue” … they haven’t replaced him with an inexperienced host chosen for her gender and visual appeal – it is “a matter of getting the best possible person for the job” … the spin-doctors had six days to come up with an explanation, and this is the best they can do!!!! – hilarious …..

  11. In one of Jeremy’s posts he said ABC management wanted them to play the games and film the review in the same day. Anyone who plays modern games knows this is impossible (most games are 8+ hours) if you want a Good review. Maybe his “difficult” behavior was wanting to do Good work. This whole thing has tainted the show so badly, regardless who is in the right. I can’t see myself watching anymore.

  14. So they didnt want to refresh the format? Its because of his performance that he was replaced?

    So they are basically contradicting their own press release.

    Smells like damage control to me. Story keeps evolving to suit their needs.

    Mass market appeal at the cost of integrity and credibility. Might pay off for them until the “casual gamer” trend blows over and all the hardcore gamers have already gone elsewhere for gaming news and impartial reviews.

  15. >”Stephanie Bendixsen is a modern young gamer with a passion for video games”

    Actually no. Steph is actor first, gamer second. Everyone under a certain age can safely call themselves a “gamer”. However there is a world of difference between someone who is a real gamer, and someone who is a casual gamer.

    I would like to know what links Steph has with the gamer scene. Has she ever competed in tournaments? Has she written any articles on games that were published?

  17. Changes are always made for many reasons. Just because one of them is official, doesn’t mean the other reasons didn’t count. Jeremy Ray’s high standards could just be the scapegoat reason.

  18. ABC spindoctors. Honestly you’d think they could come up with something better.

    Legal reasons would not prevent them talking about him being sacked for his Behaviour. Because Junglist would be the one suing them and I Doubt that he would.

    You gotta remember they can say this crap all day without it meaning anything or having any substance. But as long as they keep it out there to confuse people it’s working.

    They also said a few days ago that it was time management that was the problem. What next ABC, he parked in a disabled parking space? Rubbish.

  19. that sounds like as big as lie as the story about Hex having to go away to a counsellor because she was addicted to video games. Little too late ABC, I don’t believe anything you say…

  20. @cjschrissouth: it would have been poor form for ABC management to make such a statement about a former employee. Instead, it looks like they tried to help Junglist save face in the wake of his sacking, but the implementation of this was so ham-fisted that it completely backfired on them. Agree that this is great publicity for the new Good Game: SP show though. I had no idea it was coming to ABC before now.

  23. I’m so sick of people these days using the words “sex” and “gender” interchangeably. If Junglist’s dismissal was a gender issue, they could’ve just asked him to femme it up a bit.

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