As some of you may - or may not - have noticed, I've effectively removed my reviews. I've resigned from my unions - one of which I was an officer. And this is the final note, the final say, the last word.

I've been a member of gamespot for 3 1/2 years. For 3 of those, I've been writing amateur reviews, and for over one of those, I was an officer in the Candid Collector's Union - which is by far one of the best group of people I've ever met online or off.

And I'm not bragging. This is what I've chosen to give up because of the current scandal here. At the same time, I'd like to believe I'm not throwing this all away. But other than the friends I've met here - with whom I can communicate with in any form of IM software - what am I losing?

An insider information site? I can always go to IGN, Kotaku, Game Informer, 1Up, EGM, Gamepro and Game Politics for that. You're not the only game in town - no pun intended. I'm certainly not losing a review site; I stopped taking reviews seriously a long time ago.

I know that I am leaving a place of corruption. I know that someone lost their job so the company could save face with an investor - an investor often plaguedwith money troubles, at that! But that's what happens when you've already sold your own soul; you have to find someone else's as collateral.

If I were a paying subscriber, I might actually be talking to a lawyer right now; if someone says their product is red when in fact it's blue, and I bought the product based on that pretense, you have a duty to either give me what I paid for or give me money back if I reject your substitute.

Speaking of substitutes, there is no substitute for integrity. If Eidos tasks you, CNet, with a glowing review, you should have given it if you were so inclined, not handed it to Gamespot to see who'd fall for the trap.

CNet, you have earned every ounce of illwill aimed toward you. And that's not my problem. Nor will it ever be.

Now, for those of you who enjoyed my reviews, they're pretty easy to get; just e-mail me and ask; my contact information is in the "about me" tab, and I'm not going to change that.

Also, to those who I've tracked and who have tracked me, thank you for all the articles and reviews; it was good to read some real perspectives.

I wish you all the best, no matter where you go.

NWC.

P.S. This will be my last post. After I finish this letter, Gamespot and CNet will be blocked on my router; if you wish to contact me, e-mail/MSN is pretty much the only way. Just the way it goes.