The Australian gaming media has been in a state of turmoil over the last week and a bit, with the sacking of Good Game co-host (and founder) Jeremy Ray, aka Junglist, and the subsequent back-and-forth posting by both sides of the issue. Incriminations, recriminations, and general bitchy-ness has permeated the Good Game's forums on the ABC Website. 

Personally, I really liked Junglist as a host – he was knowledgeable, he was enthusiastic, and he was very personable. Add to that his on-screen chemistry with co-host Bajo (Steven O'Donnell), and Good Game's formula was set strongly, had a loyal following, and generally did a damn good job of reviewing games in an engaging and interesting way. 

No longer. 

Late in October, Junglist was called into a meeting with ABC bosses. Viewers found out later, not by Junglist being given the opportunity to tell people he was leaving the show, but by a post on the Good Game forums that said not much more than Junglist was leaving. Not a whole lot later, Junglist himself posted a comment on the Good Game forums, saying that the posted reasons were a lie, and he, was told that he was no longer wanted as a part of Good Game, because the production team decided that a female co-host would give the show a wider appeal. 

Voila, instant controversy. 

The Good Game forums went wild, with people taking both sides, and eventually the Good Game team (including Bajo) posted their own thoughts on things, only to rebutted further by Junglist. The mudslinging continued among the other posters, and even the ABC's news arm has picked up on the controversy, running two stories. 

So what's the real story? 

I'll be honest, I don't think anyone except Junglist and the ABC executives in the meeting know for sure. Junglist is going to tell his side of the story his way, and the ABC executives are going to tell their side, and each is going to try and look as good as possible. It's hard to separate the wheat from the chaff, but if you look closely at some of the comments that have changed from the ABC's side, it's not hard to see that there's probably a little more to the story than they want to admit to. 

Am I concerned that it's entirely possible that a long-standing member of the Good Game crew, who co-founded the show, worked his ass off on making it what it is today, got fired to be replaced by a girl for the simple reasons of market appeal? Hell yes, I am. It's a pretty crap move.  

Am I certain that is why he was really fired? Not 100%. I don't think it'll ever be totally clear why it happened. We'll be making assumptions and guesses as long as the ABC keeps the meeting minutes sealed, (which they will, no doubt about it) 

Anyone else agree this guy is kinda douchey?

Do I think it will completely ruin Good Game? No, not really. The show is bigger than it's hosts. Give his replacement, Hex (Stephanie Bendixsen) some time and she will settle into the role. Her rapport with Bajo will come. They will develop into a good team together. 

But there's no doubt in my mind, it won't be the same Good Game, and there won't be the same level of respect for the team there once was. It'll still be Good Game, but some bad players have ruined it.