The official Jeff Bakalar welcome (to the games division of Red Ventures) thread!

No longer just a rotating chair, the thing that Duders have been clamoring for years is officially happening! Jeffy B is here!

Let's all wish him good luck as an official member of Gamespot and Giant Bomb!

Bakalar always seemed like a bonafide hustla, so to see him in a matt rorie esque role where he is staff, but not a editor is great,

I don't think he is part of GameSpot or Giant Bomb. He is overseeing partnerships and strategy for both sites as some sort of coordinator in the Red Ventures games division.

oh man! that's legit exciting- 'lead content strategy/development and partnerships' is certainly a little more buttoned-up than we're used to around here, but it'll be immensely useful to have someone like jeffy b. who gets it in a position like that. he'll be a tremendous advocate for both gb and gamespot. good luck jeff!

@mrfluke: Man, Rorie and bakalar in the same podcast would be great!

Seems like they are grouping them both together under the "games division". Wonder if he's Jeff's(gerstmanns) boss now?

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed Jeff B’s presence on the Bombcast since the show’s start. Happy to see he’s been brought over to Red Ventures!

Great news. Bakalar has been a perfect fit since day one with the East Coast crew.

Man, that rotating chair tho.

Hell yeah more Jeff!

Now to just get someone to greenlight his snacks podcast:: Snackalar with the Bakalar

Stoked! Want to see Jeff stream some COD with his friends.

This verifies that pinball games are video games.

Awesome, I hope we'll see more of Bakalar on video content. Goodbye rotating chair!

Haven't listened to today's Beastcast (don't know if they talk about it) but is Jeff their boss now? I work in a simple job like "retail sales" so I don't even know what his job title means in terms of what he does for a living.

Hell yeah, welcome to the gang, Jeffy B!

I’ve been listening to Bakalar since the first ep of The 404 podcast and Jeff is the real deal. He is a very talented and multi-disciplinary guy.

Awesome. I’ve only liked Jeff more and more as time went by

Regardless of what position he's holding within the companies, it's excellent news.

Wooohooo!

I do love those honeycrisps too!

@oursin_360: that's what I thought when I saw this. Kind of sounds like it but I'm no expert

Jeff’s presence on the Beastcast and on random QLs has always been refreshing, good to have him on board!

Jeff on UPF is going to be thee best.

Yah it does sound like he will have a lot of sway in how the sites develop going forward.

Sounds like he’s the boss. Respek the Bak.

Video games on fridges confirmed

Bakalar is fantastic - sounds interesting - I do wonder if they're keeping both sites distinct or if they're looking to align and amalgamate them in some way? (not a conspiracy theory - just a thought)

Now we can all unite against Jeff's local snowplower

Welcome Jeff and congratulations on your new move. Look forward to seeing you on giant bomb content in the future.

:hype

I'm assuming Jeff's new role concerns with him getting deals for Gamespot and Giant Bomb (kind of a Business Dave -like role, but on a more executive level), which seems to fit given how legendary picture Vinny and Alex have painted of Jeff's glad handing skills. He is a master of shaking hands and kissing babies.

Hey they got Jeffy B!!!

He is not joining Giant bomb as a staff member. Sure he might be on more content, but I doubt it.

Already looking forward on finding out what his actual position/job will be, since right now this sounds a big vague. Anyway, I'm obviously glad that this means he'll stick around for more GB content.

So happy to see him part of the team. He has always fit so well with the crew. Looking forward to seeing more of him.

After what happened with Deadspin, I’m happy to see Jeff get a role they could have easily filled with some profit-focused stooge. He’s going to do right by the site and be honest with Jeff G and Vinny. I’ll take whatever optimism I can get these days.

Oh shit, it's gonna be all pinball from now on. But congratulations though, "rotating" seat officially-isch taken!

Does this mean they can no longer roast him in the Beastcast, since he's the boss now?

Adjusted the topic headline there a bit.

Already saw some people immediately jumping to the conclusion that Bakalar was a GB member so let's celebrate the duder's actual position. I'm sure he'll still be around to talk about pinball and mailboxes but don't wanna confuse anyone or take away from his new, well-earned position at Red Ventures.

@finaldasa: I heard he is replacing Brad!

@humanity: Have mercy.

This must be good. If it means more Bakalar. Less would be upsetting. Looking forward to Jeff turning GB in to a more pinball-hockey-mailbox oriented site!

@finaldasa: I guess it depends on how you define a GB member. To me even guys like Business Dave and the website devs (Will Carle and Dan Auer) were members, even if they were not editors and not solely employed by Giant Bomb. In that way, I still consider this as Jeff becoming a part of Giant Bomb as he's now in an executive role for the site (and also Gamespot).

ill be happy when they hire more on video personality's

@beyblades99: Dude - what are you doing?

Congrats Jeff!

Congratulations Jeff!

Incoming influx of galleries and fridge reviews

Shoutouts Jeffy B. Big fan. I look forward to seeing them more often than just the hockey quick look, even if the job isn't technically content production 🙏

Awesome! I still don't know much about Red Ventures, but the fact that they're putting a frontline veteran of their games acquisition in charge of the division instead of putting a random business dude in there is heartening. Big grats to Jeff and I'm super excited for him and the future of GB.

I'm just here to get a BAKALAR! chant going.

BAKALAR!

BAKALAR!

BAKALAR!

BAKALAR!

BAKALAR!

BAKALAR!

Is Jeff Jeff's boss, or is Jeff Jeff's boss?

Congrats Jeff!

I figured it would be a matter of time! Exciting stuff.