Apparently people are having trouble with the text-sharing site I used for Brett Walton’s email to Nick Simberg, so I’m going to just go ahead and post it here.

From: bwalton@vgchartz.com
To: nsimberg@vgchartz.com
Subject: Re: September pay
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 11:45:03 +0000

Nick, Listen I don’t want this to get nasty as I think you’re a great writer and someone I’d really like to be part of the team but I feel your output has been sporadic and often well below what I was expecting. For example, for PAX we had a total of 9 articles:

http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81901/pax-2010-hands-on-retrograde/
http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81899/pax-2010-the-ultimate-cosplay-gallery/
http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81891/pax-2010-hands-on-drumskulls-with-world-exclusive-screens/
http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81873/pax-2010-preview-ratchet-amp-clank-all-4-one/http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81868/pax-2010-exclusive-portal-2-co-op-gameplay-footage/
http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81863/pax-2010-hands-on-duke-nukem-forever/
http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81858/pax-2010-see-comic-jumpers-new-manga-level/
http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81854/pax-2010-preview-halo-reach/http://gamrfeed.vgchartz.com/story/81851/pax-2010-preview-deathspank-thongs-of-virtue/

One of which was a load of photos, 7 hands-on and one video. From 3 days at the show. Then a $700+ bill to cover it. Things just don’t add up. I can’t believe that the only hotel available was at $250 per night - I paid less than that for myself when I went to Vegas!

I spent about 3-4 hours pushing the cosplay article on Reddit and Digg to generate a decent number of views to be able to bring in some revenue but we are still way down on the whole event. I asked for interviews, hands-on, videos, as much as we possibly could and it was your chance to really go for it and show me what you can do but I wasn’t impressed with 9 articles. Had you come back with a load of great contacts, organised some company visits off the back of events at the show, done some interviews with people or done anything beyond just playing a few games and taking some photos then I would have been impressed and convinced that I’d made a good decision in hiring you.

Then as we say, we have had weeks where you’ve posted nothing and I’ve still been paying the fixed $350 per month rate for hardly any articles. So far since I’ve taken you on, you’ve cost me a lot more than you’ve generated in hits or revenue.

Then for Blizzcon - I’m talked into covering bus fare for “Miranda” only to later realise that she is your girlfriend! Aside from taking a few photos at the show, did she actually contribute anything to justify me covering the bus fare or was it a sneaky way for you two to see each other with me covering the cost?! Again from Blizzcon, I saw a total of about 5 articles - Nicholas Taylor posted more on Blizzcon than you and that was all taken from other sites! If we’re going to the effort of sending someone to cover an event I expect us to be breaking the news, having exclusive interviews and stories from the event. It just isn’t good enough!

Then the classic gaming expo - again if we had 4-5 articles from it that was about the only output I saw for covering the costs for part of a weekend in Vegas (hotel + gas).

For the Mario video - I got the guy to create it, uploaded it and sent you the link which you posted up as a story. I could well have done it myself but you were online and I was doing a million different things as always. I don’t see it as fair that you get credited with the views when you did very little for it! I could have asked anyone to do it and done all the digging myself and someone else could have earned $150 out of it.

I can understand if you feel betrayed or upset by the situation but as I’ve said - I am working to a large loss so far with you. I can’t keep affording to pay out the amounts that I am when I’m not getting the work back. You have to prove yourself, work hard and go beyond what I’m asking you. I don’t want to be holding people’s hands every step of the way. It is up to you to show me that you really want this job and that you are taking the opportunity with both hands and running with it, not doing the minimum that you need to do to keep me happy.

On the subject of contracts, I am free to cancel the contract at any time if I feel you are not fulfiling all of your duties.

I think you’re a great writer Nick, a nice guy and someone with real potential. I really want you to be part of the gamrFeed team but I do feel like you are more motivated by money than by working hard and doing a good job. The initial period is all about proving yourself and demonstrating that you are the right choice for the job - if you work hard and help to build the gamrFeed brand then the rewards will come as the site grows and your role becomes integral to the team. Disputes like this and most of the conversations we have being about money and me covering various costs does make me feel like you are here more for a quick pay check, some fun trips to shows and some easy money rather than really believing in what you’re doing and wanting to contribute in a deeper way to gamrFeed.

Brett