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Nathan Grayson and Stephanie Palermo

EthicalPastebins
Feb 2nd, 2016
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  1. Subject: Nathan Grayson and Stephanie Palermo.
  2. Sources: Twitter, LinkedIn, TriplePointPR's website, Kotaku, Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
  3. Final version completed on: 02.21.2016
  4. Credits: Original investigation, format is more or less based on the format of @BoogiepopRobin's pastebins.
  5.  
  6. Intorduction: Gaming journalist Nathan Grayson has been a friend of PR person Stephanie Palermo since at least as early as September 2012 yet did not disclose the relationship in articles in which it would have been relevant.
  7.  
  8. Background: as detailed on her Linkedin profile, between April 2011 to July 2014 Stephanie Palermo worked as a senior account executive for TriplePoint, a PR agency. After leaving TriplePoint she joined Capcom, where at the time of this writing she is still working as an Associate PR Manager (https://archive.is/mMOJQ#selection-279.0-347.260). Her twitter handle is @tigresaa. To prove that both the twitter user tigresaa and the owner of the linkedin profile linked here are the same person and not two similarly named individuals, I'll note that both are connected to an obscure website called Spawn Kill. On her linkedin profile Palermo mentions having been the site's EiC (https://archive.is/mMOJQ#selection-401.0-431.92). Palermo's linkedin profile links to a linkedin profile that was made for Spawn Kill, which in turn leads to the URL spawnkill.com (https://archive.is/QH9Pv). While the site is no longer active, thanks to waybackmachine I've managed to find an old version of the site from when it was still in use. Consistent with Palermo's linkedin page, Spawn Kill's staff page listed her as an EiC. The staff page also lists her twitter handle as tigresaa (https://archive.is/qdbiq#selection-393.0-423.8), linking this user to Spawn Kill as well.
  9.  
  10. The second participant in this conflict of interest, Nathan Grayson, has been working for for various gaming outlets since 2008 (https://archive.is/PvDSE). Twitter handle: @Vahn16
  11.  
  12. Tweets between Grayson and Palermo showing friendship between the two:
  13.  
  14. 09.01.2012: (@tigresaa) Well, crossed off my bucket list: danced to Gangam Style in a nightclub with @Arrrmo @Vahn16 @afraidtomerge and @duckols. (https://archive.is/Z6SxZ)
  15. 09.01.2012: (@tigresaa) Private Ducks: Men (and Women) Exposed cc: @SixOkay @Vahn16 http://twitpic.com/aq7g5w (https://archive.is/2cczn)
  16. 09.01.2012: (@tigresaa) With @sixokay @nefertiti_ @esko and shortly @vahn16 and @weezul for comics night. :) (@ Tap House Grill w/ 11 others) http://4sq.com/PNszhz (https://archive.is/CyR91)
  17. 09.02.2012: (@DaveOshry) I hope @tigresaa and @Vahn16 made it home ok last night. Because last I saw they were literally dancing their asses off. (https://archive.is/mBoqz)
  18. 09.05.2012: (@tigresaa) with @daverudden @vahn16 (@ House of Air) http://4sq.com/Tkwao0 (https://archive.is/nD3rg)
  19. 10.26.2012: (@tigresaa) What the effing eff this karaoke place has Escape from the City and the room just exploded with pure joy and energy. #sonic cc @rubyeclipse (https://archive.is/5dCwo)
  20. 10.26.2012: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa @RubyEclipse WHAT. If they also have the Donkey Kong rap, I'll go live there and annoy the goddamn shit out of everyone. (https://archive.is/aqVzR)
  21. 10.27.2012: (@tigresaa, responding to the above tweet) @Vahn16 @RubyEclipse ... Nathan that is a thing that's happening when I'm in SF next. We'll just turn my apartment into a karaoke bar. (https://archive.is/zEYLZ)
  22. 10.27.2012: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa NO OBJECTIONS. (https://archive.is/WYvRk)
  23. 11.11.2012: (@tigresaa) Delicious, super amazing first time at a ramen shop in San Francisco! With @Vahn16. (@ Sapporo-Ya) http://4sq.com/VVmORe (https://archive.is/lf0lw)
  24. 11.18.2012: (@tigresaa) You guys free for things that can be consumed tomorrow? @pkollar @xMattieBrice @Vahn16 (https://archive.is/WQntV)
  25. 11.18.2012: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa @pkollar @xMattieBrice Yep! Food, drinks, worlds, whatever. Consuming will occur. (https://archive.is/RCIft)
  26. 11.26.2012: (@tigresaa) If you see two giant squirrels in tuxedos shopping in San Francisco, it's just @vahn16 and I's Tuesday. (https://archive.is/N1jMX)
  27. 11.27.2012: (@tigresaa) Ice skating with @linglinglgl @vahn16 @normalmode! (@ Embarcadero Center Ice Skating Rink) http://4sq.com/QKoewY (https://archive.is/0PYZD)
  28. 02.06.2013: (@tigresaa) Playing Asura's Wrath right now only reminds me that I haven't seen the face nor wrath of @vahn16 in over a MONTH. #crimesagainstwildmanatee (https://archive.is/YX5Dj)
  29. 02.06.2013: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa This weekend! Somehow! I'm so saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad that I have to use up all the A's to express it. (https://archive.is/azzy9)
  30. 02.06.2013: (@tigresaa, responding to the above tweet) @Vahn16 I would like to throw Friday night dinner and potential random exploration into the suggestion blender. (https://archive.is/mlzK8)
  31. 02.06.2013: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa Getting back from DICE semi-late and then immediately seeing a friend's band play Public Works. Sunday maybe? For real this time? (https://archive.is/3drhV)
  32. 02.10.2013: (@Vahn16) Two little sushi jumpin on the bed with the FLUFFIEST POMPOMS EVER. @Vahn16 @daverudden (https://archive.is/iGBr5)
  33. 02.12.2013: (@Vahn16) Via @tigresaa, I really hope this ends up being the only thing I tweet today. So far, so good. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IUxbWOjc890/UCFo6DmHMwI/AAAAAAAAAA0/wyx1Qc-1Rc0/s1600/tumblr_libw5b6x9G1qaciaoo1_500.jpg …
  34. (https://archive.is/g2uiG)
  35. 02.12.2013: (@dougwillsaveus, responding to the above tweet) @Vahn16 @tigresaa http://shirt.woot.com/offers/villainous-victorian-velociraptor … Buy it. Wear it every day, forever. (https://archive.is/4XK2l)
  36. 02.12.2013: (@tigresaa, responding to the above tweet) @dougwillsaveus @vahn16 Thanks for spoiling my friend-Valentine gift for Nathan. (Also that's PERFECT). (https://archive.is/rySOB)
  37. 02.21.2013: (@tigresaa) "It wouldn't be a compliment from you without some form of horrifically scarring mental imagery." - @vahn16 #lovingfriendships (https://archive.is/NkzeX)
  38. 04.03.2013: (@tigresaa) SF pizza trifecta trial now complete: Little Star, Paxti's and Zachary's. Thanks @patrickklepek @kirkhamilton @Vahn16 @Tishes34 @brkeogh! (https://archive.is/pMyQZ)
  39. 06.14.2013: (@tigresaa) @jacquicollins_ @DaveOshry @timseppala @alexrubens I'm headed to IHOP right now, meeting @timturi @kstar1785 & @Vahn16 - you're all welcome! (https://archive.is/1bTsk)
  40. 06.14.2013: (@alexrubens) IHOP @DaveOshry @tigresaa, @timturi, @kstar1785 @MorganJEast @Vahn16 @jacquicollins_ @catherinetcai @MarkFujii #YOLO (https://archive.is/Jf26a)
  41. 06.25.2013: (@tigresaa) @Vahn16 I wanna hear about you and @Tishes34 trip soon! Let's hang out. Also what are you doing for the Fourth of July? I may plan a party. (https://archive.is/PpTgl)
  42. 06.29.2013: (@tigresaa) The SEQUEL to Gingerdead Man is called "Gingerdead Man 2: Passion of the Crust." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1161646/?ref_=sr_2 … (https://archive.is/Idn5t)
  43. 06.29.2013: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa I'm in. Whenever and wherever you decide to watch it, I'm in. (https://archive.is/0bO2w)
  44. 06.29.2013: (@tigresaa, responding to the above tweet) Commencing planning for the Gingerdead Mam trilogy marathon. cc @Vahn16 (https://archive.is/SAsTj)
  45. 07.04.2013: (@Vahn16) Kicking off the 4th of July festivities with a movie about George Washington as a cannibal. Because @tigresaa, basically. (https://archive.is/gb0An)
  46. 07.16.2013: (@tigresaa) Rollercoasters, juice and pro-pantsless Obama. Or something. w/ @vahn16 @tishes34 @haydencd @usebomwisely http://4sq.com/13ifz8o (https://archive.is/5YJ1I)
  47. 07.17.2013: (@vahn16) @Megan_Nicolett @tigresaa @usebomswisely Let's all hang out upon your return! Go someplace, do a thing. You know, normal human stuff. (https://archive.is/4Z0u8)
  48. 09.03.2013: (@Vahn16) If ever you road trip with @haydencd and I, know that there will be hours of loudly screamed ska music. This is both a promise and a warning (https://archive.is/kgwJa)
  49. 09.03.2013: (@tigresaa, responding to the above tweet) @Vahn16 @haydencd I want this, where are we going
  50. (https://archive.is/jTZJc)
  51. 09.03.2013: (@Vahn16, responding to the above tweet) @tigresaa @haydencd You could've had it. We're driving back from Seattle right now. (https://archive.is/DkdEH)
  52. 10.18.2013: (@tigresaa) Game industry board game night at @TriplePoint was a great success. Thanks for coming @ErrorJustin @nsuttner @doubleanna @Vahn16 + everyone! (https://archive.is/w5bVQ)
  53. 04.18.2014: (@tigresaa) Hey @ZoeQuinnzel it was lovely meeting you over artisanal ramen with @Vahn16 today! <3 (https://archive.is/UDcjO)
  54.  
  55. In addition to the above tweets, a picture showing Grayson and Palermo playing board games with other people was uploaded to the facebook profile of TriplePointPR on 03.01.2014 (https://archive.is/fWilN). All in all numerous tweets which document the two hanging out with each other suggest that a friendship existed between Palermo and Grayson at least as early as September 2012.
  56.  
  57. Articles with potential disclosure issue written while Palermo was working for TriplePoint:
  58.  
  59. Outlast is a game which has been represented by TriplePoint since as early as 10.17.2012, a conclusion inferred from the fact that on that date TP issued a press release for the game (https://archive.is/liwvB). Palermo herself wrote a press release for the game on 07.24.2013 (https://archive.is/FhL10). According to Mobygames, Palermo's name also appears in the credits for Outlast: Whistleblower (https://archive.is/9wz3u#selection-805.0-807.7), an Outlast DLC for which TriplePoint started issuing press releases on 10.31.2013 (https://archive.is/Dh9qs). A YouTube video featuring O:WB's ending and end credits (warning: contains spoilers) shows that Palermo was indeed included in the credits of the game (her name appears on the screen around mark 8:20 of the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs0CayJZ3KE).
  60.  
  61. Grayson has written five articles about Outlast and Whistleblower:
  62.  
  63. 10.18.2012: In Outlast, The Greatest Horror Enemy Of All… Is Man (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/w29tk
  64. 11.01.2012: Trick Or Retreat: Outlast Mixes Scares, Mirror’s Edge (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/UA9Ri
  65. 11.01.2013: It’s A Madhouse: Outlast’s ‘Whistleblower’ Prequel DLC (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/TyuQB
  66. 11.01.2013: Why Horror’s Future Is Bright (Or It’s Totally Doomed) (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/EEvCx [mentions Outlast]
  67. 04.30.2014: Seeking Asylum – Outlast: Whistleblower DLC Out In May (Rcok, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/zrcy4
  68.  
  69. On 04.18.2013 Grayson reviewd Papo & Yo (https://archive.is/ngE1h), a game Palermo and TP have been representing since 08.07.2012, as evidenced by press releases they have written for the game (https://archive.is/8ifQP , https://archive.is/XyUFx).
  70.  
  71. The first press release that for The Banner Saga that was featured on TriplePoint's site was published on 11.08.2013 and was written by Stephanie Palermo (https://archive.is/hvyoC). We can therefore say for certain that Palermo started doing PR work for the game no later than that date. Grayson has written after that date an article about The Banner Saga and another article in which the game was mentioned:
  72.  
  73. 11.22.2013: Oregon Frail: The Banner Saga’s Brutal Journey (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/dGdTs
  74. 02.26.2014: The Saga Continues: King Abandons ‘Candy’ TM In US (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) https://archive.is/X0NXf
  75.  
  76. Articles with potential disclosure issue written after Palermo joined Capcom:
  77. 08.08.2014: Capcom Says They're Fixing Ultra Street Fighter IV's PC Multiplayer (kotaku) https://archive.is/tCrJN
  78. 09.29.2014: Pokémon Would Make Awesome Monster Hunter Enemies (Kotaku) https://archive.is/0Q8im
  79. 12.01.2014: Resident Evil And Luigi's Mansion Are A Match Made In Nintendo Hell (Kotaku) https://archive.is/dFNu2
  80. 12.09.2014: It's Basically Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, But With Birds (Kotaku) https://archive.is/gsQym
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