EA responds to Bobby Kotick slur

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 28 September, 2010

COD destroyed by "Kotick's own hubris".

EA has slammed bitter rival Activision after CEO Bobby Kotick accused the Medal of Honor publisher of "suffocating studios".

"Kotick's relationship with studio talent is well-documented in litigation," EA corporate communications VP Jeff Brown told Gamasutra.

"His company is based on three game franchises – one is a fantastic persistent world he had nothing to do with; one is in steep decline; and the third is in the process of being destroyed by Kotick's own hubris."

While EA refrained from naming the "three game franchises" in question, we can safely assume the company referred to Blizzard's MMO World of Warcraft, the Guitar Hero franchise and first-person shooter series Call of Duty, respectively.

The "litigation" clearly refers to Activision's disputes with Tim Schafer's Double Fine Productions over the release of Brütal Legend, and its own developer, Modern Warfare creator Infinity Ward, over the Modern Warfare series.

EA's response stems from an interview Kotick conducted with Edge magazine.

In it he defended his decision to fire Call of Duty creators Vince Zampella and Jason West, insisting: "We didn't have any choice!"

Ex-Infinity Ward bosses Zampella and West were sacked amid a high profile lawsuit that eventually led to the formation of Respawn Entertainment, which signed with EA.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (65) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • GamesConnoisseur #1 2 years ago

    Just an another day at EG!

  • INSOMANiAC #2 2 years ago

    Playground stuff

  • w00t #3 2 years ago

    Any chance of news about games?

  • Freek #4 2 years ago

    "Oh snap!"

  • Quint2020 #5 2 years ago

    FIIIIIIIIIGHT!

    I'm not sure what this says about me but I could read these reports all day, nothing like a bunch of management types flinging poo at each other!

  • Segnit #6 2 years ago

    The self righteous assholes slagging off EG please fuck-off.

    Kotick had this coming. Fair comment by EA.

    Edit: "Fair" not "For"
    Edited by Segnit at 28/09/10 @ 09:29

  • cianchristopher #7 2 years ago

    "His company is based on three game franchises – one is a fantastic persistent world he had nothing to do with; one is in steep decline; and the third is in the process of being destroyed by Kotick's own hubris."

    He's completely correct, in everything he's said just there. It's just such a shame that Blizzard have anything to do with this guy. And now Bungie, too? He must have something going for him, though. I just don't know what it is.

  • ryandsimmons #8 2 years ago

    People complaining about this non news stuff need to stop doing so. This is my version of coronation street and is making my day at work more bearable.

  • ryandsimmons #9 2 years ago

    Edited by ryandsimmons at 28/09/10 @ 09:33

  • toy_brain #10 2 years ago

    Just a thought.
    Have Eurogamer run a news story about Valkyria Chronicles 3 being PSP-bound - following its reveal at TGS?
    Its old news by now - very old by internet standards, but it struck me yesterday that EG is quite happy to shit up its news channel with non-event drivel like this, while ACTUAL NEWS ABOUT GAMES goes totaly unreported.

  • schnide #11 2 years ago

    Go EA!

    For those who think this isn't game news, open your mental horizons a little bit. Games don't pop up out of a vaccuum, they come into existence because of the things that these people do. They both act and react on the basis of the environment these little turf wars exist in.

  • carlitoswagon #12 2 years ago

    L4D 1 & 2 new DLC announced. 560 ms points for xbox and free for pc (as usual).

    There's your news fix before anyone explodes.

  • butler` #13 2 years ago

    Do you know what I find most funny about all this industry bitching?

    That big companies like EA are always very quick to say "the company does not comment on rumors or speculation", yet they don't mind this playground tit for tat.

  • CaptainQuint #14 2 years ago

    I appear to have book marked Heat magazine's website.

    How long till we get dodgy pictures of Tim Schafer's cellulite?

  • TelexStar #15 2 years ago

    So EG, which magazine will you be mostly pilfering news stories from today?

  • ZizouFC #16 2 years ago

    I don't mind these stories. They are entertaining, but do they really have to have 3 in a row? Surely where possible, they could just update a current story?

    Just seems to be flooding the news channel, and as others have pointed out - a couple of actual games-related stories have gone unreported on here.

  • placebo1960 #17 2 years ago

    /still waiting for the Gormiti review for the Wii

  • edhe #18 2 years ago

    Anyone know what they were actually sacked for before people go all libelous?

  • Master09 #19 2 years ago

    XOXO, Gossip Girl.

  • gjgjg #20 2 years ago

    Drama all round, EuroEnders ahoy, should start making episodes on EGTV ;P

  • rivuzu #21 2 years ago

    Pot called the kettle what again?

    Fun to read, but I'm hoping for more game news soon, and none of this silliness between grown up toddlers.

  • ryandsimmons #22 2 years ago

    Anyone know what they were actually sacked for before people go all libelous?

    Personally it looked to me at the time that they were unhappy with the way they were being treated. (Bad Activision!) And as a result went behind Koticks back to do some dealing that constituted breach of contract. (Bad Zampalla!)

    So essentially Kotick was right to sack them as they did break contract, however it was his mismanagement that led to them feeling that they had to break contract in the first place. ie Kotick was legally right, but Zampalla etc were morally right.

  • el_pollo_diablo #23 2 years ago

    @Segnit "The self righteous assholes slagging off EG please fuck-off."

    The problem is that we have websites feeding off other websites feeding off other websites (or mags like Edge) ad infinitum.

    Do you not think that the person who originally wrote the story deserves the ad views generated (if online), or the associated sales (if from a magazine, as we saw yesterday when three stories on EG, in a row, therefore three times the clicks, were created by copy and pasting work from Edge magazine)? Like I said yesterday, print is in big fucking trouble at the moment, and this kind of magpie journalism isn't helping.

    Sorry to rant. I like EG a great deal and I like their original content.
    But at the same time I really do care that everyone gets paid for writing good content.

  • epiazk #24 2 years ago

    I love these stories :p

    Its the gamer equiv to OK/Grazia etc

  • Freek #25 2 years ago

    I think it's just good policy not to base site content on the hatefull comments sections.
    Hopefully a practice that EG will continue to uphold.

  • el_pollo_diablo #26 2 years ago

    @EarlBassett

    Yep, that's a perfectly valid point. But bloody hell - three stories in a row nicked from (what I presume to be) one story from Edge. And the only reason to do that is to get three times the clicks. Which is fine, if it's your work.

    I just don't want Eurogamer to become Kotaku.


    edit: I just don't want the news section of Eurogamer to become Kotaku.
    Edited by el_pollo_diablo at 28/09/10 @ 10:15

  • darkmorgado #27 2 years ago

    Please EG, I have absolutely no problem with you posting this stuff, but I really, really think it's time you consider creating a dedicated "gossip" channel.

  • RexRunti #28 2 years ago

    @el_pollo_diablo

    If EG didn't make a big deal over the Edge article how would you know it was there unless you already bought the magazine? This is free advertising for Edge so I don't have a problem with it at all.

    @EarlBasset

    120 comments in last night's thread with 95% saying they are sick of this.

    That's four times the comments on the story that Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert are working together again. Which story has generated more ad revenue for this commercial company? If you think a story is pointless the worst thing you can do is comment on it.

  • darkmorgado #29 2 years ago

    Just a thought.
    Have Eurogamer run a news story about Valkyria Chronicles 3 being PSP-bound - following its reveal at TGS?
    Its old news by now - very old by internet standards, but it struck me yesterday that EG is quite happy to shit up its news channel with non-event drivel like this, while ACTUAL NEWS ABOUT GAMES goes totaly unreported.

    Nope. They also missed the announcement that downloads have now overtaken retail.

    As I said last night, I've no problem with this stuff being reported, as long as it doesn't come at the expense of other, arguably more relevant news.

  • darkmorgado #30 2 years ago

    @EarlBasset

    I doubt they will, though more fool them. A site ignores its community at its peril.

  • smithdown #31 2 years ago

    I feel kinda bad for the regular Joes working in Activision who must read the latest verbal vomit from the mouth of their Glorious Leader and put their collective head in their collective hands...

  • paketep #32 2 years ago

    Did Wesley work for Murdoch before joining EG?. Because it certainly feels like that.

    I used to respect this site, now mud is starting to show in the browser when I visit it.

  • Darren #33 2 years ago

    EA have made a good point about the three main Activision franchises though and Call of Duty in particular. Unless this year's game is up to the same standards as the Infinity Ward games plus a bit extra then sales are going to gradually drop. Look what happened to the Tony Hawk's series for example. You're only as good as your last game after all.

  • The-Bodybuilder #34 2 years ago

    I do find it odd that the majority here are moaning about people moaning about EG, when yesterday, I'm certain 80% of you were giving "+" to any comment that spoke about EGs antics (one even got over 130+, and I'm certain some of the 130 people are here already).
    Now today it's the backlash to the backlash, and everyone is invited to jump on the bandwagon (doing a 180 sheepish turn from yesterday).

    Come tomorrow, there will be another news on how Kotick bit on his mother's nipples as a baby, the backlash to the backlash to the backlash, all the while EG smiling as their web-hit increased tenfold.

    /expects the negs.

  • epiazk #35 2 years ago

    People rushing to news feeds they don't want to read so as to whine and complaining when they are easily more popular than gaming news.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #36 2 years ago

    Please EG, I have absolutely no problem with you posting this stuff, but I really, really think it's time you consider creating a dedicated "gossip" channel.

    I agree. You could scrap the useless MMO channel, the few news posted there are usually better suited for the main channel anyway.

  • hiddenranbir #37 2 years ago

    Hey EG

    There are these games, like Lost Horizon and Star Ruler, to name just two that need reviews...

    Maybe you can, I don't know....review them?

    "Its not like there's a spate of games that are being left unreviewed because of small news stories like this. "

    Dude, tonnes of games are getting skipped by. Every blue moon they'll do a "PC roundup" and cram 4-6 games into two pages. It is outrageous.
    Edited by hiddenranbir at 28/09/10 @ 10:58

  • ShiroBen #38 2 years ago

    Man, NOBODY likes this guy. I mean, when EA is slamming you--EA, for goodness sake!--you KNOW you've hit bottom.

  • Bigglesworth #39 2 years ago

    Blimey though, Wesley's like a rottweiler with a baby on this, isn't he?

    @edhe & ryandsimmonds
    Previous info and discussion

  • Fab4 #40 2 years ago

    Now its getting like xbox.com forums ;)

  • arcam #41 2 years ago

    There was a pointless story yesterday about how Respawn's unannounced game will probably be multiformat (well duh) that got zero comments. If you don't like a story, that's the way to show it.

    These stories are clearly getting large numbers of pageviews and comments, and EG are not gonna stop posting them while that is the case. They're justified in saying people want to read them. Currently it's like The Sun's readers telling them to stop writing gossip about David Beckham.

  • Zomoniac #42 2 years ago

    Surprised he didn't have a dig at Tony Hawk as well, surely the best example (except maybe Sonic) of a gaming brand being so rapidly and brutally destroyed.

  • darkmorgado #43 2 years ago

    The Dead Rising 2 comments section is abysmal

    Tell me about it. I was attacked on there. Luckily Retroid intervened.

  • arcam #44 2 years ago

    I was attacked on there

    I hope you weren't bitten! D: Stay away from me!

  • darkmorgado #45 2 years ago

    Lol. Well, for want of a better term ;-)

  • Skandalle #46 2 years ago

    Do one Bobby!

  • PhoenixMDK #47 2 years ago

    Thanks for explaining! There was me thinking he meant Big Game Hunter, Shrek and Animal Planet.

  • Spekingur #48 2 years ago

    I go to three websites for gaming news. This one, gametrailers and giantbomb.
    I don't read printed gaming magazines. I am glad that these news are brought in to here, I might never have read them elsewhere.

  • epiazk #49 2 years ago

    /rabble rabble

  • AphoticCosmos #50 2 years ago

    LETS GET READY TO RUUMMMMMBBBLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

    But I'm backing EA, have done since 2008 when they proved that they are no longer shit.

  • mazzl #51 2 years ago

    wow another bobby article.
    EG certainly will have no more activision banners on the site any time soon :p

  • oceanmotion #52 2 years ago

    Good response from EA. Quite level headed compared to other suit responses.

  • Bloobat #53 2 years ago

    Classic.

  • Bloobat #54 2 years ago

    Classic.

  • darleysam #55 2 years ago

    Can't post it in the forums, but that's a good response from Tom. I'm fine with Eurogamer reporting stuff like this. If you don't like it (and it's not hard to tell from the title), don't click on it.

    As for this in particular, it's a valid point that needs to be said. WoW was created long before Activision got involved, and I can't stand how Acti seem to get all the credit for it, blowing it as their own trumpet on how good they are at setting up and running a MMO. They've murdered Guitar Hero through horrible, horrible exploitation, seemingly as a move to kill the music game genre so nobody could profit off it. As for Call of Duty, if they hadn't kept ordering the same 'meal' from Infinity Ward, they probably wouldn't have driven the golden goose to run off to a company as 'evil' as EA. I expect CoDblops to sell well, but with a lack of IW-built Modern Warfare games, it'll drop off sharply over the next few years.

  • darkmorgado #56 2 years ago

    @EarlBasset

    Can you give me a link to that forum post please mate? I can't seem to find it.

  • Fab4 #57 2 years ago

    @darkmorgado

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_posts.php?thread_id=195937&start=0
    ]http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_thread_po...[/link]

    Thread its contained in...only 3 pages ;)

  • CaptainQuint #58 2 years ago

    Tom reckons they split the interviews into headline soundbites so as to draw attention to the main interview and to ensure those things aren't missed in the first place.

    Must have a very low opinion of the readership here, then. I dunno, historically I've been drawn to an interview for other reasons than gossip and cock waving. The headline itself and the interviewee is normally all it takes to grab one's attention, be it this publication or any other.

  • Machiavellian #59 2 years ago

    So essentially Kotick was right to sack them as they did break contract, however it was his mismanagement that led to them feeling that they had to break contract in the first place. ie Kotick was legally right, but Zampalla etc were morally right.

    Was it mismanagement or was it money. IW created a very lucrative IP. Like Bungie, the heads of the company felt they needed more of the money and probably control of their company. Look how MS handled it, they let Bungie go with some stipulations. Activision decided to fire the heads. It's easy to blame Activision because they are in power but no one knows how IW went about getting their freedom. Did the IW heads go to Activision and told them they wanted more money and freedom. Did they go first and see what they could get in the marketplace first. Only thing we know is that everything blew up. I am sure there is enough blame to go around on all parties because the root of the problem probably was money.

  • CatWeazle #60 2 years ago

    Handbags!! I sense a bitch-fight brewing..

    Can you imagine the amount hissing and slapping that would be those two manicured CEOs in the ring?

  • ronuds #61 2 years ago

    Well, both companies are horrid, but I have to agree that COD has taken a steep decline in my mind... and not because of the whole IW fiasco, but because the game has turned into something that I no longer enjoy.
    Edited by ronuds at 28/09/10 @ 16:15

  • coomber #62 2 years ago

    The front page seems to be one big list of "stories" about a man I do not know arguing with other people I do not care about.

    Even the Muppets at CVG haven't milked this non-story as much as this.

  • JensonJet #63 2 years ago

    The few gaming sites I visit do exactly as Eurogamer does with regards interviews and information about gaming. Condensing them into manageable and more focused stories is what websites such as these specialise in, and why we, as gamers, read the News sections.

    I can understand the annoyance at articles related to Patcher (or whatever his name is), the idiot who makes ridiculous, unrealistic, and often uninformed predictions. But this article is as valid a news story here, as it is everywhere else it's been reported. Like or not, what Kotick says and does is important to many gamers, if not for the fact he's clearly intent on making gaming more expensive for us all.

    I think the references to gossip magazines are just pathetic. Eurogamer hasn't run an article about Kotick's home, or his relationship, or shown pictures of him on holiday (thankfully!) so the comparison is unjust and reactionary.

    If people don't like the content of an article surely it's best to do what any sensible person would do and ignore it and move onto one that is of interest. I guess it's clear to see which Eurogamer visitors will turn into those pensioners who constantly write to their local newspaper, or can often be found staring through the curtains looking for a reason to complain about their neighbours.

  • abot #64 2 years ago

    "His company is based on three game franchises – one is a fantastic persistent world he had nothing to do with; one is in steep decline; and the third is in the process of being destroyed by Kotick's own hubris."


    EA's comment brilliantly summaries Activision.

  • dirtysteve #65 2 years ago

    Wesley does seem to have the worst stories to report on, maybe the new guy gets the scraps?