Infinity Ward studio heads sacked?

By Oli Welsh Published 2 March, 2010

Activision investigating "insubordination".

Infinity Ward president Jason West and studio head Vince Zampella appear to have been sacked by the studio's owner Activision amid dramatic scenes and claims of breach of contract and insubordination.

G4 reported late yesterday that "bouncer-type" security had showed up at the offices of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer following a meeting between the two studio heads and Activision, and that West and Zampella hadn't been seen by staff since.

G4 then turned up a Securities and Exchange Commission filing by Activision earlier in the day indicating that the publisher was investigating senior staff at Infinity Ward, and expecting to sack and sue them.

"The Company is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward," the filing read. "This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation."

Meanwhile, Kotaku turned up a Facebook status update from West that read, "Jason West is drinking. Also, no longer employed." His profile on the professional networking site LinkedIn also appeared to have been updated, showing his role as "President/Game Director/CCO/CTO at Infinity Ward" as a "Past" employment.

Zampella's status at the moment is unclear. Neither Activision or Infinity Ward has offered an official comment as yet. Infinity Ward's vocal spokesman Robert Bowling simply said "I have no info" on his Twitter.

Zampella and West were among the founding members of Infinity Ward who had previously worked on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault for EA. At their new studio, they created the immensely successful Call of Duty series of first-person shooters for Activision and continued to develop key entries in the series, culminating in the recent smash hits Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 2.

West is credited as the director of Modern Warfare 2, which was 2009's best-selling game worldwide and which racked up a billion dollars of sales in two months.

Game creator Tim Schafer, whose Brutal Legend was dropped by Activision before being picked up by EA, commented on his Twitter: "Getting mad at Activision for this kind of thing is like getting mad at an ape for throwing feces. It's just how the beast communicates."

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About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (98) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Razz #1 2 years ago

    All because they didn't want to make MW3, activision are a bunch of shit :/
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:32

  • the_dudefather #2 2 years ago

    'G4 reported late yesterday that "bouncer-type" security had showed up at the offices of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer'

    "remember...no Russian"

  • LHH #3 2 years ago

    Well it sucks but then maybe the team behind CoD4 will go on to make a more solid game than MW2 which is broken.
    Sounds like an EA thing of old.
    In my dream world they'll go work with Carmack at Id Software

  • ZuluHero #4 2 years ago

    "following a meeting between the two studio heads and Activision, and that West and Zampella hadn't been seen by staff since."

    Probably at the bottom of a river somewhere wearing concrete boots.

  • Doctor_What #5 2 years ago

    I love that Tim Schafer quote, +1 to him! :D

  • JahB #6 2 years ago

    I wonder if it has anything to do with this:

    [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/infinity-wa rd-not-doing-mod-war-3
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/infini...[/link]

    Activision says make MW3, IW says no. It would fit the "insubordination" description, and firing the leads and while intimidating everybody else would not be surprising behaviour for Bobby Kotick.

  • Yossarian #7 2 years ago

    Oh shit, maybe those rumours about Infinity Ward heads going to Bungie were true..

  • Crea #8 2 years ago

    I bet they've signed cast-iron non-compete agreements with Activision, given the manner in which they founded Infinity Ward. Which is a shame, since I'd love to see them set up a rival studio a mile down the road and poach all the best devs, and make something cool that isn't Call of Duty.

  • X3Entente #9 2 years ago

    we have the technology, we can rebuild them

  • Fab4 #10 2 years ago

    Karma is a bitch.

  • Tomo #11 2 years ago

    Tim Schafer \o/

  • Boomerang #12 2 years ago

    After shutting down the Silver Lining fan project, this just reinforces the fact that Activision are indeed a gaggle of cunts.

  • senso-ji #13 2 years ago

    Are publishers allowed to meddle with the running of the developers they own? I know that sounds like a silly question, but if they can, what's the point in having different development studios in the first place? Why don't they just house all the creators under 'Activision'?

  • bad09 #14 2 years ago

    I can't remember the last "good" story involving Activision. Mind you, I can't remember the last non-COD game I brought with their name on it either so no wonder they are sending in the men in black to stamp out any revolution at IW.


  • Crea #15 2 years ago

    They can do what they like, they own the company lock stock. But it's a balancing act. You try to get the best out of the studio asset by giving them creative freedom, but trying to encourage them to also work to the financial goals of the parent company.

    Rockstar North are treated with relative kid gloves by Take Two, but the flip side of this is the enormous development cycle between installments in the GTA franchise. Take Two's investors, at least, aren't too happy at the way the company's premier franchise releases a new major installment only every three or four years.

  • Paperghost #16 2 years ago

    Guess they forgot the old rule: No fighting in the War Room.

  • MORZTAN #17 2 years ago

    HAHA! Love Schafer!

  • thenastypasty #18 2 years ago

    I love how EG staff use there own forum for stealing news storys:-)

  • X3Entente #19 2 years ago

    /popcorn

  • RobotRocker #20 2 years ago

    Hey, remember when this team who developed Medal of Honor left EA because they were sick of dealing with EA's suits?

    Weren't they called Infinity War....oh shit.

    OK kids. Your reading today is to go look up the story of the Golden Goose who laid golden eggs.

  • dingo75 #21 2 years ago

    Maybe IW did some side-job programing PS3 clocks?

  • L0cky #22 2 years ago

    @Crea "I bet they've signed cast-iron non-compete agreements with Activision"

    Fortunately non-compete clauses are never cast iron.

  • BritishBlue1 #23 2 years ago

    Surely this is a good thing? Now they're free from their Overlords, they can go on to found another award-winning studio and move on to bigger and better things.

  • RedPanda #24 2 years ago

    Post deleted at 14:31:59 28-01-2012

  • Flabio #25 2 years ago

    Being free doesn't help them if it also comes with a big fat law suit.

  • Headache #26 2 years ago

    @L0cky And I imagine that being fired might invalidate some of their contract agreements anyway (I hope!)

  • Beek4257 #27 2 years ago

    Call of Duty 5: Corporate Warfare.

    (or is 6? I lost count ...)
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 09:51

  • busboy33 #28 2 years ago

    @senso-ji:

    "Are publishers allowed to meddle with the running of the developers they own?"

    If the publishers don't just publish the games, but actually are "owners" of the development teams . . . then yes.

    "what's the point in having different development studios in the first place?"

    Well, now you're looking at two different things. The point of different development teams is that they work better as self contained entities, in the same way the Army has different units within the overall body.
    I think your unasked question is WHY the hell would Activision muck with a development team on this sort of micro-level control, especially when they just made the company almost as much cash as Blizzard? Seems like at this point there's not a whole lot IW could do that wouldn't get Activision's backing. If the rumors are true and IW didn't want to make MW3 . . . then fucking let them make something else! They do seem to be pretty good at making saleable games . . . and if its a new IP then they create a franchise, you farm it off to Treyarch or somebody else as another cow to milk, then let IW go make another new IP.
    I mean . . . "insubordination"? Really? What happened -- they get mouthy? Didn't show up to detention? Told Kotick he was a flaming clown shoe? They just made you a billion freakin' dollars! I can't wait to find out what kind of "insubordination" is worth a billion dollars. Kotick might be a jackass (and the sun might be hot), but he's not insane (is he?).

  • miiiguel #29 2 years ago

    Nevermind, who's counting anyway?

  • Machetazo #30 2 years ago

    RobotRocker:
    "OK kids. Your reading today is to go look up the story of the Golden Goose who laid golden eggs."

    :D It may be early, but that's going to take some besting.
    I'm just making a note not to go anywhere near any disc bearing the fateful markings of "M.W, and 3".
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:05

  • MrMud #31 2 years ago

    Wow, activision just keeps on shooting themselfs in the foot.
    I imagine IW refused to make MW3 and got slapped hard for it. To bad though, I suspect those guys are gonna set up a new studio and alot of talent is going to leave IW.

  • Concrete #32 2 years ago

    If (Performance related bonuses > Cost of Litigation)
    {
    Run_Cocktic_Corporate_Bully();
    }

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #33 2 years ago

    Wow Activision really are trying to do their best to look as evil as they possibly can.

    I bet the people maiking the new Medal of Honour game at EA are raising a few toasts.

  • Zomoniac #34 2 years ago

    Rockstar North are treated with relative kid gloves by Take Two, but the flip side of this is the enormous development cycle between installments in the GTA franchise. Take Two's investors, at least, aren't too happy at the way the company's premier franchise releases a new major installment only every three or four years.

    But Acti don't need IW. Treyarch's games still shift 10m+, people will buy anything with the CoD name on it. I'm not sure people will be so accepting of GTA being made by anyone else, as it's the humour and personality of the dev team coming through that makes GTA so good. Any technically competent dev team with a good design team can make a decent CoD game, but GTA is one of those things like Monkey Island where you need a lot more than 1337 programming and design skills to make it any good. Besides, what do Take 2 have besides GTA really? They're completely dependent on it. Acti could keep going with Treyarch-made COD games, GH and WoW and barely notice the difference. If Rockstar walk from Take 2 they're properly fucked.

  • kangarootoo #35 2 years ago

    @senso-ji

    Truth be told, whoever controls the purse strings can often meddle with whoever is getting paid to do the job. This applies outside of the games industry too.

    If a publisher is putting up the cash for a game to get made, they are in the powerful position of withholding payments if they don't get their way. Firm milestones are supposed to give everyone a known set of targets to work toward, but many milestones are subjective (words like "quality" and so forth), and so impossible to measure objectively.

    Sometimes an experienced publisher can keep and inexperienced dev team on the right track, but equally as often an inexperienced publisher tries to tell an experienced dev team how to do their job, resulting in a poor product at the end.

    Occasionally you get a good working relationship, where each side trusts the other to do their own respective jobs, and the end result is great (assuming both sides are competant). Again, you will see this outside of game development.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:14

  • chudders #36 2 years ago

    +1 karma for Schafer.

  • Flabio #37 2 years ago

    There's decent evidence that the sales of the music games are tailing off severely. Like a fad thats past its prime.

  • kangarootoo #38 2 years ago

    @Flabio

    The turnover of the biggest music games is dropping, but that is mostly because people aren't buying plastic guitars anymore. It is unrealistic to compare to the height of the plastic intrument sales and say that musical games are dying.

    Content is still selling, and even the disc releases are doing ok. But now its costing gamers £25 for a disc instead of £100 for the whole band pack.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:16

  • Shrike #39 2 years ago

    Tomorrow: Activision announces Death Star plans. Rebel Alliance formed.

  • sneetch #40 2 years ago

    Man, Activision couldn't be comic book (video game?) villains more if they tried. What next?

    "Activision evicts orphans on Christmas Eve.
    Dateline New York: Infamous self-styled evil-corporation Activision today shocked no-one by..."

    Edit: Damn you shrike! Stealing my thunder... unleash Activision upon him! Fly my pretties! Fly! ;)
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:35

  • paketep #41 2 years ago

    Good. They went along with Kotick in ruining the franchise. They know get their reward.

    Fuck them.

  • actionfitz #42 2 years ago

    Well here's hoping they can convince all the talent that worked under them to leave and form Infinity Ward 2.0
    How's that for a fuck you Activision?
    Though I am curious as to what reason they are getting involved in Litigation...

    Bobby Kotick:
    'we want you to make CoD games for the rest of your natural lives... then we will dig you up and Franenstein the fuck out of you so you can make some more'.
    Infinity Ward guys:
    'Erm no thanks'
    Bobby Kotick:
    'Fuck you! you're Sacked! and we are gonna sue your asses - remember that contract signed in the blood of small children? I OWN YOUR SOULS!!

  • kongzi #43 2 years ago

    business rule no.1:
    if you do business with the man in the black suit, it's inevitable that even bigger men in even blacker suits will eventually turn up..
    business rule no.2:
    have some hell's angels on the payroll in case that happens.

  • actionfitz #44 2 years ago

    @ senso-ji

    Activision Bought Infinity Ward, so they own the studio, its assets and tech etc.
    the staff are Activision Employees (for now hehe).

  • sfp_noodle #45 2 years ago

    This will hit acti hard, even if they still sell loads of cod. remember when the lead programmers left RARE around a decade ago? the only fps they made, perfect dark zero ended up being a total mess whilse the timesplitters series went on to become an awesome franchise. there will definately be a mw3, but without the creative influence of the creators it will never be as good. having said tht, there is a strong feeling tht they said no anyway, hence the sacking. if cotick died tomorrow i doubt there'd be many tears

    edit - spelling
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:45

  • Shrike #46 2 years ago

    "Infinity Ward will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that The Kotick has dissolved the studio heads literally and permenantly. The last remnants of the old dev house have been swept away."

    "But how will The Kotick maintain control without the beaurocracy?"

    "Fear will keep the regional developers in line. Fear of our franchise-wrecking super-laser."

    ...

    "Don't be too proud of this corporate terror you've constructed. The ability to destroy a studio is insignificant next to the power of aggressively backwards looking, 80s-style American capitalism."

    Need to do some work now.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:48

  • bodypopper #47 2 years ago

    Considering how much money they've made why couldn't IW hire a new team and develop a new game alongside MW3 with the key parties keeping an eye on both?
    Rockstar has managed that way for years.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 10:54

  • anomagnus #48 2 years ago

    no wonder kotick was on a charm offensive (focus on offensive) over the past few weeks, he saw this shit storm coming

  • TruWari3r #49 2 years ago

    So Infinity Ward's top brass has a battlefield with a bad company too?

  • Evolution #50 2 years ago

    Oh Gods, the cheap puns!

  • Spekingur #51 2 years ago

    So basically this news article is about how IW is now going to make worse games in the future.

    If this is Kotick's doing then he is acting like a little rich spoiled kid that didn't get the lollipop he wanted and thus gets the whole candy-shop burned down.
    Next thing we will hear is that Activision gets the heads at Blizzard "disappeared" as well. Activision, the modern day corporate terrorist mafia - a title normally reserved for pharmaceutical companies.

  • dingo75 #52 2 years ago

    Hm seems Activision is in the lead again in their battle with Ubisoft about who pisses off more people.
    Wonder how Ubisoft will counter. :p
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 11:32

  • Kerome #53 2 years ago

    I reckon the best we can hope for is a reverse internal takeover of Activision by Blizzard. Which may happen, if Activision keep destroying their revenue generators while Blizzard just gets on with it. The downside of creating a company culture quite as brutal as this is that if you don't perform anymore, kapow, ritual headshot by the board of investors.

  • 00.00.01 #54 2 years ago

    Kotick is doing Acti a huge non-favour it seems. How come i see this guy more and more as the Tom Cruise character in Tropical Thunder. I can picture him in a video-call ordering other members of staff to punch Jason West and Vince Zampella in the face. Kotick seems to be the living proof of the type of executive that has been feared to overtake the gaming-industry

  • Fitzmogwai #55 2 years ago

    Nothing to see here. It's just the way Americans do business. I'll repeat that: It's just the way Americans do business. They're like sharks - if they stop moving, they die, and it's all done to bolster "shareholder value".

    Happens all the time, and the only people to get fat off it are the lawyers. Yes, there'll be a law suit, yes, it will get settled before anything comes to court, yes there will be a MW3 and it will be lacking, and yes, the ex-heads of IW will go off and start something new.

    Let's hope that they self-publish this time, after having their fingers burned by both EA and Activison.

  • JayKwon #56 2 years ago

    Like, whut?!

    Tim Schafer says all.

  • Murton #57 2 years ago

    What happens next depends on so many things. The guys who get leave (there may be more yet depending on how the office takes this) will likely not be able to set up a studio in direct competition immediately as they'll have various contract clauses preventing them from doing so. These sorts of agreements are more solid than many people think but they are temporary deals intended to give the company a chance at damage control before the guy sets up and tries to bring all his mates from the company over to his new starter.

    Hopefully this will help Activision figure out that relying on just three of four IPs while the competition are running dozens can't keep them in the race forever, hopefully they'll take this opportunity to shake things up a little, kick off a couple new IPs and try to breathe some new life into the old ones. Otherwise they're going to fail, hard.

  • beastmaster #58 2 years ago

    Wonder if they'll go to EA and work on MOH? Doubt they'll be able to.

  • speedjack #59 2 years ago

    World of Modern Warcraft for holiday 2010...CONFIRMED.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 12:06

  • kangarootoo #60 2 years ago

    Among all this talk of Activision having a big and evil plan, has anyone considered that the bits about "breach of contract and insubordination" might in fact be true?

  • ignatiusjreilly #61 2 years ago

    has anyone considered that the bits about "breach of contract and insubordination" might in fact be true?

    I hope they are, it would give me a little faith in Infinty Ward. If anyone is worthy of being on the end of a little insubordination, it's Activision.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 12:20

  • FogHeart #62 2 years ago

    Always bite the hand that feeds you. Don't be surprised to find it still needs you.

  • Haloboy #63 2 years ago

    Of course we've contemplated that the accusations are true man. The fact is IW do not wish to be the next Bungie and just churn out one singular IP for the rest of their creative days. Sure making MW games will see you right $ wise but that creative spark you once had is bound to run out at some point.

    If however they signed on the dotted line and then said wai actually no FU! Then that's another legal matter entirely.

  • sneetch #64 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo
    Among all this talk of Activision having a big and evil plan, has anyone considered that the bits about "breach of contract and insubordination" might in fact be true?

    It's entirely possible, and quite reasonable, however with the general behaviour and attitudes shown by Activision recently I think it's fair to say they've lost a lot of our "good will". As a result, some of us choose not to give them the benefit of the doubt as to whether or not this was the appropriate response to whatever breach of contract or insubordination that may have occurred.

    The Infinity Ward guys may have looted the armoury and mutinied (figuratively speaking of course) after multiple attempts on Activition's part to resolve whatever issues led to this or alternately it may be a completely trumped up charge over something that Activision could have handled with a quite chat between reasonable people but instead are using to replace troublesome (or powerful) people with.

    Until further information comes to light I'm assuming it's all because Activision are bastards: if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck it'll screw you over for your bread and crap in your kitchen at the same time. ;)

  • PlugMonkey #65 2 years ago

    "@Crea "I bet they've signed cast-iron non-compete agreements with Activision"

    Fortunately non-compete clauses are never cast iron. "

    L0cky: Yeah, wasn't there a landmark case a few years ago? Someone took it to the European Court of Human Rights? One of those rights is to earn a living at whatever it is that you want to do to earn a living. Not even Kotick is above that.


    "But Acti don't need IW. Treyarch's games still shift 10m+, people will buy anything with the CoD name on it."

    @ Zomoniac: I would imagine the guys at EA once said the same thing about Medal of Honor...

  • sneetch #66 2 years ago

    @PlugMonkey
    L0cky: Yeah, wasn't there a landmark case a few years ago? Someone took it to the European Court of Human Rights? One of those rights is to earn a living at whatever it is that you want to do to earn a living. Not even Kotick is above that.

    I believe so, as a result those non-compete clauses or any attempt to restrict what you can do when you leave a company are unenforceable in the EU.

  • Haloboy #67 2 years ago

    @ PlugMonkey

    Excellent point. MoH was of course once a massive powerhouse IP itself and look at it now. A carbon copy of another copy of itself. Who knows, CoD may well fizzle out altogether and then perhaps at long last something actually worthwhile will take its throne.

  • MaxiSleep #68 2 years ago

    I fear for blizzard now. Its clear that Activision will not tolerate any form of deviation from their (blinkered moronic) corporate line.

    Sell your activision shares.

  • HiredMan #69 2 years ago

    Love how no-one reads the second page :)

    On principle: not buying any more Actard games. Actually, haven't for a while!

  • PlugMonkey #70 2 years ago

    @ sneetch: Would that protect an non-EU citizen if they came over here though?

    Then again, it would surely be difficult for the american supreme court (or whatever the US equivalent is) to decide against the EU ruling on a human rights issue. They would basically be admitting that humans have fewer rights in America than they have in Europe.

  • lordofthedunce #71 2 years ago

    @MaxiSleep

    I fear for blizzard now. Its clear that Activision will not tolerate any form of deviation from their (blinkered moronic) corporate line.

    Clear? This is so far from clear!

  • Cherub007 #72 2 years ago

    How funny would it be if West etc sniggered behind their hands and signed all the non-compete clauses Kotick waved at them, took the green, then flipped him the bird when he asked for MW3, all the while knowing his inevitable "Mwaah ha ha...You'll never work in this business again!" spiel would die a withering, flaccid death on the steps of a dull courthouse in Strasbourg.

  • darleysam #73 2 years ago

    I guess they wanted to have fun..

  • sneetch #74 2 years ago

    @PlugMonkey
    @ sneetch: Would that protect an non-EU citizen if they came over here though?

    Then again, it would surely be difficult for the american supreme court (or whatever the US equivalent is) to decide against the EU ruling on a human rights issue. They would basically be admitting that humans have fewer rights in America than they have in Europe.

    Well... I ain't no big-city lawyer...

    /streches bracers

    I believe they are completely entitled to work at whatever they want to if they came to the EU. If they went back home for Thanksgiving, say, could they be arrested and charged? I don't know. I don't know what the state of US law is like, they may have gone through similar cases and have similar laws from state to state.

  • Artemus #75 2 years ago

    History repeats itself. This sounds like it could be the end of Infinity Ward as we know them.

  • Haloboy #76 2 years ago

    IW leave Activision for good. Infinite Reward?

  • TonyHarrison #77 2 years ago

    That's what you get for refusing to make another crappy franchise game.

  • altitude2k #78 2 years ago

    Activision are on a roll this week.

    Massive bunch of souless c*nts.

  • Collymilad #79 2 years ago

    Activision seriously need to die.

    Pity they never will because of WoW.

  • JJrabbit #80 2 years ago

    I'm guessing this means that we can expect a whole load of sequels : MW 7 - Mission to Moscow...

  • metallicorphan #81 2 years ago

    so,the COD titles are now pretty much in the hands of Treyarch..does that mean they will get MW3 as well?

  • sneetch #82 2 years ago

    @metallicorphan
    so,the COD titles are now pretty much in the hands of Treyarch..does that mean they will get MW3 as well?

    It doesn't mean that at all, the studio heads may have been sacked but that does not mean the studio is being shut down or anything. Activision will replace those people, now some of the existing staff may leave, may even form a new studio with the old heads but Infinity Ward isn't going anywhere.

  • RobotRocker #83 2 years ago

    Among all this talk of Activision having a big and evil plan, has anyone considered that the bits about "breach of contract and insubordination" might in fact be true?

    Oh absolutely. Refusing to do what your employer asks you is usually grounds for termination anyway. Its just the manner that its reported is turning West and Zampella into martyrs instead.

    There is a more sinister rumour rumbling on NeoGaf that Activision weaselled out of MW2 royalty payments to IW staff through a contractual clause, West and Zampella confronted the suits about it and threatened to walk with other staff. Activision just fired them instead and filed suit to make sure they cant just go off and set up a new studio (Or join a currently running one) by enforcing their No Compete Clause. Accusing your bosses of defrauding you is a pretty big ground for termination too.

    Remember last week that Kottick said the franchise is more important than the developer? There you go. A culture of skepticism, pessimism, and fear indeed.

  • metalangel #84 2 years ago

    A pity Treyarch will meekly do whatever Acti asks. I'm thinking of multiplayer here. Rather than build on their excellent multi from CoD3, for World At War they had to make it into a CoD4 level and perkfest.

  • Conge #85 2 years ago

    [tinfoilhat]I'm sure this will have diverted a lot of attention away from all the BBC2 reviews dropping today![/tinfoilhat]

  • Spekingur #86 2 years ago

    If Activision weaselled out of royalty payments to IW for sales on MW2 and then filed a law suit against IW... then Activision in its current form deserves to die in hellfire.

  • BabyJesus #87 2 years ago

    Well, if you make a deal with the devil.

  • Vlad27145 #88 2 years ago

    Anonymous has just provided me with an excerpt of the discussions between Infinity Ward and Bobby Kotick of Activision/Blizzard that led to this. Here is a transcript of this dramatic conversation. We advise caution in reading this. It is NOT for the fain of heart:

    IW: Hey, we'd like to do a new IP, or at least bring some cool really innovative mechanics that change the feel of the next CoD!
    BK: Noz.
    IW: What you say! Remember when we wanted to do CoD in modern days and you said no, that you wanted more WWII shooters? We had it our way and brought you gajillion internetz. So whaddaya think? Can we?
    BK: Noz.
    IW: Ah, screw it. We're doing it anyway for great justice 'cause we brought ya gajillion internetz and you're just an arrogant prick!
    Bk: ............
    IW: .................
    BK: .....................
    IW: Err...
    BK: All your bases are belong to us.
    IW: NOOOOOOOOOOZ!

  • Wolverfrog #89 2 years ago

    For Christ's sake, I don't want Infinity Ward to become a company that has to churn out one singular IP for the rest of its days. Microsoft was making Bungie do this with Halo; thank God they got out by telling Microsoft they wouldn't make Halo 3 unless they were allowed to split. After Reach, we can expect a new IP from Bungie.

    Infinity Ward should just say "Right, we're not making any more Call of Duty games after Modern Warfare 3, and if you want to close us down, then fine, you'll lose billions of dollars. Or, you could let us split from you, but we'll still make new games and have them published by you. We'll have our freedom, and you'll have your money."

    It's a risky move, but hey, it worked for Bungie.

  • sneetch #90 2 years ago

    @Wolverfrog

    Activision apparently/allegedly fired the people who would have been able to make that proposal. For all we know making that very proposal could be the "insubordination" that caused them to be fired. Removing and replacing them with more compliant people ensures that Infinity Ward will continue to do as they're told.
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 16:42

  • Xeopuppy #91 2 years ago

    Darth Kotick rolling out his stormtroopers eh...

    I'm sure EA could give them a job, they'd be better off...

    Also nicely put Mr Schafer..
    Edited by 1 at 02/03/10 @ 16:51

  • spammage #92 2 years ago

    Activision could do well to remind themselves of the old proverb warning against killing the goose that laid the golden egg..........

  • prettyboytim #93 2 years ago

    Re: Non-compete clauses... IW is based in California, so all this talk of legality of non-compete clauses in the EU is moot. However, Non-compete clauses are in most cases void in California. Having said that, defending yourself against a large company like Activision wouldn't be pleasant, even if you had the law behind you.

  • sneetch #94 2 years ago

    @prettyboytim

    Yeah we know that the EU laws don't apply in California. We figured out that it's not in the EU. ;)

    Glad to see that the Californians have sensible laws about this too.

  • The-Bodybuilder #95 2 years ago

    >"All this has happened before, and all of it will happen again."

    It only ends once. Anything that happens before that.......is just progress.

    Oh, my bad, this isn't the lost thread.

  • polaris70 #96 2 years ago

    These guys jumped ship from EA in the past so maybe a hint there? Maybe they have the clout now, with the success of COD and MW to be able to set up a studio and publish their own games. They'll be able to go in any direction they want, and I'm sure their past successes will have the venture capitalists throwing money at them. All good considering Activision's milking of the COD franchise. I still play COD1 on PC and MW2 is essentially the same game with inferior weapon feel but better graphics.

  • Slipstream #97 2 years ago

    Oh really hope this backfires for Activision, no offense but I hate this company with a passion, no mater how juvenile, it makes me smile!

  • blackbriar101 #98 2 years ago

    They were fired for double teaming Koticks wife,and theres a sex tape.Its going to be called 'Camping Akimbo'.