Three COD games coming in two years

By Ellie Gibson Published 22 April, 2010

Acti talks IW bonuses, creative freedom.

Activision is planning to bring three new Call of Duty titles to market between now and April 2012.

That's according to Activision blogger Dam Amrich, writing on the Facebook page for the group Gamers Against Bobby Kotick and Activision. Although Amrich is on the Acti payroll, he said he doesn't agree with everything the company does - stating, "I wish that the GH avalanche that hit us last year did not exist", "I think the $15 price point for MW2 DLC was a mistake" and "While I respect him as a businessman, I wish Bobby Kotick would not shoot from the hip so often.

"As for COD, they've confirmed three games in the next two years," Amrich wrote. "Seeing as how there is a pattern of one new COD game every year, this is one new COD game from one new developer, and in a different genre from the core games we've seen."

There has been a question mark over the COD series since Infinity Ward's Jason West and Vincent Zampella left the studio, and a flurry of lawsuits ensued. More staff have since done a runner - which Amrich reckons may not be the best idea.

"I [am] saying, 'Stick around and get what you're owed, and maybe more,'" he wrote. "Vince and Jason had very large bonuses; those bonuses are being redistributed to everybody else, to the people who did not allegedly attempt to steal company secrets.

"Activision is not pocketing that bonus money; it's still going to the people who work at IW. But you have to work at IW to get it, see? :) I don't want to see talented people screwed out of a paycheck any more than you do."

In the Facebook thread, Amrich also attempted to "bust a myth" regarding the level of control Activision exercises over developers. "The way it works at Activision is pretty simple and decentralised. Activision foots the bill; the developers follow their muse... They have creative freedom.

"It is very much like ordering at a restaurant: The chef gives you a menu and says, 'These are the dishes I want to make you.' And you say 'Great, I'd like that one, but I have questions. How big are the portions? Are those ingredients in season? And can I have it without onions?' And the chef can answer those questions, but he makes the meal... He gets creative fulfillment AND paid. It happens every day and the game world is no exception; it's just higher stakes than, um, steaks."

Amrich concluded: "So... What exactly is the downside of having creative freedom, career opportunity, AND financial reward for a job well done? Nobody's given me a good answer to that one yet."

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (62) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • Eraysor #1 2 years ago

    That analogy at the end doesn't make any sense. You're telling the chef what to do with your meal, so he has no "creative freedom" whatsoever.

  • LazyNinjaUk #2 2 years ago

    It's quality over quantity Acti, not a good idea to promise more projects when you've already lost all project leads from IW.

  • Whitster #3 2 years ago

    Well this reeks of a PR appointed blog-bot, "We've cocked up, charged too much for stuff, but heres a personal face of the company on facebook to make you feel better about getting fecked with no reach-around"

  • Gambit1977 #4 2 years ago

    Why do all the surnames of IW, Acti and now ex IW staff, sound like star wars bounty hunters?

  • laharl80 #5 2 years ago

    When you're only making sequels of generic games why do you need creative freedom anyway?

  • rudedudejude #6 2 years ago

    Hmmm... doubtful over the quality and size of content on these more frequent releases. Also, which one are we gonna level up in MP if there are so many!

    More releases = more sales = more moneh!

    tbh they have enough CoD brand power they could probably release total shit and it will still be bought in the millions.

    I expect the IP to be thoroughly milked in about 4-6 years and become a shadow of its former self.

  • tobsen #7 2 years ago

    Well, the group is actually called "Gamers Against Bobby Kotick and Activision", not "Back to..." . And I am sure it will now grow quite a bit after this news post :)

  • Armoured_Gideon #8 2 years ago

    @Whitster

    You nailed it. My thoughts exactly. They even threw in some token 'criticism' to show that this 'maverick' can be trusted as plain speaking. +1 for you, sir.

  • RedPanda #9 2 years ago

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

  • menage #10 2 years ago

    Run Forest Run

  • tobsen #11 2 years ago

    Become friends with Bobby Kotick now! He can use some!

    http://ww w.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1...

  • Ellie #12 2 years ago

    Oops, sorry, good spot, my error. Bit early like. Fixed.

  • CaptainQuint #13 2 years ago

    The "downside" is you get fucked in the arse after hours by Bobby Kotick.

  • Beano #14 2 years ago

    Three COD titles in the next two years really isn't much when considered multiple platforms and they allready release at least one major COD game each year. A new Wii title is propably the third COD title.
    Edited by 1 at 22/04/10 @ 09:22

  • CaptainQuint #15 2 years ago

    Three CoD games in two years?

    To quote the Halo match announcer: OVERKILL!

  • homerramone #16 2 years ago

    Activision is not pocketing that bonus money; it's still going to the people who work at IW

    In other news a member of activision management has just joined the IW team and is bieng considered such a vital member of the team they have decided to pay all the outstanding bonuses to him ;-)

  • Dave797 #17 2 years ago

    Still using the tried and tested Guitar Hero model then, I feel saturated by COD already let alone 3 more in 2 years!

  • Beano #18 2 years ago

    "Only 3? I expected at least 7 from activision to be honest. "

    My point exactly.

    Three is only one more than we are already used to.
    Edited by 2 at 22/04/10 @ 09:43

  • BabyJesus #19 2 years ago

    Use some of that COD money for a better PR strategy.

  • CaptainQuint #20 2 years ago

    @Beano

    Yeah, one two many.

  • Tonne #21 2 years ago

    This is typical activision behavior. it is in his nature to f*ck up any good franchise it has.
    Tony Hawk Pro skater was awesome. but then you got matt hofman kelly slater and who knows how many more cheap knockoffs.
    then guitar hero.
    and now they will do the same to COD.

  • mashk #22 2 years ago

    Don't it always seem to go
    That you don't know what you got till it's gone

  • Fubdub #23 2 years ago

    Didn't they say at some point that the bonus was tied to the result of the coming courtcase?

  • geeza2020 #24 2 years ago

    Did anyone else picture Bobby Kotick holding a gun to this guys head as he typed this, while in the style of the Emperor from Star Wars saying "good, gooooooood"

  • Beano #25 2 years ago

    "Yeah, one two many. "

    True - I was just pointing out the current situation. I'm no COD or Activision fan :)

  • KDR_11k #26 2 years ago

    The chef has business obligations like making sure the menu contains the regular meals people demand. If the chef decides he doesn't want to "dirty his hands" with the business side then whoever else picks up that job decides what the menu will contain.

  • Eraser #27 2 years ago

    So the people who stick around at IW get the bonuses that Zampella and West should've had...
    Doesn't this actually prove the point Zampella and West were making from the start? That Activision is holding back bonuses? Yeah, now Activision is paying (alledgedly), but it reeks too much of retaliation to me.

  • Lemming81 #28 2 years ago

    I come from a family with a huge chef background. Chefs decide what's on the menu, decide what to make and sometimes even decide the pricing by a formula.

    The 'customer' goes elsewhere if he doesn't like anything the Chef is offering. You don't get to decide what's on the menu and what comes with what unless it says so.

  • Genyus #29 2 years ago

    Shitty thing is, most people will probably buy whatever CoD game that gets released just because its a Call Of Duty, not because they know what is playing. I will, for a fact, not buy any CoD games anymore.

  • man-of-steel #30 2 years ago

    Cod is dead

  • jambo74 #31 2 years ago

    R.I.P COD games

  • TonyCocaCola #32 2 years ago

    Only 3?

  • Bravestinsane #33 2 years ago

    bollocks.

    Creative freedom my arse he is basicly saying IW added bullshit to the game in there own freedom, duel wield for fuck sake its a modern shooter, no fucking moron in the military would run around with 2 guns spraying like a twat.

    Loved, MW, loved WaW but these can sod off wont be buying them after fiasco what was MW2, BFBC2 was a perfect example how it should be done (although i think medics weapons are a little OP when it comes to accuracy) the game is simply fantastic.

  • lordofthedunce #34 2 years ago

    @ Eraysor

    lol

    Exactly, the restaurant is called Burger King.

  • anathema #35 2 years ago

    The third game will be Call of Duty:Guitar Heroes at War, in which shooting bad guys at the right time hits the notes in a series of war-based rock and metal classics (headshots trigger star power). You heard it here first!

  • O2L #36 2 years ago

    Hmmm... "Dam Amrich"
    ... as in Damn I'm Rich?
    sneaky acti pr shite

  • FogHeart #37 2 years ago

    Never, ever stay in a job based on the promise of someone high up saying finacial compensation will be forthcoming. If it ain't down on paper, they don't have to do it. They are just looking to exploit you for as long as your naivety will hold out.

    (Red) Fog

  • RedSparrows #38 2 years ago

    And Halo's milked? Sheesh.

  • Dylbot #39 2 years ago

    "It is very much like ordering at a restaurant: The chef gives you a menu and says, 'These are the dishes I want to make you.' And you say 'Great, I'd like that one, but I have questions. How big are the portions? Are those ingredients in season? And can I have it without onions?' And the chef can answer those questions, but he makes the meal... He gets creative fulfillment AND paid. It happens every day and the game world is no exception; it's just higher stakes than, um, steaks."

    Er, what? What he describes here is the "chef" saying "I want to make you this" and the "customer" saying "FUCK YOU THIS IS WRONG THIS IS WRONG MAKE IT EXACTLY TO MY SPECIFICATION". So he's basically stating that the developers are given the illusion of creative freedom for all of about five minutes, until the bosses weigh in and mangle it beyond any recognition of the original idea, until your realistic war sim is all about SUPER COOL RAMPING SKIDOOS and TOTALLY AWESOME DUAL WIELDING.

    So, I suppose it IS a good analogy of the Activision way.

  • richardiox #40 2 years ago

    "Amrich concluded: "So... What exactly is the downside of having creative freedom, career opportunity, AND financial reward for a job well done? Nobody's given me a good answer to that one yet"

    Er...the downside is that your publisher extends that same "creative freedom" over your IP to other developers to do with it what they will, which could ultimate damage the core IP. I cant help but wonder about the coincidence of the Acti / IW bust up coinciding with the announcement of a third person COD game from another developer.

    Must have been hard for IW to watch their brain child get annually raped by Treyarch let alone see it happen with yet another dev in a totally different game gerne. Call Of Duty is an FPS by genetics not a third person shooter

  • chrisola #41 2 years ago

    I wonder if these games will get a fair shot from the community?

    You never know, they could actually be good games.

    Of course, even if all 3 received 10/10 scores across the entire media and were actually the best games of their kind that have ever been realeased (ever!) the internet would still die under the barrage of 'omg they bribed the media' 'omg it's overhyped rubbish' etc etc.

  • Collymilad #42 2 years ago

    Lies.

    It's not uncommon for a mouthpiece to say a few mildly derogatory things about their organization because it buys them a little bit of credibility with idiots.

  • Acrid #43 2 years ago

    Shut the fuck up Dam, you're on my shit less too now, you little nose pick.

  • Acrid #44 2 years ago

    @Adam_T "I expect the IP to be thoroughly milked in about 4-6 years and become a shadow of its former self."

    You mean just like Guitar Hero.

  • darkmorgado #45 2 years ago

    By the way, on that Facebook group, this Dam Amrich guy admits that he has been EMPLOYED by Activision to talk to the community.

    "Acti wanted their own version of Major Nelson."

    So yeah, that throws any idea of impartiality out the window.

  • Rubarack #46 2 years ago

    @Anathema Considering they tried to kill Brutal Legend that maes quite a bit of sense.

  • darleysam #47 2 years ago

    The downside would be when your bosses decide they don't want to pay you your bonuses, haul you into a room on a saturday for 6 hours, reduce your staff to tears, then fire you.

    Yeah, that.

  • darleysam #48 2 years ago

    And bollocks is that creative freedom. If that analogy rings true, then Activision are saying "I want Call of Duty and I want you to make it this way. From there, you can go nuts!"

    The whole point of being that specific in a restaurant is to get what you ask for, not to give the chef creative freedom.

  • the_mtfr #49 2 years ago

    "the developers follow their muse... They have creative freedom."

    Uh... really? So the developers were like, thank you SIR [for forcing us into Call of Duty], may we have another 3 [Call of Duties] ones SIR!

  • finexi #50 2 years ago

    RIP CoD
    2003 - 2009 (kind of, as MW2 sucked too).

  • Fella #51 2 years ago

    Greed is the death of all good game series.

  • makariel #52 2 years ago

    That means Activision is like one of those annoying dudes who need about an hour to order in a Restaurant?

  • abot #53 2 years ago

    If its true that the folks remaining at IW are getting bonuses then Activision is just trying to stop the bleeding from IW. Notice that bonuses were not handed out right after they sacked West and Zampella but only after people started to leave IW.

    Its very disingenuous but I expected this typical corporate maneuver. They are not rewarding people they just don't want them to leave.

  • darleysam #54 2 years ago

    And the bonuses shouldn't be used as a bribe to stay behind.
    "If you don't leave us, we'll pay you the money we're contractually obligated to!"

  • dudefella #55 2 years ago

    Hypothesis: Activision is keeping that bonus money until IW employees have signed a contract that they'll stay on until MW3 is shipped, at the least. There is no chance in hell they are going to risk giving bonus money to people who will then leave IW for Respawn. Essentially, they're holding that money hostage, with MW3 as the ransom fee. That's my theory. But given that almost 20 people have already left IW, I doubt it will be that effective. Brute force and throwing money at problems doesn't solve everything, Activision.

    edit: oh, and this guy is obviously a fucking shill, painting a nice rosy picture. More fool you if you buy it.
    Edited by 1 at 22/04/10 @ 16:29

  • aldo_14 #56 2 years ago

    It is very much like ordering at a restaurant: The chef gives you a menu and says, 'These are the dishes I want to make you.' And you say 'Great, I'd like that one, but I have questions. How big are the portions? Are those ingredients in season? And can I have it without onions?'

    I think he's confusing ordering from a restaurant with ordering from Burger King.

  • CHACK #57 2 years ago

    Like anyone cares anymore...everyones left the building.

  • Bennicus #58 2 years ago

    There's no way they will be redistributing those bonuses until after all this lawsuit business is sorted out, and god knows when that will be.
    Actually that's a nice way to avoid paying out any bonuses at all, AND place the blame on West & Zampella : "Sorry chaps we can't pay you until this lawsuit is sorted out..." Three years later: lawsuit finally settled, two years after the studio has collapsed when the remaining staff got bored and went to Respawn, noone left to pay. ACTI WIN! :)

  • evilrobot #59 2 years ago

    It matters not, i'm not buying any more CoD, not CoD Vietnam, not Cod Space marines, not Cod fisherman with laser swords, not CoD the remake, not Cod this time its personal. CoD4 was the end. All the rest is £ & $'s.

  • GooseUK #60 2 years ago

    "I totally disagreed with the over saturation last year of GH titles, how stoopid! And yeah some of my bosses are total douche-faces, and wow what a stupid price point for a handful of levels for an already over priced game"

    but...

    "By the way we have 3 CoD games on the way, injected straight into your faces via Activision for the unavoidable prices of 70 quid, with extensive DLC, priced at the more reasonable price of £14 this time. And I'm happy to say we will only be releasing thirteen GH games next year, which come with no songs at all but you can download them for 7 quid a track, when we get round to it.

    Oh and our staff are happy at Acti... IF THEY WANT MOAR BONUS which they wont get if they leave. Rumours that we have Nicholas Cage in our offices performing one-man versions of all his films every day to try to force out more staff are completely false."

  • Paulie_P #61 2 years ago

    I'm no farmer but I know bulls**t when I smell it!

  • penhalion #62 2 years ago

    That analogy at the end doesn't make any sense. You're telling the chef what to do with your meal, so he has no "creative freedom" whatsoever.

    What? I've never been to a restaurant where I created the menu. I certainly don't go into the kitchen and tell the chef how to prepare the food. I may add some extra sault or pepper when it hits the table or ask for my meat to be medium rare. As far as I know a chef pretty much has 100% creative control over both his menu, ingredients and how they are prepared.

    Did people just not read your comment or something?