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Trouble at Call of Duty Dev Infinity Ward as Heads Depart Under Odd Circumstances (Updated)
by Brian Leahy, Mar 02, 2010 8:19am PST
Original (3/1/10): G4tv.com's Patrick Klepek is reporting that a "tense" situation is brewing at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward. Citing a "source close to the... developer", Patrick paints a picture of what could be going on between IW and owner Activision Blizzard.
According to the story, "Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West reportedly met with Activision this morning and have not been seen by Infinity Ward staff members since." Later in the day, non-uniformed "bouncers" arrived at Infinity Ward, but would not explain why they were there.
No official word has been released by either company at this time.
Update (3/1/10): Earlier today, Activision filed an SEC report that mentioned looking into "breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward" and noted "this matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation."
Additionally, a post on Facebook by Infinity Ward president Jason West, confirmed to be legitimate, mentions being newly unemployed. West has also updated his LinkedIn profile with a March 2010 end-date for his position at IW.
Update 2 (3/2/10) Studio head Vince Zampella has likewise confirmed a March 2010 departure from Infinity Ward via LinkedIn. As before, we'll keep you updated.
Comments
Considering how much fucking money these two just made Activision you'd think they would have come at this a little more carefully.
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(unless I'm understanding things wrong)
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Money grubbing dev VS money grubbing publisher..It will never end well..
Good riddance? I dont know, but both Activision and IW isnt exactly good in my book right now, especially with me being a PC gamer.
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Unless there are some major factors that I don't know about (and Activisions actions lately has given me every reason to deny them the benefit of the doubt)...it seems that they basically raped the goose that laid the golden egg. Its almost as if Kotick and co. are so invested in being dicks for the sake of it that they will act against their own interests in order to top themselves.
I was kind of baffled about Activision's shutting down the fan made King's Quest project that Sierra had allowed via an agreement...it didn't help them in any way. Then this comes along and completely makes me all dizzy and confounded. I think Tim Schafer had it just about right when he tweeted about this...throwing feces is how Activision communicates and is to be expected.
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"Rumor has it - and again, this is only rumor, not fact, so don't preach this like it's gospel - that the two were seeking to negotiate publishing agreements with a publisher that wasn't either Activision or Electronic Arts."
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/98761-Rumor-Security-Locks-Down-Infinity-Ward-Ousts-Studio-Head-UPDATE
BingeGamer has more details:
"According to a source inside Activision, it is believed that Infinity Ward may have been in discussion with a “rival publisher†about signing a similar publishing agreement that IW currently has with Activision. "
http://www.bingegamer.net/2010/infinity-ward-has-not-received-royalties-for-modern-warfare-2/
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http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/14/activision-ceo-talks-console-less-guitar-hero-turning-fear-into/
Now for the promised strange and, yes, disturbing comments on Kotick's part. What may have been music to bean counters' ears still has ours ringing, as he described tailoring developer bonuses to "really [reward] profit and nothing else" and how an air of "skepticism, pessimism, and fear" is promoted within the company with the goal of "keeping people focused on the deep depression."
Looks like he was kidding about his fear and pessimism theory.
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Kottick is reportedly meeting with the team at Infinity Ward now (or in the next few minutes), per G4.
Also, from a CNBC story I just wrote, the departures could be related to rumors of conversations with equity firms. In other words, if the rumors are true, IW could have been trying to spin private like Bungie did, which would explain the breach of contract charges.
More at http://bit.ly/9KNE0x
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Kinda glad to see them dead.
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And honestly, what's the deal with these excuses? "They sold out to teh consoles lolol!!1" They were making a business decision. Pretending like they did what they did because they have some personal issue with PC gamers is just childish and inane. Besides, is their any game, that PC gamers don't excessively complain about? Or any developer for that matter?
I bet if Valve were to go out of business tomorrow, everyone would probably be clapping their hands and going "yaaay, that's wut u get for having Left 4 Dead 2!one"
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I have not bought a single one of their games since 2004, and I am fucking proud of it.
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Did they finally read MW2's script?
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In November 2009, the Company released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a game developed by one of the Company's wholly-owned studios, Infinity Ward. As noted above, Modern Warfare 2 was the best selling console title in the U.S. and Europe in 2009. Consistent with past practice, the Company intends to release a Call of Duty game in 2010 developed by another wholly-owned studio. The Company is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward. This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation. At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company.
Bungie: "We're not doing Halo 4. We want to do other things. Or else."
Microsoft: "Or else what?"
Bungie: "Or we all quit"
Microsoft: "*sigh* OK, let's work out some sort of deal"
Activision: "OK, time to get to work on Call of Duty 7. Or 8. One of those."
Infinity Ward: "We're not doing another Call of Duty game. We want to do other things. Or else."
Activision: "You're motherfucking fired. Don't even go back to your building."
How bad is it when Microsoft and EA look comparatively non-evil?
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I can always dream, right?
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http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/comment/9/2010/03/5b352309efccc29f87f89cf0ff3450fd/340x.jpg
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He f***ing held it hostage and shot the community in the face xD great vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUpZVnceJx4
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They should fire him... but they won't, he earns more than any other executive, that means he's the best! Right?
Activision frenzy continues
Which I'm sure has no connection to these events but it made me sort of laugh.
Also they have Phantasmagoria 2 for sale, and Return to Krondor later this week
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Someone had to answer for this shit.
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"We're also really excited to give our fans of the series the opportunity to purchase Call Of Duty clothing accessories, nothing like wearing a pair of AK47 boxers to show how big your care package is and Call Of Duty Condoms, "Go Into It With A Bang!"
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