The fallout of the Activision/IW war could fuck us

[Hoos]

Activision court battle means no DLC for MW2
March 5, 2010 by Steve Milward
Filed under Previews

In what is now fast becoming the gaming industry scandal of the decade it may be the consumer that ends up bearing the brunt of Activision’s and Infinity Wards legal proceedings. Only this morning IGN have published the full detail of the lawsuit that is being filed against Activision by Jason West and Vince Zampella. In it the Plaintiff (West and Zampella) claim ownership of the Modern Warfare brand and have requested a temporary or permanent injunction against the release of any Modern Warfare game, or Call of Duty title set in the post-Vietnam era, near future or distant future.

Now this may not at first glance appear to have any bearing on any future content for the current Modern Warfare 2 title, however further on in the document the plaintiffs request for relief further outlines that they contest the exploitation of the Modern Warfare brand stating

For a preliminary or permanent injunction against’s Defendant enjoining it and its officers, agents, employees and representatives from violating Plaintiff’s rights with respect to the development, release and exploitation of any Modern Warfare game or Call of Duty title set in the post-Vietnam era, near future or distant future.

The key word here is of course exploitation which will include gaining financial reward. So with the whole brand in question and an injunction being sought by the Plainiff then the possibility of seeing any extra content for Modern Warfare 2 at all never mind any time soon is very slim

[ajalves]

who cares.

[Hoos]

You don't care about getting new maps?

[ajalves]

its all scare tactics. they will pay these 2 bafoons off. then we'll have our maps.

[Hoos]

Baffoons?? How dare you!

These two guys are the founders of Infinity Ward. The guys that created COD. The game you play every night.

Personally, I believe the fight will get bigger. I think the ultimate goal for these guys will be to take back complete ownership of the COD MW IP. Meaning, whatever new company they start will create MW3. Thus, leaving the other COD titles to Activision.

I actually hope they win so they can make the next MW game. Those guys are the creators, innovators, and best chance for another great game. The game will get milked to death and start to slide if Activision owns it all. Activision is garbage.

[ajalves]

Baffoons?? How dare you!

These two guys are the founders of Infinity Ward. The guys that created COD. The game you play every night.

you just started playing COD like a year a go so pipe down assface.

I was of the understanding that they were fired cause they didnt want to make anymore MW games......i might be mistaken....

[Hoos]

Mike and I were in the COD 4 beta asswithears.

Basically, the fight started about quality over quantity. IW's contract with Activision allows them to create a new game. IW planned to make that new game after MW2 and then make MW3.

Activision blew their top because they have never met a game they wouldn't milk to death. Activision wanted them to start on MW3 now so that it would be ready next year.

IW said fuck you so Activision fired their two top guys (IW founders). Now the litigation will start which could go on for a while. It will be a hell of a fight because the winner will probably get the billion dollar MW franchise.

[nick]

who cares.

like for people like hoos this is huge news because you've been into it a while, but I'm a fan boy and I'm probably trading my copy in soon because I can't keep playing domination and doing estate, I literally cringe at the thought of another estate level.

[Hoos]

Yea, I'm probably the only one that cares.

Oh well. I started to follow the industry a while back when I got to play RFOM with the developers. It was cool to listen to how/why they made certain things. I learned a lot from those guys.

I also learned how much those guys work. They would literally be at the office all the time. They would take hour breaks here and there to jump on and play but it was almost always from the office. So, I side with developers over crap publishers like Activision.

[ajalves]

hopefully it doenst affect the future of the series. However, money usually wins out in the end.


and Nick, dont play domination then......simple as that.

[trendon]

I was as flippant and dismissive over the lawsuit(s) between Black Isle, Troika, and Interplay. Who are they are why do they matter? These are the fighting clowns responsible for the nearly ten-year wait between Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.

[Hoos]

Just to udpate (not that anybody cares)

Serveral more of IW's key staff have now left. IW is pretty much gone now.
______________

Despite rumours of Call of Duty developers being "held hostage" over withheld bonus payments, it nevertheless looks like more of those involved with the series have begun to leave Infinity Ward following the sacking of the studio's founders.

As revealed by the pair's Linkedin profiles (pictured below), Todd Alderman, a Lead Designer and one of the key personnel involved in Modern Warfare's multiplayer (not to mention Modern Warfare 2's story), left the company last week, as did Francesco Gigliotti, Infinity Ward's lead software engineer. Both were long-serving members of the studio, Alderman having been with Infinity Ward for eight years, Gigliotti for seven.

Their departures come only a month after publishers Activision sacked Infinity Ward bosses Vince Zampella and Jason West over allegations of "breaches of contract and insubordination". It's unclear what Zampella and West are planning in the wake of their firing, though the pair have signed with a Hollywood talent agency.

The circumstances under which Alderman & Gigliotti left the studio are unclear, though it's believed they both resigned. We'll update this post if we hear anything more.

[shel311]

Serveral more of IW's key staff have now left. IW is pretty much gone now.

[Seeitsaveit13]

Serveral more of IW's key staff have now left. IW is pretty much gone now.

[shel311]

FUNNY
EVERY
TIME

[trendon]

Hoos ... since you keep up on this; how about a summary?

[Hoos]

Hoos ... since you keep up on this; how about a summary?

You trying to get me bashed again?

I will just give a quick summary of what I know. How accurate that summary is will depend on what info comes out over time.

-Activision and Infinity Ward got into a huge scrap over COD and the future of COD.
-Activision owns IW so IW is going to lose this fight
-Activision fired the 2 founders of IW and has threatened a lawsuit
-That probably means that IW was shopping themselves to other publishers, thus breach of contract
-Obviously, a majority of the IW staff is probably loyal to the IW founders
-More of the IW staff is now leaving (they were waiting on their bonus checks)
-One of the guys that just left was responsible for the MP part of COD that we all enjoy so much
-There will be more leaving

The end result (my guess) is that IW will either be a shell of it's former self with all the true talent gone or Activision will fold the remaining people into another studio.

Treyarch will make the next COD game
Sledgehammer games will make the following COD

I don't know that much about Sledgehammer games. It was founded by two guys that came over from Visceral Games. Visceral made Dead Space and Dante's Inferno.

[trendon]

The end result (my guess) is that IW will either be a shell of it's former self with all the true talent gone or Activision will fold the remaining people into another studio.

Treyarch will make the next COD game
Sledgehammer games will make the following COD

I don't know that much about Sledgehammer games. It was founded by two guys that came over from Visceral Games. Visceral made Dead Space and Dante's Inferno.

THAT'S the important shit. Thanks!

[Hoos]

Today, Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of the multi-billion dollar Call of Duty® franchise, announced the formation of a new development studio -- Respawn Entertainment. The move positions the Respawn Entertainment leadership team as the owners of the intellectual property they create. The company will focus on creating state-of-the-art gaming experiences for global audiences. The studio is currently assembling a world-class team of designers, artists and engineers. Applicants can submit resumes to jobs@respawn.com.

Respawn is pleased to also announce that it has awarded Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS - News), through the distinguished EA Partners program, exclusive worldwide publishing and distribution rights to future games. Terms were not disclosed. West and Zampella are represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA).

“Respawn Entertainment marks a fresh start for Jason and me,” said Vince Zampella, General Manager of Respawn Entertainment. “For the past decade we led a great development team and poured our hearts into creating an epic game franchise. We’re very proud of what we built – and proud that so many millions of fans enjoyed those games. Today we hope to do it all over again -- open a new studio, hire a great team, and create brand new games with a new partner, EA.”

“We’re excited,” added Jason West, President of Respawn Entertainment. "Now that the team is in control of the games and brands, we can ensure that the fans are treated as well as they deserve."

Frank Gibeau, President of the EA Games Label commented, “This is the start of a great publishing partnership – one that I expect will develop blockbuster game franchises. Jason and Vince are two of the top creative leaders in the entertainment industry. At EA, we’re honored to be their partners and to give them the support they need to hire a team and return to making incredible games.”

About Respawn Entertainment

Founded in 2010, Respawn Entertainment is an independent videogame development studio based in Encino, California. The studio was formed by Jason West and Vince Zampella, former co-founders of Infinity Ward and creators of the multi-billion dollar franchise Call of Duty®. More information about the company will be available soon at http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=sm ... 9060ebe60d.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=sm ... c796f03349. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA. EA SPORTS, EA MOBILE and POGO are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

[BFiVL]

FUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKK


Now EA will make a shooting game that we will bitch about like football. Great.