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The past 24 hours have not been kind to Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward.
It all began yesterday evening when rumors surfaced that Activision ordered security personnel to go check in on Infinity Ward in what we’re sure was a polite, completely non-threatening gesture. Infinity Ward employees were “freaked out” and “confused” by the nasty turn of events.
It only got uglier from there.
Apparently, Activision was investigating "breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward." These two senior employees were later identified as none other than the company’s heart and soul, respectively, bosses Jason West and Vince Zampella. Both men are now jobless.
Shortly after, in a move that seems a bit too convenient for our tastes, Activision announced the creation of a Call of Duty business unit, which will be headed-up by Philip Earl, who currently runs Activision Publishing’s Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, Activision vets Steve Pearce and Steve Ackrich will take up the reigns over at Infinity Ward until suitable candidates are found to permanently steer the wagon. Again, fishy.
This came after Activision CEO Bobby Kotick flew in for an emergency meeting with Infinity Ward’s remaining staffers this afternoon.
So, what exactly caused this plate-flinging, staying-at-mother’s-house-for-a-month lover’s spat? Activision’s not talking, but the Internet’s made a valiant effort at putting together the pieces. For one thing, rumor has it that Activision’s been withholding royalty fees from Infinity Ward. Meanwhile, Infinity Ward's apparently been shopping around for a new publisher despite a deal with Activision that doesn't expire until October. And the developer's hoping to take the Modern Warfare franchise with it, as it's a partial owner of the Call of Duty franchise. Also, earlier this year Infinity Ward was rumored to have decided to focus on a new franchise instead of developing Modern Warfare 3 – a move that, we’re sure, had Activision’s piggy banks squealing in desperate fear of starvation.
But here’s the kicker: earlier today, after announcing a new action-adventure entry in the Call of Duty series developed by Sledgehammer Games, Activision said that Infinity Ward is still “central” to the Call of Duty franchise. An odd thing to say about a studio that hopes to develop a new IP. Now, maybe we’re reading into things a bit, but if your billion dollar horse was bucking, we bet you’d consider doing some fairly unscrupulous things to whip it back into line.
We wish the best of luck to everyone at Infinity Ward. Keep fighting the good fight, guys and gals.
Comments are closed on this article
FrancesTheMute
March 03, 2010 at 2:45pm
and now the new story today is Activision's plans to completely rape and pillage the Call of Duty franchise by creating a dedicated CoD business unit.
http://kotaku.com/5484026/activisions-new-plans-for-call-of-duty-include-new-developer-new-genres
Activision announced it will form a "dedicated [Call of Duty] business
unit that will bring together its various new brand initiatives with
focused, dedicated resources around the world." It plans to expand the
Call of Duty brand "with the same focus seen in its Blizzard
Entertainment business unit" placing a focus on "high-margin digital
online content and further the brand as the leading action entertainment
franchise in new geographies, new genres and with new digital business
models."
so yeah, prepare to have the market flooded with crappy CoD games. CoD: Exreme Beach Volleyball, anyone?
Chef098
March 03, 2010 at 11:54am
I didn't really care for MW2 but I love infinity ward. They are an excellent developer and they do not deserve to be treated like this....RUN INFINITY WARD RUUUUN! ACTIVISION IS GONNA GET YOU!
Digital-Storm
March 03, 2010 at 9:40am
I wouldn't blame this on Activision. I would blame it on Infinity Ward trying to search for a new company before the end of their contract.
Nyarlathotep
March 03, 2010 at 11:05am
What about the rumor saying Activision has been witholding royalty payments to Infinity Ward?
"Sheesh, It's just one man's opinion..." -Me
Caboose
March 03, 2010 at 10:59am
It's like hunting for a new job, while you're still at your current job, using your current job's internet. And applying to a new job and using your current job's contact information. It's just got cricket!
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
Cooketh
March 03, 2010 at 1:24pm
I understand where you're coming from, but it's more specific than that. It be like looking for a new job because in 5 months you know your ganna get fired.
There's nothing wrong with talking to another company while working for a different one if you know that your contract is expiring. It's pre-emptive. The IW can't start looking the day there contract is up, then they could go a few weeks with out any publisher.
Nyarlathotep
March 03, 2010 at 8:49am
1-Smaller company develops great game.
2-Big company buys little company.
3-Big company sucks all life from smaller company to reap profits.
4-Great franchise dies and cycle starts over with new smaller company.
This happens in all aspects of our lives. When you remove the soul from something and try to replace it with money you basically take the benefits from the masses and horde it among your elite circle. Yay capitalism!
BTW- This is not an endorsement for socialism or communism, just an observation.
"Sheesh, It's just one man's opinion..." -Me
Lummoxx
March 03, 2010 at 7:26am
Some company does something unscrupulous, some individuals get ground up by the gears, the internet becomes all atwitter over drama and wallow in the resulting gore, decrying the evil, greedy company...
...and then the same gamers rush out the day a game from this company is released and drop $50-$60 on it, no matter how DRM'ed up it is, no matter how evil they complain the company is.
It's tiring. It's called having the courage of your convictions. Those of us who do, and do not buy these games because of it, are obviously a statistically insignificant minority...and it is sad.
The bottom line is, the gaming community as a whole is encouraging and enabling this behavior.
Phosphorous
March 03, 2010 at 8:49am
I completely agree with you. It's the gamers that enabled this crap.
"We wish the best of luck to everyone at Infinity Ward. Keep fighting the good fight, guys and gals."
Seriously? Best of Luck? Not me, I say Karma's a bitch! Glad to see something come back and biting them in the ass for the crap game they put out that is MW2. I did not and will not purchase that game.
Rule#1 Listen to the gamers and what we want for a change.
I say good for them and this is one of THE BEST articles I've read in a while.
snapple00
March 03, 2010 at 7:58am
And those that call the company evil and greedy are also a tiny minority.
The majority of people who bought the game don't care at all. They just know Call of Duty is supposed to be great, so they bought it.
Cooketh
March 03, 2010 at 12:36am
This a stupid move by activision. Short of stealing company money, there's not much justification for firing the heart and soul of the COD franchise. And appointing new men to head the franchise in this fashion, yeah you're damn right its fishy.
Cruzg10
March 02, 2010 at 11:37pm
maybe they were caught playing COD4:MW2 instead of working and being productive.
Danthrax66
March 02, 2010 at 11:10pm
You have it all wrong the bosses were caught setting up a dedicated bad company 2 server on work computers.
Neufeldt2002
March 02, 2010 at 10:46pm
Another publishing company that has gotten to big.
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I wanted a signature, but all I got was this ________
South East Lond...
August 11, 2010 at 6:30am
I’ve never liked Activision and this has given me further evidence to not like them, I think if the rumours are true and they are withholding royalties then surely that is illegal? <a href="http://uk-locksmith.co.uk/south-east-london.html">South East London Locksmiths</a>
