WTF News: What is going on at Infinity Ward?!

[ffwarrior47]

Something's happening at Infinity Ward right now.
A source close to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 developer just informed me that a "bunch of bouncer-types" just showed up outside of the Infinity Ward offices unannounced. When approached by employees, the non-uniformed "bouncers" were unwilling to disclose why they were there.
"Everyone is on edge," said my source.
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. My source did not delve into specifics, but described the relationship between Infinity Ward and Activision lately as "tense."
The mood around the Infinity Ward offices is currently described as "freaked out" and "confused."
"We just wanna make our games," said my source.
I've contacted Activision for comment on the ongoing situation at Infinity Ward. Stay tuned.




http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/702911/Security-Appears-Unannounced-At-Infinity-Ward-Studio-Heads-Missing-Staff-Freaked-Out-.html#comments#ixzz0gzXpIDhR

I'm guessing either: Something bad is happening, or this is a publicity stunt.

[jonoo24]

Holy ****. People have been saying there goign to IW offices and stuff, but damn. This is the inernet, no one has enough balls.

The part about the studio heads missing freaks me the most.

[Masquerade]

Thread making spree tonight, eh?

[ffwarrior47]

Yes, Ana :p

[back_blows]

Quick everyone to the pods!!

[Sarge51]

All is lost!! (http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/7298/allu.jpg)

[BuRn7 CaK3]

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/702911/Security-Appears-Unannounced-At-Infinity-Ward-Studio-Heads-Missing-Staff-Freaked-Out-.html#comments#ixzz0gzXpIDhR

Destructoid is better. Much better.

And I read about this on Dtoid. Strange and weird... it's strangely weird.

[ffwarrior47]

Destructoid is better. Much better.

And I read about this on Dtoid. Strange and weird... it's strangely weird.

Well, i wanted to link to the absolute source, which is G4.

[DrumStix]

All I got to say is....

WTF?

This is bad...

[Apples]

I picked a really bad day to go asleep at the wheel on video game news.

Maybe IW went all Bungie and won't whore themselves out with endless sequals. Activision called their bluff and is forcing out the dissenters.

[jonoo24]

Didn't Bobby Kotick recently say that he is misunderstood, just a big teddy bear?

This teddy bear has hired muscle so you better understand muthaf*****.

.

[thedoorsdk]

Yeah, I'm definitely thinking this is some elaborate publicity stunt.
Bad Company 2 does come out tomorrow, after all.

[BuRn7 CaK3]

There is an update on it:


More developments on the situation at Infinity Ward have come to light.

A screen shot surfaced from Jason West's Facebook page at Kotaku with the status update "Jason West is drinking. Also, unemployed." I can confirm from a source that's friends with West that update did actually come from West's account.

West also updated his Linkedin profile to appears to reflect a change in employment.

"President/Game Director/CCO/CTO Infinity Ward
January 2001 – March 2010 (9 years 3 months)"

While this doesn't yet provide much insight into what actually happened at Infinity Ward, it confirms there are changes afoot at the Call of Duty developer. As soon as I know more, you'll know more.

Read more: http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/702911/TheFeed.html?utm_source=g4tv&utm_medium=twitterblog&utm_campaign=so-0907-twitterthefeed-702911&cmpid=so-0907-twitterthefeed-702911#ixzz0gzx9xLrc

[Banky71]

I don't think this is a publicity stunt.

[Cubecubed]

If what i think has happened,actually happened:this is pretty ****ty.

[BStu78]

Yeah, I'm definitely thinking this is some elaborate publicity stunt.
Bad Company 2 does come out tomorrow, after all.

On its own, that makes very little sense. Things like this just aren't done as stunts. But with what we now know that Activision has made an SEC filing with regards to this matter, there is NO chance its a publicity stunt. Making a filing with the SEC under false pretenses has to carry some significant penalties so that little conspiracy theory can be safely laid to rest.

[weirdphil]

Kotaku has had a few stories on this too, in this order:

1=http://kotaku.com/5483348/report-strange-things-are-afoot-at-infinity-ward-president-ousted
2=http://kotaku.com/5483412/deja-vu--surrounds-infinity-ward-rumors
3=http://kotaku.com/5483427/activision-cites-infinity-ward-insubordination

I'll tell you now, I had already had some non-GH related beef with activision, but this crap is stupid. I may never purchase a Call of Duty game ever again at this rate. I bet the next one is gonna be in WWII again.

[Apples]

The latest update says that the top staff at IW were acting "insubordinate."

Now I've heard it said from sources I trust that recent success has made some in IW a little cocky bordering on arrogant. Maybe they got a little too much ego and ruffled the wrong feathers with that brashness.

Of course it is equally likely that "insubordination" is a trumped-up charge to void their work contract. I'm sure a disciplinary firing requires Activision to pay less severance and benefits.

Wherever the truth lies, it is the height of bizarre to see big profile firings in a company at the pinnacle of its success.

[CPT BJ]

Hmmm i can believe this, im suprised somthing like this hasnt happened with Neversoft or Redoctane as they are basically being shut down.

[voodoo618]

IW is making GH7 and Neversoft is making the 2011 CoD.

[Pwnz0r3d]

At first i was going to say it was either about the dedicated servers (but its too late for that), or Activision being the douche that it is.

I am kind of worried about the fate of IW, if Treyarch starts making the CoD games, i will be pissed.

[ThatAuthoringGroup]

Looks like a new studio, Sledgehammer is making the 2011 COD.

IW is making two map packs this year and then...?

[kiggidykev]

Wow, this won't be good for stock

[voodoo618]

Looks like a new studio, Sledgehammer is making the 2011 COD.

IW is making two map packs this year and then...?

Combining with Harmonix to make Rock Band: Call of Duty?

[Kariodude]

Band Duty: Call of Rock

I like that combo title better.

Seriously though, if IW doesn't make Modern Warfare 3, I won't care what happens to Soap and Price anymore so the campaign won't be interesting to me at all. If Activision has their way, you will have to pay to play CoD online, so the multiplayer won't interest me. That leaves....nothing. I won't care about CoD at all.

[voodoo618]

Band Duty: Call of Rock

I like that combo title better.

Seriously though, if IW doesn't make Modern Warfare 3, I won't care what happens to Soap and Price anymore so the campaign won't be interesting to me at all. If Activision has their way, you will have to pay to play CoD online, so the multiplayer won't interest me. That leaves....nothing. I won't care about CoD at all.

I agree.

I don't see how you can take the team who made CoD a billion dollar franchise and assign them to something they don't want to do.

[jonoo24]

I'm intriged. The MW2 story was Okay, but it felt like a lot of setpieces thrown together. Maybe this new studio will be making a great campaign (hopefully 8+ hours) and taking the multilayer formula that has worked so well.

[pacifistWITHgun]

This almost sounds like the plot to a bad mafia comedy, lol....

It sucks that that one guy lost his job, however.

[ThatAuthoringGroup]

I agree.

I don't see how you can take the team who made CoD a billion dollar franchise and assign them to something they don't want to do.

This is the same company that just sacked the team behind GH since GH3 and gave it to a studio who has only handled ports of GH games to other consoles in the past.

So Activision's upper management makes about as much sense as **** on a boar.

[BuRn7 CaK3]

IW is making GH7 and Neversoft is making the 2011 CoD.

Actually, Sledgehammer Games are making the 2011 Call of Duty (http://www.destructoid.com/sledgehammer-games-taking-a-shot-at-call-of-duty-165601.phtml).
Yes, I know you were kidding but I still wanted to say this:

When Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey left Visceral Games to form Activision's Sledgehammer Games, everyone was left wondering just what the heck the studio's first project would be. If you guessed Call of Duty, you win absolutely nothing ... but you are correct.

Activision was in the talkative mode today, and revealed its current plans for the massively popular franchise. First up, there's the Sledgehammer announcement: the studio is working on an all-new Call of Duty game set in the "action-adventure" genre which is to be released in 2011.

Of course, Infinity Ward is still hard at work on Modern Warfare 2's first two add-on packs that are planned for this year. And what of Treyarch? Why yes, Treyarch is doing its thing too; expect a new installment of Call of Duty sometime this fall from them.

Seeing as how the series is about as action-packed as you can get, I'm extremely curious to see what Sledgehammer's take will be like. Three different studios working on a single franchise? Yep, that's our Activision!

As an update to the Infinity Ward vs. Activision situation that you've undoubtedly been hearing a lot of discussion about, the following notice was included in the press release sent by Activision:

"The Call of Duty business unit will be led by Philip Earl, who currently runs Activision Publishing's Asia Pacific region and previously served in senior executive positions with Procter & Gamble and Nestle."

"Activision Publishing veterans Steve Pearce, chief technology officer and Steve Ackrich, head of production, will lead Infinity Ward on an interim basis."

"Jason West and Vince Zampella are no longer with Infinity Ward."

[voodoo618]

Actually, Sledgehammer Games are making the 2011 Call of Duty (http://www.destructoid.com/sledgehammer-games-taking-a-shot-at-call-of-duty-165601.phtml).
Yes, I know you were kidding but I still wanted to say this:

Ninja'd? :p

[ThatAuthoringGroup]

"Hey guys I got a great idea!

We've got these two franchises that are making us billions of dollars right?

So check this out!

Step 1 : Let's take the studios responsible for making these two franchises hits and fire them all!
Step 2 : ?
Step 3 : Huuuuge profit!

We can't lose!

Activision high five!" :D

[jonoo24]

Am I really the only one not mad about this? Yeah, MW multi-player is great, but the story was ****.

[monkeyfish]

Am I really the only one not mad about this? Yeah, MW multi-player is great, but the story was ****.

Pfft, who cares about story? Just put in an online deathmatch and a couple of different spins on capture the flag, and you're good to go. ;)

[voodoo618]

Question: If I have $20 worth of MP on a gamertag, but use another for online play, will maps that I have downloaded on one account work on the other?

I want to get the CoD map pack whenever it comes out and I'm afraid that it won't work with this separate account. :(

[Julio_Strikes_Back]

they're turning call of duty into guitar hero.

[RockBandRocker]

Am I the only one who has a lot of schadenfreude because of all the stuff happening to Activision?

That they are finally suffering the consequences of their actions.

[DavyinaToga]

Am I the only one who has a lot of schadenfreude because of all the stuff happening to Activision?

That they are finally suffering the consequences of their actions.

Nah. I still see this as Activision treating others as poop, not the other way around just yet.

[Ragnakor]

Oh god. OH GOD. OH GOD NO.
WHY?
I want whatever Activision smokes to come up with such stupidity.

[Baanu_Rass]

Question: If I have $20 worth of MP on a gamertag, but use another for online play, will maps that I have downloaded on one account work on the other?

I want to get the CoD map pack whenever it comes out and I'm afraid that it won't work with this separate account. :(

Should work if you play them on the same system that you DLed them on. I also think if you go to another system you can sign on as the second to allow them to work. Finally if you get a new Xbox don't forget to make sure both GT's licenses were transfered over.

[Mystlyfe77]

they're turning call of duty into guitar hero.

No, they're turning Call of Duty into Blizzard. Or at least trying to.

In reality it will be some sort of odd, genre-sprawling hybrid of GH and Blizzard. It's going to be interesting.

For as much as Kotick presents himself as a douche, I've always asserted he was damn good at his job. His decisions have always seemed to work out pretty well for Activision. This time I'm not so sure, but we'll just have to wait and see.

I'm not very happy about IW apparently taking a back seat in the CoD franchise, but I wasn't planning on purchasing the Treyarch or Sledgehammer (which isn't the "2011 CoD," but rather an "action/adventure" CoD game) games anyway, so it doesn't really affect me. Apparently IW wanted to work in a non-Modern Warfare game and start a new IP, which wouldn't really help my desire to play MW3 anyway. But we'll see if IW can keep up the standard with new leaders.

[Pwnz0r3d]

Am I really the only one not mad about this? Yeah, MW multi-player is great, but the story was ****.

lets get one thing straight.

No one, no one, at least in mainstream, cares about the story in FPS games.

Its all about the multiplayer, meaning games are to be considered a little overpriced these days with the primary focus on MP

[AlexFlame]

Don't know if anyone cares about this, but here are the developers of Bungie, Naughty Dog, Bethesda, Bioware, Harmonix, etc. via Twitter.

"Man. The goings on at Infinity Ward is just nuts."-- Dave Feltham, Senior Designer, BioWare

"I hope they're all ok! I wish someone would saying something definitive about the situation," in response to Feltham.-- Megan Sawyer, Environmental Artist, Bethesda

"Man. I bet IW execs Vince and Alex (sic) feel like they just played their own game IRL. All the way to the end of the level only to get betrayed."

"IW falling apart? Way to go Activision, you just shot your cash cow. Dumbasses. Respect for those at IW if true."-- Alan Kertz, Sr. Designer on Battlefield Bad Company 2

"If anyone from Infinity Ward reads this, hang in there. This is nuts."-- Casey Malone, Designer at Harmonix

"Thoughts go out to the guys at Infinity Ward."-- Michael Heilemann, Level Designer at Io Interactive

"Infinity Ward drama = scary/sad. What's next? Miyamoto leaving Nintendo?"-- Ed Boon, Co-Creator of Mortal Kombat

"wtf is going on? i go watch the hurt locker and come back from forgetting there's a world around me to emerge in bizarro world re: IW"-- Arne Meyer, Community Manager, Naughty Dog

"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."--Tim Schafer, Brutal Legend creator

Its good to know that in tough times, developers stick up for each other. :) Good luck IW!

[Hungryfreak]

"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."--Tim Schafer, Brutal Legend creator

Another great crack at Activision from our very own Brütal Legend, haha.

[thedoorsdk]

I really didn't want to think Activision was dumb enough to do something like this, but it looks like they proved me wrong yet again. That's what I get for having a shred of faith in a company that is so obviously evil.
I'm guessing Infinity Ward will slowly dissolve now. Hopefully some kind of independent studio will follow. In the long run this will probably be for the best, but...still sucks to know the CoD franchise is well on its way to joining Guitar Hero in the 'completely mismanaged to the point of irrelevancy' category.

[toymachineSH]

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27482/Analysis_Infinity_Wards_DoubleEdged_Sword.php

[Starfleet_Rambo]

Bobby Kotick serves notice once again.

[Young Bloodlust]

Well, Jason West and Vince Zampella are suing (http://kotaku.com/5485295/infinity-ward-founders-suing-activision-over-unpaid-royalties?skyline=true&s=i) Activision. (http://kotaku.com/5485703/ousted-infinity-ward-founders-lawsuit-against-activision-the-court-documents/gallery/) If you don't want to read the documents concerning the case, here's a pretty good outline from someone in the comments section of Kotaku.

"In a nutshell: Activision wants to exploit the series and leave it for dead. West and Zampella contested this, so Activision removed them from the frame.

Summary:
- Activision fired them to avoid paying royalties and gain control over Infinity Ward.

- Infinity Ward had been granted full creative control over the series, and Activision decided that they no longer wanted this to be the case.

- West and Zampella apparently invited to a sham meeting and accused of false charges, which Activision used as basis to fire them.

- Activision CEO quoted as saying that best way to run a studio is to engender a culture of "skepticism, pessimism and fear".

- West and Zampella want the royalties they were set to receive as outlined in their contracts, and want ownership of the "Modern Warfare" brand.

- Activision agreed to let West and Zampella run IW freely as an independent studio.

- Activision broke the agreement by pressuring IW into making Modern Warfare 2 (which they never wanted to make), and by issuing "aggressive schedules".

- IW employees have apparently not been paid fairly.

- Contract gave West and Zampella complete control over studio, complete creative control over brand and "explicitly provides that no such game can be commercially released without the written consent of West and Zampella". West and Zampella were to receive royalties over titles, the brand and the unique technologies used in the "Call of Duty" and "Modern Warfare" games.

- Agreement intended to provide West, Zampella AND studio employees with compensation for their work.

- Royalties were due to be paid on 31 March 2010. Activision said to have launched a phony investigation on 3 February 2010 to provide a basis on which to remove West and Zampella and break their previously arranged agreements.

- They were not told of any acts of apparent wrongdoing, and were told that refusing to cooperate would result in "insubordination" and justify termination.

- All employees were interviewed, dealing much emotional distress. Any attempts by West and Zampella to console them would constitute "insubordination".

- West and Zampella suing for "Breach of Contract", "Breach of Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing" and "Wrongful Termination".

- Activision are the biggest *******s of the game industry. Ever."

[ham736]

Here is how is see things.

Activision sucks and needs to get a new CEO, but it wont happen for a while.

West and Zampella should use the money they gain from suing Activision, and start up their development studio and work on MW there. This in turn would also give them some more time and creativity to put into future games.

This has been one hell of a week in video games.

[Bearclaw]

I've gotten the feeling from a short blip I read in Game Informer about MW2 that relations between Infinity Ward and Activision were strained, but I had no idea it would come to this.

[animemetalhead]

Damn Activision, could you **** over your own properties and your fanbase any more than you already have?

[jonoo24]

- Activision are the biggest *******s of the game industry. Ever."

I sincerely hope this was the mod edit.

[jonoo24]

Activision responds to West and Zampella's Law suit.


Activision is disappointed that Mr. Zampella and Mr. West have chosen to file a lawsuit, and believes their claims are meritless. Over eight years, Activision shareholders provided these executives with the capital they needed to start Infinity Ward, as well as the financial support, resources and creative independence that helped them flourish and achieve enormous professional success and personal wealth.

In return, Activision legitimately expected them to honor their obligations to Activision, just like any other executives who hold positions of trust in the company. While the company showed enormous patience, it firmly believes that its decision was justified based on their course of conduct and actions. Activision remains committed to the Call of Duty franchise, which it owns, and will continue to produce exciting and innovative games for its millions of fans.

http://www.destructoid.com/activision-responds-to-infinity-ward-lawsuit-165837.phtml

Seems like IW think they own MW and ACT think they own CoD

[animemetalhead]

Activision and innovative should never be used in the same sentence.

[ham736]

tell me, what was innovational between COD4 and MW2?

[moose39]

Nothing, both were just ten times better than World at War.

[Pwnz0r3d]

tell me, what was innovational between COD4 and MW2?

There was nothing innovational in the franchise besides the regenerative health system in the first game.

Unless you count the MP in Modern Warfare, which isnt really too new

[Apples]

Between this scuffle and Guitar Hero's unfortunate demise, one new thing is certain to developers and development shops... a deal with Activision is a deal with the devil. They may get you a bag full of cash and the resources to meet your goals, but they own your soul in the process.

Good luck to Acti trying to buy new dev shops and new IP after this blow up.


Also, I'm not a lawyer, but I think the devs should play hardball and try for a legal injunction to pull MW2 from the shelves until this dispute is settled.

[DrumStix]

Between this scuffle and Guitar Hero's unfortunate demise, one new thing is certain to developers and development shops... a deal with Activision is a deal with the devil. They may get you a bag full of cash and the resources to meet your goals, but they own your soul in the process.

Good luck to Acti trying to buy new dev shops and new IP after this blow up.


Also, I'm not a lawyer, but I think the devs should play hardball and try for a legal injunction to pull MW2 from the shelves until this dispute is settled.

Out of all the posts I've seen, this has GOT to be the one that makes most sense.

OK, Activision is really trying to screw Infinity Ward over by saying THEY were the ones to create COD, while IW is really the ones that made it more popular with Modern Warfare.

That's why I'm on IW's side, not those greedy dirtbags at Activision.

[DethTung]

Activision and innovative should never be used in the same sentence.

Unless you're talking about DJ Hero.

If you ask me, Activision is setting themselves up for a nice hard smack. If Infinity Ward's leaving and Activision won't let them, then Activison will become the Kanye West of videogame companies.

[Young Bloodlust]

Rumor: Infinity Ward Had Been Courting EA, Other Publishers (http://kotaku.com/5486210/rumor-infinity-ward-had-been-courting-ea-other-publishers)

The plot thickens...

[ArmsAreLoud]

Doesn't Activision as publisher legally hold the rights to all properties that they publish? Not saying what they're doing is right because it isn't, but still.

[Pwnz0r3d]

Unless you're talking about DJ Hero..

Im going to guess you havent heard of Beatmania

An arcade turntable game with near exact gameplay released well before the idea of DJ Hero.

[Young Bloodlust]

Doesn't Activision as publisher legally hold the rights to all properties that they publish? Not saying what they're doing is right because it isn't, but still.

Read this. (http://kotaku.com/5485733/ex+infinity-ward-heads-claim-orwellian-moves-by-activision)