Activision VS Infinity Ward
"Call of Duty is the name on everybody's lips right now. Were not talking about CoD7 or Modern Warfare 3 though, but rather the playground tussle between publisher Activision and developer Infinity Ward that's escalated into an all-out blitzkrieg of litigation. Between them, They may have fostered the biggest franchise in the industry - remember, Modern Warfare 2 recorded "The largest entertainment launch in history", generating $500 million in just 5 days - but now they've fallen out. Big time. There's long been a brooding undercurrent of displeasure between both sides, But events came to a finally came to a head in last month's explosive sacking of IW bosses Vince Zampella and Jason West, which Activision put down to "breach of contract" and "insubordination" (Insubordination is the act of a subordinate deliberately disobeying a lawful order from someone in charge of them). Then came the return salvo: Dumped Zampella and West were suing Activision for a whopping $36 million, Citing their "astonishing arrogance and unbridled greed...and CEO who has been publicly quoted as believing that the best way to run a game studio is to engender a culture of 'Scepticism, pessimism and fear". They also claimed in court documents that they were fired so Activision could avoid paying them - and Infinity Ward employees - royalties, and that Activision had backed out of an agreement to hand over full creative control of the series to Zampella, West and Infinity Ward management. The court docs also alluded to "aggressive" Activision-implemented development schedules."
That's mainly the Over All of what is happening.
Infinity And Beyond
In the meantime, Activision has swiftly pressed ahead with plans to implement a dedicated Call of Duty business unit, designed to expand the franchise into lucrative new markets. So, in addition to the CoD:WaW Nazi Zombies iPod offshoot and Treyarch's CoD7 This AUTUMN (True, dat) newly formed Sledgehammer Games (helmed by ex EA Dead Space bods Michael Condrey and Glen Schofield) are developing a (presumably third-person) Call of Duty set to "extend the franchise into the Action-Adventure genre". Activision also declared that they were in discussions to bring Call of Duty into the Asian online multiplayer market, as well as announcing the huge 1200 MS Points pricing of Modern Warfare 2's 'Stimulus' map pack (in comparison to the maps doled out gratis by EA and DICE for Battlefield: Bad Company 2). In other words, Now that Messrs Zampella and West are out the picture, the CoD brand name is being worked - hard. In Activision's defence, Zampella, West and other Infinity notables are hardly shrinking violets, often taking their grievances with their paymasters into the public domain. Only last year they revealed that Activision was fiercely opposed to the creation of the Modern Warfare Offshoot, explaining how they'd have to "Fight for everything" to push concepts and ideas through a maelstrom of contradictory market research being shoved in their faces. Infinity ward community man Robert Bowling also, memorably rounded on Activision producer Noah Heller, accusing him of "Bullshit quotes" (genuine quote from Activision) and being "Completely fucking wrong" (And another) about MW's bolt action rifle (Of all things) - and then there's their mocking of Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick (the man who promised to take fun out of all video games) at a Modern Warfare 2 event in LA. Koktick's aggressive, uncompromising business model may have resulted in Activision becoming the largest game publisher on the planet, But a lot of Developer - and customers - Goodwill appears to have been sacrificed too.
In CoD We Trust
It's not the first time something like this has occurred - witness Project Gotham developer Bizzare Creations' defection to (ironically) Activision, after the studios creative director Martyn Chudley revealed previous paymasters Microsoft had gotten "corporate or cocky". Or the Championship/Football Manager breakaway involving Sports Interactive and the company formerly known as Eidos. With those (admittedly smaller-scale) precedents in mind, It wouldn't be outside the realms of possibility that Infinity Ward might up sticks and either take their amazing technology to their to their new publisher, or - more likely - simply set up on their own, Quite possibly hiring back Zampella and West in the process. After that shorn both the CoD and Modern Warfare licenses, They'll likely revel in the freedom to finally create and foster their own flagship shooter... which can only be good news for gamers jaded by all this corporate dung throwing. Activision, We assume, will retain the rights to their cherished Call of Duty. And we have a feeling that, if this move did come about, both parties might end up happy - Activision will finally have full control over their biggest cash cow, While Infinity Ward work on games they want to make. Both sides win, right? Maybe. One thing's for sure, Interesting times lie ahead for Call of Duty and Modern Warfare and things can only get messier as the whole sideshow heads for United States courts.
- Xbox 360 World
Phew, I'm actually relived that I have finished. I have been reading this bloody magazine for 3 hours, I must of had 2 Cup of teas, one coffee and my dinner. So, Here it all is. I hope you understand it all and if you do have any questions, ask me. I'll try my best to answer.
- Yes, I have realised that Kobe has gone through all of this, but this I snatched off the Magazine so, If you wanted everything put into one long boring paragraph, here it is!
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