Trouble at Activision

[Bulldogs 10]

Seems the directors of Infinity Ward were fired by Activision and now they're taking Activision to court over unlawful dismissal. They're also attempting to gain full control of the CoD franchise after the release of CoD : Vietnam.

Further to our report yesterday regarding the ruckus going on over at Activision and Infinity Ward, the LA Times has reported former IW execs, Jason West and Frank Zampella, who were fired from the company earlier this week, have filed a lawsuit against Activision for wrongful termination and an apparent breach of contract.

According to the report Activision set an internal investigation against the two for acts of "insubordination" and "violations of Activision policies", however, it is alleged the two were cleared of any wrongful claims just prior to their being fired on Monday, sparking an immediate legal response from the two.

They have also filed for complete control of the Call of Duty franchise for any games set after the Vietnam War, demanding that Activision not release any games baring the name without their expressed permission. They have also asked for a payment of "unpaid" royalties in excess of US$36 million.

Activision responded to the lawsuit to the LA Times stating the following:

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.

Source : http://www.ausgamers.com/

I think it was pretty noble of them not to try and contest the release of Vietnam, knowing that if they did the game would be tied into the court battle and wouldn't see release (or possibly even further production) til after the court case was settled.

[Flash Thunder 10]

Good screw that fat arse Robert Kotick and screw activision for ruining a once great franchise and the many that followed in their greedy pursuit!!

[Clavicula_nox4817 0]

Damn those companies that want to make money! Damn them straight to hell!

[Deadfast 43]

Damn those companies that want to make money! Damn them straight to hell!

Yes, damn BIS while you're at it too - every company wants to make money :p

Some are just (much) more backstabbing assholes about it. Activision, Ubisoft and EA are prime examples.

[Tonci87 163]

Wow get fired a few month before the bonus cheques roll in, thats a slap in the Face

[Clavicula_nox4817 0]

Yes, damn BIS while you're at it too - every company wants to make money :p

Some are just (much) more backstabbing assholes about it. Activision, Ubisoft and EA are prime examples.

Companies can only do what the market allows them to do. How many people say "WOW OMGWTFBBQ IM GOING TO BOYCOTT _____ GAME!" but then they're the first people to buy it?

I don't like Ubisoft's DRM, either. I don't like that CoD is a canned game -but it's always been that way. EA has a business model that works: Pump out annual sports titles; pump out quarterly Sims 3 expansions; pump out random nonsensical games in between. But it only works because the market and the consumer makes it work.

[CW001 10]

There's rumours flying about that IW didn't get a single penny of MW2's many billions of revenue. Shounds like a real shiz storm brewing.

[Zipper5 74]

Well, $36 million in royalties owed to both people sounds like someone was withholding a lot of money...

[Madus_Maximus 0]

There's rumours flying about that IW didn't get a single penny of MW2's many billions of revenue. Shounds like a real shiz storm brewing.

That would seem to tally with the rumours I've been hearing about Acitivision handing over development to another studio for the "Main" releases.

[Zipper5 74]

And then you also have Activision hiring some new developer to bring the Call of Duty franchise into the action-adventure genre.

... Yeah, 'cause that will work well.

[CW001 10]

And then you also have Activision hiring some new developer to bring the Call of Duty franchise into the action-adventure genre.

... Yeah, 'cause that will work well.

*spits out tea*

CoD as an action adventure?! That cannot be right. Where did you hear this?

[Zipper5 74]

Here.

Yes. Unfortunately, it is true.

[Flash Thunder 10]

BAAAAAAAW

I wont touch another COD game again after the shitstorm that was Modern failure 2, can't even play a game online with my friend, always randomly booted.

Plus I can imagine, invisibility perk, silenced flamethrowers, double tapped grenade launchers!

lulz

[AndresCL 10]

I hope everything turns out for the best, otherwise the COD franchise will go even more downhill than it already has

[jeza 5416]

Really sad to hear about those 2 guys being fired, i loved call of duty originals, and enjoyed most up untill mw2. As for Cod as adventure game, oh dear, i mean, oh dear, think MOH afghan may cause them to buck their trend as that will be serious competion along with bc2.

[sesdelta38 10]

I've been reading about. I also heard that there's a Call of Duty MMO in the works.

[Bulldogs 10]

Call of Duty Action/Adventure.... I kinda get the feeling of the Tekken 6 adventure part.

[CW001 10]

Here.

Yes. Unfortunately, it is true.

*spits out tea again*

OH MY LAWD!

[STALKERGB 6]

The court papers if anybody wants to read them...

Linky

I hope IW win this thing, I personally would love to see CoD go back to its routes, the original game was brilliant and it seems ActivisionBlizzard (are they called that yet?) are only hurting the franchise with evil schedules and release dates.

Edited March 6, 2010 by STALKERGB

[Aeneas2020 10]

I would imagine and i have seen it written in other places that Treyarch (Cod3 and Cod: WAW, not to mention spidey 2 on the ps2...i like the last one a lot btw) will be taking over the COD reins if this really goes this far. I loved the original cod and in fact its where i really developed my modding skills however IW personally did something to me that left me with a lot of bitterness towards the company. Having said that this is a sad departure for these two gentlemen and it would seem as though IW have been muscled out of the baby that they fought so hard to create in the first place after most of them worked on the medal of honor games and found EA to be too much of a bastard publisher (one of many reasons if i recall correctly). Either way this will be interesting it seems like we may have another arma2 vs ofp: dr type situ in the making.

If nothing else though either IW or these two gents (who may set up a new company) might create something similar to the COD games that made them sucessful but give a fresh new life to the series/forumla because at the moment their games are like chuck norris films.