2 CoD Creators Fired, Filing lawsuits

[l.turner3]

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/p...wsuits/1392011

Activision, Modern Warfare execs trade barbs, lawsuits
by Mike Smith


Buzz up!


March 4 2:54 P.M.


This means war.
Fans of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are used to dramatic battles, but a war of words emerging this week could determine the future of one of modern videogaming's most successful franchise.

Modern Warfare 2 co-creators Jason West and Vince Zampella, fired for alleged insubordination on Tuesday in a surprise move that shocked the entire industry, filed a strongly worded lawsuit with a California court today.

The filing described Activision as demonstrating "astonishing arrogance and unbridled greed," and accuses the company of terminating the pair in order to avoid paying them "substantial" royalties from last year's Modern Warfare 2 release, heralded as the biggest launch in entertainment history.

"Instead of thinking, lauding, or just plain paying Messers. West and Zampella for giving Activision the most successful entertainment product ever offered to the public," the filing says, "last month Activision hired lawyers to conduct a pretextual 'investigation' into unstated and unsubstantiated charges of 'insubordination' and 'breach of fiduciary duty.'"

The pair are seeking -- among other things -- damages in excess of $36 million, and a restoration of their rights to the Call of Duty franchise.

In turn, Activision described the pair's claims as "meritless," and insists it showed "enormous patience" before making its decision. The company also took the opportunity to reassert its ownership of the colossally successful Call of Duty franchise.

"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," the company said in a press release. "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."

Looks like this battle is just getting started.

Whoa this is getting crazy, activision is getting all jumbled up now, I wonder what this means for future Call of Duty realeses period.

[RiseDarthVader]

It means Activision is going to release a COD game every year IW or not and milk the franchise until they kill it in their own hands like they did with Guitar Hero.

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

It means Activision is going to release a COD game every year IW or not and milk the franchise until they kill it in their own hands like they did with Guitar Hero.

...and Tony Hawk, too.

As for Call of Duty, the series is dead to me without Infinity Ward at the helm (and even CoD:MW2 was somewhat disappointing). I will not be purchasing any more CoD games, period. Treyarch blows.

[ScarredLungs]

Originally Posted by Icemage

...and Tony Hawk, too.

As for Call of Duty, the series is dead to me without Infinity Ward at the helm (and even CoD:MW2 was somewhat disappointing). I will not be purchasing any more CoD games, period. Treyarch blows.

It's okay. We can all go play MAG

[AikonEnt]

As this is Activision this doesn't surprise me in the least. I haven't purchased one of their games for a long time and have no plans to purchase any more in the future. Plenty of other companies make games for the PS3, most of them better than anything Activision produces (and that includes COD because I have no time for it).

[alanshearer]

Werent they refusing to make Modern Warfare 3?. If so it's right there employers fired them.

[BDestroyer8418]

Originally Posted by Icemage

I will not be purchasing any more CoD games, period. Treyarch blows.

I'm sorry but COD: WAW was 100X better than MW2.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by BDestroyer8418

I'm sorry but COD: WAW was 100X better than MW2.

But it was 100x worse than Modern Warfare, and the only thing that WaW had going for it was that it ripped of MW1's engine, which was just that good.

MW1 -> WaW is basically the A team making a great game, with the B team making a glorified DLC pack for it. The DLC is still awesome, but not really because of the B team.

[Crimson King]

Activision used to be an awesome company, epecially with their Atari 2600 titles ("Pitfall!" designed by David Crane anyone?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZWRo...eature=related). They were kind people back then. I remember when the cartridges would even have the name of the creator on the label of the game. I remember the cheesy commercials like the ones for "Chopper Command"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4o3WZUfOX0 an "Kaboom" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMGXil5m7sQThey would even write back to you if you wrote them a letter. And they had patches ypu could win when you would submit a picture of high score. It's all about the $ these days, sadly.

[BDestroyer8418]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

But it was 100x worse than Modern Warfare, and the only thing that WaW had going for it was that it ripped of MW1's engine, which was just that good.

How else are they suppose to pump out a game each year they have to use that engine.

[doctorsteve]

Originally Posted by RiseDarthVader

It means Activision is going to release a COD game every year IW or not and milk the franchise until they kill it in their own hands like they did with Guitar Hero.

Don't forget "...and make a lot of money doing it."

[SoCalTiger]

Wow sounds like yet again another dick move by Activision to smear their money grubbing hands all over everything.

[SirMontyPython]

It does give me more confidence to shift to Battlefield: Bad Company 2

[Darkhawk9587]

Though this is pretty old news and no one knows the full extent of what happened, I hope that Activision loses the suit simply to show them that they should've allowed Infinity Ward to do whatever they wanted. Activision had no faith in Modern Warfare when the first one came out and the sequel has made them over a billion dollars. Infinity War, if the rumors are true that they wanted to do a new IP, should be given that freedom.

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by doctorsteve

Don't forget "...and make a lot of money doing it."

Also, don't forget they did the same thing with the Tony Hawk series. I bet Neversoft ends up making CoD games at some point.

It's really simple. Boycott Activision for any titles after CoD Modern Warfare 2.

Don't support a publisher that systematically destroys its developers, while screwing gamers in the process. I'd rather buy games from EA, and that's saying a lot.

[Solidus911A]

Bobby Kotick is one greedy SOB!!