Begun the Infinity Ward purge has...

[Sheep]

I have to admit to thinking this was some sort of publicity stunt to steer attention away from the new Battlefield game coming out this week, but looks like some heads are really rolling at Infinity Ward:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/rumor-activision-ousts-infinity-ward-higher-ups/

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/7...-Studio-Heads-Missing-Staff-Freaked-Out-.html

Considering Activision made a filing with the SEC about key IW personnel departing, I don't think this is a stunt anymore. The only question is whether West and Zampella are the only two involved or if more cuts are coming.

Considering IW makes Activision a boatload of money (with several more boatloads following to hold the surplus cash), I'm curious to hear WTF happened and whether this has to do with the various unsubstantiated MW3 rumors floating around (e.g., Activision trying to monetize the game by making it an MMO, IW not wanting COD/MW to become a yearly Madden-like franchise, etc.).

 

[BD2003]

Yep, Call of Duty is going to be dead as we know it. Get prepared for a treyarch quality game year after year.

 

[TecHNooB]

ruh roh

 

[Tristicus]

Just saw this on Shacknews, and was going to post it. Does seem like a stunt (when I first read it). I also like this comment:

Staff "Freaked Out" and "Confused".

Did they finally read MW2's script?

😀

This will be interesting to follow...I think they are scared that BF:BC2 is a 100% better game however.

 

[Kabob]

I have to admit to thinking this was some sort of publicity stunt to steer attention away from the new Battlefield game coming out this week, but looks like some heads are really rolling at Infinity Ward:

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/rumor-activision-ousts-infinity-ward-higher-ups/

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/7...-Studio-Heads-Missing-Staff-Freaked-Out-.html

Considering Activision made a filing with the SEC about key IW personnel departing, I don't think this is a stunt anymore. The only question is whether West and Zampella are the only two involved or if more cuts are coming.

Considering IW makes Activision a boatload of money (with several more boatloads following to hold the surplus cash), I'm curious to hear WTF happened and whether this has to do with the various unsubstantiated MW3 rumors floating around (e.g., Activision trying to monetize the game by making it an MMO, IW not wanting COD/MW to become a yearly Madden-like franchise, etc.).

Can you post the text for those of us who can't get to the websites?

This will be interesting to follow...I think they are scared that BF:BC2 is a 100% better game however.

A 100% better game, man, that's a big percentage. MW2 and BFBC are totally different games, one will appear to a certain demographic and the other to a different demographic, don't turn this into another comparison thread.

 

[Tristicus]

A 100% better game, man, that's a big percentage. MW2 and BFBC are totally different games, one will appear to a certain demographic and the other to a different demographic, don't turn this into another comparison thread.

I don't need to, there is no comparison. MW2 is garbage, BF:BC2 is a great game. The end.

G4's The Feed, which has been in communication with a source at Infinity Ward, reports that organizational changes may be in effect at the FPS developer's offices. The source claims 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." In addition, The Feed notes that Infinity Ward's studio heads, Vince Zampella and Jason West, were not seen by fellow staff members after a meeting with Activision on Monday morning. A desk guard at Infinity Ward's offices was unable to confirm any of the events to Joystiq, and calls to community manager Robert Bowling went unanswered at the time of writing.

Apparently, on Monday Activision filed a Form 10-K with the SEC, which is basically an overview of the company's financial condition, and includes any information that could possibly affect that condition. This filing states, "In November 2009, the Company released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a game developed by one of the Company's wholly-owned studios, Infinity Ward. As noted above, Modern Warfare 2 was the best selling console title in the U.S. and Europe in 2009. Consistent with past practice, the Company intends to release a Call of Duty game in 2010 developed by another wholly-owned studio. The Company is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward. This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation. At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company."

Co-studio head Jason West has reportedly changed both his Facebook status and LinkedIn page to indicate that he is no longer employed. As soon as we get more news, we'll pass it along.

 

[stag3]

wow all this over no dedicated server support? lol j/k
i'm sure they will create a new studio or find another place to work easily enough.

cod is officially dead to me now as the only good releases were by IW

 

[BD2003]

Can you post the text for those of us who can't get to the websites?

Pretty much all thats confirmed is already in this post. This is definitely legit though - you generally dont file publicity stunts with the SEC, and besides, the news that the head of your biggest studio is gone isnt exactly publicity you want to have.

Futher confirmation supposedly comes from Jason West's LinkedIn saying that he's no longer employed by Activision as of March 2010, and his supposed facebook status that he is unemployed and drinking.

I guess we'll find out what happened in the coming days - could be anything from boning his secretary to embezzlement. Doubtfully something as mundane as they want to go in a different direction with CoD, as breach of contract and insubordination were specifically mentioned.

IW as we know it is dead. You cant chop the head off voltron and expect it to be the same. I always thought Jason West never got the credit he deserved for making the biggest game of all time. As long as he's not in jail there's the potential for him to start up a new studio, just like they did after getting out of medal of honor, but I fully expect CoD to languish into a second rate franchise without it's inspiration, just like MoH did.

All trolling aside, this is a huge loss to those who love Modern Warfare.

 

[bl4ckfl4g]

That studio won't be the same. Those guys were integral more so than most studio heads. I wonder if they'll start up a studio and IW employees will flock to it? Be nice to see those guys be able to make a game they actually want to make.

 

[Kabob]

I don't need to, there is no comparison. MW2 is garbage, BF:BC2 is a great game. The end.

I tried the demo BC2, lost interest in under 10 minutes...apparently it's not great to everyone (wait, people like more than one style of game...IMPOSSIBLE!!!!).

 

[digiram]

I tried the demo BC2, lost interest in under 10 minutes...apparently it's not great to everyone (wait, people like more than one style of game...IMPOSSIBLE!!!!).

Same happened to me...seems hard as hell to find anybody to kill. Idk, I might get it if my friends all pick it up and show me how to play it.

 

[EightySix Four]

Same happened to me...seems hard as hell to find anybody to kill. Idk, I might get it if my friends all pick it up and show me how to play it.

You must have been on an empty server or failed to figure out how the maps work, moving forward from objective to objective.

 

[Kabob]

I was on a full server, I still didn't like it.

Once again though, why the heck are we talking about BC2 on this thread?

 

[GCS]

Just saw this on Shacknews, and was going to post it. Does seem like a stunt (when I first read it). I also like this comment:



😀

This will be interesting to follow...I think they are scared that BF:BC2 is a 100% better game however.

Not based on the Demo. I thought it was awful.

 

[Queasy]

Here's some grease on the fire. VG247 is reporting a rumor that Activision hasn't paid IW royalties for MW2. Which is what set off today's confrontation.

 

[cyphilis]

You know, the more I read about this story, the more I think its for the best. Sure it sucks some guys lose their jobs, but no one can deny what their track record is for great games. I see some great new titles coming out of this (not from Activision, the other dudes)

 

[GCS]

Question is when that can happen as surely these guys have some serious non-compete clauses in their contracts. Plus gosh knows how long they may be tied up in legal battles.

In the end of course this had to be about money.

 

[stag3]

i also tried the bf bc2 demo for a few days, did not like it
main thing was the input lag for me, felt like all the other bf games

 

[R Nilla]

Let's hope they form a new company and bring us a new and even better IP, even if it's just another FPS.

 

[Xed]

Hmm, my guess for what will happen now

1) Mw2 will never be fixed

2) I'll still not enjoy bad company 2

3) Yay waiting for killzone 3 (or whatever fps is next)

4) Activision renames the franchise cod hero and promptly kills it.

 

[smackababy]

Question is when that can happen as surely these guys have some serious non-compete clauses in their contracts. Plus gosh knows how long they may be tied up in legal battles.

In the end of course this had to be about money.

If Queasy's post is correct, Activision may have broken the contract first and so those guys walked. We'll know soon enough. Hopefully, they can break off and start up something and get back to making games. Despite what most people say, MW2 was a huge hit regardless of the "flaws".

 

[blurredvision]

4) Activision renames the franchise cod hero and promptly kills it.

😀

 

[Kabob]

Hmm, my guess for what will happen now

1) Mw2 will never be fixed

2) I'll still not enjoy bad company 2

3) Yay waiting for killzone 3 (or whatever fps is next)

4) Activision renames the franchise cod hero and promptly kills it.

Unfortunately for me you do sound a bit prophetic...

 

[BD2003]

Let's hope they form a new company and bring us a new and even better IP, even if it's just another FPS.

In that case, things can equally go very right (MoH to CoD), or very,very wrong (Diablo II to Hellgate London).

No matter how you slice it though, this is simply bad news for those who dig CoD in general and MW specifically. For some reason hating on MW2 is in fashion right now, even in this thread, but there's no denying that haters aside, CoD has no equal and the numbers bear that out.

Here's hoping we still get at least a map pack or two for MW2 before the fallout spreads.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Despite what most people say, MW2 was a huge hit regardless of the "flaws".

Of course it was a hit, much like Halo 2 they just hyped it up so everyone would buy it on release so we wouldn't all find out the game sucked balls before we paid for it.