BREAKING: Weird happenings at Infinity Ward

[Sheep]

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

A source close to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2developer 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."

Methinks publicity stunt given the timing (one day before the new Battlefield game launches).

If it were some staff firings, it wouldn't go down like this and we would never have heard about it like this. And somehow I doubt Activision is dumb enough to axe the entire studio despite any negative opinions I may have about MW2.

 

[firehawk12]

Jason West has apparently updated his various social networking sites to say that he's been fired.

Just saying, if this was just a stunt, I don't think they'd go that far.

 

[Rii]

"Heads missing, staff freaked out."

Talk about a letdown.

 

[Hermiod]

From Kotaku.

It seems that Activision have fired Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West. West's Facebook page says he's now unemployed.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Wow, i wonder what could have prompt them to fire those head guys, especially with the amount of money IW COD series must be bring Activation in.

 

[Hermiod]

Wow, i wonder what could have prompt them to fire those head guys, especially with the amount of money IW COD series must be bring Activation in.

I believe this is the explanation for all that happens at Activision.

Edit - Update! Activision investigating "insubordination and breaches of contract" at Infinity Ward. US Securities and Exchange Commission now involved.

 

[Aragorn]

So only four Call of Duty titles this year now? To go along with seven Guitar Hero titles?

 

[Sheep]

From Kotaku.

It seems that Activision have fired Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West. West's Facebook page says he's now unemployed.

Okay, didn't see that one coming. Wonder what the heck they could have done (or what Activision thinks they could have done) to warrant all this commotion...?

 

[Hermiod]

So only four Call of Duty titles this year now? To go along with seven Guitar Hero titles?

Well, I don't know about CoD but there's only going to be one Guitar Hero game this year as far as I'm aware.

My understanding was that the next CoD game would be set in Vietnam and would be a Treyarch game.

From Kotaku.

It seems that Activision have fired Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West. West's Facebook page says he's now unemployed.

Okay, didn't see that one coming. Wonder what the heck they could have done (or what Activision thinks they could have done) to warrant all this commotion...?

Whatever they are supposed to have done, Activision have involved the SEC which ramps up the potential severity of this whole issue a great deal.

 

[Sheep]

Whatever they are supposed to have done, Activision have involved the SEC which ramps up the potential severity of this whole issue a great deal.

Agreed, this is obviously not a "We want mechs, hookers and zombies in MW2" creative differences breakup for the SEC to become involved.

 

[Hermiod]

Whatever they are supposed to have done, Activision have involved the SEC which ramps up the potential severity of this whole issue a great deal.

Agreed, this is obviously not a "We want mechs, hookers and zombies in MW2" creative differences breakup for the SEC to become involved.

Of course, as a very large, publicly traded company, Activision-Blizzard may have to be careful about everything they do - especially when firing two senior executives at a significant subsiduary - and just keep the SEC informed, so it may not be any more serious than that.

 

[firehawk12]

The firing with cause/breach of contract allows them to avoid paying West and the other person fired their termination royalties/severance. I imagine they'll settle for some medium amount later on.

That said, I find this unbelievable. They must not have wanted to do something that Activision demanded - whether that was the pay-to-play model or MW3 or CoD: Guitar Hero Hawk, who knows.

The other shitty Activision story is that they officially killed The Silver Lining, a KQ fan sequel: http://www.tsl-game.com

 

[Hermiod]

Activision-Blizzard's SEC filing is here.

Note that it mentions their plans to release a new Call of Duty game this year through another wholly-owned studio.

 

[firehawk12]

Yeah, it's the Treyatch CoD. Activision also has a new CoD dedicated studio in addition to Treyarch and IW... so... god knows what that will mean for the franchise.

 

[Haggis and tatties]

Oh god, could the COD MMO rumours actually have some truth....

COD Guitar hero.
COD Rock band.
COD Carts.
COD Buzz.
COD Trumps.

 

[Rii]

Oh god, could the COD MMO rumours actually have some truth....

I'd be surprised if they didn't.

 

[Yoda]

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.

 

[Caliburn24]

Hmm, I wonder what this means for MW2's DLC map packs. There was slated to be two packs each with five new maps released sometime this spring.

Doesn't sound like that'll happen if the company is in chaos.

 

[Jax]

Activision continue there effort to be bigger douches than EA I see.

 

[firehawk12]

Looks like it's both Zampella and West that have been fired. So the studio isn't dead - it just lost any of its identity.

I certainly hope that key people decide to leave over the next few months and they can go make their next game some place else.