Infinity Ward Heads Found New Studio - UPDATED

ThreeKneeNick

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Bigeyez said:
Echolocating said:
This probably won't help their court case.
It does indeed make Activisions claims of them basically planning this with EA while still at IW seem more real. Maybe Activision were actually on the right in this whole debacle?
Or maybe they started planing this because Activision was treating them badly? As far as Activision "knowing" they will start a new studio with EA, it doesn't take a genius to think as much, EA is the one able to throw the biggest pile of money at them, and they are in a position to demand every cent of it (and oh, ownership of new IP). Maybe there is some truth to both cases, its just a matter of figuring out which came first, the chicken or the egg.
 

Brad Shepard

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Cracker3011 said:
Brad Shepard said:
Shaun Johnston said:
This goes to show that Activision was right to sack these guys. It is to 'convenient' that they ended up working for EA as Activision said they were planning to do. I knew from the start that Activision were telling the truth. No way would you sack the main guys on Infinity Ward without some knowledge of their deceit. These two guys were greedy and trying to do Activision over without a doubt.
that makes no sence, they "sacked" them because they wanted to take COD in a new way, and they dident like that, and maybe they where rumored to go to EA, but heres my two cents, they could hate done it to piss them off, either way, Activision lost bigtime.

OT, i just hope Respawn doesent go down like Pandemic did...
If Respawn makes 20% the money IW does, I think EA will be happy.
they will make more then that if EA lets them do what they want, unlike Pandemic (I miss you battlefront...)
 

Bigeyez

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Apr 26, 2009
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3nimac said:
Bigeyez said:
Echolocating said:
This probably won't help their court case.
It does indeed make Activisions claims of them basically planning this with EA while still at IW seem more real. Maybe Activision were actually on the right in this whole debacle?
Or maybe they started planing this because Activision was treating them badly? As far as Activision "knowing" they will start a new studio with EA, it doesn't take a genius to think as much, EA is the one able to throw the biggest pile of money at them, and they are in a position to demand every cent of it (and oh, ownership of new IP). Maybe there is some truth to both cases, its just a matter of figuring out which came first, the chicken or the egg.
Pretty much yeah. It's all just speculation and wild guesses until they make their way to court and actual facts come out.
 

Polock

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Jan 23, 2010
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TheRealCJ said:
And, in five years, when Respawn make a groundbreaking series entitled "Oscar Mike", EA will screw them over and they will create a new studio under the careful watch of Activision.
Thanks for making me laugh out loud during class.

My teacher really appriciated it.
 

PseudoDuck

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Oct 18, 2009
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Activision may very well claim that this was West and Zampella's plan all along - and I'm sure there are a few who will agree with them on that. But West and Zampelle could easily counter that with "Well, we weren't planning it, but when Activision suggested it, it seemed like the best course of action."

Basically: "I never thought of doing it until you accused me of it" - which is just beautiful.
 

Roboto

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Nov 18, 2009
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... And the plot thickens!

I am very certain there will be more to come on this story within the month.
 

GodKlown

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Dec 16, 2009
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This revelation seems familiar to the bank robbers who end up returning to the same bank after the crime. If you didn't want to look guilty of what you were being accused of, perhaps you might have wanted to wait until the heat died down, or at least until the court case was over.

So does this mean they will create ANOTHER war-based FPS? These guys seem stuck in a creative rut, but as long as it pays the bills, more power to them.
 

Gindil

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Here's the thing I see:

We have guys fired unceremoniously for insubordination. They have to eat, they want to work, but Activision took them out of the game because they supposedly didn't want to pay them bonuses. Now... Correct me, but the last 9 years proved them wrong on bonuses, they took a franchise in an entirely new direction, and it paid off in millions. MILLIONS

Now, let's look at corporate. Activision has a habit of screwing its talent. It disbanded Red Octane, it's bought franchises that have sequel potential, ignoring great ideas such as Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters, or even fan made sequels to good games.

With a track record like that, and a boss like Kotick, can we really say that the guys formerly of IW are wrong in going to EA who recognize their mistake and are working to improve it? Granted, I'm leery of a EA causing this yet again, but if they learned their lesson (don't make the same mistake twice) then everyone but Activision can be happy.

TBH, the truth is probably that they were in negotiations with EA, but may have turned them down until Kotick forced their hand in showing how much of a 'tard he was. No matter what, I really can't like him and some of the decisions he's made. ESPECIALLY in trying to induce fear in a production studio. That's just retarded on so many levels.
 

RedHoodProdigalSon

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Oct 18, 2009
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"This agreement comes as no surprise to Activision given the myriad of improper activities detailed in the cross-complaint filed on Friday against Jason West and Vince Zampella. We look forward to continuing to work with Infinity Ward's deep bench of proven talent on exciting new projects."

To me this just sounds like activision having a hissy fit because maybe they lost their two best developers and are now just saying "Nyeeeeh well we got all these other toys ta play wid so Nyeeeeh" just an observation.
 

DonJavo

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Sep 22, 2009
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The timing couldn't of been worse, but we all got a mortgage to pay. That is how I see this jump to EA with a new studio.

It is possible that West and Zampella where looking into new places of employment, which I do not think can be considered a breach of contract like how looking at another women isn't considered cheating on your wife. The "look don't touch" policy. West and Zempella probably felt that their leaving from Infinity Ward, and subsequently Activision, was inevitable sooner or later and felt it necessary to find places that where willing to hire, without actually going to the company with full intentions to work there.

EA is probably one of few publishers out side of Activision that have the ability to draw up a contract, make a studio, and throw down the necessary copyrights and all that jazz in a short amount of time, as it is amazing what large sums of money can do. Also, it is amazing how proven talent, experience and qualifications can draw up a contract that demand certain things, like retaining independence and the like and thusly make the needed positions available without any problems. West and Zempella have proven themselves more than adequate in this industry and therefore have the ability to negotiate what they want, as EA has the resources to make all that happen quickly.

On the other hand, if West and Zempella where wheeling and dealing with EA while still employed at Infinity Ward than that can easily be considered as a breach of contract, as most companies will not allow an employee to work with the competition. Making a contract with a competitor would fall under this. This would be actually cheating on your wife with another women, to complete the metaphor. Thus making Activision in the right, in terms of breaching the contract. On the other claims of withholding pay and "interrogating" IW employees, that remains to be seen, and if these can be proved then Activision can be nabbed for creating a hostile work environment and stuff like that.

Either way, I am glad these two guys have found a place to push their creativity more freely. I look at what EA has been doing as of late, and they seem more then willing to launch new IPs (Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, ect), and support the creative flows that go into a game. It is true that EA was not much unlike what Activision is today, but EA saw the monster it had become and set to change that. Activsion has failed to see what it has become and with the way things are going, it may be a while until they make a turn around like EA, if they can make it to that point. Multi-million dollar franchises only goes so far until you milk it dry and no one cares for what you make any more. As in almost any industry, when you stop listening to the customer, you will lose the customer.
 

bjj hero

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I love that they named it respawn. I think thats inspired.

Damn right EA would back them. They have a proven track record of making money hand over fist and its great media coverage that any other start up company would kill for.
 

GotMurf

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Nov 5, 2009
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Wonder if we'll get annual 'Shooter 2010' and 'Shooter 2011' now, similar to the Madden/FIFA games that plague us? Think about it, many of the people who buy these games also play CoD:MW2 religiously. I bet they'd pay £50 a year for a shooter with new guns, new perks, etc etc.

War has changed.
 

TsunamiWombat

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DonJavo said:
Awesome stuff that this guy said 3 posts up.
All this, and, I like the name. Respawn. Dovetails nicely with their position. I guess if they had successfully jumped ship without being fired, it would have been Telefraged Entertainment?
 

Blue Musician

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Well, to be honest I think EA is making an effort to make and publish great games, like Dead Space, Crysis, Battlefield Bad Company 2 etc. so for me it's kinda of a good thing, but I'm not totally sure.
But it's far better than to stay with Activision.
 

Danpascooch

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Apr 16, 2009
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Onyx Oblivion said:
Woot!

EA!

I adore each ever since taking a risk with Mirror's Edge. And even more with this DLC plan.
How could you possibly be FOR release day DLC? From a company standpoint, it's brilliant, but from the consumer standpoint (assuming you're a consumer and not an EA worker) all it does is take game content that would have been in the game anyway and use it in order to take away your option to buy used games.

In essence, all the new DLC thing does is force you to buy new copies, instead of choosing yourself, how is that a good thing?

OT:
I am not a big fan of MW2, but I hope these two studio heads the best, and I hope Activision gets raked over the coals for pulling this shit
 

Onyx Oblivion

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Sep 9, 2008
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danpascooch said:
Onyx Oblivion said:
Woot!

EA!

I adore each ever since taking a risk with Mirror's Edge. And even more with this DLC plan.
How could you possibly be FOR release day DLC? From a company standpoint, it's brilliant, but from the consumer standpoint (assuming you're a consumer and not an EA worker) all it does is take game content that would have been in the game anyway and use it in order to take away your option to buy used games.
Don't care about the used game thing, but at least I'm usually not unlocking content already on the disc. After all, the Stone Prisoner file was quite bulky. As was the Mass Effect 2 stuff. Well, except the Cerberus Weapons.
 

Danpascooch

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Apr 16, 2009
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Onyx Oblivion said:
danpascooch said:
Onyx Oblivion said:
Woot!

EA!

I adore each ever since taking a risk with Mirror's Edge. And even more with this DLC plan.
How could you possibly be FOR release day DLC? From a company standpoint, it's brilliant, but from the consumer standpoint (assuming you're a consumer and not an EA worker) all it does is take game content that would have been in the game anyway and use it in order to take away your option to buy used games.
Don't care about the used game thing, but at least I'm usually not unlocking content already on the disc. After all, the Stone Prisoner file was quite bulky. As was the Mass Effect 2 stuff. Well, except the Cerberus Weapons.
Even if you aren't a used game buyer, it's still not a GOOD thing for you.

Just because it is not on the disc doesn't make it extra, the fact that it came on release day means it WOULD have been on the disc, but they deliberately took it off the disc in order to use as a "used game sales killer"

This little ruse is made to make you think you're getting something extra, it's like raising the price of something by 10%, and immediately after announcing a 10% sale on that item, IT IS NOT A SALE, IT IS AT IT'S REGULAR PRICE!
 

Onyx Oblivion

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Sep 9, 2008
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danpascooch said:
Onyx Oblivion said:
danpascooch said:
Onyx Oblivion said:
Woot!

EA!

I adore each ever since taking a risk with Mirror's Edge. And even more with this DLC plan.
How could you possibly be FOR release day DLC? From a company standpoint, it's brilliant, but from the consumer standpoint (assuming you're a consumer and not an EA worker) all it does is take game content that would have been in the game anyway and use it in order to take away your option to buy used games.
Don't care about the used game thing, but at least I'm usually not unlocking content already on the disc. After all, the Stone Prisoner file was quite bulky. As was the Mass Effect 2 stuff. Well, except the Cerberus Weapons.
Even if you aren't a used game buyer, it's still not a GOOD thing for you.

Just because it is not on the disc doesn't make it extra, the fact that it came on release day means it WOULD have been on the disc, but they deliberately took it off the disc in order to use as a "used game sales killer"

This little ruse is made to make you think you're getting something extra, it's like raising the price of something by 10%, and immediately after announcing a 10% sale on that item, IT IS NOT A SALE, IT IS AT IT'S REGULAR PRICE!
idk. Games are finished development before release day, and the DLC has a faster development/release turnaround then manufacturing the discs, etc.

Also:

60 + 10% = 66

66 - 10% = 59.4

Making it cheaper. But I see your point.