[Update] Activision Claims EA Tried to Drink Its Infinity Ward Milkshake

[The Lost Big Boss]

There are no words for this. It just...I...ugh.

A wise man once said "A picture is worth a thousand words." I can't agree more.

How many words is that worth?

2154.315 Rounded up of course.

 

[Delusibeta]

People is there any truth behind EA contacting them, or it is just a random claim by Activision. I didn't read anything backing up Activision's claim.

While there's a possibility that West and Zampella met up with EA's big cheeses, there's little in the way of evidence in what they did during said meetings. And, honestly, claiming John Riccitiello cooks a mean BBQ does not mean "we want to work for EA" And I could make an argument for "accomplish some interesting chaos," if it was proceed by the words "Let's play Just Cause 2. Why the hell we didn't think of this, we don't know. But you can".

Honestly? I don't see where EA broke any laws.

 

[Bill_Stanbrook]

I'm not sure that there are any good guys in that little fracas.

 

[DTWolfwood]

man they can make this into a movie! Finally get to see 2 800lb Guerrillas go at it!

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I understand that it is supposed to be a business but you don't own your employees. They are not your property. If they want to leave and quit they can it is up to them. If they did sign a contract however, they should honour it unless the contract was breached by Activision which it could of been by withholding royalties.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm not actually sure. If what Activision say is true then fair enough. But it might not be.

Hmmm...

 

[Saucycarpdog]

I think personally that Activision and West/Zampella are all responsible. West and Zampella did try to leave and go against their contract.

But Activision is a much biger villain here. They treated IW's employees like crap and never thought anything of it. I hope that that IW's employees group that is suing Activision right now wins. Almost $300 million out of activisions pocket would be nice to see.

 

[Angerwing]

lets face it if you have to use "insintives" to get people to work for you then you realy shouldnt be surprised when they leave you.

I disagree. Rewarding hard work, but not punishing lazy work? That's a good idea for a company to run. Hell, I work on commission, so literally half my pay comes from sales and incentives. Hard work = profit. A good rule in general.
Regardless, as a lot of people seem to be overlooking...

Spoiler: Exhibit A

Still, Activision, if you think that gives you the right to enforce police-like rules on the studio, hold up their royalties and demand work continuation from them, think again.

...by preventing Infinity Ward employees from becoming eligible for paid incentives so they would be easily lured away to "disrupt and destroy Infinity Ward...

The people who gave you your biggest money cow became illegible for paid incentives right after they released it? Cool.

The amendment also states that West and Zampella, with the aid of EA, neglected to perform their expected duties as executives by refusing to work with Treyarch on a "unified brand," and by preventing Infinity Ward employees from becoming eligible for paid incentives so they would be easily lured away to "disrupt and destroy Infinity Ward."

That wasn't Activision withholding money from Infinity Ward employees. That was the fucking Infinity Ward heads.

Much of Activision's current reputation is likely related to the situation that saw Infinity Ward's heads ousted from the company. Hirshberg points out that there's two sides to every story, and believes "there's definitely some disconnect between the perception and the reality."

You're god-damn right Hirshberg.

I don't know about you guys, but that's terrible business practice and the sign of a dishonourable person. I'd fire them ten times over. I'm with Activision on this one.

 

[ShadowKirby]

Regardless, as a lot of people seem to be overlooking...

Spoiler: Exhibit A

Still, Activision, if you think that gives you the right to enforce police-like rules on the studio, hold up their royalties and demand work continuation from them, think again.

...by preventing Infinity Ward employees from becoming eligible for paid incentives so they would be easily lured away to "disrupt and destroy Infinity Ward...

The people who gave you your biggest money cow became illegible for paid incentives right after they released it? Cool.

The amendment also states that West and Zampella, with the aid of EA, neglected to perform their expected duties as executives by refusing to work with Treyarch on a "unified brand," and by preventing Infinity Ward employees from becoming eligible for paid incentives so they would be easily lured away to "disrupt and destroy Infinity Ward."

That wasn't Activision withholding money from Infinity Ward employees. That was the fucking Infinity Ward heads.

I know right, it's like people are not even reading the article. Well, they probably don't. They just see the word Activision and post the usual "Acti is evil!" lines.

From the actual article back at Gamasutra:

Activision also claims that West and Zampella refused to cooperate with the process that would allow Infinity Ward developers to be paid retention incentives, in an alleged attempt to make it easier to lure other staffers away with them. The suit claims the pair "were already appropriating for themselves approximately 1/3 of the total Infinity Ward bonus pool each quarter."

If Activision's lawyers have papers to back up this claim, this is a pretty crass move, especially if the motive behind it was too: "make it unlikely that these employees of Activision?s Infinity Ward studio would remain with Activision, West and Zampella attempted to block those employees from receiving significant equity grants and/or other compensation"

Also:

The publisher exhibited new documented evidence in the complaint regarding a business meet-up between EA and the two executives from EA's own records, and files from talent agents and attorneys.

It's not just bullshit claims, they have documents backing them.

I mean, come on!:

"On the same day that Treyarch released a video trailer promoting a follow-on product ? a ?map? pack or ?downloadable content? ? designed for players of Treyarch?s game Call of Duty: World at War, West and Zampella released a marketing video for Modern Warfare 2 with the purpose of hurting Treyarch?s and Activision?s marketing efforts.

Far from being remorseful, West attempted to justify his actions on the grounds that Treyarch had insufficiently coordinated with Infinity Ward by stating: ?We released on the same day as you because we had no clue you were releasing anything. We are not happy about it.? The real truth, however, was revealed by a series of text messages between West and an Infinity Ward employee contemporaneous with the video trailers? release.

The employee texted West that ?treyarch released their mp dlc video.? West responded: ?Super nice? We release our video? Crush and destroy with our video.? The employee answered: ?We already did. And . . . we already did.? West?s following comment: ?Nice.? Thus, West?s own words reveal his intentional strategy to ?crush and destroy? his fellow developers at Treyarch."

I know it's "cool" to hate on Activison and that reading is hard for a few of you guys, but this is not about which company's game you like the most, or which one you think is "less evil", whatever evil means to you. It's about breach of contract and corporate sabotage.

 

[icyneesan]

Rerelease Medal of Honor Allied Assault in HD for $10. I guarantee at least 500 million sales.

 

[kebab4you]

Even if Activision is right in this case I'm still cheering for EA, only for the reason that Activision got nothing loveable about them.

 

[coldfrog]

Update: EA has responded to Activision's amendment by saying that it's all true. Just kidding. In a statement to the LA Times, EA spokesman Jeff Brown wrote: "This is a PR play filled with pettiness and deliberate misdirection. Activision wants to hide the fact that they have no credible response to the claim of two artists who were fired and now just want to get paid for their work." I say they just settle the dispute with a multiplayer game of Doom II [http://store.steampowered.com/app/2300/]. Shotguns and rockets make everything better.

Does the loser have to buy the winner pizza for a month and debug their homework? Is it college rules here?

 

[Booze Zombie]

This is just pathetic now, Activision.
You scammed your own employees outta money and they want it, face it, you're boned.

 

[Random Argument Man]

I can somehow imagine John Riccitiello and Bobby Kotick recreating this scene...

 

[Albino Boo]

Wait, am I missing something, or did nothing happen against the law here?

As far as I know, Activision doesn't own its employees, they can ride in whoever's private jet they want.

ehmmm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interference. In other words if Activion have real evidence they then they are screwed.

 

[mjc0961]

Update: EA has responded to Activision's amendment by saying that it's all true. Just kidding. In a statement to the LA Times, EA spokesman Jeff Brown wrote: "This is a PR play filled with pettiness and deliberate misdirection. Activision wants to hide the fact that they have no credible response to the claim of two artists who were fired and now just want to get paid for their work." I say they just settle the dispute with a multiplayer game of Doom II [http://store.steampowered.com/app/2300/]. Shotguns and rockets make everything better.

Okay I totally believe you EA, because you guys aren't just as scummy as Activision.

I like the shotguns and rockets idea, but I say we make them all play with live ammo.

 

[LastMondaysHangover]

Well, looks like I won't be playing Call of Duty ever again (seriously)

 

[Delusibeta]

Wait, am I missing something, or did nothing happen against the law here?

As far as I know, Activision doesn't own its employees, they can ride in whoever's private jet they want.

ehmmm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interference. In other words if Activion have real evidence they then they are screwed.

And likewise, if Activision doesn't have any real evidence (emphasis on the word real), then Activision is screwed.

 

[MetalGenocide]

Corporate lunacy. It never stops.