Killer story.

Great article, Patrick. Look forward to inevitably hearing more.

SCOOPS

Seriously, though, can you attend the trial or send someone to attend? I'd really love to see Giant Bomb coverage of this shit show.

Excellent article Patrick, thank you.

Kotick really is Dr.Evil.

MAD TRICKY SCOOPS

What the What!?

Huh, I wonder why Patrick was the only person to receive this e-mail.

As Jeff would say, "just go look at what Patrick's writing because holy shit. HO-LY SHIT."

This is insane.

@MindChamber said:

@ztiworoh: lol Im pretty sure this was sent to every orphan Annie looking game journalist they could find. Im pretty sure pattys not a special case.

Well he does kinda look like her...

Damn, Patrick! Good job dude.

@Baal_Sagoth said:

Very fascinating stuff. Exactly the type of topic I'd like to see explored in detail on gaming sites since it's pushing the boundaries of what I can follow and take in on my own. This still seems quite confusing nonetheless. The "spying on your employees" angle one could take is obviously slightly overblown because there'd always be some level of companies making sure their workforce doesn't "abuse" the on duty time to pursue own agendas. On the other hand the speculative goal of corporate investigators generally "digging up dirt" to get rid of unwanted employees seems extremely shady. What does that even mean? 'Give me some evidence of them smoking pot? Fucking another guy up the ass? Saying random politically incorect things? Getting sucked off by a secretary?'

If this turns out to be just about Activision ckecking on the CoD dudes to make sure they don't burn the company's money on their next project with EA that seems fine at least on first glance. If it goes in the smear-campaign direction it's going to be one delicious/ sad/ disgusting legal procedure. We'll see. Also, I just read the article and didn't get around to the document for now.

It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you. Jesus fucking Christ this makes Activision look bad.

SCOOPS!

@DukeT said:

Fantastic article Patrick. I have to say though, this trial is spinning out of control for Activision. I wouldn't be surprised if we heard about a settlement very soon.

Fuck the settlement. Air their dirty laundry in a courtroom.

that's some dirty business right there. this should be a good show.

Patrick Klepek, the name you trust when it comes to Activision / Infinity Ward mess.

Man, every time I hear a story like this I fucking shake my head and frown, bewildered and saddened as I think back to how the Activision name came to exist in the first place. FUCKIN' BUSINESS YO!

"There was also discussion about obtaining private access to Infinity Ward's space in order to image the contents of West and Zampella's computers by staging a fake fumigation or mock fire drill at the studio."

Wow. Somebody wanted someone fucking gone....

Damn. Corporate espionage abound! I find all this incredibly interesting.

"Bobby will take care of you."

This just gets juicier doesn't it? Now I have to follow what happens on the court date.

"Scoops" strikes again!

So you've been sat on these documents for weeks patrick. Yet the LAtimes decide to run the exact same story today. That's a hell of a coincidence ain't it.

I'm assuming you saw their article and didn't want those 2 fuckers scooping your shit.

"Tell me vhat you know about...Project Icebreaker,"

"I will tell you nothing,"

*stinging backhand*

"TELL ME VHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT PROJECT ICEBREAKER!"

*spits blood*

"...do you really expect me to talk?"

"No, Mister Zampella, I expect you to DIE!"

Damn... Yet again Activision manages to come off as a bunch of assholes. Can't wait to listen to you guys discussing this on next week's podcast :)

These are some serious scoops. Nice job.

Icebreaker was in fact a mediocre James Bond novel.

wow that dose sound like something out of a terrible Bond movie.

Patrick, you are KILLING IT with this news stuff. good job mate.

Can't wipe the grin off my face. This is horrible stuff, but I'm so excited to be reading about it. So awesome...

@paulwade1984: My guess there was some sort of press embargo which ended today.

Nice going, Patrick.

But god DAMN, that shit is terrible. Staging a fucking fire alarm to get to their computers? That's straight up spycraft, albeit shitty spycraft.

@Tim_the_Corsair said:

"Tell me vhat you know about...Project Icebreaker," "I will tell you nothing," *stinging backhand* "TELL ME VHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT PROJECT ICEBREAKER!" *spits blood* "...do you really expect me to talk?" "No, Mister Zampella, I expect you to DIE!"

This was exactly what I was thinking. Well done.

bravo patrick, fucking great job writing this.

If this is not an example of slavery at its finest, I don't know what is.

I seriously think the "crack baby basketball" episode of south park is talking about exactly this, you thought college sports was slavery, think about game design, EA and Activision are some of the biggest most ruthless slave owners around.

I got burned, because I got too close to this HOT scoopz.

Scoopin'

@jasondesante said:

bravo patrick, fucking great job writing this.

If this is not an example of slavery at its finest, I don't know what is.

I seriously think the "crack baby basketball" episode of south park is talking about exactly this, you thought college sports was slavery, think about game design, EA and Activision are some of the biggest most ruthless slave owners around.

so sweatshops and foxconn factories are all fluffy bunnies?

@ThatFrood said:

"Bobby will take care of you."

suckle on the nipple of kotick

Fantastic reporting, Patrick. Just another one of the fabled E3 mysteries unraveling before us!

Patrick be KILLING it with the hot scoops.

Also, this whole thing is FUUUUUUCKED!!!

Welp. That looks exceedingly incriminating for Activision.

If West and Zampella win, and gain ownership of Modern Warfare, it's going to be an interesting year following the end of the trial.

This should probably be more disconcerting to me, but man, this is so wonderfully, magically, moronically, desperately terrible.

PROJECT COOLBONER INITITATE!

@buzz_clik said:

Patrick Klepek, the name you trust when it comes to Activision / Infinity Ward mess.

Man, every time I hear a story like this I fucking shake my head and frown, bewildered and saddened as I think back to how the Activision name came to exist in the first place. FUCKIN' BUSINESS YO!

Indeed eh? When you think about these guys running away from Atari to form their own company because Atari weren't paying them properly or letting them spread their creative wings, it's really shocking.

Can't wait until Patrick can finally put it all together and write the book.

*jaw on floor*

@Red12b said:

@jasondesante said:

bravo patrick, fucking great job writing this.

If this is not an example of slavery at its finest, I don't know what is.

I seriously think the "crack baby basketball" episode of south park is talking about exactly this, you thought college sports was slavery, think about game design, EA and Activision are some of the biggest most ruthless slave owners around.

so sweatshops and foxconn factories are all fluffy bunnies?

oh really care to google that?

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/03/foxconn-to-improve-working-conditions/

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/15/us-china-apple-idUSTRE81E1FQ20120215

do you not see the difference here between Bobby Kotick and Tim Cook?

What in the fuck?

This is fascinating to me. Utterly seeding and dirty, but fascinating.

Looking forward to the future scoops on this Tricky. Don't let me down!

(good work so far!)

TRICK TRICK TRICKY

I wonder which will come first, the made for TV movie or an episode of Law and Order.

Damn you, Tricky. I'm alway drunk and tired when you post the best stuff. (Most of us have a day of here in sweden tomorrow, Ascension Day. That's why I'm drunk and tired.)