I can't wait to hear the discussion about this in the podcast. I guess this also means we will be getting the podcast a good bit later then usual.
Infinity Ward
Company »
Founded by ex-2015 employees, Infinity Ward is a game development company known for its highly acclaimed Call of Duty franchise.
Activision Cans Infinity Ward Studio Heads
"I'm totally flabbergasted over here, but of course, we're not getting the entire story. One has to wonder if we ever will."
I remember feeling exactly that way, on November 28th 2007. It kinda stank.... BUT, check it out. Things worked out for the better.
" I can easily see Activision installing a "company man" to run the studio from here on out, prompting a further drop in morale and perhaps some high profile resignations. "
" Activision Publishing chief technology officer Steve Pearce and head of production Steve Ackrich will head up the development house on "an interim basis." Furthermore, Call of Duty-related business will now be overseen by Philip Earl (now ex-head of Activision's Asia-Pacific region). "
"It won't be too long until Kotick and Activision will find a way to fuck with Blizzard as well I bet. Someone needs to bring down the emperor. "
You're wrong, Blizzard is just as bad, that's why Blizzard has/had no problem with the constant bullshit coming from Activision. If that weren't the case, Blizzard wouldn't have played it so safe with D3 and SC2 and the original D1 D2 team wouldn't have been laid off.
Kotick just needs to die or get fired himself. The man is nuts and his only goal is to make money no matter the cost. It's going to lead to his demise and the companies demise eventually.
Like shit is so so serious that we had to call it insubordination.
Bring on the court martial and the firing squad.
Except the firing already happened ... sorry bad pun ><
Edit: Fark they also made a military shooter, that's kinda too much irony right there. :(
Well, there's a great developer completely destroyed, along with a series that will likely never recover from this. You have to admit, Call of Duty is always better received when it comes from IW... sounds strange, but I think there is a lot of loyalty among the fans for the developer.
It sucks those guys lost their job, and Kotick is a worthless prick, but come on! How could you not see this coming. IW made it big and now the head cocks are going to make their own studios out of it. The same thing that happened with Bungie and others. I wish the all the best of luck.
Unlike a lot of people here, I think I'll wait till we get a better understanding of the situation before I go labelling accusations at Activision. Insubordination can cover wide range of issues, and if Activision have filed an SEC complaint against the now former heads of Infinity Ward there may be some serious wrong doing on their parts.
Oh, man. This is part of an end-of-the-world conspiracy:
1. Valve releases that crazy update to Portal that seems to hint at Episode 3
2. The PS3 has software problems that affects a ton of people (the platform having no record ever of widespread software issues)
3. This...
What's next? Duke Nukem Forever coming out next week? Macs all over the world getting deadly viruses? What's going on?!!!!
I guess we'll just have to wait and see...
Hmm.
Certainly makes you wonder if we may have misinterpreted Kotick's DICE speech all along:
"If you have a company and you want to protect your creative freedom and the integrity of the creative process, if you want to retain your identity and culture, if you want the support of the mothership and the resources of the mothership, we're a really great mothership. But if you want to sell out and move on, there are definitely other companies to talk to."
Now I know this is just another piece of speculation to add to the already towering pile, but considering what just went down with IW you could easily picture this as having been a thinly-veiled warning shot to any rebellious devs under his wing... Especially any that may, for example, be being 'insubordinate'. The 'sell out and move on' comment is particularly interesting, considering the rumours about IW wanting to jump ship.
It could mean a lot of things, I suppose. But that whole 'I'm not a dick' thing increasingly seems to have had more of an agenda behind it than his own PR. So unlike ol' Bobby-boy, too.
There seems to be some confusion. They didn't file a complaint against these guys WITH the SEC. People are talking about "oh, shit, what they did must have been serious if they filed it with the SEC!"" Unlike a lot of people here, I think I'll wait till we get a better understanding of the situation before I go labelling accusations at Activision. Insubordination can cover wide range of issues, and if Activision have filed an SEC complaint against the now former heads of Infinity Ward there may be some serious wrong doing on their parts. "
The SEC [Securities and Exchange Commission] enforces regulations on the securities industry (stock). So basically, Activision is legally obligated to disclose certain goings on inside their company as it may effect stock prices, etc. If they didn't disclose and the stock went up or down and someone knew about it, and bought or sold stock based on that information, that's insider trading.
So, "insubordination" could be publicly basing the company (which we know they did), refusal to fire people (which is rumored), refusal to adjust their dev schedule, or even talking to another publisher about leaving Activision. All of those things could be "insubordination" and a "breach of contract".
Remember, this is Activision. They will rattle their legal sword as much as possible to try and screw anyone that they don't like or don't want to make money, etc (see Brutal Legend).
I'm glad. They will hopefully make a new studio that is free from the big 2 publishers, making a better game than they were able to under the Activision fist. Just don't go to Ea, that's the only thing worse than Activision.
edit-may not be getting the next CoD, well or the one after (which would be the IW CoD).
" I'm glad. They will hopefully make a new studio that is free from the big 2 publishers, making a better game than they were able to under the Activision fist. Just don't go to Ea, that's the only thing worse than Activision. edit-may not be getting the next CoD, well or the one after (which would be the IW CoD). "EA is not as bad as Activision. In fact, Activision is worse than EA ever was and EA is WAY better than it used to be. They've put a lot of work into reforming their image and business structure. Probably why they're not as successful, but also why we have more new and good franchises like Skate and Dead Space.
Also, if they go anywhere, it'll likely be to EA.
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