Infinity Ward Problem

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Libara

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ORIGINAL STORY: Something's happening at Infinity Ward right now.
A source close to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 developer 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."
The mood around the Infinity Ward offices is currently described as "freaked out" and "confused."
"We just wanna make our games," said my source.
I've contacted Activision for comment on the ongoing situation at Infinity Ward. Stay tuned.
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http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/7...-Studio-Heads-Missing-Staff-Freaked-Out-.html
 
It's not that big of a deal. When the now IW devs got popular with Medal of Honor they did the same thing when EA locked them down. This'll be the second time they've done this. In IW terms this means, "I'm tired of Call of Duty and want to make something else." Just like how they can't handle fixin' the broken disaster that is MW2, they don't know how to properly go about leavin' a business as well.
 
Well I don't blame them, activision is whoring out the series.
 
And they will continue to whore any and all projects they take on. Why not right? We keep buying into the hype based on the success of past releases just to find they keep falling shorter and shorter.

I think 1 yr span before another release is a red flag in itself. But if it is IW wanting to keep a decent name for themselves we certainly can't blame them.
 
Morcheeba said:
And they will continue to whore any and all projects they take on. Why not right? We keep buying into the hype based on the success of past releases just to find they keep falling shorter and shorter.

I think 1 yr span before another release is a red flag in itself. But if it is IW wanting to keep a decent name for themselves we certainly can't blame them.
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After what MW2 was, I'm certainly not buying another Cod game, even more so if the rumors of the next one's setting are true.
 
Personally, I liked MW2. Story was a bit short but multiplayer was greatly improved over the first one, imo.
 
Jason West and Vince Zampella, the men at the centre of this week's drama at Call of Duty developers Infinity Ward, have filed suit against Activision over claims they are owed "substantial royalty payments".

"Activision has refused to honor the terms of its agreements and is intentionally flouting the fundamental public policy of this State (California) that employers must pay their employees what they have rightfully earned," said the pair's attorney, Robert Schwartz, of law firm O'Melveny & Myers. "Instead of thanking, lauding, or just plain paying Jason and Vince for giving Activision the most successful entertainment product ever offered to the public, last month Activision hired lawyers to conduct a pretextual 'investigation' into unstated and unsubstantiated charges of 'insubordination' and 'breach of fiduciary duty,' which then became the grounds for their termination on Monday, March 1st."

West and Zampella are coming out swinging. "We were shocked by Activision's decision to terminate our contract," Jason West says. "We poured our heart and soul into that company, building not only a world class development studio, but assembling a team we've been proud to work with for nearly a decade. We think the work we've done speaks for itself."

"After all we have given to Activision, we shouldn't have to sue to get paid", Zampella adds.

Interestingly, in addition to seeking the unpaid royalties, the pair are also after "the contractual rights Activision granted to West and Zampella to control Modern Warfare-branded games". Whether that means they want to make "Modern Warfare" games without Activision, or would seek to have the brand buried if it's without their input, is unclear. We'll update when we hear more.
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http://kotaku.com/5485295/infinity-ward-founders-suing-activision-over-unpaid-royalties

So yeah, fun times, gogo lawsuits.
 
YAY!!! I hope they win and Activision gets fucked over >.> hate Activision.
 
Elemmire said:
YAY!!! I hope they win and Activision gets fucked over >.> hate Activision.
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Agreed. Activision have gotten way too big headed, It's time they hit them where it hurts. I certainly hope that West and Zampella win this suit.
 
I don't mind MW2, in fact I haven't given it an honest enough go to have much of an opinion. But WaW was horrid imo. I'm tired of rushed projects in general tbh.
 
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Gerry said:
Agreed. Activision have gotten way too big headed, It's time they hit them where it hurts. I certainly hope that West and Zampella win this suit.
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I don't see why they wouldn't win. Kotick seems to think that in California a breach of contract based on *suspicion* means you don't have to pay your bills. He's dead wrong. The last we'll hear of it though the two will settle out of court for undisclosed amounts and the two guys from IW will agree to nondisclosure deals.
 
I hope they nail Activision to the fuckin wall, teach them a lesson for being asshats with their employees.
 
Gerry said:
This may be a rumour, but seeing as how Activision are just that evil, this is more than likely true.

http://www.vg247.com/2010/03/13/rum...g-back-infinity-ward-royalties-to-keep-staff/

I really think the all the developers at IW should just sue Activision and then leave the company, hopefully other developers will follow suit and bankrupt the publisher.
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They can't "just sue" or they would. Their compensation through royalties for lack of initial pay is gratuitous. I haven't seen where the contracts of the employees state they are in right to the royalties, just that the studio (or the bosses) is, which is the kicker. Gratuitous offers are not enforceable in a contract, but in this case they could probably sue because there was dual consideration (IW made a game, Activision made profit) but it would be longer and harder to win than it'd be worth. In this situation it's actually the two bosses that got the bone that are "evil". They should have kept their shit together long enough to get their house paid and then defect. They didn't care though, they know they'll get paid so they don't care about anyone else.

Part of me says go Activision on this one. MW2 is such problem infested game they don't deserve the fluff.
 
Bump.

Infinity Ward staff sues Activision for up to $500 million.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2010/04/infinity-ward-staff-sues-activision-for-500-million.ars

Infinity Ward staff sues Activision for up to $500 million
By Andrew Webster

The fallout between Infinity Ward and Activision has taken yet another dramatic turn, as a large number of IW employees—both current and former—have filed a class-action lawsuit against the publisher for between $75 million and $125 million in unpaid bonuses.

The report comes via G4tv.com, which has obtained a copy of the lawsuit being filed by 38 people referring to themselves as the Infinity Ward Employee Group. The suit alleges that Activision breached a contract by not paying the entirety of the royalties due to employees after the success of Modern Warfare 2.

According to the report, Activision has paid $28 million in royalties so far, but still owes $54 million for 2009, as well as other bonuses based on the first quarter of 2010. The group is also seeking $75 million to $500 million in punitive damages.

"Activision owes my clients approximately $75 million to $125 million dollars," attorney Bruce Isaacs told G4. "Activision has withheld most of the money to force many of my people to stay, some against their will, so that they would finish the delivery of Modern Warfare 3. That is not what they wanted to do. Many of them. My clients [are] entitled to their money. Activision has no right to withhold their money—our money."
Employees continue to leave

Up until now, a total of 26 employees have left Infinity Ward, which means that at least 12 members of the Employee Group are still with the studio. Previously, Activision spokesman Dan Amrich said that employees who leave the studio would be giving up their bonus, and that "the more people that leave, the bigger the bonus gets for the people who stay." In light of allegations that the money was being held as a kind of ransom to get employees to stay, those statements look rather damning.

Many of the departed Infinity Ward developers have found a new home at Respawn Entertainment.

Activision, for its part, believes it has done nothing wrong. "Activision believes the action is without merit. Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for MW2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right," the company responded in a statement.
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I really, really do hope the employees of IW win. They need to knock Activision (Bobby Kotick in particular) off their high horse.
 
I agree, GO GO INFINITY WARD!!! :D
 
I've been following this whole IW vs. Activision thing for a while now. At first, it seemed like the case between the two initially fired and activision could go either way as most of the allegations seemed like they'd come down to a he said she said sort of thing IMO. However, over time I've seen so many IW employees slowly trickle away from IW that it seems the two IW guys initially fired may actually win.

As far as this bonus thing goes, I really hope the IW guys win it, Activision has been such assholes about it. If stories like this keep getting out Activision may just cave and pay everybody just to stop the bad press, as all of the stories I've read on this matter paint them in a bad light.
 
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