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Infinity Ward boss fired by Activision?

Published on 2nd March 2010 by Joe Martin

Reports are still coming in, but Activision security have apparently 'stormed' Infinity Ward's studio.

This story isn't complete yet and arrives second hand via G4, but apparently Activision's security has 'stormed' Infinity Ward's studio and IW heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have been fired.

The trail starts with a SEC filing made this morning which claims insubordination and breaches of contract from two senior IW team members. Both Zampella and West were known to have had clashes with Activision management.

"This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation," read the filing. "At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company."

Earlier today G4 also reports that Activision had security enter the Infinity Ward studio.

"[A] bunch of bouncer types [showed up]," one source at Infinity Ward said, who couldn't find out what was going on but said that staff were confused and on edge.

Since Security entered the building Infinity Ward's CTO, Jason West, has updated his Facebook and LinkedIn profile to say that he is no longer employed at the company, leaving after more than nine years with the team.

Reports are still coming in and Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling has said that he too is still scrambling for information at this point.

"Getting mad at Activision for this kind of thing is like getting mad at an ape for throwing feces," tweeted Tim Schafer, who has also clashed with Activision from time to time. "It's just how the beast communicates."

Thoughts in the forums, please.

34 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Leitchy 2nd March 2010, 11:30

"...Activision's security has 'stormed' Infinity Ward's studio and IW heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have been fired for not including dedicated server support in the latest Call of Duty game..."

If only it was true :)

Flibblebot 2nd March 2010, 11:32

Seems a little heavy-handed to me. Surely better to do it quietly without all the fuss and bad publicity?

UncertainGod 2nd March 2010, 11:32

As I tweeted earlier;

Activision played BFBC2, after sitting in awe of the game for hours they then fired Infinity Ward bosses.

flibblesan 2nd March 2010, 11:36

Screw Activision.

Hustler 2nd March 2010, 12:07

Just shame Robert Bowling hasn't gone as well, given all the bullsxxxx lies he told the Pc community about MW2........

javaman 2nd March 2010, 12:12

Iraq enquiry? Maybe they blame MW2 for the war on terror.

cgthomas 2nd March 2010, 12:13

lol Funniest thing heared today. Karma is a bitch, even though I don't blieve in it

cgthomas 2nd March 2010, 12:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by javaman
Iraq enquiry? Maybe they blame MW2 for the war on terror.

Heared that was a possibility. Bowling has confessed, CNN reports

Comfyasabadger 2nd March 2010, 12:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leitchy
"...Activision's security has 'stormed' Infinity Ward's studio and IW heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have been fired for not including dedicated server support in the latest Call of Duty game..."

If only it was true :)

;)

Exactly what I was thinking.

mi1ez 2nd March 2010, 12:18

How the hell do companies get away with such low morals?

javaman 2nd March 2010, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi1ez
How the hell do companies get away with such low morals?

Money is the root of all evil............EA sets the standards others follow.

Just remembered something I saw recently:

Quote:

women = money X time
[time = money]
women = money X money = or money ^ 2
[money = Evil ^ 1/2] (root of evil for those who don't get it)
women = Evil ^ 1/2 X Evil ^ 1/2
women = Evil

Ive too much time on my hands today >.>

SNIPERMikeUK 2nd March 2010, 12:38

Breach and clear....lol

smc8788 2nd March 2010, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Comfyasabadger
;)

Exactly what I was thinking.

Except that it was probably Activision and their greedy DLC money grabbing ways who forced IW to drop DS in the first place.

It sounds to me like Activision is holding IW hostage and they're obviously not all too happy about that.

UrbanMarine 2nd March 2010, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncertainGod
As I tweeted earlier;

Activision played BFBC2, after sitting in awe of the game for hours they then fired Infinity Ward bosses.

Hahaha. I've owned BC2 8hrs now and it's better imo so far.....

Comet 2nd March 2010, 13:11

I really am curious to see what are the reasons behind this. But perhaps IW had too much success for their own good and Activision wants to take tighter control using legal loopholes in contracts.

pizan 2nd March 2010, 13:30

Maybe those 2 were the pro PC guys at IW and now that they screwed the PC crowd over, but still had success. They thought that they didn't need them anymore. I'm pretty sure Bowling was Activision's guy at IW.

Bazz 2nd March 2010, 13:54

Whatever the reason, who cares??????
They are both to blame for ruining a game which could have become one of the best community based FPS games of all time, but they ignored the fundamental philosophy of 'community based' games.

I for one don't give a hoot if they fire the lot, they'll never make a game again that I will purchase (unless its a bargin basement sale).

DbD 2nd March 2010, 14:58

Perhaps all the nade spam and noob tubes were too much and someone in Activision snapped?

Redbeaver 2nd March 2010, 15:06

dedicated servers.

thats what its all about.

mrdbristol 2nd March 2010, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redbeaver
dedicated servers.

thats what its all about.

Yep, no dedi's killed Cod.

Roll on Friday and BC2

vdbswong 2nd March 2010, 16:01

Could people be anymore bitter at the lack of dedicated servers?

wuyanxu 2nd March 2010, 16:09

is this going to mean the last of good CoD game was MW2? without dedi servers.....

ZERO <ibis> 2nd March 2010, 16:14

No as it did not have dedicated servers and therefore can not be counted. Classify it under uncompleted games or console ports but there is no actual MW2 game. Therefore the last good CoD was MW...

knuck 2nd March 2010, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdbswong
Could people be anymore bitter at the lack of dedicated servers?

Joeymac 2nd March 2010, 16:49

"dedicated servers..blah blah blah" get over it. Play the game on the xbox like everyone else.. (or play BFBC2!) and move on with your life.

It's laughable to suggest this had anything to do with (or Activision gave a **** about) dedicated servers. The IW bosses were getting too big for their boots and were kicked out. Cleaning house seems to be a given when one of these 'triple A' games is produced. The studio has got all the assets needed for more sequels and the DLC work is well on the way to completion. So then they find any excuse they can to turf out all the expendable management which intern instils fear in the lowly workers and maximises the profits.

vdbswong 2nd March 2010, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghys
no

/shrug.

Found the comments funny to start off with and then the continual follow ups just made it sound like the sort of whining PC users joke at with regards to console fanboys .

Sloth 2nd March 2010, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZERO <ibis>
No as it did not have dedicated servers and therefore can not be counted. Classify it under uncompleted games or console ports but there is no actual MW2 game. Therefore the last good CoD was MW...

This.

And with Activision booting people it would seem that CoD will never be allowed to have a return to form.

1) Make game
2) Sell to every 360 owner
3) Spam DLC
4) ?????
5) PROFIT

knuck 2nd March 2010, 19:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by vdbswong
/shrug.

Found the comments funny to start off with and then the continual follow ups just made it sound like the sort of whining PC users joke at with regards to console fanboys .

heh

I actually got over it and just forgot about MW2 but I will always be bitter when reminded of what they did. A lot of people got pissed because of that decision, you can't expect everyone to just forget :)

Joeymac 2nd March 2010, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghys
heh

I actually got over it and just forgot about MW2 but I will always be bitter when reminded of what they did. A lot of people got pissed because of that decision, you can't expect everyone to just forget :)

You should demand reparations ;)

smc8788 2nd March 2010, 23:54

Anyone else care to join me in a little WTF...

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27484/Sledgehammer_To_Make_2011_Call_Of_Duty_Activision_Reorganizes_Franchise.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+GamasutraNews+(Gamasutra+News)

If nothing else, Activision sure knows how to kill a successful franchise

_Metal_Guitar_ 3rd March 2010, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeymac
"dedicated servers..blah blah blah" get over it. Play the game on the xbox like everyone else.. (or play BFBC2!) and move on with your life.

It's laughable to suggest this had anything to do with (or Activision gave a **** about) dedicated servers. The IW bosses were getting too big for their boots and were kicked out. Cleaning house seems to be a given when one of these 'triple A' games is produced. The studio has got all the assets needed for more sequels and the DLC work is well on the way to completion. So then they find any excuse they can to turf out all the expendable management which intern instils fear in the lowly workers and maximises the profits.

I don't want to play on a 360...that would be a mager downgrade for me. I haven't played games with resoloutions that low in years.
Not everyone wants to be like everyone else. Consoles = Sheep / PCs = Leaders

wuyanxu 3rd March 2010, 10:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by smc8788
Anyone else care to join me in a little WTF...

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27484/Sledgehammer_To_Make_2011_Call_Of_Duty_Activision_Reorganizes_Franchise.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+GamasutraNews+(Gamasutra+News)

If nothing else, Activision sure knows how to kill a successful franchise

Treyarch CoD 2010, Sledgehammer CoD 2011. indeed Activision has killed Call of Duty. Hope the MW brand lives on by IW.

Gunsmith 3rd March 2010, 10:22

/golf clap.

still the retarded masses will lap it up

FeRaL 3rd March 2010, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by _Metal_Guitar_
Quote:
Originally Posted by Joeymac
"dedicated servers..blah blah blah" get over it. Play the game on the xbox like everyone else.. (or play BFBC2!) and move on with your life.

It's laughable to suggest this had anything to do with (or Activision gave a **** about) dedicated servers. The IW bosses were getting too big for their boots and were kicked out. Cleaning house seems to be a given when one of these 'triple A' games is produced. The studio has got all the assets needed for more sequels and the DLC work is well on the way to completion. So then they find any excuse they can to turf out all the expendable management which intern instils fear in the lowly workers and maximises the profits.

I don't want to play on a 360...that would be a mager downgrade for me. I haven't played games with resoloutions that low in years.
Not everyone wants to be like everyone else. Consoles = Sheep / PCs = Leaders

Word, if I wanted to play on the 360, I would have one in my living room...ever get one eith