Activision counter-sues Infinity Ward founders
Activision is suing Call of Duty creators Jason West and Vince Zampella for attempting to "steal the studio".
Activision's new lawsuit alleges that West and Zampella's behaviour is part of "an unlawful pattern of conduct" to try and steal one of the publisher's most valuable assets - the Infinity Ward studio itself. The accusation follows the resignation of two Modern Warfare 2 lead developers, Todd Alderman and Francesco Gigliotti, who had both helped launch the original Call of Duty. It's speculated that the pair may again join forces with Zampella and West.
According to the LA Times, Activision's new lawsuit also reveals that the publisher hopes to have Modern Warfare 3 released by late 2011 - and that Zampella and West actively tried to delay pre-production of the sequel.
The lawsuit also expands on rumours that Zampella and West have been meeting with Hollywood talent agencies and game publishers to start a new IP with Activision's competitors by making mention of "a secret trip by private jet to Northern California, arranged by their Hollywood agent, to meet with the most senior executives of Activision's closest competitor."
The most interesting single accusation of all though harks back to the on-going royalty disagreements between the studio and the publisher, with Activision saying that Zampella and West were the ones causing delays in royalty payments "in order to make these employees easier to poach when West and Zampella executed their plans to leave the company and set up their own company."
Zampella and West's lawyer has labelled Activision's allegations as "false and outrageous".
EA, who is strongly rumoured to be in talks with the Infinity Ward founders, has been quick to get a quip or two in as well, with spokesperson Jeff Brown saying that "[EA doesn't] have the time to comment on the many lawsuits Activision files against its employees and creative partners."
Check out our Modern Warfare 2 review for more information on the game, then let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Discuss in the forums ReplyI have moved away from them for good, more 'hand bags at dawn' type stuff will only alienate customers....
+1
MW2 peer host system they use is unreliable, shot lag/network lag is way to bad in that game (plays like an console game, gears of war users will know what shot lag is host most of the time always wins)
After paying good money for MW2, and learning that IW/Activision thought it was a good idea to build camping into the game and celebrate the most deplorable of "gamer" types, whilst simultaneously tying the hands of decent players behind their backs, I shelved it for good.
All they care about is making as much money as possible at any cost, with as little effort as possible; which alone is no way to expect long-term business from customers.
It's just short-sighted and amateurish.
They are both fit only for the superficial console gaming market where the vast majority of gamers are satisfied as long as things are shiny, shiny, :p
Here's to both their downfalls!
:)
EA, who is strongly rumoured to be in talks with the Infinity Ward founders, has been quick to get a quip or two in as well, with spokesperson Jeff Brown saying that "[EA doesn't] have the time to comment on the many lawsuits Activision files against its employees and creative partners."