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Infinity Ward Lead Developers Axed Unexpectedly

Posted by Soulskill on from the let's-blame-the-dedicated-server-fiasco dept.

RogueyWon writes "Kotaku is reporting that Infinity Ward, the development studio behind Modern Warfare 2, has been at the center of strange events recently. Jason West and Vince Zampella, two lead developers, have been fired by parent company Activision for 'breaches of contract and insubordination.' Speculation is rife as to the reasons behind this; following Modern Warfare 2's spectacular sales figures, it seems unlikely that the studio's performance could be to blame."

9 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Activision by sopssa · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's Robert A. Kotick's business plan. Infinity Ward didn't want to work on more Modern Warfare games, as they previously stated, so Activision got angry as they obviously want to milk the cash cow more. It's even worse than how EA releases sports games every year (which still make sense to sports fans).

    - business strategy focused on developing intellectual property which can be exploited over a long period, occasionally to the exclusion of creating new, risky or niche titles.
    - he stated that focusing on franchises that "have the potential to be exploited every year on every platform with clear sequel potential and have the potential to become $100 million franchises"
    - "We have a real culture of thrift. The goal that I had in bringing a lot of the packaged goods folks into Activision about 10 years ago was to take all the fun out of making video games." Kotick later stated he tries to promote an atmosphere of "skepticism, pessimism, and fear" in his company and, "We are very good at keeping people focused on the deep depression."

    Yeah, Activision sounds just lovely. I just keep wondering why Vivendi doesn't put them in shape, but probably it brings money in now. I just hope Activision dies quickly. At least EA has started to bring some innovation again.

    Earlier Activision gave trouble to Brutal Legend developers, and they said it good:

    Getting mad at Activision for this kind of thing is like getting mad at an ape for throwing feces. It's just how the beast communicates.

    1. Re:Activision by Pojut · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Soon you'll be working the burger line.

      You know what the funny thing about this stereotype is? Burger line workers at McDonald's make the most money, besides the shift managers. In fact, the money they make isn't bad considering what their job involves. When I worked at McDonalds when I was 16 (almost 10 years ago...geez) the sandwich line guys made something like $8.50 an hour. Keep in mind, that was between 1999 and 2000...

      True, it isn't much...but it isn't bad, all things considered.

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    2. Re:Activision by Pojut · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Oh, and also for the record, I LOVED working at McDonalds when I was younger. I was the only native English speaker in the store, so I got put on the "first" register for the drive through...that meant I got to sit in that little hole taking drive-through orders and taking money. It was AWESOME. Take money from the guy parked at the window while entering the next order. Didn't have to worry about putting food together, dealing with customers wanting extra stuff, dealing with a slippy floor or a hot kitchen...it really was a lot of fun. I only made $6 an hour, but all I needed the money for was putting gas in my truck and getting a little something building up for when I moved out.

      I only worked there a little over a year, but it was a TON of fun. Having fun working there required nothing more than realizing that problem customers were bitching about cheese and french fries. CHEESE. AND. FRENCH. FRIES. How sad does your life have to be to complain about fast food? Obviously worse than working at McDonalds, ha!

      --
      Living With a Nerd
    3. Re:Activision by abigor · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's important to note that while Scandinavia has an awesome social safety net, it does so by maintaining pretty much the lowest corporate tax rates in the Western world (personal taxes pay those bills). Low corporate tax rates don't sit well with many American socialists, who I find see corporations as enemies rather than partners.

      Also, I can state from experience that there is a definite nanny-state feel to life in northern Europe. People who like a lot of freedom in life, whether it's home schooling of children, lower taxes, personal privacy, or whatever, won't like it there much.

      Canada has a good balance - a decent safety net but lower taxes than the OECD average and tremendous personal privacy protection and personal freedom. It's not really a socialist country other than healthcare though, and even then, there is a parallel for-pay system. Union memberships are at an all-time low too.

  2. wow, they even didn't try to hide main reason by postmortem · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In a nutshell, developers had better vision for products and keeping niche on right track than management, so managmeent fired them.

  3. Re:Good. by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    non compete clauses are not enforceable when the clause will cause you undue hardship.

    I.E. you are a game programmer, and your clause says you cant program at a competitor. Well EVERYONE is their competitor, there fore the clause is 100% unenforceable.

    Remember, just because it's in a contract or a lawyer says it does not make it real nor enforceable. I personally strike out any clause like that, initial next to my strike out and ten sign it. I have never signed a contract that I did not modify.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  4. Re:Good. by kimvette · · Score: 3, Interesting

    When you're fired, such agreements are usually considered null and void since the employees are acting in good faith but the employer is not.

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  5. Re:Why is this news? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    They are not programmers or lead developers.
    They were co-founders and Chief Technology Officer/President and the Studio Head/Chief Creative Officer of the company.
    Which I guess means they were in charge of everyone at Infinity Ward, or pretty high up anyway.
    Before they were acquired, that would make them senior management. Afterwards, middle management.
    Since their titles included "game director" I guess that means they also liked to dabble with the design when time permitted.

    Anyway, the fight is less likely about TPS cover sheets and more likely about the allegation that Activision has made $1 billion in revenues from the studios game and not paid a penny in royalties.
    And of course the original Activision (before Kotick bought the brand name and got rid of the company) was founded because Atari didn't give their people no respect...

  6. Re:OK by Lehk228 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    from what i hear, bad as the hacking is on the PC side, it's worse on console.

    --
    Snowden and Manning are heroes.