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Former Infinity Ward Bosses Sign With EA

Posted by Soulskill on from the crossing-enemy-lines dept.

BanjoTed writes "MCV has revealed that Jason West and Vince Zampella – the former bosses of Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward – have opened a new studio and signed a publishing deal with Activision's fierce rival EA. The news comes amidst the backdrop of the increasingly bitter legal dispute between the pair and the owners of their former studio. It's the most astonishing development yet in what is inevitably going to end up as a very bloody saga." Their new studio is called Respawn Entertainment. West and Zampella spoke about the situation in an interview with Eurogamer.

80 comments

  1. You slave away at this for years by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've seen fire and I've seen rain. But the amount of work game programmers put in, and for such meager rewards in most cases, makes me raise a pint or 4 to them.

    Publishing houses are the same as record companies. Suck promising little guys in, work them to death, and make tons of money off the talent. Ask Ziggy Gold Dust how much trickles down to the ones doing the grunt work. How many years of youth are lost to endless deathmarches?

    Here's to you, guys.

    1. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      +1
      I always wanted to be a game developer. The sad truth is, after seeing how many of them come out with a degree and don't even end up in work, and those who do get a job but makes a meager earning, I decided on software engineering instead. I could work in the games industry, but I doubt I would, the margins are just too low. My hat goes off to those guys that do.

    2. Re:You slave away at this for years by HopefulIntern · · Score: 1

      Posted as AC for some reason..?

    3. Re:You slave away at this for years by eldavojohn · · Score: 1

      I've seen fire and I've seen rain. But the amount of work game programmers put in, and for such meager rewards in most cases, makes me raise a pint or 4 to them.

      So you're raising a pint or a half gallon to them because they've just left one evil company for a seemingly more evil company? Don't get me wrong, they should be well paid by now and if they aren't they are free to leave. But you're kind of overlooking the risks associated with publishing games. Some are bombs and very unenjoyable. Developing games is certainly close to the entertainment arm of coding. You make coders do a lot of work and it either pays off huge or (and this is the most common scenario) barely pays the bills. Just like starving musicians.

      On the other hand, we may never see MW3 because two developers (not even all of Infinity Ward) decided that they owned the title. Maybe they did half the work on those titles between the two of themselves. I don't know. What I do know is that a lawsuit is ongoing which will prevent anyone from continuing the MW storyline or building on MW multiplayer. This is not desired. If it was a matter of these two excelling individuals not being paid enough, they should put MW & MW2 on their resumes and leave it behind them. If they are so talented, any game development firm will hire them on the spot for gainful employment and maybe even give them a chance to explore developing other kinds of games. Unfortunately the situation calls for everyone to suffer--even the fans.

      If you're reading this and you're choosing game development as a life profession, know the above risks or work to change that paradigm. Because right now it seems like overworking, DRM and lawsuits are the norm.

      --
      My work here is dung.
    4. Re:You slave away at this for years by Rogerborg · · Score: 1

      "Programmers", you say? When's the last time you heard a programmer say "going forward"? I'd venture that this duo are doing the sucking in, rather than being the suckees. Er, suckers. But not the sucking-in suckers.

      Look, can you explain it in the form of an analogy featuring drunken cheerleaders? Also, expand on the sucking.

      --
      If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
    5. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I'm not the AC you responded to, but even though I have read this site for 10+ years, I still don't have an account. Why bother?

    6. Re:You slave away at this for years by nacturation · · Score: 1

      If it was a matter of these two excelling individuals not being paid enough, they should put MW & MW2 on their resumes and leave it behind them. If they are so talented, any game development firm will hire them on the spot for gainful employment...

      You mean like what just happened including a cool one million dollar signing bonus, only without the "leaving it behind them" part?

      --
      Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
    7. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Amen, brother.

    8. Re:You slave away at this for years by Norfair · · Score: 2, Insightful

      On the other hand, we may never see MW3

      Not a bad thing, as far I'm concerned. Good games don't need endless (often mediocre) sequels.

    9. Re:You slave away at this for years by Mortaegus · · Score: 1

      Am I the only one that doesn't see where it is a problem that they would court other job offers?

      I mean, seriously, if they are being offered better money to go develop games for another company, why should they be prevented from seeking gainful employment there? That kind of contractual obligation means that programmers might not get a raise, since their employer knows they can't leave, and isn't otherwise motivated to offer them anything more. Among other practices, like working them halfway past death for no reason other than increased productivity, because they're cheap bastards.

      I might be a little biased here, but isn't this a free market? Isn't this what capitalism is supposed to be? Why are they allowed to impose limitations on their employees? It would be one thing if they stole something and sold it to a competitor. They have no right to that. But their ideas, and their own personal creativity, is something they should be allowed to sell to the highest bidder.

      Is there something I'm missing here? They apparently aren't allowed to discuss other employment with their coworkers? If that kind of infringement upon free speech actually wins in court, we have much more serious problems to worry about.

      --
      The essence of time is transient. Always be sure to make haste slowly.
    10. Re:You slave away at this for years by easychord · · Score: 1

      I somehow doubt that these two guys are tightening their belts or doing much grunt work.

    11. Re:You slave away at this for years by WrongSizeGlass · · Score: 5, Funny

      Look, can you explain it in the form of an analogy featuring drunken cheerleaders? Also, expand on the sucking.

      OK, I'll try ...

      Two drunk cheerleaders are fixing their car ...
      Suzy: Gee, Tiffany, the vacuum leak in your fuel injectors really sucks!
      Tiffany: Not enough or we wouldn't be stranded, Suz!
      [giggles]
      Suzy: Why don't you trade in this Activision car for one from EA, Tiff?
      Tiffany: I would, but the EA version is just gonna be the same thing, only different.
      Suzy:: You mean like a clone?
      Tiffany: Worse, Suzy, like a sequel.
      Suzy: Ew, that sucks.
      Tiffany: Exactly.
      Suzy:: So what are you gonna do?
      Tiffany: I'm gonna keep using this one until something original comes out.
      Suzy: That could take forever, Tiff!
      Tiffany: I know, Suz, and that really sucks.
      Suzy:: Not as much as your vacuum leak!
      Tiffany: If only, Suzy. If only.
      [giggles]

    12. Re:You slave away at this for years by ManlySpork · · Score: 0

      The value of a discussion is not related to the names of the participants, rather to the content of the discussion. So in all fairness, not a single thing wrong by posting as an anonymous. Ofcourse that is, as long as people don't troll.

    13. Re:You slave away at this for years by patm1987 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I don't consider myself the best programmer, but I graduated last May and by September had a decent job as a game developer at a fairly decent pay. Don't let what other people tell you get you down (I sat through a lot of programmers telling me that it was a joke career path, but it's just the right combination of math, physics, and code to keep me excited even when I have to put in the long hours).

      --
      This signature is pure win!
    14. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not quite the same. When did it last cost $10m to record an album?

    15. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Shouldn't you frame this in as a bad analogy?

    16. Re:You slave away at this for years by deniable · · Score: 4, Insightful

      On the other hand, we may never see MW3

      Not a bad thing, as far I'm concerned. Good games don't need endless (often mediocre) sequels.

      They went to EA.

    17. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Your plot is good but your dialogue needs work. It should be more Valley Girl, like the film Clussless or Britney the cheerleader in Daria.

    18. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here, here. Not 10 years as gp, but quite a long time.

    19. Re:You slave away at this for years by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      because they've just left one evil company for a seemingly more evil company [slashdot.org]?

      No, he's celebrating them because they made a decision based on what's best for them.

      For some reason, I too often encounter developers who have some misguided loyalty to their company, as if it were somehow family, no matter how poorly they're being treated by their employer. I don't know if it's due to fear or if there's some more nefarious mind-fucking going on, because there's never any doubt that the company very seldom shares that loyalty to the worker. When your company tells you that it's like a big family, and cares about the employees, try to bargain collectively with them and see how quickly you'll be disowned by your "family".

      I've actually seen contract workers, who employers use specifically to avoid giving them any sort of benefits or stability, that have a sense of loyalty to the company. And I've also seen a lot of companies who try to use bogus emotional appeals and manipulation to get workers to have warm feelings and then not hesitate to screw them over.

      I'm going to toast these 4 developers too, because for one moment they've taken control of their own destinies and played one evil company against another. You've got to take your victories, however small, where you find them.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    20. Re:You slave away at this for years by MaWeiTao · · Score: 1

      These guys are management, not guys down in the trenches doing the dirty work. They're not all that different from those above them and it's safe to say they were earning a pretty penny for their work. They may have had legitimate problems with Activation, but it's safe to say that their real motivation was money. EA was offering them more. They were likely bound by all kinds of contracts so there was no pretty way to break free and go work for a competitor.

      And I bet you they're going to continue churning out the same old derivative FPS. Like everything that went into Modern Warfare was solely thanks to these two. Of course, now EA can promote future games as being developed by the creators of Modern Warfare and gamers will probably lap that up. I've been noticing this obnoxious trend in gaming where project directors have become minor celebrities. And it's really all the fault of the gaming media and gamers themselves. So I'm not surprised at all that these guys would be full of themselves.

    21. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had an account once. I think. Oh well. AC FTMFW!

    22. Re:You slave away at this for years by FlyingBishop · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I expect it will be a lot like when Bertolt Brecht fled the United States for the USSR. As a socialist, he had naturally run afoul of the House Un-American Activities committee.

      Now what's curious is that in Soviet Russia, only one style of theatre was allowed - Soviet Realism, which was very straight-laced simple stuff, and of course always portrayed the Communists in a good light. But the interesting thing is that not only did Brecht get away with a very heightened and unrealistic style (his trademark "Epic Theatre") but he was able to make plays overtly critical of the regime. His blacklisting by the Americans gave him essentially unassailable credentials as a communist visionary.

    23. Re:You slave away at this for years by BobMcD · · Score: 1

      Is there something I'm missing here? They apparently aren't allowed to discuss other employment with their coworkers? If that kind of infringement upon free speech actually wins in court, we have much more serious problems to worry about.

      I do agree with you, but I also understand the concern a little better than you are expressing it here.

      Imagine you are the development shop that is paying them for their passion and their talent. If you were paying for their labor it would be a non-starter, but you're not. These men are among the 'rock stars' of game development, and their paychecks include multiple zeros. You write those checks hoping to get as much value as possible for the investment, and in a completely honorable world this would be a guarantee. In the real world, however, where a developer might be secretly working on a parachute product, negotiating a better deal with another house, and propping up a crappy failure of a product for your next release, you'd worry. You'd wonder if they were going to torch the place on the way out while simultaneously delivering a better game to your competition. You're not interested in paying them more, though, because you're already paying a lot, and you probably think they get too much. You know other talented, passionate developers within your shop who are eager to please and that aren't such a pain in the ass all the time. When they start making leaving noises, delaying your product, being unreasonable, etc - you start to confirm your own suspicions. Eventually things get so tense between you, that you start looking for ways to actually fire them before they leave on their own.

      The whole situation could be avoided with a lot of honesty and trust. It could also be avoided if other houses acted honorably and didn't entice employees to subvert current employers. Alas, this isn't the case, so we get situations like these. They're powered by greed, egos and FUD, and ultimately they're unstoppable.

    24. Re:You slave away at this for years by probangun · · Score: 1

      I've seen fire and I've seen rain. But the amount of work game programmers put in, and for such meager rewards in most cases, makes me raise a pint or 4 to them.

      Publishing houses are the same as record companies. Suck promising little guys in, work them to death, and make tons of money off the talent. Ask Ziggy Gold Dust how much trickles down to the ones doing the grunt work. How many years of youth are lost to endless deathmarches?

      Here's to you, guys.

      very very long time...

    25. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And I'm neither of the other ACs, but likewise I've read and posted here for years.

      Of course, I take it an extra step further than simple apathy. I'M A REBEL! I don't need no stinking self +1 mod from posting under a name just to get seen.

      People don't only post things anonymously simply because they feel ashamed to attach their names to what they say, which is what I see being assumed here. :P

      That and I love seeing the usually ironic anti-bot capcha.

    26. Re:You slave away at this for years by Hatta · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I sat through a lot of programmers telling me that it was a joke career path....I have to put in the long hours

      So, they were right? Youthful exuberance might keep you going today, but eventually you're really going to want that 40 hour week.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    27. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is the combination of extra hours with lesser pay. You definitely could be making more or working less elsewhere.
      After a decade or when you get married and have a kid, you'll realize that long hours are only maybe worth it if they net you major extra cash so you can retire early or hire lots of people to help with the chores that you don't have time to do because you're working the long hours, and particularly if it's the have a kid option you'll realize that nothing may make them worth it for nothing is more valuable than your time.
      This is why it's not a valid career path - much like a pro athlete, it can only be put up with for so long despite the rewarding aspects, but unlike the pro athlete, you don't end up with set-for-life retirement money out of it.

    28. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Drunk cheerleaders and a car analogy? Who cares about the dialog, I'm here for the vacuum leak!

    29. Re:You slave away at this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The margins aren't low, the pay is low. There's this kind of glamor in IT to working in the game industry when the sad truth is most people in the industry are severely underpaid and overworked. The guys at the top seem to make some pretty big money, once you get down to the people who actually get stuff done the salary just isn't there. Because of the glamor you can always pull in a noob who wants to be a "game designer" for cheap. Most companies don't really understand that it takes more than coders and artists to make a game these days. They don't understand the value of things like QA or community relations and so they don't pay these staff appropriately or value their input to the degree they should.

    30. Re:You slave away at this for years by PerfectionLost · · Score: 1

      Still, it's good to work while you're young. If you half as much you end up with half as much.

    31. Re:You slave away at this for years by Deosyne · · Score: 1

      Werd. I just log in for the post tracking, disabled ads, and not having to deal with captchas. I never understood the holier-than-thou crap that occasionally gets posted in response to a comment by an AC.

  2. Another one to avoid... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Mental note... do not buy anything from Respawn Entertainment...

  3. Thank god for EA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    He left Activision because he didn't want to make loads of Modern Warfare sequels and if there's one thing we've learnt from EA is that they're dead set against milking franchises for all they're worth!
    Brb, playing Sims 3 Crackhouse

    1. Re:Thank god for EA by the_fat_kid · · Score: 5, Funny

      Ok, you're trolling and I have mod points.
      But I just had to reply.

      The Sims 3 Crackhouse edition?
      I would spend my hard earned $$ on that title.
      Modern Warfare 9? no. Rehashed sports game 2011? no. Sims Crackhouse? Yes please.

      --
      -- Sig under construction...
    2. Re:Thank god for EA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Only if it is mature rated and I can make the bitches fuck dogs for crack. That would be fun.

    3. Re:Thank god for EA by DarthVain · · Score: 1

      Ya right. This is EA we are talking about. They would start with a gateway drug like booze or weed, and then come out with like Prescriptions drugs, Speed, Meth, etc... By the time they get to Crack house they would have ruined the franchise...

  4. If Activision doesn't want talented people... by Mabbo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... then EA will gladly pick them up. Both are mega corporations who've forgotten what 'fun' and 'creative' mean, and both are busy trying to scrape every last penny out of consumers that they can. That said, if EA is willing to back up two very creative guys who can come up with games like COD, then I'm all for that. In 3 years, we may see something pretty amazing, or we may find out the Infinity Ward consisted of more than just two guys.

    1. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by bluesatin · · Score: 2, Interesting

      EA has been getting better recently, with titles like Mirror's Edge.

      The problem being that after a moment of genius, they relapse, meaning they'll probably develop a 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc.; bleeding the series dry.

    2. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by TheFakeMcCoy · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Personally EA has been annoying the crap out of me lately. Just to play the Army of Two demo I had to create an EA account and sign in.. so I skipped it. Mass Effect 2 I had to have an EA account and it auto signed in. Dante's Inferno felt like I was playing God of War, and DLC is all over this game, $5 and you can buy essentially experience points, really....

    3. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by FlyingBishop · · Score: 5, Funny

      EA has just been getting large enough that no amount of incompetence can stop them from occasionally producing a good game.

    4. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by bluesatin · · Score: 3, Funny

      A million monkeys, with a million typewriters and all that; you may have a point.

    5. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dante's Inferno felt like I was playing God of War,

      Is that suppose to be a bad thing? Hack/Slash action games like GoW are a genre. I wouldn't hold it against a game for being in the same genre and having the same play mechanics. As long as the story wasn't the same and they do a few things differently.

    6. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by Hatta · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That said, if EA is willing to back up two very creative guys who can come up with games like COD

      How creative was that really? Medal of Honor did the dramatic war sim first, and it was at least as good. I never understood why CoD got all the attention.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    7. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by HazMat+79 · · Score: 1

      Better control scheme in my opinion.

    8. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by donscarletti · · Score: 1

      Dante's Inferno felt like I was playing God of War

      I haven't played Dante's Inferno, but I've played God of War, which makes me wonder what you are complaining about here.

      --
      When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
    9. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Mirror's edge was from beginning planned as trilogy same as Assassin's creed .

    10. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      I would like to think that they wised up a bit. They really have had some stellar games coming out lately and not so dickish moves. I dont love the VIP program in BFBC2, but i get it. My question is, when did we allow multiplayer to become a separate, premium commodity? :(

      --
      Good-bye
    11. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by DarthVain · · Score: 1

      So what your saying is that EA is too big to fail?

    12. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The very first Medal of Honor wasn't the same kind of game that Call of Duty was. Medal of Honor was almost like a stealth game, but Call of Duty was like Halo. Run through hordes of Nazis and secure the checkpoint, defend the checkpoint. It was probably the most exciting WW2 game that came out, and the genre really peaked there. After the first Call of Duty, the WW2 game market started to stagnate.

    13. Re:If Activision doesn't want talented people... by perryizgr8 · · Score: 1

      That said, if EA is willing to back up two very creative guys who can come up with games like COD

      How creative was that really? Medal of Honor did the dramatic war sim first, and it was at least as good. I never understood why CoD got all the attention.

      maybe that's because you never played it properly? i find it very exhilarating and exciting. and graphics do matter. the photorealism increases enjoyment. also the bomber level in which you drop bobs from above is very very similar to what happens in real life. most people won't be able to tell apart a real video from a real bomber airplane and mw gameplay.
      medal of honor just did not have the graphics needed to pull off a good fps. so, contrary to your thinking, mw was creative. they made a game that did something no other game did well.
      i haven't played mw2 though.

      --
      Wealth is the gift that keeps on giving.
  5. Quelle surprise by Durzel · · Score: 1

    I definitely didn't see this coming.

    You'd think after Activision's suit alleged that the pair had "been flown to a North American location to meet with a competitor" that they would've kept under the radar a bit, but I guess not.

  6. Meh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    After the giant middle finger these chumps delivered to the PC gaming community by the name of "Modern Warfare 2" I, for one, could care less where they go.

    They've both come off as extremely egotistical and greedy. So now they've moved from one huge, crappy game company to another. Who cares? If they showed anything but contempt for my business I might. As it is, I certainly won't be losing any sleep of this.

    1. Re:Meh by Dilligent · · Score: 1

      Could you elaborate exactly as to what exactly you mean with that giant middle finger? I did play MW2 and i was quite impressed with many of the details in that game. Granted, i did not play the first MW a whole lot, but seriously, MW2 was far from a bad game.

      If this is about some weird multiplayer aspect like dedicated servers.. right... i never took any interest in that (aside from LAN parties where this obviosly doesn't really apply) so i can't really comment on that... still, how does it make MW2 a bad game?

    2. Re:Meh by icebraining · · Score: 1

      It makes it a "consolized" games. It takes away the modding, the servers admins, the custom rules. It's not a bad game, it's a nice if you're a casual gamer. It sucks if you like to play something more competitive like Promod (even if you're not a "clan member").

      I never joined a "clan", but I had a few servers I'd always play in: no grenade launcher for people in level 20+, no camping in T/DM, friendly admins, 20ms of RTT.

      I played a couple of hours with MW2 in a local lan house and I tell you, I'd never buy it.

      --
      Dilbert RSS feed
    3. Re:Meh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      to each his own.
      and I don't play tf2 because of prima donnas who insist on inane rules so their precious kd ratio doesn't go tits up.
      seriously, if I wanted insanity in gaming, I would go to korea

    4. Re:Meh by east+coast · · Score: 1

      What's so "weird" about the multiplayer aspect?

      I can assure you, few PC gamers buy FPSs today for the single player version. That's why you can still find CounterStrike and Medal Of Honor servers out there. I can't remember the last time I bought a FPS and played the single player to any great length. Probably Half-Life 2.

      And I was one of the many dedicated Modern Warfare players who didn't even bother with MW2 after the dedicated servers snub.

      --
      Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
    5. Re:Meh by icebraining · · Score: 1

      But you can choose a server or two with nice, friendly people, reasonable rules and low RTT and stick with it.

      --
      Dilbert RSS feed
  7. Just trollin' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I love Valve.

    1. Re:Just trollin' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      I like turtles.

  8. Long Story Short... by esaulgd · · Score: 1

    ...There are too many rumors flying around to actually know who's in the right here. It's easy to bet on the big corporation being greedy / evil / stupid. But *if* these guys did start talking to EA or other potential partners while still on Activision's payroll, they could be in breach of contract (at least if I understood industry expert Keith Boesky correctly).

  9. Boss fight! by Vintermann · · Score: 4, Funny

    *Cue special music*

    Boss fight!!!

    --
    xkcd is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
    1. Re:Boss fight! by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 1

      Oh. I see what you did there.

    2. Re:Boss fight! by DarthVain · · Score: 1

      I was about to say, now there is a game I would love to play...

      Then I thought about it some more and realized it would be mostly composed of fat white guys throwing money and occasional lawyers at each other stomping across the workplace like Godzilla crushing the dreams (and bodies) of the little workers...

      and it made me sad. Perhaps if there was a finishing move it would make me happy.

  10. prophecy foretold by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Looks like this guys worst nightmare came true

    http://games.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=1614166&cid=31807714

  11. mod 0p by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    These rules will whether to repeat I'm discuusing has ground to a We'll be able to

  12. What? Score! by MacGyver2210 · · Score: 1

    "We really thought the EA Partners would give us the freedom and independence we needed to make great games."

    Um, what? You do know EA is an equally large and corporate entity as Activision, right?

    "We own the IP, so we can make sure it's treated with the respect it deserves."

    Oh, score!

    Having the smaller Game Development studios own and manage their own IP is the only way to assure we can have a broad range of quality games without being completely sucked into the absolutely horrid profit mill of excessive sequels and movie-based games. As far as I'm concerned, these two are heroes for everyone below an executive level in the Game Development field.

    I think I need to send a resume.

    --
    If the only way you can accept an assertion is by faith, then you are conceding that it can't be taken on its own merits
  13. If they had any sense. by RealErmine · · Score: 1

    I would imagine that their new contract with EA would include access to a high dollar team of lawyers.

    --
    Dewey, you fool! Your decimal system has played right into my hands!
  14. Not again. by admica · · Score: 3, Funny

    All I know is I'm not buying the next Call of Duty until I know it's not just another xbox port. Fool me once, shame on .. uh.. fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again.

    1. Re:Not again. by Coopjust · · Score: 1

      Replying to undo a mistaken downmod...sorry :p

    2. Re:Not again. by mjwx · · Score: 1

      All I know is I'm not buying the next Call of Duty until I know it's not just another xbox port.

      I wont buy the last Call of Duty until I find out its not just a bad console port, without dedicated servers.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  15. Re:Meh -- meh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Was that their doing or was it Craptivision's doing?

  16. Divas? by notrandomly · · Score: 1
    I'm hesitant to say too much about this case because there are a lot of rumors flying around. However, one thing that isn't getting much coverage in all of this is that these guys were apparently a couple of "divas". Very demanding, refusing to do what they were paid to, etc. If that is the case, then I fear that switching to a different publisher will only cause history to repeat itself for them. If they are indeed divas who refuse to do their job the way the people who fund them expect them to, then they will definitely get in trouble at EA as well.

    But again, rumours are flying all over the place, so don't take my word for it. I thought I would just offer a slightly different perspective than what you see in most of these articles.

    1. Re:Divas? by Whomp-Ass · · Score: 1

      Very demanding, refusing to continue to do what they do until they were paid what they were owed, etc.

      There, fixed that for you...

  17. My head is spinning... by PingSpike · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm really confused now. Which group owns the rights to the name "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare"?

    Does the other group own the rights to the name "Modern Duty: Call of Warfare"?

    And which one is the one I gotta have right now!?

  18. Bittersweet by spire3661 · · Score: 1

    I really liked the rivalry between BFBC2 and MW2. Competition is a good thing. So now we are going to have MoH vs BF vs MW, two of which come from the same house.

    --
    Good-bye
  19. What will they develop? by Holammer · · Score: 1

    With EA already publishing Medal of Honor and Battlefield. What sort of niche will Respawn have? Is there room for another FPS developer? Or will they develop yet another MMO? Their first title will be interesting.

  20. WRONG!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    The million monkeys with typewriters theory, the Internet has handily dis-proven that.

  21. What are they thinking? by metamatic · · Score: 1

    "We're sick of dealing with corporate interference in our game design, pressure to produce endless sequels, and the online play being ruined. We're going to EA, where that stuff doesn't happen!"

    --
    GCHQ Quantum Insert installed. If only our tongues were made of glass, how much more careful we would be when we speak
  22. Out of the frying pan by billcopc · · Score: 1

    So... they left Activision to go to EA. That's like dumping one psycho murderous crackwhore for her live-in sister who has super-AIDS. If they were trying to escape the shameless greed and sweatshop tyranny in search of artistic freedom and a healthier career path, they fucked up BIG TIME.

    They have the track record, couldn't they have found more respectful backers to start their own game house ?

    --
    -Billco, Fnarg.com