Ben-DutkaThe Activision/Infinity Ward blowup isn't about to go away anytime soon but that hasn't stopped the two ex-IW leads from moving on with their lives.
Today, as reported by GameSpot , EA has announced a deal with Vince Zampella and Jason West; the publisher will be the sole distributor for any games the duo's new studio pumps out. That's right, a new studio: called Respawn Entertainment (get it?), the new development team, headed by the embattled duo, will be "in the same part of Los Angeles as Infinity Ward," which contributed greatly to the $3 billion Call of Duty franchise ( Modern Warfare 2 alone generated $1 billion). "For a cut of the sales proceeds," EA Partners often teams up with talented studios, including Valve Software ( Left 4 Dead 2 ), Crytek ( Crysis 2 ), and Epic Games ( Gears of War , Bulletstorm ). All of this within days of Activision filing a countersuit against Zampella and West, accusing them of "breach of contract and insubordination" and of being "self-serving schemers." You may also remember that the publisher said the two had embarked on a "secret trip" to Northern California…well, EA's HQ is in San Francisco and now we have this deal, here. Therefore, in an update, Activision responded quickly to this turn of events by saying:
"This agreement comes as no surprise to Activision given the myriad of improper activities detailed in the cross-complaint filed on Friday against Jason West and Vince Zampella. We look forward to continuing to work with Infinity Ward’s deep bench of proven talent on exciting new projects."
Not surprisingly, given the current struggle, Respawn Entertainment emphasized that they will retain "full control of all intellectual properties it creates." Of course, that's part of the whole battle with Activision; Zampella and West have claimed that the publisher promised them control of the Modern Warfare brand before unceremoniously firing them. The former IW bosses also seek some $36 million in damages from (apparently) unpaid royalties. And by the way, Respawn made it abundantly clear that they're currently hiring, and EA has promised to help them assemble "a world-class team of designers, artists and engineers."
And so, the saga continues. Who wants to bet that the first game from Respawn Entertainment will feature some little Easter Egg that that involves a not-so-subtle jab at Activision…?
Like Justin Timberlake once said…
"What goes around comes around"
Good luck Respawn Entertainment.
Although I wish Sony had swooped down & plucked both of them up so they become an 1st party exclusive, I'm still glad to hear they've now siding with a much better company than those other backstabbers of old.
Now I want to see them both win their case against anti-vision & then come out with…..
"COD:Future Gaming Warfare: The Taking Of HQ Activision".
(But if for no other reason, let's make this one a multi-plat, just so that the whole entire gaming nation can also celebrate too in their glorious win).
Last edited by BikerSaint on 4/13/2010 12:18:05 AM
well maybe the stories activision are telling are not hog wash after all!
just seems a little coincidental that they happen to sign with the company they were allegedly meeting with.
wonder what effect this will have on the next IW game, but than if ive learnt anything its that brand name is all that matters.
IW just like bungie could make a game of a goat taking a dump and it would sell millions as long as the title COD or halo is on it.
Bye, bye Bobby.
serves him right.
Activision losing their slaves in masse…
Todd Alderman (designer chief) 7 years in IW
Francesco Gigliotti (software eng.) 8 yrs
Jon Shiring (Programing) 5 years in IW
Mackey McCandlish (designer) 6 years in IW
Bruce Ferriz, Senior Animator. 1 year in IW
MW3:alone at home
yea… if sony would've scooped them up it would definitly would have been the icing on the cake for sony exclusives