Ben-DutkaAfter the Activision/Infinity Ward explosion, things have changed. The developer lost many key members of its team and unsurprisingly, they want to express their freedom in a certain way.
In a recent VG247 interview with Activision president Dave Stohl, we learn that Infinity Ward is having no difficulty in hiring fresh talent, although they admit to a mass exodus of sorts after bosses Vince Zampella and Jason West were fired. And as of now, Activision is looking to help the studio rebuild and they're both "setting the bar so high," because previous projects like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have set a top-notch standard for the future. Speaking of the future, Stohl says:
"We’re not saying right now. There is definitely a strong shooter philosophy there, for sure. And I think that there’s a short- and long-term view on the whole thing. But I think we’re rebuilding a studio that can go off and build great new franchises in the future."
"Great new franchises" didn't seem to be high on Activision's priority list before; West and Zampella cited the publisher's insistence on a Modern Warfare 3 – and not something new – as a primary reason behind the strife. It'll certainly be interesting to see what Infinity Ward produces next, and whether or not long-time CoD fans will flock to snag it…
Only makes sense…. their money maker is now gone, so they must rationalize with the remaining of it. Soon they will say that they plan on releasing 5 new CODs in the next 3 years. They are money hungry, so this isn't news to me.
CoD/MW2 set a top notch standard for the future??? Hahahahaahahahahahahahahahaha!!! If thats the standard I'm going back to playing pong!
The only standard they set that Activision cares about is how much it sold.
Screw activision.. Hah liking the new transformers game though.
i have been thinkin about getting the new transformers game used just so i can not give my money to activision
MW2 did not set any high standers.
I agree with frostface lol I would rather play pong then MW2.
it set the bar for the highest selling game… that should count right?
Yeah from a business point of view that standard has been set, Activision are the only one's who benefit from that standard.
But we as gamers get shafted because of this standard. The higher Activisions sales figures go on a franchise like this, the less high quality games we get in favour of Activision churning out, mediocre at best, sequels every year consistantly.
But not just Activision, I have a feeling we're gonna see it more with other companys like Ubisoft and their Assassins Creed franchise, although they could surprise us with another great addition to the series but it'll only be a matter of time before that gets drawn out beyond its sell by date.
Milk a franchise until people stop blowing their hard earned money on it. So I guess we're all to blame in some way. Some people really enjoyed MW2 but out of the millions of sales, how many actually felt let down after all the hype. I think the negative out weighed the positive which is why there's alot of anticipation for the MoH and of course the inevitably awesome KZ3.
Not to say that all franchises are doomed to become bargain bin fodder. Can't see Naughty Dog making a sub-par Uncharted 3, nor Guerilla with Killzone 3. MoH looks promising for that franchises re-boot.
MW2 is the standard. The HIGH part is from whatever they are smoking.
The day I respect Activision again is the day they shut up and make quality games that aren't COD, Tony Hawk or Guitar Hero.
The new Transformers is a small step in the right direction, but they need to step away from franchises and try something new, a little like what they did with Prototype.
For now, my respect for Activision is at an all time low. CODs no longer make my wishlist, and I'll wait for a BIG price drop on GH 6 Warriors of Rock before purchasing. I gave up on Tony Hawk about 6 years ago. Rock Band 3 is a day 1 buy for me, and I'll see how many of my friends get Medal of Honor.
Activision needs to fire that dumb head of theirs (Kotick is it?) and get someone sensible and who actually appreciates the art and business of video games, not just the money. Great short-term strategy, but in the long run you just drive yourself into the ground with stale repetitiveness.
KO-fleas-n-TICKS is entrenched. Acti isnt going to release him anytime soon. They are making too much money. They are blinded by it at the cost of losing the respect of their audience. What they do need to do is silence him. He talks too much TIHS!!! I bet he sits back and laughs at the end of the day by all the crap hes pulled off.
Last edited by FatherSun on 6/30/2010 12:54:38 AM
I'll bet that Anti-vision's loading up their newly ruptured IW with nothing but total company "yes men".
That way they won't have to pay for another boot shine due to stomping the old IW nearly to death.
I hope Respawn comes away with a total 100% lawsuit win, and then uses their new game to stick it right up Anti-visions hemorrhoids.
I will be examining their new product carefully. Only then will we know what was lost by the exodus of the original team. Good talent is not easily replaced.
"build great new franchises in the future."
Bullsh**. It's Activision.
The only thing high on activisions list is ripping off their customers and making stupid statements about how great their games are.
Yea, well they have to say something at least. Their cash cow is now working for their strongest competitor and they have to rely on the COD brand alone to make sales, as those games aren't developed by IW any more.
Basically EA owns the MOH franchise and the new stuff ReSpawn will come out with. Hope ReSpawn's games will actually be quality shooters that add some depth and length to their SP campaigns, as is the case with MOH.
Can't imagine Acti making lots of money with their "new franchises" if they're even planning to develop some.
'setting the bar high with MW2' – my a** – one of the most hilarious comments I've ever read.
Last edited by ro kurorai on 6/30/2010 4:09:48 AM
what do you mean if fans will snag it?
of course fans will snag it!
COD is like halo, the developers could create a game where you run around picking up dog turds and it would sell in the millions!
as long as it has the COD name, or the halo name slapped on it, than it will fly off the shelfs!
Fans are scarier than fanboys…….
he's got a point. a lot of the cod fans are a little senseless that there is better stuff out there and refuse to go and buy other things aswell.
i would not say senseless.
its become a fad, everyone has it so i must join in.
one of my friends hates COD but plays it every day because all his other friends play that.
some how they enjoy playing the same game for years on end, i cant do that id get bored sh*tless!
whack.
They had a studio that made them a billion dollar game, now they'll have a studio full of people willing to take jobs at a place where a mass exodus has recently occurred. Yup, the genius of Kotick in action.
all im gonna say is activision always screw over the customers and now they've screwed over what was a good developing team, that dev team have left and should be onto better things, but activision in the end, f**k everyone over for money.
Nothing changes here. I'm still boycotting Activision.
There will be no new franchises, just MW3.
Hopefully everyone will notice how mediocre MW2 is and mayb MOH will kick ass and everyone will shift to that game and let Activision hit rock bottom till they get their heads outta their asses and hopefully start making some actual descent games that doesn't include CoD,Guitar Hero,or Tony Hawks… And hopefully in all that process, Koticks can get FIRED
Whatever. COD has its flaws and they are a handful but its still a very high quality game. It doesn't have the size of MAG or the amazing vehicles of BFBC2(i still play 1943) but in its own way(COD) is good. They're just saying they want to maintain the relatively high quality of there games.
Regardless of our feelings, its never good for a studio to bite the dust, not for them, not for economies and not for players.
Also, i sure as $#!t wouldn't mind seeing a CODMW3 in the future but give me time, i still like MW2.