Activision Never Wanted Call Of Duty To Go "Modern"

Honestly, this whole thing just made me chuckle. Had it all turned out differently, Activision would've felt like any of those agents who rejected J.K. Rowling's first "Harry Potter" novel.

According to a recent Official PlayStation Magazine interview with Infinity Ward head man Vince Zampella, Activision didn't initially want the developers to make any sort of "modern warfare" game. Zampella said the team actually had the idea of making a game with a new-world feel, but Activision kept holding them back; this argument apparently goes all the way back to Call of Duty 2. Infinity Ward was "dead set against it being World War II," but Activision insisted on the setting. Furthermore, Zampella said:

"And something I'll add to that, Activision also did not want Modern Warfare. They thought working on a modern game was risky and [thought], 'oh my god you can't do that, it's crazy!' They were doing market research to show us we were wrong the whole time."

Project lead Jason West piped up and said, "we had to fight for everything...they wanted it to be WWII. Again." Obviously, we can understand the publisher's position in this debate, as WWII shooters have proven to be profitable for many years, and furthermore, Call of Duty fans always expected a WWII experience. You may recall when Modern Warfare was first announced; many were arguing that it was a bad idea, remember? So don't give Activision too much flak; they couldn't possibly have known the game would eventually sell over 14 million copies. But they were quick to promote a sequel, weren't they? Such is the way of a publisher: try and put out what you think will sell, and originally, Activision just didn't see big profit in a franchise moving away from its tried-and-true meal ticket.

Really, it's perfectly understandable. ...but still a little funny.

Related Game(s): Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

10/6/2009 10:44:46 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (Beta)

Cpt_Geez
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:05:16 AM
Reply

That was the best thing that ever happend. If it wasn't for IW changing the settings to modern times I wouldn't be playing a COD game. WWII is just played out and they need to do something fresh to keep the game exciting.

14 up, 2 down

OtisFeelgood
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:36:59 AM

I agree. I didn't start playing Call of Duty until Modern Warfare came out because I was never into world war themes.

4 up, 5 down

Nynja
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:06:25 AM
Reply

Interesting. Not surprised though.

6 up, 0 down

Xplicit
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:18:12 AM
Reply

And now look at activison, hyping up the this MODERN game as much as possible.

8 up, 2 down

Titch1794
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:19:55 AM

EXACTLY!!

5 up, 3 down

Titch1794
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:19:34 AM
Reply

TBH I lovED WAW, until it just got repetitive and the campaign was over in a couple of hours. The only good thing Treyarch can take from WAW was the zombies.

3 up, 3 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:34:06 AM
Reply

Lol haha this is too funny. Craptivision wanted to keep and already mediocre game mediocre by continuing with that formula? Moving onto MW was the best move they could have made. This game needed something new and while I still find MW subpar it was a move in the right direction. Just more short sightedness by the heads of Craptivision.

4 up, 14 down

kevinater321
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 3:12:05 PM

I agree. I just don't understand all the thumbs down to yiu :S

1 up, 3 down

jman12343
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 4:06:03 PM

So you don't understand why there's all the thumbs down to him? Really? He insults Call of Duty as a franchise and then calls their best game sub par, in an article about CoD, in which many CoD fans are viewing. If you don't like WWII games that's fine, but CoD has been one of the best reviewed WWII franchises ever, which definitely makes the games more than mediocre.

5 up, 3 down

Jawknee
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 4:27:00 PM

3 up, 4 down

HeXeN
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 5:30:55 PM

Looks like Jawknee touched a nerve.

2 up, 1 down

Alienange
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 10:19:06 PM

Jawknee's just weird that way. Just wait, soon he'll go on about the screen tearing.

1 up, 2 down

HAMCHUNKS
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 10:34:52 PM

i really dont like MW but yes it was a smart move
and i wonder how different the whole industry would be without a MW
i think i might enjoy this fantisy of mine lol

1 up, 0 down

LegendaryWolfeh
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:39:10 AM
Reply

Of course, activision is to scared to try new ideas or new ip's because all they care about is just money.

6 up, 3 down

Phoelix
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:05:05 PM

This is really just more reason for me to hate Activision and Kotick's grubby fingers. I can imagine the corporate meeting where Kotick shot down the idea of a modern game...

"Now, I know some of you have been pondering this whole idea of 'innovation' and 'taking things in a new direction,' but you have to remember that Activison is, first and foremost, here to make money. Get back to your offices and make me another WWII game before I say something really stupid to the press again."

5 up, 2 down

ed_winchester
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:28:02 PM

@Legendary
I complete agree. Activision could learn a thing or two from EA s they aren't afraid to take risks on new IP's - Mirrors Edge, Army of Two and even Need for Speed:Shift to a certain extent (moving away from arcade to sim)

2 up, 3 down

godslim
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 3:04:12 PM

too scared yet cod4 was pratically a new ip....it was nuthing like the old cods

3 up, 0 down

AshT
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:53:48 AM
Reply

Admitting i played only COD4 and COD5, single player campaign for both felt the same to me, crappy :), its the COD4 MP that sets it apart from everything else, just my opinion.

Last edited by AshT on 10/6/2009 11:55:51 AM

3 up, 2 down

BeezleDrop
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:07:00 PM
Reply

It was a great idea to go modern, just imagine if IW made another average WW2 shooter. People wouldn't have been as crazy about it, like they are to MW. I'm glad they went modern but MW2 isn't going to get me giddy like the first did. I know exactly how its going to play out. If they take chances with the right ideas they can make a substantial profit and maybe even get the attention of other gamers who wouldn't even think of them that way. But of course, all that matters is turning a profit.

Last edited by BeezleDrop on 10/6/2009 12:08:04 PM

1 up, 2 down

jdt1981
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:08:05 PM
Reply

I HATE to defend craptivision but lets not forget all the times when a developer decided to "refine" and in their eyes "improve" a successful game franchise only to have the new game flop and alienate allot of the core fans. Good example of this off the top of my head would be Deus EX: IW. They took a big risk with COD and it paid off, however I'm still not a fan of the series.

1 up, 1 down

Snaaaake
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:13:47 PM
Reply

After the success of Modern I'm certain Activision will go for more Modern.

But it's a good idea, I'm sick of shooting Nazis and Japanese and having the same plot over and over again.............

The Beginning of the End of World War 2 shooters!!

Last edited by Snaaaake on 10/6/2009 12:14:35 PM

1 up, 2 down

smileylyon
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:25:29 PM
Reply

I remember reading somewhere that MW2 initially wasn't going to carry the Call of Duty series title. It was going to be straight up "Modern Warfare 2"

But then Activision saw the pre-order numbers and wanted to be associated with it. Greedy bastards!

2 up, 4 down

godslim
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 12:48:51 PM
Reply

the old cods were average but revamping it to mw made it brilliant

4 up, 1 down

www
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 1:47:05 PM
Reply

"Honestly, this whole thing just made me chuckle. Had it all turned out differently, Activision would've felt like any of those agents who rejected J.K. Rowling's first "Harry Potter" novel."

Wow who are those agents who refused J K Rowlings novel? Cause I think they could do with a whole lot of anti-depressants. Not that am a fun of Harry Potter anyway, but I know its successful.

1 up, 1 down

Thinker
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 3:37:48 PM
Reply

It's a good thing then that IW didn't listen to them :)

1 up, 0 down

LowKey
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 3:57:01 PM
Reply

This whole thing came up late last year and earlier this year too. Someone told me that Activision wanted IW to drop the Call of Duty title because they said exaclty that. COD has a WW2 theme. Thats how everybody knows it and thats how they wanted to keep it , And they were just calling it modern warfare 2 awhile.

1 up, 0 down

johnld
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 4:20:02 PM
Reply

If only they kept working on patches for ps3 cod4 right now but i guess thats too much to ask since they're releasing another one. I just hate being shot by invisible people. And those douchebags think what they're doing makes the game "more fun" and decides to teach them to everyone else. I hope none of this happens in modern warfare 2 not just for 360 but ps3 too.

0 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 4:46:10 PM
Reply

Shows what they know.

2 up, 1 down

ffrulez
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 5:24:31 PM
Reply

Hahaha well, Activision still has Treyarch to stick to the baby WWII setting lol

0 up, 1 down

flamefury42
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 6:31:53 PM
Reply

I never liked the World War II Call of Duty games. I mean, a lot of people still like them games. But here's the thing, how many World War II game have we had? Quite a lot, I can't name all the WWII games for PS2. Sticking to modern is much better, although I'm not a big fan of Call of Duty games. Whatever works I guess XD.

0 up, 1 down

Wage SLAVES
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 6:35:44 PM
Reply

I am not surprised at all. I know they're both businesses but I think that Infinity is FAR more in touch with gamers than their masters. Thats why I don't like when people throw them into the slosh of the Activision hate.

Remember Kotick wants their employees to fear them...I bet if they could Infinity would call him a douche bag too.

1 up, 1 down

The CEO
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 7:57:56 PM
Reply

Kotick sucks hopefully this comment dont get deleted guess my language was to vulgar about him in last comment.Activision is only a monster company because of all the developers they own.IW employees should quit then start their own company.Activision is like the EA of years past just want the money unlike the new EA who actually seem to care about their fans and not just being greedy constantly.

1 up, 1 down

Alienange
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 10:22:49 PM
Reply

I sense disdain for Activision in the words of Zampella. I wonder how much longer Activision will stay their publisher...

0 up, 1 down

dveisalive
Tuesday, October 06, 2009 @ 11:55:55 PM
Reply

That was the only thing that got me playing COD was thanks to COD 4 MW. I expect Modern Warfare to sell 40 million so lets wait and see. I cant wait until 1200 am On 10/10/09. Oh yeah pick up that Uncharted 2 people comes out Next Tue. Two heavy hitters back to back I love Playstation!

1 up, 1 down

___________
Wednesday, October 07, 2009 @ 12:44:37 AM
Reply

just goes to show moneyvision does not know jack sh*t about gaming, and only cares about their back pocket.
there the black plague in todays modern gaming industry.
EA were bad, but they were never this bad.

0 up, 1 down

KERRbTY
Thursday, October 08, 2009 @ 9:12:20 PM
Reply

lol. i know this may be funny but the only reason i bought my ps3 was for mordern warfare. lol!

1 up, 0 down

shootu
Friday, October 09, 2009 @ 2:15:03 AM
Reply

Hell ya it going to be the BEST game of the year! New zombies anyone know???

1 up, 0 down

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