Infinity Ward Execs Return Fire, Set To Sue Activision

We told you it'd be nasty.

The fallout from the Activision/Infinity Ward tiff is only just beginning and we expect it to last for quite some time. After learning that Activision would sue the studio for breach of contract and "insubordination," we now learn that the IW executives they fired are turning around and suing the publisher. Yep, mess. According to GameSpot, ex-Infinity Ward president Jason West and CEO Vince Zampella have decided to file a counter lawsuit of their own: Los Angeles-based legal firm O'Melveny & Myers announced today that the suit against Activision - on behalf of West and Zampella - asks for unpaid royalties and "the contractual rights of Activision granted to West and Zampella to control Modern Warfare-branded games." Activision says the two were sacked after an "internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination," but the IW execs claim they were fired "weeks before they were to be paid substantial royalty payments as part of their existing contracts for Modern Warfare 2." Attorney Robert Schwartz issued the following statement:

"Activision has refused to honor the terms of its agreements and is intentionally flouting the fundamental public policy of this state [California] that employers must pay their employees what they have rightfully earned. Instead of thanking, lauding, or just plain paying Jason and Vince for giving Activision the most successful entertainment product ever offered to the public, last month Activision hired lawyers to conduct a pretextual 'investigation' into unstated and unsubstantiated charges of 'insubordination' and 'breach of fiduciary duty,' which then became the grounds for their termination on Monday, March 1."

We also learn that both West and Zampella were "shocked" to learn they were being fired and as Zampella noted, "after all we have given to Activision, we shouldn't have to sue to get paid." These guys are claiming breach of contract and "breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, wrongful termination in violation of public policy, and declaratory relief." The publisher in question is already on shaky terms with gamers everywhere; this likely won't help their image because it appears like a "Big Bad Corporation" vs. "Innocent Individuals" case. But to be fair, we need to hear Activision's side in more detail before passing judgment.

3/4/2010 12:26:14 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (85 posts)

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Thrill Kill
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:40:46 PM
Reply

Go get em boys. %$#@ Activision.

25 up, 1 down

Break_The_Mould
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:12:17 PM

Completely agree.
Don't even get me started on Activision.

1. When they merged with Vivendi they dropped almost every single one of their games: 50 Cent, Wet, Ghostbusters, Brutal Legend and a few others. All these games were picked up but they dropped them because they didn't have the potential for yearly sequels.

2. Bobby Kotick hates new IPs. New IP's don't normally sell well.

3. Modern Warfare 2 is 10 pounds more expensive in Europe than a normal game is. It's still selling like crazy. When asked about game prices Bobby Kotick said "I would raise them higher if I could."

4. Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition: $120, Tony Hawk Ride: $120, Guitar Hero 5: $200, DJ Hero: $120.

5. After they realized that Brutal Legend wasn't something like Guitar Hero they refused to fund any more money on it. When they dropped it EA decided to pick it up.

6. After EA picked it up and Brutal Legend started getting heavy attention, Activision attempted to sue Double Fine Studio.

7. Bobby Kotick doesn't even play video games and has never played a video game he has produced. He sometimes tries to deny this.

8. There's a quote of him saying that his goal was "to take the fun out of making video games."

9. Bobby Kotick couldn't care less about you. At all. The only thing he cares about less than videogames is you.

That's not even getting started, but it HAS been boiling inside me for quite some time. After I heard a lot about Kotick and what he's been doing I've decided to never pick up an Activision product ever again. Not as long as Bobby Kotick is in charge. When he wasn't promoting the company's games or technology, Kotick was celebrating its laserlike focus on the bottom line. He pointed to changes he implemented in the past as being particularly beneficial, such as designing the employee incentive program so it "really rewards profit and nothing else."

To Infinity and beyond boys, take down the man who once said this:
"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."

27 up, 0 down

Mouse_101
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 5:29:21 PM

man you really dont this guy ...i dont blame you. Can i jion the que behind you to burn him?

2 up, 0 down

Charger7302
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 5:45:58 PM

You have many valid reasons for your h8 their for Bobby Kotick, but saying he doesn't play the games he creates is alittle too much. A couple weeks back when he gave that speech at whatever conference it was, he sure as heck was pretty convincing on his love of video games. The man who gave that speech is not the same pompus a$$ we here about in the gaming media.

His comment on raising game prices was ridiculous but honestly what CEO wouldn't raise prices if they could, its their business to bring in profit.

0 up, 6 down

Wage SLAVES
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:10:25 PM

BOYCOTT Activision!!!

We've got to cut this elephant in the room to size. We gotta show these people that it is WE the consumer that have the power not some pretentious CEO or whatever the hell he claims to be...certainly not GOD!

9 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 11:26:56 PM

Good luck convincing the uninformed non-gaming masses that CoD, Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero are made by a company who are supported by the devil himself.

As long as they enjoy GH and CoD, Activision will still be making money off these poor misinformed customers.

However, "Hero" games are finally showing over-saturation and are slowing right down in sales. CoD will be heading the same way too.

Hopefully in about 3 years time, even the uninformed public will show some resentment towards Activision, less developer companies will go to them to get their games produced because they cannot be trusted.

Word will spread that Skate and Rock Band are by far superior to Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero/Band Hero. Bad Company 3 may have more hype than Modern Warfare 2. Activision's stock will plummit and the game will be forced to kick out Kotick once and for all.

All Activision has to do is maintain its current momentum, and that seems pretty certain as of now. New developers will bring out new ideas, and the people will look at Activision's games like they belong on the original Xbox, tucked away in preowned shops where no one will buy them and no one wants them.

0 up, 0 down

Qubex
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 12:43:24 AM

Brilliant post Break_The_Mould :) Thank you for this concise information, it was a joy to read!

Q!

"speak to the droid"

Last edited by Qubex on 3/5/2010 12:44:17 AM

1 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:47:17 PM
Reply

Wonder what's gonna be Activision's response to this? But in all honesty, I really do hate how they are just giving this "Big Bad Corporation" and grubbing all the dough. For once, I just wanna hear them giving something back (to the developers, to the community) just for the benefit of the doubt.

7 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:48:47 PM

I don't like all the anti-corporate nonsense either. These Corporations provide jobs to people and they have families who rely on these jobs. But in this case, Kotex and Activision need to get kicked in a minerals. Hopefully it will be a wake up call.

10 up, 2 down

coverton341
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:25:28 PM

There are good and bad corporations just like there are good or bad anything else in the world. I for one think, from what I can see at a general public level, is that the IW contract is running short, Activision wants to secure the rights to the name Modern Warfare, they want to secure all the money from the last title, and an easy way to make sure all that happens in their favour is to hit the execs with breach of contract. Here in California when you get slapped with that one you are pretty screwed. You aren't entitled to any pay for what you were in breach of, and anything in your favour in said contract is gone out the window.

In short, business practices like these are shady and underhanded and not reflective of any type of corporation that I would want to see and definitely not work for.

Again, this is all from an outside looking in perspective and it could be very different but it just doesn't seem that way.

15 up, 0 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 4:51:03 PM

Well said.

0 up, 0 down

Akuma07
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 5:51:56 PM

jawknee, they provide jobs, when they need something done, then discard the people when they have no particular use.

Not caring about the individual, or their family, or the fact they made have needed that job to continue to live.

4 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:16:56 PM

don't give me that nonsense. If the economy is bad and they don't have the demand or production to pay the workers where should they get the money? So of course they have no choice but to let them go. That's life. If there's no money then there's no job. A company just doesn't hire workers, make their families dependent on it then fire them once they've earned their keep. A company is going to keep some one hired to do the work that needs to be done as long as there is work to be done. These companies don't owe anything to any of us.

Not all corporations are good. In fact many aren't. But i can guarantee you the great majority are and people should be thankful to these companies for providing them with a job. If for some reason they lose that job, sorry but that's life. it happens. Life goes on. "This too shall pass."

I'm going to assume you've never ran or owned a business so you don't understand what it takes to run one.

0 up, 5 down

Jawknee
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:47:17 PM
Reply

You now have my support IW. ha!

%$#@ Craptivision.

17 up, 0 down

Hezzron
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:47:57 PM
Reply

Gamers should sue Activision too, for the murder of some of video game's most beloved franchises.

Exibit A: Guitar Hero

Exibit B: Tony Hawk

I don't know a judge who wouldn't give Activision "life" for TH:Ride. That had to be premeditated.

28 up, 0 down

www
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:39:46 PM

Lawlz!!

1 up, 1 down

totozero18
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:35:03 PM

You're forgetting exhibit C........Modern Warfare

Last edited by totozero18 on 3/4/2010 3:36:48 PM

1 up, 0 down

Hezzron
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 4:50:30 PM

We just got the ransom note for MW a couple of days ago. A search party has been sent out, but it doesn't look hopeful at this point. Stay tuned.

3 up, 0 down

Darwin1967
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:52:53 PM
Reply

I doubt I need to see Activisions side of things...they already have a slew of lawsuits against them for other breaches of contract and I've seen and heard enough from Bobby K. to know they are slimey enough to willfully fire an employee to avoid payment, especially when that payment is in excess of $35 million.

I've lost any and all respect for Activision (Not that there was much before this), but after reading the court documents presented on behalf of the former IW Company Heads, West and Zampella, it's pretty clear that Activision breached their contract in a very slimey manner. I WILL NOT be buying any COD titles produced under Activision or for that matter any Activision title moving forward....not if my money is going to pay the likes of Bobby K. or line the pockets of a corporation hellbent on sticking it to the people who make them what they are

14 up, 0 down

G8GTdriver
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:53:11 PM

Yeah. There was an article in GI about him and he has qoutes in the article that reflect what seem to be some pretty shady business practices back when he was starting out.

2 up, 0 down

archs13
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:56:26 PM
Reply

YEAH! screw activision and guitar hero.

7 up, 0 down

Roach721
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 12:11:57 AM

I rather enjoy Guitar Hero though, much better than Rock Band, I think.I don't like all the extra instruments. I bought Guitar Hero World Tour with guitar,brand new off Ebay for 34 dollars.I think it's great,gave me and my girlfriend something to do rather than fight. I also bought the Aerosmith and Legends of Rock both for less than 17 bucks. I think there both good for what they are.

0 up, 1 down

556pineapple
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 12:59:46 PM
Reply

I'm actually looking forward to hearing Activision's side of the story. Given past statements made by the company and Bobby-boy over there, it should be pretty rich in hypocrisy and twisted truths. I'm in the mood for a good laugh.

4 up, 0 down

spiderboi
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:03:11 PM
Reply

Cheers to the coming Medal of Honor. May it shoot the karma for Bobby K. that he deserves.

3 up, 0 down

0_o
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:06:09 PM
Reply

F@#% this! Seriously

1 up, 0 down

St_Jimmy
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:45:24 PM

It didn't do a trick.

8 up, 1 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 4:52:14 PM

The words draw out a picture of a face.

2 up, 0 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:06:40 PM
Reply

I admit, I don't know enough about either side, but things sound fishy enough. Activision fires heads of the studio that produced one of their top most selling games, if not THE top most, and sends in 'muscle', or bouncer types, to send them out of their OWN studio? They were definitely trying make an impression. I don't know much about business law, or their contractual agreements, but seems to me as a layman, the job of publishing company is to market a product, and print it, and distribute it...not 'hire'/'fire' the people that make'em. And if they already decided to publish the game for IW, then they should make good on paying the royalites that are due from the sales. As contractors, they are not 'employees'. They are their own entity. So, the matter of 'insubordination' is n/a. If the contract was breached in any way, then one wouldn't even have to raise up the vague point of 'insubordination'.

Sounds of an ego problem. Seems to me Activision wanted IW to do one thing, and then heads of IW wanted to do something else. So Craptivision decides that, "why don't we get read of their bosses, and assimilate the rest of them. And with the money saved in royalites, we can make it worth-while for the rest of them at IW, if they know what's good for them.' And this all happening just as news for next COD coming out next year is hot off the press?

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:10:26 PM
Reply

Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of Bobby Kotex, Go get your money guys! Then start your own company and join the happy and healthy Playstation family of exclusive games.

Any one else think this has to do with IW not wanting to churn out another MW title straight away?

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/4/2010 1:14:07 PM

17 up, 0 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:15:22 PM

Yup, and I think that's what Activision is trying to impede. Not them making exclusives, but they're most likely trying to stop them from going out on their own, and becoming directing competitors rather than their jackpots.

Edit: Regarding the MW title, I pretty much said that in my last post.

Last edited by Shams on 3/4/2010 1:16:31 PM

1 up, 0 down

www
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:41:08 PM

Yes am also thinking all this is cause IW don't want to make MW3.

2 up, 1 down

Roach721
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 12:15:11 AM

Activision hasn't even paid IW for godsakes. I would be pist.

0 up, 0 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:17:30 PM
Reply

Lol! Ben, where you get this pics from, I don't know.

2 up, 0 down

leatherface
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:39:56 PM

she's Ben's ex-girlfriend.

7 up, 1 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:39:02 PM

Google images are your best friend. ;)

5 up, 0 down

fluffer nutter
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 6:07:24 PM

Dude. I don't think that's anyone's ex. She's nasty!

3 up, 0 down

SvenMD
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:20:55 PM
Reply

Didn't take the lawyers long to jump all over this and decide this would be a fun battle to take on.

I hope they get some fat cash too. It all seems so shady on Activision's side. And everyone will root for the little guys in this battle.

2 up, 0 down

Nick Maim
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:26:23 PM
Reply

Finally.

This will give Infinity Ward a chance to break the ties that bind. Buying MW2 was a super guilty pleasure for me because of Activision. However I did buy it used to minimize that guilty feeling.

I hope Activision loses this court case, and suffers irreversible public opinion damage. MW2 was the last Activision game I will ever buy.

3 up, 0 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:31:04 PM

Hmm. I hear ya. I entirely avoided the series, despite them being solid games, just because of the negative 'aura' about them. I use to do the same thing with EA titles, but I was surprised when I got my hands on Deadspace. I'll thank Visceral Studios for that one.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:05:47 PM

Visceral is pimp, and EA has paid for their transgressions. They're cool in my book again.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 3/4/2010 2:05:57 PM

2 up, 2 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:23:37 PM

For sure.

0 up, 1 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:32:46 PM
Reply

What would be really great is for activision to make some big lofty statement about how they've been wronged and everyone just misunderstands poor poor activision. Then have it come out publicly that activision is making crap up, have activision lose lots of money and IW. That would really make my day.

Been saying it for a long time and I'll say it again.

Screw Activision and their lousy business practices.

2 up, 0 down

Jian2069
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 1:52:31 PM
Reply

Infinity Ward just collectively said "NO U!"

Activision is terrible.

1 up, 0 down

city96
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:12:25 PM
Reply

I like IW, they did all the work really
COD3, 11 guns WTF
COD4, IW makes history and basically should be in a dictionary
COD5, Treyarch make it worse and worse raked money because people thought it would be better
COD6, back to IW, amazing improvment
now COD7 will just be that same engine and small graphical improvment

2 up, 2 down

BTNwarrior
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:16:10 PM
Reply

I really hope IW leaves Activision in October, and takes COD with it

3 up, 0 down

Turbey
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:21:44 PM
Reply

I think Activison loves money a "tad" too much.

Just a tad.

1 up, 0 down

phantomMenace
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:25:10 PM
Reply

I really hope these guys win and that this really puts activision in their place. I have really never liked activision and to be honest I think they have ruined COD by making it come out every year hopefully these guys go set up another company and start working on something fresh.

Off topic but this is HUGE news... SOCOM 4 just announced at the PSB and its made by zipper!!!! It will have both single player and 32 player multi!

8 up, 0 down

archs13
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:35:17 PM

oh my goodness!!! thanks for the news bit phantom.... i hope this game will take me back to my high school years!!!!

0 up, 0 down

ctd669
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:33:52 PM
Reply

Get Bobby Kotec (or however you spell his name)for all he's worth!!! Greedy SOB!
I've boycotted them since they dropped Ghostbusters & Brutal Legend and continue to do so.

1 up, 0 down

Naztycuts
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:00:15 PM

It's spelled Bobby Kotick but she prefers Kotex

3 up, 0 down

ctd669
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 7:01:06 PM

Kotex... Got it!!!

0 up, 0 down

www
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:47:15 PM
Reply

Yes they really need to sue.

BTW I'm back at playing MW2 again. It definitely deserves that 94 overall critic score. The MP doesn't get boring. I tried BBFC2, meh.... Seriously IW did a great job with MW2, face it.

Though its sad they haven't received a penny on those royalties.

7 up, 2 down

JackC8
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:48:47 PM
Reply

What can you even say? Hard to believe anyone could actually work for Kotick and still find this surprising. I certainly don't. How many lawsuits has Activision been involved in? And yet there are people eager to go to work for Activision's new studio, Sledgehammer or whatever. Here's a tip: Have your lawyer go over every word of your employment contract before you sign it, and then hire private investigators to dig up dirt on your employer. That way, you may - may - stand a chance of getting paid.

3 up, 0 down

kraygen
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 2:52:31 PM

They'd probly sue you for having a lawyer look at your employment contract. Thats defamation of character, right?

2 up, 1 down

TEG3SH
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:11:21 PM
Reply

GOD DAMNIT .... the sequel everyone was talking about is SOCOM 4 zipper developing . GOD DAMNIT I NEED TWISTED METAL I HAVE A SWEET TOOTH .LOL

Last edited by TEG3SH on 3/4/2010 3:11:41 PM

1 up, 2 down

Karosso
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:24:21 PM
Reply

Will make a point of not buying anything by Craptvision.
Go get them boys!!

0 up, 0 down

coverton341
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:34:13 PM
Reply

Here I am going to hijack this thread real quick.

That big unspeakable sequel that you have known about for years wouldn't happen to be SOCOM 4 that the PS Blog confirmed a bit ago would it?

Back on topic: I really do hope the IW execs the best in this whole debacle. It seems that Activision is playing the jerk card as I said previously in more eloquent wording.

Last edited by coverton341 on 3/4/2010 3:34:20 PM

0 up, 0 down

totozero18
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:45:15 PM
Reply

I hope they win, I mean they would become "The ones that defeated the dark lord from Acti-Mordor!"
Cheers to them, monuments, graffitties, t-shirts, avatars, swords, whores, horses, whatever them need for support......and I bet they're already on Sony's crosshair :)

0 up, 0 down

Clamedeus
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:49:43 PM
Reply

-Off topic-

SOCOM 4 is in development by Zipper Interactive, they said it should be released in Fall.

Can't wait. : D (I love socom)

0 up, 1 down

xnonsuchx
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 3:50:35 PM
Reply

If it were the d-bags at Valve, I wouldn't care. ;-)

0 up, 0 down

CH1N00K
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 4:21:18 PM
Reply

Kotick doesn't care. He invested, what 2million, in stocks five years ago when he took over Acnevision? Those stocks have no made him upwards to something like 50 million now. That's a hell of an investment in such a short time.

He doesn't need to worry about money, why is he trying to screw the IW guys? Or if he doesn't have to pay them does that mean more for him?

Either way, it seems like Kotick is trying to ruin gaming again. He's got his money, and he has a whole book full of unethical business practices, but when will the gamers decide that this guy needs to be running something other then a video game company which he hates so much?

1 up, 0 down

Akuma07
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 5:54:31 PM

he's starting to sound like South Australian Attorney-General Micheal Atkinson.

0 up, 0 down

Scarecrow
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 4:42:49 PM
Reply

Don't care 'bout either
But Activision's worse

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 5:43:57 PM
Reply

Am I the only one that finds it completely disgusting that a video game publisher would find it more acceptable to pay lawyers to sue someone to avoid paying the people being sued the royalties they deserve? Do lawyers write video games all of a sudden? All those millions of dollars that MW2 fans are throwing at Activision are not going to Infinity Ward, nope, they go to financing Mr Kotick's latest yacht or home or whatever and of course the private schooling of the lawyer's kids.

Pathetic.

8 up, 0 down

Shams
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:06:52 PM

We have a saying from where I come from...

Be patient during the reign of the tyrant: It is shorter than the just rule. For surely it takes longer to build something, than to destroy it...(meaning despotic, usurping authorities, corporate, political, or otherwise don't last long and eventually destroy themselves).

4 up, 0 down

Roach721
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 12:24:00 AM

I am totally with you Highlander.Greedy SoB.

0 up, 0 down

Charger7302
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 5:50:07 PM
Reply

"After all we have given to Activision"
That pretty much sums up how I feel about this dispute.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:13:13 PM

People need to start voting with their wallets and showing Activision how they feel.

5 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:07:38 PM
Reply

Kotex isn't after money, he's after POWER & CONTROL!!!
And with power & control, all the money will follow & flow freely.

He want's to rule the world at any cost....and the way he just went about intimidating IW this week, proves that much alone.

Anyway, my Heavy prophecy is that it's about to Rain on Anti-vision's parade, they're going to lose another suit, in a long line of losing battles.

I'm sure IW's lawyers have already been pouring over all of kotex's prior maniacal statements, and just for the added ammunition proving his non-creditability & his illusions of grandeur, over the last few years.

IW's lawyers "WILL" use his very own statements against him, showing him as the self-imposed evil warlord of AntiChrist-vision, and also showing that there's a very distinct pattern to all his shadiness.

Statements about his lack of character & lack of moral fiber...such as......
1.The days of my development teams having fun making games, is over.
2.If I could, I'd charge more for my games.
3.Sony need to lower the price of the PS# or we may walk.(the last 2 alone, show him as the hypocrite he is)

When they're done with kotex's long history creditability issues, Kot'zee just may have to buy some A-1 sauce so all that rhetoric he's been spewing out the last few years, has a chance of sliding down his gullet without choking him outright.

Last edited by BikerSaint on 3/4/2010 6:13:51 PM

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:19:48 PM
Reply

Go get em, IW!!!

I support you all the way!!!!

@SONY,
Get IW's signing papers ready now, cause August will be approaching fast!!!!!

2 up, 0 down

LimitedVertigo
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 6:56:56 PM
Reply

I don't like either party in this dispute but even I can see that Activision is screwing IW.

1 up, 0 down

just2skillf00l
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 8:16:46 PM
Reply

Yeah, my crystal ball has already revealed this tragic and despicable future to me. It's gonna go something like this. Since West and Zampella at IW were in "cahoots" with another publisher, they have therefore, breached their official contract with Activision. All royalties once belonging to West and Zampella are now profits of Activision's. Also, along with the royalties, Activision will receive rights to Modern Warfare branded games. As if this wasn't enough, West and Zambella you are indeed fired for the breach of contract. Tough break you two. Court adjourned. Kotick hands the judge half of West's and Zambella's royalties later that night. Kotick says, "The rest I'll donate to some charities across the globe to reassure Activision loves its consumers...hehahaheheHAA! The cycle repeats.

0 up, 1 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 9:02:13 PM

@just2skillf00l,

I believe your crystal ball has a huge, but unnoticed, flaw in it. LOL

Last edited by BikerSaint on 3/4/2010 9:02:50 PM

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 9:56:30 PM

That depends on the contract. If the contract does not stipulate that they cannot negotiate future contracts during the duration of the current one, there is nothing to stop them. After all, when their current contract term with Activision ends, they are free to accept contracts with whoever, so why would their current contract contain language that precludes them from discussing future work with other potential partners? Even if they are in breach of those terms of the contract unless the contract contains a penalty clause for that conduct, the rest of the contract is still in force and royalties should be paid.

2 up, 0 down

Alienange
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 8:40:05 PM
Reply

I will definitely be doing my happy dance when West and Zampella win this lawsuit. Trying to work the system to avoid paying people for a job well done is as criminal as an organization can get.

4 up, 0 down

just2skillf00l
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 10:09:48 PM
Reply

I'm hoping it turns out good for West and Zampella...I really do. Contracts however, are strict. If they violated even one term of the contract, the consequences of their violation will be in the hands of the contract. Like TheHighlander said, it all depends on the terms of the contract. My comment above was more of a lol comment but I guess it wasn't well received...

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 10:29:55 PM

I read it more like you felt that Activision would win the day in court because the contract was the contract was the contract...

But I see where you're coming from now. Like you say, contracts are really strict, as are their interpretation. I followed the case of SCO vs IBM for years, even including the involvement of Novell, and believe me, I know who exact contract interpretation needs to be and how exact the language needs to be.

But that's the nice thing about contracts, contract law and the courts, a well written contract is (believe it or not) everybody's friend. Sadly though, a poorly written contract is a friend only to a sharp lawyer.

2 up, 0 down

just2skillf00l
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 10:22:16 PM
Reply

After reading up on the Activision scheme and West's and Zampella's predicament a bit more, it seems like these two guys have the upper-hand. Of course from their side of the story. Check this link out from Gamestop. Activision, you guys abuse the cold-blooded perk...

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6252956.html

1 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, March 04, 2010 @ 11:45:47 PM
Reply

Fire or sack Bobby Kotick and give Activision a huge overhaul and restructure!!!!

The problem is not Activision alone people!!! Remember this.

The problem is a money-hungry businessman named Bobby Kotick who has no respect for others, no sympathy or compassion for other companies or people and will break whatever contract laws and promises in an attempt to keep more money for himself and make even more money off customers who support a title, not the game itself.

So, with that argument made, I will say this...

F@*% Bobby Kotick. Enjoy the pitchforks in your a$& as I watch you burn in hell from above.

Good luck and my deepest sympathies to Activision for having to put up with this man, and for having to work so hard in the future to win back its positive image.

I just wonder if the rest of the company realises how much Bobby is hurting their image. Do they not see or realise the huge mess they are getting themselves into?

Probably can't hear me with all their dollar bills stuffed in their ears. Money doesn't keep you warm at night, but the fury of a gaming community scorned will fire up red hot!!!

1 up, 0 down

Robochic
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 12:09:10 AM
Reply

Nicely put dancemachine55.

this will only getting uglier over time.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 12:45:32 AM
Reply

normally dont say this because its slack but i think moneyvision have brought it on themselves.
i hope IW rips them a new one and their bleeding money for the next 24 hours than they have to file for bankruptcy.
cant see that happening because well all the idiots keep shelling out for there games, as ive said every single time i go to EB there is at least one person buying guitar hero, DJ hero or band hero.
but i for one will be dancing on moneyvisions grave!

isent it funny almost every week theres a new law suit filled against moneyvision?
honestly how do they keep getting away with this sh*t?
i know M$ are above the law but i thought that was it. they must of invited moneyvision into the group.
ohhhhhhhhh! it all makes perfect seance now thats why arron greenburg and bobby seem so alike.
mes thinks there one in the same ;)

Last edited by ___________ on 3/5/2010 12:48:18 AM

0 up, 0 down

Banky A
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 1:01:21 AM
Reply

Yeeeeah, go step their asses Infinity Ward!

0 up, 0 down

Orvisman
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 9:01:56 AM
Reply

Activision... The new EA!

Man, five years ago EA was the company everyone hated.

How the times change.

First EA started rehabilitating its image by trying out new IPs and
producing better quality games.

Now Darth Kotex has fully established Activision as the Death Star of
the videogame industry.

1 up, 0 down

Qubex
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 10:05:14 AM

Well... it goes round in circles...

Lol, Darth Kotex...

"hmm, the evil one I see... heart is heavy, only money is on his mind... suffering Infinity Ward is... clouded the future will be..."

Q!

"speak to the droid"

Last edited by Qubex on 3/5/2010 10:08:17 AM

0 up, 0 down

Bobby_Kotick
Friday, March 05, 2010 @ 10:35:49 AM
Reply

I resent all the hate. I'm just trying to do business.

2 up, 2 down

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Infinity Ward Execs Return Fire, Set To Sue Activision

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