American game development company Respawn Entertainment has made quite a name for themselves over the past decade. Initially founded by Call of Duty veterans Jason West and Vince Zampella, the team quickly set out to change the first-person shooter landscape with their massive Xbox exclusive hit Titanfall. But they truly found their footing after being acquired by Electronic Arts in 2017, giving them a chance to expand into one of gaming’s most celebrated developers.
In the time since the EA acquisition, Respawn has provided players with such titles as Titanfall 2 and its immensely popular spinoff battle royale Apex Legends. They even recently took on one of the world’s most beloved properties with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which melded a galaxy far, far away with Dark Souls-esque combat and Metroidvania-inspired exploration.
But though every effort in their portfolio thus far is part of an extended, ongoing franchise, it...
In the time since the EA acquisition, Respawn has provided players with such titles as Titanfall 2 and its immensely popular spinoff battle royale Apex Legends. They even recently took on one of the world’s most beloved properties with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which melded a galaxy far, far away with Dark Souls-esque combat and Metroidvania-inspired exploration.
But though every effort in their portfolio thus far is part of an extended, ongoing franchise, it...
- 12/29/2020
- by Billy Givens
- We Got This Covered
Apex Legends may now be one of EA’s biggest moneymakers but were it not for Titanfall, the battle royale may have arguably never existed.
The latter title – Respawn Entertainment’s first, following its formation by Infinity Ward founders Vince Zampella and Jason West – spawned just one sequel, released in 2016, garnering acclaim for its memorable story and riveting multiplayer. Sadly, however, arguably somewhat due to EA’s poorly-handled marketing for it, Titanfall 2 never quite managed to reach as wide of an audience as both publisher and developer had hoped for, leaving its future uncertain.
Apex Legends, of course, is set in the same universe as that of its spiritual predecessor and borrows a number of weapons, characters and assets, allowing for relatively swift turnaround times for new content. Does that mean, then, that Titanfall 3 is unlikely to ever happen? Apparently not.
Titanfall 2 Gallery 1 of 14
Click to skip
More From The...
The latter title – Respawn Entertainment’s first, following its formation by Infinity Ward founders Vince Zampella and Jason West – spawned just one sequel, released in 2016, garnering acclaim for its memorable story and riveting multiplayer. Sadly, however, arguably somewhat due to EA’s poorly-handled marketing for it, Titanfall 2 never quite managed to reach as wide of an audience as both publisher and developer had hoped for, leaving its future uncertain.
Apex Legends, of course, is set in the same universe as that of its spiritual predecessor and borrows a number of weapons, characters and assets, allowing for relatively swift turnaround times for new content. Does that mean, then, that Titanfall 3 is unlikely to ever happen? Apparently not.
Titanfall 2 Gallery 1 of 14
Click to skip
More From The...
- 8/4/2020
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
There’s bittersweet news today for fans patiently awaiting any potential developments for Titanfall 3.
The series – a first-person shooter with massive pilotable mechs as its main gameplay hook – was Respawn’s first project after founders Vince Zampella and Jason West departed Infinity Ward, instantly putting the pair’s new studio on the map. One critically-acclaimed but financially underperforming sequel later, Respawn decided to try its hand at the battle royale genre. Thus, Apex Legends was born.
You don’t need us to tell you how successful that venture has been, of course, but as one flower blossoms; another withers. Such is Apex‘s exponential growth and popularity that EA – having since acquired Respawn as a subsidiary in 2017 – is now dedicating many of its resources to ensure the title continues to expand in 2020 and beyond. The inevitable casualty of that reshuffle, unfortunately, is Titanfall 3.
As per EA executive Blake Jorgensen’s recent comments,...
The series – a first-person shooter with massive pilotable mechs as its main gameplay hook – was Respawn’s first project after founders Vince Zampella and Jason West departed Infinity Ward, instantly putting the pair’s new studio on the map. One critically-acclaimed but financially underperforming sequel later, Respawn decided to try its hand at the battle royale genre. Thus, Apex Legends was born.
You don’t need us to tell you how successful that venture has been, of course, but as one flower blossoms; another withers. Such is Apex‘s exponential growth and popularity that EA – having since acquired Respawn as a subsidiary in 2017 – is now dedicating many of its resources to ensure the title continues to expand in 2020 and beyond. The inevitable casualty of that reshuffle, unfortunately, is Titanfall 3.
As per EA executive Blake Jorgensen’s recent comments,...
- 11/5/2019
- by Joe Pring
- We Got This Covered
Respawn Entertainment is working on a new Star Wars game called “Jedi: Fallen Order,” publisher Electronic Arts teased during its E3 press conference on Saturday.
Respawn CEO Vince Zampella briefly talked about the action-adventure title while sitting in the audience. It takes place during the “dark times” of “Star Wars” lore, when the Jedi are being hunted, he said. According to the official website, the game is set shortly after the events of “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” and focuses on a Padawan who survives Emperor Palpatine’s attempted Jedi purge.
Zampella and co-founder Jason West worked on the “Call of Duty” franchise at Infinity Ward before leaving to form Respawn in 2010. The studio is known for its multiplayer first-person shooters “Titanfall” and “Titanfall 2.”
EA had previously tapped “Dead Space” studio Visceral to create a new “Star Wars” game codenamed Ragtag. The unnamed project was a story-based,...
Respawn CEO Vince Zampella briefly talked about the action-adventure title while sitting in the audience. It takes place during the “dark times” of “Star Wars” lore, when the Jedi are being hunted, he said. According to the official website, the game is set shortly after the events of “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith” and focuses on a Padawan who survives Emperor Palpatine’s attempted Jedi purge.
Zampella and co-founder Jason West worked on the “Call of Duty” franchise at Infinity Ward before leaving to form Respawn in 2010. The studio is known for its multiplayer first-person shooters “Titanfall” and “Titanfall 2.”
EA had previously tapped “Dead Space” studio Visceral to create a new “Star Wars” game codenamed Ragtag. The unnamed project was a story-based,...
- 6/9/2018
- by Stefanie Fogel
- Variety Film + TV
Almost three years on from Vince Zampella and Jason West’s departure from Infinity Ward and the Call of Duty franchise – forming Respawn Entertainment in the process – and the pair are now on the verge of launching mech-on-mech sequel Titanfall 2.
It’s set to deploy later this year across current-gen consoles and PC, but there’s another shooter that’s caught Zampella’s eye – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, to be specific.
Speaking to Eurogamer in the aftermath of E3, the Respawn co-founder revealed his impassioned message to Activision in light of the remaster’s announcement.
“I told them–don’t f*** it up,” Vince Zampella said with a laugh in an interview with Eurogamer. “That’s my on the record response. I rang them up and said, honestly, don’t f**k it up. It’s a huge part of people’s gaming memories.”
Both Zampella and Jason West...
It’s set to deploy later this year across current-gen consoles and PC, but there’s another shooter that’s caught Zampella’s eye – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, to be specific.
Speaking to Eurogamer in the aftermath of E3, the Respawn co-founder revealed his impassioned message to Activision in light of the remaster’s announcement.
“I told them–don’t f*** it up,” Vince Zampella said with a laugh in an interview with Eurogamer. “That’s my on the record response. I rang them up and said, honestly, don’t f**k it up. It’s a huge part of people’s gaming memories.”
Both Zampella and Jason West...
- 6/23/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Respawn Entertainment, creative minds behind 2014’s blistering shooter Titanfall, is developing a new third-person Star Wars title in tandem with EA and Lucasfilm.
At the helm is former God of War Game Director Stig Asmussen, who took to the studio’s official blog to make the announcement, confirming it to be a “third-person action/adventure game.”
It’s the third Star Wars title to come out of EA’s partnership with Lucasfilm, following Dice’s Battlefront reboot and the licensed game currently in the works over at Dead Space developer Visceral Games, headed up by Uncharted alum Amy Hennig.
Here’s an extract from Asmussen’s impassioned blog post:
“I have been playing Star Wars games my whole life, now I get to make a Star Wars game,” Asmussen wrote on Respawn’s website. “On top of that, I get to do it at Respawn, a studio comprised of the...
At the helm is former God of War Game Director Stig Asmussen, who took to the studio’s official blog to make the announcement, confirming it to be a “third-person action/adventure game.”
It’s the third Star Wars title to come out of EA’s partnership with Lucasfilm, following Dice’s Battlefront reboot and the licensed game currently in the works over at Dead Space developer Visceral Games, headed up by Uncharted alum Amy Hennig.
Here’s an extract from Asmussen’s impassioned blog post:
“I have been playing Star Wars games my whole life, now I get to make a Star Wars game,” Asmussen wrote on Respawn’s website. “On top of that, I get to do it at Respawn, a studio comprised of the...
- 5/4/2016
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Kevin Pocock praises mech-warrior mastery and Fps evolution in Titanfall...
Feature
Somehow it happened. Having blissfully existed – part-time, you understand – in gaming worlds for over twenty years, an odd feeling has recently taken me. Something I never expected, and which (truthfully) I never thought would be the case. Many times I've briefly considered it, but disregarded others' curious fascinations before continuing with the thought half-formed. Happy with one character living out the experiences I can't or won't ever face, I've been experiencing one-dimensional alter-egos. Characters missing a friend.
I've followed protagonists over the shoulder, first-person and third. I've spent years farming the lands of Middle-Earth, and hundreds of hours mixing blood and bullets on Dice's battlefields. Largely I've been content to carry on this way. But then Titanfall hit. Now the future-tech beast has grabbed me in its shiny, bone-crunching paws and Respawn has reconfigured my earth-bound thinking.
Shoot The Stars
It's a curious thing.
Feature
Somehow it happened. Having blissfully existed – part-time, you understand – in gaming worlds for over twenty years, an odd feeling has recently taken me. Something I never expected, and which (truthfully) I never thought would be the case. Many times I've briefly considered it, but disregarded others' curious fascinations before continuing with the thought half-formed. Happy with one character living out the experiences I can't or won't ever face, I've been experiencing one-dimensional alter-egos. Characters missing a friend.
I've followed protagonists over the shoulder, first-person and third. I've spent years farming the lands of Middle-Earth, and hundreds of hours mixing blood and bullets on Dice's battlefields. Largely I've been content to carry on this way. But then Titanfall hit. Now the future-tech beast has grabbed me in its shiny, bone-crunching paws and Respawn has reconfigured my earth-bound thinking.
Shoot The Stars
It's a curious thing.
- 5/14/2014
- by sarahd
- Den of Geek
“Standby for Titanfall” is the most exciting thing you’ll hear in gaming right now. Roughly two minutes into each match in the futuristic first-person shooter Titanfall (Xbox One, PC), you’ll gain the ability to call in your very own megaton mech, which rockets in with explosive power and disruptive force. Titanfall is doing the same thing to the stagnant shooter genre.
Would we expect anything less from Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of the mega-billion dollar Call of Duty franchise? They set the tone for how modern warfare looks, feels and plays. After their acrimonious split with...
Would we expect anything less from Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of the mega-billion dollar Call of Duty franchise? They set the tone for how modern warfare looks, feels and plays. After their acrimonious split with...
- 3/14/2014
- by Aaron Morales
- EW.com - PopWatch
Respawn Entertainment
It was almost a year ago that we began hearing about the first game from Respawn Entertainment, the company founded by Infinity Ward co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella, who were summarily fired by Activision in early 2010 despite delivering consistently sterling results (sales wise, at least) on the Call Of Duty franchise.
Ever since, the pair have talked up the idea of building a game that would be a “Call Of Duty killer”, a phrase that the gaming press has latched onto when hyping up Titanfall, the duo’s first game under the Respawn banner.
You may have read our impressions of the beta released last month, where it seemed to be the case that Respawn had made a fun if not particularly revelatory Fps. Having spent the last few days grinding away on the final product, however, that tune has changed somewhat.
Yes, Titanfall still has sub-par...
It was almost a year ago that we began hearing about the first game from Respawn Entertainment, the company founded by Infinity Ward co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella, who were summarily fired by Activision in early 2010 despite delivering consistently sterling results (sales wise, at least) on the Call Of Duty franchise.
Ever since, the pair have talked up the idea of building a game that would be a “Call Of Duty killer”, a phrase that the gaming press has latched onto when hyping up Titanfall, the duo’s first game under the Respawn banner.
You may have read our impressions of the beta released last month, where it seemed to be the case that Respawn had made a fun if not particularly revelatory Fps. Having spent the last few days grinding away on the final product, however, that tune has changed somewhat.
Yes, Titanfall still has sub-par...
- 3/13/2014
- by Jack Pooley
- Obsessed with Film
Respawn Entertainment
This weekend, some gamers lucky enough to get a hold of a Beta code have been putting Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall to the test, the very first game from studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, who previously helmed the Call of Duty franchise.
With 38 ex-Infinity Ward employees in their roster, there’s much hype that Titanfall will be a “Call of Duty killer”, and it’s easily one of the most anticipated games of the year, but now that we’ve had a chance to play it, what say we to that?
Bearing in mind it’s a Beta, Titanfall is a very impressive beast indeed. It remains to be seen whether it’s going to eventually be crippled by the enormous press hype, but having spent a good few hours looking at what it has to offer, I can safely say I’ve gone from a...
This weekend, some gamers lucky enough to get a hold of a Beta code have been putting Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall to the test, the very first game from studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, who previously helmed the Call of Duty franchise.
With 38 ex-Infinity Ward employees in their roster, there’s much hype that Titanfall will be a “Call of Duty killer”, and it’s easily one of the most anticipated games of the year, but now that we’ve had a chance to play it, what say we to that?
Bearing in mind it’s a Beta, Titanfall is a very impressive beast indeed. It remains to be seen whether it’s going to eventually be crippled by the enormous press hype, but having spent a good few hours looking at what it has to offer, I can safely say I’ve gone from a...
- 2/18/2014
- by Jack Pooley
- Obsessed with Film
After turning more than a few industry heads at the E3 conference in La last week, Titanfall has established itself as the one to watch for the Xbox community. While Respawn Entertainment’s first-person shooter is also coming to PC in early 2014, this is a game that lit up the Galen theatre with its bombastic action and relentless gameplay last week. However, without a single player campaign, Titanfall will launch as an exclusively multiplayer title – similarly to 2010’s rather feeble Mag – which is a decision that the developers believe ‘made sense.’
“We make these single-player missions that take up all the focus of the studio, that take a huge team six months to make, and players run through it in 8 minutes,” said Zampella. “And how many people finish the single-player game? It’s a small percentage. It’s like, everyone plays through the first level, but 5 percent of people finish the game.
“We make these single-player missions that take up all the focus of the studio, that take a huge team six months to make, and players run through it in 8 minutes,” said Zampella. “And how many people finish the single-player game? It’s a small percentage. It’s like, everyone plays through the first level, but 5 percent of people finish the game.
- 6/21/2013
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
This year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) marked an exciting moment for the videogame industry. New consoles. New blockbuster titles. Long-awaited sequels. What follows is a list of the 15 most exciting games I saw this year. I got hands-on time with most of them, but it’s important to remember that playing videogames at E3 is not the same as actually playing the videogames. At E3, you’re staring at the most expensive TV screens corporate money can buy, while various company reps urge you on and assure you that you’re much better at the game than all of...
- 6/14/2013
- by Darren Franich
- EW.com - PopWatch
Los Angeles (AP) — Microsoft has its head in the cloud with Xbox One.
The company focused on how cloud computing will make games for its next-generation Xbox One console more immersive during its Monday presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry's annual trade show. Microsoft announced last week that the successor to the Xbox 360 must be connected to the Internet every 24 hours to operate, and the system would ideally always be online.
"The platform features and capabilities exclusive to Xbox One allow developers to push the boundaries of creativity and take gaming in completely new directions," Microsoft Vice President Phil Harrison told the crowd.
The upcoming console's cloud computing capabilities were demonstrated by fleshing out dense environments in third-person open-world games like the zombie-fighting sequel "Dead Rising 3" and cartoony shooter "Sunset Overdrive." The racing simulator "Forza MotorSport 5" introduced a feature called "drivatar," which mimics players' driving styles and...
The company focused on how cloud computing will make games for its next-generation Xbox One console more immersive during its Monday presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the gaming industry's annual trade show. Microsoft announced last week that the successor to the Xbox 360 must be connected to the Internet every 24 hours to operate, and the system would ideally always be online.
"The platform features and capabilities exclusive to Xbox One allow developers to push the boundaries of creativity and take gaming in completely new directions," Microsoft Vice President Phil Harrison told the crowd.
The upcoming console's cloud computing capabilities were demonstrated by fleshing out dense environments in third-person open-world games like the zombie-fighting sequel "Dead Rising 3" and cartoony shooter "Sunset Overdrive." The racing simulator "Forza MotorSport 5" introduced a feature called "drivatar," which mimics players' driving styles and...
- 6/11/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Vince Zampella has told Cvg that the announcement for Respawn Entertainments first game will be “hopefully soon” the game will be published by EA.
However there is no set time when the game will be announced, both Jason West and Vince Zampella were in the audience at EA’s press conference last night. EA CEO John Riccitiello went to congratulate the pair after their lawsuit with Activision was settled.
Since the inception of Respawn Entertainment there have only ever been a couple of teases on what the studio is working on. The game has been described as a sci-fi shooter.
[Source] VG247...
However there is no set time when the game will be announced, both Jason West and Vince Zampella were in the audience at EA’s press conference last night. EA CEO John Riccitiello went to congratulate the pair after their lawsuit with Activision was settled.
Since the inception of Respawn Entertainment there have only ever been a couple of teases on what the studio is working on. The game has been described as a sci-fi shooter.
[Source] VG247...
- 6/5/2012
- by Tony Hicks
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Dead Space 3 gets bro-op, Ufc comes to EA, and Criterion is back with Need for Speed: Most Wanted.
Isaac Clarke returns in Dead Space 3 from Visceral Studios. This time he's back and as verbose as he was in Dead Space 2. Visceral demoed the game onstage and touted the sequel's drop-in, drop-out co-op as Clarke and new character Sgt. John Carver face the necromorph threat again. The new entry promises more lanky, grotesque masses of body horror to bedevil our heroes, along with derelict facilities. There's more of a run-n-gun cover-based shooter feel to this one with gun-toting human combatants coming at Clarke and Carver hard. Honestly, I'm bummed that Visceral seems to be moving the series away (either incrementally or altogether) from the slow-paced survival horror of the first entry.
Dead Space 3 is on the way in February of 2013.
Madden 13 will have more bits, animation. The annual football series gets...
Isaac Clarke returns in Dead Space 3 from Visceral Studios. This time he's back and as verbose as he was in Dead Space 2. Visceral demoed the game onstage and touted the sequel's drop-in, drop-out co-op as Clarke and new character Sgt. John Carver face the necromorph threat again. The new entry promises more lanky, grotesque masses of body horror to bedevil our heroes, along with derelict facilities. There's more of a run-n-gun cover-based shooter feel to this one with gun-toting human combatants coming at Clarke and Carver hard. Honestly, I'm bummed that Visceral seems to be moving the series away (either incrementally or altogether) from the slow-paced survival horror of the first entry.
Dead Space 3 is on the way in February of 2013.
Madden 13 will have more bits, animation. The annual football series gets...
- 6/4/2012
- by Charles Webb
- MTV Multiplayer
The creators of "Call of Duty" on Thursday settled their $1 billion suit against video publisher Activision, one day before the case was to go to trial. Jason West and Vince Zampella, former heads of "Call of Duty" developer Infinity Ward, had sued in March of 2010, claiming they were fired so that Activision wouldn't have to pay them bonuses based on the sales of "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2." The trial was to begin Friday. Also read: Activision: New 'Call of Duty' Beats 'Avatar' to $1B "We have reached a settlement...
- 6/1/2012
- by Todd Cunningham
- The Wrap
On the eve of what was expected to be the biggest trial in the history of the video game industry, Activision has settled a dispute with superstar game designers Vince Zampella and Jason West, the former heads of Infinity Ward and creators of billion-dollar franchises Call of Duty and Modern Warfare. Daniel Petrocelli and Bobby Schwartz, attorney for the plaintiffs, confirmed the settlement Thursday: “All parties to the litigation have reached a settlement of the dispute. The terms are confidential.” When Infinity Ward was founded in 2002 by Zampella and Grant Collier, the event was supposed to signal
read more...
read more...
- 5/31/2012
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two weeks before one of the biggest trials in the history of the video game industry gets underway, a pair of gaming giants, Activision and Electronic Arts, have resolved differences with each other. On Wednesday, the companies announced they had reached a settlement that will put an end to Activision's $400 million lawsuit against EA for allegedly trying to steal its executives and "hijack" its assets. The pact doesn't change a May 29 trial date in a Los Angeles courtroom where Activision will do battle with Jason West and Vincent Zampella, former heads of Activision subsidiary Infinity Ward, responsible for
read more...
read more...
- 5/17/2012
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There has been some news over the past couple of days about Activision vs the founders of Infinity Ward and Activision vs EA, both Activision and EA have both reached a settlement over this whole issue.
The publishers in a joint statement said this:
Activision and EA have agreed to put this matter behind them.
The terms of the settlement have not been confirmed yet and no-doubt ever will, but this does put an end to the lawsuit between the publishers, it all started when Activision alleged that EA illegally attempted to recruit Jason West and Vince Zampella while they were still under contract by Activision.
The ongoing case between Activision and the former bosses of Infinity Ward is still very much present and will come to ahead in court on 29 May.
It seems that Activision are putting their immediate focus onto West and Zampella as it was reported that...
The publishers in a joint statement said this:
Activision and EA have agreed to put this matter behind them.
The terms of the settlement have not been confirmed yet and no-doubt ever will, but this does put an end to the lawsuit between the publishers, it all started when Activision alleged that EA illegally attempted to recruit Jason West and Vince Zampella while they were still under contract by Activision.
The ongoing case between Activision and the former bosses of Infinity Ward is still very much present and will come to ahead in court on 29 May.
It seems that Activision are putting their immediate focus onto West and Zampella as it was reported that...
- 5/17/2012
- by Tony Hicks
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Activision has reportedly paid $42 million to 40 former Infinity Ward employees, as part of the long overdue royalties from Modern Warfare 2.
Polygon reports that the payment made is not part of the settlement ahead of this months trial between Activision and ex-Infinity Ward employees, including the former studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, both Activision and the former Infinity Ward employees are set to appear in court in Los Angeles next Tuesday.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick decided that the evidence did not implicate the 40 members of the Infinity Ward Employee Group and decided to pay them what he thought they were owed, which would enable the publisher to put their main focus onto West and Zampella.
Bruce Isaacs, attorney for the Infinity Ward Employee Group, labelled the payment a “cynical attempt to look good before the jury trial”.
“I can confirm for you that it happened today,” he said. “I...
Polygon reports that the payment made is not part of the settlement ahead of this months trial between Activision and ex-Infinity Ward employees, including the former studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, both Activision and the former Infinity Ward employees are set to appear in court in Los Angeles next Tuesday.
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick decided that the evidence did not implicate the 40 members of the Infinity Ward Employee Group and decided to pay them what he thought they were owed, which would enable the publisher to put their main focus onto West and Zampella.
Bruce Isaacs, attorney for the Infinity Ward Employee Group, labelled the payment a “cynical attempt to look good before the jury trial”.
“I can confirm for you that it happened today,” he said. “I...
- 5/15/2012
- by Tony Hicks
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vincent Zampella will finally take Activision to court on May 29th, after two years of strenuous legal wranglings. An initial trial date of May 7th was eventually pushed back at the request of Activision.
The court case in question will see West and Zampella bringing forth a myriad of damning accusations towards Activision, as well as the The Infinity Ward Group suing Activision for $125 of alleged unpaid bonuses and royalties. Refusing to back down without a fight, Activision have raised a counter-suit requesting $400 worth of damages from EA. The ugly situation has been unfolding since Zampella and West were fired from Activision in 2010, following accusations of the pair having secret meetings with rival company EA.
Despite taking over 40 of Infinity Ward’s employees to form a new company named Respawn Entertainment, Zampella and West are still furiously incensed by their prompt dismissal from the...
The court case in question will see West and Zampella bringing forth a myriad of damning accusations towards Activision, as well as the The Infinity Ward Group suing Activision for $125 of alleged unpaid bonuses and royalties. Refusing to back down without a fight, Activision have raised a counter-suit requesting $400 worth of damages from EA. The ugly situation has been unfolding since Zampella and West were fired from Activision in 2010, following accusations of the pair having secret meetings with rival company EA.
Despite taking over 40 of Infinity Ward’s employees to form a new company named Respawn Entertainment, Zampella and West are still furiously incensed by their prompt dismissal from the...
- 4/10/2012
- by Stephen Leigh
- Obsessed with Film
Activision announced that the Los Angeles Superior Court has denied a motion brought by Electronic Arts for summary judgment, thereby permitting Activision to proceed to trial on its $400 million contract-interference suit against EA. At a hearing held yesterday, December 21, 2012, Judge Elihu Berle denied EA's motion, finding that the evidence presented by Activision supplied a basis for a jury to potentially conclude both that EA had intentionally interfered with Activision's employment agreements with former Call of Duty game developers, Jason West and Vince Zampella, and that EA had aided and abetted West and Zampella's breach of fiduciary duties to Activision. A related summary judgment motion put forth by West and Zampella was also denied. In the...
- 12/24/2011
- by Hector Cortez
- Monsters and Critics
By Derrik J. Lang, The Associated Press
Los Angeles — Behind a pair of nondescript black doors on the second floor of an angular office building along an unremarkable stretch of Ventura Boulevard is the headquarters for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" developer Infinity Ward. It's out of sight from Hollywood in an unsuspectingly sterile place where one might except to find spreadsheets, not video games.
Yet beyond these doors is where one of the gaming industry's most successful titles was created – and where its sequel nearly unraveled last year when "Call of Duty" publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. fired Infinity Ward executives Jason West and Vince Zampella, a shake-up that left shoot-'em-up fans wondering if there would even be a "Modern Warfare 3."
Past the trophy case in the reception area, on the opposite side of the building from the cafeteria that's always stocked with energy drinks, is the corner conference room...
Los Angeles — Behind a pair of nondescript black doors on the second floor of an angular office building along an unremarkable stretch of Ventura Boulevard is the headquarters for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" developer Infinity Ward. It's out of sight from Hollywood in an unsuspectingly sterile place where one might except to find spreadsheets, not video games.
Yet beyond these doors is where one of the gaming industry's most successful titles was created – and where its sequel nearly unraveled last year when "Call of Duty" publisher Activision Blizzard Inc. fired Infinity Ward executives Jason West and Vince Zampella, a shake-up that left shoot-'em-up fans wondering if there would even be a "Modern Warfare 3."
Past the trophy case in the reception area, on the opposite side of the building from the cafeteria that's always stocked with energy drinks, is the corner conference room...
- 11/7/2011
- by Gazelle Emami
- Huffington Post
Jason West and Vince Zampella's lawsuit against Activision has been assigned a hearing date. The ex-Infinity Ward heads will take on the publisher in court in May 2012 over alleged unpaid royalties from the development of Modern Warfare 2. West and Zampella were dismissed months after the game's release for what was claimed to be "insubordination". The pair retaliated by suing the company for $$125 million (£78m). Activision then countersued the duo and rival studio Electronic Arts for $$400 (more)...
- 9/10/2011
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
The new Respawn game may not be released until the next generation of consoles are out in 2015, according to concept artist Ian McDaig who was speaking at the Develop Conference in Brighton…
“I’m having the most fun working with Respawn Entertainment right now, and I hate that I cant show you guys what I’m doing there until 2015.”
In June Respawn released a blurry pic of there next project (above) and said it would be a multi-platform product based on new video game IP , however their publisher EA has said next to nothing on the project or when the game will actually be released. A little history, Respawn is a video game development company that was created by former Call of Duty heads Vince Zampella and Jason West and a lot of the same people who worked with them at Infinity Ward came with them to help set up Respawn.
“I’m having the most fun working with Respawn Entertainment right now, and I hate that I cant show you guys what I’m doing there until 2015.”
In June Respawn released a blurry pic of there next project (above) and said it would be a multi-platform product based on new video game IP , however their publisher EA has said next to nothing on the project or when the game will actually be released. A little history, Respawn is a video game development company that was created by former Call of Duty heads Vince Zampella and Jason West and a lot of the same people who worked with them at Infinity Ward came with them to help set up Respawn.
- 7/21/2011
- by Matt Mann
- Obsessed with Film
Director: Abhinay Deo, Cinematography: Jason West, Actors: Imran Khan, Vir Das, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Vijay Raaz
Hindi cinema was often accused of being escapist, hence the first response to it was to show the “hard hitting reality”. Such filmmakers had a tendency to discard the usual Bollywood trappings such as songs and dance numbers. Delhi Belly shows return of the masala with a vengeance! The film echoes the true sentiments of Mumbai film industry, as an entertainer that is fantastical, cathartic and has its fingers on the pulses of the masses.
Delhi Belly isn’t as much about Delhi as Khosla ka Ghosla or Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! It’s about a time when our urban youth have come of age (barring a few nasty, over possessive ones). Market has been liberalized and its sensibilities have seeped deep down into our lives. It’s about a spark that people share...
Hindi cinema was often accused of being escapist, hence the first response to it was to show the “hard hitting reality”. Such filmmakers had a tendency to discard the usual Bollywood trappings such as songs and dance numbers. Delhi Belly shows return of the masala with a vengeance! The film echoes the true sentiments of Mumbai film industry, as an entertainer that is fantastical, cathartic and has its fingers on the pulses of the masses.
Delhi Belly isn’t as much about Delhi as Khosla ka Ghosla or Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! It’s about a time when our urban youth have come of age (barring a few nasty, over possessive ones). Market has been liberalized and its sensibilities have seeped deep down into our lives. It’s about a spark that people share...
- 7/2/2011
- by Bikas Mishra
- DearCinema.com
Have you been wondering what Respawn, the studio formed by former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, are actually up to? Ever since the legal debacle last year that saw the "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare" creators parting ways with Activision, fans have wondered what might be the pair's next move. Until now, the new studio's site – Respawn.com – was just a blank white page with an email address. Today, the site has relaunched with company profiles, forums, and a blurry image of (presumably) their first project.
While it's not immediately clear what Respawn's first game will be, publisher EA has recently mentioned that the title is a sci-fi shooter. Well, you're not going to get too much more detail from that out-of-focus image up top, but I suppose now's a good time as ever to speculate.
When I look at the pic, I immediately think of "Uncharted.
While it's not immediately clear what Respawn's first game will be, publisher EA has recently mentioned that the title is a sci-fi shooter. Well, you're not going to get too much more detail from that out-of-focus image up top, but I suppose now's a good time as ever to speculate.
When I look at the pic, I immediately think of "Uncharted.
- 6/29/2011
- by Matt Clark
- MTV Multiplayer
Jason West and Vincent Zampella's lawsuit against Activision has been approved for trial by a Superior Court judge. Legal documents acquired by The Hollywood Reporter state that there is sufficient evidence that the ousted studio heads were defrauded out of royalties by the studio. West and Zampella were dismissed by Activision last year. The duo sued their former employer, claiming breach of contract and unpaid bonuses relating to Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Two counts of fraud were later (more)...
- 6/18/2011
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
A man in Utah has been fined after attempting to hand over 2,500 pennies to pay a $$25 bill. The incident happened in a clinic when Jason West, 32, poured 2,500 coins on the counter, drawing laughs from nearby customers. "I'm willing to wait if you want to count them so you can make sure you get every penny," Yahoo! Finance quotes the man as telling the cashier. The clinic responded by calling the police, and West ended up receiving a $$140 fine for "disorderly conduct". A police statement said: "The pennies were strewn about the counter and the floor. "The (more)...
- 6/9/2011
- by By Ben Lee
- Digital Spy
Former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have added fraud charges to their lawsuit against Activision. New court documents have emerged revealing that the pair have added two counts of fraud to their their $$36 million (£22m) complaint against the studio, Gamespot reports. Last year, West and Zampella took legal action against Activision claiming breach of contract and unpaid bonuses relating to Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The report also states that a lawyer representing the outed studio heads said that they are seeking (more)...
- 4/3/2011
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
Who says irony is limited to the confines of narratives?
In 2002, Electronic Arts released the third game in its already-incredibly-popular Medal of Honor series (created by none other than the venerable Steven Spielberg, who thought that the opening Normandy sequence from his recently completed Saving Private Ryan would make quite the interactive experience). Its name was Allied Assault, and it was crafted by a relatively small, PC-only developer called 2015, Inc.
The game was a considerable success for both EA and the rapidly-expanding WWII first-person shooter market, which was quickly becoming, even at this early point, flooded with me-too titles. It was also a major success for the heads of the development team, Vince Zampella and Jason West, who immediately found themselves in a paradoxical situation: although having their horizons greatly expanded by their instant celebrity, they lacked the ability to plot their future creative course, as the mega-publisher would demand repetitive,...
In 2002, Electronic Arts released the third game in its already-incredibly-popular Medal of Honor series (created by none other than the venerable Steven Spielberg, who thought that the opening Normandy sequence from his recently completed Saving Private Ryan would make quite the interactive experience). Its name was Allied Assault, and it was crafted by a relatively small, PC-only developer called 2015, Inc.
The game was a considerable success for both EA and the rapidly-expanding WWII first-person shooter market, which was quickly becoming, even at this early point, flooded with me-too titles. It was also a major success for the heads of the development team, Vince Zampella and Jason West, who immediately found themselves in a paradoxical situation: although having their horizons greatly expanded by their instant celebrity, they lacked the ability to plot their future creative course, as the mega-publisher would demand repetitive,...
- 2/24/2011
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
With the huge shakeup at Infinity Ward, Activision Blizzard is in the recruitment mode to save its billion dollar franchise “Call of Duty” series. Activision signed Sledgehammer Games, a Northern California game studio, to assist in the “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” According to the Los Angeles Times, the project is already underway, but will be expected for release in November. In addition, Wisconsin-based Raven Software joined the project for the online multi-player format for the new Call of Duty video game. The new Call of Duty installment will be the first after the departure of Infinity Ward co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella. Most of the top talent also quit with the co-founders. The remaining members of Infinity Ward is still working on the project with Sledgehammer.Source: Los Angeles Times...
- 1/26/2011
- LRMonline.com
Back in March of 2010, a strange string of events unfolded when news broke that a group of what was described as "bouncer-type" security guards entered the offices of Infinity Ward, the video game developers behind the popular Modern Warfare games in the Call of Duty franchise.
Ultimately it was revealed that two of the founders and current heads of Infinity Ward, Jason West and Vince Zampella, were fired by parent company Activision for “breaches of contract and insubordination,” leaving the future of the Modern Warfare series in question.
While many lawsuits have come of that mess, Activision has re-staffed all of the vacant positions at Infinity Ward and -- even though the game hasn't been officially announced -- they have been working on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ever since, with full expectations to meet their normal November release date...until now. It's being reported by The La Times that...
Ultimately it was revealed that two of the founders and current heads of Infinity Ward, Jason West and Vince Zampella, were fired by parent company Activision for “breaches of contract and insubordination,” leaving the future of the Modern Warfare series in question.
While many lawsuits have come of that mess, Activision has re-staffed all of the vacant positions at Infinity Ward and -- even though the game hasn't been officially announced -- they have been working on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ever since, with full expectations to meet their normal November release date...until now. It's being reported by The La Times that...
- 1/22/2011
- by The Movie God
- Geeks of Doom
Former Infinity Ward owners Jason West and Vince Zampella have been accused of sabotaging Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. As part of an ongoing lawsuit between Activision and EA, an email was presented suggesting that they delayed the release of a map pack to help Battlefield: Bad Company 2. "A couple months ago, I asked Vince [Zampella] to hold back their map pack until after we launched. (He owes me one,)" read the email according to Kotaku. "Given that they've already made a billion, he was cool with that, obviously (Activision CEO) Kotick (more)...
- 1/21/2011
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
It all gets a little confusing at times, but let's try and simplify the information as best we can. Call of Duty 1 and 2 were developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision. During that time, all was well and everyone was happy. However, when Call of Duty 3 came to fruition back in 2006, Activision decided to give the series a fresh new angle and so Treyarch were given the development contract. Since then it has been back and forth between Infinity Ward and Treyarch, with each company developing Activision's Call of Duty every other year. As it stands, the latest release in the franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops, was created by Treyarch, so 2011's release falls upon Infinity Ward once more. Phew.
Now that's cleared up, let's get to the news. According to sources cited by the Los Angeles Times, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is proving so difficult to...
Now that's cleared up, let's get to the news. According to sources cited by the Los Angeles Times, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is proving so difficult to...
- 1/20/2011
- Shadowlocked
My mentally ill son was sentenced to life without parole for murder, and I couldn't shed a tear. So as I watch the Loughner horror unfold, I'm pretty sure I know what his family is going through. By Jeannette Halton-Tiggs, as told to Mansfield Frazier.
What kind of mother doesn't shed even one tear as her only son is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole? My only answer is, a very strong-albeit very tired-one. My son, Timothy Halton, Jr., was 29 when he received such a sentence last year for gunning down Cleveland Heights Police Officer Jason West, in what was alleged by the media to be in cold blood. Officer West's gun was still in its holster when my son shot him point-blank, and then stood over his prone body and shot him three more times.
Related story on The Daily Beast: NYC's Top Cop Chides...
What kind of mother doesn't shed even one tear as her only son is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole? My only answer is, a very strong-albeit very tired-one. My son, Timothy Halton, Jr., was 29 when he received such a sentence last year for gunning down Cleveland Heights Police Officer Jason West, in what was alleged by the media to be in cold blood. Officer West's gun was still in its holster when my son shot him point-blank, and then stood over his prone body and shot him three more times.
Related story on The Daily Beast: NYC's Top Cop Chides...
- 1/11/2011
- by Jeannette Halton-Tiggs & Mansfield Frazier
- The Daily Beast
Publicly, things had been rather quiet recently regarding the "unfortunate" Mexican standoff of Infinity Ward-related lawsuits between Activision and the studio's former heads Jason West and Vince Zampella. A new round of accusations has begun, however, with an updated filing that explicitly names Electronic Arts on the list of parties that Activision wants money from when all is said and done. EA, unsurprisingly, does not agree with Activision's assessment of how things went down.
Activision claims in their complaint (posted at Kotaku) that "Electronic Arts set out to destabilize, disrupt and to attempt to destroy Infinity Ward" and believes that EA hatched the alleged "scheme" as they found themselves "nable to compete with Activision and Infinity Ward."
As a result, the publishers of whatever Respawn Entertainment decides to make are now defendants in Activision's suit, which seeks $400 million in damages. EA in turn has accused Activision of being petty and not caring about facts....
Activision claims in their complaint (posted at Kotaku) that "Electronic Arts set out to destabilize, disrupt and to attempt to destroy Infinity Ward" and believes that EA hatched the alleged "scheme" as they found themselves "nable to compete with Activision and Infinity Ward."
As a result, the publishers of whatever Respawn Entertainment decides to make are now defendants in Activision's suit, which seeks $400 million in damages. EA in turn has accused Activision of being petty and not caring about facts....
- 12/22/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
Activision has named Electronic Arts as a cross-defendant in its ongoing legal case against former Infinity Ward employees Jason West and Vince Zampella. The lawsuit has been amended following new evidence that "Electronic Arts conspired with two former senior Activision executives... to derail Activision's Call of Duty franchise, disrupt its Infinity Ward development studio, and inflict serious harm on the company," according to Joystiq. The evidence apparently suggests that EA Cco John Riccitiello had a meeting with Vince and Zampella while the pair still worked at Infinity Ward, which led to the sharing of confidential information and intellectual property belonging (more)...
- 12/22/2010
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
EA Sports put one big question to rest when they announced that "NBA Jam" would be available with "NBA Elite 11" for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in addition to being sold on its own exclusively for the Wii. And while we know that Dennis Rodman, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird will appear in the game, we still don't know which unlockable celebrities in the tradition of Bill Clinton, George Clinton and Warren Moon will be included. Here are ten faces that EA should consider:
President Barack Obama
This one seems like the biggest gimme of all. Obama is already making an appearance in "Madden NFL 11" this year, so an "NBA Jam" follow-up would be perfectly reasonable.
Bill Murray
Murray has been known to visit NBA arenas and show up at Ncaa tournament games, and let's not forget his appearance in "Space Jam." The real question is who out there wouldn't want...
President Barack Obama
This one seems like the biggest gimme of all. Obama is already making an appearance in "Madden NFL 11" this year, so an "NBA Jam" follow-up would be perfectly reasonable.
Bill Murray
Murray has been known to visit NBA arenas and show up at Ncaa tournament games, and let's not forget his appearance in "Space Jam." The real question is who out there wouldn't want...
- 8/25/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
Hopes that former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella might announce their first project together as Respawn Entertainment at E3 this year turned out to be short lived. In fact, EA has revealed that they haven't even decided for sure yet what the game will be. EA Partners head David DeMartini indicated that he's looking forward to whatever they show up with, though, which comes as no surprise given that they used to head the studio that made "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2."
"It's like the Pope coming from the group of cardinals," DeMartini told Eurogamer. "You just wait for the smoke to come up and they share with you. We're sitting there waiting for the smoke to come up and when it does we'll call you."
DeMartini credited his patience to the professional reboot West and Zampella went through establishing their new studio.
"The thing everybody needs...
"It's like the Pope coming from the group of cardinals," DeMartini told Eurogamer. "You just wait for the smoke to come up and they share with you. We're sitting there waiting for the smoke to come up and when it does we'll call you."
DeMartini credited his patience to the professional reboot West and Zampella went through establishing their new studio.
"The thing everybody needs...
- 8/19/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
Activision has said that it will not influence Infinity Ward's restructuring. The studio was hit by a series of staff departures following the dismissal of founders Jason West and Vince Zampella earlier this year. Worldwide studios boss Dave Stohl told Develop that it will be supportive "in that rebuilding process", but doesn't "want to tamper with that group of people". He added: “We want Infinity Ward to be Infinity Ward. It's a very specific culture." Last week, VG247 reported that over 5,000 job applications were sent to Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games for positions on future Call Of Duty projects, with Stohl saying that finding new staff hasn't been a problem. "There's a tonne of talented people at the studio, (more)...
- 8/10/2010
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Jason West and Vince Zampella will be speaking at QuakeCon this year. The pair will be joined by id Software's Tim Willits and Bethesda's Todd Howard at the Building Blockbusters panel on August 13, according to VG247. It will be the first official presence of the duo under their new studio Respawn Entertainment, which they founded under the EA Partners scheme (more)...
- 8/2/2010
- by By Matthew Reynolds
- Digital Spy
Infinity Ward still has plenty of map pack support left in their future for "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," but with recent senior position vacancies and replacements, the question has been up in the air as to whether the Call of Duty franchise would still have a home there. Asked if Infinity Ward would in fact be working on a Call of Duty game next, Activision Evp of studios Dave Stohl kept Infinity Ward's options open, but indicated that new franchises would be part of the picture going forward.
"We're not saying right now," Stohl told VG247. "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."
Infinity Ward recently opened up a phone line...
"We're not saying right now," Stohl told VG247. "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."
Infinity Ward recently opened up a phone line...
- 6/29/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
Plenty of news has come out of the Infinity Ward office over the past few months, but the drama is only just beginning. Job postings available at Gamastura have revealed that Infinity Ward is attempting to save face and continue development of Modern Warfare 3, despite the loss of a massive senior staff base. 6 new job postings are available, and judging by the number of employees that have either left completely or moved to Respawn, that number is sure to rise in the coming weeks.
I’m interested to see how development on the next Modern Warfare will play out with the loss of critical team members (and lots of them!) and how this will affect the quality of the final product. Will the newly patched-up dev team deliver on what has become the highest of expectations from this triple-a brand?
If you work in a creative field or are on a team of any sort,...
I’m interested to see how development on the next Modern Warfare will play out with the loss of critical team members (and lots of them!) and how this will affect the quality of the final product. Will the newly patched-up dev team deliver on what has become the highest of expectations from this triple-a brand?
If you work in a creative field or are on a team of any sort,...
- 6/23/2010
- by Jeremy Swinarton
- GameRant
Update: After reaching out to EA regarding the page, it appears it's not official in any way shouldn't be considered as a viable news source. So yeah, Respawn is likely to be relatively hush-hush this E3.
Original Story: Jason West and Vince Zampella didn't waste any time in their search for a new home after departing Infinity Ward. Their new studio Respawn Entertainment has yet to divulge what their first big project will be with publisher EA, but judging from a tease yesterday, we could find out about it at E3.
"Big time announcement at E3 next week," an announcement on the pair's Facebook page read yesterday. "Stay tuned, kiddies!"
The speed with which West and Zampella managed to get their ducks in a row (and former colleagues into a new office) during the last few months has been impressive, as has the number of lawsuits that have ensued. Still,...
Original Story: Jason West and Vince Zampella didn't waste any time in their search for a new home after departing Infinity Ward. Their new studio Respawn Entertainment has yet to divulge what their first big project will be with publisher EA, but judging from a tease yesterday, we could find out about it at E3.
"Big time announcement at E3 next week," an announcement on the pair's Facebook page read yesterday. "Stay tuned, kiddies!"
The speed with which West and Zampella managed to get their ducks in a row (and former colleagues into a new office) during the last few months has been impressive, as has the number of lawsuits that have ensued. Still,...
- 6/8/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
Treyarch's "Call of Duty: Black Ops" will launch later this year amid one of the most dramatic out-of-game years the franchise has ever seen, from Jason West and Vince Zampella's unceremonious departure at Infinity Ward to the subsequent lawsuits and Respawn Entertainment partnership with EA that followed. As a studio underneath Activision with a game to get done, I'm not sure how much commentary you could expect to hear out of Treyarch at this point, but they have nonetheless deemed the situatation "unfortunate."
"The situation at Infinity Ward is unfortunate," Treyarch's community manager Josh Olin told McV. "It's just not something that we want to let distract us or that we really think about too much."
With a "Black Ops" in-store deadline to hit on November 9, Treyarch has enough on their minds, and a big success story to live up to in the wake of "Modern Warfare 2" last year.
"The situation at Infinity Ward is unfortunate," Treyarch's community manager Josh Olin told McV. "It's just not something that we want to let distract us or that we really think about too much."
With a "Black Ops" in-store deadline to hit on November 9, Treyarch has enough on their minds, and a big success story to live up to in the wake of "Modern Warfare 2" last year.
- 5/27/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
EA Partners boss David DeMartini has said that legal battles at Activision have harmed the Modern Warfare series. Speaking to Cvg, the exec claimed that the lawsuit between the publisher and Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vince Zampella may have caused irreparable damage to the brand. "That [Modern Warfare] was a hugely successful franchise," he said. "I'm sure Vince and Jason didn't want to get fired and now looking at it the (more)...
- 5/13/2010
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
The same EA exec who called Treyarch a "B-team" also pulled out some biting words for Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series in a new interview. Ever since lawsuits and industry drama exploded between Activision and Iw's former heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, who subsequently formed Respawn Entertainment and partnered with EA, the rhetoric from EA's corner has been fierce, and there's no sign of the tone lightening up anytime soon.
"But what I'd say is you haven't seen any internal studios up and leave EA," EA Partners boss David DeMartini told Cvg. "If Infinity Ward was an internal studio at EA would things have been different? I think yes — but I'm biased."
Biased may be an understatement coming from the company that has gone on the record as wanting to take the Fps crown away from Call of Duty. All other smack talk aside, though, DeMartini...
"But what I'd say is you haven't seen any internal studios up and leave EA," EA Partners boss David DeMartini told Cvg. "If Infinity Ward was an internal studio at EA would things have been different? I think yes — but I'm biased."
Biased may be an understatement coming from the company that has gone on the record as wanting to take the Fps crown away from Call of Duty. All other smack talk aside, though, DeMartini...
- 5/12/2010
- by Brian Warmoth
- MTV Multiplayer
Yesterday, Activision announced its earnings for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. For the three month period ending March 31st, the world’s largest games publisher saw net revenues of 1.3 billion dollars, an increase of 33% over the previous year. Even more significant, Activision’s 381 million dollar profit fully doubled what the company had achieved the previous fiscal year.
Obviously, a sizable portion of this revenue stems from Modern Warfare 2, which is now the best selling third-party game of all time. And let’s not forget those million copies of the Stimulus Package that sold in the first 24 hours.
On a conference call discussing the quarterly earnings, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick finally spoke at length about both the current situation with Infinity Ward, and the firing of Jason West and Vince Zampella. Read on for the complete text of the statement.
“The team at Infinity Ward today is comprised of some of...
Obviously, a sizable portion of this revenue stems from Modern Warfare 2, which is now the best selling third-party game of all time. And let’s not forget those million copies of the Stimulus Package that sold in the first 24 hours.
On a conference call discussing the quarterly earnings, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick finally spoke at length about both the current situation with Infinity Ward, and the firing of Jason West and Vince Zampella. Read on for the complete text of the statement.
“The team at Infinity Ward today is comprised of some of...
- 5/7/2010
- by Jeff Schille
- GameRant
Given the quick signing of Jason West and Vince Zampella’s Respawn Entertainment to the EA Partners program, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that EA had been courting the successful studio heads for some time. Not so, claims EA Games label president Frank Gibeau.
“[The Respawn deal] was something that fell into our laps, after they were terminated and announced they were free and independent, and we went for it.”
Activision has accused Zampella and West of “insubordination.” The publisher further alleges that, while they were still employed by Activision, the two had engaged in “[a] myriad of improper activities,” including talks with other publishers. EA and Respawn deny that any such talks ever took place. Says Gibeau:
“The fact that we were able to take advantage of an opportunity that came our way and partner with Respawn and create a relationship with them has been spectacular, something that we’re very excited about.
“[The Respawn deal] was something that fell into our laps, after they were terminated and announced they were free and independent, and we went for it.”
Activision has accused Zampella and West of “insubordination.” The publisher further alleges that, while they were still employed by Activision, the two had engaged in “[a] myriad of improper activities,” including talks with other publishers. EA and Respawn deny that any such talks ever took place. Says Gibeau:
“The fact that we were able to take advantage of an opportunity that came our way and partner with Respawn and create a relationship with them has been spectacular, something that we’re very excited about.
- 5/7/2010
- by Jeff Schille
- GameRant
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.