Activision Boss Talks About Infinity Ward Firings

[Marcus Yam]

The show must go on, says Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.

Activision Boss Talks About Infinity Ward Firings : Read more

 

[BulkZerker]

Just reiterates what's been said over and over.

Activision: We want another modern warfare title.

Respawn Devs: Seriously?

Activision: It's what's selling.

Respawn: It's getting boring cookie cutting you games that the consumer has voiced displeasure in, it's going to tarnish this studios reputation. Since we hold the rights, we're gonna say no for now, can we do something different though? We're sure it'd sell like raincoats in a tsunami.

Activision: So your saying you want to not milk a cash cow while its' still got plenty left?

Respawn: Well yea.... the cow's kicked us about our cold hands (MW2) So your saying we can't dev a new game unless it's Modern Warfare huh?

Activision: Prettymuch, so you gonna?

Respawn: Maybe later, when the cow's ready to be milked again.

Activision: Well we think it needs milked now, even if it isn't by your hands, see ya.

 

[footsoldier]

Too bad mate. No matter what he said, i still don't believe. 35 employees left the studio..35!! this is sufficient enough to show who is the wrong one.

 

[xrodney]

Sorry Activision, but you already made yourself bad name in past few years and there is very little you can do with your current course.
If 35 most talented developers leaving is not enough big signal there something is wrong with you then i can just hope for players sake there will be another kick in head that will make you care and listen more about your employes, players and whole gaming society.

 

[alabasterboy]

Sound like he is talking out of his *ss

 

[alabasterboy]

He's talking out of his ass for sure.

 

[Zingam]

Guess who's gonna be fired next! :]

 

[Kaiser_25]

*damage control*

 

[eddieroolz]

Serves you right for being an idiot. You don't withhold payment and expect them to just say "oh we're sorry for demanding payment".

 

[fonzy]

Activision = ActinglikeChildren

 

[timbo]

[citation][nom]Smochina[/nom] Respawn or whatever doesn't know how to make games, Activision people know how to sell crap, and they know this very well, that's why it was a success, not because of IW...[/citation]

You really show your ignorance of IW's history & ability; of the pc gaming, modding, & mapping community that supported, nurtured, & helped further develop the series since it's inception & subsequent release.

 

[techguy911]

This is the major reason why pc game market has dried up its not piracy, its the distributors trying to ripoff the developers, this has been going on for years.
Basically same thing happens in the music industry the record companies rip off the artists they make peanuts off of each cd sold.

 

[uppercorner]

[citation][nom]BulkZerker[/nom]Just reiterates what's been said over and over. Activision: We want another modern warfare title. Respawn Devs: Seriously? Activision: It's what's selling.Respawn: It's getting boring cookie cutting you games that the consumer has voiced displeasure in, it's going to tarnish this studios reputation. Since we hold the rights, we're gonna say no for now, can we do something different though? We're sure it'd sell like raincoats in a tsunami.Activision: So your saying you want to not milk a cash cow while its' still got plenty left?Respawn: Well yea.... the cow's kicked us about our cold hands (MW2) So your saying we can't dev a new game unless it's Modern Warfare huh?Activision: Prettymuch, so you gonna?Respawn: Maybe later, when the cow's ready to be milked again.Activision: Well we think it needs milked now, even if it isn't by your hands, see ya.[/citation]

lol. well said

 

[amstech]

Smochina makes a very good point. MW1 and MW2 are pretty shallow shooters besides a decent story and polished visuals.

 

[Kelavarus]

Honestly though. People keep saying the CEO is talking out of his ass, and casting their decisions, when no one but the company and the Infinity Ward people knew what was going on.

Considering how fast Respawn Entertainment went up, with backing and people, would it really be so surprising if they had been working on deals behind Activision's back for a while now?

Anyone who says they knew what was going on here, now THEY are probably talking out of their ass.

 

[bustapr]

[citation][nom]BulkZerker[/nom][/citation]
i agree, activisions been doing this stuff for a while now. Just look at how they milked the Guitar Hero cow. Its rediculous that a company would release the same game with a new songlist about 7 times in 1 year. Lets do a recount from 2008 when the Overhauling began, GH world tour, GH Metallica, GH Van Halen, GH 5, GH Smash Hits GH modern hits, Band Hero(aka GH pop), GH Decades, GH on tour and the mobile games.So I counted like 10 games in 2 years and that was all that it took to destroy Guitar Heros well earned reputation. People saw how it got old fast and we had activision to blame.People noticed that it was the same game with new songs. Now another MW would be nice but people would eventually notice that its the same game with new maps, and theyd get tired of the game, and well have activision to blame for destroying such an epic franchise. Activision doesnt know how to maintain anything, and this CEO is a deusche for thinking about $$$ and not about the people who are buying them.

 

[ovidiusx]

[citation][nom]Kelavarus[/nom]Honestly though. People keep saying the CEO is talking out of his ass, and casting their decisions, when no one but the company and the Infinity Ward people knew what was going on. Considering how fast Respawn Entertainment went up, with backing and people, would it really be so surprising if they had been working on deals behind Activision's back for a while now? Anyone who says they knew what was going on here, now THEY are probably talking out of their ass.[/citation]


The CEO is talking out his ass to save his own job. Investors are pissed that they have forked over cash for this franchise and now they are only seeing the fruits of one addition when there could have been sooo many. Little Bobby crapped all over the series and wiped his ass with what was left.

Yes Respawn did go up rather fast. I am not suprised though. When the lead talent of a studio that created one of the most successful games of all times is without a job one of two things are going to happen.

1. Someone is going to pick them up, and do it quickly.
2. The forge ahead and create another studio. And with the success that IW had it would not take long to get the backing it needs.

You are correct though. No one knows for sure what went on. All we can say is Infinity Ward basically changed it name to Respawn Entertainment and Bobby is now having to answer to investors for the cluster fuck that is now IW.

 

[Acert93]

CoD3 was a Treyarch, not IW, product. As for the MW1/MW2 engine (one of the rare 60Hz engines on the consoles), mindless MP (one of the most popular online games the last 3 years), lousy single player (one of the best critically acclaimed games of all time) the critical reviews as well as sales success indicate your last comment is the overriding one: spurned PC gamer.

 

[ksampanna]

MW1 and MW2 are pretty shallow shooters besides a decent story and polished visuals.

That's what all modern shooters are

 

[matt_b]

We are obviously disappointed about this and we wish we could have convinced some of these incredibly talented people to stay.

Key words, "we wish we could have" - Activision had every chance in the world. It's obvious this if about two things, 1) the withholding of due royalties and 2) beating the cash cow to death. This could have easily been avoided had they listened to their employees and complied within reason. My money goes on the bet that the main two that left felt serious discomfort with what they were being made to do day in and day out, so they began job hunting. This is the same case where a developer/publisher gets too swell-headed, tries to penny pinch and slave-drive, and then experiences a nasty backlash - the end.....lesson learned this time Activision?!?!