Activision vs. Zampella/West Case is Still a Thing
The heartbreak and turmoil that is the Activision/Infinity Ward relationship never ceases to excite me. Former IW bosses , Jason West and Vince Zampella, are now trying to annul their contract with Activision through some fairly neat legal mumbo-jumbo. Late last week the severed heads of IW amended their complaint with the idea that Activision “began secret development of Modern Ware and Call of Duty games and related products” without the two men’s consent.
Continuing the GameSpot report on the matter, they specifically mention that Activision did not inform the duo of “such plans or seek their input or approval for them” in doing so, they ended up “…breaching the creative authority provisions of the MOU [Memorandum of Understanding]” that is agreed upon within the contract. Also, Activision apparently paid “lip-service” to the titles “in an attempt to mask its secret development efforts”. They really make Activision out to be somewhat of an evil mastermind.
As far as the actual claim goes, the MOU that was agreed upon by West and Zampella was apparently pressured by Vivendi’s merger with Activision. In addition, the claim states that Activision pressured the two to sign and agree to the MOU. It apparently kept the two from fully controlling the Modern Warfare brand.
Kotick also stated, in reference to concerns about the same MOU, that the two shouldn’t worry about the specifics and that they should dismiss their concerns. “It’s impossible for you guys to get fired.”
Oh Lord guys, you should make a sitcom.
Well every release of information on this goes to make that each side are a bunch of assholes, it is just that Activision has a lot more going for it in that department.
I stopped caring about this as soon as it started… Business is business people, I’m sure it won’t stop Activision from making another $656 million dollars on the next CoD.