Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

[Malacite]

Okay, so far it's only a rumor but I wouldn't put it past Kotick...


Rumor: Activision ousts Infinity Ward studio heads

G4's The Feed, which has been in communication with a source at Infinity Ward, reports that organizational changes may be in effect at the FPS developer's offices. The source claims that a "bunch of 'bouncer-types' just showed up outside of the Infinity Ward offices unannounced. When approached by employees, the non-uniformed 'bouncers' were unwilling to disclose why they were there." In addition, The Feed notes that Infinity Ward's studio heads, Vince Zampella and Jason West, were not seen by fellow staff members after a meeting with Activision on Monday morning. A desk guard at Infinity Ward's offices was unable to confirm any of the events to Joystiq, and calls to community manager Robert Bowling went unanswered at the time of writing.

Apparently, on Monday Activision filed a Form 10-K with the SEC, which is basically an overview of the company's financial condition, and includes any information that could possibly affect that condition. This filing states, "In November 2009, the Company released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a game developed by one of the Company's wholly-owned studios, Infinity Ward. As noted above, Modern Warfare 2 was the best selling console title in the U.S. and Europe in 2009. Consistent with past practice, the Company intends to release a Call of Duty game in 2010 developed by another wholly-owned studio. The Company is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward. This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation. At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company."

Co-studio head Jason West has reportedly changed both his Facebook status and LinkedIn page to indicate that he is no longer employed. As soon as we get more news, we'll pass it along.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

After how successful MW2 is, they're going to can IW's lead staff? Oooooookaaaaaaaay then...

[Durahansolo]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

good job of bleeping out ass in the title though . Might as well had typed the whole word.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Considering the IW versions of the game have been shittier than the Treyarch versions, I have little sympathy. Then again, I just hate Activistion as a whole and wouldn't buy anything they sell these days anyway.

Sounds like those two employees were up to something, though. I think the action taken against them, however, was probably a bit overkill.

[Malacite]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Considering the IW versions of the game have been shittier than the Treyarch versions, I have little sympathy.

Right, because the Modern Warfare series isn't totally popular at all.

[jenova_9]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

if you market a game very well, you can make people believe the trash in their hands is worth more than anything else they played. :p
It's the same way how people can turn something into a religion and have millions follow it, even if it's fighting a senseless war.

[Tickmeoff]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

if it's popular that means it's actually amazing hurrrr

Yeah.. no. Plenty of shitty games are popular because people are stupid.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Right, because the Modern Warfare series isn't totally popular at all.

I call people leaving the game in droves because of numerous issues with online play, hacking/cheating/exploiting a decrease in popularity. At least, that seems to be the case with people posting on Destructoid, Kotaku and Joystiq.

Again, popular does not mean good. If this were true, Avatar would be the greatest movie of all time.

Instead, its just the highest grossing movie of all time. Like that ever lasts.

[DakAttack]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Modern Warfare 2 belongs in a museum for it's ancient game design. It's time to invent the wheel, Infinity Ward, everybody else has. Coincidentally, DICE refitted all their carts and wheelbarrows with square wheels.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Don't forget Quantic Dream learned to create fire recently.

Oh wait, that was just a terrible move passed off as a game that wants to be a movie.

We already had that, it was called Metal Gear Solid. And it was actually a good movie.

God help David Cage if he ever actually directs a real movie.

[Ufgt]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

What's wrong with MW2? Serious question. I play console FPS and PC fps all the time, and MW2 is really fun. Outside of glitches, there's really nothing wrong with it, imo.

[Malacite]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Or Heavy Rain for that matter wtf.

[DakAttack]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

What's wrong with MW2? Serious question. I play console FPS and PC fps all the time, and MW2 is really fun. Outside of glitches, there's really nothing wrong with it, imo.

Well, there are dozens of problems and they can be found in every game mode. Personally, my biggest gripe is with multiplayer. It's deathmatch. The same old deathmatch we've seen for years. Games like Tribes, Battlefield, and countless others have pushed the envelope, yet Infinity Ward is fine not putting much thought into it. What is deathmatch? Running around, randomly killing each other, and respawning after death just to do it again. Team deathmatch is still deathmatch, except you can't kill half the people playing with you. I can't even call it a team. There's zero interaction, co-operation, group effort, or working towards a common goal. Sure, they tack on objectives in certain game modes, but that's all it is - tacked on. In Tribes I could set up small resupply stations to assist the flag carrier as he returned to base. I could pull up in a vehicle in the nick of time and give him a ride. I could play tail-gunner to keep a bomber alive. I wasn't rewarded for any of that! In Battlefield each class has something the other classes might need or could use, like ammo, health, revives, repairs, etc. Modern Warfare 2 is just so simple. formulaic, and cold. Idiots think that it's some great game of skill, but it's just a deathmatch.

[Ufgt]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

But... I always thought they were aiming to make the MW franchise very much like an arcade shooter: jump in, kill people, have fun, log out. Did they ever even strive to be anything more than that? I play Hardcore TDM and I think it's one of the greatest modes for an FPS. My friends all agree. But at the same time, I love BF2. They're just... different. Nothing wrong with that.

[jenova_9]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

I miss Timesplitters FP (when it had a server) and Rainbow Six Vegas 2. Those are far superior shooters but we need updated sequels of them.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Can Bobby Kotick possible be any dumber/more of an ass**** ?!

Or Heavy Rain for that matter wtf.

You mean besides Lt. Blake - not the player - really steering the story and the killer being retardedly obvious and the game lying in an effort to cover up who it was instead of doing what would have made sense and made him an NPC?

Oh, nothing.

Well, actually, there's more problems than that, mostly pertaining to the hyped "choices" and how they undermine the established personalities they gave the characters.

Gee, my son is missing. I'm really concerned about this, so I'm going to have creepy mo-cap sex with Miranda now.