Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

[Gikoku]

Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

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Following the dismissal of Infinity Ward studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West, Activision has officially announced a new Call of Duty title to be developed by Sledgehammer Games. In addition, they have formed a new business unit dedicated to publishing an annual Call of Duty game.

Sledgehammer is being lead by Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey, both of whom worked on Dead Space, and their new game will "extend the franchise into the action-adventure genre." And while this is far from confirmed, we're hearing that it might be the long-rumored "Call of Duty in space." In the meantime, 1UP's sources tell us that Infinity Ward will continue handling the recently announced Modern Warfare 2 map packs as well as future downloadable content, though plans beyond that are unclear.

Earlier today, Activision met with the studio leads and individual departments at Infinity Ward. Our sources within the studio tell us that Activision has confirmed they will still be receiving "compensation for royalties and such," referring to rumors that the studio hadn't yet been compensated for Modern Warfare 2.

Activision also wanted Modern Warfare 3 from Infinity Ward, our source told us, but that the team "wasn't too thrilled about that idea."

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

Activison are morons and are ruining the gaming industry one step at a time and quickly becoming the new EA. They will ruin the Call Of Duty franchise with their yearly update idea and people will just get bored of it. Hope Infinity Ward staff that have been dismissed branch to another studio and take some of the team with them and create some more top class titles. Time for Infinity Ward to stand up and pull themselves away from being told what to develop and when and stick to creating excellent titles with free reign to do as they wish.

 

[Wonderfoole WINO]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

I'm not interested in it if Infinity Ward isn't making it.

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

I'm not interested in it if Infinity Ward isn't making it.

Agreed.

Seriously. Multiple companies making one franchise was a bad idea in the first idea and now letting a brand that no one has heard of do it is ridiculous.

If it turns out good, I'd be surprised.

 

[Daemon300]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

CoD in space sounds interesting... I wonder if they will do it.

And I don't really care who's making them, as long as it's good.

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

CoD in space sounds interesting... I wonder if they will do it.

And I don't really care who's making them, as long as it's good.

CoD in space sounds like Halo.

IW aren't thrilled about making MW3?

That's stupid. The amount they earned from MW2 I thought they would have jumped right in.

 

[Daemon300]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

MW2 dissapointed me greatly. They should not make CoD's for at least a year.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

IW aren't thrilled about making MW3?

That's stupid. The amount they earned from MW2 I thought they would have jumped right in.

They want to stretch their creative minds and make something different instead of being tied into making one game series. However Activision want them to keep generating money for them year after year so wanted to cash in on the Call of Duty license every year. Something Infinity Ward werent happy about so Activision brought in Treyarch to fill the gap between Infinity Ward created titles.

Much like Bungie want to create other games other than the Halo series, Infinity Ward want to create something new so people start to appreciate their talents as great games designers again who arent recycling and relying on one product.

 

[Tyloric]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

CoD is the Madden of the FPS world.

I am unimpressed.

 

[Purple Nurple]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

Edit: Double ninja'd

I never liked the Activision ones - I though CoD 3 and 5 were massive dissapointments t bh.

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

They want to stretch their creative minds and make something different instead of being tied into making one game series. However Activision want them to keep generating money for them year after year so wanted to cash in on the Call of Duty license every year. Something Infinity Ward werent happy about so Activision brought in Treyarch to fill the gap between Infinity Ward created titles.

Much like Bungie want to create other games other than the Halo series, Infinity Ward want to create something new so people start to appreciate their talents as great games designers again who arent recycling and relying on one product.

But... The ending of MW2 really needs a third game.

Spoiler

With Captain Price and Soap being the worlds most wanted men, Soap bleeding to death, Makarov still alive and you both being taken somewhere in a pavelow..

You can't just leave it.

 

[Daemon300]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

^You can. At least for a year or two.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

But... The ending of MW2 really needs a third game.

Spoiler

With Captain Price and Soap being the worlds most wanted men, Soap bleeding to death, Makarov still alive and you both being taken somewhere in a pavelow..

You can't just leave it.

^You can. At least for a year or two.

^^ Exactly Infinity Ward didnt plan to just 'leave it' they made it with a sequel in mind but not 12 months down the line as Activision wanted.

 

[Zjuggernaut]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

^^ Exactly Infinity Ward didnt plan to just 'leave it' they made it with a sequel in mind but not 12 months down the line as Activision wanted.

Oh, good then.

If that's the case, MW3 might be out for the new xbox if it decides to show up next year.

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

Oh, good then.

If that's the case, MW3 might be out for the new xbox if it decides to show up next year.

Natal is meant to extend the Xbox lifespan by about 4 years and with Sony not planning a PS4 anytime soon Microsoft dont need to create a new console yet.

Heres an update on the Infinity Ward situation:

Recently sacked Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have sued Activision.

Earlier this week (as if you missed it) Activision security "stormed Infinity Ward's offices" and removed the pair, citing "insubordination".

According to a press release from law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP, the two co-founders are now claiming that they were wrongly fired weeks before substantial royalty payments were due to be paid.

The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and also claims that Activision granted West and Zampella contractual rights to control Modern Warfare-branded games.

According to our clever colleagues at Edge-Online, the suit includes claims for "breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, wrong termination in violation of public policy, and declaratory relief."

The pair's attorney, Robert Schwartz said: "Activision has refused to honour 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 1st."

West himself added: "We were shocked by Activision's decision to terminate our contract. We poured our heart and soul into that company, building not only a world class development studio, but assembling a team we've been proud to work with for nearly a decade. We think the work we've done speaks for itself."

And finally, Zampella said: "After all we have given to Activision, we shouldn't have to sue to get paid."

West and Zampella co-founded Infinity Ward in 2001, which went on to be acquired by Activision in November 2003.

 

[Dentie]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

First it was like this
1 year good, 1 year bad, 1 year good, 1 year bad, etc.
Now it will be like
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD every year

 

[Dark Drakan]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

First it was like this
1 year good, 1 year bad, 1 year good, 1 year bad, etc.
Now it will be like
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD every year

Without Infinity Ward at the helm Call Of Duty just steps back to the bog standard generic shooter mark. Dont know what it is about the atmosphere IW seem to capture but no-one else will do the same with the series.

Another UPDATE

Jason West and Vince Zampella, former heads of Call of Duty studio Infinity Ward, are suing Activision for US $36 million and control over the Modern Warfare franchise, according to a report by Bloomberg.

"Activision terminated their employment weeks before they were to be paid substantial royalty payments as part of their existing contracts for Modern Warfare 2," the pairs' lawyers at O'Melveny & Myers LLP wrote in a statement.

This follows on from the announcement that Activision was planning on expanding the Modern Warfare franchise with a new game by Sledgehammer Games.

Hope they win and can separate themselves from Activison.

 

[Ink]

Re: Activision Confirms New Call of Duty by Sledgehammer Games

Wow...

This makes me want to vomit with rage.

They get rid off the guys who have made two of the best games of all time to replace them with people who want to turn COD into more of an "Action adventure game".... Yuck!