Since Jason West and Frank Zampella’s somewhat less than amicable split from Activision, the situation at the in-house Infinity Ward seems to have gone from bad, to worse.
And now with the founding duo having set up their own studio, cleverly called Respawn entertainment, Activision may be looking at a mass exodus of Infinity Ward staff.
First to leave after West and Zampella were lead software engineer Francesco Gigliotti and lead designer Todd Alderman. Both of them were at Infinity Ward for many years, and both were instrumental in the development of modern Warfare 2.
Then it was announced that another two senior staff members were calling it quits, with veteran programmer Jon Shiring and designer Mackey McCandlish had both said their goodbyes to Infinity Ward.
Today brings news that another 4 IW staffers have opted to leave the company, making it more than 10 percent of the company’s staff that have abandoned ship since the mess that started a month ago. Modern Warfare 2 lead designers Steve Fukuda and Zied Reike, programmer Rayme Vinson, and lead artist Chris Cherubini are the latest to pack their bags.
Word in the rumour mill is that many staff members aren’t keen to leave just yet – as they’ll forfeit the grand sums of money in as yet unpaid royalties they’re owed by Activision for the phenomenal success of modern Warfare 2. Money that Bobby Kotick is probably rubbing over his nipples right now.
If this continues much longer, Infinity Ward as we know it will effectively be finished – and Activision would have lost its biggest, and arguably best studio – and eventually its biggest IP that isn’t called World of Warcraft.
Source : Kotaku
Last Updated: April 14, 2010
uberutang
April 14, 2010 at 14:03
* Vince Zampella – Studio Head/CEO
* Jason West – President/Game Director/CCO/CTO
* Steve Fukada – Lead Designer
* Zied Reike – Lead Designer
* Mackey McCandlish – Lead Designer
* Jon Shiring – Programmer
* Rayme Vinson – Programmer
* Chris Cherubini – Lead Artist
* Todd Alderman – Lead Online Designer
* Francesco Gigliotti – Lead Software Engineer
* Bruce Ferriz – Senior Animator
All gone from IW
Nick de Bruyne
April 14, 2010 at 14:04
I wonder if we are going to see exactly the same thing that happened with Medal of Honor again. It was the best, then the guys went off and formed Infinity Ward and COD took over.
Now we are going to possibly see a new shift all over again. I’m sure Treyarch are stoked.
Bobby Kotick is that foul stench in the fridge
April 14, 2010 at 14:25
Or the guys at Treyarch are all getting anxiety attacks, although I have to admit, and I might be in the minority on this point, but I thought World at War was a superior product to the first Modern Warfare. I can’t speak for MW2 vs WAW because I haven’t played it nor have any inclination to do so.
ClericZA
April 14, 2010 at 17:45
“Money that Bobby Kotick is probably rubbing over his nipples right now.”
Why Geoff? Who-o-why-o-why-o-why did you have to put that image in my head?
But yeah, love the name “Respawn Entertainment”. It will always be a reminder to Activision every time it grabs a headline.
Bobby Kotick rubs money on his nipples
April 14, 2010 at 19:18
Because… it feels divine.