Security Guards, Emergency Meetings, and More: Infinity Ward Bosses Laid-Off Due to “Insubordination” and Breach of Contract
The past 24 hours have not been kind to Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward.
It all began yesterday evening when rumors surfaced that Activision ordered security personnel to go check in on Infinity Ward in what we’re sure was a polite, completely non-threatening gesture. Infinity Ward employees were “freaked out” and “confused” by the nasty turn of events.
It only got uglier from there.
Apparently, Activision was investigating "breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward." These two senior employees were later identified as none other than the company’s heart and soul, respectively, bosses Jason West and Vince Zampella. Both men are now jobless.
Shortly after, in a move that seems a bit too convenient for our tastes, Activision announced the creation of a Call of Duty business unit, which will be headed-up by Philip Earl, who currently runs Activision Publishing’s Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, Activision vets Steve Pearce and Steve Ackrich will take up the reigns over at Infinity Ward until suitable candidates are found to permanently steer the wagon. Again, fishy.
This came after Activision CEO Bobby Kotick flew in for an emergency meeting with Infinity Ward’s remaining staffers this afternoon.
So, what exactly caused this plate-flinging, staying-at-mother’s-house-for-a-month lover’s spat? Activision’s not talking, but the Internet’s made a valiant effort at putting together the pieces. For one thing, rumor has it that Activision’s been withholding royalty fees from Infinity Ward. Meanwhile, Infinity Ward’s apparently been shopping around for a new publisher despite a deal with Activision that doesn’t expire until October. And the developer’s hoping to take the Modern Warfare franchise with it, as it’s a partial owner of the Call of Duty franchise. Also, earlier this year Infinity Ward was rumored to have decided to focus on a new franchise instead of developing Modern Warfare 3 – a move that, we’re sure, had Activision’s piggy banks squealing in desperate fear of starvation.
But here’s the kicker: earlier today, after announcing a new action-adventure entry in the Call of Duty series developed by Sledgehammer Games, Activision said that Infinity Ward is still “central” to the Call of Duty franchise. An odd thing to say about a studio that hopes to develop a new IP. Now, maybe we’re reading into things a bit, but if your billion dollar horse was bucking, we bet you’d consider doing some fairly unscrupulous things to whip it back into line.
We wish the best of luck to everyone at Infinity Ward. Keep fighting the good fight, guys and gals.
More Hints at Steam and Valve Games for Mac
New images have surfaced today, which seem to confirm Valve's intentions to bring Steam and possibly several of Valve's games to the Mac platform.
If you missed the previous rumors, a user in the Steam forums discovered Mac style skin files in the new Steam beta. If true, this development could turn out to be a major new step in computer gaming for a variety of reasons. While many Windows gamers love to poke fun at Mac users, several developments over the past few years have left PC gamers questioning Microsoft's real intentions when it comes to PC gaming – see Alan Wake, etc. In addition, because OS X is based on Unix, we would expect that Steam would also be making its way to Linux as well.
Ultimately, this should be interpreted as good news for computer gaming in general simply because it expands the user base and also future-proofs gaming on the computer platform. Operating system market share certainly isn't set it stone and if Microsoft were to make a highly undesirable move, for example, it gives gamers alternative options. Of course, just because Steam looks like it's headed to Mac doesn't mean all the games in the Steam store are too. However, it might influence more developers to program for multiple operating systems.
Moto GP 09/10 shots arrive
Demo on the 4th, release on the 19th.
Capcom’s released ten new shots for Moto GP 09/10, ahead of the demo release this Thursday.
Click here to read the full article
Moto GP 09/10 shots arrive
Demo on the 4th, release on the 19th.
Capcom’s released ten new shots for Moto GP 09/10, ahead of the demo release this Thursday.
Click here to read the full article
SteelSeries Launches New Gaming Keyboard, Headset
SteelSeries, makers of “professional gaming gear”, have used CeBIT as the launching platform for a new keyboard, the 6Gv2, and headset, the 7H.
The 6Gv2 keyboard is modeled after SteelSeries’s award-winning 7G. It is designed with 18-karat gold-plated mechanical no-click switches, which SteelSeries says will offer quicker reaction times, advance key combinations, and more “Actions Per Minute.” The 6Gv2 has a buffer system created specifically for gaming, and an “anti-ghosting” feature that allows users in first person shooters (FPS) to move, crouch, aim, fire, and even check the scoreboard–all at the same time. Built in are media controls, allowing quick access to audio controls. Unlike the 7G, the 6Gv2 has no audio ports, USB ports, or removable plastic hand-rest.
The 7H headset features 50mm drivers with over-the-ear cups that SteelSeries says will deliver a “clean soundscape of high, low and mid tones from background, mood setting sounds in MMO games to 3D positional alerts in FPS games.” The 7H comes with two ear cup options: leather, for maximum sound isolation, or cloth, so you can better communicate with teammates. It has a retractable, uni-directional microphone in the left ear cup, and has built-in volume and microphone controls. 7H comes with standard miniplugs or a USB connector. The USB version comes with optimized sound profiles, as well as customizable environmental settings. For easy storage, the 7H can be dismantled into four pieces.
The 6Gv2 keyboard retails for $99.99, while the 7H headset retails for $119.99, with the USB version going for $149.99. All are available for pre-sale at Amazon.
Image Credit: SteelSeries
Another Study Links Violent Videogames to Violent Behavior
Maybe it all started with the 1997 Atari 2600 title Combat, in which you were tasked with blowing up your best friend (or whoever you invited over) with a tank, bi-plane, or jet. Or maybe it was something else, but no matter what videogame first began shaping our feeble minds, one thing’s for sure - violent videogames increases our violent thinking, attitudes, and behaviors, says a new study. Oh, and those shoot-em-ups you’ve been playing do absolutely nothing to promote positive social behaviors.
To come to the above conclusion, psychologist Craig Anderson of Iowa State University and his team combed through the results of existing studies of 130,000 people from the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Anderson says he found an association between exposure to violent games and aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, and aggressive "affect."
"Videogames are neither inherently good nor inherently bad," the study says. "But people learn. And content matters."
Naturally, not everyone agrees with Anderson’s findings. Two such critiques include Christopher Ferguson and John Kilburn of the department of behavioral applied science and criminal justice at Texas A&M International University. Ferguson and Kilburn point out flaws in Anderson’s study, including what they believe is a selection bias, as well as a weak connection at best. Furthermore, Freguson says that violent crime in the U.S. and other developed nations has decreased over the decades, even though videogames are becoming more popular than ever.
More info here.
Image Credit: scottpehnke.com
Castlevania Lords of Shadow shots in
Beautiful environments, disgusting creatures.
Konami’s just released some new screenshots for Castlevania Lords of Shadow, which was first announced at E3 last year.
Click here to read the full article
Castlevania Lords of Shadow shots in
Beautiful environments, disgusting creatures.
Konami’s just released some new screenshots for Castlevania Lords of Shadow, which was first announced at E3 last year.
Click here to read the full article
Portal 2 hinted in update
Valve adds mysterious radio messages in patch.
Valve has released an update for the PC version of Portal that’s introduced a series of mysterious radio messages, possibly hinting at a sequel.
Click here to read the full article
New Tropico 3: Absolute Power shots arrive
Ten screens from the expansion pack land.
Kalypso Media released ten screenshots for Tropico 3: Absolute Power after announcing the expansion pack yesterday.
