Insomniac: Infinity Ward sackings are 'horrifying'
Resistance: Fall Of Man developer Insomniac has labelled the treatment of Infinity Ward's Jason West and Vince Zampella by Activision "horrifying".
(Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
I lke this its good to hear oersonal response from another developer. as they understand more than any of us. this will surely have damage limation to activision after this year with courtcases from patant on guitar hero to the latest sacking of Jason West and Vince Zampella and a further 11 more.
It kinda sucks that lots of people that pretty much made IW what it is now are sacked. This happens when intellectual properties and ownership rights become more important than people who were the source of success.
@C-R-E-A-M: Come back commenting on serious topics when you stop drawing your pubes with crayons and actually grow some yourself.
lol No it doesn't, any FPS dev will consider picking up an EX-billion dollar game employee.
They dont have it bad, put your pity somewhere more useful guys. Everyone at IW will be fine; because the people there know(knew) how to make big money. Other developers kill for that.
they have it bad cause they were supposed to get a cut of modern warfare2s profits.. millions of dollars for themselves.. instead they got screwed over and fired cause someone didnt wanna pay em out.
Its not about them losing their jobs... its about a greedy employer screwen someone over... it is a very big deal... and shows the character behind the company.
But from what i hear it may have been their own faults in the first place.. I heard they were shoppn out modern warfare and themselves to activisions biggest competitors like EA
This whole thing strikes me as the old "three sides to every story" situation. Fact is huge sums of money became involved and everyone acted like an a-hole. West and Zampella look like the good guys in most of the reporting only because they're standing next to an even bigger douchebag (Activision/Kotick).
This is why they like to stay independentt, but with the way Sony is i doubt their would be anything like this that they'd need to fear ^^ bring on E3 and show us all what you've been doing.
I can assure Sony would never go down the route that activision is going.....smh this is what happens when your are arrogant and ignorant as a company!
I agree with you I don't see this happening with the current way Sony Worldwide-studios are run, especially if someone should have made similar successes, however Sony has shown they can restructure sections of their companies when they stop succeeding, i.e. promoting people past Crazy Ken.
You can never predict the future, Activision were the first thirdparty publisher and were founded because they wanted to be a different opportunity for studios other than the console manufacturers.
I'm pretty sure that the Acticision people back then, could never imagine what kind of evil corporate beast they've turned into today.
However, what this article is mentioning - is that even if Sony wanted to.
They could not fire Ted Price. Since Insomniac isn't owned by Sony, they're just their publisher-partner. :)
Worstcase scenario, for Insomniac, is like Microsoft did with Crackdown-devs.. Open up a new studio right next-door, and recruit from Insomniac-workforce. :-/
Anyway, I don't think anything like that will ever happen. :)
Especially for Insomniac games, it would be looked very horrifying, since the company has been awarded for "Top 10 best place to work (among small or medium size company)" consecutively since 2005, and practice its virtue by donating and helping a lot of children in its society.
IW is the money-maker, but Insomniac games is living in beyond this industry.
I wonder how much restrictions and limitations Sony place on first party devs. So far, they seem okay because GT5 from Polyphony Digital is taking forever. They cannot rush them out the gate it seems, I am pretty sure Sony breathes down their necks all the time. Like every company, no body likes the controlling their every moves. I guess IW had enough of Activision's.
Sony's mantra is to create great games and quality consoles that last. Sony understands that at the very least if you take care of these two basics your bussiness will be taken care of.
Since the PS1 days i haven't heard any devs for PS say anything bad about Sony. In fact they only have great things to say. The first and most important asset for any company imo is their people. I guess Sony understands thins very well. Heck even those that left sony on their accord still are saying great things about Sony.
If we really look at past and present. Sony is really pushing the boundaries with new an unique games. Very risky but commendable and i guess this is why Sony gets praise from some devs.
If we look at the status quo. Sony devs are producing amazing top of the line games and non have opted to leave Sony yet. Sony really must be doing something great.
@cmrbe ROFL....You mean their mantra since the release of the PS3? Cause the PS1 and PS2 was far from quality consoles that last. Good gaming machines yes, reliable machines no.
/\/\/\/\ The PS1 and PS2 were not that unreliable. In any case i was referring to the consoles lifespan. Sony always develops consoles that they can support for a long period of time which benefits everyone.
If anything this will reinforce I.G and other independent devs to remain independent.
Activision are idiots. When you have top of the line devs that only want to make the best games. You should let them be because they will deliver in anycase. If you force the issue because of greed you will loose the chicken that lay the golden egg. Hence no more golden egg for you.
I don't know if there is an association of independent devs but i think they should create one to look after themselves collectively.
20°
30°
30°
30°
30°
Ad 
30°
as they understand more than any of us. this will surely have damage limation to activision after this year with courtcases from patant on guitar hero to the latest sacking of Jason West and Vince Zampella and a further 11 more.
@C-R-E-A-M: Come back commenting on serious topics when you stop drawing your pubes with crayons and actually grow some yourself.
No it doesn't, any FPS dev will consider picking up an EX-billion dollar game employee.
They dont have it bad, put your pity somewhere more useful guys. Everyone at IW will be fine; because the people there know(knew) how to make big money. Other developers kill for that.
Its not about them losing their jobs... its about a greedy employer screwen someone over... it is a very big deal... and shows the character behind the company.
But from what i hear it may have been their own faults in the first place.. I heard they were shoppn out modern warfare and themselves to activisions biggest competitors like EA
with that in mind more rachet please :)
^^ bring on E3 and show us all what you've been doing.
I don't see this happening with the current way Sony Worldwide-studios are run, especially if someone should have made similar successes, however Sony has shown they can restructure sections of their companies when they stop succeeding, i.e. promoting people past Crazy Ken.
You can never predict the future, Activision were the first thirdparty publisher and were founded because they wanted to be a different opportunity for studios other than the console manufacturers.
I'm pretty sure that the Acticision people back then, could never imagine what kind of evil corporate beast they've turned into today.
However, what this article is mentioning - is that even if Sony wanted to.
They could not fire Ted Price. Since Insomniac isn't owned by Sony, they're just their publisher-partner. :)
Worstcase scenario, for Insomniac, is like Microsoft did with Crackdown-devs.. Open up a new studio right next-door, and recruit from Insomniac-workforce. :-/
Anyway, I don't think anything like that will ever happen. :)
it would be looked very horrifying, since the company has been awarded for "Top 10 best place to work (among small or medium size company)" consecutively since 2005, and practice its virtue by donating and helping a lot of children in its society.
IW is the money-maker, but Insomniac games is living in beyond this industry.
create great games and quality consoles that last. Sony understands that at the very least if you take care of these two basics your bussiness will be taken care of.
Since the PS1 days i haven't heard any devs for PS say anything bad about Sony. In fact they only have great things to say. The first and most important asset for any company imo is their people. I guess Sony understands thins very well. Heck even those that left sony on their accord still are saying great things about Sony.
If we really look at past and present. Sony is really pushing the boundaries with new an unique games. Very risky but commendable and i guess this is why Sony gets praise from some devs.
If we look at the status quo. Sony devs are producing amazing top of the line games and non have opted to leave Sony yet. Sony really must be doing something great.
ROFL....You mean their mantra since the release of the PS3? Cause the PS1 and PS2 was far from quality consoles that last. Good gaming machines yes, reliable machines no.
The PS1 and PS2 were not that unreliable. In any case i was referring to the consoles lifespan. Sony always develops consoles that they can support for a long period of time which benefits everyone.
and other independent devs to remain independent.
Activision are idiots. When you have top of the line devs that only want to make the best games. You should let them be because they will deliver in anycase. If you force the issue because of greed you will loose the chicken that lay the golden egg. Hence no more golden egg for you.
I don't know if there is an association of independent devs but i think they should create one to look after themselves collectively.