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Gaming News & Discussion (Page 32)
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lpkmckenna
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May 9, 2012, 07:32 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
BioShock Infinite delayed to February | Joystiq
I heard they're adding multiplayer to the game, which I imagine has to be a concession from Levine to the publisher.
That's too bad. As I recall, no one cared about multiplayer in Bioshock 2.
     
Kevin Bogues
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May 10, 2012, 06:21 PM
 
Assassins Creed III - Gameplay Trailer

AC III - Gameplay Trailer (Conner fights a bear)

There is a whole lot going on in that trailer but one word describes it for me...

Fantastic.
     
Jawbone54
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May 11, 2012, 12:31 AM
 
Originally Posted by Kevin Bogues View Post
Assassins Creed III - Gameplay Trailer

AC III - Gameplay Trailer (Conner fights a bear)

There is a whole lot going on in that trailer but one word describes it for me...

Fantastic.
Looks incredible.

I'm going to re-read 1776 in preparation.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 11, 2012, 11:06 AM
 
April NPD: Prototype 2 tops charts, industry-wide sales down 32 percent year-over-year | Joystiq
April 2012 NPD Sales Results [Up2: The best selling game sold *less* than 236K] - NeoGAF
"Last April, the top seven titles outsold the top-selling title this year, and, simply stated, there were notably fewer new market introductions. I think it's a simple as that because when we see compelling content come into the market, the games are still selling as well as ever – we just saw a lot less this April as compared to last."
Software:

1.) Prototype 2 (360, PS3) Activision Blizzard - Less than 236K, perhaps significantly.
2.) Kinect Star Wars (360) Lucasarts
3.) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (360, PS3, Wii, PC) Activision Blizzard
4.) Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 (360, PS3) Electronic Arts
5.) NBA 2K12 (360, PS3, Wii, PSP, PC, PS2) Take-Two Interactive
6.) The Witcher 2: Assassin of Kings (360, PC) Warner Bros. Interactive
7.) Mario Party 9 (Wii) Nintendo
8.) Mass Effect 3 (360, PS3, PC) Electronic Arts
9.) Just Dance 3 (Wii, 360, PS3) Ubisoft
10.) MLB 12: The show (PS3, PSV) Sony


Hardware:

Xbox 360 - 236K (-20.5%) (Best selling console this month)
---

EA-run Battlefield 3 servers disappearing on consoles | The Verge
EA began allowing players to rent out servers for the Xbox and PS3 versions of the game for $30 for 30 days — a fairly steep price to begin with. According to a number of Redditors (whose complaints were compiled by VentureBeat), those two platforms have seen a withdraw of "official" servers run by either EA or DICE since the private options were made available.
     
Stogieman
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May 11, 2012, 01:01 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
I'm OK with this. Gives me more time to play Borderlands 2 and Halo 4.

Slick shoes?! Are you crazy?!
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 11, 2012, 01:08 PM
 
I heard you can pre-order Halo 4. Pop in Halo 3 and play the campaign, then put in the Halo: Reach disc and play the multiplayer.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 11, 2012, 01:36 PM
 
Someone dug up an old interview with DICE.

Battlefield 3 'probably' charging secondhand users for online - Report - GameSpot.com
"I'm not sure I want to call our system an Online Pass," he said. "The whole idea is that we're paying for servers. If you create a new account, there is a big process on how that is being handled in the back end. We would rather have you buy a new game than a used game because buying a used game is only a cost to us; we don't get a single dime from a used game, but we still need to create server space and everything for you."

"We want people to at least pay us something to create this because we're paying for it," he continued. "It was actually a loss for us to have new players. Hopefully people understand why. It's not to punish people. To us, it's compensation."
     
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May 11, 2012, 01:54 PM
 
That doesn't make sense being that someone payed for the game initially, therefore they got their money. When someone buys a game used, they are just taking over the "space" that the previous owner occupied.
I like my water with hops, malt, hops, yeast, and hops.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 11, 2012, 01:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by Rumor View Post
That doesn't make sense being that someone payed for the game initially, therefore they got their money. When someone buys a game used, they are just taking over the "space" that the previous owner occupied.
I agree, but that's beyond the point now.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 14, 2012, 03:41 PM
 
EA to add more DICE servers to Battlefield 3 | VG247
EA has denied claims it shut down any official servers hosted by it or DICE, forcing players to play only on rental servers. “DICE is not shutting down servers,” an EA representative told Gamespot. “If DICE-managed servers appear unavailable, it is because they have been rented and customized by players. DICE will continue to add servers and will reserve a percentage of servers for players who prefer to connect through DICE-hosted servers.” Earlier in the week players were complaining that it was almost impossible to find a server to play on that wasn’t rented, and an official server search conducted by VentureBeat found 17 EA run servers, but no servers run by DICE.
Love statements that contradict previous statements. Also, why would you not keep a minimum running stock settings like before? h wait, you're going to do that. Now, that you received backlash, that is.

Greedy ****s.
     
Leonard
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May 14, 2012, 11:49 PM
 
Originally Posted by Rumor View Post
That doesn't make sense being that someone payed for the game initially, therefore they got their money. When someone buys a game used, they are just taking over the "space" that the previous owner occupied.

Online activity, yes. Account space no... The guy who buys it used would have a different account and would take more space for his account info and tracking. The guy who bought it new would still have account space until it gets archived (if they archive it).

But I would think online activity is more costly than the space that your account takes up.
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The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 15, 2012, 11:53 AM
 
Activision pays $42m to former Infinity Ward devs, not a settlement | The Verge
After it finished reviewing all the evidence in the pre-trial lead up to its high-profile lawsuit against former Infinity Ward co-heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, Activision believed that the discovery phase didn't implicate the constituents of the so-called "Infinity Ward Employee Group," a source familiar with the case told Polygon. As a result, the video game publisher issued a check to the group's lawyers for $42 million dollars today, which includes 10 percent interest and is in addition to the original $22 million already paid for the promised first quarter launch bonus.

Reached for comment this evening, Bruce Isaacs, attorney for the Infinity Ward Employee Group, confirmed that the payment was made today, but called it a "cynical attempt to look good before the jury trial."
In what is evidently an unusual turn, our source said that the payment was not a part of a settlement; following the discovery phase, which closed in March, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick agreed that since the evidence didn't implicate the 40 members of the Infinity Ward Employee Group, the company opted to pay the amount it believed the former employees were owed and focus its legal efforts on West and Zampella.
Since this payment was not related to a settlement, the IWEG can still pursue the remainder of the money it claims it's entitled to. While the $42 million dollar figure was not a number the group negotiated, it was based on its first request – before damages inflated the amount, our source says.
$42 million for 40 people. Even if the lawyers rape it, I imagine that's not an insignificant sum for those people to get. Interesting that this seems to be more of a legal tactic than anything else. May betray weakness on Activison's part.


Lamia says Black Ops 2 visuals a priority, downplays age of engine | Joystiq
Lamia said "a pretty significant amount of work" in Black Ops 2 is going into the graphics and the lighting. "I think what people are asking for is for us to push. They want us to make a better-looking game; they want things. I don't think those are things people can't ask for. We asked ourselves that very same question - we wanted to advance the graphics. I think the questions are valid. The answer may not need to be an entirely new engine, but you might need to do an entire overhaul of your entire lighting system. The trick is, we're not willing to do that if we can't keep it running at 60 frames per second - but we did that this time."
Lies. Hope you guys got the audio working right this time, too.
     
Kevin Bogues
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May 15, 2012, 12:03 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Lamia says Black Ops 2 visuals a priority, downplays age of engine | Joystiq

Lies. Hope you guys got the audio working right this time, too.
Get over yourself COD, visuals a priority?... printing money is the priority.

As far as upgraded light effects....
I was on my way to the 'hood to buy them 20's.
.....I mean, them tens. They're tens, but I keep 'em clean.
     
mattyb
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May 16, 2012, 03:16 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Hope you guys got the audio working right this time, too.
I've come across audio probs in MW3, snipers not sounding the same depending on if you get a perk, sound cutting out etc. One would assume that you wouldn't change the things that worked so well in MW and MW2. Guess the methods of developing games have different standards.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 17, 2012, 12:33 PM
 
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 17, 2012, 02:13 PM
 
How could I forget to post about Diablo's seamless launch?

Blizzard Apologises for Diablo III Launch Mess, Delays Real-Money Auction House
"As many of you are aware, technical issues occurring within hours after the game's launch led to players experiencing error messages and difficulty logging in. These issues cropped up again last night for the Americas and Europe servers. Despite very aggressive projections, our preparations for the launch of the game did not go far enough."
It never ****ing does.

How about you guys start playing better safe than sorry?


Here's the first Forza Horizon screenshot | Joystiq
WTF is Forza: Horizon? Is it just Forza 5 with a different name?


EA and Activision settle in Call of Duty lawsuit | Joystiq
EA and Activision have reached a settlement in a lawsuit that began two years ago, pertaining to the departure of Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella.
BOOOOOOO


The settlement news comes the same day as a report on Activision's "dirt"-digging tactics has surfaced, stating that Activision launched an information-gathering IT spree on West and Zampella just before the launch of Modern Warfare 2, intended to see them both fired. Activision called it "Project Icebreaker."

No joke.

In Project Icebreaker, Activision's George Rose asked the IT department to access West and Zampella's email, voicemail and computer without anyone's knowledge, a court filing given to Giantbomb by West and Zampella's attorneys shows. The orders reportedly came from Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. Activision attempted to use third-party security specialists and threw around the idea of staging a fake fumagation to get into West and Zampella's offices, the report says.
Re-read that. Scums of the earth.

Anyway, I'm sure we'll get almost zero info about the settlement and there will be non-disclosures all around.
     
exca1ibur
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May 17, 2012, 05:54 PM
 
I agree totally.


Diablo 3 launch was beyond terrible. It took 20 minutes just to get installed due to dealing with their servers and battle.net lodgings for me. Once I got it installed the Americas server went down for a few hours. The always online is the worst thing in gaming since DLC, IMO. The game is great but due to them wanting to data mine and monitor all their users just makes for a damn headache. Activision has trained them well. This game should have had LAN play at the bare min.
     
Kevin Bogues
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May 22, 2012, 09:58 AM
 
Bungie Contract Reveals Four Game Plan - DESTINY

I must say i'm VERY interested in what Bungie is up to, looks like this old contract (from '07) lists the first game codename "Destiny" as a 360 release (exclusive) w/ an option for the next gen if it doesn't make the 360.
     
Jawbone54
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May 22, 2012, 10:54 AM
 
It's interesting that those documents were posted by the LA Times, of all things.

I'm wondering in what "sci-fantasy" is. Regardless, I'll always be intrigued by what they're doing, even if I barely spent any time on Reach (and none on ODST).
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 22, 2012, 10:57 AM
 
Originally Posted by Jawbone54 View Post
I'm wondering in what "sci-fantasy" is.
Star Wars

(Style, not IP)
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 22, 2012, 04:51 PM
 
This just in, Activison are giant assholes.
Rising costs, tensions in Activision-Infinity Ward e-mails | Ars Technica
Though they weren't fired until March of 2010, Activision was apparently discussing the possibility of excising Infinity Ward co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella as early as January 2009.
Hmmm.... 9 months out from MW2 and they were already thinking of firing them. Doesn't make Zampella and West so assholish for possibly hatching an escape plan.


Tensions grew as E3 approached that June, and Infinity Ward was reportedly not ready to deliver a live gameplay demo of Modern Warfare 2, as required by a deal between Activision and Microsoft. In an e-mail chain, Griffith reports to Activision CEO Bobby Kotick that West and Zampella hung up on him when he called to insist the demo be finished in time.
That, however, doesn't bode well for them in the court case. That is insubordination.


The E3 demo situation could factor in to Activision's legal argument that West and Zampella were fired for "insubordination," but other e-mails suggest the publisher might also have been motivated by the rising cost of contractual bonuses being offered to the developers. "We need to find a way to put a cap on our bonus payouts," Griffith writes in an e-mail to Kotick, adding in a separate note that a new equity structure could compel some top Infinity Ward staff to stay "if things blow up at the top."
...and there you have it. What's it about? Money. However, where most publishers shutter studios and fire management for making shitty games, Activision was making wads and wads on Call of Duty and just didn't like how much Infinity Ward was earning for doing all the actual work. Un-****ing-believable.

It's pretty obvious West & Zampella aren't idiots, and made quite favorable agreements for themselves and their company when joining Activison. And Kotick, true to the evil businessman stereotype, looked for a way out once they became wildly successful.

I hope Respawn's game destroys CoD.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 22, 2012, 05:32 PM
 
NeoGAF FTW:
Imagine what Bungie is thinking reading stuff like this. IW produced nothing but hits for Activision, on tight timeframes. And as you may recall, IW pushed Activsion to put COD on consoles and to take COD out of WWII, not the other way around. And they ultimately delivered everything on time. And look what it got them.
     
ajprice
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May 22, 2012, 05:47 PM
 
I'm typing on the phone so I'm not quoting Dakar and deleting down to one bit, but Forza Horizon is an open world game, hopefully something like TDU but with Forza cars and physics. No idea yet how big the game world will be.

It'll be much easier if you just comply.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 23, 2012, 12:23 PM
 
     
subego
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May 23, 2012, 12:46 PM
 
Isnt there some class you take in evil villain school where they tell you not to commit your evil villain plans to print?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 23, 2012, 12:54 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Isnt there some class you take in evil villain school where they tell you not to commit your evil villain plans to print?
They haven't caught up to the digital age.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 23, 2012, 12:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by ajprice View Post
I'm typing on the phone so I'm not quoting Dakar and deleting down to one bit, but Forza Horizon is an open world game, hopefully something like TDU but with Forza cars and physics. No idea yet how big the game world will be.
Not familiar with TDU, but is it anything like Burnout: Paradise?

Somewhat curious what they'll be bringing to the table, and considering their dedication to RL racks, if the world will be modeled after something specific.
     
subego
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May 23, 2012, 01:08 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
They haven't caught up to the digital age.
I smell a venture capital opportunity.
     
ajprice
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May 23, 2012, 02:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Not familiar with TDU, but is it anything like Burnout: Paradise?

Somewhat curious what they'll be bringing to the table, and considering their dedication to RL racks, if the world will be modeled after something specific.
TDU = Test Drive Unlimited. The first game was the Hawaiian island Oahu and was apparently 90% accurate to all the roads on the island. The second game added Ibiza and SUVs as well as sportscars. Somewhere inbetween Burnout and Forza on the arcade/sim scale.

It'll be much easier if you just comply.
     
subego
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May 23, 2012, 02:17 PM
 
Isn't every racer somewhere inbetween Burnout and Forza on the arcade/sim scale?
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 23, 2012, 02:27 PM
 
Originally Posted by ajprice View Post
TDU = Test Drive Unlimited. The first game was the Hawaiian island Oahu and was apparently 90% accurate to all the roads on the island.
That's pretty damn cool.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 23, 2012, 02:44 PM
 
Why Take Two is OK with game release delays | Ars Technica
During a conference call accompanying today's earnings report, Take Two CEO Strauss Zelnick attributed the company's inability to reach its revenue and profit goals last year to "slippage"—what you or I might simply call "delaying games." He insisted multiple times that putting off marquee titles until they're really fully ready is the best way for the company to ensure long-term growth, even though such delays might sometimes lead to disappointing-looking numbers in the short term.

Zelnick said Take Two has been pursuing a strategy of releasing a smaller number of higher quality releases for five years now, and that he's been extremely happy with how that plan has been going so far. "There's no question the market is not accepting low quality releases," he said by way of justifying the legendarily long development times for many Take Two franchises (for instance: compare the number of Grand Theft Auto games in the past six years to the number of Call of Duty games in the same period). Executive VP and COO Karl Slatoff suggested Take Two was ahead of the game in this regard, and that "the number of titles that are out in the market is going to be reduced" as other publishers realize that consumers won't tolerate rushed, low quality games anymore.
I like their thinking. It is noteworthy that the failure of DNF came on their watch, as well as the relative failure of LA Noire (that title passed through several hands before landing at T2)
     
ajprice
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May 23, 2012, 06:10 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Isn't every racer somewhere inbetween Burnout and Forza on the arcade/sim scale?
Umm, yeah. Good point, well put . (I'll ignore the kart racer, Gran Turismo and PC sim games )

It'll be much easier if you just comply.
     
lpkmckenna
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May 23, 2012, 08:22 PM
 
In case anyone didn't notice, user generated content for Portal 2 is now live. I don't know when that happened, but it's here.

EDIT: so I played a bunch of the new maps. At first, I felt it wasn't the same without the story providing a framework, but then I came upon some great maps and that feeling went away. I highly recommend "Decay" (3 parts) by Jaxe to start with; a ton of fun. "Don't Make Lemonade" by Dogmeat was great too.
( Last edited by lpkmckenna; May 24, 2012 at 07:36 AM. )
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 24, 2012, 04:21 PM
 
In depth article on the upcoming trial that may actually happen.
Activision vs. Vince Zampella and Jason West: Inside the game industry trial of the decade • Articles • Eurogamer.net
The next significant update followed 24 hours later when Activision, via an SEC filing, revealed that Zampella and West's initial $36 million damages claim had since rocketed to over $1 billion.
On top of that $36 million, Schwartz argues they're also entitled to multiple additional bonuses for Modern Warfare 2 and "and other games in the Call of Duty family that they worked on before they were fired and that came out after they were fired and through the time their contracts would have expired in November 2011".

Call of Duty: Black Ops - West and Zampella's attorney says the duo are entitled to bonuses based on Treyarch's output.

West and Zampella insist that both Modern Warfare 3 and Treyarch's Call of Duty games fall under that umbrella. Yes, you read that correctly - Treyarch's titles too.
"The contract gave them bonuses on all Call of Duty-branded games," explains Schwartz.

"Activision doesn't dispute that. World at War, Black Ops - they were entitled to be paid bonuses on those games. For the first year that World at War came out, Activision did actually pay them bonuses on it.

"They're entitled to a bonus for any game that uses their technology, and they provided a game engine to Treyarch. Treyarch were not capable of making an engine on their own so they took the Infinity Ward engine and used it in World at War, Call of Duty 3 and what-have-you. There's no controversy here."
These guys had an awesome contract.


Another piece of the puzzle, and potentially the most expensive for Activision, concerns a clause in their contract that gave the pair "creative authority" over both the Modern Warfare IP and any Call of Duty game set either after Vietnam, in the near future or in the distant future.

Schwartz estimates the loss of this creative control to be worth "$200 million on the low end and over $700 million on the high end".

And for the icing on the cupcake, their lawyers will point out that a court-appointed independent expert found irregularities in Activision's accounting.
BWAHAHAHA


In 2008, Zampella and West signed a new contract with Activision in which they agreed to take a reduced royalty rate of 20 per cent, down from 35 per cent, in exchange for creative authority over the series - an almost unprecedented concession from a major publisher.

The same contract included a clause stating that all agreements relating to this and any future bonus payments would be nullified in the event that both Zampella and West no longer worked at Infinity Ward. In their fraud claim (see exhibit B below or, again, download the PDF), the former Infinity Ward bosses claim West underlined that section and annotated it "No fired" out of concern that Activision had given itself an easy exit strategy.

Both he and Zampella took their concerns to Activision CEO Bobby Kotick in March of that year, who apparently responded, "Don't worry about it. It's impossible for you guys to get fired." He then offered further reassurance, saying, "You're in the big leagues now."

When asked by the pair to divulge the real reason the former IW bosses were sacked, Pearce supposedly replied it was because "the deal [Jason and Vince] made was way too good" and, "Activision didn't have any control of Modern Warfare so they couldn't make Modern Warfare 3, which would be the sequel to Modern Warfare 2, [which] was the hugest game ever and that [West and Zampella] virtually had a gun to Bobby's head when they signed this contract."

"There's no way Bobby was ever going to honour this contract," said Pearce, allegedly.

In a later conversation Pearce reportedly added that Zampella and West had "signed their own death warrant" when they signed the contract.
Sucks when the shoe's on the other foot, eh, Bobby?


According to Activision's April 2010 legal complaint, they're accused of "belittling and demonising executives at Activision and other Activision-owned game development studios with the specific intention of alienating IW employees from Activision".

Expect a well-publicised incident from 2008 to rear its head, where Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling displayed questionable professionalism by publicly labeling Activision marketing man Noah Heller "Senior Super Douche".
L-O-L

Schwartz adds that Zampella and West are also accused of being disrespectful to people in Activision's marketing department by calling them liars - which, he insists, "they were".

Activision also claims the pair engaged "in insubordination in support of their efforts to identify the Modern Warfare franchise solely with Infinity Ward". Relating to this, Schwarz notes that Activision was particularly "upset" that West removed its spinning logo from Modern Warfare 2's start-up screen.

As already stated, Activision's fury over their EA meetings was another key reason in why they were fired. "They met and had conversations where they talked about working together in the future. Bobby Kotick sees that as treasonous," comments Schwartz. "They then supposedly lied about it, which is totally false - they admitted it completely and repeatedly."
They definitely made strides the edge out activision. DOn't forget the small murmur about how the first MW2 cover didn't even have the words Call of Duty on it.


While this might all sound very compelling, it is of course only one side of the story. Eurogamer has also discussed the case with Activision's lawyers; however, they declined to go on-record. Suffice to say they'll present a very different - and equally persuasive - version of events when the trial gets underway next week. They'll also be seeking substantial damages, should they win, though have not publicly announced a figure.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 25, 2012, 10:03 AM
 
The Infinity Ward PR Campaign continues. Some facts in this one that kind of connect some of the previous dots.
Respawn's West And Zampella Sound Off On Upcoming Activision Lawsuit - Features - www.GameInformer.com
Vince Zampella: They say that Modern Warfare 3 would have been a much better game and would have made 700 million more dollars for them and they want us to pay that.

West: We deprived them of our services by being fired and therefore we owe them money.
Activision's saying, "Oh no, absolutely there was cause. These guys were disloyal, breached their fiduciary duties to the company by talking to EA, they conspired with EA to raid Infinity Ward and set up a competing studio, and that's exactly what they did. As soon as it became clear to them that EA would give them a 'happy home,' they set about to misbehave so much that they engineered their own firing."

West: They said, "He orchestrated his own firing" - I will never forget that.

Zampella: We're geniuses, apparently.

West: I said, "Don't give me 100 million dollars - fire me! That would be awesome."
He has a point. If he left for Ea it sounds like he'd have everything to lose and nothing to gain.


You had recently signed a new contract with Activision, right?

West: Yes, and that contract gave us the right to make whatever game we wanted after Modern Warfare 2. Apparently, they didn't want to live up to that.
Again, they had a damn good contract. Why will be coming up later...


What leads up to your termination?

Schwartz: [West and Zampella] were negotiating [a new contract with Activision]. [Activision has] Harold Brown, a top-flight Hollywood entertainment lawyer. They were making progress. They're giving up their right to do their own game [of their choosing], they're going to do Modern Warfare 3. This is February 2010 - a month before they got fired.

...

This is the third day of meetings between Activision's lawyers and their lawyers. Their lawyers go over, and Activision comes out of their lawyers' office and they are talking and talking. Their lieutenant counsel says, "I just don't think we can come to an agreement on this. Give this to Jason and Vince." He shoves across the table a piece of paper.

What does the piece of paper say? "You are hereby being notified that you are being investigated for improper conduct and breach of fiduciary duty. You may not talk to anybody about this and must cooperate in full or that in itself will be potential grounds for termination. We haven't made any decision about what we're going to do in this investigation - whether there is any discipline to be had or termination - but you better take us very seriously. Thank you very much."
Power play to get them to acquiesce? "Oh gnoes, we're gonna lose our jobs if we don't sign this contract!"

Here's how they got such an amazing contract:
Schwartz: Here's what we think: If you go back to when they signed the contract, March 2008, it was a moment in time when these guys have leverage - for one of the few times in their relationship with Activision. What's their leverage? Their contract is up in less than seven months and Activision wants Modern Warfare 2. Modern Warfare just blew away their expectations and was a great game. They're in the middle of this merger with Vivendi. There's a provision in the merger agreement that says none of their executives or key employees have any plans to leave. That's a representation made by Activision to Vivendi. [Jason and Vince] are told that they have leverage - and they do, because they want this game and these guys can leave.

Our view is that there was no way they were not going to tie these guys in to get Modern Warfare 2. They were willing to promise them practically anything.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 29, 2012, 01:49 PM
 
Xbox 360 gets Amazon Instant starting ... right now! | Joystiq
Ever since PlayStation 3 owners got Amazon Instant back in April, those of us with just an Xbox 360 have been left in the lurch. No more! Amazon let loose the Instant Video app today on Xbox Live under the Video Apps marketplace, allowing Amazon Prime owners streaming access to "over 17,000 Prime Instant videos" and both Prime and non-Prime customers to purchase access to "a library of over 120,000 movies and TV episodes."
I'm so happy. I got a season pass for Mad Men and haven't watched a single episode because I didn't want to sit in front of a laptop or iMac.


Xbox Live's Major Nelson � LIVE Activity for week of May 14th :
Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
Call of Duty: Black Ops
FIFA 12
Battlefield 3
Halo: Reach
Modern Warfare 2
NBA 2K12
Skyrim
Gears of War 3
GTA IV
Forza Motorsport 4
Max Payne 3
Trials Evolution
Mass Effect 3
NHL12
Madden NFL 12
Halo 3
Red Dead Redemption
Saints Row: The Third

You can't stop Minecraft.
     
mattyb
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May 29, 2012, 02:44 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Xbox Live's Major Nelson � LIVE Activity for week of May 14th :
Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
Call of Duty: Black Ops
FIFA 12
Battlefield 3
Halo: Reach
Modern Warfare 2
Wonder if seeing Black Ops above BF3 pisses off EA at all. MW2, unreal.
     
Jawbone54
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May 29, 2012, 03:43 PM
 
Just wanted to share an experience I had last week with Journey, the PSN-exclusive downloadable game that has garnered almost universal praise since its release last year. The game left a pretty big impact on me, and I wanted to share a quick description of my experience since it won't be played by the vast majority on ye ol' 'NN.

I didn't really know what to expect -- I knew the game was highly-praised and heard many in the gaming media sing its praises on Twitter and podcasts, so I knew I'd check it out once I had a chance. I heard it would take 2-3 hours to complete, and I had just about that long until my wife/son returned home from some time shopping.



The game starts off in a lonely desert, with a highlighted mountain in the distance. It becomes immediately clear that the mountain is your ultimate destination, though there isn't any dialogue or subtitles. Only twice throughout the game do I recall even a subtle indicator as to what button I'm supposed to press. The controls are self-explanatory, and you begin to understand them in a very natural, organic way.

After about twenty minutes of making my way through the desert, some ruins, and a few small mountains (all of it beautifully crafted, I must say), I noticed another figure in the distance, making his way towards me. There isn't a user name indicator above his head, and there isn't an on-screen prompt, but I understood through some review commentary that this was Journey's unique multiplayer at work. After circling each other a moment and scoping out the area, we began to proceed through the game together. I didn't know how we assisted each other, or even if there were any mechanics of that nature, but we realized within a minute what benefits our presence/actions would provide, and it proved to be invaluable by game's end.

Through the next 2.5 hours, we made our way through a variety of environments, watched each other avoid calamity, used our combined ingenuity, and experienced the brilliant game of Journey together in a strangely intimate way...all without uttering a single word. There is no way to vocally interact -- you don't even have the stranger's user name available to message them through PSN until the game is completed.

Before I played the game, I had no idea how it would work and feel right, but it exceeded my expectations and provided something I had never experienced in a multiplayer game, or any game for that matter. I only expect to play through it 3 or 4 more times, but I'm currently waiting at least the full week before hopping on again (there's a trophy for coming back after 7 days have elapsed).

Any other PS3 players who still frequent this thread: buy the game immediately. I promise you it's worth the $15.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 29, 2012, 03:45 PM
 
Originally Posted by Jawbone54 View Post
Just wanted to share an experience I had last week with Journey, the PSN-exclusive downloadable game that has garnered almost universal praise since its release last year. The game left a pretty big impact on me, and I wanted to share a quick description of my experience since it won't be played by the vast majority on ye ol' 'NN.

I didn't really know what to expect -- I knew the game was highly-praised and heard many in the gaming media sing its praises on Twitter and podcasts, so I knew I'd check it out once I had a chance. I heard it would take 2-3 hours to complete, and I had just about that long until my wife/son returned home from some time shopping.



The game starts off in a lonely desert, with a highlighted mountain in the distance. It becomes immediately clear that the mountain is your ultimate destination, though there isn't any dialogue or subtitles. Only twice throughout the game do I recall even a subtle indicator as to what button I'm supposed to press. The controls are self-explanatory, and you begin to understand them in a very natural, organic way.

After about twenty minutes of making my way through the desert, some ruins, and a few small mountains (all of it beautifully crafted, I must say), I noticed another figure in the distance, making his way towards me. There isn't a user name indicator above his head, and there isn't an on-screen prompt, but I understood through some review commentary that this was Journey's unique multiplayer at work. After circling each other a moment and scoping out the area, we began to proceed through the game together. I didn't know how we assisted each other, or even if there were any mechanics of that nature, but we realized within a minute what benefits our presence/actions would provide, and it proved to be invaluable by game's end.

Through the next 2.5 hours, we made our way through a variety of environments, watched each other avoid calamity, used our combined ingenuity, and experienced the brilliant game of Journey together in a strangely intimate way...all without uttering a single word. There is no way to vocally interact -- you don't even have the stranger's user name available to message them through PSN until the game is completed.

Before I played the game, I had no idea how it would work and feel right, but it exceeded my expectations and provided something I had never experienced in a multiplayer game, or any game for that matter. I only expect to play through it 3 or 4 more times, but I'm currently waiting at least the full week before hopping on again (there's a trophy for coming back after 7 days have elapsed).

Any other PS3 players who still frequent this thread: buy the game immediately. I promise you it's worth the $15.
...
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Journey Without Words | Joystiq
As I wandered through an orange-hued desert, coming dangerously close to outright frolicking, I noticed a figure striding into distant view. Here I met another nameless nomad, and one that shared my appreciation of tasteful, unfettered fabrics. A friend? Another traveler compelled to reach the mysterious obelisk at the center of the world? "Would u like 2 work 2gether," he said in a text bubble. "I know how 2 get 2 the mountain and beat the game."

Okay, that absolutely did not happen, and if it did it would ruin the story. Aside from an innocent, sonar-like ping, there's no communication between online players in Journey. We used that pulse to suss out secret spots for one another, or to find each other if an exciting downhill dune-slide separated us. We became friends, discovering a world that perfectly oscillates between trepidation, wonder and fatigue during the course of the game.

Alas, after our long trek through the sand and air, my friend ventured too close to an edge. As I turned around, too late, I saw the frigid crevice swallowing him whole. (Or maybe he got disconnected, or left to make dinner. That's a detail I'd rather not append to the story.) I braved the final, wind-hewn ascent up the mountain alone, and it felt lonelier, more grueling and more tragic than I could have expecte
 
     
Leonard
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May 29, 2012, 03:52 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition
Call of Duty: Black Ops
FIFA 12
Battlefield 3
Halo: Reach
Modern Warfare 2

You can't stop Minecraft.
That and the double XP week explains why I've had a hard time getting on MW3 the last couple of days.
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MacBook Pro
     
angelmb
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May 29, 2012, 04:25 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
I'm so happy. I got a season pass for Mad Men and haven't watched a single episode because I didn't want to sit in front of a laptop or iMac.
You don't miss much. The current season (5th) is not that good, a little too much on the soap opera side for my tastes, but everyone will have differing opinions.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 29, 2012, 04:29 PM
 
Originally Posted by angelmb View Post
You don't miss much. The current season (5th) is not that good, a little too much on the soap opera side for my tastes, but everyone will have differing opinions.
C'mon, don't taint the season for before I've watched a single minute.
     
lpkmckenna
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May 29, 2012, 05:51 PM
 
Originally Posted by angelmb View Post
You don't miss much. The current season (5th) is not that good, a little too much on the soap opera side for my tastes, but everyone will have differing opinions.
But but but Zou Bisou Bisou!!
     
andi*pandi
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May 29, 2012, 09:02 PM
 
80% less awesome Mad Men is still 90% more awesome than 95% of the rest of TV.
     
Stogieman
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May 30, 2012, 03:38 AM
 

Slick shoes?! Are you crazy?!
     
mattyb
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May 30, 2012, 03:49 AM
 
^ Hahahahahaha.

The BBC are SUCH a joke now.
     
The Final Dakar  (op)
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May 30, 2012, 09:05 AM
 
Lazy people + internet = hilarity
     
Leonard
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May 30, 2012, 09:43 AM
 
LOL, UNSC from HALO confused for UN

So HALO is real, the UN has been secretly creating Spartans...
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MacBook Pro
     
angelmb
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May 30, 2012, 10:01 AM
 
Originally Posted by The Final Dakar View Post
C'mon, don't taint the season for before I've watched a single minute.
I am sorry for putting you out.
     
 
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