Infinity Ward Lawsuit Update

Back in April, a group of 38 former Infinity Ward employees filed a lawsuit against Activision over breach of contract and a dispute about unpaid millions in Modern Wardare 2 bonuses. Now, in a new addendum filed to the case, new allegations are made about Activision creating a hostile work environment tantamount to a “police state,” as well as detailing broken promises regarding royalty money.

The addendum to the lawsuit (which was acquired by Kotaku) claims that Activision subjected Infinity Ward employees to secret “interrogations” and stationed security guards at the office exits in the lead up to the firing of studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella back in March. It also claims that in March, Activision paid out 40 percent of the bonus money owed to Infinity Ward employees for Modern Warfare 2, but withheld an additional $54 million as “ransom” to coax the remaining Infinity Ward employees into making Modern Warfare 3 — the money was to only be paid to them once Modern Warfare 3 was completed and shipped by November 2011, the lawsuit claims.

These Infinity Ward employees evidently met with Activision CEO Bobby Kotick later in March, and the lawsuit claims Kotick promised to pay out the additional bonus money at the end of the month. That never happened, and the suit describes that when the group met with CFO Thomas Tippl in April to demand their bonus money, they were told to “get over it.”

The suit also insists that if West and Zampella were never fired, if the bonus money had been paid out in full, and if Activision had not created a “police state-like atmosphere,” the group of employees would have never resigned from Infinity Ward. The addendum is also lowering the amount the former Infinity Ward employees are seeking in punitive damages to $216 million, down from around $500 million initially sought.

West and Zampella also filed a separate wrongful termination lawsuit against Activision back in March, in which they’re also seeking additional compensation they claim they’re still owed as well as the rights to the Modern Warfare brand. A hearing is set for August 5 to decide whether both lawsuits should be consolidated, and a date for the Infinity Ward employees’ lawsuit is set for May 23 next year.

Via 1Up.com

Ex-Bosses Countersued By Activision

Via AP— Two former studio heads overseeing last year’s blockbuster video game “Modern Warfare 2” were fired for insubordination and trying to poach key employees from Activision, the gaming giant alleged in court filings.

Activision on Thursday countersued former Infinity Ward executives Jason West and Vince Zampella, who sued Activision for more than $36 million in March. West and Zampella’s lawsuit claimed they were fired so Activision could avoid paying them hefty royalties for their work on the popular “Call of Duty” franchise.

Activision’s filing seeks to show the firing was justified and claims the men met with a key gaming rival, which it says was one of several violations of their employment contract.

BAFTA Videogame Awards Announced

Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 took home the best game as voted by the UK public

Via Gamespy.com. Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Asylum topped Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 2: Among Thieves to win Best Game. Batman’s win was a bit of an upset as Nathan Drake has already claimed two major Game of the Year titles from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Awards and the Game Developers Choice Awards. Still, Naughty Dog added plenty of hardware to its already full trophy case, taking home four BAFTAs for best Action, best Story, best Original Score, and best Use of Audio categories.

Batman also won for best Gameplay and Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 took home the public vote for best game. EA Sports FIFA 10 won two BAFTAs for innovation and evolution of the franchise, and Valve’s Left 4 Dead 2 was named best Multiplayer.

Nintendo mastermind and Mario and Link creator Shigeru Miyamoto took home BAFTA’s highest accolade, the Fellowship. In accepting the award, Miyamoto said, “Our imaginations and creativity should be the only limits and that is what makes our industry a joy and a dream to work in.”

New Unit For Call of Duty

From Venturebeat.com. Activision Blizzard, publisher of WoW, formed a new division to run its Call of Duty game franchise following the exit of two studio co-founders who pioneered what has become the biggest revenue generator in the video game industry.

The Santa Monica, Calif.-based parent company named Philip Earl to lead the Call of Duty unit and confirmed the news that Vince Zampella and Jason West, the Infinity Ward studio executives responsible for the smash hit Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, had left the company.