Recently axed Infinity Ward studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella have sued Activision.
The pair were wrongly fired weeks before they were due to be paid substantial royalty payments, according to a suit filed on their behalf by law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
The suit alleges that Activision granted West and Zampella contractual rights to control Modern Warfare-branded games, but that Activision “seized control of the Infinity Ward studio”.
The suit includes claims for breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, wrong termination in violation of public policy, and declaratory relief.
West and Zampella co-founded Call Of Duty creator Infinity Ward in 2001. It was acquired by Activision in November 2003. Following the buyout, West and Zampella served as president/game director and CEO, respectively.
"Activision has refused to honour the terms of its agreements and is intentionally flouting the fundamental public policy of this State (California) that employers must pay their employees what they have rightfully earned," said the pair’s attorney, Robert Schwartz.
"Instead of thanking, lauding, or just plain paying Jason and Vince for giving Activision the most successful entertainment product ever offered to the public, last month Activision hired lawyers to conduct a pretextual 'investigation' into unstated and unsubstantiated charges of 'insubordination' and 'breach of fiduciary duty,' which then became the grounds for their termination on Monday, March 1st.”
West said: "We were shocked by Activision's decision to terminate our contract. We poured our heart and soul into that company, building not only a world class development studio, but assembling a team we've been proud to work with for nearly a decade. We think the work we've done speaks for itself."
Zampella added: "After all we have given to Activision, we shouldn't have to sue to get paid."
Comments
2I find it funny that they should even get a thing cause to be honest I have played all the modern warfare games and in all honesty I don't think that the creators of the game changed anything at all about them other then a few menu options and decals as well as new map content other then that its the exact same engin for all 3 games which means they should really only be paid for the first modern warfare....the other 2 are crap and basically the same game I can't believe people actually pay money for these games considering there is no work done to them....
I can't believe you mastered breathing in and out.