Post: Jason West and Vince Zampella new company "respawn entertainment"
04-12-2010, 11:15 PM #1
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Ok alot of you know that Jason West and Vice Zampella have gotten fired from the Infinity Ward well I'm here to update you that they are now making a new company called "Respawn Entertainment"

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I tried sending this to news staff but none are online so this might get moved to the news section


Also i don't know if this has been posted i haven't seen it yet

Jason West and Vince Zampella are planning a new company called Respawn Entertainment.

The recently layed off heads of Infinity Ward Jason West and Vince Zampella are planning to start a new company named Respawn Entertainment. They couldn't have chosen a better name, as it seems they're back in the game after being shot down by Activision.
Background
Activision, Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward

Just over a month back, bodyguards were needed to escort Jason and Vince outside of Infinity Ward's doors after an meeting with a studio head from Activision (publisher) went south. Both Jason and Vince were fired by Activision because they "morphed from valued, responsible executives into insubordinate and self-serving schemers who attempted to hijack Activision's assets for their own personal gain." No numbers were specified but Activision felt they were entitled to withhold all future payments to Jason and Vince, to recover past payments "during the period of their disloyalty," and compensatory damages. Activision fired West and Zampella on March 1, alleging they had violated their contracts by seeking to start an independent studio and purposefully slowing the production of games while working for the publisher.

Both Jason and Vince chose not to go down without a fight as they felt the allegations were "false and outrageeous." In their lawsuit to Activision they allege that Activision fired them as a way to deprive the developers of royalties earned from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which has generated more than $1.5 billion in worldwide revenue since the game launched in November. The lawsuit claims Activision owes the duo $36 million in royalties and damages.

Source: LA Times »

The suit also claims that the pair delayed pre-production on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which Activision likely hopes to release in late 2011.

"Activision's inaccurate and misguided allegations lose sight of the reality here: None of the false claims of insubordination or breach of duties had any negative affect on Activision -- none. Modern Warfare 2 has been the world's most successful video game. And none of this changes the fact that Jason and Vince would still be at Infinity Ward developing new games except that Activision kicked them out. This is just an Activision tactic to avoid paying Jason and Vince and everyone else at Infinity Ward the millions of dollars they all earned and that Activision owes them. Since being fired by Activision, Jason and Vince have taken steps to regain control over their creative future and plan to have an announcement very soon."

Well, that day has come as Jason West and Vincent Zampella announced starting a new company from the ground up to the LA Times » on Sunday.
Future
Jason West and Vince Zampella; Respawn Entertainment

Respawn Entertainment is initially being funded with several million dollars in seed capital by EA, according to people familiar with the situation. In a typical publishing deal, developers are given money by a publisher up front that they can earn back from the game's sales revenue.

The duo has learned from this rather nasty situation with Activision and negotiated a deal with EA so they will own and have full control over the intellectual property they create which is a rarity in the video game world.

"This is a total reset," Zampella said. "We're starting again from ground zero. It's daunting and exciting."

The move, a rare bet on individual talent in an industry usually focused on big brand names, means there will be a major new title competing for gamers when Respawn finishes its first product in two or three years. It could also presage more independence and financial benefits for the creators of hit games, particularly if West and Zampella win or favorably settle their lawsuit.

It will be a while until the studio will have it's first game on the shelves. Not much has been said on what direction the duo will take with Respawn but it will most likely be a first person shooter much like their previous franchises Medal of Honor and Call of Duty. Though West did say he expected it to be of "huge, summer blockbuster" scale. He added that they would consider turning their games into films, comic books and other media.

Big plans! We wish them both all the best of luck with their newly founded company! And don't forget, Infinity Ward is a company with about 110 talents that will fight for their own future. So even though two (4 actually) major players have left the studio we're positive that IW will keep their head in the game.
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04-13-2010, 12:18 AM #2
Evil4livE
Do a barrel roll!
if its anything that within the machinima respawn league then il be happy to see wat these people can do...
04-13-2010, 01:45 AM #3
jackster802
I defeated!
I wonder if they have the rights to the Modern Warfare series. Because that might be their intellectual property.
04-13-2010, 02:36 AM #4
Meatwad
Meatman
I believe they own the rights to it.
04-13-2010, 05:34 AM #5
No they are fighting for the name Modern Warfare in thier lawsuit. If they win then they can make THE PERFECT game. It wont have all these bugs and shit cuz EA doesnt rush games like Activision. So lets look now at 2020 top gaming companys

1.EA
2.Activision
04-13-2010, 05:45 AM #6
vladieboi
oh hai mark
I think someone already posted
>_<
04-13-2010, 09:18 AM #7
dannymc1993
Captain Obvious
Look on the bright side of it people, we'll be seeing more variety of Call of Duty-esque games in the future.

Respawn Entertainment sounds like it has some potential and I'll definitely be buying their launch stuff.
04-13-2010, 09:57 PM #8
Null ReacT
Most Dope!
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