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Modern Warfare Makers Complain Of Secret Call of Duty Games And More Broken Promises
“Don’t worry about it. It’s impossible for you guys to get fired,” Activision boss Bobby Kotick told Infinity Ward founders Jason West and Vince Zampella in 2008, according to a new cross-complaint filed today in a Los Angeles court. Two years and one Call of Duty game later, the creators of the billion dollar war…
By Michael McWhertor Published April 1, 2011 -
Return To 2099 In Spider-Man: Edge Of Time
Developer Beenox and Activision cross continuities again in Spider-Man: Edge of Time, a time-hopping adventure that’s one part Amazing Spider-Man, one part Spider-Man 2099. One Spider-Man just isn’t enough for developer Beenox. After giving four Spideys a try in Shattered Dimensions the team trims things down to two in Edge of Time. The untimely death…
By Mike Fahey Published March 31, 2011 -
Which Game Companies Do You Trust?
In today’s episode of Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter Kadin is curious to know which video game hardware and software companies have earned your trust over the years, and which have lost it. Where does your trust lie? Which of the big companies out there has earned your trust and which of them has lost it?…
By Mike Fahey Published March 23, 2011 -
The Next Spider-Man Video Game Shall Soon Be Revealed
Following up on the compelling-yet-flawed Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Activision once again taps developer Beenox to handle the next Spider game, with a grand reveal slotted during a panel at next month’s Wondercon in San Francisco, with some very special guests. While I wasn’t a big fan of Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions overall, I did appreciate the…
By Mike Fahey Published March 22, 2011 -
A New, Improved Look At X-Men Destiny And Its Teenage Mutant Ninja Girl
The last time we got a look at X-Men Destiny, the merry mutant adventure from the House of Ideas and Silicon Knights, we cooled to its look and feel. But our latest peek at the game and new X-character Aimi Yoshida has us warming up to Activision’s latest. Yoshida, pitched as a minute 15-year-old Japanese…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 22, 2011 -
Call Of Duty‘s Cover Competition Has 32 Candidates, And The Fans Are One
Never one to let Electronic Arts steal a march on it, Activision will be holding a vote (hint: they’re not really) for its flagship franchise, allowing fans to select who (or what) will appear on the cover of the next Call of Duty game. You can place your vote in the comments section below. The…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 22, 2011 -
PC Gamers Get Black Ops First Strike Last On March 25
PC gamer holdouts get their first Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack, “First Strike,” later this week on March 25. If fifteen bucks is a touch too steep, Steam will knock off 10% of that for those who pre-order
By Michael McWhertor Published March 21, 2011 -
Judge: $400 Million Activision Vs. Electronic Arts Lawsuit is a go
A California judge ruled this week that Activision Blizzard Inc. has enough evidence to proceed with their $400 million lawsuit against Electronic Arts over the loss of developers Jason West and Vince Zampella. The Modern Warfare suite kicked off a flurry or suits and counter-suits, each one more fanciful and surreal then the last
By Brian Crecente Published March 18, 2011 -
Prototype 2 Will, At The Very Least, Have Nice Corpse Throwing Physics
Prototype 2 isn’t due out until sometime in 2012, so early video of Radical Entertainment’s game can easily be forgiven for being light on substance. If you’re looking forward to next year’s Prototype sequel or simply enjoy video game trailers featuring harpsichord, give this one—”Heller Throws Down”—some eyeball time.
By Michael McWhertor Published March 14, 2011 -
Transformers Dark of the Moon Is A Triple-Changin’ Good Time
There’s even more more than meets the eye in the next Transformers game, High Moon Studios’ take on the Michael Bay explode-a-thon Transformers: Dark of the Moon. This is a movie game from the studio responsible for the great Transformers: War For Cybertron, so maybe silence your movie game prejudices. We got a peek at…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 10, 2011 -
Activision Wants To Make A Dance Hero Out Of You
Back in 2008, Activision applied for a trademark for a game called Dance Hero. Then…we all forgot about it. Now, it seems, the publisher might actually be releasing the thing. While the world was busy lamenting (or celebrating) the demise of the Guitar and DJ Hero franchises, Activision seems intent to carry on and release…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 8, 2011 -
Why All The Call Of Duty Hate?
Today in Speak-Up on Kotaku, commenter WhoKnew? wants to know where all of the Call of Duty hate is coming from. Is it just because it’s beautiful? So, Kotaku-ians, why all the Call of Duty hate? Sure, people don’t like Kotick and his DLC antics. Sure, the games been running on the same engine since…
By Mike Fahey Published March 4, 2011 -
The Source of the Call of Duty Hoax is Revealed [Update]
The source of the stir created by a Modern Warfare-themed countdown site – believed to be announcing another sequel, or a competitor’s – has been traced to a Canadian troupe set to debut a Modern Warfare film next week. Geoff Keighley of GTTV reports that “We Can Pretend,” a Toronto-based artist’s collective, is behind both…
By Owen Good Published February 27, 2011 -
No Modern Warfare 3 Reveal Next Week; Activision Says Countdown Site is a Hoax
Activision, the publisher of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, says a countdown website hinting at the announcement of a Modern Warfare sequel next week is a hoax, a company representative says. Activision has nothing to do with it or the mailing of novelty dogtags to the speciality press today, viral promotions that both…
By Owen Good Published February 25, 2011 -
Is It Time For Modern Warfare 3 Yet?
With glowing green numbers counting down to five days from now and the 2011 Game Developers Conference kicking off on Monday, it looks like we might be getting our first look at the next Modern Warfare on Wednesday morning. As many of you have noticed (OmegaSpartan noticed first), FindMakarov.com is ticking away like a time…
By Mike Fahey Published February 25, 2011 -
Billion-Dollar Expectations Caused Activision to ‘Abuse’ Guitar Hero, Says Ex-Publisher
The ex-CEO of Guitar Hero’s original publisher, RedOctane, has weighed in on Activision’s decision to close down the franchise, completing the cycle of reaction. Kelly Sumner says the publisher “abused” the franchise and had unrealistic expectations for it. “Not every game can be a billion dollar franchise, but maybe that’s what Activision wants,” said Sumner,…
By Owen Good Published February 20, 2011 -
The Day Guitar Hero Died
I’ll never forget where I was when I heard that a plane had crashed in an Iowa cornfield, with Izzy Sparks, Johnny Napalm, and Lars Ümlaüt aboard. Here’s “The Day Guitar Hero Died,” by The Warp Zone, a tribute to the one-time phenomenon killed last week by Activision. Not to damn it with faint praise,…
By Owen Good Published February 18, 2011