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JAY-Z And Eminem Freshen Up DJ Hero
DJ Hero, a game that’s not seen downloadable content since November, gets a much-needed shot of new content next week, with a trio of mash-ups featuring Eminem and JAY-Z. The JAY-Z vs. Eminem Mix Pack is only the third dose of downloadable content that’s come to DJ Hero since its release in October of 2009,…
By Mike Fahey Published March 10, 2010 -
Modern Warfare 2 Promises Breakthrough Cure for ‘Mapathy’
Acknowledging that as many as 20 million (of its 25 million players) “no longer [derive] pleasure from blowing up people hiding in the cockpit or on top of the crane,” Modern Warfare 2’s creators say new map help is OTW. “Mapathy” is the name of this affliction, for which Modern Warfare 2 creative strategist Robert…
By Owen Good Published March 9, 2010 -
Real Soldiers Recreate Modern Warfare 2 Box Art
When a pair of U.S. soldiers and Modern Warfare 2 fans get bored while stationed in Afghanistan, there can be only one outcome – spontaneous cover art cosplay. Doesn’t cosplay fall under don’t ask, don’t tell? I suppose it’s okay, as long as Kotaku reader Travis and his friend, seen here portraying both versions of…
By Mike Fahey Published March 9, 2010 -
Modern Warfare 2, 25 Million Served
Robert Bowling, community manager for Modern Warfare developers Infinity Ward, has returned to his Tweeting ways after a week’s well-deserved silence And it’s straight back to Call of Duty PR work, too, with the revelation that since its release late last year over 25 million people have played Modern Warfare 2 across the Xbox 360,…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 9, 2010 -
The “10 Minute Solution” to Fitness Now Includes a Wii
What’s the difference between Activision’s 10 Minute Solution fitness game for the Wii and established fitness titles like Wii Fit and EA Sports Active? About $40-80. With Wii Fit and EA Sports Active selling like reduced-calorie hotcakes, it was only a matter of time before Activision got in on the game, but what can Activision…
By Mike Fahey Published March 8, 2010 -
Blur Devs Promise “Massive” DLC Strategy, Just Not at Launch
Blur‘s developers do have plans for DLC but they don’t intend to put any out at launch. In fact, no dates have been set, and they’ve made clear they’re not going to tackle DLC until the main game’s finished. Bizarre Creations is still putting the final coat of polish on the arcade racer, which entered…
By Owen Good Published March 7, 2010 -
Video Games’ Team Coco Moment
Billions of dollars? Got it. “Astonishing arrogance and unbridled greed“? Alleged. Video games are so close to being Hollywood, that we must celebrate a breakthrough: A possibly boring contract dispute that could be as juicy as Leno vs. Conan. We’ve got an executive that the Internet fans love to hate We’ve got not one, but…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 5, 2010 -
Rumor: Infinity Ward Had Been Courting EA, Other Publishers
You’ve read the lawsuit filed by Infinity Ward’s former bosses, now check out a supposed internal Activision memo, which alleges that Call of Duty creators Vince Zampella and Jason West had been flirting with, of all people, Electronic Arts. The memo, obtained by G4, says that Activision is currently, as part of its own investigations,…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 5, 2010 -
Activision “Disappointed” By Infinity Ward Founders’ “Meritless” Lawsuit
The world’s biggest video game publisher doesn’t take allegations of “Orwellian” investigations and unfair dismissals in silence. Activision has responded to the lawsuit filed by Jason West and Vince Zampella, the ousted former heads of Modern Warfare 2-maker Infinity Ward. “Activision is disappointed that Mr. Zampella and Mr. West have chosen to file a lawsuit,…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010 -
Ex-Infinity Ward Heads Claim “Orwellian” Moves By Activision
The lawsuit filed against Activision by two ex-Infinity Ward leads alleges that the publisher of its Modern Warfare games carried out an “Orwellian,” “pre-ordained” investigation designed to “manufacture a basis to fire” them in order to avoid paying them bonuses. That suit, filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court on March 3, was filed by…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 4, 2010 -
Ousted Infinity Ward Founders’ Lawsuit Against Activision (The Court Documents)
Read the 16-page complaint filed by the founders of Modern Warfare 2 development studio Infinity Ward against Activision, the company that ousted them on Monday. Jason West and Vince Zampella, dismissed by Activision for “insubordination” sued. Lots of details here.
By Stephen Totilo Published March 4, 2010 -
Infinity Ward Founders Suing Activision Over Unpaid Royalties
Jason West and Vince Zampella, the men at the centre of this week’s drama at Call of Duty developers Infinity Ward, have filed suit against Activision over claims they are owed “substantial royalty payments”. “Activision has refused to honor the terms of its agreements and is intentionally flouting the fundamental public policy of this State…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 4, 2010 -
Where To Next For Call Of Duty?
The writing is on the wall. With Infinity Ward’s leadership removed, and Activision announcing a raft of new titles, the market is about to be saturated with Call of Duty games. So we figured we’d lend a hand. Rather than simply release an endless stream of World War 2 games, which is what ruined Medal…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 3, 2010 -
Infinity Ward Still “Central To Call Of Duty’s Future”
While something rotten has definitely gone down between publishers Activision and the bossmen of Call of Duty developers Infinity Ward, it seems the studio itself is still a key part of the franchise moving forward. An internal memo distributed to members of Infinity Ward earlier today says that while the “brains” of the operation, Vince…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 3, 2010 -
Activision’s New Plans For Call of Duty Include New Developer, New Genres
Publisher Activision announced today new “strategic plans” for the Call of Duty franchise, announcing a new developer for the shooter franchise and confirming the departure of key Infinity Ward staffers. Activision announced it will form a “dedicated [Call of Duty] business unit that will bring together its various new brand initiatives with focused, dedicated resources…
By Michael McWhertor Published March 2, 2010 -
Infinity Ward Vs. Activision: The Battle For Creative Direction
Simmering problems between Activision and Modern Warfare 2 development studio Infinity Ward — involving the creative direction of the Call of Duty series — may have come to a head with yesterday’s dismissal of IW’s two studio heads. The reasons for the dismissal of Jason West and Vince Zampella, the top two men at Infinity…
By Stephen Totilo Published March 2, 2010 -
Guess Which Three Games Help Keep Activision Afloat
Activision is a giant company with a small problem: Most of their revenue comes from three video games. Buried in Activision’s annual report for Fiscal Year 2009, the same one that had news of a major shake-up at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward, were some interesting numbers. “A significant portion of our…
By Brian Crecente Published March 2, 2010 -
Report: Modern Warfare Dev Head Leaves Company
According to his Linkedin page, CEO and Studio Head of Infinity Ward Vince Zampella has parted ways with the Call of Duty developer, as the strange goings-on at the development studio continue. Keen-eyed Kotaku reader Sam passed along a link to Zampella’s Linkedin page this morning, showing that the employment status had changed to TBD…
By Mike Fahey Published March 2, 2010 -
Get Your Blur Beta Codes Here
Due out this spring for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360, Blur is a like Project Gotham Racing meets Mario Kart… if they two had a baby in the 70s And we’re giving out spots for the March 8 beta for the flashy racer right here, right now. But first, a couple of very important…
By Brian Crecente Published March 2, 2010 -
Scandal Hits Call Of Duty Devs: What We Know [Update]
While most of you slept, drama struck Infinity Ward, the creators of the Call of Duty series, with allegations of “insubordination” from publishers Activision and the rumoured departure of the studio’s two top men. This post will be updated throughout the day. The news first hit yesterday afternoon, when G4 reported that IW heads Vince…
By Luke Plunkett Published March 2, 2010