UPDATED - Infinity Ward to Take Back Call of Duty?

[Dr.Finger]

Next-Gen (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10113&Itemid=2) spoke to a former employee of developer Activision Underground, who told them that Infinity Ward has used the renegotiation of it's contract with Activision to regain it's role as sole developer of the Call of Duty franchise.

Infinity Ward instigated the franchise and developed the critically acclaimed first, second and fourth installments in the series. Treyarch, which had worked on the console port of Call of Duty 2, was given development duties on CoD 3 in an attempt to make the franchise annual, and the result was not quite as warmly received by either the critics or the public (although neither reviews or sales were bad, just not as good). In that vein, Treyarch is also developing this year's Call of Duty 5, and Infinity Ward has made it known that they weren't too fond of this practice, which many feared diluted the brand. But the situation apparently took another turn recently
But the wormhole goes a bit deeper than that. The renegotiation of the contract between Activision and Infinity Ward is also linked to the shuttering of the 45-person Foster City, Calif.-based studio, Activision Underground, said our source, who wished to remain anonymous.

Underground was working on two projects--a port of Quake Wars (described as "late and over-budget" by our source) and a new CoD game.

But the new CoD game wasn't going to be an FPS like previous franchise entries, rather a third-person action adventure game spin-off that would also become a yearly franchise on top of the original FPS-style series. That way, Activision would be able to potentially release two CoD titles per year. Treyarch is still hard at work on CoD 5, slated for later this year, but that will apparently be the last iteration of the franchise handled by anyone other than Infinity Ward.

For some reason when I read they were doing a "third-person action adventure game spin-off" of CoD all I could envision is Kratos from God of War with a flak jacket and an M1 beating Nazis to death

UPDATE - Eurogamer reached Activision (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=134068) for comment and were told that the story is categorically false, and that Infinity Ward and Treyarch will continue to create alternating installments of the franchise.

[Vyzov]

Kratos killing Nazis you say... I want this game!

[beefyjr]

I think that if true, this is a good move. Not to diminish Treyarch as a studio, because they're very talented, but a yearly update to this game doesn't make sense. CoD4 is a banner title that will continue to sell well until the next IW-developed CoD game is released. And IW is clearly devoted to supporting CoD4 with new content to keep the game fresh, which keeps people playing it and keeps people buying it.

I would have thought that Activision would have looked at the numbers, saw that CoD4 crushed pretty much everything in its path and that it's been pretty consistently the most-played game on Xbox Live, and then would have just pulled the plug on the Treyarch game. I'd imagine that most people who play CoD4 online probably won't bother with what will most likely be an inferior game.

I have no idea how Activision became so huge when they obviously have such a short-sighted view of things and have already run one marquee franchise completely into the ground (THPS) and are in extreme danger of doing the same thing to two others(GH + CoD). I guess that says more about us as consumers than anything.

[Pitpig]

Kratos killing Nazis you say... I want this game!

I'll second that.

I'm happy that IW is fighting to control it's own work, and I wish them the best. If Activision wants to capitalize on the CoD IP, donking it off to another developer and changing the game concept isn't the way to do it. That's a guaranteed way to kill the golden goose.

[Bingley Joe]

I've enjoyed all the CoD games so far, but there's no question that the better ones have all been done by IW.

Good news!

[Morratut]

Good news for COD fans everywhere.

As someone said earlier CoD4 will rake in cash for a long while. CoD doesn't need yearly updates.

[Variable Gear]

This is still not overly positive news to me. While this spin-off will likely have a subtitle that will set it aside from the numbered entries in the series, it will also likely have Call of Duty attached at the front. I don't put a great deal of trust in Treyarch, which means that they could still dilute the IP from my point of view, just like they did with COD3. I'd like to say more, but it is unfair to criticize the game further until more is known. Who knows, it could actually be decent. I'm not talking about the Decent series

[51|RandoM]

As someone said earlier CoD4 will rake in cash for a long while. CoD doesn't need yearly updates.

You'll get them even more frequently, just as DLC which will ultimately make more money(and cost less to produce). Good route for games that live on in multiplayer long after people have tired of the singleplayer.

[Rafer]

They should go the Rockstar route, only give the number increment to "major" releases in the series (GTA3, GTA4) and give other installments just a subtitle (Vice City, San Andreas). The number thing gets stupid quickly when you're releasing new titles every year.

[Spigot]

Kratos killing Nazis you say... I want this game!Given how the first God of War game ended, I had really hoped that the second was going to be along the lines of this (effectively spanning multiple eras as Kratos is the god of war).

Oh well.

I'm with the people who think it's a good idea to keep the series in Infinity Ward's hands. Unless a studio can somehow crank out a top-notch game on a yearly basis, which is rare, I'd rather they leave a series in the hands of the original developer and let them polish that baby to levels untold.

[Zander]

The two code branches desperately need to be separated. This is a good thing IMO.

[Food Nipple]

They should go the Rockstar route, only give the number increment to "major" releases in the series (GTA3, GTA4) and give other installments just a subtitle (Vice City, San Andreas). The number thing gets stupid quickly when you're releasing new titles every year.

Just label Treyarch's game Call of Duty: Homecoming and we'll be set.

[MelbaToast]

Great news.

[Roc Ingersol]

Pile this in with the schedule for Guitar Hero releases this year and I'm not sure whether Activision is actually worse than EA right now.

[WaltJay]

I think it makes sense and is a win-win-win for gamers, IW, and Activision. COD4 has sold more copies than both COD3 and COD2 combined, so it makes fiscal sense for Activision to keep IW as the sole developer, which is what we all want anyway.

[Wedge]

A funny thing about the title menu in CoD4, is that there is a quite clear number "3" in the background. A subtle way of saying "FU" methinks.

CoD3 was perfectly OK, but it lacked "it", and "it" is what CoD4 got in spades. A new entry in the series this year will only split up the people playing it, making it less easy to get a good game going for either game. Activision will make a ton of cash off of IW's talent of course - a lot, definately most, people will buy CoD5 thinking it is a "proper" IW CoD. I sure hope IW sees some of this money as well.

And who knows, maybe Treyarch puts out a great game to rival CoD4. As has been mentioned earlier these guys are talented and can make great games. They are not the bad guys here.

[morose]

1. Find IP that is currently 'hot'
2. Crank out titles
3. ...
4. Profit!

Step three is their problem. ;)

[Crowe]

I really hope it goes down like this, I would rather wait a couple of years to get a game as awesome as COD 4 then to have a new one every single year.

I guess I still would have only handed my money over to an Infinity Ward Call Of Duty game anyway.

[Kem0sabe]

2 Call of Duty games per year? These guys are worse than EA, how fresh can they maintain an fps franchise with yearly releases? it will end up just more of the same shit, not that CoD 4 was anything but pure greatness.

[TheKeck]

That's good to hear. The adventure spinoff made me think of the spinoff they were going to do for WarCraft way back when. What was that called again?

[Morratut]

I yawn at the prospect of COD5 being another WW2 shooter. I think they should stop developing CoD5 and bring out extra maps, extra prestige bonuses and other goodies for CoD4 :D whilst in the background creating a great true sequel to CoD4 ;)

[sflufan]

Activision calls bullshit on the story:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=134068

[Entropy Effect]

I really can't think of any major franchise that I would prefer to see more than once every two years. I wish more franchises would go this route, with major updates every two to three years and DLC to bridge the gap between.

I know it has been said, but it'd be nice if a new Madden only came out every two years, and they just released a roster update as DLC in the off year.

[AgtFox]

That's good to hear. The adventure spinoff made me think of the spinoff they were going to do for WarCraft way back when. What was that called again?
WarCraft Adventures: Lord of the Clans. Much of what was in that game from a story perspective was put into WarCraft III and WoW from my understanding.

As for this story, I heard something different. I heard that Infinity Ward was looking to lock in the CoD IP as well as take control of the off-shoot. IW has certainly earned its place to be able to call the shots on the IP in my opinion. The Vivendi/Activision merger and the fact that Blizzard is part of it should show Activision that keeping one of your best development houses that print money for you happy is probably a good thing.

[Flatpicker]

I don't think I would mind yearly releases under 2 conditions.
1. They were cheaper to buy.
2. They had a continuing story.

I guess, I would like to see a Half life 2 episode 1,2,3 ect scenario.

[EternalGamer]

Awesome, I can't want till the day when we have consolidated to the point where there are exactly five types videogames:

1) Madden games
2) Call of Duty games
3) Halo games
4) Tom Clancy games
5) Mario games

Actually, I think we can do better. What if we could get it to where there was just "Tom Clancy Presents Mario's Halo Adventure, a Call of Duty production by John Madden. "

They could save a lot more money if they just started titling everything "Thing You Liked Before"* then start developing sequels.

*does not necessarily imply any connection to the actual thing you have liked before.

[Telefrog]

I don't think I would mind yearly releases under 2 conditions.
1. They were cheaper to buy.
2. They had a continuing story.

I guess, I would like to see a Half life 2 episode 1,2,3 ect scenario.

That's great, except the HL2 episodes haven't been yearly.

Personally, I don't think it's possible for a studio to churn out CoD4 quality installments on a yearly basis. Once every two years is even pushing it. I guess you could do it if you had three great studios leapfrogging their releases every third year, but then you risk each installment being so completely different in style that they cease to be the same IP.

[Baron Samedi]

Awesome, I can't want till the day when we have consolidated to the point where there are exactly five types videogames:

1) Madden games
2) Call of Duty games
3) Halo games
4) Tom Clancy games
5) Mario games

Actually, I think we can do better. What if we could get it to where there was just "Tom Clancy Presents Mario's Halo Adventure, a Call of Duty production by John Madden. "

They could save a lot more money if they just started titling everything "Thing You Liked Before"* then start developing sequels.

*does not necessarily imply any connection to the actual thing you have liked before.

Am I wrong for saying I want that game....just a little?

[Dr.Finger]

Updated the OP with Activision's response, which denies the whole thing. Looks like Treyarch will still be making the odd-numbered installments of the franchise.

[Grimmjow]

Just label Treyarch's game Call of Duty: Homecoming and we'll be set.

didn't you post the exact same comment on neogaf?

[Xerxes]

didn't you post the exact same comment on neogaf?

Did you just admit you are a regular at neogaf? :p

[Xerxes]

How about you let IW get another team going internally to work on a other yearly full blown COD expansion/DLC to the main game for say $40 and put Treyarch something differently altogether.

[Talon-]

Did you just admit you are a regular at neogaf? :p

Is neogaf really that bad?

[Food Nipple]

didn't you post the exact same comment on neogaf?

I don't have a Gaf account, nor did I read the thread on the subject. I thought it was a pretty obvious joke, great minds think alike etc.

[Spigot]

Is neogaf really that bad?Hell yes it is. Spend a few minutes there and you appreciate just how good we have it here at EvAv...

I tried to visit there during the dark times when a few of the regulars here went into exile and I just couldn't stand neogaf for any prolonged period of time.

[EternalGamer]

Hell yes it is. Spend a few minutes there and you appreciate just how good we have it here at EvAv...

I tried to visit there during the dark times when a few of the regulars here went into exile and I just couldn't stand neogaf for any prolonged period of time.

It's all just jpegs and screaming manchildren.

The only good thing about it is that prominent industry people (both journalists and developers) sometimes post there. But I can't figure out why they do. It is almost entirely devoid of conversation. Nobody pays attention to what anyone else says, and if they do, it is only for an exchange or two. It is 98% noise and 2% substance.

[beefyjr]

Activision calls bullshit on the story:

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=134068

Bummer. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that at this point, Activision is worse than EA.

[Spigot]

It's all just jpegs and screaming manchildren.

The only good thing about it is that prominent industry people (both journalists and developers) sometimes post there. But I can't figure out why they do. It is almost entirely devoid of conversation. Nobody pays attention to what anyone else says, and if they do, it is only for an exchange or two. It is 98% noise and 2% substance.Exactly. I remember a few people trying to make the case for NeoGAF by saying that it got posts from industry bigwigs but like I said at the time, a dollop of whip cream doesn't make the turd sundae taste any better.

[Micasa]

They should go the Rockstar route, only give the number increment to "major" releases in the series (GTA3, GTA4) and give other installments just a subtitle (Vice City, San Andreas). The number thing gets stupid quickly when you're releasing new titles every year.

I'd say that's probably their best bet. I didn't think Call of Duty 3 was that bad at all. It's not up to the stuff Infinity Ward was doing, but IW has CoD as their main focus while it's not Treyarch's only project.

The idea of two teams doing simultaneous development of titles to release in successive years isn't new - Ubisoft does the same thing with the Splinter Cell franchise. I actually like it as a way to keep the storyline moving along in a franchise that has a solid plot behind it, so long as it's not copy-cat levels. That's where Rainbow Six Vegas failed in its second outing, it just seemed too similar to the first and didn't do a great job of telling the story.

[cp#]

2 CoD games a year? Give me a fucking break. Counter Strike?

[grammatoncleric]

Imagine if other forms of media adopted this absurd practice.

Movie studio suit: "Okay, we need a new Batman movie every year. Nolan and Bale are busy, so let's get, hmmm...Kurt Wimmer and Ryan Phillippe and call it Bats:3!"

Music studio suit: "Okay, we need a new Radiohead album every year. Those guys are touring and really busy so let's get, hmmm....Panic at the Disco and call it Radiohead!"

[Cyndair]

I think they need to be careful with this. When you have a multiplayer following like CoD4 does, you risk cannibalizing your own game. If people have put in the time to level up in multiplayer and pay for extra downloadable content they aren't going to be as willing to shell out another 60 only a year later just to do it all over again.

The reason CoD4 was such a hit was because the multiplayer offerings were far better than anything else out at the time (for fps games at least. Sorry CS fans). CoD4 is still very popular and will be for quite awhile imo. Unless they really raise the bar again for CoD5, they risk competing with themselves.

[xplics]

Even though this has been proven to be a rumor, I do not think it is such a bad idea if COD 5 is lacking in quality then maybe they should stay away from the excellent francise.

[Xerxes]

Imagine if other forms of media adopted this absurd practice.

Movie studio suit: "Okay, we need a new Batman movie every year. Nolan and Bale are busy, so let's get, hmmm...Kurt Wimmer and Ryan Phillippe and call it Bats:3!"

Music studio suit: "Okay, we need a new Radiohead album every year. Those guys are touring and really busy so let's get, hmmm....Panic at the Disco and call it Radiohead!"
Heeeeey, I could get behind a Kurt Wimmer batman. Wait.... ok, I'll hear him out first. I forgot about Ultraviolet there for a sec.

[Spigot]

Even though this has been proven to be a rumor, I do not think it is such a bad idea if COD 5 is lacking in quality then maybe they should stay away from the excellent francise.I think that we'll have to see how CoD5 turns out. If it's great, hey, then all the more for us. If it sucks, well, we'll be right. Either way, we win... sort of.