Modern Warfare 3

The game is currently in pre -production but due to the current law suit things are running slow with development.

(13-04-2010 17:39 )kalel76 Wrote:  The game is currently in pre -production but due to the current law suit things are running slow with development.

What law suit?

April 12 (Bloomberg) -- Two Activision Blizzard Inc. developers, fired for breach of contract after allegedly meeting with a rival about starting a new studio, agreed to produce games for rival Electronic Arts Inc.

Jason West and Vince Zampella, creators of Activision’s “Call of Duty” combat franchise, are starting a studio called Respawn Entertainment, Electronic Arts said today in a statement. West and Zampella will own the titles they create, with Electronic Arts serving as distributor.

West and Zampella sued Activision in March for wrongful termination, saying they were fired so the company could avoid making royalty payments related to “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” the top-selling game of 2009. Activision countersued on April 9, accusing them of talking with an unidentified competitor while still under contract.

“We were fired from Activision and the next day our e-mail and phone lit up with interest from publishers,” Zampella said in an interview. The two chose Electronic Arts “because of the freedom it gave us,” he said.

West and Zampella declined to comment on the lawsuit. They said the new studio will operate as an independent company. The executives are looking to hire a team and begin work on a new game different from the “Modern Warfare” franchise, they said. A timeline for releasing the first title hasn’t been set.

Some Funding

As part of the publishing arrangement, Electronic Arts provided funding for Respawn. Other financial terms weren’t disclosed.

“It was an opportunity to pick up a great free agent,” David DeMartini, an Electronic Arts vice president, said in an interview.

In its complaint, Activision said West and Zampella hired agents and lawyers to help them negotiate with other companies while two years remained on their contracts. They are represented by Creative Artists Agency.

“This agreement comes as no surprise to Activision given the myriad of improper activities detailed in the cross- complaint,” Activision, the world’s largest game publisher, said in an e-mailed statement.

The Activision lawsuit accuses West and Zampella of “embarking on a secret trip to Northern California, arranged by their Hollywood agent, to meet with the most senior executives of Activision’s closest competitor.”

When Talks Began

Zampella said negotiations with Electronic Arts didn’t start until after they were fired.

“Now it’s time for us to get back to doing what we love doing, which is making games,” West said.

In their wrongful termination lawsuit against Activision, West and Zampella are seeking at least $36 million and control over future “Modern Warfare” games.

Electronic Arts rose 4 cents to $19.40 at 4:30 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Activision, based in Santa Monica, California, rose 2 cents to $12.50.

The lawsuit is Jason West and Vince Zampella v. Activision Publishing Inc., SC 10741, Los Angeles Superior Court, California.

taken from businessweek.com

well this thread will mostly be quiet or dead for nearly a year since MW3 is meant to be the COD release for 2011 since Black Ops is this years release in Q4............