_{by Vrandas}

When you mention the name "Grant Collier" to a Call of Duty veteran you always hear how Grant Collier was just one of the guys. You could find him on the CoD forum being happy and excited.

But when you read the actual West & Zampella lawsuit it is as if there never was a "Grant Collier". 

Strange...

Even the respected gaming website, Gamasutra recently wrote; "West and Zampella developed two of the most successful video games in history – Call of Duty and Modern Warfare – at the Infinity Ward studio, a company they co-founded in 2001. After its acquisition by Activision in November 2003, West and Zampella served as president/game director and CEO, respectively."

Now watch Grant Collier, President of Infinity Ward till 2008 and, as IW's spokesperson, talk about his CoD4 Modern Warfare and his CoD PC community. 

_{From Making Modern Warfare: COD4 Interview} 

Grant Collier, CoD4 Studio Director

Collier : We actually wanted COD1 to be Modern Warfare! And then Activision said, "well, you just did a really good job for EA with Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, so why don't you make a World War II shooter?" So we were like "OK, we'll do that, you guys helped us out!". So we made COD1. Then we said that next we want to make this Modern Warfare shooter this time. They were like, "Well...! You know, COD1 got eighty game of the year awards, it's successful, we'd like a sequel". And we were like, "but you SAID we could do Modern Warfare!" And they're like, "OK, how about we give you COD2 for Xbox 360? Microsoft doesn't have a Halo for launch, and they want a really strong first person shooter, and they want it to be COD2". So we said alright, and there were a lot of ideas we didn't do in COD1 anyway. So sure, "but after that, we're going to do Modern Warfare". COD2 went on to achieve great attach rate and was the top played game on Xbox Live for 14 months. Now we really want to make Modern Warfare. And still, they wanted another WWII sequel! We said we would not do another one; this Modern Warfare is what we want to do, and what we've always wanted to do. So they agreed, and they had Treyarch do Call of Duty 3. But I don't think we shorthanded COD1 or COD2.

(Well they did. The CoD2 PC version lacked a few key features; like an "out of the box" anti-cheat !  And so Grant Collier makes sure the PC community gets wooed with his personal attention and assuring Infinity Ward will do it right this time. See above video. )

So Studio co-founders Grant Collier, Jason West and Vince Zampella took a risk, moving the popular CoD WW2 series into contemporary times with "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," and sold more than 10 million units, making it a best selling action title and one the biggest games worldwide in 2007. 

But at the beginning of 2008 Grant Collier accepted a job at Activision Blizzard's Headquarters.

And in March 2008, Activision negotiated with Zampella and West and induced them to take on a Modern Warfare sequel. Activision offered them more money. They extended their contracts through 2011. Zampella and West promised to deliver Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in November 2009.  Fourzerotwo was already hired to become IW's community manager.

Why West & Zampella don't mention Grant Collier as co-developer of the original Call of Duty and Modern Warfare title is a mystery to us.  And when Collier got to work for Activision in 2008 did he give up any rights on Call of Duty and Modern Warfare royalties, if any ?

Complete History and Founders of Game Studio Infinity Ward

_{by Vrandas}

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 30, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ — DECLASSIFIED: Prepare for the follow-up to the biggest entertainment launch in history: on November 9th Call of Duty(R): Black Ops(TM) will introduce fans to the elite world of Black Ops. Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) and award-winning developer Treyarch will take players behind enemy lines in an entirely new chapter in the groundbreaking and record-setting, No. 1 first-person action series of all-time.

“We can’t wait for our community to experience Call of Duty: Black Ops,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head for Treyarch. “We have focused our entire studio on this game, with dedicated multiplayer, single-player and co-op teams creating the most intense, gripping and riveting experience possible for our fans on all fronts.”

Dedicated Multiplayer ???  After the Modern Warfare 2 Horror of NO DEDICATED SERVERS we need to be sure...

What was it... ? Only 3 weeks before the MW2 release and only because Fourzerotwo was so pooped, after two weeks of MW2 PROMO touring in Europe, that we found out that the PC version of CoD Modern Warfare 2 would not have dedicated servers.

And, as feared, never before a CoD title had so much multiplayer problems as MW2.  Hackers ruined the ranking, STEAM and IWNet ruined the connection, VAC gave us x-times more cheaters and forced playing on a budget-PC-host at the other end of the world re-invented 200+ lag.

Now that we've seen the teaser video, know the title and saw some locations....

Does Call of Duty: Black Ops come with :

• Dedicated Servers
• Public Server Files
• Mod Tools
• HTTP Redirect
• Punkbuster
• No Steam
• No VAC

Do we really have to wait months before they tell the basic game details ? 

I hope Treyarch makes the best CoD title ever.

May 14th Update !  : Call of Duty: Black Ops: Gameplay Details & Dedicated Servers

COD: Black Ops official reveal video trailer out on May 18th!

_{by Vrandas}

Next bit has as source the Los Angeles Times. 

It seems to us that the LA times gets used as West & Zampella's soapbox...

According to the LA Times, did ex-Infinity Ward bosses Jason West and Vince Zampella push for a deal similar to the one Bungie signed with Activision.

Bungie's deal, which sees it retain its independence and own its IP, was almost the same as the one that West and Zampella pitched to the publisher before talks broke down and they were fired. (This all took place back in March)

"It's astonishing how much money Activision had to pay to cover up its horns and pitchforks with a Halo," said West and Zampella's attorney Robert M. Schwartz to their contact at the LA Times.

Activision countered that the new deal proves its attractiveness as a creative partner. "If you look at the big picture, it's undisputable that we're the best destination for top talent in the industry," said COO, Thomas Tippl.

Bungie signed a ten-year deal with Activision and West & Zampella announcement that they are forming a new game studio and hooking up with Activision's chief rival, Electronic Arts Inc., which will have exclusive distribution rights to their next creation.

And Mister Schwartz ?  A fan of the Divorce Court Show or he needs some more reading before opening his mouth again...

Activision spoiled the spoiler and launched official website for Call Of Duty: Black Ops

The seventh title in the series, Call Of Duty: Black Ops is set during the Vietnam War, and will focus on members of the Studies and Observations Group, a covert group undertaking the most dangerous and secretive missions of the conflict.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops hits shop shelves on November 9th, 2010.

( and so we were spot on. Hurray for Mapmodnews. )

Well... almost all.

Current and former IW employees are suing Activision for breach of contract.

A band of folks named the "Infinity Ward Employee Group" -- seeking "to recover between $75 million and $125 million, if not more, in compensatory damages." The group is also asking for another $75 to $500 million in "punitive damages."

Allegedly, the employees of IW have received $28 million in bonuses, and are claiming to be owed another $54 million from just 2009. The rest of the treasure chest is sought for a gaggle of other reasons, ranging from "lost value on restricted stock units that Activision promised would vest" to MW2's "sister games," which seems to include the still-unannounced Modern Warfare 3.

In fact, the group's lawyer Bruce Isaacs contends that, in holding the remaining employees based on claims of larger royalties, Activision has breached those employees' contracts. "Activision has withheld most of the money to force many of my people to stay, some against their will, so that they would finish the delivery of Modern Warfare 3. That is not what they wanted to do, many of them. My clients are entitled to their money. Activision has no right to withhold their money -- our money." The suit's legalese also claims as much, even going as far as to accuse the publisher of holding "[IW] employees hostage so that Activision could reap the benefit of the completion of Modern Warfare 3." Yikes!

Activision has responded to the lawsuit with this statement: "Activision believes the action is without merit. Activision retains the discretion to determine the amount and the schedule of bonus payments for CoD Modern Warfare 2 and has acted consistent with its rights and the law at all times. We look forward to getting judicial confirmation that our position is right."

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Australia - Clan Challenge 2010 

Game: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Mode: Search & Destroy, 5v5, ProMod
Max Teams: 128
Entry: Free

After an online CoD4 tourny the 8 best clans traveled to the ultimate battleground of Sydney for their final encounters.

Sydney was the stage and Call of Duty 4 was the competition, gamers from all over Australia converged to play out the live event finals Alienware Clan Challenge 2010. And CoD4 Clan Frenetic Array became Clan Challenge 2010 Champions