PC World – The military-minded franchise worth billions with recent record-snapping sales has another lawsuit in its lineup of legal perplexities. Activision Blizzard, publisher of the Call of Duty franchise, has countersued Jason West and Vincent Zampella, claiming the two former Call of Duty development studio executives tried to “hijack” company assets related to the war-themed first-person shooter series.

West and Zampella, former heads of Call of Duty development studio (and Activision subsidiary) Infinity Ward, were fired early last month, according to Activision, for “breaches of contract and insubordination.” Activision subsequently spun the franchise into its own business unit, and created a second studio, Sledgehammer Games, to develop an action-adventure game based on the franchise. West and Zampella quickly followed up by filing suit against Activision for over $36 million in royalties and damages, alleging they were wrongfully terminated and their contacts breached. …

No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: Activision, California, Jason West, Los Angeles, pc world, Vincent, Ward. | #

AP – Activision Blizzard Inc. said Tuesday that Jason West and Vince Zampella, executives at “Call of Duty” developer Infinity Ward, are no longer with the company.

Zampella had served as CEO at Infinity Ward, and West as chief technology officer, among other titles.

Activision also said it plans to form a new business unit around the “Call of Duty” franchise, focusing on online content and expanding the brand.

The shake-up comes a day after Activision said it was looking into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at its Infinity Ward studio.

Activision did not name West and Zampella in Monday’s regulatory filing. But the filing said the company expected the “departure of key personnel” as a result. …

No Comments | In: Scariest Video Games | tags: Activision, Adam Satariano, Asia, Calif., California, chief technology officer, Europe, Hero, infinity ward, James Callan, janney montgomery scott, Jason West, Jeffrey Taylor, Maryanne Lataif, Monica, New York, Philadelphia, Philip Earl, San Francisco, Shawn Milne, Steve Ackrich, Steve Pearce, U.S., Vince Zampella, Ward. | #