well neither could make a game i'd want to play anyway, if the name on the cover is COD.

long story short this is a B.S. claim from Activsion that can't be proven, and as for the unamed employee? just another high paid zombie at Actizision.

west and zampella will win this case.

How does not paying your employees bonuses = EAs fault

This could make an awesome movie (although a better one if West and Zampella win).

"The creators of the greatest gaming franchise in history. Betrayed by the coporate, money hungry Activision."

Yeah, it'd make a great documentary film about (dirty) corporation dealings.

I think it's one of the most fascinating corporate scandals in the last year or two and there have been a few big ones. 

Yes, but does screwing over the artist?

From what I read on here, Kotaku, Joystiq, Gamespot, and IGN regarding this issue is:

West and Zampella = Artists; Activision (especially Kotick) = Bad, greedy corrupt Corporation.

Lets not forget West and Zampella would have never created Call of Duty unless Activision and it's shareholders put their faith and trust in them by investing money to allow them the space and resources to create the Call of Duty series.

So many are so quick to side with West and Zampella because they are two men against Activision. Nevermind, they are multi-millionaire game developers at the echelon of their industry while those who work below them will most likely never reach their level.

West and Zampella are businessmen the same way Activision is, if not more as evidenced by their unprofessional behavior in demanding more (rights to CoD) than the original contract allowed for (this is up for debate). The problem here is, they signed a contract with Activision in the early 2000s, which gave Activision rights to the Call of Duty before it was even created. During their work with Activision and due to the success of Call of Duty, West and Zampella became multi-millionaire developers well respected amongst their peers. Thus forth, I have a really hard time finding sympathy for them.

We are not talking about bohemian artists living in run down apartment buildings in an ex-industrial district in a big city. West and Zampella have the wealth of a Molyneux, Miyamoto, and on.

Indie game developers = bohemian artists; West and Zampella = Thomas Kinkade level wealth and art.

i believe that Activision's claim might be true. But, it has been completely exxagerated by the defense attorney to make the IW execs look as bad as possible. It's been known that they were dicks to Treyarch, we'll just have to wait and see who wins at the end.

I love this story.  We knew West and and Zempalla hated treyarch and resented activision for handing over a part of the COD series to them, especially after treyarch just started using Inifinty wards MP engine.  To me activision should take note in the future that when your talent is upset about something pay more attention or be prepared to get screwed. 

Again, none of this is relevant under contract law.  The law does not care for the size of the breachor's pocket book*, it only cares about the numbers involved in the contract.  If Activision had been the breachor, the analysis would be precisely the same.  Keep in mind that in this quote tree I am not offering my moral or ethical opinion, I am simply stating the law on the matter.

*Except for the very rare occasion of punitive damages, in which case the breachor's wealth is one factor taken into account.

they make some good games