'Activision did not want Modern Warfare' - Infinity Ward

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Oct 7, 2009 1:57 pm PT

Call of Duty CCO Vince Zampella says publisher pushed for best-selling shooter franchise to remain in WWII period, PC-only.

Reporting on its April-June fiscal quarter in August, Activision said that revenues for the period surpassed $1 billion. The figure was bolstered in no small part by the unstoppable juggernaut that is Infinity Ward's acclaimed Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which the publisher said has sold 14 million units worldwide since its release in November 2007 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, DS, and PC. (A Wii edition, titled Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: Reflex, is due next month.)

This? Risky? Nah.

Considering Call of Duty 4's phenomenal success, it may come as a shock that Activision initially opposed Infinity Ward's decision to abandon World War II for a more contemporary setting. What's more, the publisher wasn't overly keen on bringing the developer's wares to consoles, either.

"Activision…did not want Modern Warfare," Infinity Ward chief creative officer Vince Zampella told Britain-based Official PlayStation Magazine in an interview, relayed by UK gaming site CVG. "They thought working on a modern game was risky and [thought], 'Oh my god you can't do that, it's crazy!' They were doing market research to show us we were wrong the whole time."

Call of Duty project lead Jason West went on to note, "We had to fight for everything. They wanted it to be World War II. Again."

In fact, Zampella said that Infinity Ward was ready to leave the WWII setting after the original Call of Duty, which received glowing reviews upon its release for the PC in 2003. Notably, Activision announced that it had acquired the Encino, California-based developer for an undisclosed sum one day after the original COD shipped in October of that year.

"With Call of Duty 2, we were dead set against it being World War II," Zampella said. "But Activision really wanted it, the compromise sort of being that we'd get some dev kits for consoles in exchange for doing a World War II game. We always wanted to be on consoles and Activision saw us as more of a PC developer."

Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on November 10, and according to Activision, as of August the game was already the most preordered title in the publisher's history. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

590 Comments

  • remixbaby44

    Posted Dec 16, 2009 5:50 pm PT

    who else thinks that cod 7 will be more stealth oriented because of the lack of fighting in the cold war

  • AceOfSpades801

    Posted Nov 24, 2009 4:35 pm PT

    Fortunately for all of us IW decided to keep pushing for their vision for the direction of their development. I've played CoD 1 and a little of CoD 2 and enjoyed them. I'll eventually get to CoD 5 but have thoroughly enjoyed CoD 4 and MW2. Thanks to Activision for supporting a great developer and thanks to IW for being awesome!

  • huskerman34

    Posted Nov 19, 2009 4:15 pm PT

    waw was a real good game. I think they should add vehicle battle in campaign and multiplayer modes. IT would be cool flying a p 51 mustang , german luftwafer, and a japanese zero.

  • xXxXsnipaXxXx

    Posted Nov 18, 2009 3:05 pm PT

    Good job Infinity Ward. Going against the rules to make 2 of the top 10 FPS games of all time. Personally, after the ENORMOUS success of Call Of Duty 4, I would've given Infinity Ward the main job for the CoD series, but WaW was good, not GREAT, but good, so if Treyarch can make a bigger, better CoD 7, then I think Infinity Ward has some competition, because Mw3 (if it's going to come out), is probably going to release in 2011. If I was the CEO of Infinity Ward, I would start working on Mw3 NOW, so you get 2 years to make an awesome game.

    Thats my 2 cents.

  • rangeraa

    Posted Nov 17, 2009 6:49 pm PT

    wheres the gore in MW2?

  • aaronfhff123

    Posted Nov 15, 2009 6:54 pm PT

    Modern warfare would be better than world at war if it had bullet wounds and dismemberment. Modern guns are more fun but not if you cant blow holes in people. F**** infinity ward for keeping carnage out of modern warfare 2....i guess ill have to wait for call of duty 7

  • buffdaddy69

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 9:12 am PT

    WaW was brutal in a good way. DOnt care what anyone says. It never gets old blowing a n00bs legs off with a shotgun.

  • OB-47

    Posted Nov 10, 2009 10:32 am PT

    Activision said this BEFORE it release. But still, Activision is a bit selfish

  • ttamdude

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 9:41 am PT

    Keep in mind that activision opposed the modern warfare concept before it's launch. Some of you folks seem to think they opposed it after and even now. 14 million copies sold is enough to bring anyone over to your side.

  • just-me-fun

    Posted Nov 9, 2009 6:36 am PT

    abandon activision i want cod on my ps3

  • JOKER677

    Posted Nov 8, 2009 2:22 am PT

    wow how can you deny good reviews and sales of modern warfare? dummies at activision

  • dafinchi

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 7:46 pm PT

    @smizz 16

    While his "ineptitude" may astound you, CoD 7 is taking place in the Cold War.

    Don't know how it'll work, but we'll see /shrug

  • Rev8691

    Posted Nov 7, 2009 1:29 pm PT

    there is definitely something wrong with activision....

  • HotNikkels

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 9:51 pm PT

    world war 2 is getting old, modern warfare was better than waw in every way except for the fact that the levels were too small. its boring playing with old guns and single shot rifles, the modern weapons are so much cooler

  • smizz_16

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 9:51 pm PT

    @ JulioFN: Your ineptitude astounds me, how can you have a game based on the Cold War? There was no fighting, just a huge standoff

  • sivasiba2

    Posted Nov 6, 2009 4:21 am PT

    WWII game were fun long ago but now after all the MOH games Commandos the previous CODs now that's enough..I swear I only played COD4 becoz they changed the setting...And I played OD5 despite it being in that era beoz I loved 4 too much...I even heard that the new COD would be In the cold war era...perhaps Vietnam...Good move...

  • RaChi_Jonny07

    Posted Nov 3, 2009 8:42 am PT

    Vote to World War II.It's the best history.

  • Sgt-slayer

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 5:18 pm PT

    THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!

  • livevil01

    Posted Oct 26, 2009 11:56 am PT

    thanks infinity god bless more power!!! many more COD to come please

  • Jerry_15

    Posted Oct 24, 2009 1:01 pm PT

    This game is going to be great

Call of Duty: World at War Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices

Check Prices: $19.99 – 29.99

GameStop $19.99 SHOP ›
Amazon.com $22.98 SHOP ›
Toys R Us $29.99 SHOP ›
advertisement
advertisement
Click Here
Call of Duty: World at War Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
Call of Duty: World at War

Game Stats

Full Game Details »Close
Also on

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement