Atari ignites next-gen Spark
Call of Duty: Finest Hour developer signs deal to make next-generation console games for the France-based publisher, due in 2006.
Although word leaked out the previous summer, last month Activision officially announced that it was making "two new Call of Duty products, one for the PC and one for consoles."
However, company officials would not confirm or deny whether or not "console" products of the franchise would be developed by Infinity Ward, the Activision-owned creator of the original PC Call of Duty, or Spark Unlimited, the independent developer behind the current-generation console version of the game, Call of Duty: Finest Hour. Both studios were formed by former members of the Medal of Honor team at Electronic Arts.
Today, Activision announced that a third and fourth developer--Gray Matter and Treyarch--would be developing one Call of Duty game for unspecified consoles. As for the other console "product," the evidence points to a next-generation game. In May 2004 a job listing on Infinity Ward's Web site called for "seasoned next-generation console engineers to join its ranks to meet the challenge and expectations for these high-end development platforms." However, Activision still had not made any official next-generation announcements as of press time.
Definitive proof of Spark's noninvolvement in the upcoming Call of Duties didn't come until today, when the Sherman Oaks, California-based shop announced a deal with a publisher that wasn't Activison. The lucky winner was Atari, which sent out a press release this morning saying it had entered "into an exclusive agreement...for worldwide publishing rights across all media to all future titles developed by the award-winning creative team at Spark Unlimited."
Were that not definitive enough, this morning's announcement also said that "the first joint project" between the two companies was already "in development for the next generation of consoles." Atari pegged the game's tentative release date as holiday 2006, meaning that it has the potential to be released on several next-generation platforms. The publisher also promised more information "in the spring" (that is, E3) about the all-new intellectual property. The announcement said the IP in question will have "multi-media potential, which Atari will look to exploit in film, television and consumer products."
GameSpot will have more on the Atari-Spark mystery game as further details surface. For more on Spark's latest current-gen console game, read the full review of Call of Duty: Finest Hour.
Related Content
-
Spore Creature Creator Demo
The Spore Creature Creator gives you the ability to design your own species, share it with others, import it to the retail version once released, and more. Read the Readme for system requirements.
- Jun 18, 2008
Matches based on text similarity.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
Q&A: EA Games prez on wielding Warhammer, policing 'Sporn'
In the second half of GameSpot's interview, Frank Gibeau talks about his WOW habit, refusing to green-light single-player games, the Wii, the next Medal of Honor, and the possibility of a Black comeback. Full Story
- Posted Aug 30, 2008 7:27 pm PT
- 101 Comments
-
PAX 2008: Ryan Payton on Kojima, Japan
The former English-speaking face of Metal Gear Solid 4 talks about his duties on the game, the real reason Japanese gamers aren't buying the Xbox 360, and more. Full Story
- Posted Aug 30, 2008 1:23 pm PT
- 140 Comments
Featured Stories
-
PS3 headset going solo, Confrontation beta delayed
Sony-developed peripheral available as stand-alone purchase for $49.99; SOCOM open test bumped to Sept. 5 for preorderers, Sept. 12 for Qore subscribers. Full Story
- Posted Sep 3, 2008 5:22 pm PT
- 119 Comments
-
Shippin' Out September 1-7: Spore, Mercs 2, Viva Pinata 2
Headliners join arcade FaceBreaker, NFL Head Coach, and downloadable titles Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, Shred Nebula, and My Aquarium. Full Story
- Posted Sep 2, 2008 4:40 pm PT
- 89 Comments
-
Resistance 2 starting November 4
Insomniac's sequel getting special edition at launch; multiplayer and co-op beta in early October. Full Story
- Posted Sep 2, 2008 12:53 pm PT
- 250 Comments
-
Metallic silver gilds new DS
Nintendo's redesigned portable returns to near-launch 2004 launch color with newly unveiled hue; hits retail September 7. Full Story
- Posted Sep 2, 2008 10:37 am PT
- 100 Comments
-
PAX 2008: When player feedback backfires
Everyone has ideas on how to make games better, but Petz developer Andrew Mayer says they're not necessarily good ones. Full Story
- Posted Aug 31, 2008 5:48 pm PT
- 113 Comments
Latest Entertainment Headlines
TV News
-
Gossip Girls guesting on 30 Rock
A-list guest stars continue for NBC comedy as Blake Lively and Leighton Meester will play Tina Fey's schoolmates.
Music News
-
Mick Jagger defies years as he hits pension age
Mick Jagger will be entitled to a basic state pension of just under $180 a week. But he will have to wait another five years for free roof insulation.
Related Game
- Activision
- Infinity Ward
- Historic First-Person...
- Release: Oct 29, 2003 »
- ESRB: Teen
Recent News
-
Ubisoft reveals release date of its semi-sequel to acclaimed 2004 shooter, which will ship in Europe Oct. 24; both territories to get collector's edition.
Site Blogs
-
ESPN, EA team for Virtual Playbook
In 2005, Electronic Arts further shored up its hold on professional sports gaming by signing a 15-year exclusivity contract with the...
1 Comments