THQ: IP ownership dispute cost signing former Call of Duty devs
Respawn Entertainment almost signed with THQ if it were not for one small important factor – IP ownership. The former execs of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise eventually signed with EA, who let the studio retain rights to the IP.
According to an interview with Wired, THQ boss, Danny Bilson tried to work a deal with Jason West and Vincent Zampella after their falling out with Activision. However, Bilson wanted THQ to retain the rights to the IP.
Unfortunately for Bilson, West and Zampella wanted to avoid this exact situation to prevent another Kotick-Activision meltdown incident. Respawn did eventually sign with EA Partners.
EA Partners is actually a very successful program with studios like Valve and Crytek committed to keeping existing IPs with the publishing giant. The bottom line is that most studios will want to keep its IPs with the same publishers as long as the working relationship is good.
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9 Responses to “THQ: IP ownership dispute cost signing former Call of Duty devs”
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January 15th, 2011
It amazes me that EA has changed so much in the last few years…
January 15th, 2011
So, I just watched portal 2 preview from IGN.
It is more of the same with coop. I will not be getting that game.
Seeing the trailer I thought it was a fps. It’s not.
To bad because the portal gun would make a great tool in a fps.
January 15th, 2011
@CAD, Godless and Kev
this is kind of sad but true lmao
http://features.metacritic.com/features/2011/video-game-preview-part-2/
January 16th, 2011
” So, I just watched portal 2 preview from IGN. It is more of the same with coop. ”
http://www.t-chest.co.uk/2005/images/whatever-happy-bunny.gif
January 16th, 2011
LOL it’s true Capt.
January 17th, 2011
I’m not going to argue it’s case. I’ve already done so with Phranc.
Just going to take a “you’ll see” approach
January 18th, 2011
Roca – it’s sad that all your hype about sony games are in the future. “most anticipated”…? the sales will determine if it was anticipated. if so, many sales as “most” anticipated. If not, low sales.
now let’s sit back and watch…lol.
sony has a lot of exclusives but the gamers just don’t seem to care by the low sales of them…. good luck tho….
January 18th, 2011
“sony has a lot of exclusives but the gamers just don’t seem to care by the low sales of them”
It’s all very academic, really. When you’re overwhelmed with the amount of games, you simply can’t buy them all. Then genre favourites further complicate the formula. The same would be said for 360 if it were in the same situation, don’t be naive.
I know you hate PS3, and by extension anyone who plays it, but I’d suggest you try PS3. It really is a great piece of hardware.
Since we’ve established you live in LA too, have you heard about what happened at Gardena High? Sad…
January 19th, 2011
“sony has a lot of exclusives but the gamers just don’t seem to care by the low sales of them”
What constitutes low sales in your opinion kev. Does every game need to have Halo or GT like sales for it to not be considered “low” to you