Activision producer: Gearbox making 'a crappy war game' [update: Treyarch responds]

49 Comments by Justin McElroy Jun 30th 2008 6:00PM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, First Person Shooters

Update: We've clarified that, while Treyarch is owned by Activision, Heller is in fact an Activision – and not a Treyarch – employee. To that end, Treyarch's Community Manager posted a classy message on the Xbox.com forums distancing their team from the Activision rep's comment and stating, "We have nothing but respect for the guys and gals at Gearbox." Nicely handled, Treyarch!

Original: We normally don't like it when developers start taking potshots at each other, it's really not the sort of -- oh, who are we kidding? We love it when developers take potshots, it's one of our absolute favorite things, and this video interview from Eurogamer has a doozy courtesy of ~~Treyarch~~ Activision senior producer Noah Heller.

When asked about Gearbox's forthcoming Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, Heller said they didn't consider it during development of Call of Duty: World at War, dismissing Hell as "a crappy war game." Continuing the burnination, Heller added that Gearbox "isn't even the same league" as Treyarch's effort. You might think we're misrepresenting the quote by taking it out of context, but it's somehow even more MEGAowch when watched in context (at about 1:00 in).

[Thanks, Jordan]

Tags: brothers-in-arms, call-of-duty-world-a..., hells-highway, treyarch

Source

(Page 1) Reader Comments

Brandon: Jun 30th 2008; 6:07PM

I'm glad Treyarch can talk shit because I don't think anyone let them know that their last war game, Call of Duty 3 sucked shit and they have to use COD4's engine because they don't wanna screw another game up....

Dan: Jun 30th 2008; 6:39PM

"crappy war game"

Treyarch are the experts after all...

Titanium_Orchid: Jun 30th 2008; 6:46PM

I'm kind of sick of people bashing COD3.

A.) It was a decent game

B.) The game only had an 8-month development cycle. In terms of the end product, and the time it took to develop, its shocking that the game turned out as well as it did.

MarMar: Jun 30th 2008; 6:51PM

COD3 multiplayer was also DAMN GOOD and miles ahead of COD4. The leap from COD3 to 4 was quite unspectacular

Cyro: Jun 30th 2008; 7:17PM

Sarcasm ?

Lars: Jun 30th 2008; 8:10PM

Huh, I had no idea CoD3 sucked... Didn't it get 8's for the most part? I'm asking because I haven't played a CoD game since the first. Pretty much all FPS's just look 'meh', nowadays. The only thing that seemed to set CoD4 apart was consistently high framerate.

OMGOMG: Jun 30th 2008; 6:07PM

Really, Treyarch? Right when I was starting to get on board with you, you diss arguably one of the coolest and most innovative WWII shooters that came out last generation.

YOU HAVE NO ROOM TO TALK, developer of Spiderman 3.

captainking: Jun 30th 2008; 6:08PM

Treyarch really shouldn't be talking...

MarMar: Jun 30th 2008; 6:08PM

It does look like a crappy war game. Only idiots, like bloggers and band-wagon jumpers, actually think any of the Treyarch COD games are 'bad', so the Treyarch producer has every right to say that, IMO. Gearbox, on the other hand, has done some cool things. Opposing Force was a great game -- better than the original half-life.

Jhongerkong: Jun 30th 2008; 7:22PM

*snaps 3 times in Z formation*

Oh no he di'int!

Jhongerkong: Jun 30th 2008; 7:23PM

Damn, didnt mean for that to be a reply.

Now the jokes ruined.

J: Jun 30th 2008; 8:34PM

Hah right. You forgot to mention idiots like gamers, critics, writers, designers, and developers.

Sora267: Jun 30th 2008; 10:27PM

Don't worry, your joke worked fine, because he called bloggers (Like the one who wrote this article) idiots.

VampMGS2: Jun 30th 2008; 6:09PM

Lol, Treyarch sucks.

GenBanks: Jun 30th 2008; 6:12PM

That's unwarranted, never mind the fact that it comes from people who have yet to prove themselves. The previous BiA games rank among my absolute favourites. Complex, heart-pounding tactical gameplay, good story, nice graphics.

My only concern with Hell's Highway is that it looks a tinge too shooter-y, in the sense that it looks much easier to shoot Germans yourself than it was in the previous games. Still, that's no basis to be bad-mouthing it like that.

kronos6: Jun 30th 2008; 6:12PM

Oddly enough the brothers in arms series was superior to COD singleplayer wise until cod4. Treyarch shouldnt be talking since they consistently made the weakest games of the COD franchise

Agathos: Jun 30th 2008; 6:20PM

No more Treyarch games for me, crap like this isn't something I want to support. This prick should realize when he's making public comments he's representing his company and their efforts and shouldn't lightly tarnish the fanbase's view.

Also want to comment that the BIA series was a delightful surprise fave for me when it came out, when the first one was announced years ago I rolled my eyes wondering how many COD and MofH or more WWII shooters there could be, gotta say I was surpised by it and have a lot of respect for the new type of gameplay and story they brought into it.

My main hope is that Randy Pitchford doesn't respond in kind as he tends to be one of those public eye/outspoken types.

ApolloIV: Jun 30th 2008; 6:20PM

I really want to see the reply from Gearbox because we know that they will not take that crap.

velocitySTRIKE: Jun 30th 2008; 6:21PM

Hypocrisy is lol.

Andy: Jun 30th 2008; 6:22PM

Is it me or is Treyarch become a bit cocky?

Draco Basileus: Jun 30th 2008; 6:23PM

I can't believe this guy actually opened his mouth to talk shit to Gearbox.

At least Gearbox has the balls to develop their own WWII IP, instead of getting sloppy seconds from Infinity Ward.

Treyarch = Infinity Ward's gimpy bitc#!

Ian: Jun 30th 2008; 6:52PM

Well, to be honest, traditionally, Gearbox has been Valve's gimpy little bitch. Not that I'm agreeing or disagreeing with the original statement mind you. Its uncalled for.

DangerMouse: Jun 30th 2008; 6:24PM

Haven't played much of any brothers in arms games, but the game must be piss, shit and vomit mixed together, because CoD5 looks like a generic turd. For what it's worth (most likely very little) I downloaded the BoA demo once, and they made me sit through boring ass intro where they teach you that mouse 1 is shoot, and taught me how to walk and sidestep and all that other crap like i haven't played an FPS before. Well, i've played plenty and deleted it before i could get a chance to enjoy it. I don't have that kind of patience.

Developers; If you decide teach the player how play the game from the beginning like FPS's have done repeatedly for the past 10 years, please do so wihtout thinking the player is some kind of tard. If he/she can install the game, I'm sure they can figure out the basic control scheme.

So, how are you today?

Negativecool: Jun 30th 2008; 6:24PM

As far as tactics and realism, Gearbox has the crown over every game with the Brothers in Arms series.

I'm not sure where Treyarch thinks they are better.
I mean I seriously have no idea how they can possibly think they are making a better WW2 game than Gearbox, who has put SOOO much effort into recreating the realworld locations and ultra fine details.

This makes absolutely NO sense to me.
What little credability Treyarch had, they just lost it...minus infinity!.....(ward, he he).
I WAS expecting a decent game with Treyarch's COD but I think this proves that Treyarch is completely out of touch with itself and is probably creating a gigantic bag of douche when in THEIR minds only, it is pure gold.

Kizzle: Jun 30th 2008; 7:59PM

"As far as tactics and realism, Gearbox has the crown over every game with the Brothers in Arms series."

Red Orchestra says hello.

Beau: Jun 30th 2008; 6:25PM

You know what, he's right. Gearbox isn't even in the same league as Treyarch, in fact - it's above it.

Way above it.

Obie: Jun 30th 2008; 6:28PM

OH NO THEY DIDN'T!

I am actually looking forward to Gearbox's next game, because of their consistent quality. Something Treyarch has never done, they stand on the shoulders of other developers and make crappy, one-off games that are GARBAGE. Even their next game, COD5 is coming off the hype of Infinity Wards hard work, and Treyarch could not even come up with their own engine.

Screw off Treyarch, this fall I will be playing Gears 2, Brothers in Arms, Left 4 dead and NOT COD5...fucktards!

Negativecool: Jun 30th 2008; 6:33PM

You sure told them!
Obie striketh fear into teh Treyarch!

You hit their weakpoint for massive lulz!

Obie: Jun 30th 2008; 8:12PM

I read Treyarch's response, apology accepted, but two things:

1. That guy should fired.
2. COD 5 still has a LOT to prove, were talking high scored across the board before I even consider renting it.

Mr.ESC: Jun 30th 2008; 6:39PM

That's funny because Treyarch isn't on the same league as Infinity Ward and yet they get to do Call of duty games.

The sad part is that I actually liked Treyarch because they at least tried but when they start with the trash talk they just lose my respect.

ericdrum: Jun 30th 2008; 6:42PM

Sounds to me like Treyarch is acting like they should get some mad love because of the success of CoD4, as if they had something to do with it. If the next CoD is any good from a technical standpoint, it will be thanks to IW. I cannot believe they would talk this kind of smack. I would listen to this kind of smack if it was from IW because they have something to back it up. But IW has too much class to run this up the flag pole. Also, Randy Pitchford is pretty outspoken. I don't expect him to just take this one on the chin.

And for the record, BiA is the only WW2 shooter I have any interest in this year. If I'm going to play CoD, Treyarch better score 9s across the board with the amount of hype they are building if they even want a rental from me.

Zach: Jun 30th 2008; 6:57PM

Clearly, the irony escapes them.

Eh: Jun 30th 2008; 7:14PM

Dear Treyarch,

Do something original and stop ruining the careers of your employees. Youre the Britney Spears of the gaming industry, stop manufacturing games and start creating them.

Stuka: Jun 30th 2008; 7:20PM

This just goes to prove that Treyarch really is Activision's B-team. I mean, Infinity Ward could rightfully come out and be a bunch of cocky dicks and say the same or similar stuff, but they don't. They know they are good, they know their last game is one of the FPS elite and so they let their work speak for themselves. Treyarch on the other hand produces quality in the range of mediocre to garbage and yet they talk all this shit. It screams "please pay attention to me, my game is relevant to your interests too!" How sad. GTFO Treyarch.

Superstar90: Jun 30th 2008; 7:29PM

I think this calls for a revival of:

lol@treyarch & treyarch are n00bs

frogprince: Jun 30th 2008; 7:37PM

Nice fauxhawk Noah Heller!

http://www.myspace.com/nheller

Obie: Jun 30th 2008; 8:48PM

Time for a drive-by...target: his fugly haircut.

LordChimp: Jun 30th 2008; 7:46PM

Classy move by Treyarch and said it wasn't them that said it. I just can't believe how many people diss on Treyarch all the time and act like they just raped or killed someone close to them.

michas_pi: Jun 30th 2008; 8:11PM

Activision, you fucking n00b...you've degenerated yourself to shameless trolling.

W00t for Treyarch. I enjoyed CoD3.

J: Jun 30th 2008; 8:34PM

Hah, big words spoken for the company that tanked on their first chance with CoD.

Tegolin: Jun 30th 2008; 9:14PM

Man, one typo and unneeded flaming.
Poor Treyarch, I liked CoD3.

Activision on the other hand is the company that I would hear talking smack about other companies.

Ralan: Jun 30th 2008; 9:14PM

I withdraw all the stupid "lol@treyarch cauze de be taukin shit" comment for there owners. They clearly cannot Google a name too verify an article thus, They need too be executed by way of shovel.

JetPogi: Jun 30th 2008; 10:43PM

I didn't like COD3 either but you guys can't diss COD3 sucking and COD4 being good because unlike IW, Treyarch only had 1 year to make COD3 while IW started COD4 once they were done with COD2 if I'm not mistaken.

COKTOE: Jun 30th 2008; 11:03PM

Heller is right.The BIA:HH trailer looks like crap compared to COD:WAW.On a tech level it's not even close.

MarMar: Jul 1st 2008; 12:33AM

The post's update seems to confirm part of earlier comment: "Only idiots, like bloggers [...]"

Typical Joystiq "wanna-be-reporter" quality news here, folks!

bassman87: Jul 1st 2008; 2:24AM

I know they already apologized, but...

Gearbox made these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gearbox_Software#Games_developed

Treyarch made these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treyarch#In_Development

Pretty easy to see that Gearbox has made MORE quality titles than Treyarch. Apology or not, Treyarch is garbage for the most part. Gearbox ftw!!!

bm: Jul 1st 2008; 2:25AM

He's right, but that's simply because ALL war games are shit.

thomashenwood: Jul 1st 2008; 3:49AM

I'd say that COD is the master of "crappy war game" Whilst I loved COD4 I tried playing through COD 2 single player a few months ago and I almost drowned in a sea of generic boredom.