Infinity Ward: Activision didn't want Call of Duty to go Modern

by Griffin McElroy on Oct 7th 2009 5:00PM

Activision's always been a company with a finger squarely placed upon the pulse of the gaming culture. It knows what we need -- and what we need is more World War 2-based first-person shooters. Call of Duty's part-time developer Infinity Ward struggled with that notion for years according to a recent Official PlayStation Magazine interview with Ward's Vince Zampella. If Activision had its way, Zampella explained, Modern Warfare probably never would have happened. Whoa, did anyone else just get a really weird chill down their spine?

Zampella said Activision "thought working on a modern game was risky," and went so far as to conduct "market research" supporting its fears to quell Infinity Ward's desire for modernization. We're not sure which market Activision surveyed, however, as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare moved over 14 million units. We bet the publisher talked to WWII veterans. "Yeah, our war was the coolest! Kids today with their AC-130s. That's not fightin'. That's just flyin' a big, bomb droppin' robot kite."

Source

Tags: activision, call-of-duty, call-of-duty-4, fps, infinity-ward, Microsoft, modern-warfare, modern-warfare-2, Vince-Zampella, world-war-ii, Xbox-360

Reader Comments (109)

So instead of a generic WW2 shooter they made a generic modern-day shooter? Good job, guys.

*hides*

Yeah, it's very generic >.>

I hope you don't really believe that Neuro.

Well I'll say this. I think it's possible for something to be generic and high quality at the same time.

It's really not generic, the class system is incredibly well implemented, the multiplayer is extremely fun, and just really everything about is anything but generic.

I actually think Modern Warfare is pretty generic... but the "Oh my god this is freakin' sweet" kinda generic. That means, nothing really new, but everything expertly done.

It's as generic as monkeys flying out of my butt. The single player mode was amazing on its own, but the customization in the MP put the cherry on the cake. You need to reconsider your definition of the word "generic".

@cafecito: Well, if you want to use that kind of thinking, then Gran Turismo, Uncharted, GTA IV, Any sports game, Street fighter, and Left 4 Dead are all generic. Not a new idea, but well done.

It depends on what you consider generic. If you just look at trailers and gameplay videos, yea, it just looks like a military shooter, big deal.

But when you start playing the multiplayer, it's so rewarding, from perks to customized loadouts. Other games have tried these, but I don't think any of them have got it as perfectly has COD4 did. Add the best matchmaking system in the industry, and you have an online experience few could match. Maybe the setting and look of the game is generic, but when you're playing it it doesn't feel like "just another shooter"

You're all getting mixed up with what he meant by generic. Yes, _it wasn't generic in the sense that it was a good game to play_, but what it is actually based on (Soldiers fighting terrorists, with class-based online team game modes - to filter it down to its simplest) was pretty damn generic. I think that's what he meant.

@Tracer Left 4 Dead and Uncharted were new ideas. What game had coop AND competitive in one mode like L4D? What game had combined Gears of War shooting with Jak and Daxter platforming? And yeah, as far as setting goes, Modern Combat is just as generic as WW2, and the single player campaign was just about the definition of generic, the only thing i can think of that was new in that was maybe the javelin missiles

Neuromancer is a frickin idiot just look at the avatar that says it all!

Some of you are really stupid. Are you having a Clinton moment with the whole "It depends on what the definition of is is."

As Huehuahuehuahuehe said, I think it's generic in that exact sense: It's a military FPS set in mostly present time, and we've seen thousands of those (Modern Warfare must be the best outta the whole bunch, tho). But, WW2 shooters are even MORE generic nowadays.

well then maybe next they'll make a "generic" future shooter lol

"the only thing i can think of that was new in that was maybe the javelin missiles"

the AC-130 and sniper levels seemed really new to me.

I don't know why you people toss the word "generic" around like it's a bad thing. COD4 may be a "generic" shooter, but its one of the best, if not The Best one around. Remember videogames don't need to change drastically to be good, sometimes a fresh coat with a few additions and modifications and some good polish is what is needed to make a good franchise "impressive".

the AC-130 was just a fancy version of the bomber levels in other CoDs and war games, as for the sniping, well, if you've ever played Sniper Elite they wouldnt seem that impressive

I hope everyone was as entertained by the way this all went as I was.

Activision seriously needs to stop being so stupid.

SERIOUSLY.

They need to take off the asshat theyve been wearing like a ...medal of honour :P

It's spelled "honor" you dang foreigner.

its his language. You're the dang foreigner.

Does it matter? Many things can be spelled differently. Color/colour, Bobby Kotick/money grabbing douchebag. No different.

The Medal of HONOUR series and WWII shooters can still be done well, but I'm pretty sure everyone is glad that the new game is set in modern times. CoD4:MW is a lot of gamers' FAVOURITE all-time game. Everyone in my NEIGHBOURHOOD still plays it almost every day. Having it set in modern times just adds some much needed COLOUR to the series.

I think that "Honor" must be used here if it's a play on words regarding the Medal of Honor game series.

Unless, of course, that is how they spelled it on the box in the land of "ours" not "ors"

well Joystiq is based in the US i think, so technically "honour" would be the "foreign" term here... not that i care at all. i can't believe that guy bothered to say anything.

also, fuck activision

also, you know what they say... hindsight is 20/20. corporations are generally hesitant to try new things, and for good reason.

Yeah, I know.

Activision is made up of self-promoting assholes.

I want to see the market survey that told them to stay in the WW2 genre. I just don't believe it existed.

I'm probably going to be set on fire for this one, but...

Maybe they polled Jews?

Look how well World at War sold. That market research probably did exist.

You mean because W@W was a skin of CoD4 with a fun co-op mode? I think that and the name is what sold W@W.

IS THAT A COPYCAT?!

@dark,

Wow really? You make a comment like that and it's considered humorous and get's up voted? Well, then again this is joystiq.

@wages
Know what the best part about Jew jokes are? We (Jews) came up with the funniest ones. Guess who coined the term self-hating Jew? Again, us jews. Frankly, I found his joke pretty damn funny. Although if he had said gassed instead of set on fire, I might have laughed even louder.

Hi, I'm Avatar. I'm Jewish and I approve this message.

Try not to take offense, for I discriminate equally.

Its natural, I'm guessing ANY company wouldn't want a cash cow to try something totally diff from their current(and successful) work, but in the end since they provided funding for it, it's all good.

I officially hate Activision now T_T

I still want a Vietnam game

Damn Joystiq commenting system!

Would you replace it for CoD4?

You're just now hating Activision? Activision is this generation's EA. EA got their act together and it paid off.

of course not

So does that mean next generation Activision will become the great company that EA currently (mostly) is?

I wonder who's going to be the day old used bag of douche next time around.

Ubisoft is next in line; Activision was kind of awesome when EA was evil, and Ubisoft is kind of awesome now, so...

EA got its act together. Activision got Blizzard.

Apples and oranges.

I quit playing WWII shooters when Day of Defeat went to the Source engine.

I quit playing WWII shooters after COD 2

The people at Activision are a bunch of tards who think they know us better then we know ourselves... but people will still buy their games then talk shit about how they milk franchises and sell us useless plastic peripherals.

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Infinity Ward: Activision didn't want Call of Duty to go Modern

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