Details are sketchy, but Kotaku reports that  lead designer Todd Alderman and lead software engineer Francesco Gigliotti  have left the company last week. Not much information is given, but Kotaku believes that they may have resigned. After that dismissal from heads West and Zampella, this could be a continuation of the Infinity Ward developers upset at the way Activision runs things.
 
If you haven't already done so, I recommend reading the complaint that was filed after West and Zampella's dismissal. It gave some details on some of Activision's alleged tactics, such as interrogating the Infinity Ward employees when they have the two IW heads under investigation.
 
 http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots.x?gallery=14024&game_id=6192#img150852

Investigation team Go! 
 
Second time I got to bust that out today!

The only reason I care is that all the top IW people may create their own bitchin dev studio. If not, then w/e. 
 
On an unrelated note, didn't buy the Stimulus Package and won't buy CoD7, CoD8, or CoD action adventure bullshit.

1. Small studio puts out unique and fun games.
 
2. Small studio gets acquired by large company and quality of games decline.
 
3. Huge scandal and disgruntled employees leave to form another small company.
 
4. Cycle continues.

" 1. Small studio puts out unique and fun games.  2. Small studio gets acquired by large company and quality of games decline.  3. Huge scandal and disgruntled employees leave to form another small company.  4. Cycle continues. "

" 1. Small studio puts out unique and fun games.  2. Small studio gets acquired by large company and quality of games decline.  3. Huge scandal and disgruntled employees leave to form another small company.  4. Cycle continues. "

  Francesco Gigliotti is a great name. If they start a new studio, they should name it Gigliottisoft. 

" @Relys said:

" 1. Small studio puts out unique and fun games.  2. Small studio gets acquired by large company and quality of games decline.  3. Huge scandal and disgruntled employees leave to form another small company.  4. Cycle continues. "

Both Modern Warfares are of extremely high quality. "

Hmm...  I wonder if anymore of them will leave.  Either way, I hope they can find a better place to work.

" Investigation team Go!   Second time I got to bust that out today! "

I doubt something new has happened to upset them.  More likely that West and Zampella are now in a position to offer (the best of) their old crew a place to go if they want out.
 
I'm pretty much actively avoiding Activision products at this point.

SHIT'S GETTIN REAL 

Good. I hope everyone leaves and the next IW project is a total flop.

" SHIT'S GETTIN REAL  "

They should all form a new company that will be better than their last one.
 
Like another certain group of people...

3rd time's the charm.

Well, I foresee more departures in Infinity Wards future.

Hmm...maybe it will change things up a bit in the next MW, which will be nice.

" @Relys said:

" 1. Small studio puts out unique and fun games.  2. Small studio gets acquired by large company and quality of games decline.  3. Huge scandal and disgruntled employees leave to form another small company.  4. Cycle continues. "

Both Modern Warfares are of extremely high quality. "

They won't be able to make games that directly compete with activision for years... this is the end for a long while.

"They won't be able to make games that directly compete with activision for years... this is the end for a long while. " 
 

Jason West and Vince Zampella, the recently-fired heads of Activision-owned Modern Warfare studio Infinity Ward, have signed up with Creative Artists Agency, according to a report in the L.A. Times' Company Town blog.

Zampella and West agreed to be represented by Hollywood's biggest talent agency as they begin their post-Infinity Ward lives after being recently fired by parent company Activision, which alleged insubordination and breach of contract. The two subsequently filed a $36 million lawsuit against the publisher for wrongful termination and breach of contract. 

" @Korne: You realize the two head infinity ward guys got new jobs in nothing that's related to making video games? So no, they still can't make great FPS games for a long while.
 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27672/Fired_Infinity_Ward_Heads_West_Zampella_Sign_With_Creative_Artists_Agency.php  
 
 

Jason West and Vince Zampella, the recently-fired heads of Activision-owned Modern Warfare studio Infinity Ward, have signed up with Creative Artists Agency, according to a report in the L.A. Times' Company Town blog.

Zampella and West agreed to be represented by Hollywood's biggest talent agency as they begin their post-Infinity Ward lives after being recently fired by parent company Activision, which alleged insubordination and breach of contract. The two subsequently filed a $36 million lawsuit against the publisher for wrongful termination and breach of contract. 

"

Unsurprising. I imagine we'll see a lot more Infinity Ward employees jump ship in the coming weeks.

" @Korne: You realize the two head infinity ward guys got new jobs in nothing that's related to making video games? So no, they still can't make great FPS games for a long while.
 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27672/Fired_Infinity_Ward_Heads_West_Zampella_Sign_With_Creative_Artists_Agency.php  
 
 

Jason West and Vince Zampella, the recently-fired heads of Activision-owned Modern Warfare studio Infinity Ward, have signed up with Creative Artists Agency, according to a report in the L.A. Times' Company Town blog.

Zampella and West agreed to be represented by Hollywood's biggest talent agency as they begin their post-Infinity Ward lives after being recently fired by parent company Activision, which alleged insubordination and breach of contract. The two subsequently filed a $36 million lawsuit against the publisher for wrongful termination and breach of contract. 

"

Fuck companies are turning fucked in the brain.

" They should all form a new company that will be better than their last one.  Like another certain group of people... "

" @CitizenKane said:

" They should all form a new company that will be better than their last one.  Like another certain group of people... "

What so you can be their Mod too? Jks. "

Its a shame to see Infinity Ward going down like this (despite what all the whining babies and trolls say about their recent games) but I'm sure a new company will appear consisting of most of these people to make something great while the CoD series turns into being a shitty Treyarch or worse game every year instead of every second year.

" @ShaunassNZ said:

" @CitizenKane said:

" They should all form a new company that will be better than their last one.  Like another certain group of people... "

What so you can be their Mod too? Jks. "

Have at you, sir! "

" @Korne: You realize the two head infinity ward guys got new jobs in nothing that's related to making video games? So no, they still can't make great FPS games for a long while.
 
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/27672/Fired_Infinity_Ward_Heads_West_Zampella_Sign_With_Creative_Artists_Agency.php  
 
 

Jason West and Vince Zampella, the recently-fired heads of Activision-owned Modern Warfare studio Infinity Ward, have signed up with Creative Artists Agency, according to a report in the L.A. Times' Company Town blog.

Zampella and West agreed to be represented by Hollywood's biggest talent agency as they begin their post-Infinity Ward lives after being recently fired by parent company Activision, which alleged insubordination and breach of contract. The two subsequently filed a $36 million lawsuit against the publisher for wrongful termination and breach of contract. 

"

I hope they all go back to work on Medal of Honor

Activision is my enemy.

" They won't be able to make games that directly compete with activision for years... this is the end for a long while. "

Let's hope the rest of IW's top-tier talent walks out as well, watching Activision self-implode is probably the best thing that can happen to this industry.

" They won't be able to make games that directly compete with activision for years... this is the end for a long while. "

Non-compete agreements are becoming an increasingly popular way for employers to try to limit employees and former employees from working for a competitor, or from divulging trade secrets or other proprietary data.

Contrary to common misperceptions, courts will uphold non-compete clauses if they comply with acceptable standards. Enforcement against an employee can be both by damages and by an injunction that prohibits the employee from engaging in conduct that violates a non-compete clause.

An employer also can be held liable for hiring an employee who violates a non-compete agreement with a previous employer. In some cases, employers can recover damages from both the former employees and their new employers who collaborate with them in the transgressions.

However, some states impose substantial restrictions on the enforceability of non-compete clauses. In California, for example, they may not be enforceable at all. In New York, their enforceability is quite limited.

Most non-compete agreements are entered into with little, if any, negotiation between the employer and the employee. They usually are signed at the outset of an employment relationship where the employee may have very little bargaining power and when the employee is generally not too concerned about limitations on future employability when beginning a new job.

But when an employee decides to leave a job, the non-compete agreement may be a significant impediment to future employment or may prevent employees from becoming self-employed.