News recap: Everything awesome that happened this week
- March 05, 2010 14:48 PM PST
The first week of March turned out to be an exciting time in the video games industry. If you're going to the Game Developers Conference next week, use this as your cheat sheet so you can sound informed at parties. Also, show it to your non-gaming friends if they want to know why you were in a bad mood last Sunday.
ApocalyPS3
Long story short, PSN exploded, but it's all better now.
--At around 4 PM PST on Sunday, PlayStation Network users tweeted that they were unable to connect to the online gaming service.
--Hours later, Sony said they were looking into the issue.
--Monday morning, the system was still down, and PlayStation told users and developers not to turn on their PS3s.
--Patrick Seybold said the issue was narrowed down to a leap-year gaffe in older PS3 models.
--At 6 PM, Sony reported the glitch fixed and gave the all-clear to return to normal PS3 usage.
Read the story here.
Activision/Infinity Ward Scandal
Long story short, two guys sacked, now we're playing "he said, he said." Don't worry, there's still more Call of Duty coming.
--Late Monday night, G4 reported that the two studio heads had met with Activision and were not since following the meeting. Instead, "bouncer" security people showed up at the office.
--A Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing form Activision made that day revealed that "two senior executives" at Infinity Ward were to be dismissed on charges of "insubordination" and "breach of contract."
--By the following morning, Linkedin profiles and Facebook status updates confirmed that the two were no longer with Infinity Ward.
--Rumors circulated that West and Zampella were secretly talking to other publishers about leaving Activision. The rumors also said no royalty payments for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 were made to Infinity Ward.
--Around lunch, Activision announced a new Call of Duty business unit (which includes Infinity Ward) dedicated to the annual production of Call of Duty-branded games. The announcement also confirmed that West and Zampella were gone.
--On Thursday, West and Zampella filed a wrongful termination suit against Activision requesting $36 million in damages, plus royalty payments, plus the rights to the Modern Warfare franchise.
--Activision responded by calling the claims "meritless."
--By Friday, new rumors went around saying Infinity Ward wanted to defect to EA.
--More rumors reported Activision vigorously pursuing proof of West and Zampella's breaches of contract and insubordination.
Read the story here, here, and here.
Portal 2
Long story short, it exists.
--A Game Informer cover scan reveals Portal 2, slated for Holiday 2010 release.
--A GameStop product page reveals that it's coming to PC and 360 for $50.
--Oh, and it'll have co-op.
Read the story here.
SOCOM 4 Announced
Long story short, MAG loves company.
--Sony teased a big game announcement nearly a week ahead of time. Speculation had it pegged as Resistance 3, Killzone 3, or LittleBigPlanet 2.
--Turned out, it was SOCOM 4.
Read the story here.
Rock Band Network Goes Live
Long story short, uh... That's it, actually.
Read the story here.
Take-Two's First Financial Quarter Report
Long story short, they sucked less than last year.
--NHL 2K11 will hit the Wii this year, but the 360 and PS3 versions are being delayed a year for restructuring.
--BioShock 2 shipped 3 million units.
Read the story here and here.
