Why Infinity Ward's Chief Call of Duty Strategist Quit.

piscian18

piscian18

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The indie bug infected another AAA developer.


For a long time, Robert Bowling - a.k.a. fourzerotwo - was the public face of Call of Duty. As a higher-up at Infinity Ward, he helped shape Modern Warfare and disseminated information to the public via interviews and social media. He also got a lot of shit from fans. Then about a month ago he called it quits, went cold turkey from everything CoD. Bowling announced a new venture this week that he funded himself - a startup called Robotoki seeking to keep independent from the publisher's money-yokes. Based on Bowling's time with Activision, he knew exactly what he wanted to avoid.

"When I made the decision to resign from my previous position at Activision, I only knew one thing for certain," Bowling said. "I knew what I didn't want to do, but that eventually led to clarity on what I did want to do.

"When I left, it was solely to follow that passion to create new opportunities and experiences."

For a new company like Robotoki to stay independent, it was important for Bowling to keep influential money people away. "I decided to self-fund the formation of the studio, the initial team, and our new IP, and to set a guiding principle for the studio moving forward to work exclusively with partners that supported that independent model and mentality by allowing the creative vision holders behind a project to retain control of it."

Robotoki's first project isn't yet public, but Bowling divulged he aims to deliver a multi-platform experience to bridge the gap between mobile, console and PC gaming. "I believe we have moved away from telling our players how to enjoy our game, and our job is merely to provide them a platform to dictate their own experience," he said. "Therefore a player on mobile should be able to engage in the universe, continue their progression, grow their persistent character, and experience the lore of the universe in a unique way from the other less tactile experiences on PC or consoles and vice versa."

I don't know what genre of game Bowling has in mind - my bet's on shooter, given his experience, even if his words hint at an MMORPG - but those ideas sound pretty intriguing. Here's to your future success at Robotoki, Robert.
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Gamasutra via Escapist

I'm sure this whole Indie thing is just a phase though..
 
I guess going the indie route is a lot easier when you've already made your money off the raging success of a big name title :p
 
Derangel said:
It seems like a lot of people are going the indie route these days.
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I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to want to do this sweet-ass _______ in your game, and have your piggy-bank give you a big "NOOOOOOOOOOO"

I knew there were gamers left in the industry, they're ideas are just landing on deaf ears if they have a publisher over their head.
 
Publishers are in the business of making money , not artistically expanding the video game universe. Its no surprise they don't want to fuck with the "formula" at all. Every time they shit out a new COD game they get 10+ million copies sold. Would you be able to say "No thanks , no more money for me"?

Big Publishers have to be treated differently and expectations should also be altered. Indie developers have more freedom right now then ever before. You don't need a big publisher to make a blockbuster hit , you just need a good idea and a team that can make it a reality. Hell you don't even need deep pockets , you can get gamers to pre-purchase it and fund the project through Kickstarter.
 
Its awesome that Adam Sessler left G4 yesterday then this today is more good news. He should have just joined respawn entertainment.
 
Maybe he got tired of being paid to be a fucking liar. That guy disseminated more gilded shit-lillys than any other mouthpiece in the industry during his time strumping for COD

I wish him well, and hope he quit because he hated what he did as a job, and doesn't ever want to be that again
 
Kahnvex said:
Maybe he got tired of being paid to be a fucking liar. That guy disseminated more gilded shit-lillys than any other mouthpiece in the industry during his time strumping for COD

I wish him well, and hope he quit because he hated what he did as a job, and doesn't ever want to be that again
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I'd love to say I could never do what he did, but you know what? If someone offered me the kind of money he likely made to spin the truth about video games I'd probably take it.
 
Derangel said:
If someone offered me the kind of money he likely made to spin the truth about video games I'd probably take it.
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If someone offered me enough money I'd more than happily destroy gaming as we know it and laugh while you suckers bitch about me on forums :p
 
chockomonkey said:
I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to want to do this sweet-ass _______ in your game, and have your piggy-bank give you a big "NOOOOOOOOOOO"

I knew there were gamers left in the industry, they're ideas are just landing on deaf ears if they have a publisher over their head.
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I completely agree with this. Publishers today have too much control in a game design, and this is a very bad thing. To make a great game, you cannot be constrained by anyone.
 
Hornet said:
I completely agree with this. Publishers today have too much control in a game design, and this is a very bad thing. To make a great game, you cannot be constrained by anyone.
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Why do people always assume everything is so black and white?
 
"Robotoki's first project isn't yet public, but Bowling divulged he aims to deliver a multi-platform experience to bridge the gap between mobile, console and PC gaming."

Already sounds like his game is going to suck.
 
Commander FAT said:
"Robotoki's first project isn't yet public, but Bowling divulged he aims to deliver a multi-platform experience to bridge the gap between mobile, console and PC gaming."

Already sounds like his game is going to suck.
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Doesn't bother me if it sucks if he is doing something he enjoys and / or something different. I'd rather a game that took a chance and flopped than a game that didn't take any chances. Some of my favorite games were those that took big chances. As much as I've enjoyed recent COD, I can't tell you about a single mission, aside from the first boat mission and the sniper mission back in COD4. Yet, there are games that took chances, or did something a bit different, that I got hooked on and know the game like the back of my hand, even if I haven't played it as much.
 
He ruined COD for the PC platform, then got fired. Thats the truth,
 
Commander FAT said:
"Robotoki's first project isn't yet public, but Bowling divulged he aims to deliver a multi-platform experience to bridge the gap between mobile, console and PC gaming."

Already sounds like his game is going to suck.
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So he's going to make a Facebook game? Cool.
 
He dumped in $500 for each of the first 10 or so Humble Indie Bundles.

I take it that he already had an interest in indie titles a long time ago.

Ah well, I take it that sooner or later everyone can't stomach the shit Craptivision wants to heap on you...
 
Commander FAT said:
"Robotoki's first project isn't yet public, but Bowling divulged he aims to deliver a multi-platform experience to bridge the gap between mobile, console and PC gaming."

Already sounds like his game is going to suck.
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No kidding....

The bridge between my PC and someone's iPhone is not something I'm interested in for gaming.
 
I thought he quit because he thought that selling maps from old games as DLC was not right?
 
Derangel said:
Why do people always assume everything is so black and white?
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Granted not all publishers may have such iron grip on how a video game title will be, but looking at these big publishers like EA or Activision for example, they just keep sticking to the same franchise they know well, and sticking to the same formula.

And I don't doubt those games sell, no matter how many COD or Assassins Creed title they release, people buys them, and it is in the interest of the publishers to ensure that their dev continue making games that sells to the masses.

But this also meant that there's no room for other more unique gameplay concept that may not appeal to the casual gamer crowd or sell as much as Diablo 3 or Battlefield 3. This is why these days I'm more excited about indie titles or more recently, those Kickstarer projects. Granted, most indie game's quality reflects their low price but every once in awhile, we get a gem like Defense Grid or Minecraft.
 
Kahnvex said:
Maybe he got tired of being paid to be a fucking liar. That guy disseminated more gilded shit-lillys than any other mouthpiece in the industry during his time strumping for COD

I wish him well, and hope he quit because he hated what he did as a job, and doesn't ever want to be that again
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Yea , indeed. Adam is a quality dude but he gilded more shit than almost anyone at G4 , more often than not I disagreed with his review scores on games and his whole endorsement of those stupid as fuck gamer classes was just another stone in the pond.

I'm sure he'll be fine regardless , he's made tons of connections over the years and he's got a nice resume to boot. I'm sure he'll probably end up starting his own web site which wouldn't be a bad idea since he could actually review games and give an honest opinion on them unlike at G4.
 
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Tudz said:
If someone offered me enough money I'd more than happily destroy gaming as we know it and laugh while you suckers bitch about me on forums :p
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+1. Get paid lots, and also laugh at all the nerd rage.
 
I agree that bridging PC + iPhone + wtfever doesn't sound like a game I would want to play. But I guess you could do it in a way that could work.

To me at least, the following would work for me. Say it was some cyberpunk style MMO. Good PC level graphics, etc. On my phone while I'm commuting to work I can play some hacking minigame on my phone to grind credits, or some other crap like that. So long as they're not dumbing down the entire game to be playable on any device, but merely extending out some platform appropriate piece of it, I could see it working. Don't know that anyone has done this in a way that works yet, though.
 
TwistedAegis said:
I agree that bridging PC + iPhone + wtfever doesn't sound like a game I would want to play. But I guess you could do it in a way that could work.

To me at least, the following would work for me. Say it was some cyberpunk style MMO. Good PC level graphics, etc. On my phone while I'm commuting to work I can play some hacking minigame on my phone to grind credits, or some other crap like that. So long as they're not dumbing down the entire game to be playable on any device, but merely extending out some platform appropriate piece of it, I could see it working. Don't know that anyone has done this in a way that works yet, though.
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To be fair, the Baldur's Gate Enhanced project will have cross platform co-op. You can play with someone on an iPad. It really does not bother me at all. We all know how many shit casual cross platform multiplayer games will be cranked out eventually, but it doesn't bar entry for more complex and fun games, either.
 
TwistedAegis said:
I agree that bridging PC + iPhone + wtfever doesn't sound like a game I would want to play. But I guess you could do it in a way that could work.

To me at least, the following would work for me. Say it was some cyberpunk style MMO. Good PC level graphics, etc. On my phone while I'm commuting to work I can play some hacking minigame on my phone to grind credits, or some other crap like that. So long as they're not dumbing down the entire game to be playable on any device, but merely extending out some platform appropriate piece of it, I could see it working. Don't know that anyone has done this in a way that works yet, though.
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Yea MMO's are really the only thing that i can think of which makes sense for this.

WoW did this with their Auction House cell phone apps, which, while i never used them, seemed like something which could be awesome if you were trying to raise gold.
 
chockomonkey said:
Yea MMO's are really the only thing that i can think of which makes sense for this.

WoW did this with their Auction House cell phone apps, which, while i never used them, seemed like something which could be awesome if you were trying to raise gold.
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Well how about Battlefield 4. Add back in the commander role, which would be perfect for an iPad.

Single player RPG...you could text message your romance interest in Mass Effect 5...LOL! Sorry, couldn't resist. :D
 
I once read Robert Bowling had a COD (cod2??) community website and had mod maps. I cant seem to find anything on it now :( maybe I was nuts
 
Commander FAT said:
"Robotoki's first project isn't yet public, but Bowling divulged he aims to deliver a multi-platform experience to bridge the gap between mobile, console and PC gaming."

Already sounds like his game is going to suck.
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That was the first thing I thought. Of course we'll have to wait and see but that quote does not instill much faith.
 
TwistedAegis said:
Well how about Battlefield 4. Add back in the commander role, which would be perfect for an iPad.

Single player RPG...you could text message your romance interest in Mass Effect 5...LOL! Sorry, couldn't resist. :D
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The text messages will be conveniently color coded as well.
 
I could see someone ready to start their own company and has the will to actually follow through getting somewhere. The problem is that almost no one has the stomach to go the distance with that idea. I have been running my own company for the last 3 years and can see why people think these things will fail.

You either work until you can't move anymore, or you are done. I only wish people going this route the best as the more people doing their own thing the better for everyone.
 
refraxion said:
+1. Get paid lots, and also laugh at all the nerd rage.
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It's all fine and dandy until angry gamer nerds threaten you or your family.

I have firsthand knowledge that when IW first declared there will be no dedicated servers in COD2, they had multiple bomb threats called in to their office. I know about 50% of the Respawn guys personally, so I knew a lot of things that went on day-to-day at IW.

This is why I utterly hate PC gamers. They are generally self-absorbed psychopaths that have no notion of things outside themselves.
 
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