In 2003, Vince Zampella and his Infinity Ward co-founders unleashed the original Call of Duty after previously shepherding EA’s Medal of Honor franchise. The latter never reached the heights of the former, and according to Zampella, Call of Duty would have never come into being if EA hadn’t come into conflict with his team.
“The only reason that Call of Duty exists is because EA were dicks,” said Zampella during a new interview with GQ. Zampella didn’t elaborate on his team’s fallout with EA, but they eventually formed a lucrative partnership with Activision, which purchased Infinity Ward. Zampella left Infinity Ward in 2010 and formed Respawn Entertainment before once again partnering with EA. Now, Zampella is overseeing the Battlefront franchise, which continues this month with the arrival of Battlefield 6.
Zampella worked closely with Steven Spielberg on the Metal of Honor games, and Spielberg reportedly wanted to direct a Call of Duty movie years later. During the GQ interview, Zampella noted that Ridley Scott was also interested in bringing Call of Duty to the big screen.
It’s interesting to see how the competitive landscape of the gaming industry shaped iconic titles like Call of Duty. Vince Zampella’s insights really highlight the challenges and motivations behind game development. Thanks for sharing this perspective!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how rivalry can drive innovation. In this case, the challenges posed by EA pushed developers to create something new and engaging, leading to the birth of a franchise that has defined modern gaming. It shows how competition can sometimes lead to unexpected creativity!
EA really pushed Infinity Ward to create something fresh and exciting. It’s interesting to think about how that competitive environment not only shaped Call of Duty but also set a precedent for future game development in the industry. Rivalries often lead to unexpected breakthroughs!