The agreement details plans for Bungie to develop four “sci-fantasy, action shooter games” under the project name “Destiny”. Each iteration would be released every other year, starting in autumn 2013. As part of the deal, Bungie have also agreed to produce four sets of DLC code-named “Comet” to be released every two years, beginning in autumn 2014.

The first title in the Destiny series will be a Microsoft console exclusive, initially only available on Xbox 360 and ‘Xbox 720″ and “contemplate” an autumn 2014 release for Destiny #1 on the Playstation 3. All further editions to the franchise will also be made available for Playstation 3 and PC.

As part of the contract Bungie are entitled to royalties of between 20% and 35% of “operating income”, as well as $2.5 million in annual bonuses between 2010 and 2013 if certain criteria are met. Another $2.5 million will be awarded if the initial Destiny title achieves an average of 90+ on GameRankings.com.

After initially being acquired by Bungie in 2009, the trademark “Destiny” was extended for a fourth time in March 2012.

For the full contract, head on over to the LA Times website.

The West and Zampella trial goes to court on 29 May.

Source: LA Times, Bungiepedia, Trademarkia.

In what is slowly descending into farce, court documents today revealed that Activision CEO Bobby Kotick ordered the hacking of Jason West and Jason Zampella’s computers.

West and Zampella are former Infinity Ward bosses, who were part of a high-profile firing after evidence that they were colluding with Activision rivals EA.

It is alleged by George Rose, Chief Legal Officer at Activision, that the order to hack ‘comes from Bobby directly’, internally dubbed ‘Project Icebreaker’, an attempt to uncover potential ‘dirt’ that could be used against West and Zampella.

When remote access to email accounts proved unfeasible, a plan to “[stage] a… mock fire drill… to get West and Zampella away from their computers” was devised, allege court documents.

West and Zampella’s trial, seeking unpaid royalties from Activision, goes to trial at the end of the month.

The Modern Warfare dispute between Activision and EA was settled out of court.

Source: MCV, Develop