EA Signs exclusive 5-year deal with NFL, NFLPA

[Moral Hazard]

EA had been thinking of spending the cash to become exclusive distributor for a while now. They have had competitors for a while, but most have fallen by the wayside. The reduced price point of 2k5 spurred them into action.

No strong competition for a while and I believe the NFL started the procedings for the bids (it was open bidding) spurred by success with DirecTV and Sirius. $300 Million is a lot to spend if you aren't worried about your future. OK it's a lot to spend period.

[Sava]

this is ****

Madden is all right, but NFL 2k5 is good. I like to see competition. This kind of thing should be illegal.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I'd already been thinking of NCAA version; since Im a fan of college first and pro second. It's easily the best idea in the article (Cyber is more arcady, HOF's ok but it's never been tried) To make NCAA EA basically takes last years Madden and changes a few things and adds the college rosters etc. It's madden's ugly stepchild. But being able to import draft classes to Madden is a nice feature.

I disagree with the assessment that NCAA is Madden's ugly stepchild. In fact it seems that NCAA has more innovations than Madden. Such as crowd effects last year. I have to say that the NCAA series stands up very well.

I think the main reason for Madden's loyalty is the multiplayer aspect, whenever I go over to a friends house and we play video games it's Madden (in the fall at least)
Of course Madden's have been pretty good throughout were as EA's Hockey suffered a string of bad games.

I think the phrase "Let's play some Madden" should be retired.

No strong competition for a while and I believe the NFL started the procedings for the bids (it was open bidding) spurred by success with DirecTV and Sirius. $300 Million is a lot to spend if you aren't worried about your future. OK it's a lot to spend period.

Well NFL Gameday, when it was the king, was a competitor. NFL Fever sold a number of copies for a few years.

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by dudemanjack
Could Sega hypothetically create a football game as long as they don't reference the NFL or use any of the players names? It would probably fail, but I'd rather have a good football game with unofficial players than the other way around.

Better still have 'misspelt' real names. Wouldn't be the first game.

[Jamski]

Bryan Riggs passes to Ernric Catatonia!

Or think of Lotus Espirit Turbo Challenge. Nigel Mainsail

-Jam

[Maquiladora]

As long as it has an edit feature who cares. Theres no copyright on a graphical likeness to a player, so they give you a similar name that doesnt infringe and you edit it. Pro Evo Soccer has been doing it for years.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Well apparently plenty do. Games without real players fail miserably to those that do (well, if their intention to to compete with the real player game).

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Verto
Sports games suck anyway.

[Sava]

Sports games are the bomb, yo...

you and verto can suck me ass

[Drake Tungsten]

This is still bull****. EA can burn in hell.

[dudemanjack]

Originally posted by DrSpike


Better still have 'misspelt' real names. Wouldn't be the first game.

Drue Bleadsew hands it off to Mgcahee!

[dunk]

Re: EA Signs exclusive 5-year deal with NFL, NFLPA

Originally posted by ixnay

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/041213/135991_1.html

EA Sports now has exclusive rights to create NFL-based games for consoles, PCs, and handhelds for the next five years.

Goddammit, this really, really sucks. Now that EA will have no competition, they'll have no incentive to improve Madden and they can release the same damn game every year for the next five years because they know that people are stupid and will buy the damn thing in droves no matter what.

Dammit, I really liked ESPN NFL 2k5 this year, too, and I was looking forward to next year.

EA

It doesn't say anything about a fictional league football game. Which, IMO, would be more interesting. I remember those games. Like 4th and Inches, Hardball, Superstar Soccer, Superstar Hockey, or Front Page Sports (That one used name knock-offs, like Buddy Brewster in place of Bubby Brister).

But, I forgot. These games are for 12 year-olds.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
This is still bull****. EA can burn in hell.

[Dis]

I was considering buying an old EA foorball game. No more.

I am hereby boycotting EA sports.

[Drake Tungsten]

Originally posted by Sava

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
This is still bull****. EA can burn in hell.

I am hereby boycotting EA sports.