EA/ESPN deal

[DrSpike]

As I said in the last EA thread, there's always the old change a few letters trick.

Should be a fun one for the lawyers.

[Sava]

Does this mean EA will be releasing two versions of sports games? One for ESPN and one for EA Sports?!?!

[Imran Siddiqui]

I doubt it, they've invested a lot into it and they have a great football engine. They'll probably just use college football, or maybe make up their own league. They'll still find a market.

Hope so, but they may decide to cut their losses. A college game could work if they decide to go that route.

Making up their own league may not be a good option. Games with real players sell better than those without.

They couldn't compete on a game design standpoint

Not really true. The reviews for Madden were very high. But they were not as high as SEGA's game. They definetly could compete, but they decided that they'd rather not.

Does this mean EA will be releasing two versions of sports games? One for ESPN and one for EA Sports?!?!

No Sava. Just one, using ESPN/ABC stuff.

[Asher]

No, it means Madden as a trademark is gone (rumoured a while ago), and you'll get ESPN Football 2006 or something instead.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Actually I think they may do Madden for a few more years. After all, ABC owns ESPN and Madden works for ABC. It would make little sense to get rid of the most popular trademark in video game football.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Not really true. The reviews for Madden were very high. But they were not as high as SEGA's game. They definetly could compete, but they decided that they'd rather not.

The reviews continued to trend towards Sega, though. There was a growing shift in both game reviewers and the game-buying public towards Sega's games.

Rather than compete, they bought out all the licenses.

Reminds me of a sore loser in school. So used to being #1, that when someone else looks to be coming to take his place, his takes his ball and goes home...

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Actually I think they may do Madden for a few more years. After all, ABC owns ESPN and Madden works for ABC. It would make little sense to get rid of the most popular trademark in video game football.

Madden was the worst part of the game. He's one of the most annoyingly stupid commentators I've ever heard.

Why would EA spend a fortune on an ESPN license now and not use it? They pay for every year they have it.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Asher
Madden was the worst part of the game. He's one of the most annoyingly stupid commentators I've ever heard.

Why would EA spend a fortune on an ESPN license now and not use it? They pay for every year they have it.

Um, it doesn't matter if you think he's stupid, 'Madden' is well known as a trademark. And what makes you think they won't use ESPN? They can have Berman do the pre-game. Have some SportsCenter stuff. They aren't going to put Theismann, Maguire, and Patrick in the booth, who a lot of football fans think is worse than Madden and Michaels.

And they can easily call it Madden ESPN Football '96 or whatever. But they aren't going to get rid of the Madden name. It's the most famous in video game football... but a long shot.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The reviews continued to trend towards Sega, though. There was a growing shift in both game reviewers and the game-buying public towards Sega's games.

Yes, but that may not have meant too much . In Soccer, for example, EA's FIFA series has been considered inferior to Konami's Pro-Evolution Soccer, but which one leads in sales? That's right, FIFA.

And the difference between Madden and ESPN was slighter than that. I would have been VERY curious to see what ESPN's numbers would have been next year with an NFL sanctioned game at a $50 price point, but now we won't know.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
And they can easily call it Madden ESPN Football '96 or whatever. But they aren't going to get rid of the Madden name. It's the most famous in video game football... but a long shot.

But it doesn't matter -- it's the only NFL game!

You don't need the Madden brand to stop them from jumping ship to Sega, etc. If you want an NFL game, that's all you got. It wouldnt' be an issue.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by Asher
But it doesn't matter -- it's the only NFL game!

You don't need the Madden brand to stop them from jumping ship to Sega, etc. If you want an NFL game, that's all you got. It wouldnt' be an issue.

And when there was no competition in the late '90s and early '00s did they get rid of the Madden name? Of course not! Madden is the famous name. It's the name that led EA to the top of the video game football market. Calling it ESPN Football would be silly because that was SEGA's game's name.

There will be a Madden 2006 and probably the Madden name will exist for years after that. The only other option is calling it NFL Football 2006, which I doubt they'll do with the popularity of the Madden name.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
And when there was no competition in the late '90s and early '00s did they get rid of the Madden name?

Because they were using it to establish the market. The market has been established.

Of course not! Madden is the famous name. It's the name that led EA to the top of the video game football market. Calling it ESPN Football would be silly because that was SEGA's game's name.

It's standard though. EA always used names like "2004" while Sega used "2K4". For instance, NHL 2004 versus NHL 2K4...

There will be a Madden 2006 and probably the Madden name will exist for years after that. The only other option is calling it NFL Football 2006, which I doubt they'll do with the popularity of the Madden name.

Maybe, but there's been grumblings for a while now that the Madden name is tired and he's past his prime (by far). The #1 complaint I know about the game is Madden's commentary.

It's been rumoured that Madden's contract has been severed, and I honestly don't see EA paying three expensive licenses (NFL, ESPN, and Madden) when having the only NFL game, coupled with the ESPN license, is MORE than enough to dominate the market...

[Imran Siddiqui]

Because they were using it to establish the market. The market has been established.

No, by then they had the market. There was a period of time when it was Madden or, perhaps, NFL Fever, which was Microsoft's crap version to try to compete with the Madden juggernaut. It never came close to competing with Madden. In the late 90s, they were on top of the game.

Maybe, but there's been grumblings for a while now that the Madden name is tired and he's past his prime (by far).

LOL... the Madden 'name' is tired. Please! It's the most famous name in sports games. By far.

I honestly don't see EA paying three expensive licenses (NFL, ESPN, and Madden) when having the only NFL game, coupled with the ESPN license, is MORE than enough to dominate the market...

So you think people sit on their hands when they 'dominate' the market? The Madden name will sell more titles. Just by the name itself. People know "Madden" much more than any other sports title. It also transcends video games, such as the 'Madden Curse' and it's used as a generic term for video games in general in many groups.

Perhaps you don't see it living above the border, but the term 'Madden' is a cultural phenomenon as well as a sports title.

[Sava]

Perhaps you don't see it living above the border, but the term 'Madden' is a cultural phenomenon as well as a sports title.

Imran is right about this.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Btw, interesting new info!

According to the Original X-Box Magazine, it was the NFL which was PUSHING the exclusivity agreement! They told EA that they had many potential customers to buy the exclusive rights. It seems the NFL was really behind having an exclusive video-game designer!