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Electronic Arts, ESPN hook up in exclusive 15-year deal

W

Wingznut

Elite Member
Electronic Arts broke the calm of a national holiday today by announcing a licensing deal of epic proportions. For the next fifteen years, EA will be the sole licensee of the ESPN brand in the area of sports games, which will include console, handheld, PC, and wireless games.


Games with leverage the ESPN brand will make their way to retail sometime during calendar year 2006, "upon the conclusion of ESPN?s existing video game licensing commitments."

The news is the second blow to current license-holder Sega (and its Visual Concepts development studio). It recently lost the right to publish sports games using the NFL license when EA scooped that license up. Now, it loses the right to the ESPN brand as well.

In a statement released just minutes ago, the world's largest game publisher said, "The relationship will include established EA SPORTS franchises--which will be enhanced by ESPN telecast, print and online content--as well as new sports games to be published by EA based on ESPN media properties."

The agreement is for fifteen years "with an option to terminate after ten years under certain conditions," the statement said. The agreement gives the publisher "exclusive first rights" to all ESPN content for simulation sports games.
Click to expand...
Link to Gamespot.com
 
In related news, EA has changed it's slogan from "If it's in the game. It's in the game." to "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated."
 
well this might not be all bad. ESPN had amazing visuals and presentation. EA, before this year at least, always had excellent gameplay. I for one can't wait to see how they combined MVP Baseball's gameplay with an ESPN style presentation.
 
PoPPeR ... i dont think you are getting the picture.

EA didn't buy the creators of ESPN football (Visual Concepts), they bought the RIGHTS to ESPN. which means the EA programmers can now use ESPN stuff. that doesn't mean the graphics and gameplay will be remotely close to ESPN games, they will still be like madden and nba live, etc..

(if i'm not mistaken)
 
You're correct purebeast. EA just has the rights to ESPN logos, personalities, and presentations now for sports game purposes. They don't get any game code.
 
I'm a big fan of console football video games. Every year I've bought both Madden and the NFL 2k/ESPN games. I've always liked the ESPN (Visual Concepts/Sega) ones better for their far superior graphics and smoother presentation. This whole deal sucks for football fans....
 
I'm so angry right now. You have no idea... I'm going to PT then I'm going to email my friend who works at EA and tell him I hate his company more and more with the passing days.
 
oh well. Then at least I hope they copy it. I really dont care who makes the games or who's profiting or who's being a monopoly. I just want a damn good game.
 
Originally posted by: Queasy
You're correct purebeast. EA just has the rights to ESPN logos, personalities, and presentations now for sports game purposes. They don't get any game code.
Click to expand...

yea, thats what i got out of it ...

so basically it is going to be madden 2002 with updated graphics and espn logo and stuff (cause madden gameplay hasnt changed since 2002).

can't wait until august :roll:

EDIT: not to mention, visual concepts is officially done for. they have NOTHING to market their game with now that this happened. nothing at all ...

sad day for console sports fans 🙁
 
Simply just fallout from EA getting exclusive rights to the NFL I'm sure. ESPN saw their current ride as a sinking ship and jumped aboard the S.S. EA-Monopoly.
 
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: Queasy
You're correct purebeast. EA just has the rights to ESPN logos, personalities, and presentations now for sports game purposes. They don't get any game code.
Click to expand...

yea, thats what i got out of it ...

so basically it is going to be madden 2002 with updated graphics and espn logo and stuff (cause madden gameplay hasnt changed since 2002).

can't wait until august :roll:
Click to expand...

I cant wait for "Football 2006 staring John Doe"

 
Originally posted by: PoPPeR
oh well. Then at least I hope they copy it. I really dont care who makes the games or who's profiting or who's being a monopoly. I just want a damn good game.
Click to expand...

if you aren't a madden fan then you won't be having a damn good game in your opinion.

if you are an ESPN fan, you will join us all as we mourn the loss of our beloved football game 🙁
 
Originally posted by: Modeps
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: Queasy
You're correct purebeast. EA just has the rights to ESPN logos, personalities, and presentations now for sports game purposes. They don't get any game code.
Click to expand...

yea, thats what i got out of it ...

so basically it is going to be madden 2002 with updated graphics and espn logo and stuff (cause madden gameplay hasnt changed since 2002).

can't wait until august :roll:
Click to expand...

I cant wait for "Football 2006 staring John Doe"
Click to expand...

In these dark and uncertain times there is only one logical thing to do.


Bring back Tecmo Super Bowl!
 
Originally posted by: Injury
Originally posted by: Modeps
Originally posted by: purbeast0
Originally posted by: Queasy
You're correct purebeast. EA just has the rights to ESPN logos, personalities, and presentations now for sports game purposes. They don't get any game code.
Click to expand...

yea, thats what i got out of it ...

so basically it is going to be madden 2002 with updated graphics and espn logo and stuff (cause madden gameplay hasnt changed since 2002).

can't wait until august :roll:
Click to expand...

I cant wait for "Football 2006 staring John Doe"
Click to expand...

In these dark and uncertain times there is only one logical thing to do.


Bring back Tecmo Bowl!
Click to expand...

fixed that there for you 🙂
 
you know what ? I didn't care much for the ESPN presentation anyway... it will be no big loss as long as Sega keeps creating a better gameplay product. Fans who don't get sold on marketing ploys (like the ESPN presentation) will know where it's at.

Sega needs to ensure EA doesn't buy up all the league rights of all the other sports...

You can look at this really in one way... the corporate giant is buying out the competition... rather than fighting fair with a better produced product. %#!(*&% them.
 
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