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

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Modeps
EA then decides to go after the NBA for exclusivity. Unfortunately for them, the NBA realized that EA didnt put out a superior product as well as probably wern't offerend enough money and they wouldnt 'play ball'.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the software, it's all about the green.

The NBA crunched the numbers and figured out that they still made more money by not offering an exclusive agreement. Had EA offered more than the NBA's target figure, I have zero doubt they would've agreed.

You guys can hate EA all you want, even though it's just as much ESPN's and the NFL's. But then again, this is nothing more than capitolism in motion.

 

[neonerd]

did you know that 15 backwards is 51? :shocked:

 

[Chadder007]

Read my Sig.

 

[episodic]

I was just fixing to post this. . . glad I actually searched.

 

[fs5]

I just read this.. F* EA! I really didn't care for NFL 2k4... but I :heart: the nba 2k series... :|

 

[magomago]

Yup, this is why i don't like raw capitalism~ always leads to monopoly and that always hurts us.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
don't forget however that it was the NFL that started this. They sent out word that they would basically be auctioning off their licensing rights. What was EA supposed to do? Let a smaller company with more to gain outbid them on their largest moneymaker?

No Popper, actually EA Approached the NFL with the idea and they originally turned it down over a year ago, although the NFL was intrigued by the idea. Then, the NFL sent word out to everyone that they were offering exclusivity to the highest bidder, and EA won it simply because they've got the money and no one else does. Even with all the money that VC/Sega brought in, they're still miniscule compared to the juggernaut that is EA.

I knew something was up when I was watching something on ESPN (Either Sportscenter or one of those NFL Today shows they do) and in front of the desk as well as behind it, was a big flat LCD monitor with Madden's logo blazing all over it... Then everything had an "EA Sports'" prefix attached to it:

"EA SPORTS' PLAYER OF THE WEEK" etc.

 

[zainali]

EA is trying to buy any competition they have. Plus they have some of the worst working conditions.

They already own 20% of Ubisoft, one of their biggest competitors and i believe they will go for a hostile bid for them.

In the next few years i can see this.

ID Games- one game every 4 years.
Valve- one game every 5 years.
MSFT- few games every year
Other small developers- 1-2 games every year
EA Games - probably like 50-60% of the games that come out every year.

 

[Modeps]

Hopefully more dev houses will go the Steam Distribution method, not needing a publisher to take EA out of the equation. However Zainali, if what you say happens, it looks like my gaming days are numbered.

 

[Ilmater]

WOOHOO!!! GO EA SPORTS!!!

I can't stand the gameplay of 2k5, and this is the easiest way to get rid of friends who demand to play it. Now they will all have to assimilate...

No, seriously, as long as Madden doesn't somehow get worse, I really don't care. I'm 110% satisfied now, and I will only be happier.

 

[Qwest]

as much as i would love to say i'm goin to boycott EA, myself and a whole bunch of you will be playing EA/madden/ESPN football next season.

it's not like the playmakers game is going to hold us over.

mod your ps2/xbox, download/copy above title, stick it to EA!

 

[TallBill]

This is awesome!!! Madden 2005 gameplay is awesome and extra are so-so. NFL 2k5 gameplay was horrible!!! and the extras are awesome. Put the two together and schwing. I'm betting that most people commenting in here dont even play football on consoles.

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: TallBill
This is awesome!!! Madden 2005 gameplay is awesome and extra are so-so. NFL 2k5 gameplay was horrible!!! and the extras are awesome. Put the two together and schwing. I'm betting that most people commenting in here dont even play football on consoles.

What in the hell are you talking about? They bought the rights to use the name, not the studio or the people who created NFL2K5.

And Madden 2K5 was crap.

 

[Ilmater]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: TallBill
This is awesome!!! Madden 2005 gameplay is awesome and extra are so-so. NFL 2k5 gameplay was horrible!!! and the extras are awesome. Put the two together and schwing. I'm betting that most people commenting in here dont even play football on consoles.

What in the hell are you talking about? They bought the rights to use the name, not the studio or the people who created NFL2K5.

And Madden 2K5 was crap.

Did you ever play the old Olympic games on the first Nintendo? Remember how you had to tap A and B really fast to do stuff. That's what 2k5 is like; I want a guy to move faster, so I have to tap the button. Because of the jostling of the controller, my buy is then wobbling back and forth and I'm unable to not only stiff-arm or juke, but I'm also unable to run in a straight line. Before you start telling me that I should get better at it and I shouldn't have to move my controller that much to run faster, answer me this: am I playing a football game, or an "Olympics" game?

The fact is, the gameplay of ESPN 2k5 is EXACTLY THE SAME as Madden 2004, except for the turbo thing; you can score at will and the defense is consistently clueless. The presentation is good, I'll grant you that, but the features of the Franchise Mode are FAR superior on Madden, and that's what I play the game for (and honestly, I don't understand why else you WOULD play the game, except for, I guess, online).

You also might want to remember this: Just because you were a fan of the underdog doesn't mean you're right. I've seen people on this board called nVidiots, fanATIcs, AMD fanboys, and Intel fanboys, and NONE of them even hold a candle to the fanaticism of ESPN 2k5 fans. I've only talked to a few 2k5'ers that even acknowledged that it was possible for anyone to truly prefer Madden to 2k5. You all assume that everyone that suggested as much only liked Madden because it's what they've played for years, or was just brain-washed by EA. In fact, over at the IGN boards, there were more Madden haters in the Madden boards than Madden lovers, only because they all wanted to tell us how wrong we were MORE than we wanted to discuss the game.

Get a grip people. IGN rated 2k5 9.4 and Madden 2005 a 9.5, and no, it wasn't because EA paid them to say so. IGN also gave Madden 2005 the "Sports Game of the Year" award. Oh, and Gamespot gave 2k5 a 9.2 and Madden a 9.0... not too far apart there either.

The fact is, some like one, some like the other.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: TallBill
This is awesome!!! Madden 2005 gameplay is awesome and extra are so-so. NFL 2k5 gameplay was horrible!!! and the extras are awesome. Put the two together and schwing. I'm betting that most people commenting in here dont even play football on consoles.

What in the hell are you talking about? They bought the rights to use the name, not the studio or the people who created NFL2K5.

And Madden 2K5 was crap.

Its just typical blindsighted fanboi crap. I'm not even talking about the quality of either title... I'm talking about anti-competitive business practices, but people have always gotta chime in and say "HEY THATS GREAT! NO COMPETITION! MADDEN 4 LYFE" It's NOT good, no matter how you cut it. Your precious Madden, in the past has had few updates year to year that were outstanding. This helped Sega Sports games to rise to a level above just a simple cult following. This trend will continue and now with no real competitor there to push the game to be better and better, it will just be updated rosters year in and year out.

 

[Rent]

I hate EA and I don't even play their sports games.

Boycott EA

 

[Rent]

PA makes a quick swipe at EA

 

[Kev]

Wow this really stinks. I guess we get the same sh*tty Madden game for the next 5 years. This also sucks for ESPN College Hoops, which is my favorite sports game.

 

[dr150]

That means higher game prices.

Be ready to shell out $50 instead of $20!

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: dr150
That means higher game prices.

Be ready to shell out $50 instead of $20!

Considering EA has never sold a new game at $20, I think you're probably right... however, they'll probably be charging $55 - $60 for their next installments. They've gotta pay for the NFL and ESPN contracts somehow.

 

[Wingznut]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: dr150
That means higher game prices.

Be ready to shell out $50 instead of $20!

... however, they'll probably be charging $55 - $60 for their next installments. They've gotta pay for the NFL and ESPN contracts somehow.

I wouldn't be surprised in the least. What's a consumer supposed to do without a choice?

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: dr150
That means higher game prices.

Be ready to shell out $50 instead of $20!

... however, they'll probably be charging $55 - $60 for their next installments. They've gotta pay for the NFL and ESPN contracts somehow.

I wouldn't be surprised in the least. What's a consumer supposed to do without a choice?

Well, you know what I'll be doing without a choice I just hope legions of people do the same. They wont though, so I can just spend my cash on something else, like maybe a baby!

 

[Kelvrick]

There will still be a competitor, but I don't know how effective it'll be without an "nfl" look.

They're coming out with a game based on that HBO show playmakers or game makers or something along those lines.

 

[Modeps]

I guess I'd be happy if they made an XFL game... but too bad the XFL doesnt exist anymore, I could actually get tickets to those games.

 

[NakaNaka]

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: Wingznut

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: dr150
That means higher game prices.

Be ready to shell out $50 instead of $20!

... however, they'll probably be charging $55 - $60 for their next installments. They've gotta pay for the NFL and ESPN contracts somehow.

I wouldn't be surprised in the least. What's a consumer supposed to do without a choice?

Well, you know what I'll be doing without a choice I just hope legions of people do the same. They wont though, so I can just spend my cash on something else, like maybe a baby!

I am pissed at EA. But I can admit I won't boycott them. I might not buy Madden next year, but I know I am going to buy MVP Baseball. I just bought Burnout 3: Takedown. MVP was my favorite game last year, Burnout rocks.