EA now owns all things NFLPA

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:34 pm

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

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:38 pm

If this means what I think it does--holy s***.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:44 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:If this means what I think it does--holy s***.

Dont worry.
EA puts us first.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:45 pm

Geez, this blows big time. Not only will Madden suck once again next year, but it'll be the only football game on the market with the real teams and players.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:46 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:If this means what I think it does--holy s***.

It does:

>>>Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS - News) today announced exclusive licensing relationships with the National Football League and PLAYERS INC to develop, publish and distribute interactive football games. These five-year agreements -- which EA negotiated separately -- give EA the exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums and players for use in its football videogames. Both agreements also include exclusive rights for console online features.<<<

This isn't just a big deal. It's seismic. One of the most far-reaching software licensing deals in videogame history, if you ask me.

This will kill Sega's ESPN NFL series, as there's no way gamers are going to put up with fictitious team and player names and uniforms. Lack of licenses might have worked for Konami soccer, as its gameplay was and is so far ahead of the industry sales leader EA. But when the industry sales leader, which also makes a very realistic game, locks up the licenses, it's lights out for the competition.

I've been a Sega football devotee since NFL 2K1 on the Dreamcast. No more. There's no way I'm playing an NFL game without the real teams and players unless somebody does a KILLER job with unis, logos and rosters with Action Replay for Sega. I'm not using the fictitious Buffalo Bisons with some gay facsimile of the Bills' uniforms even if the rosters are correct.

Man, I better bone up on playing Madden. I'm so out of touch with that franchise it's comical. Now for the $1 million question: Do I ditch ESPN NFL 2K5 so I can pick up a copy of Madden 2005 on the double-cheap, or do I get Madden 2005 at $30 and keep ESPN NFL 2K5 as a keepsake, the last legitimate NFL game Sega will ever make?

Wow.

Take care,
PK

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:46 pm

Uh, I guess there is one way to definitively catch up and surpass any other franchise in the matter of one year: pure cash.

Can't wait for ESPN CFL 2K6, though.

Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:47 pm

It's the current EA strategy....crush the competition with licenses, not with a better product. First NASCAR, then certain European leagues, now the NFL.

And it's five years. How's SEGA gonna respond?

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:47 pm

Airdog wrote:Uh, I guess there is one way to definitively catch up and surpass any other franchise in the matter of one year: pure cash.

Can't wait for ESPN CFL 2K6, though.

Yeah, hopefully ESPN will turn their attention to the college ranks.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:48 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:If this means what I think it does--holy s***.

Sounds like it to me:

"the five-year agreements -- which EA negotiated separately -- give EA the exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums and players for use in its football videogames."

Wow, that is just brutal. I don't know if we'll see another Sega football game. There are obviously ways around this for the savvy gamer -- especially if you have Action Replay. But the profit potential for every competing football game just sank to the bottom of the ocean.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:48 pm

XXXIV wrote:
Bill_Abner wrote:If this means what I think it does--holy s***.
Dont worry.
EA puts us first.

And this is NOT just the NFLPA..it's the TEAMS. If Sega can't get around this--if they cannot use real teams and players, this effectively ends the ESPN football line. I dunno if that is really what this means yet, but if it does--it's dead.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:49 pm

Sully wrote:
Airdog wrote:Uh, I guess there is one way to definitively catch up and surpass any other franchise in the matter of one year: pure cash.

Can't wait for ESPN CFL 2K6, though.
Yeah, hopefully ESPN will turn their attention to the college ranks.

Ive always wanted a USFL based game.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:51 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:
XXXIV wrote:
Bill_Abner wrote:If this means what I think it does--holy s***.
Dont worry.
EA puts us first.
And this is NOT just the NFLPA..it's the TEAMS. If Sega can't get around this--if they cannot use real teams and players, this effectively ends the ESPN football line. I dunno if that is really what this means yet, but if it does--it's dead.

We could have one great funeral...

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:51 pm

USFL?? I'll take the showboats!

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:52 pm

OK, some probing on my part (a quick phone call) and there's a chance that there will be no NFL2K6 next fall. This might kill the NFL series all together unless Sega can snake its way around this.

Whether or not you like the ESPN games--this is not a good thing.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:52 pm

XXXIV wrote:
Sully wrote:
Airdog wrote:Uh, I guess there is one way to definitively catch up and surpass any other franchise in the matter of one year: pure cash.

Can't wait for ESPN CFL 2K6, though.
Yeah, hopefully ESPN will turn their attention to the college ranks.
Ive always wanted a USFL based game.

Awesome! Or the spiritual successor to Celtics vs. Lakers on the Genesis could be Sega's WFL vs. USFL 2006, with the Birmingham Americans taking on the New Jersey Generals in the season opener.

Take care,
PK

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:53 pm

Might want to hang on to that Espn 2k5 edition and hope for roster updates. I hope this isn't a forbearer for other sports.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:56 pm

Bill_Abner wrote:Whether or not you like the ESPN games--this is not a good thing.

Not at all. This is a horrible thing. Competition breeds better games. There's no way Madden would be as good as it is now without the NFL 2K series pushing it for the last five years, and vice-versa.

To EA's credit, it did produce a hugely improved NASCAR game this year even though it's had the exclusive license to that sanctioning body and its drivers and teams for a year.

So there is hope that EA will continue to push the limits with Madden.

So, what's the next big organization with which EA will do an exclusive deal? I say the NBA or Major League Baseball. The NCAA would be a huge coup, but EA has no competition in college football so it doesn't really need to shell out the cash to get that exclusivity. I would say college football sells a lot more than the college hoop games, so a big-money deal might be a waste just to lock up NCAA basketball rights.

I'm guessing baseball. EA could take out Acclaim and Sega with one signature on a check.

Take care,
PK

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:56 pm

Wow congrats EA.

You own Fifa, Nascar and now the NFL. Coming soon the MLB, NBA the NCAA. Sorry but even EA knows it is a wate to purchase the NHL rights.

EA's business practives make Bill Gates blush. If you can't buy your competition out you simply purchase the license away from them.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:59 pm

snaz16 wrote:Might want to hang on to that Espn 2k5 edition and hope for roster updates. I hope this isn't a forbearer for other sports.

I wouldn't count on the servers still being supported.

This move was rumored before but didn't come to past. Acclaim pulled this one on EA back when Quarterback Club debuted on the N64, they had a one-year exclusive license. The game outsold a much better Madden game, which says everything you need to know about the importance of the license.

If this really is exclusive, Sega is done in NFL videogaming. I can't imagine they could get it together and put together a college game. Plus, that market is not nearly as profitable as the NFL gaming market. I see them getting out of football and sticking with basketball and baseball.

Oh, and get ready for a $59.99 Madden 2006.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 6:59 pm

bdoughty wrote:EA's business practives make Bill Gates blush. If you can't buy your competition out you simply purchase the license away from them.

That's a great analogy, BD. Within five years, EA will have a Microsoft-like command of the sports gaming market, with pesky, Mozilla-like upstart developers throwing parties if they earn 10 percent of the market share.

This is a sad day for sports gaming, period.

Take care,
PK

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:00 pm

I wonder if thier would be a case for antitrust action? I suppose they would have to lock up all gaming rights.

Sad day

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:00 pm

Sega has to get creative here. Create an editor that will let people take advantage of internet connectivity to d/l and trade rosters easily. Stay with the $19.99 price point (should be easy now with no license fees) and pour some of that money into R&D and QA.

They may get slaughtered, but they have to assume the role of outsider/underdog and really embrace it.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:01 pm

pk500 wrote:
XXXIV wrote:
Sully wrote: Yeah, hopefully ESPN will turn their attention to the college ranks.
Ive always wanted a USFL based game.
Awesome! Or the spiritual successor to Celtics vs. Lakers on the Genesis could be Sega's WFL vs. USFL 2006, with the Birmingham Americans taking on the New Jersey Generals in the season opener.

Take care,
PK

Im looking foward to playing the Chicago Fire vs the Chicago Blitz....

Im rooting for the Fire and Virgil Carter?

NYJets · Post by **NYJets** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 7:01 pm

Woohoo, now I get to spend at least $250 on roster updates for the next 5 years.