EA now owns all things NFLPA

snaz16 · Post by **snaz16** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:56 pm

At the top of the petition are 2 ads for the Madden series.

Talk about kicking sand in your face

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:57 pm

The e-mail I just sent to Trudy Muller:

>>>>>>>

Dear Ms. Muller:

I'm outraged at EA's deal to secure exclusive rights with the NFL and NFLPA for football videogaming. This deal could signal the deathknell of quality sports football videogaming because EA now has no motivation to improve its Madden franchise since it has effectively bought out its competition from Sega and Sony through this deal.

And gamers aren't stupid. We know this is only the beginning of EA's trend of buying licenses to eliminate competition that threatens its perch as the No. 1 sports videogame producer in terms of sales in the world.

Konami makes a far superior soccer game than FIFA, so EA bought the FIFA rights. Hasbro/Infogrames and Papyrus made far superior NASCAR games than the NASCAR Thunder series, so EA bought the rights. Sega made a superb football game in ESPN NFL 2K5, and its $19.99 pricing strategy cut into Madden's sales, so EA bought the NFL and NFLPA rights.

I assume that EA's next step will be to buy the NBA, NCAA and Major League Baseball rights, killing all competition. That would surprise no one now.

This deal just reeks of laziness by EA. The company responds to competition by wielding its checkbook rather than forcing its development teams to build better products.

It's ironic that EA has become the colossus in sports gaming by using such lazy tactics. When the very athletes that EA depicts as "in the game" are faced with competition from rivals or teammates, they respond by working harder to run faster, jump higher and outperform their competition.

EA instead simply pulls out the checkbook and snuffs its competition.

What will motivate EA to improve the Madden franchise annually as much as it has since Sega's 2K franchise debuted in 1999? What will push Madden 2006 to be as superb of a game as Madden 2005, an improvement that clearly was motivated the challenge created by a strong Sega ESPN NFL Football 2K4?

Nothing.

EA now has a monopoly on football gaming, so hardcore football gamers now can expect nothing but roster updates, a few minor tweaks and a "revolutionary" gameplay innovation promised by EA that ends up being a gimmick.

Oh, joy.

I sincerely hope that you and other EA executives are checking sports gaming forums at prominent general sports gaming sites, such as Digital Sportspage (www.digitalsportspage.com) Operation Sports (www.operationsports.com). Hardcore gamers -- your customers -- are outraged at this deal. No one is happy about this, except for EA and the NFL.

I'm disgusted at EA Sports right now. Most companies that reach the top of the heap in their respective industry do so through competition. And they stay there by competing daily, competing to make better products, competing to outsell their rivals through sheer graft.

But EA has taken the easy way out. Instead of making the best games, EA just wields the fattest check.

Brilliant.

Sincerely,
Paul Kelly
Marcellus, N.Y.
pkcny@yahoo.com

<<<<<<<

I'm not sending one to the NFL or NFLPA. As I stated earlier, it's not their job to encourage competition in the gaming industry or worry about lack of progress in gameplay, especially when the company that bought the rights is the industry sales leader, by far.

Take care,
PK

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:57 pm

Their new slogan,

If its in the game, then we'll just buy the rights and leave it out of our game.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:58 pm

I bet both Sony and MS are calling in now offering MILLIONS for an exclusive window for Madden 2006 or 2007. That would be a CRIPPLING blow for whoever didn't get that deal.

That is not going to happen with EA. The Dreamcast and lack of EA was due to a few things including Sega launching NFL 2K. EA nowadays will put Madden on anything with circuits in it. Especially if they will be able to sell it for $75 a pop on the next gen systems.

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:59 pm

Interesting post on ESPN.com

>>>"We believe this is a good investment for us, as well as the league and the players," Muller said. "We know we have a responsibility to our fans to continue to make the best game. We have plenty of competition with other games in the marketplace."

>>>Goldberg said he's not concerned that the monopoly on the business will cause EA to relax the year-to-year innovations that have been pushed by recent competition. Though financial terms of the deal are not known, Goldberg said there is "a lot of self-imposed pressure to improve the product to make it stand out in a robust and diverse marketplace."

>>>"This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA and chairman of Players Inc., the organization's licensing body.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbu ... id=1945691

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:01 pm

JRod wrote:Interesting post on ESPN.com

>>>"We believe this is a good investment for us, as well as the league and the players," Muller said. "We know we have a responsibility to our fans to continue to make the best game. We have plenty of competition with other games in the marketplace."

>>>Goldberg said he's not concerned that the monopoly on the business will cause EA to relax the year-to-year innovations that have been pushed by recent competition. Though financial terms of the deal are not known, Goldberg said there is "a lot of self-imposed pressure to improve the product to make it stand out in a robust and diverse marketplace."

>>>"This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA and chairman of Players Inc., the organization's licensing body.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbu ... id=1945691

And if you believe that, I have oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you, with all apologies to the legendary George Strait.

Take care,
PK

dougb · Post by **dougb** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:01 pm

JRod wrote:Interesting post on ESPN.com

>>>"We believe this is a good investment for us, as well as the league and the players," Muller said. "We know we have a responsibility to our fans to continue to make the best game. We have plenty of competition with other games in the marketplace."

>>>Goldberg said he's not concerned that the monopoly on the business will cause EA to relax the year-to-year innovations that have been pushed by recent competition. Though financial terms of the deal are not known, Goldberg said there is "a lot of self-imposed pressure to improve the product to make it stand out in a robust and diverse marketplace."

>>>"This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA and chairman of Players Inc., the organization's licensing body.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbu ... id=1945691

And if you believe those quotes I've got a lovely patch of tundra to sell you in Northern Canada.

Best wishes,

Doug

NYJets · Post by **NYJets** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:03 pm

JRod wrote:Interesting post on ESPN.com

>>>"We believe this is a good investment for us, as well as the league and the players," Muller said. "We know we have a responsibility to our fans to continue to make the best game. We have plenty of competition with other games in the marketplace."

>>>Goldberg said he's not concerned that the monopoly on the business will cause EA to relax the year-to-year innovations that have been pushed by recent competition. Though financial terms of the deal are not known, Goldberg said there is "a lot of self-imposed pressure to improve the product to make it stand out in a robust and diverse marketplace."

>>>"This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA and chairman of Players Inc., the organization's licensing body.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbu ... id=1945691

LOL, sure.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:04 pm

Nice letter PK, lets us know if you get a response.

You did leave off one deal I forgot about and that is the PGA Tour which EA has an exclusive with. Buy out the talent (Headgate) and the PGA Tour.

So that makes

Nascar
Fifa (or most of Fifa?)
NFL
PGA Tour

Leaving

NBA
NCAA
NHL
MLB
Boxing

Of course if this knocks ESPN out of the market I see no reason for EA to purchase any of these. Until someone comes in and competes with them there is no reason to spend the money. In most of the sports above Sega was their only compeition. Sure MLB 2005 was good and sold okay but the final numbers were not even close. EA could care less about 989 Sports since they are only on one platform and have a bad reputation.

Not much left becfore EA owns it all.

skidmark · Post by **skidmark** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:07 pm

JRod wrote:Interesting post on ESPN.com
>>>Goldberg said he's not concerned that the monopoly on the business will cause EA to relax the year-to-year innovations that have been pushed by recent competition. Though financial terms of the deal are not known, Goldberg said there is "a lot of self-imposed pressure to improve the product to make it stand out in a robust and diverse marketplace."

That self-imposed pressure was responsible for the concensus pick for "Dissappointment of the Year"

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:09 pm

pk500 wrote:
JRod wrote:Interesting post on ESPN.com

>>>"We believe this is a good investment for us, as well as the league and the players," Muller said. "We know we have a responsibility to our fans to continue to make the best game. We have plenty of competition with other games in the marketplace."

>>>Goldberg said he's not concerned that the monopoly on the business will cause EA to relax the year-to-year innovations that have been pushed by recent competition. Though financial terms of the deal are not known, Goldberg said there is "a lot of self-imposed pressure to improve the product to make it stand out in a robust and diverse marketplace."

>>>"This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA and chairman of Players Inc., the organization's licensing body.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbu ... id=1945691
And if you believe that, I have oceanfront property in Arizona to sell you, with all apologies to the legendary George Strait.

Take care,
PK

We have now officially entered the dark ages of sports gaming. Maybe all the time we've been so hard on Konami not getting all the licenses wasn't relaly their fault. But EA Sports gobbles them up before Konami can do anything.

Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:13 pm

Does anyone know if the NFL players have the right to overturn a deal once it's made? For example, could they vote down a deal if they felt like it wasn't in their best interests? (Not that they would....but I'm brainstorming here...)

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:14 pm

Jared wrote:Does anyone know if the NFL players have the right to overturn a deal once it's made? For example, could they vote down a deal if they felt like it wasn't in their best interests? (Not that they would....but I'm brainstorming here...)

Most of them play Madden tho...

Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:15 pm

JRod wrote: We have now officially entered the dark ages of sports gaming. Maybe all the time we've been so hard on Konami not getting all the licenses wasn't relaly their fault. But EA Sports gobbles them up before Konami can do anything.

That's what happened with Konami re: the Premier League, French league, and FIFA licenses. All were (and maybe still are) held exclusively by EA.

skidmark · Post by **skidmark** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:21 pm

JRod wrote: We have now officially entered the dark ages of sports gaming. Maybe all the time we've been so hard on Konami not getting all the licenses wasn't relaly their fault. But EA Sports gobbles them up before Konami can do anything.

Its a flash-back to the 90's where we anticipated a game that could combine the features of a FPS with the arcade of a Tecmo and never were quite satisfied year after year. We tasted a little bit of everything (and had some interesting, but not quite satisfying entrees along the way)for 10 years waiting for games that could produce an excellent combination of all the good that was out there... and now that we finally had a couple of years of games that started striving for that mark and making marks of their own while doing it, we are now sent back waddling through the mediocrity of minimalist advancement. Only now its even worse because the expectancy is so much higher.

Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:24 pm

http://sports.ign.com/articles/572/572886p1.html

"We (EA) have proposed exclusivity several times in the past, but this year, in the spring the NFL had an off-site meeting, and they decided to consider bids for exclusivity," Brown told IGN in an exclusive interview. "Several bids were submitted but they accepted EA's. I cannot tell you how much this cost, but exclusivity is expensive, we are paying a premium. It wasn't cheap. I can tell you this, though, all parties all happy with this agreement, and Wall Street seems happy with it too."

Brown continued: "Look at what else EA has done, look at FIFA, PGA Golf Tour and NASCAR, we have exclusivity rights for all those licenses as well."

"The reason that you're noticing a certain vagueness to the language in the press release is because the license deals do not include smaller games such as Atari's Backyard Football; it's not subject to this agreement due to their numbers. And any wireless game or cell phone game is not part of the deal either."

On a scarier note for these same publishers, rumors are already circulating that EA is attempting to negotiate similar deals with the NBA and Major League Baseball. When IGN contacted Trudy Muller, spokesperson for Electronic Arts about these rumors, she told us: "We cannot speculate at this time about any further plans these other leagues may have."

Like I said before....now is the time to petition the NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS BEFORE they announce the sale of exclusive licenses. Or else.

Bill_Abner · Post by **Bill_Abner** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:26 pm

Thanks for the link Dale:

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/stocks/ ... &cm_ite=NA

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:27 pm

Everytime someone from EA speaks I can hear the Empires theme from Star wars playing in my head.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:38 pm

Jared wrote:http://sports.ign.com/articles/572/572886p1.html

"We (EA) have proposed exclusivity several times in the past, but this year, in the spring the NFL had an off-site meeting, and they decided to consider bids for exclusivity," Brown told IGN in an exclusive interview. "Several bids were submitted but they accepted EA's. I cannot tell you how much this cost, but exclusivity is expensive, we are paying a premium. It wasn't cheap. I can tell you this, though, all parties all happy with this agreement, and Wall Street seems happy with it too."

Brown continued: "Look at what else EA has done, look at FIFA, PGA Golf Tour and NASCAR, we have exclusivity rights for all those licenses as well."

"The reason that you're noticing a certain vagueness to the language in the press release is because the license deals do not include smaller games such as Atari's Backyard Football; it's not subject to this agreement due to their numbers. And any wireless game or cell phone game is not part of the deal either."

On a scarier note for these same publishers, rumors are already circulating that EA is attempting to negotiate similar deals with the NBA and Major League Baseball. When IGN contacted Trudy Muller, spokesperson for Electronic Arts about these rumors, she told us: "We cannot speculate at this time about any further plans these other leagues may have."
Like I said before....now is the time to petition the NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS BEFORE they announce the sale of exclusive licenses. Or else.

Speaking of now is the time

One might add that owners of certain websites dedicated to sports gaming should utilize their home pages with LARGE Banners stating that they and their members are PRO-Competition. Linking to these petitions and asking for people to sign them. Also using space to provide the contacts provided in this thread asking for everyone who visits to contact these people.

Just pondering outloud. If the owner has an intrest I will gladly make a nice batch of anti-EA NFL Monopoly banners.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:40 pm

EA's Jeff Brown said wrote:I can tell you this, though, all parties all happy with this agreement, and Wall Street seems happy with it too."

All parties are happy? Many of your hardcore customers aren't happy -- just read the boards here and at OS.

Take care,
PK

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:44 pm

fsquid wrote:USFL?? I'll take the showboats!

I CALL THE BANDITS !!!!

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:45 pm

EA hasn't been to the OS board in years. Its all 989, VC, High Voltage cats there. EA has never cared about the hardcore gamer.

Sully · Post by **Sully** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:46 pm

Man, why do I feel like my dog just died?

Cincinnati_Kid · Post by **Cincinnati_Kid** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:47 pm

on the bright side there always a chance we will be able to get a copy of

ESPN LAVAR ARRINGTON FOOTBALL 2K6 for $19.99

next season

Post by **Jared** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 9:49 pm

Cincinnati_Kid wrote:on the bright side there always a chance we will be able to get a copy of

ESPN LAVAR ARRINGTON FOOTBALL 2K6 for $19.99

next season

NFLPA must be part of a license if it involves 6 or more players. So you could add four more players to that. Sounds like a winner.