Hey there (again).

Concering the ESPN licence...I think it was a move to weaken the opponent.
I agree, that EA has not yet understood (or were simply unwilling) to use such things right, for whatever reason.

My opinion is, that EA just realized that they should focus a bit more on quality...that would be a reason why they have changed the dev teams for the sports games (NHL 3 years ago, Fifa 2 years ago, Madden 1-2 years ago and Fifa 1 year ago). So we might see some proper usage of their power (=> money,licences etc.) within the next years.

But in the end...game developing is about one thing: $$$

they did make some really good games..but it just made me really upset as a fan who liked that ESPN license wasnt put to good use..but you do bring up a good point..its all about money..but they should be putting the money to good use!! lol

Hehe,just like all companys should

I don't care if they use it but if you are going to spend the $$ on it why not. The stat overlay menus could look cleaner etc....

HELL YEA!!! @ stlstudios189...2k9 stay overlays were trash i can't front..they showed the same thing over and over, nothing deep really..live was iight on that part. but for 2k9 they shoulda done much better...the halftime got weak since 2k8 too..and i noticed that the top 3 plays didnt really feel like top 3 plays like how 2k8 did...like if u see da replays on a hot play in the game it doesnt say top play nominiee like it did in 2k8...(wow im very picky but its so damn true!!)

NFL 2k5 was is probably the best presented sports game ive ever seen with the weekly show that showed actual highlights from games.. sad EA bought out the football and espn liscence the only way they'll stop basketball now is to buyout take 2i pray they dont cause nba 2k is the only realist basketball game out there... again u had some good points.. keep posting

if EA buys out the basketball franchise then that is not good. not good for the fans and the sake of competition. it would show that EA is weak and cant come up with anything fresh. ive analyzed a good amount of things that has been weak on EA's side...2k not entirely but they could use some improvements

2K is growing with new innovations that make the game more powerful in its own right. EA is like a kid who has trouble with a math problem..they keep trying and trying yet they are slowly getting it. but it isnt so hard. the animations for live are bad and the gameplay is weak...how can they not capitalize on that? and as for 2K..the customization we used to adore arent what it used to be...

While I lean more toward 2K, I'm in no way a fanboy. I don't care if EA has the license as long as they use it right. Which they haven't been doing. So I can only hope in the next few years either EA starts implementing actual ESPN presentation elements or these exclusive licenses become a thing of the past. Remember, Competition leads to innovation!!!

Competition does lead to innovation but EA has no competition.Thats why its taken this long to make a semi-realistic game.also EA is just using NFL network(i think) so why have espn?

To bring up things on a term of presentation only because I know this game is horrible in the gameplay but Sony's NBA has sick presentation. The TNT look is awesome and makes me feel like I am watchin a real game on TV. To bad the gameplay is horrible.

If SCE SD could get this down like they have baseball down then that might be reason enough to buy a PS3 haha

TNT? are you kidding me? do they have charles barkley talkin his his nonsense? i dont think so! lol..and hey @da.kid.frank. you have a great point there..the guy on the halftime show for madden is from NFL network...you see what i mean when EA cannot use their senses? theyre like a rich person who has trouble spending money..smh

exactly.there would be no point of having espn other than to take out the competition. i would rather have NFL Network over ESPN.i network all about football with former players in a all football game.the makes more sense

I can only dream about EA using the ESPN License the way 2K did, it would be great!!!!

I'm all for that if EA can swagger jack any of 2k's presentation elements then that's fine with me. Sure I would rather have 2k make an NFL game but since that's not going to happen in the next couple of years if EA can copy 2k5's pres. by next year or at least a fraction of it then I'll be in NFL heaven (well maybe not completely until they take rocket catch out but close to it).

And I don't think it's a matter of pride anymore, Ian Cummings blatantly came out and said the Madden team is trying to copy 2k5's presentation as much as possible in the coming years. In the end we'll just see who does it better. It would be huge though if after a few releases under Cummings Madden still doesn't get to where 2k5 was presentation wise, that would be sad. I'm giving them a pass for the last few years though because of how Ian has been approaching the franchise as of late.