Don't Expect a Change in the NFL License Status Quo

Feature Article

Submitted on: 03/27/2013 by Matthew Coe

This past month has been a very eventful one for Electronic Arts and EA Sports. On Monday, March 18th, Electronic Arts announced that John Ricccitiello had stepped down as CEO. This was only weeks after Sim City released with terrible issues and was a company wide embarrassment. While both events may or may not be completely connected, this was industry changing news and it could perhaps signal a new direction for EA in the future.

At the same time, we are coming to the end of this console generation. Also of importance is that we are near the end of the exclusive deal between EA and the NFL/NFLPA.

If there was ever a time we could believe in the chance to see a change in the football gaming market, the end of a monopoly, and a return to competition, this is the time, right?

The Winds of Change, Calm As Ever

Both EA and the NFL have both been publicly happy with the current exclusive deal, with no comments from either side signaling that the business deal has been less than ideal for either party. The current deal technically ends after Madden NFL 25 releases and before the next iteration of Madden next summer. The NFL and EA Sports have already renewed the deal twice, once in 2008 and again in 2011.

Assistant Executive Director of External Affairs for the NFLPA, George Atallah actually took to Reddit recently and stated that "We have an agreement with EA and Madden. I have heard some opinions like yours, but honestly, EA is one of our best partners. I know they hear some of your input as well and work to improve the game every year.”

Attallah added, "One thing to clarify though, my job and the job of the NFLPA, is to ensure that the players' interests are top priority. I know that might not be the most popular answer, but it's our mission."

We haven't heard anything from the NFL publicly regarding it's position on the deal but one can only assume that they are satisfied with the control that they get by licensing the game only to EA Sports and working closely to decide what is included and how it's official video game is marketed.

Make no mistake, the exclusive license is all about money and control for everyone involved. The NFL wants to closely control it's image as a business and a sport and Electronic Arts wants the exclusive license to the most popular sport in the United States for it's flagship sports franchise in America.

Consequently, the NFL has possibly created a situation where EA Sports is their only potential dance partner if they are to continue the exclusivity that they desire in video gaming and in other areas of their business. EA knows this, as no other company is ready to take on the massive task that is building an NFL game from scratch and having it release within a year on a level that could compete with what EA does with Madden today. Pipe dreams aside, 2K's technology is incredibly dated at this point and their marketing prowess and ability to afford a deal that EA themselves wouldn't already be able to afford makes for an unlikely combination of the status quo changing.

Major League Baseball found themselves in a similar situation as the NFL, with no realistic options at the conclusion of an exclusive license but a strong desire to get another game out. The NFL will be wise not to repeat the same mistakes, and likely they are trying to not bend too much to Electronic Arts' desires. For their part, EA is likely negotiating far more favorable terms for themselves both financially and possibly with regards to length, as they do likely recognize the strength of their negotiating position.

The End of Competition

For every gamer hoping that 2K Sports will be able to “save” them from Madden NFL, it's tough to say, but it's time to snuff out the torch. 2K Sports hasn't made a licensed NFL game since ESPN NFL 2K5 on the Playstation 2 and Xbox. We are now almost two full console generations since that game was released in 2004. That leap is the equivalent of making a game on the PSOne and then having to jump to the Playstation 3 to develop a game in the same sport/genre.

All Pro Football 2K8 was considered a good but not great game, and the expectations for sports gaming and football games are even higher now. 2K Sports simply isn't in a position to make the jump to new hardware AND build a new football engine that could compete with Madden all within one year at this point. NFL 2K5 was an outstanding game for it's time, but it's also easy to recognize that the gameplay in 2K football is well behind Madden in most respects today.

The writing is on the wall, it is time to start talking about the end of NFL video game competition as the present situation and future outlook. Barring a huge string of unforseen events, EA isn't letting the NFL license go so long as the NFL will have them, and that continued partnership between both organizations appears to be exactly what the NFL wants with no evidence to the contrary. EA will be able to likely get a much more favorable deal than in 2004, possibly locking up the license through this upcoming console generation.

This isn't the end of 2K Sports though. NBA 2K, WWE, perhaps MLB, and other potential projects will all continue to flourish. However, when it comes to more than one NFL game releasing yearly, don't bet on it. That ship has sailed, as competition appears to be over in NFL gaming and Madden is almost certainly the only future option for sports gamers. As a football fan this is definitely not my favorite outcome, but it is the outcome we will get.

The continued persistence of the status quo may indicate competition may be over, but NFL gaming is not. Here is to hoping Madden NFL 25 is the best yet, it's our only option after all.

Member Comments

# 81 Sundown2600 @ 03/31/13 12:59 PM

There is only one way to end this ppl...stop buying Madden.

# 82 TjJunior @ 04/01/13 02:46 AM

Just put NFL into APF 2k8 and I would buy it for 30 bucks.

# 83 CM Hooe @ 04/01/13 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TecmoSuperBo


	At least give examples instead of just highlighting what I wrote. The rules of football are pretty straightforward, 11 on 11, TD counts for 7 points, FG is 3 points. What is not authentic about Madden's rules?

Not to speak for BFD, but to provide a few examples for him - the more vocal critics within the Madden community have voiced concerns about very particular areas of the game, such as player locomotion, CPU playcalling, offensive-defensive lines interaction, etc.

I've personally enjoyed Madden a ton this year, but I'm not blind to areas where the developers should focus their attention to improve the game's ability to replicate what we see on Sundays.

EDIT - aaaaaaaaand he's banned. Whomp.

# 84 roadman @ 04/01/13 10:07 PM

Didn't know if this should be a thread starter, so, I just put it here instead.

Credit goes to someon on the NCAA forums on this one.

Now, let's be real here.

A. Not everything is shared by Madden and NCAA, but hopefully, if I get the jist of this tweet, hopefully, this might be in Madden too.

Also, could be pure speculation, no need to jump the gun, yet.

We'll see and we'll find out more this week.

Stay tuned.

https://twitter.com/EANCAAFootball/s...45900275466240

# 85 sportjames23 @ 04/02/13 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big FN Deal


	Even though you are probably being serious, I will wait until tomorrow before I believe it.

# 86 cgalligan @ 04/02/13 08:43 AM

"NFL 2K5 was an outstanding game for it's time, but it's also easy to recognize that the gameplay in 2K football is well behind Madden in most respects today."

^ false

Have you seen the OLine play in Madden?

Have you seen the WR / CB interactions in Madden?

I could go on, but, I wont...

# 87 cgalligan @ 04/02/13 08:49 AM

To be good at "Madden" you don't have to understand football...

You don't have to use realistic football strategies...
*example* - if you're running the ball well, you would think that you would be able to "set up" a nice play action pass, well, in Madden this hardly works...

There is too much wrong with the core fundamentals of Madden to list here... Just know that the things that matter in real life, like Strength, Weight, Momentum, simply do not matter (enough) in Madden...

The game of Madden always has been and still is all about speed speed speed... Who's got the fastest WR's and HB's and who can "manipulate" the game better to get those players the ball...

# 88 PGaither84 @ 04/02/13 02:34 PM

I saw this on Facebook and thought it was appropriate:

Remember, this isn't even a picture bashing Madden. It is EA in general. It was posted by people mad about Sim City 4. This is a company wide problem.

# 89 roadman @ 04/02/13 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggies67


	Could you please tell us what he was banned for, so we'll all know what not to do? Is it something he said in an earlier post?

I have a feeling that it was a previous banned user, as yesterday was April 1st and that's when they signed up.

Just a guess.

# 90 CM Hooe @ 04/02/13 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggies67


	Could you please tell us what he was banned for, so we'll all know what not to do? Is it something he said in an earlier post?

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	I have a feeling that it was a previous banned user, as yesterday was April 1st and that's when they signed up. Just a guess.

Transparency - he was indeed a previously banned user.

# 91 SamoanSteelerFromAus @ 05/21/13 01:57 AM

I often reminisce growing up as a teenager and feeling the joy every year around the time when NFL games would release. There were numerous games to choose from and I always played all of them whenever I had the chance. My favorites included NFL qb club on N64, NFL fever on xbox and Madden and NFL 2K.

It was enthralling to experience different game companies spin on an NFL simulation, there were always flaws but whenever I got sick of one I could just pop in another for a breath of fresh air . Little did I know back then that would all come to a screeching halt. Looking back in retrospect I wish I cherished those days more because never was I entertained by video games like I was back then. Each title that came out always kept me preoccupied until the next title released a year later. It's sad that those days are over for me. I played M13 for two months until I couldn't put up with the repetitiveness and the flaws that can been recognized during one day of testing.

Lately I had to go out of my way to buy an xbox from USA so I can get a copy of all pro football and as I sit here today playing it there is nothing out there fundamentally better than this game from a gameplay standpoint but also the presentation exceeds M13. I couldn't believe after the first game of M13 that I was seeing the same replays with the same cam views over and over again IN SLOW MOTION! That was horrid and I feel liike a company that has such an oversight to such a simple feature doesn't deserve my business so I gave the game away .

Not sure why im giving a life story, I think I was just looking up the nfl license details and was discouraged by this article and felt i needed to vent. All I know is it feels like EA have robbed me of years of playing good football games and I cannot for the life of me give them any of my hard earned money. After such poor execution of 13 I'm surprised the amount of people hyping this next one. I pray 2k make a NFL comeback, I don't think anyone would be happier.

# 92 reddogmaddogbul @ 05/21/13 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamoanSteelerFromAus


	I often reminisce growing up as a teenager and feeling the joy every year around the time when NFL games would release. There were numerous games to choose from and I always played all of them whenever I had the chance. My favorites included NFL qb club on N64, NFL fever on xbox and Madden and NFL 2K. It was enthralling to experience different game companies spin on an NFL simulation, there were always flaws but whenever I got sick of one I could just pop in another for a breath of fresh air . Little did I know back then that would all come to a screeching halt. Looking back in retrospect I wish I cherished those days more because never was I entertained by video games like I was back then. Each title that came out always kept me preoccupied until the next title released a year later. It's sad that those days are over for me. I played M13 for two months until I couldn't put up with the repetitiveness and the flaws that can been recognized during one day of testing. Lately I had to go out of my way to buy an xbox from USA so I can get a copy of all pro football and as I sit here today playing it there is nothing out there fundamentally better than this game from a gameplay standpoint but also the presentation exceeds M13. I couldn't believe after the first game of M13 that I was seeing the same replays with the same cam views over and over again IN SLOW MOTION! That was horrid and I feel liike a company that has such an oversight to such a simple feature doesn't deserve my business so I gave the game away . Not sure why im giving a life story, I think I was just looking up the nfl license details and was discouraged by this article and felt i needed to vent. All I know is it feels like EA have robbed me of years of playing good football games and I cannot for the life of me give them any of my hard earned money. After such poor execution of 13 I'm surprised the amount of people hyping this next one. I pray 2k make a NFL comeback, I don't think anyone would be happier.

Well said brother couldn't of said it no better myself,cmon guys wake up and smell the coffee,it's all about the money,we deserve another company to give it a go,simpliy put "save 65$ and get off the HYPE TRAIN."

# 93 funkyflights @ 06/07/13 04:20 PM

OK... People there is a solution... STOP BUYING THE DAM GAME!! I know it sucks not to get your roster updates but that's pretty much all it is year after year anyway... Look Madden sucks sadly and EA has no incentive to really improve the game-play with no competition.... Just look at there NBA title! They got buried to the point of scrapping there last NBA game completely! Same thing would happen to Madden right now with it's broken down engine... And the NFLPA needs to care about what product represents them... EA is not representing the NFL very well ... Corporate crap always ruins things and the NFLPA needs to look at it's fans and care!! I personally haven't bought a next gen Madden game and I never will...

# 94 Dr Death @ 06/08/13 10:07 AM

Here's what kills me about this "exclusive license." In the NFL, every single team believes in COMPETITION for each position, unless, of course, you have the luxury of having a Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees at QB.

There are a few others, but you get the point - competition makes players better. But when it comes to making a video game of said league - no competition is the way to go... does this make one bit of sense? Absolutely not.

I told my brother back in 2004/05 - whenever it was that the EA/NFL deal went down - that the exclusivity license would be the death-knell for gamers everywhere - and now, all these years later, I have been proven right.

WAKE UP NFL... There's more to life than cashing a check you greedy ********!!!!

# 95 JaymeeAwesome @ 06/08/13 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Death


	Here's what kills me about this "exclusive license." In the NFL, every single team believes in COMPETITION for each position, unless, of course, you have the luxury of having a Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning or Drew Brees at QB. There are a few others, but you get the point - competition makes players better. But when it comes to making a video game of said league - no competition is the way to go... does this make one bit of sense? Absolutely not. I told my brother back in 2004/05 - whenever it was that the EA/NFL deal went down - that the exclusivity license would be the death-knell for gamers everywhere - and now, all these years later, I have been proven right. WAKE UP NFL... There's more to life than cashing a check you greedy ********!!!!

You haven't been proven right due to the fact that Madden is still one of the best selling games in the US. The NFL doesn't care about competition, they care about control. This exclusivity is all about control. The NFL does exclusivity with other entities other than gaming. How many times do you hear commercials talk about, "The beer of the NFL..." or the "Soft Drink of the NFL...". This is their product and they want to be able to control how it's portrayed. Until they change their business model, we will continue to see exclusivity with EA.

Although I don't expect the Madden name to continue much longer. I'm thinking Madden25 may be the last one....

# 96 Dr Death @ 06/08/13 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymee13


	You haven't been proven right due to the fact that Madden is still one of the best selling games in the US.

I am going to do my absolute best to be polite here... but it's the best selling game - or one of the best selling games - only because there is NO COMPETITION!!! The last time they had legit competition, 2K kicked Madden's *** all over the place, both in product and in price.

All the issues with the game would not be issues IF EA had a competitor to deal with every year. Fact is, they have no competition and thus, they can put out a game with massive uniform errors even though there are only 32 teams, they can put out a game with broken defenses, horrible "infinity" crap from last year, stupid AI, and I could go on and on and on and on...

If you believe - for one second - that the lack of competition hasn't hurt football gamers then keep living in your fantasy world. Everybody else knows the truth, including EA.

# 97 Perfect Zero @ 06/08/13 09:54 PM

Folks, even if the exclusive license is dropped it doesn't mean that everybody can have their hands on the NFL. The league is going to sell that license to whomever they want.

# 98 Moegames @ 06/23/13 03:54 AM

Any update on this topic from the NFL and EA?

I just wish there wouldn't be exclusive licenses when it comes to sports video games. Its just one of the most nasty, ugly, greedy things that really really rubs me the wrong way....no one is concerned about the gamer at all and that is what is so sad with the video game industry now days...back in the day..the gamers were the main focus and the consumers were the first concern of companies and corporations but greed has such a huge grip on companies and people these days..that is all that is important...MONEY! GREED! It has such a great stronghold on people that they just lust for more and more money no matter how rich they may already be...sad indeed! I know where my treasure is and its not on this earth..its somewhere above.

It's all about Money!! Greedy Corporate men that are sitting back in their multi-million dollar mansions, never have played a video game in their life that are making these decisions....what a shame and what a sham!!

If you look at the NFL on how they treat their retired players that are in desperate need of care with medical conditions from playing years in the NFL...you all would really see the true colors of those shot callers behind the NFL Empire. If you want to see what i am talking about..watch the documentary called "Blood Equity" and you will see the true colors of the shot callers behind closed doors of the NFL. Not saying all the representatives and people that work for the NFL and NFL Players Association/Union are like this...but the shot callers..the man or men that make the final decisions on things such as this NFL video game license,retired nfl players,etc...they care absolutely NOTHING about you or I and probably never even picked up a gamepad before in their life...all they care about is money, period!.... and that is pathetic because there is ZERO concern about the consumer!. So go and watch that documentary Blood Equity ..you will never look at the NFL the same ..trust me. Here's a bit of info on it here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1510908/...?ref_=tt_ov_pl

As far the EA Empire goes....they are getting very close to all out monopoly with all these companies they buy out and snatch up. I do not blame them for trying to get an exclusive license as a business standpoint because if they dont grab it..someone else will (2k) so they have no choice but to get it or lose out on one of their best selling franchises *madden*...but i just wish all this crap would just go away. Money "IS" the root of all evil...and i know we all need money to live,etc but the more i see how the world is..the more i am starting to hate money and greedy people. The reason why i have such a huge issue with BIG Video Game Empires buying up smaller gaming studios is that once they are bought or snatched up by big companies like EA...the passion and vision that the developers have can no longer become a reality in the videogame they are creating because these big companies like EA can tell them what to do with the game as its being developed. Look at how the Burnout franchise was ruined when EA bought it..or look how the Battlefield games were ruined when EA bought them..or how about CryTek, Digital Illusions,Criterion and on and on and on...they dont out-right buy some of these companies..they cant otherwise they would be a Monopoly (imho they already are)..so what do they do? They use a loophole and create what is called Electronic Arts Partnership (EAP) which they use that to buy a portion of other gaming studios such as the ones i listed above as a tiny example..as there is many more EA has did this with other such gaming studios and then EA has the power to change a game's development rather than allowing the original studio finish out what they originally had envisioned for their game.....you gotta do the research to see what im trying to say. I may not be using the exact correct wording here...but i know what EA is doing with this ( EAP ) partnership BS and it has ruined a boat load of games or more importantly ruined many great gaming studios that once were able to make their games with their own visions and creativity. Remember Rallisport Challenge on the original xbox? One of the best rally games ever made..rallisport challenge 1 and 2 were made by Digital Illusions...soon as EA bought them out....guess what? No more Rallisport Challenge games.

What about the PC gamers? Remember at one time EA once supported the PC platform with their sports games? Well now PC only gamers are left with zero sports games besides ...Fifa and 2k Basketball...you see? There is no love for the gamer..it is all about making more and more money no matter how rich EA gets or the NFL gets...and they are SUPER RICH as it is...and all they care about is wanting to get MORE RICH..... heck...nothing wrong with being RICH..but heck...have a little bit of hospitality for the gamers and pc gamers for your sports titles and stop interfering with game studios by buying them up and changing those developers vision and creativity they have for a game that they have in development.

I have read countless articles from ex-EA employee's of various average size gaming studios/companies that were bought by EA and as soon as EA bought them or did their EAP *partnership* ...their vision and idea's were turned down and told to change so much of the game that it landed up being something of the total opposite of what they were creating in the video game they were developing...what i am trying to say is EA stuck their nose into the vision and creativity these developers had when creating their games and told them to do something else with the game..you get my point i am sure...but this is why i dislike the big shots at EA...i mean no disrespect to the EA developers...they are doing their job..i am talking about the big shots at EA..the Corporate guys at EA....

Gaming is simply not the same anymore. Where are all the awesome games bringing in new fresh ideas? Madden has been at a standstill ever since 2k football was pushed out of the way...no competition means no more effort for creativity because there is no competition...there is no "URGENCY" to find new idea's for Madden or NCAA Football games anymore...because they are the only sheriff in town i guess you can say....so what does that leave us with? Look at NBA 2k series...when NBA Live was competitive with NBA 2k...it pushed NBA 2k to find new fresh ideas, new innovations,etc ...now that Live went under and NBA 2k has had really no competition...guess what? Same thing with NBA 2k that happened with Madden...NBA 2k has really been at a standstill with their last three or four games ...unless they come out with something spectacular with the next-gen consoles..which maybe is why the last three 2k games been basically the same..maybe their focus has been on next gen..who knows...but all i know is when there is no competition...there is no need for truly seeking fresh ideas, new innovations...dev's can be a bit more lazy so to speak. Remember when 2k Baseball was pretty decent and MLB The Show was still growing? Look at how those two games fought after new idea's, new innovations,etc...and it brought out the best of the two...MLB The Show came out with flying colors in terms of innovations, gameplay,etc..because there WAS competition going against them...when MLB 2k started to throw in the towel...MLB The Show for the last few years has sorta stagnated itself because they basically had no more competition....again..competition is IMPORTANT to video games, period

Well i ranted enough...maybe someone will find what i had to say interesting...

Laterz and God Bless

# 99 StormsWarning @ 06/23/13 08:43 AM

for me, im going to give the benefit of doubt this time and this time only. madden 25 on next gen looks more than just a roster update like most here like to put it. the game is going to be good i believe, third generation consoles were some what limited, yeah they are some great games on both systems, but when you say ( next Generation ), with the power they have now, it will truthfully be no excuse. yes i can understand the masses being upset but this new team has seems to be going in the right direction, they have signed ex-pro's with major knowledge of the game, if you look at the demo we've seen so far even on current third generation, from last year on 13, there is a huge difference from then and now on madden, and no one who has seen the videos can deny that! and those that have got a next gen console, you will see what the teams are going to do! i think both maddens will be good, but i think they will be different, just being that current gen cant be the same opposed to next gen, and that point will be proven, and i think there will be a mass rush to the stores trying to buy madden 25 on next gen consoles, ppl can say what they want, but i think ALOT of people will be singing a different tune ( Real Soon ). you can say back in 06 and refer to the dreaded trailer with mcnabb battling the giants defensive line, fighting for ever inch in the snow, but the technology to produce that type of quality just wasn't there, ( IT IS NOW ) so i think instead of everyone fussing about whether the license will be renewed or it wont be, BOTTOM LINE - it's going to be what it will be with the license either way it goes, we as the consumers need to sit and watch closely whats being said about current/next gen madden 25! i think you might be in for a surprise.

# 100 JaymeeAwesome @ 06/23/13 06:38 PM

I still agree with the original post topic. It's been 5 years since there was an alternative football game (I don't count backbreaker). We are going into the next generation of consoles and would take 2-3 years for a company to develop a physics engine for a football title. Even if the NFL decides to drop the license we're still many years before we have a 2nd NFL labeled football game.

We all know that the NFL is into exclusives and until they change their business model, we won't see a change. Just sit back and enjoy the ride...jump on if you like...

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