Madden signs new multi-year deal with EA

[jbmagic]

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2005--Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that John Madden, football icon and television analyst of ABC's Monday Night Football, has signed a multi-year agreement to continue to license his name and appear in and consult on the development of future iterations of the blockbuster game that bears his name. Madden NFL 06, the newest iteration of the EA SPORTS(TM) best-selling football franchise with the official videogame license of the NFL and its players, will feature the name, voice, likeness and expertise of the celebrated sports personality. EA SPORTS Madden NFL 06 is scheduled for release on August 9, 2005. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"John Madden personifies authentic football in any medium -- television or interactive," said Electronic Arts Chairman and CEO Larry Probst. "We look forward to a great future with John in EA SPORTS Madden NFL."

"I am proud that we started to develop Madden Football twenty years ago," said Madden. "Each year our goal is to improve the game, and with EA, we have been able to do that."

With the official videogame license of the NFL and its players, and in its 16th year of the franchise, Madden NFL Football offers game changing innovation and complete NFL authenticity. With more than 43 million copies sold, Madden NFL Football continues to be the #1 football franchise and the all-time best selling sports franchise in North America. Since its inception in 1989 the game has become a cultural phenomenon and is the game the players all play. Madden NFL 06 is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and will be available on August 9, 2005 for six platforms and the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) entertainment system version will launch in September. For the first time in 10 years, the Madden NFL Football franchise has revolutionized its passing game with the new quarterback vision and precision placement.

For more information check out www.madden06.com

[Klinglerware]

Originally Posted by jbmagic

"I am proud that we started to develop Madden Football twenty years ago," said Madden. "Each year our goal is to improve the game, and with EA, we have been able to do that."

Hard to believe it's been that long. I bought a copy of the Apple II version in the late 80s--the game led me to watch football much more carefully. It wouldn't be unreasonable to say that the game helped turned me into a fan of the sport...

[TazFTW]

It'll be interesting for Madden 2007 because Madden will be on NBC and EA's agreement with ESPN will start.

[Greyroofoo]

My ears are throbbing at the thought of hearing more recycled Madden soundbytes in the next several years.

[Buzzbee]

Chicken or the egg question:

Is John Madden so popular and recognizable because of the EA Sports Madden series, or is the EA Sports Madden series popular because of John Madden and his association with the game?

Put another way, would John Madden have lasted this long or be as famous if not for the video game? Or would the video game have been significantly less successful if Madden wasn't associated with it?

Or is it a little bit of both?

[ShaqFu]

ESPN NFL 2007 w/ John Madden
John Madden ESPN NFL 2007
or something like that.

Maybe they won't use ESPN at all for football.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Buzzbee

Chicken or the egg question:

Is John Madden so popular and recognizable because of the EA Sports Madden series, or is the EA Sports Madden series popular because of John Madden and his association with the game?

Put another way, would John Madden have lasted this long or be as famous if not for the video game? Or would the video game have been significantly less successful if Madden wasn't associated with it?

Or is it a little bit of both?

I think it is a bit of both. At the time of the first Madden, John Madden was considered (and probably was) the best football broadcaster out there. His reputation would have kept him lasting as long as he had even without the game. However, the game moved his name into the stratosphere. Without the game, he would be as famous as Bob Costas or Joe Buck, probably.