EA Boss Not Happy With Madden Sales....

[scarface scotty]

Quote: Originally Posted by LionsFanNJ

Guess what. it still was the best selling game in august.

And it's only competition really was Batman:AA. A sports game will always win hands down.

[Valdarez]

Well, I hope EA doesn't let sales dictate their direction of the game. This year was the best step forward for Madden in a long, long time. The game's not there yet, but even a blind man can see that Ian and crew are making strides towards a more realistic game of football. Lets hope they stay the course.

[Valdarez]

Quote: Originally Posted by d'ultimate

I looked up the numbers and found that Madden 2005 sold 5.8 million units and has decreased every year to 3.6 million last year. It has currently sold almost 2.3 million units so far this year so unless it sells another 1.3 mil from this point on, which I think is unlikely, this might be another yoy decline. Even it gets to 3 million units sold this year it will be an almost 52% decline in sales from the time of the license purchase. I don't think the current recession is an explanation for that. It seems a great many of you believe that Madden 06-09 quality was not great. Yet, some of this same group seem to think its a stretch to believe that its due to the that trend of poor quality that the game sales continue to decline and its the recession instead? Do you guys believe that this years game is that much better that, had there not been a recession, the gamers that have left it were suddenly gonna return? Isn't it far more plausible that gamers CONTINUE to be less and less enthused about Madden?

I think the recession is having a huge impact on game sales and used game sales. Usually when Madden drops I can get NCAA used on ebay for $25, even two weeks after Madden dropped I had to put out $30 to get it, and that was bidding for an item. In years past I was able to do the 'buy it now' option and didn't have to mess with bidding. So used games of the titles are in a very high demand and having a negative impact on game sales.

[northface28]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cusefan

Thank god we have so many economic Experts here.

Im no expert, but I did stay at a holiday inn last night. JK, I am a economics major though.

[bcruise]

Quote: Originally Posted by DubTrey1

I have to respectfully disagree with your post - I disagree because of one title - NFL2k5. What exactly was gimmicky about that game?

"The Crib" and everything that went with it (celebrity VIP's playing cheeseball with you included). Canned video highlights that didn't actually happen in a simmed game (used in CH2k games as well)

I still love 2k5 (and APF, for that matter), but let's not pretend that it was gimmick-free.

[Qui3tStorm]

When you drop MILLIONS of $$$ to lock up the NFL license, players, ESPN, NFL Network.. Sales are going to be a big issue.
CEO just better be happy they have the whole sport on LOCK.

[RyanMoody21]

I find this increasingly suspicious. EA now admits to having realized sales were slumping. Ironic timing to become active in the community by placing an aggressive, energetic guy to take control of the game in the public eye. Nothing against Ian, that just what happened. Anybody who has taken a marketing class understand whats going on here.

So now we see reports that EA was pleased Madden "appeared to have been doing well on the pre-order front". Of course it had, EA had basically dispatched a group of people to confront the community to prove the game was better. Not only that EA had pre order bonus items in place.

Lets not blame the economy, its proven that entertainment is one of the more stable industries in this country. I think we can all agree that video games are a entertainment form now, not so much a "luxury".

By not living up to standards set, any product will sell poorly. From matches to Madden. Facts are facts, this game still cant live up to what the back of the Madden 2009 Box says. " The most realistic, deep, and authentic football experience next to being on the field yourself".

From the outside EA looks like a very confused group of people. Its becoming apparent they have little or no quality control in place, yet they struggle to understand how poor products get released.
The game released to mixed reviews and its obvious to anybody who has played Madden even casually over the past few years, its plagued by game play issues.

If only EA would tackle Maddens game issues the way Pro Tack does. Everybody gets involved and wraps their arms around it until something unpredictable happens.

[kjcheezhead]

Quote: Originally Posted by crob8822

I read some of the replies to this thread and noticed that some of the posters are hoping that Madden sales will continue to decline so that the NFL will resind the exclusive License agreement and that the 2K series will come back.

I am hoping for decline in sales for a return of all football video games not just 2k. Part of the decline is because this game is stale, boring and I have a "been there, done that" feeling when I play it. I wanna see new developers design something that takes football to a whole new level, not keep me playing the same games for the next decade.