OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

[RaychelSnr]

Operation Sports staff members Chris Sanner, TJ Cutini, Chase Becotte, and Patrick Williams all check in this week with a four-way roundtable discussing the exclusive NFL license EA Sports just locked up until 2013.

Quote:

"Word came a couple of weeks ago that the NFL and EA Sports were going to extend their exclusive agreement until at least 2013. It can certainly be argued the deal has been bad for the industry - putting the up and coming NFL 2K series on the chopping block. But has the deal even been good for EA Sports? Operation Sport's roundtable will discuss."

[Bobolini]

Even if you are a Madden fan, how can this be a positive?

[bhurst99]

"But has the deal even been good for EA Sports?"

Is that a serious question? It has been a terrific deal for EA Sports as Madden sells like crazy every year because there is no NFL competition. There are very few brands that are as big as Madden. Has the product suffered because there is no competition? Sure, but that is a different question.

[StormJH1]

Quote: Originally Posted by bhurst99

"But has the deal even been good for EA Sports?" Is that a serious question? It has been a terrific deal for EA Sports as Madden sells like crazy every year because there is no NFL competition. There are very few brands that are as big as Madden. Has the product suffered because there is no competition? Sure, but that is a different question.

I'm curious what they'll come up with on that as well. Sales figures are speculative in video gaming, but I think it's clear that Madden was dominant in sales both before and after 2004's exclusive deal.

But I never really saw EA's exclusive deal as an effort to generate more sales, and that's what's so sinister about it. Rather, I saw it as a defensive move against an up-and-comer that was willing to: a) Innovate their product from year to year, and b) Challenge industry standards by offering a top-level game for $19 at retail. EA didn't want to compete with that, and didn't want to lose sales...so they took a gamble that it would be more cost-effective to simply buy the NFL out, rather than lose momentum and sales.

You have to remember that 2k5 was really the first year the 2k had generated ANY significant buzz for its sports title, and a lot of that was because of the price. To this day, there are tons of people who never played 2k5, or viewed it as an inferior product, much the way 989 Sports was viewed early in this decade. EA was very afraid of losing their annual cash cow, so they reacted negatively.

Aside from the hardcore fans who understand the implications of the exclusive license (and realize what 2k could have been), there's little risk for EA. The biggest negative for them is probably negative PR, but they get so much positive PR from gaming publications, NFL players, Madden Nation TV shows, and so on, that it doesn't really matter.

[StormJH1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bobolini

Even if you are a Madden fan, how can this be a positive?

Totally agree. I never get mad at anyone because they like Madden, or even if they say they hated 2k5. People are entitled to play game they like. But I ALWAYS get angry with Madden fans who can't fathom how their game would be different if there was ANY level of competition to push it forward.

By the way, this idea that if EA bought Take Two, that Madden would simply apply 2k's gameplay and controls and add graphics and polish...that's ridiculous. There is zero incentive for EA to change a product and risk alienating its fans, many of whom are not sophisiticated video gamers, by screwing with the control scheme and gameplay of a former competitor.

[Blazelore]

I agree that Madden needs to step up but what people don't realize is the NFL offered this exclusive deal to the highest bidder because it was no longer interested in multilicensing. Disney was in the bidding too. What if they would have won? Could you imagine how things would be? EA did what everyone else was trying to do when the opportunity came. They didn't just go to the NFL and say we want exclusitivity. It was offered to whoever was interested as long as they're willing to pay for it. Madden needs to get better and I believe it will but people getting angry at EA getting the license are mad at the wrong people. Be mad at the NFL. They put all game developers in a position where a monopoly would get created by default. Its the NFL's doing!

[Cardot]

Quote: Originally Posted by StormJH1

By the way, this idea that if EA bought Take Two, that Madden would simply apply 2k's gameplay and controls and add graphics and polish...that's ridiculous. There is zero incentive for EA to change a product and risk alienating its fans, many of whom are not sophisiticated video gamers, by screwing with the control scheme and gameplay of a former competitor.

Not to mention that it would be alot of work to integrate the two games together. Definately not worth it to EA.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Thanks for the comments, guys. You guys all need to set up your mini-avatars so they'll show up on the main page. Go to User CP to see how.