OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

[SageInfinite]

Good read guys. I share alot of the same thoughts as you guys. I wish the majority of the Madden and EA fans felt this way. The only way to show EA that we aren't feeling how the Madden franchise is moving along is through their wallets. Like I said in another post Madden is going to have to be a substantial improvement to get my 60 this year.

[thaima1shu]

I agree with Sage. There's definitely no way that I would buy another Madden product unless I see a substantial improvement. It's frustrating that the game never seems to really get better with each year.

[Scott]

I agree, I actually haven't bought Madden since 2005. I don't plan on buying it until NG plays better than CG.

[spankdatazz22]

Nice roundtable discussion. Really loving the new OS content; will be ashamed if the number of games and subjects that can be discussed is reduced further

[Kramer5150]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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!

This is a post I wrote in the "Madden 09 will be special"

Quote: Originally Posted by CowherPower

According to this,it was EA that "planted the seed"...... The deal, one EA admits to having lobbied for over the past few years, is an exclusive five-year licensing deal granting EA the sole rights to the NFL's teams, stadiums, and players. However, the publisher and Players Inc. denied a similar deal was in the works in May 2004, even requesting publications that ran the story run public retractions. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6114977.html But the Madden 2005 game was seriously challenged by NFL 2K5, thanks to good reviews and a pricing war. NFL 2K5 was available in stores in July for $19.95. For three months, the Madden game was priced at $49.95, until the company finally relented on Nov. 8 and lowered it by $20. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sport...ory?id=1945691 But 2004 brought competition like EA had not experienced before. Take Two Interactive teamed up with Sega and ESPN to offer "ESPN NFL 2K5," which critics said was as good, if not better, than "Madden". Beyond that, the game was priced at a rock-bottom $19.99 (which EA finally matched on Nov. 8). http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/14/comm...column_gaming/ Kind of coincidental huh? They face the competition,but instead of improving,they simply lock up exclusivity. TBH....I have not seen ONE thing in Madden games that called for exclusivity. As for the cats that say "09 is going to be great"...my question to you is, why do you think that? This "wait till next year" mentality has been going on well since last gen....what makes you think 09 will be any different?

Now...based on that,it WAS indeed EA who was the first to initiate exclusivity. I'm tired of seeing "it was the NFL" or don't solely "blame EA".
As far as this whole "bidding" thing goes.....who did you really expect to win? I believe it was just a simple "formality" when in essence,everybody knew who was going to get it.

What would Disney want with it?? Everybody knows the 2 main players were EA and 2k.
As far as Madden getting better? It's hard to say. Based on the last 3 offerings,I wouldn't hold my breath on "groundbreaking" improvements.
What I believe it will be....minimal improvements,slap some ridiculous feature on the box...call it a day.

Remember....like I said in my quoted post. This whole "wait till next year" rap has been going on well since last gen.
What makes anybody think 09 will "be the year"?

[unfriendlyghst]

Quote: Originally Posted by Blazelore

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.

This is a big misconseption(sp?) that a lot of people are mad that EA bought the license. Even though you can always find one or two people who do hate for that reason, the majority of people hate EA because THEY CANT/WONT IMPROVE UPON THEIR GAME. Anyone who denies this is kidding themselves. The fact remains that there is a lot of Madden haters, and a lot of Madden worshippers, but I would put money on the fact that if they made a great game year after year, the people who hated on EA would look extremely foolish. Case in point, no one ever complains about the GTA series because they make great games.

[Kramer5150]

Quote: Originally Posted by spankdatazz22

Nice roundtable discussion. Really loving the new OS content; will be ashamed if the number of games and subjects that can be discussed is reduced further

I agree 100% . I feel this could be a really great and informative thread,as long as it doesn't get out of hand.....which I'm hoping cats can be adult enough about the topic.

[Kramer5150]

Quote: Originally Posted by unfriendlyghst

This is a big misconseption(sp?) that a lot of people are mad that EA bought the license. Even though you can always find one or two people who do hate for that reason, the majority of people hate EA because THEY CANT/WONT IMPROVE UPON THEIR GAME. Anyone who denies this is kidding themselves. The fact remains that there is a lot of Madden haters, and a lot of Madden worshippers, but I would put money on the fact that if they made a great game year after year, the people who hated on EA would look extremely foolish. Case in point, no one ever complains about the GTA series because they make great games.

This is actually a great point. I could really care less WHO got the license,as long as we were seeing the improvements.
As been said before....for every 3 steps forward,there's been 2 steps back.
I mean seriously......what has EA/Tiburon done with the Madden series that required exclusivity?
That isn't meant in a smartass way...I'm just seriously curious.