EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

[EddieV]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jackdog

It's called free market. Business 101.

A certified class calls it a monopoly. We'll see who's right on that soon enough.

"The class-action lawsuit against Electronic Arts, makers of the popular Madden video game franchise, may continue, ruled US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker when he certified the class-action lawsuit late in December 2010. The lawsuit alleges EA established agreements with the National Football League (NFL), The NFL Players Union, Arena Football League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), that drove competition out of the market and prevented new competitors from entering."

http://www.suite101.com/content/madd...#ixzz1E8Nlos3u

[EddieV]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

I don't see the NFL and EA breaking up the license for a long time. Goodell and Madden are also friends, he serves as special counsel to the the NFL.

Maybe the courts will do us a favor then in some of these lawsuits and bust it up.

[LiquorLogic]

Quote: Originally Posted by coogrfan

A compelling argument, but I must point out that we have been without a college hoops game for a couple of years now largely because the NCAA refused to come down on it's licensing fees. It can happen.

Good point, but that may be a case of the NCAA over-valuing their bball product. Nobody cares about college hoops until March Madness anyway, and College hoops games were never really that popular as far as I can remember. I've been playing sports games for as long as I can remember, and I, or anyone else I knew, never gave crap about a college hoops game.

I know there was a College hoops game a few years ago, but before that, growing up, I don't even remember any college hoops games.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by EddieV

Maybe the courts will do us a favor then in some of these lawsuits and bust it up.

That's another if and maybe in my book.

Just don't see it happening.

[Jackdog]

Quote: Originally Posted by EddieV

Maybe the courts will do us a favor then in some of these lawsuits and bust it up.

I don't think it will happen GT.

[Jackdog]

Quote: Originally Posted by EddieV

A certified class calls it a monopoly. We'll see who's right on that soon enough. "The class-action lawsuit against Electronic Arts, makers of the popular Madden video game franchise, may continue, ruled US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker when he certified the class-action lawsuit late in December 2010. The lawsuit alleges EA established agreements with the National Football League (NFL), The NFL Players Union, Arena Football League and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), that drove competition out of the market and prevented new competitors from entering." http://www.suite101.com/content/madd...#ixzz1E8Nlos3u

Certified class?? LOL....OK. I wish them luck.

[LiquorLogic]

Quote: Originally Posted by grunt

and if EA walk away would we have a better game than what we have now. I am not sure if the NFL would make a non-exclusive license. I am still waiting to get NFL ticket on cable. Why can't I get NFL network on my phone because the NFL business model is exclusive license agreements. I didn't buy Madden until the last patch. Saved me close to $30 and I got a great game. The Madden team didn't lie about the franchise but they improved LOS play and that what I wanted for years. Madden 11 play a great game IMO but I am a online/online franchise player. Haven't played franchise since online play came to consoles.

Why wouldn't the NFL award a non-exclusive license if their were no other options ? If EA decided that they didn't want to pay for it anymore, and no one else did, then the NFL either generates no revenue from video games, awards a cheaper exclusive license, which wouldn't make any sense, or awards multiple licenses ( at a cheaper price) to make up the difference.

Also, if you add in APF's game-play with a franchise mode and NFL teams, you probably have a better game then Madden 12 let alone Madden 11.

[LiquorLogic]

Quote: Originally Posted by roadman

That's another if and maybe in my book. Just don't see it happening.

I doubt any of the lawsuits, including the American Needle case, breaks up any exclusive license that they NFL has currently awarded. Our only hope is that the precedent set by the case in American Needle discourages the NFL from awarding exclusive licenses, or EA decides that an exclusive license, since it hasn't increased their sales, isn't worth it anymore.