Is 2K Sports Fit for Survival?

[cmidd]

If 2k goes, so goes my sports gaming exp., unless Tiburon and EA, or whoever is responsible for the decline in quality of Madden sees the error of their ways

[boomhauertjs]

Quote: Originally Posted by Batum Shaka Laka

Thomas why do you say 2k has a monopoly on the NBA market when anyone is free to make an NBA game, yet when you reference EA/Madden (which is an actual "monopoly") you refer to it as "EA Sports’ exclusive license agreement with the NFL". Some hidden bias here?

Far from it. I'm totally a 2k guy when it comes to NBA games. I haven't owned an EA NBA game since 2005. I was saying that they had a monopoly on the NBA sim market this year because they had the only game coming out, not because of an exclusivity agreement.

[wheelman990]

This blog shows its obvious bias to much to have a honest talk about this.

That being said, I hope 2k does go down to just nba basketball. Hopefully soon, another nfl game too....I love 2k sports.

[bigsmallwood]

2Ksports will survive into the next gen of sports gaming due to their NBA 2K game. Time and licensing will tell if they get to make another NFL game or any of their other sports games. #Pro2KSports

[macdaddy71]

OMG I hope it's not the end, Cause EA have proved OVER n OVER they can NOT give gamers what they want, I wish All sports would not licensing Out to one company, Cause it really kills the game and fans in the long run, Just look at the Past madden's....Please 2K don't let EA win at all Cost'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[thbends]

It's a shame. 2k had so much potential... but EA played dirty like Microsoft has been known to do and basically shut them down. I won't even go in to the NFL thing. We all know how low that move was by EA and how it changed the sports game landscape forever.

EA aside I think 2k's real issue is management. They obviously have mismanaged (or not managed at all) many of their respective franchises and it has shown horribly over the years. Great ideas have been lost to lack of customer support. That also led to not following through with promised features.

I don't know the figures but it would be interesting to see how many work on a project for 2k compared to EA and for how long. How many do they keep staffed on a game post release? What is the pay rate compared to EA for employees? Why do I ask these things? It seems like 2k is under staffed or unmotivated. That is a management issue that is slowly squeezing the air out of the company.

Let's all hope that they keep their NBA franchise going. It's become one of the best sports franchises around.

As for one comment I saw about a possible soccer game... No go. EA has owned the WORLD market in that area. It's even bigger then Madden. I believe EA owns all the FIFA rights as well.

[matt8204]

Quote: Originally Posted by thbends

It's a shame. 2k had so much potential... but EA played dirty like Microsoft has been known to do and basically shut them down. I won't even go in to the NFL thing. We all know how low that move was by EA and how it changed the sports game landscape forever. EA aside I think 2k's real issue is management. They obviously have mismanaged (or not managed at all) many of their respective franchises and it has shown horribly over the years. Great ideas have been lost to lack of customer support. That also led to not following through with promised features. I don't know the figures but it would be interesting to see how many work on a project for 2k compared to EA and for how long. How many do they keep staffed on a game post release? What is the pay rate compared to EA for employees? Why do I ask these things? It seems like 2k is under staffed or unmotivated. That is a management issue that is slowly squeezing the air out of the company. Let's all hope that they keep their NBA franchise going. It's become one of the best sports franchises around. As for one comment I saw about a possible soccer game... No go. EA has owned the WORLD market in that area. It's even bigger then Madden. I believe EA owns all the FIFA rights as well.

Yeah, it's a tough market to get into when you don't have the important licenses and FIFA is such a juggernaut. Worldwide, it's easily the best-selling sports game.

[Matt2486]

I will be extremely upset if 2K Sports goes away. 2K is a solid company who routinely makes quality games. The NBA 2K series is, in itself, enough to warrant their success. I cannot go back to EA basketball after playing 2K's series. Also, whenever this EA Sports NFL chokehold subsides hopefully 2K can get back to the NFL 2K series. The reason NBA 2K12 did not sell well is simple...the lockout. No rookies was a huge turnoff for buyers initially, including myself. I waited to buy until the rookies were unlocked.