2K Sports Confirms They Are Done With Baseball

[Mendota]

No publisher is going to pay what EA does for Madden unless it is exclusive. More importantly, EA will not pay that much if it is not exclusive.

Strawberryshortcake's idea is based on a completely flawed premise.

[strawberryshortcake]

Quote: Originally Posted by kehlis

Who or where has that argument ever be made?

Not from an official source, but it's one argument that may come up from time to time when the words "NFL" "License" "Exclusive" are used. Too much hassle or too difficult to deal with multiple companies making an NFL football, therefore the NFL chooses to go exclusive. Something to that extent. I'm simply saying the NFL is already controlling over 30 individual franchises, and comparing that to 2 or 3 video game makers. If the NFL can control over 30 teams, I pose the question of whether it really is that much of a hassle to monitor 2 or 3 developers. That is all.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mendota

No publisher is going to pay what EA does for Madden unless it is exclusive. More importantly, EA will not pay that much if it is not exclusive. Strawberryshortcake's idea is based on a completely flawed premise.

You word your statement as if it was fact. Your statement can also be applicable to ridiculously expensive products or services in the world, and for whatever reason there are buyers.

It's a hypothetical situation. Hypothetically, for whatever reason, let say the NFL sets a non-exclusive price that is on par to the existing exclusive price tag analogous to an MSRP. Say two or three companies jump at the chance and pony up the non-exclusive price, including EA Sports. Hypothetically, wouldn't that be a good thing?

Multiple companies competing just as it is in sports. There's probably a lot or a few of flawed premises in the past that came to fruition.

[Mendota]

Quote: Originally Posted by strawberryshortcake

You word your statement as if it was fact. Your statement can also be applicable to ridiculously expensive products or services in the world, and for whatever reason there are buyers. It's a hypothetical situation. Hypothetically, for whatever reason, let say the NFL sets a non-exclusive price that is on par to the existing exclusive price tag analogous to an MSRP. Say two or three companies jump at the chance and pony up the non-exclusive price, including EA Sports. Hypothetically, wouldn't that be a good thing? Multiple companies competing just as it is in sports.

You need to explain how losing marketshare is worth paying the same price for the license. The reality is, EA has already forced the NFL to make some concessions to the price. It is a complete fantasy world to believe they would consider paying what they do now to compete with multiple publishers.

As for the NFL, they have plenty of experience working with multiple publishers and just one. I think they are aware of the plus and minuses of exclusive deals.

I hate exclusivity as much as anyone. But there are real world reasons for why it happens. And there are real world consequences for just paying a higher fee when the sales do not support the cost.

2K's terrible licensing deal is the main cause of all of their issues. They could go back now and develop a game for a lower cost, but they have suffered six years of constant bashing from gamers and the sports media. I don't think they believe they can sell enough copies of a good game. 2K12 and 2K13 is proof of that, because they were good games.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mendota

2K's terrible licensing deal is the main cause of all of their issues. They could go back now and develop a game for a lower cost, but they have suffered six years of constant bashing from gamers and the sports media. I don't think they believe they can sell enough copies of a good game. 2K12 and 2K13 is proof of that, because they were good games.

Bingo.

2K really needs to work on their brand.
Love them or hate them, EA's brand is world renown. It's like McDonald's or Nike.

2K never really tried to get on that same level. Did they even have a catchy slogan like "It's in the Game"?

I'm no marketing expert, but maybe they could have tried to rebrand their series or attach a specific athlete to each sport?
Get Jeter or Jackie Robinson, or some mega baseball star as the spokesperson for their MLB game ala Madden.

Or how about community days?

EA's games aren't always the best, but man they know how to market. 2K has done a miserable job in that department.
It's hard to fathom that at one point they had the best baseball, basketball, football and hockey game on the market and yet they did nothing to capitalize on that.

[kehlis]

Quote: Originally Posted by strawberryshortcake

Not from an official source, but it's one argument that may come up from time to time when the words "NFL" "License" "Exclusive" are used. Too much hassle or too difficult to deal with multiple companies making an NFL football, therefore the NFL chooses to go exclusive. Something to that extent. I'm simply saying the NFL is already controlling over 30 individual franchises, and comparing that to 2 or 3 video game makers. If the NFL can control over 30 teams, I pose the question of whether it really is that much of a hassle to monitor 2 or 3 developers. That is all.

So you are making up an argument that hasn't been made and then using it to support your argument?

That's laughable. It's not a hassle to monitor two or three game companies, it's really simple, that you and I agree with.

If that's your ammo your point is moot. Has nothing to do with any point you've brought up thus far.

[nemesis04]

Quote: Originally Posted by kehlis

So you are making up an argument that hasn't been made and then using it to support your argument? That's laughable. It's not a hassle to monitor two or three game companies, it's really simple, that you and I agree with. If that's your ammo your point is moot. Has nothing to do with any point you've brought up thus far.

Baseball did it, they had 5 or 6 going at the same time at one point.

[kehlis]

Quote: Originally Posted by nemesis04

Baseball did it, they had 5 or 6 going at the same time at one point.

I agreed with it being simple...

I don't see having multiple games as an issue at all.


I'm saying this is the first time I've EVER heard that argument used. I've never seen it given as an actual reason for exclusivity other than strawberry's speculation.

[Mendota]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Bingo. 2K really needs to work on their brand. Love them or hate them, EA's brand is world renown. It's like McDonald's or Nike. 2K never really tried to get on that same level. Did they even have a catchy slogan like "It's in the Game"? I'm no marketing expert, but maybe they could have tried to rebrand their series or attach a specific athlete to each sport? Get Jeter or Jackie Robinson, or some mega baseball star as the spokesperson for their MLB game ala Madden. Or how about community days? EA's games aren't always the best, but man they know how to market. 2K has done a miserable job in that department. It's hard to fathom that at one point they had the best baseball, basketball, football and hockey game on the market. They did nothing to capitalize on that.

Well, they did, but EA outflanked them. They dropped the price on the NFL 2K5 to $20 at launch and cut into EA's Madden sales with a much better product. EA responded by locking up the NFL license. 2K tried tit for tat by locking EA out of baseball, but with a more friendly deal that allowed for Sony to keep making their game.

The result is the loss of cash from football and wasting resources on a sport that doesn't sell even close to what football does. Sony turned The Show into a boutique title that showed off the power of the PS3 to gamers that don't even buy baseball games. 2K doesn't have the luxury of treating their baseball game as a loss leader.

I would really like to see Microsoft use baseball to balance out what Sony has been able to do with The Show. They have the High Heat license, but I really don't want another High Heat game. It was great for its time, but its gameplay is antiquated.

I assume EA will jump in eventually, but baseball would make for a poor launch title for this gen. They just are not going to convert many Show users, regardless of how good their game is, and baseball is not a strong seller for videogames.

Going after basketball was much smarter because the sport sells so much better, and they have at least been working on it for several years now. I think they will bring MVP back, but it might not even be until 2016.