EA Sports and the NFL "Still Have a Number of Years" on License

[PacMan3000]

Quote: Originally Posted by bspang2

I really have no words.... EA is ruining sports gaming. NFL deserves some of the blame in regards to how they conduct business in terms of "exclusivity". EA business wise came up a winner in creating this monopoloy on the Football Sim gaming world. EA disappoints each year with Madden and every year for the past 10 years we keep seeing comments like "Madden is now moving in the right direction" .... at what point are they actually going to end up at desired destination? EA couldn't careless about its consumers and developing a game we deserve. I personally would pay $100 for a NFL2k next-gen Football game instead of a $60 crap game EA puts out each year (not worth $60 btw). IDK thats just my opinion....

Eh...partly. I dunno. EA and the NFL are to blame, but so are we. Look, I'm not saying we rise up and take to the streets like this is Occupy Wall Street, but there's a LOT more we could do and say in order to make an attempt to enact change.

If consumers do nothing, at all, then why should you really expect change? This is a business, guys. And businesses aren't going to just give you something because, well, it's the right thing to do or it makes us feel happy. Just doesn't work that way.

I'm not defending EA in the slightest--I'm just putting the onus to enact change on the consumers, for once.

[bspang2]

Quote: Originally Posted by PacMan3000

Eh...partly. I dunno. EA and the NFL are to blame, but so are we. Look, I'm not saying we rise up and take to the streets like this is Occupy Wall Street, but there's a LOT more we could do and say in order to make an attempt to enact change. If consumers do nothing, at all, then why should you really expect change? This is a business, guys. And businesses aren't going to just give you something because, well, it's the right thing to do or it makes us feel happy. Just doesn't work that way. I'm not defending EA in the slightest--I'm just putting the onus to enact change on the consumers, for once.

Good point sir!

[bspang2]

Quote: Originally Posted by JaymeeAwesome

Based on? You are trying to correlate more choices to football gaming in general. These two things can't be compared. Having more than one choice doesn't necessarily mean better. Sometimes only having one choice makes it easier on the consumer who may be afraid that they might choose a football game they may not like. I know I enjoy only having one choice...mostly because when I have multiple choices I always end up picking the wrong one.

I believe @thebuddyhobbs point was games were better when there was competition. Today there is no competition leading to nickle and dime development and no real leaps in graphics/gameplay because EA knows they can put out anything they want and all us die hard Madden folks will buy it bc we have no other choice. EA is on cruise control when it comes to putting out a new Madden game each year, there's no threat or competition to push for a truly innovative Madden game.

[FaceMask]

Quote: Originally Posted by PacMan3000

Eh...partly. I dunno. EA and the NFL are to blame, but so are we. Look, I'm not saying we rise up and take to the streets like this is Occupy Wall Street, but there's a LOT more we could do and say in order to make an attempt to enact change. If consumers do nothing, at all, then why should you really expect change? This is a business, guys. And businesses aren't going to just give you something because, well, it's the right thing to do or it makes us feel happy. Just doesn't work that way. I'm not defending EA in the slightest--I'm just putting the onus to enact change on the consumers, for once.

Madden's sales took a big hit this year, so there is some response there. But I agree that gamers haven't done much to support alternatives that have come up over the years. I think most are waiting for a game to emerge and be better than Madden overnight, but this is a fairy tale that will never happen.

[WillNotLie]

Correct me if I'm wrong. But EA and the NFL stated the Exclusive license was extended, by year, a year ago. The "exclusive" part my be gone, but they might have had an agreement in place to produce titles after said agreement just not "EXCLUSIVE". That would be my 2 cents on this. Now I do believe they still have some NFLPA exclusiveness going. But If I was a betting man, I'd bet the NFL license can be purchased by outside parties now.

[WillNotLie]

Quote: Originally Posted by JaymeeAwesome

Based on? You are trying to correlate more choices to football gaming in general. These two things can't be compared. Having more than one choice doesn't necessarily mean better. Sometimes only having one choice makes it easier on the consumer who may be afraid that they might choose a football game they may not like. I know I enjoy only having one choice...mostly because when I have multiple choices I always end up picking the wrong one.

Glad, you only speak for your self. I for one CAN NOT STAND only having on product to choose from. Furthermore, I don't like to see innovation stunted by the lack of effort EA has shown with this license.

[Midi]

I cannot tell a lie I was hoping that with the dawn of the next gen consoles two things would happen. 2Ksports would make a football game or all the youtubers would ban together start a kickstarter fund and pay 2Ksports to make a football game. Madden 25 is not a SIM and with all the patches and new engines and advice from customers it does not look like it ever will be. The truth is we have all suffered year after year since the exclusive NFL license was purchased by EA and this news just mean it will continue. I read the wall street outlook on EA and each forecaster believed in EA going forward and one of their reasons was the retaining of the NFL license and Madden. SMH. We all know how it should go down.......just think of eve online but as a football game......
24 friends get together and start a league. Its on a dedicated server. A commish and a asst commish are selected. 24 squads. 6 divisions. 2 conferences. Our server Our rules. all within the parameters. Names of teams are selected, logos created. each team is allowed a three color combination. Pick your stadium and you design it. The commish approves and draft day is set. You can auto draft, or do it by phone, tablet, pc, or console. The coaches you select determine the type of team you want and hence how you should draft. Fast athletic offensive line that pulls and traps? Its west coat style..short passes, long runs.Strong arm accurate passer with little mobility and mean nasty offensive line? its the air raid.. Mean pass rush with two shut down corners fast linebackers and hard hitting cover safeties? its the cover 2 defense. Its all up to the owner. each boxed disc of the game comes with a license to play. Dont have the time to ball? Sell your license to the highest bidder and move on. there are no yearly retreads of this game pressed on new discs only updates and some leagues are pay to play. The graphics are what was presented at E32013 in the EA private room, not what eventually came to console. The physics are based on backbreaker. games are broadcast on twitch and since its a dedicated server if owners want to pay for it, highlights are stored. you play the league leader next? watch his last game on broadcast or download his highlights. then create a game plan. you can create your own playbook, download a book or use the generic one. Its all up to you... weather.com provides the weather in real time before each game. cant play this week ? no problem the cloud knows your style and will follow your game plan to the letter just like it was you. your on the road this week so you practice certain play over and over and as such it shows on gameday. he runs a 3-4 and likes to blitz on second down, you went with two tight ends and kill him all day with strong power left right at the blitz and then a tight end screen to cross em up. no tackle is the same, no animated result of plays. no automatic injuries to star players that you keep going to on 3rd down. you drafted your o line to block and they do just that better on the right than the left but you will address that in next years draft. global warming plays its part and the weather changes..sun turns to rain and the field is a mess. you hit change game plan and a menu comes up. bad weather run, comeback via pass, burn clock or feature a player? time for bad weather run. theres a safe handoff and a standard one, you use standard and it results in a fumble. you barely get it back but now your in bad field position. game plan says screen right power tight end fake block left. one more first down and the game is over you can kill the clock. you run it. the d lineman barely grabs your backs jersey it rips.. your back slips in the mud no first down, you have to punt. all week a ad for under armour cleats kept popping up you had plenty of in game credits to use but passed. you lose. after the game a box asks if you want this to be your rival? rivalries are harder fought games with more dramatic outcomes but pay higher in game credit rewards if you win. you click yes. its on . next time you get em at home and you'll take em. your real life cell phone rings, its your in game scout with a wide receiver who has decided to leave college...lightning quick with great hands,you press scout him...cool.. But for now? time to look at highlights and injury reports to get ready for next week.... the louisiana air raid will be in town.... this is SIMULATION FOOTBALL.... NFL LICENSE BE DAMNED.....

[SageInfinite]

Quote: Originally Posted by MMChrisS

Long story short: EA probably has the deal locked down until the end of time (or until they decide they don't want it).