EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

[tsbmolina]

Has anyone stopped to consider maybe 2K intentionally did not want the rights quite yet and let EA grab the exclusivity for 2-3 more years because 2K knew that's how long it would take them to develop a game. Perhaps they are timing it so that when the deal comes back up they will be ready with a game. Why on earth would 2K buy what's an expensive license this year and not have a game ready until 2016?

[HingleMcCringleberry]

Quote: Originally Posted by tsbmolina

Has anyone stopped to consider maybe 2K intentionally did not want the rights quite yet and let EA grab the exclusivity for 2-3 more years because 2K knew that's how long it would take them to develop a game. Perhaps they are timing it so that when the deal comes back up they will be ready with a game. Why on earth would 2K buy what's an expensive license this year and not have a game ready until 2016?

It is possible, though I wouldn't hold my breath. Both EA and the NFL are two power hungry corporations that don't seem to care about the consumer at all. The execs only care about lining their own pockets with an extra few zeros on their bonus checks. As long as the money is still there for both of them, nothing will change.

[tsbmolina]

Quote: Originally Posted by HingleMcCringleberry

It is possible, though I wouldn't hold my breath. Both EA and the NFL are two power hungry corporations that don't seem to care about the consumer at all. The execs only care about lining their own pockets with an extra few zeros on their bonus checks. As long as the money is still there for both of them, nothing will change.

Good point but my question is what if 2K offered to pay what EA is paying for the license and double what the NFL is banking for the license from 30-50 million for one developer to 60-100 million for two developers. Would the NFL be so in love with EA to not take the money? I think not!

[24]

This wouldn't be as depressing if It wasn't for the fact that EA continually puts out an average product. The New Madden's are never great but they are never terrible either. They are just in between. I popped in 2K5 into my 360 today and played a quick game. While The graphics were little dated (That's to be expected considering it's 10 years old) It certainly didn't look bad. It played amazingly well and once the game was finished I was satsified that I got an adequate Football gaming experience.

I throw in Madden 25 into my PS4, and While I enjoyed the game I played, I kept looking for something more. That's the way I've felt about Madden since 2009. The game itself is good, It's just missing something.

[kjcheezhead]

Quote: Originally Posted by tsbmolina

Has anyone stopped to consider maybe 2K intentionally did not want the rights quite yet and let EA grab the exclusivity for 2-3 more years because 2K knew that's how long it would take them to develop a game. Perhaps they are timing it so that when the deal comes back up they will be ready with a game. Why on earth would 2K buy what's an expensive license this year and not have a game ready until 2016?

I suppose it's possible but 2k knew the license was up after this year. It would've made more sense to approach the NFL two years ago so their game would be ready now when the ps4 and Xbox1 one are just getting started. EA had to recode or port madden to these consoles so this is about as level of a playing field as they could hope for.

I think this was our last realistic window for a competitor. I'm a little surprised the NFL would go exclusive for so long. EA holds are the cards when negotiating the price now. This isn't apparel where Nike can replace Reebok in a month or so. But the NFL must know something I don't. They're pretty good at making money.

[Jerros]

Simple formula for 2k to get back into making football games. Make a fully customizable game with realistic graphics. You can get around the license issue by allowing gamers to re-create the NFL through total customization. Add in full player editing such as skin tones, hairstyles and facial features along with the other stuff such as weight, height and stats and you're set. This would allow the gamer to re-create a player's likness. Facial scans wouldn't matter because football players are in the helmets most of the time anyway. But FULL customization like BackBreaker and you have a brand new NFL game without the license. Plain and simple, no more excuses. I have an extensive write up about this with a ton of features that would make this game potenitally revolutionary. We all know they have the graphics engine. Either they want to make a game or they just no longer care. But there's really no excuse in my eyes. Move on, EA has the license, time for 2k to exploit the customization loophole and give us a game.

[Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by kjcheezhead

I'm a little surprised the NFL would go exclusive for so long.

The NFL is far from a stranger to exclusivity agreements - be it apparel, beer, soda, credit cards, or anything else. Not sure why the NFL continuing an exclusive arrangement in video games which continues to prove lucrative for the league would surprise anyone.

[Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by bukktown

I don't know what other words to use to describe it but over-designed. Maybe they don't have too many designers, just bad ones?

From my perspective, Madden has historically (late 00s) endured problems due to inconsistency in game design. The best examples of this are the first few games on the 360, the game couldn't decide what it wanted to be. It had some elements of wanting to be a simulation, but juxtaposed with the implementation of weapons, the emphasis on RingBuilder, no concept whatsoever of teaching new users how to play the game, and an overall focus on the competitive online scene over all else, it was quite reasonable to question just how much the football actually mattered to the game Tiburon was making, vs. just wanting to make a culture piece and something for established tourney players, without making much of an effort to cultivate the Madden community on its own merits because, well, it was Madden and they didn't need to.

I think that Ian Cummings' team's lasting legacy on Madden franchise was redirecting that focus away from that online-only focus into in a direction more oriented towards realism and accessibility. Varying degrees of success each year, sure, but put any Madden before M10 side-by-side with any Madden after M10 and IMO the difference in overall cohesiveness and quality of the two eras of games is painfully obvious.