EA Sports vs. 2K Sports: The Battle to Decide the Future of Virtual Football - jWILL253's Blog

jWILL253's Blog

EA Sports vs. 2K Sports: The Battle to Decide the Future of Virtual Football

Posted on April 14, 2009 at 08:15 PM.

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For those who have been following sports gaming, you all know of the constant EA Sports/2K Sports battle for supremacy. But the battle isn't between the entire companies as a whole, but rather between Madden NFL & NFL 2K. Ever since 2005, there has been constant comparisons between the two virtual football giants.

Now, I am a balanced sports gamer. I don't bounce to one side, or the other. But, there are a lot of "fanboys" out there. I can safely say that there are more fanboys in 2K's side than EA's. The number of those fanboys increases with every exclusive release of Madden. I don't like to go backwards when it comes to sports games, but sometimes I will find myself playing NFL 2K5 sometimes. But, I look for new and innovative apps, so I continue to play Madden.

But, which is better? Madden, the exclusive, sometimes subpar NFL giant? Or is it the old, outdated, but still-enjoyable NFL 2K5?

Madden NFL (EA Sports)

Now, Madden is a tricky game. There are a lot of times where Madden will impress me. However, there are also a lot of times (but there has been less ever since Madden 09 came out) that Madden frustrates me. Because EA currently holds the monopoly of the NFL license, there are a lot of people that are screaming murder, saying that its unfair to 2K Sports.

Because of that fact, Madden literally has all of the tools to make a great football sim. With the NFLPA behind them, and the blessing of John Madden himself, Madden could blow everyone out of the water.

But that doesn't mean they always use those resources. For example:

For a game that has John Madden's name on it, they seem to use him less and less with every new next-gen release.
At times, Madden seems to lack dept. Ever since Madden 06, they have been hitting us with the "Back-of-the-Box" features that have been unbalancing the game, and turning Madden into an arcade game.
The game seems to get less and less realistic every year. From O-Line blocking, to warp tackles, to 8 broken tackles just to get 5 yards.
Presentation. Madden on the PS2/Xbox/GC had really good presentation. Al Michaels and John Madden actually commentated during the game (although a bit repetitively). The replays used to be analyzed, and Backtrack was a return to that. Stat overlays, however, are still too vague to fathom, if they appear.
Ratings. What do they mean? All the ratings do is make one player better than the other. They don't, however, make the A.I. force the CPU-controlled player to act like its real-life counterpart.

But, that doesn't mean EA doesn't have anything going for it:

Authentic playbooks, authentic stadiums, authentic jerseys.
Graphics. Although the players move somewhat like robots, the player models are amazing...
Recently, with people like Ian Cummings and Phil Frazier, EA has been doing an outstanding job of listening to the community at OS. In my honest opinion, David Ortiz seemed to turn a deaf ear to the critical, and instead listen to the fanboys.

NFL 2K5/All-Pro Football 2K8 (2K Sports)

If I were anyone at EA Tiburon, I would be embarrassed to be constantly compared to a game that is 5 years old. But, its within reason. NFL 2K5 is a pretty good game. Key words: pretty good. There are a lot of fanboys out there that say 2K5 is head and shoulders above Madden, which just isn't true.

Some things 2K5 has going for it:

In sports gaming, it's the little things that make an authentic experience. 2K5 has that, hands down. From the player interactions in between plays, to the touchdown celebrations with the fans.
Gameplay. The blocking is great, the running back play is great, the QB play is great, the physics are great, and the AI is decent.
Presentation. ESPN is the king of sports brodcasting. They got everything right from the commentating, the replays, to the stat overlays.

Not to say 2K5 doesn't have it's faults:

The game isn't the prettiest of them all.
Controls and accessability. While EA has always made games for the mass market as well as the hardore, 2K5 is pretty much hardcore only. EA has simple controlls, while 2K5 has always been complex.

My perfect sports football game has the best of both worlds: great graphics, great presentation, great gameplay. It's what makes MLB 09: The Show such a great game, as well as NHL 09.

We all know that EA is feeding us constant information on Madden NFL 10. It seems they are making the most effort than they have ever before. But, I was reading the article on the NFL Anti-Trust laws, and I was surprised at some of the comments. Some people are willing to play a game with only 16 or so teams if a bidding war is allowed between teams and third-party game developers, just because they don't like Madden. If that is the case, then there needs to be a monopoly because you can't have the NFL experience without all of the teams.

The exclusive license ends soon. Will virtual football die end with it? Time will tell...

What do you think? What does EA need to do to create a quality game? What does 2K need to do to "reclaim" the top spot? Post your comments...

Comments

# 1 LBzrule @ Apr 14

Right now I'd say EA has the framework to make a killer game. They are focused and serious. When/If 2k ever gets back in this game, I think they just need to update their tech and keep the visions they had previously. Man with the way EA is this year and if 2k was also making an NFL game it would be straight beast.

# 2 jWILL253 @ Apr 14

When/If 2K starts competing with EA Sports in the football department, it will be like a heavyweight boxing match. Except EA will be past it's prime, and 2K would be fresh out of retirement.

# 3 CeltBhoy33 @ Apr 14

We are very much alike. I to am very balanced I enjoyed reading this man.
You had some good points for both sides.

# 4 SageInfinite @ Apr 14

Good blog. I'm pretty confident EA will bring it this year, I think if EA brings it, it will make people bring up 2k5/apf less. Also I'd just like to add that at the time NFL 2k5 came out it, it was the best looking game hands down.

# 5 jWILL253 @ Apr 14

Yeah, SageInfinite. But you also have to account for APF 2K8. Compare that to Madden 09 (or 08, but EA would lose the 08 battle).

# 6 MRBDX @ Apr 15

If EA wins (in the long run). It won't be because they made a better game. It will be because they "cheated" and payed millions for the exclusive NFL license and shut 2K out of contention.

I tell my friends to this day. That was a move that was made to save EA as a company. Because 2K football was that damn good! 2K was fast approaching on Maddens turf. When they lowered the price to $20 that was IT! Shortly thereafter EA bitched up and bought the NFL license. It's was equivalent to Mike Tyson biting Holyfields ear. EA was Mike and 2K was Holifield.

# 7 jWILL253 @ Apr 15

MRBDX,

It's a little thing called "business". I'm sure if 2K bought the NFL license, there would be a lot of EA fanboys crying wolf, too.

Newsflash: 2K Sports isn't as good as everyone says.

If you do your research, you will see that EA has the technology and power to make great sports games. And, they have developers that have the drive to make quality product. But, those same developers have fallen victim to their own company's cheap PR and marketing strategy.

We need to stop regarding to EA as the biggest evil, or people will start regarding to 2K as the biggest losers...

# 8 SouthernBrick @ Apr 15

While I do appreciate Ian and crew for trying to make the best madden yet. I can't help but, think EA is finally wising up to make a good football (key word football) game b/c there time is running out.

Its 2009 and the exclusive rights are up in 2011 or 2012 maybe. I look at this and possibly see panic if they lose that exclusive lisence. Thats why they put a hard working dedicated team to make M10 look and play b/c it better play better than 2k sports football games.

# 9 SouthernBrick @ Apr 15

Also good blog. Really pointed out the flaws but 2k right now is still winning in terms of a sim football game. The blocking, running, physics, etc. make 2k better than madden for a hardcore player.

I have enjoyed playing madden, but if I had a choice i would play 2k5.

Maybe madden 10 will change that..

# 10 jWILL253 @ Apr 15

AnyGivenSunday,

It may just be a bit of panic. But, until Ian Cummings comments on this blog, we will never know.

Madden 10 will be a good game IMO. But, it will take another year, or two, for Madden to be outstanding...

# 11 SouthernBrick @ Apr 15

I don't know if he will or not, but regaurdless all i want is the best madden up to date to play either up to par as 2k or better. We dont need no repeat of last year.

But my theory does make sense since the exclusive rights are maybe coming to a end and if they leave football fans with a bad taste in there mouth about madden. If EA comes back with another horrible madden in 2011 or 12 then 2k gets alot sells and 2k will take over once more with a great game and drop prices on em. now thats a sells pitch to make a better game early.

EA would rather be safe than sorry and go head and make a bomb *** football simulation game than wait until 2011 or 2012 to try to be up to par with 2k if they lose the lisence.

# 12 jWILL253 @ Apr 15

This is also a matter of coincidence. David Ortiz left EA right before the release of Madden 09. So, it may just be that EA had really good timing with hiring new staff, and switching goals...

# 13 SouthernBrick @ Apr 15

Yeah that also could be coincidence, but EA just seems like that type of company that knows when to hold em and when to fold em. They have been holding for a long time with the back of the box features and the dev's probably have to bend to there ways.

But now that the time is getting closer that they may lose there Exclusive Rights they are now folding and bending to our ways rather than there's.
They have heard our voice and they are responding b/c they know if they lose that Lisence that 2k may come back strong and they don't want that.

To EA its all about sales, but now that they see that 2k can eventually take alot of money from them if they lose this battle in the football genre.

And thats not in EA's best interest and now they know they have to just straight up make a better than 2k or at least up to that level. In the begining EA was like well we own the football industry we can do whatever to make the game look flashy and sell without interuption of 2k.

Now toward the end its more about physics, sim and realism more than ever...

# 14 jWILL253 @ Apr 15

Good points. But, EA doesn't just need Madden. They still have FIFA and NHL to use for success. However, it would be disappointing to see Madden go down the drain.

It's not like 2K would be any different. If they owned the basketball market, they would make horrible versions of NBA 2K...

# 15 SouthernBrick @ Apr 15

Yeah thats why I said football genre. EA by no means will go broke or bankrupt or even lose millions and millions over 2k in the football department. People regaudless of a 2k comeback will buy madden and millions of copies will be sold.

Also like you say there they have Fifa, NHL, Need for speed, and other titles to lean on they are a Juggernaut when in the gaming industry. But EA is not going to take 2k's return (if there is a return lightly).

2k even after all these years still remains a threat and they don't want to take alot of chances no matter how small, even if it is one genre department.

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