Madden 2010 News Post

NFL Antitrust: What it Means for the Sports Video Game Industry

10:27 AM - April 13, 2009 by RaychelSnr

EA’s exclusive NFL license agreement could potentially be in jeopardy if apparel manufacturer American Needle Inc. has their way. Sure, it seems odd that something that has nothing to do with video games could affect them in such a large way, but it is true.

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# 41 elgreazy1 @ 04/14/09 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coogrfan


	So because you're unhappy with the state of football video games, you would be in favor of a Supreme Court ruling that would effectively tell sports leagues that they do not have the right to market their intellectual property rights as they see fit? You guys really need to think about the larger ramifications of a win by American Needle. There's a lot more at stake here than just NFL 2k__.

I understand this and I'm looking at the big picture as well. It's not just about football games or having a 2K branded football game again, it is about the whole picture.

If corporations like the NFL continue to do this it stifles the consumer. When a consumer no longer has any viable option on a product they will not always get their money's worth.

Simply put, Madden has been very below average in the last few years and that has hurt the consumer. People are being forced to purchase the only NFL product out there that comes completely bug-laden & it's an unfinished product. That is INEXCUSIBLE! How would you like if Ford was the only car company allowed in the US yet the cars were sold faulty (lacking brakes, air bags, ex’s) and that is the only option we, as the consumer, had. Doesn’t seem right in the least. That’s exactly what EA has been doing: packaging an inferior product & making millions simply because it has no competition.

If the NFL continues to get away with this, who’s to stop the NBA or NHL or NCAA from doing the same? How would you like it if one of those companies signed an exclusive rights deal on a specific console that you don’t own? So you’d be forced to either go without a product or purchase a console you don’t want (much like being forced to purchase a game you don’t want) in order to get the product you demand. I understand that’s why we have capitalism, but that ideal is broken when monopolies start coming into place.

I understand, EA bought the license because the NFL put it up for grabs, there is no harsh sentiments towards them for that because every company had the same opportunity (not really) to purchase the license. EA simply did what they had to do to keep their best product in production; that’s good & smart business. But where EA clearly crossed the line was when the maliciously went after the NCAA football, Arena Football League, & ESPN rights simply to put 2K out of business (and EA’s other minor competitors). That right there is a red flag that a monopoly or bad business practices are in place. Another sign of a monopoly was when an NFL exec bundled rights to all previous & HOF NFL players at a low cost and packaged them in an under-the-table deal to EA, thus further cutting into 2K’s game market. There are many more articles like this.http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/09/lawsuit-nflpa-conspired-with-ea-to-cheat-retired-players.ars

# 42 Swingking77 @ 04/14/09 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgreazy1


	I understand this and I'm looking at the big picture as well. It's not just about football games or having a 2K branded football game again, it is about the whole picture. If corporations like the NFL continue to do this it stifles the consumer. When a consumer no longer has any viable option on a product they will not always get their money's worth. Simply put, Madden has been very below average in the last few years and that has hurt the consumer. People are being forced to purchase the only NFL product out there that comes completely bug-laden & it's an unfinished product. That is INEXCUSIBLE! How would you like if Ford was the only car company allowed in the US yet the cars were sold faulty (lacking brakes, air bags, ex’s) and that is the only option we, as the consumer, had. Doesn’t seem right in the least. That’s exactly what EA has been doing: packaging an inferior product & making millions simply because it has no competition. If the NFL continues to get away with this, who’s to stop the NBA or NHL or NCAA from doing the same? How would you like it if one of those companies signed an exclusive rights deal on a specific console that you don’t own? So you’d be forced to either go without a product or purchase a console you don’t want (much like being forced to purchase a game you don’t want) in order to get the product you demand. I understand that’s why we have capitalism, but that ideal is broken when monopolies start coming into place. I understand, EA bought the license because the NFL put it up for grabs, there is no harsh sentiments towards them for that because every company had the same opportunity (not really) to purchase the license. EA simply did what they had to do to keep their best product in production; that’s good & smart business. But where EA clearly crossed the line was when the maliciously went after the NCAA football, Arena Football League, & ESPN rights simply to put 2K out of business (and EA’s other minor competitors). That right there is a red flag that a monopoly or bad business practices are in place. Another sign of a monopoly was when an NFL exec bundled rights to all previous & HOF NFL players at a low cost and packaged them in an under-the-table deal to EA, thus further cutting into 2K’s game market. There are many more articles like this.http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2008/09/lawsuit-nflpa-conspired-with-ea-to-cheat-retired-players.ars

Well said, and in a nutshell, the only argument that makes any sence... That being said, they did not attack 2K's ability to make a football game, only the licences to make "official" league games... Hence why I stated that they should make the generic football game and let people have total control of how to mod it... Since they're not putting out, at the very least, SOMETHING to compete with Madden they are also purpetuating the monopoly, which in the end, as you said yourself, screws gamers... As such, they're both douche bags for jamming it to the gaming community...

# 43 Swingking77 @ 04/14/09 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinny_b


	"Yuck.That would kill video football period in my opinion" EA already did that. I haven't done so much as look at a football videogame, since NFL 2k5

I'm sorry for the double post here, but could you please elaborate on why this would "kill" football video games? It's all fine and dandy to say it... But an explination would be nice...

Furthermore, if EA saw that as a result of this kind of open football game, that being exclusive means very little when pitted against a community of people willing to work at a better product TOGETHER, they would likely halt the wish for exclusivity all together... And eventually we would have pairity within video game football once again... And that goes for EA as well... Make a generic baseball game with complete custome ability... I'm on no ones side but we the consumers here... We deserve better for our hard earned (or at this point) rapidly decreasing money...

# 44 raidersbball20 @ 04/15/09 07:49 PM

this could really mess up games with having teams and logos individually bought

# 45 SouthernBrick @ 04/16/09 05:48 AM

EA is finally wising up.

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 game than 2k or at least up to that level. After the exclusive lisence EA was like well we own the NFL rights we can do whatever to make the game look flashy and sell without interuption of 2k.

Now toward the end of there exclusive rights its more about physics, sim and realism more than ever...

I may be dead wrong but its just my opinon on why we are getting the best madden(possibly football game) up to date this year.

My expectations of this madden is very high this year and they have always had the teams to do it until the exclusive rights took place, and it went downhill from there.

# 46 xylocaine @ 04/17/09 12:25 PM

please let this come true...

# 47 Swingking77 @ 04/17/09 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derrville


	Not allowed, 2K would get sued.

Not at all... EA owns the rights to NFL football, not the sport itself. It's no different then having people mod the names in NCAA sports titles... Though I woud be interested in seeing where you came up with this notion... Or are you just making an assumption here...

# 48 SBartlett @ 04/17/09 04:34 PM

The Supreme Court has asserted that they shall view each professional sports league one case at a time and each league facet at time.

So NCAA would be a whole different issue.

What the Supreme Court says is the law is the law lol. I love the ideas here though guys. I think 2k could still be able to come back with titles with full customization and some likenesses to the NFL. They have a great engine for their game, it just needs fine tuning and more features.

They have taken hits though to produce the games and so who knows what the future holds.

# 49 Brandwin @ 04/17/09 04:53 PM

Sorry, I won't buy an NFL game with out all the teams and players.

# 50 tabulaRasa @ 04/17/09 07:09 PM

Awesome if we could have more NFL games to choose from, I personally preferred NFL2k series, but in general I am for competetion, as it´s the driving force pushing games forward.

# 51 Swingking77 @ 04/17/09 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derrville


	No Someone asked the Madden devs if they could edit the uniforms but keep the logo, and EA said no cause if a vid popped out somewhere on youtube where the cowboys were pink EA would be in alot of trouble. So if EA who has the license would get in trouble, wouldnt a company that doesnt have the license expect the same?

No no... You're mistaken, this would have to be a game with NO names, and no logos what so ever... Ther would be no infringment what so ever... You're talking about editing official teams... Not subject matter

# 52 PGaither84 @ 04/17/09 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swingking77


	No no... You're mistaken, this would have to be a game with NO names, and no logos what so ever... Ther would be no infringment what so ever... You're talking about editing official teams... Not subject matter

Exactly. think Madden 64, but also with no NFLPA. Madden 64 had team San Francisco, and Team Dallas, etc. But in that game there was S. Young the QB and J. Rice the WR.

I am all for competition. I bought 2k5 on a whim before when i went in to get Madden 05. I'll give you 3 guesses which one I liked more.

# 53 coach_ruckus @ 04/20/09 02:47 PM

With back breaker getting in the mix, well see the best 2k and madden games once they are free to use nfl players

# 54 tarikre92 @ 04/20/09 06:06 PM

I agree with most of you guys completely ANY football game without the 32 teams is not a football game at all... plus if yo guys think about they have to have all the teams because US the consumers control how much money those companies make.... They wont make any money if nobody will but their gameso i wouldnt woory too much about them not having all the teams, but if anything were to happen i hope they get rid of that stupid contract, NFL 2K5 fn all the way BABY!!!!

# 55 dezznutz1001 @ 04/28/09 06:02 PM

I read a few comments and it seems people dont understand the nature of competition.

If in the NFL, only the same 4 or 5 teams are good each and every year and each and every year those teams win the SB, then no one would watch. By putting in salary caps, etc. the league makes the field more balanced and you get a better product. Just think, the salary cap is why the NFL is more popular then MLB, more good teams across the board, fewer "Yankee" type teams.

Well in business the same is true. Could you imagine if the only place you could buy a burger was at McDonalds, or the only place you could get a taco was T-Bell? That would suck. Those corporations would get lazy and wouldnt try to improve or get better due to the lack of competition.

The same goes for Madden. With 2K out of the picture there is no reason for them to improve the game or make it better in any way. EA doesnt have to look over there shoulders and wondre if someone else is making a better game. Personally, I was disapointed in this years games lack of refinement and its many, many glitches. Collinsworth is absolutely horrible. I think the game took a step back, which hurts us, the consumer.

# 56 Swingking77 @ 04/28/09 11:57 PM

I had forgotten about this thread, but to add a bit to this... I had said that 2K should have just made a generic football game, blah blah blah... Some people said it couldn't be done... Enter Ian's Super Secret Project... There is nothing that anyone can do about fans making teams and posting them online and this new project/idea for team EA prooves it... At this point, good for them, at least this idea should at the very least SHOW people that editing blank teams/players is allowed... Now if only Take 2 were aware of this...

# 57 Valdarez @ 04/29/09 12:55 AM

Professional sports are unlike any other intellectual property in the sense that they are already a virtual monopoly. It's one thing to let the sports monopolies live, but they shouldn't be allowed to create other monopolies in the process.

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