Madden NFL 15 News Post

EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

11:32 AM - June 13, 2014 by RaychelSnr

While there has some some question as to the status of the exclusivity of the Madden license, owing to the fact the last mention of the license by EA only said there were a number of years left on it with no mention of exclusivity. That was never a guarantee that the license wasn't exclusive, as EA hadn't mentioned in official documents that the license was either extended or exclusive since the initial deal -- the news of the prior extension was never fully confirmed by EA.

Expecting a different approach where EA held a pomp and circumstance parade has led to a rash of unfounded rumors that another competitor, namely 2K, was developing a football game. There was even an unfounded expectation that 2K might even debut a football title at E3.

However, the biggest news to come out of the 2K camp at E3 might have been Ronnie2K confirming that not only was 2K not working on a football game, but that the license was still exclusively owned by 'someone else.'

This isn't surprising, considering the NFL license being open for other partners would have almost certainly leaked by now by someone. The current deal's term length which has been widely speculated and rumored is that Madden still has two to three years in its current deal, pushing the game well into this new generation.

It still remains unlikely, even if the license was open, that a competitor could rise up to compete with Madden in any reasonable amount of time given the more advanced needs of today's sports gaming audience. Thus, given the license's current status, it is possible that any possible competitor wouldn't be ready for release for at least 18-24 months after the license was actually acquired by someone, which puts the most reasonable timeframe for a Madden competitor at least four to five years from now, if ever. The most likely scenario remains that EA and Madden will remain the only major NFL gaming option on big box consoles for the foreseeable future.

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Member Comments

# 121 SageInfinite @ 06/14/14 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaymeeAwesome


	I would have to say you wouldn't make a good business man. Shareholders and members of the board care about one thing...$$$$$. If they heard that you had an opportunity to wipe out the competition and increase your margins, and you told them "I'll just make a better product", you would be fired immediately. All your responses are consumer minded. Brand recognition and marketing are what's keeping EA profitable, and that's all the Execs want. Money. ...and as a side note, have you not seen what M15 looks like. For the third game, in a stated 3 year cycle, it has improved. As long as they don't rip and replace next year, the future looks a little brighter.

You're entitled to you opinion.

# 122 JaymeeAwesome @ 06/14/14 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageInfinite


	You're entitled to you opinion.

This opinion has some knowledge of business behind it though. It's one of the reasons Steve Jobs was thrown out of apple in the 90s. Now the moral of the Jobs story fits your opinion of how you would run things and be successful, but that's an exception and not the rule. Not many people are Steve Jobs.

# 123 spankdatazz22 @ 06/14/14 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaymeeAwesome


	I would have to say you wouldn't make a good business man. Shareholders and members of the board care about one thing...$$$$$. If they heard that you had an opportunity to wipe out the competition and increase your margins, and you told them "I'll just make a better product", you would be fired immediately. All your responses are consumer minded. Brand recognition and marketing are what's keeping EA profitable, and that's all the Execs want. Money. ...and as a side note, have you not seen what M15 looks like. For the third game, in a stated 3 year cycle, it has improved. As long as they don't rip and replace next year, the future looks a little brighter.

I don't completely disagree, but understand Sage's point. The situation is somewhat similar to what Microsoft was doing when it was consolidating it's power base; it squashed competition. Until the government stepped in to slow their anti-competitive ways. People hated Microsoft for many of it's business practices. If Microsoft could eliminate Apple, should it? If Microsoft had eliminated Apple, do products like the iPhone or iPad ever get created? For sure, technology doesn't evolve in the way it has. Apple wasn't always the monster it is now - it was a big deal when Microsoft invested $150million to help prop up Apple (but mainly to keep the government off it's back for it's anti-competitive ways):

http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-202143.html

In the end it benefited both companies as they pushed themselves to make better products. Microsoft isn't anywhere near as reviled as it used to be, in part because they've made good products to make up for "what might've been".

Imo EA was following that same blueprint, but they haven't stepped up to make a superior product. They did what they did to kill competition, but they never did what they needed to make people forget/move on. This situation is solely their own fault. I was a huge 2K football fan and I'm bitter about what EA did. But like many others I would purchase both games because there were things in either I liked/disliked. Most people would've moved on if EA/Tiburon had done like other companies and stepped up to the plate - they haven't. Anytime I see people say "but Madden's getting better!"... it's supposed to get better. The question is where should it be. I have to post this:

Look at the interaction. Look at how organic the player movement and interaction is. Look at the sideline interaction. Listen to the play-by-play. Go to the 5:16mark and look at the replay presentation. Then understand, this isn't where Madden is (imo) even now - nor where it should be, which is 7yrs and a next gen console generation beyond this. This isn't even a licensed game, nor was it a fully 2K-efforted endeavor. That's why some people get bitter. And it's made to be worse when you have a the guy in charge of Madden puffing his chest out like they've accomplished something, and making hollow challenges.

# 124 SageInfinite @ 06/14/14 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaymeeAwesome


	This opinion has some knowledge of business behind it though. It's one of the reasons Steve Jobs was thrown out of apple in the 90s. Now the moral of the Jobs story fits your opinion of how you would run things and be successful, but that's an exception and not the rule. Not many people are Steve Jobs.

Like I said, you're entitled to your opinion, but the fact is neither you or I know how successful I would be if I were in the position. I just know my product would speak for itself.

# 125 iamgramps @ 06/14/14 08:56 AM

This was a hypothetical question posed which caused for a hypothetical response. If 2k could purchase the license, that would be his response. The key word is if. Why ridicule this man for speaking hypothetically?

# 126 Goffs @ 06/14/14 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spankdatazz22

Damn...I forgot how good the animations were for this game....watching the "next gen" madden vids they still can't get how organic/realism the players move...

I remember someone saying a long time ago how the players in Madden moved like robots. I can see what they mean now when the players just go through the motion. There's just something the way how the players interact and move on the field in 2k.

# 127 roadman @ 06/14/14 10:25 AM

On the broader spectrum, EA as a company is selling at a 52 week high of 35.68 after being a low in that period of 20.47.

A $15 jump over a year is pretty darn good if you have shares in EA. A few years ago there was a point where it was in the low 20's.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/0...oofinance&_r=0

# 128 hanzsomehanz @ 06/14/14 10:32 AM

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL_2005

An exert fron the Reception article

Quote:


	ESPN NFL 2K5 was the first in the 2K series priced at $19.99 the day it shipped, much lower than market leader Madden NFL at $49.99. This greatly reduced Madden sales that year; one EA Sports developer recalled that "[i]t scared the hell out of us".[11] EA reduced Madden NFL 2005's price to $29.95. In December 2004 EA Sports acquired an exclusive rights agreement with the NFL and NFLPA to be the sole creator of NFL video games.

EA approached the NFL out of fear and insecurity!

EA was doing less with more while 2K was doing more with less - the drop in retail prices hurt EA more because they could not afford to sell the game at this reduced cost for years to come, not with their marginal overhead costs.

2K was sly slashing their prices like they did and it showed some type of arrogance revealing that they could deliver a competitve (or better) product that cost them less in operating costs in contrast to EA's build.

2K could afford to sell their units so cheap: not the case w EA + EA was losing sales due to consumers being seduced by the marginal differene in costs yet similar product value that 2K offerre.

The price disparity was a marketing tactic 2K used to try and stomp EA and gain a competitive advantage.

Looking back, many seem to still agree that 2K afforded to do more w less compared to what Madden currently delivers and that claim alone leaves a black eye on video game football.

Had 2K sold their units on par w EA, who knows, maybe we end up in the same boat but board the ship at a later date in time opposed to December '04.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk

# 129 roadman @ 06/14/14 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamgramps


	This was a hypothetical question posed which caused for a hypothetical response. If 2k could purchase the license, that would be his response. The key word is if. Why ridicule this man for speaking hypothetically?

Yeah, I think there might be a bit of an over reaction on Rex's part. Was he over dramatic? Yes, but so was the question, plus HHG gave him a WWE belt.

If HHG was interviewing me, and gave me a WWE belt, and asked, if your wife challenges you to an arm wrestle, how would you react?

My wife and I have joked around since the end of time.

I'd probably say the same as Rex, bring it, because I know I can beat her 10 out of 10 times.

Others may feel differently on the matter.

# 130 roadman @ 06/14/14 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hanzsomehanz


	http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madden_NFL_2005 An exert fron the Reception article EA approached the NFL out of fear and insecurity! EA was doing less with more while 2K was doing more with less - the drop in retail prices hurt EA more because they could not afford to sell the game at this reduced cost for years to come, not with their marginal overhead costs. 2K was sly slashing their prices like they did and it showed some type of arrogance revealing that they could deliver a competitve (or better) product that cost them less in operating costs in contrast to EA's build. 2K could afford to sell their units so cheap: not the case w EA + EA was losing sales due to consumers being seduced by the marginal differene in costs yet similar product value that 2K offerre. The price disparity was a marketing tactic 2K used to try and stomp EA and gain a competitive advantage. Looking back, many seem to still agree that 2K afforded to do more w less compared to what Madden currently delivers and that claim alone leaves a black eye on video game football. Had 2K sold their units on par w EA, who knows, maybe we end up in the same boat but board the ship at a later date in time opposed to December '04. Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk

And as a result of the price slashing, there were reports that the NFL didn't appreciate that.

# 131 SageInfinite @ 06/14/14 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Yeah, I think there might be a bit of an over reaction on Rex's part. Was he over dramatic? Yes, but so was the question, plus HHG gave him a WWE belt. If HHG was interviewing me, and give me a WWE belt, and asked, if your wife challenges you to an arm wrestle, how would you react? My wife and I have joked around since the end of time. I'd probably say the same as Rex, bring it, because I know I can beat her 10 out of 10 times. Others may feel differently on the matter.

At least your wife has an arm to wrestle you with, lol.

# 132 roadman @ 06/14/14 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageInfinite


	At least your wife has an arm to wrestle you with, lol.

Darn near spilled my coffee on that one.

(if she's not looking over shoulder, still take her 10/10 with both eyes closed)

Bring it. lol

Anyway, just didn't think that was that much of a big deal, deal or no deal. lol (oh, my, more coffee needed)

# 133 JaymeeAwesome @ 06/14/14 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	And as a result of the price slashing, there were reports that the NFL didn't appreciate that.

I agree. I think the NFL saw that 2k was lowering the NFL brand and it made them realize that they needed exclusivity to make sure their brand was sold at a premium cost. EA probably saw the same thing and approached them. I now blame 2K for why we have no competition in football gaming. I can now see that when the NFL opens it up again, 2k may be denied license rights.

# 134 jmac7164 @ 06/14/14 10:57 AM

2K as of right now is way better then LIve for basketball
2k Could probably make a decent football game
but 2k failed at hockey and the EA game is still pretty weak

# 135 hanzsomehanz @ 06/14/14 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	And as a result of the price slashing, there were reports that the NFL didn't appreciate that.

Bingo! 2K cheapened the product!

There would be no glaring impetus for the NFL to give exclusive rights If 2K and EA were using the same price points.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk

# 136 kjcheezhead @ 06/14/14 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JaymeeAwesome


	I agree. I think the NFL saw that 2k was lowering the NFL brand and it made them realize that they needed exclusivity to make sure their brand was sold at a premium cost. EA probably saw the same thing and approached them. I now blame 2K for why we have no competition in football gaming. I can now see that when the NFL opens it up again, 2k may be denied license rights.

When the NFL opens it back up again? The NFL is married to EA now for better or worse until death do them part. EA won't face the possibility of a challenger for several more years. The ps4 will be at least 5 years old and any new game will have to be built from scratch since even APF will be 10 years old. The new game will also take 2 years of development just to deliver anything at all.

At that point, I don't see why EA would want to go exclusive. The NFL will wish 2k would want the license because how can they ask a premium price if you only have 1 potential buyer?

The situation just sucks to me. No matter how many improvements madden makes, it takes me 2 games at most to be just as competitive as I was with last year's version. It just gets boring to play. It makes me ill think this is all I'm ever going to get for football again.

# 137 DaReapa @ 06/14/14 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bxphenom7


	Someone take me to a another alternate universe where 2k still makes football games. This is ridiculously disheartening but I will continue to not purchase Madden games. I was going to wait for Madden to get its **** together, and close to the level NFL 2k5 was......a decade ago! But screw it, I'm not buying Madden at all, no matter the quality it reaches, and honestly, I feel confident in predicting it won't reach NFL 2k5's quality this gen. There needs to be competition. That's that.

Same here, man. Madden 06 (PS2 version) was the last NFL game I ever purchased...and that was because I was curious to see how EA's offering would fare since they had just began the exclusivity. For the first time in my life, I had skipped an entire console generation (the PS3/X360 era) without purchasing a single NFL based videogame. And as long as EA/NFL keeps this up and we're left with an arcade-sim as the lone option, I foresee this as becoming the second console generation that I won't be purchasing a football game. Fortunately for me, NFL 2K5 has still been holding up and getting PT to this day.

# 138 regroc88 @ 06/14/14 12:20 PM

Fact of the matter is EA sould be SAME that were Still compairing there now Next Gen Game to a Game that was made 8yrs ago. it truly a DAMN SaMe!!!

# 139 iamgramps @ 06/14/14 12:34 PM

It appears to me that 2k created this situation with their tactics of price slashing. This was an attempt to be cute and take the market share from EA and it back fired. Madden may not be the game a lot of us want, but 2k is to blame. EA fired back and gave 2k some of their own medicine. If 2k would have never opened that door and threatened the NFL brand, MAYBE an exclusive deal would not have come into play.

# 140 mellamoaaron @ 06/14/14 12:45 PM

My main gripe with EA and Madden are the animations but outside of that Madden plays a good game of football and honestly I think the past 2 iterations have been better than 2K5. Tiburon is trying to appeal to both the hardcore football fan and the casual fan and I think they're actually doing a decent job. People act like 2K would still be putting out amazing games, but their hockey and baseball games were absolute garbage.

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