EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

A truly sad day for videogames. I couldnt even read the whole article, I threw up about 1/4 way through...be prepared to be seirously let down....

http://sports.ign.com/articles/572/572886p1.html

"December 13, 2004 - Just when you thought ESPN Videogames was catching up, in one move, they've never been farther behind. Electronic Arts announced today an exclusive licensing agreement with the National Football League and Players Inc. to develop, publish, and distribute interactive football games. These agreements give EA the exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums, and players for use in its football video games for the next five years.


You read that right…exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums, and players.

Meaning no ESPN NFL 2K6, no more NFL GameDay, and bye-bye NFL Blitz. All football fans will be left with are Madden, NFL Street, and a new unannounced football management game that is in the works from, you guessed it, EA Sports.

"All of our data shows that there is a huge market for manager-style games," said Jeff Brown, Director of Corporate Communications for Electronic Arts, "and you could see a new type of football game from EA."

The agreement also provides the opportunity for new games and for EA to access both NFL Films and the NFL Network for use in the games.

"We are pleased to expand our agreement with Electronic Arts, the leading video game manufacturer and a valued NFL partner," said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "We look forward to working with EA to continue to enhance the quality of NFL video games that our fans have enjoyed for many years."

"For more than a decade, EA has produced the most authentic football product for fans of the game" said Players Inc. Chairman Gene Upshaw. "This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game."

"We are excited about the opportunity to further enhance our relationship with the NFL and Players Inc." said Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts. "The five-year agreements will usher NFL fans through the console technology transition with new ideas and innovative game play experiences."

The agreement covers consoles, PC, and handheld systems, as well as console online features. The agreement does not include other games available on the Internet or wireless devices, including cellular phones.

"We (EA) have proposed exclusivity several times in the past, but this year, in the spring the NFL had an off-site meeting, and they decided to consider bids for exclusivity," Brown told IGN in an exclusive interview. "Several bids were submitted but they accepted EA's. I cannot tell you how much this cost, but exclusivity is expensive, we are paying a premium. It wasn't cheap. I can tell you this, though, all parties all happy with this agreement, and Wall Street seems happy with it too."

Brown continued: "Look at what else EA has done, look at FIFA, PGA Golf Tour and NASCAR, we have exclusivity rights for all those licenses as well."

"The reason that you're noticing a certain vagueness to the language in the press release is because the license deals do not include smaller games such as Atari's Backyard Football; it's not subject to this agreement due to their numbers. And any wireless game or cell phone game is not part of the deal either."

Also not part of the deal are, obviously, non-licensed football games. The first company to come forward to IGN with such a game is Midway, makers of classic sports titles like NFL Blitz and NBA Jam.

Midway has hired the writer of the show "Playmakers" to develop a new title, Blitz: Playmakers. The game will feature everything the NFL hated about the TV show, including drug use, and off-the-field habits the NFL likes to pretend never happens.

According to an interview earlier this year with Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, an NFL spokesperson confirmed that they were through working with Midway: "Midway has been quietly dropped in a 'mutual decision' as an NFL video game licensee after years of controversy over the level of violence in its NFL Blitz game."

When IGN contacted Midway about the rumored Blitz: Playmakers, a spokesperson confirmed the game's existence and told us: "Enough of the 'No Fun League'…it's now time to talk about and prepare for the game the NFL wouldn't let anyone make…Blitz the way it should be played."



The first image of Blitz: Playmakers.




Whether or not ESPN, 989, and Microsoft follow Midway's lead and develop football games without the license remains to be seen.

On a scarier note for these same publishers, rumors are already circulating that EA is attempting to negotiate similar deals with the NBA and Major League Baseball. When IGN contacted Trudy Muller, spokesperson for Electronic Arts about these rumors, she told us: "We cannot speculate at this time about any further plans these other leagues may have."
An ominous sign for sports game publishers everywhere to say the least.

Check back to IGN Sports for the latest on this genre-shattering deal."

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

This is a great step downwards in the chain of videogame sports evolution. :(

Only +rep can turn my frown upside down. :(

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Not even +rep could turn it for alot of people. This is a very bad decision by the NFL. No competition means EA could ****up Madden 2006 all they want but they will still make millions off it.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

And I still haven't played more than 10 minutes of football games throughout the years, combined.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Ive always disliked Electronic Arts, but now I simply despise them.

I wonder how much EA had to fork over for this one...

Im not going to buy another Electronic Arts title. Ever. Wont do anygood because nobody will follow suit, but im still doing it.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I hate Madden so I guess there'll be no more Football games for me :)

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Which would mean that the NFL would be rolling in the dough, too, correct? The NFL cares jack about how good the games are. Business, people, business.


*shrugs and walks away*

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

:Puke:

Wow. way to **** on the consumers EA. Couldn't beat Sega so they just did what they always do, throw a bunch of money at the problem and make it go away.

Lazy ass mutha ****as.

Didn't they try to do this last year too? I thought they got like exclusive NFLPA rights for the 2005 games and then it got shot down.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Meh... I always liked Madden better than the 2K series...

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Same.

:D

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Ok.

Fine.

Now EA has ZERO reason to improve the series though.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Self gratification and betterment?

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Not if all they have to do is update the rosters to get suckers to buy these games every year. Throw in a few meaningless gimmicks that they have access to as a result of this deal and boom, virtual money machine.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Not to seemingly be a post whore...but this is what EA has ALWAYS done.

Remember back to the ond Sega NHL games?

The only reason things were differnet was because of expansion. Thats all. Expansion=updated rosters.

What about the old Madden games?
New sounds and rosters.

Sure they change little things, sometimes they change alot, sometimes not.

Like NHL 92 (I think) didnt have a season, or playoff mode.
NHL 93 (or 94) had blood.
NHL 94 or 95 was the introduction of double minor penalties.

See? Minor changes.

Thats all sports games are. Roster updates, and a few graphic changes, and gameplay.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

as long as they continue to make Madden better, this wont affect me in any way.

if they dont, then I'll be pissed.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I've put about 500 hours into EA Sports titles over the past 20 months or so

The games may be very similar to the previous incarnation, but I still find that I get more quality gaming out of a few EA Sports titles than I do every other game minus one blockbuster each year.

Different strokes for different folks...

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I'll be purchasing Madden 2006 to start a dynasty with the Steelers. Unless I purchase a new system, that will be the last football game I probably will ever buy.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I despise everything EA stands for, and I think the quality of their games are low. They have lots of money, and they appeal to the general masses. The general masses are retarded, unfortunately. If EA can buy the rights for NFL teams, imagine what else they can buy.......

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Battlefield
SSX
Need For Speed

^^ those series are pure quality, I dont care who you are or what your gaming preferences are

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I think some people don't give EA enough credit...

As Stu mentioned, NFS, SSX... I'd like to add Medal of Honor (although some would disagree, specifically on the console games)... The Sims/Simcity...

However I don't like the idea of the only NFL football game being madden... I always liked Sega's better...

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Medal of Honour is awesome on consoles!!

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I agree, I actually prefer the two PS2 games to allied assault (havn't even finished it, whereas I played Frontline's missions over and over and over... and over and over...), but most people I've heard say AA is the best :p Although apparently the new PC game (pacific assault) isn't too great... havn't played it yet though...

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Yeah, Medal Of Honor Rocks, almost as much as the James Bond Series. Oh man, EA kicks Rare's ass. Up and down. The fact that all of EAs games all follow the same forumla makes them even better guys! I mean, it's like you get to pay 50 dollars for the same game 14 times! I love spending lots of money on the same thing, that's why I choose EA. F*ck all those developers that focus on innovations and new ideas, old school and lack of inovation all the way! And EA's approach to sports games, adding maybe 2 new things every year and charging full price for a clone of the same game, totally awesome! Better then Sega's cheaper games! Totally awesome guys, totally awesome.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Ok then Mr. Smartypants.

What are the differences in Sega's last sports games?
What about Sega's second series games?

Games are just updates. Thats all they are.

If one game follows another game, its just an updated game.

Halo 2? ( i know) I could Live with the Origional Halo. Whats different with it? Storyline and Graphics? So what.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Hey Killer,

I love how some people (like myself) enjoy EA's games (:)) meanwhile top EA managers are making millions of dollars ($$$) and people like yourself whine and hate.

I just love it :D

:banana:

dont you?

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Sega's sports games where considerably cheaper at launch, they were not 50 dollars. The difference is Sega didn't make you pay full price for an updated roster and a few new features, whereas every new EA title to hit the market launches at 50 dollars.

You're dead on with sequals being updates. That's precisely why the gaming industry has gone stale.

Considering the fact that all 3 consoles have online capabilities, new rosters should be included as downloadable content for maybe 5-10 dollars. You shouldn't have to go drop 50 dollars to get an updated roster.

I do, because in a few years, when EA has total dominince of the market, and you have to pay 50 dollars every year for an updated roster, everyone will be happy.

I'm trying to take the consumer side. If you want to support the corporal whores, so be it. EA is a powerful company, and the amount of crap they have released easily outweighs the good things they have released. They have ruined several series, and their approach to releasing games is humiliating to the industry in general.

EA seems to aim for a yearly sequal. That leaves little time for actual developement, and you get rehash after rehash. I wouldn't mind if we got a new football game every 3 or 4 years, and if you could just download an updated roster. If you disagree with me, fine. I'm not telling you to agree with me. I'm just pointing out that EA is weakening the industry.

Edit: And EA has done some good things. Clive Barker's Undying is one of the best First Person Shooters ever made. The SSX series is amazing, and Battlefield, despite borrowing many ideas from Tribes, took massive online FPSs to the next level. I don't deny that EA has done good things, it's just that they have fallen into a pattern of releasing a lot of bad games. And as you have probably gathered, I dislike their other habit of releasing annual sequals with very little new content, and making it a new game. I really would like to see a push for downloadable rosters or something...or not charging 50 dollars at launch - because what really justifies that cost?

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

EA doesnt force consumers to buy their products. Apparently everyone that's ever bought an EA product enjoys pure crap? If so, either join the party or start your own. EA demonstrates smart business, whether you like it or not. And smart business starts with finding a market and building, rebuilding, building, rebuilding, etc.

They have the money they do because they have served the consumer. This "pointing out that EA is weakening the industry" is completely subjective to each individual, so dont even bother with that. More people are partial to EA products than SEGA products like Seaman or Samba De Amigo, for a combination of reasons...one being advertising and publicity, something which money CAN buy, yes. But that's business.

If EA's growth and expansion TRULY affects you negatively, that's simply unfortunate. Nobody's fault...just unfortunate. I find it hard to believe it's worth the fit you're making over it.

oh, and about "me HAVING to spend $50 every year for roster updates" even if that WAS the case, I would make those fifty dollars in the amount of time you'd take complaining about it ;)

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

That's fine.

I'm just a hardcore gamer who has played both the EA titles and the Sega titles, and I can happily say that Sega gave me more bang for a better price.

And same goes to almost every other genre, aside from maybe Snowboarding, that EA has gotten their hands on.

EA targets the masses.

And, just for irony’s sake, you could substitute all the EAs in your first paragraph with Mircosoft.

Just think about corporate powers and what they end up doing over time.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

So what?

I have both EA NHL 2005, and ESPN 2k5.

In my head, and with all of my friends, Its no contest that EA wins.

You know why Sega sports games are cheaper? Because 30 bucks is all they're worth. I wouldnt pay the price of an EA game for NHL 2k6. Not a chance.

But yes, if you scale it down, with Sega Sports games you do get more "bang for your buck" because They are barely worth the price on the shelf.

With EA, for any title, you know your getting a good game.

Who cares if EA owns the market? Not me. I like their games. If you care so much about how they dominate the gaming industry, why not fork over the dough to another brand so they can make better games.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Hey, been there done that. Ive been an avid Sega supporter for years, because their games are usually great, and we all know how Sega is doing these days. And like I said, I wont buy another EA game. And Im sure as hell standing by that. Im not sure about the rest of you, but I dont want to be playing crappy Bond, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter games exclusivly for the rest of my life. Because thats all EA really makes. EA couldnt make an good origional idea of their own, because all they do is get big liscenses and turn them into mediocre games. And thats all their games all...bought out liscenses turned into mediocre games...That and EA seems to constantly be buying out companies...Maxis comes to mind. EA is nothing but an utter whore of a company that I want nothing to do with. Whats next? "EA buys the FPS genre" ?

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

DOes EA have any actual origianl characters of their own that people know them by?
Capcom: Megaman, Dante, Viewtiful Joe, others
Yadda yadda yadda.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

John Madden is one of their original characters.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

See that's the odd thing, they don't have any that I can think of...

But does it really matter? Are you gonna hold that against them?

If we really got to know the guy you play as in MoH, would it make the game better?

Would it be an improvement for The Sims if you got to select from 2 or 3 different sims with specific personalities rather than create your own, for the sake of having a mascot?

Would battlefield be better if each soldier had more PAZZAAZZZZ rather than being anonymous soldier ###?

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

Yep. Knowing the character you're guiding is essential to true enjoyment. You can sit here and tell me that controlling unknown Sims, Medal of Honor man, and Battlefield soldiers is just as fun as controlling Mario, Link, or MegaMan but I know just as well as the next man that it's just a filthy lie to defend an impersonal gaming company. The games that receive 9's and 10's or get labeled as 'Legendary' or 'Platnium One Hit Wonders' are all games with well known lead characters. It's not brain surgery, just a simple, well known formula: Humans associate better with things they know then things they don't know.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

game sales say otherwise.

I'm not defending any company...it's a fact

What EA doing is smart business, and no one can blame them of taking advantage of an opportunity like this. EA made their money in the videogame industry...it's not like General Electric decided to just buy out the top 5 game publishers and sit back and watch the money roll in. EA was build by making and selling videogames...so the reason they're as big as they are is a result of GAMERS buying and enjoying their GAMES.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I disagree, Gamemaster. When I play Medal of Honour, it feels like I am actually in the war. This adds to my enjoyment alot. In the game, if the person you controlledhad an actually back story and stats and stuff, I do not think I would like it more.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

But the whole basis of The Sims is that you create your OWN main characters and sorta give them your own personalities... Having to choose from pre-made sims that try to be mascots would take away a huge part of what makes the game special...

As Joeiss said, in MoH it feels like you're fighting the war...

And as for battlefield, of course there's no way to give each soldier PAZZAAAAZZZZ because the whole premise of the game is one army vs. another in a big battle, there's no time for a story or memorable characters...

You could look at it as "But I want to play as the blue bomber! :(" or you could look at it as these are games that don't NEED a recognizable character attached to the name to be great and sell...

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I beg to differ, kind Sir. The actual reason is deception. Gamers are led to believe they're buying one thing when in fact they're buying something completley different. Allow me to guide you through the trickery:



What We Think: A game focused on one man fighting to preserve honor for his country.

What We Get: A game focused on millions of men fighting to preserve honor for their country.



What We Think: A game focused on one man fighting in the year 1942.

What We Get: A game focused on millions of men fighting in the year 1942.



What We Think: A game focused only on the the characters featured on the box. Along with complete storylines for each character.

What We Get: A game focused on no character. EA didn't want put any more effort into this one so they left it up to gamers to create the storyline and characters for themselves. Everyone who has this game should be given a portion of the profits made since the gamers are essentially the developers for this incomplete fiasco of a mess.

The Point: EA deceives it's buyers with misleading box art advertising. It makes me want to cry to even ponder how many people are getting swindled by EA everyday.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

you have embarassed yourself by backing away from your original statement, instead using a lame attempt at humor.

Re: EA will take over the world...slowly but surely...
 

I already backed my original statement within the statement itself. Joeiss says he enjoys the current Medal of Honor scenario. But it is an undisputed fact that if the character was given an actual identity and storyline, Joeiss would enjoy the game more. Controlling someone who you have no historical knowledge of and never presents any exclusive personality or story within the game is not as enjoyable as a character with background info and exclusive personality. End of discussion. Go have dinner with a complete stranger. I guarantee you it won't be as great as dinner with a friend.