ESPN Servers Shutting Down On XB - Live ?

[humpdump66]

Does Anyone Know How Long League Play Will Last on XBOX Live? I mean, since EA owns "ESPN", will they have to shut the ESPN servers down? What about the future of leagues? Will that cease? I don't mind playing 2K5 until XMAS, but if this EA deal somehow forces these servers down, I'll be mad! Anyone know anything? I hope we can at least still have league support. That will give 2K5 a longer life even if they (Take 2) make a generic game.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Quote: Originally Posted by humpdump66

Does Anyone Know How Long League Play Will Last on XBOX Live? I mean, since EA owns "ESPN", will they have to shut the ESPN servers down? What about the future of leagues? Will that cease? I don't mind playing 2K5 until XMAS, but if this EA deal somehow forces these servers down, I'll be mad! Anyone know anything? I hope we can at least still have league support. That will give 2K5 a longer life even if they (Take 2) make a generic game.

ESPN's deal with EA doesn't begin until 2006, meaning that SEGA has a deal with ESPN for one more year's worth of games.

[humpdump66]

Quote: Originally Posted by TJdaSportsGuy

ESPN's deal with EA doesn't begin until 2006, meaning that SEGA has a deal with ESPN for one more year's worth of games.

So I assume the 2K6 versions of these games release in 2005 (calendar year), ESPN Videogames has one more year? I thought it was a 2yr agreement beginning with the 2K4 edition. Maybe I'm wrong. This is a good question for some of the bigwigs on this site....What was the ESPN-Sega agreement before EA took the license?

[NINJAK2]

Quote: Originally Posted by TJdaSportsGuy

ESPN's deal with EA doesn't begin until 2006, meaning that SEGA has a deal with ESPN for one more year's worth of games.

I'm still amazed that ESPN were allowed to negotiate and publicly announce a deal with EA before their original deal with VC had even expired. That's like Ray Allen negotiating a new contract with the Spurs, hosting a press conference to announce the deal, then playing out the rest of his contract year with the Sonics. Talk about a swift kick in the butt

[ForeverYoung]

This was posted by the Web_Admin on the official ESPNVideogames-Board:

"Rumor Control
Some of you are wondering what is going to happen to our online leagues in light of the news that EA has signed exclusive deals with both the NFL and ESPN for future games.

Our intention is, and has always been, to make the 2K5 leagues available until the start of the next season for each respective sport. For NFL 2K5 that means the leagues should be available through end of summer 2005. NHL, NBA, and Hoops should be available until late 2005 and MLB leagues should be available until early 2006.

Beyond that, all I can say is that VC is not going away. Stay tuned and stay positive."

[humpdump66]

Thanks...I guess there is time for one more season.....

[jmood88]

Quote: Originally Posted by NINJAK2

I'm still amazed that ESPN were allowed to negotiate and publicly announce a deal with EA before their original deal with VC had even expired. That's like Ray Allen negotiating a new contract with the Spurs, hosting a press conference to announce the deal, then playing out the rest of his contract year with the Sonics. Talk about a swift kick in the butt

I wonder if there's anything in the contract that prevents that from happening. WOuldn't that be breaking the contract?

[eXperiment63]

Quote: Originally Posted by jmood88

I wonder if there's anything in the contract that prevents that from happening. WOuldn't that be breaking the contract?

The ESPN contract with VC was voided as soon as EA got exclusive rights to the NFL.