How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

[aholbert32]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

Except that there was a thread asking about striking and a dev said it wasn't for EA UFC. That is what got that speculation going.

Speculating when a new company takes over another is actually what drives market prices. You should know that. Anything could happen. That's the point. Look at the companies that are buying the UFC. Then look at what kind of companies they are. A lot of them are investment companies. They usually turn businesses. That is the whole point. Buy a company, grow it, sell it.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with speculation. You have more inside info, or do you? You think they would tell you if the series wasn't? The devs for Undisputed found out the same day the rest of us did that the UFC license had been sold. Two told me about it that morning before the announcement. They were just as surprised, and worried because they were out of jobs.

Show me that post. I could be wrong but I believe he said it wasnt for UFC 2.

The THQ comparison isnt even legitimate. There was information FOR MONTHS about THQ's financial issues. Actually it was years. They were selling off pieces of the company 2 years before UFC was sold to EA. People knew THQ was in trouble. If your friends at THQ were surprised, they werent paying attention to the company.

I have no inside info but I have common sense and some knowledge about the industry. For your speculation to be true:

WME would have to have the right to terminate the agreement and
WME would have to be unhappy with the current EA deal and
WME would need another gaming company to be interested in acquiring the license and
That company would have to outbid EA (the biggest sports gaming company in the world).

All of your speculation is based simply just because the UFC was sold. Sure there is no harm in speculating but whats the point. Your speculation has no real support so its a waste of time to discuss it. Especially when all the other signs point to their being a future version of the game.

Now if some rumor comes out about WME wanting to open every current deal they have...we can discuss it then. But right now its just reckless speculation.

[aholbert32]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

I think aholbert is right in terms of EA are planning to do ea sports ufc 3 with all the evidence he has given, also with GPD and the devs saying stuff like "those changes will have to wait till the next game".

However i agree with Fish saying they could have the option to terminate the series with EA, but nobody knows what the contract was, and i dont think the new owners will pay out to EA to terminate the series because they are still under contract with the 'UFC'.

I'm not debating that. They may have the right to terminate it but it likely would be bad business, you know? I have my issues with EA when it comes to Madden and NHL but I recognize that they are by far the biggest sports video game company in the world.

I'm a negotiator by trade and you dont terminate a deal unless you know you can get a better one. Looking at the sales, I dont think EA is desperate to keep the UFC license. They are happy with it but its not like Madden or Fifa. So unless Ubisoft or 2k is interested in building a UFC game from scratch...I think they stay with EA.

[fishingtime]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

For your speculation to be true:

WME would have to have the right to terminate the agreement and
WME would have to be unhappy with the current EA deal and
WME would need another gaming company to be interested in acquiring the license and
That company would have to outbid EA (the biggest sports gaming company in the world).

Thanks for pointing out why I am speculating. These are all unknowns to us. Except maybe the highest bidder.

The employees knew THQ was in trouble. They knew THQ was looking to unload some franchise games. However, a new president took over the week of the sale. Or the previous one. Needless to say, the new president came in and started unloading. Plus they don't discuss that type of thing with the pions.

[fishingtime]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

Looking at the sales, I dont think EA is desperate to keep the UFC license.

Keep adding to that speculation lol. I've already thought about this too. Just because a game makes a profit, doesn't mean that company wants to keep it. They might believe the resources could make them more money elsewhere. I never said I thought only the UFC would want to change it.

[GameplayDevUFC]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

They might believe the resources could make them more money elsewhere. I never said I thought only the UFC would want to change it.

*cough* figure skating *cough*

[aholbert32]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

Thanks for pointing out why I am speculating. These are all unknowns to us. Except maybe the highest bidder.

The employees knew THQ was in trouble. They knew THQ was looking to unload some franchise games. However, a new president took over the week of the sale. Or the previous one. Needless to say, the new president came in and started unloading. Plus they don't discuss that type of thing with the pions.

You dont need to be a peon to know if your company is selling off studios and licenses. You just need access to the internet and the ability to read.

[Trillz]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

Keep adding to that speculation lol. I've already thought about this too. Just because a game makes a profit, doesn't mean that company wants to keep it. They might believe the resources could make them more money elsewhere. I never said I thought only the UFC would want to change it.

I cant see any other sports game that could make them more profit than the UFC games.
WWE is owned by 2k sports.
Boxing getting the license for fighters make profits not worthwhile.
Tennis doesnt do as well.
Figure skating wont sell.
olympic game is situational plus you will still need to purchase the license for top athletes.

Fifa, Madden are all games above UFC games that EA has. Golf and NHL are more likely to get cut now.

2K owns WWE and NBA that would outsell the UFC.

I cant see why the new owners wouldnt continue with the third then decide from there.

[fishingtime]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

You dont need to be a peon to know if your company is selling off studios and licenses. You just need access to the internet and the ability to read.

They thought they were going to be getting rid of most of the kid games. One of THQ's problems, other than the UDraw, was having too many franchises and not enough IPs. The devs thought the WWE and UFC were probably safer. No matter what the news, they were still surprised to get told they were being closed down and laid off. They got the news of the sale the day we did.

[SwedishTouch76]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

Nah, they were adamant about a second one right away. That was likely already in the contract. I know a few of us have actually speculated some of that mo-capping could possibly be for a new Fight Night. Just from the way it was talked about. This was also from around the time of the first one when we already knew they were going to make a second one. They also made hints that it might not be for a UFC game this time as well.

I'm not even sure EA knows what is going on right now lol. I haven't heard anything yet saying all contracts would be honored after the sale either. I'm sure there will be a third one, but with the sale and everything you just can't know.

Don't forget, just because they are mo-capping doesn't mean anything. EA eats tons of money for development of games that never get released. That is how all of them are I'm sure.

I'm pretty sure they havent brought in a Canadian Glory kickboxing champ to MO cap boxing....

[Ksearyback]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

Does anyone actually know what the contract situation is in the first place? New ownership does not change a contract.

With the group that purchased the UFC, their decisions will be all about ROI. Fishingtime eluded to it earlier, just because something may be profitable doesn't mean it is the best use of capital. It comes down to opportunity cost. Of course there are intangibles, like figuring out how much a video game builds the brand and brings in more casual fans. It helps improve roster familiarity (and the list goes on).

But the one thing that will go into decisions that may not be noticeable at first (and this isn't just video game related) is that there are now adults running this company. Dana White will stay on for now to help make gut call decisions, but capex expenditure will be more analytical, and professional, quite frankly. Let's all hope the video games made money and UFC2 showed an increase in whatever they were looking for it to do for the brand (as compared to UFC1), so they at least take another crack with a third iteration of the game

[BrizzyBone]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

I'm pretty positive Zuffa/UFC signed a multi year contract and that would have to be fulfilled regardless. I b err lieve the new company will stick with EA anyway.

[JRed529]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

I think Unicorns are real and world hunger is a conspiracy.

[fishingtime]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

I think Unicorns are real and world hunger is a conspiracy.

There is a sub on Reddit for that I'm sure.

[BrizzyBone]

Re: How will the sale of the UFC to the new owners affect EA UFC 3?

EA UFC 2 has made a KILLING in Ultimate Team Mode lol. Its like selling tons of extra games but just unlocking moves already on the game. I know this should raise the budget. Which is great!