New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Some questions so we are on the same page, who do you think went to who first to get the exclusive deal? EA or the NFL? Do you think that VC had the monetary backing to their company to match anything EA could have offered? Do you think the NFL would have stopped allowing NFL games to be made unless they had an exclusive deal with someone or do you think they would have been fine collecting multiple licensing fees year after year from whoever wanted to make an NFL game?

Second, I don't have DirecTV and I've never missed an Eagles game. I also can't even name you the licensed NFL apparel brand because I can buy from multiple suppliers as well as replicas, etc. That being said, it's a moot point and has nothing to do with the football sports gaming genre issue we are discussing here. It's WAY more intricate than what happened here, I think we can both agree on that.

I know for a fact that the NFL went to the companies. And it's obvious why, they get a lot more for the exclusive license than they do with the other 2 or 3 companies purchasing the license. It wasn't even close.

VC, simply did not have the financial resources to match the offer from what I gather. But to be honest, I believe the NFL wanted EA to win the license no matter what. I think that's the reason they keep extending the deal. They want EA to have the license as Madden is more than just a brand name at this point, it's part of our culture.

Are the Eagles out of market? If they are then you are seeing them from some outside source.. Like I said, if you want to legally watch out of market games, DirecTV is your only source as the NFL has exclusively licensed them for out of market TV. In market that's obviously not the case, but you can thank the FCC for that I believe more than anything else.

I have no idea on the licensing of apparel, it seems to change frequently. Also Jerry Jones muddied the water with is attempt at an Adidas deal or however that went down.

It's not a moot point though. It goes to show a pattern the NFL has stuck to when it comes to their IP. It's unfortunate it affected gamers, but it's how they operate.

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES GOING TO THESE LEAGUES AND ASKING FOR EXCLUSIVITY

That's not really true.

[kbmnm247]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

I know for a fact that the NFL went to the companies. And it's obvious why, they get a lot more for the exclusive license than they do with the other 2 or 3 companies purchasing the license. It wasn't even close.

VC, simply did not have the financial resources to match the offer from what I gather. But to be honest, I believe the NFL wanted EA to win the license no matter what. I think that's the reason they keep extending the deal. They want EA to have the license as Madden is more than just a brand name at this point, it's part of our culture.

Are the Eagles out of market? If they are then you are seeing them from some outside source.. Like I said, if you want to legally watch out of market games, DirecTV is your only source as the NFL has exclusively licensed them for out of market TV. In market that's obviously not the case, but you can thank the FCC for that I believe more than anything else.

I have no idea on the licensing of apparel, it seems to change frequently. Also Jerry Jones muddied the water with is attempt at an Adidas deal or however that went down.

It's not a moot point though. It goes to show a pattern the NFL has stuck to when it comes to their IP. It's unfortunate it affected gamers, but it's how they operate.

Thanks for a logical and intelligent response and post. I finally feel like I am dealing with a grownup in here and I agree with all that you posted.

I still think EA went to them first, wanted exclusivity and said look, we'll pay you $XXX million for it. It's only smart for the NFL to then turn around and go to the other companies to see what they could/would pay for it and no one else could match EA because of reasons you stated and I agree with. I also tend to agree the NFL might be fine with EA having it because the NFL is obviously making bank off of it and owning EA. But since the NFL gaming market is so huge EA is making bank off of it too, and who gets shafted in all of this? The consumer. THAT is precisely why I am upset about the type of release day DLC EA is selling us.

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Thanks for a logical and intelligent response and post. I finally feel like I am dealing with a grownup in here and I agree with all that you posted.

I still think EA went to them first, wanted exclusivity and said look, we'll pay you $XXX million for it. It's only smart for the NFL to then turn around and go to the other companies to see what they could/would pay for it and no one else could match EA because of reasons you stated and I agree with. I also tend to agree the NFL might be fine with EA having it because the NFL is obviously making bank off of it and owning EA. But since the NFL gaming market is so huge EA is making bank off of it too, and who gets shafted in all of this? The consumer. THAT is precisely why I am upset about the type of release day DLC EA is selling us.

Like I said, I pretty much know the NFL approached them, and it does follow their pattern of behavior.

I don't think anyone like exclusivity in the video game market. I buy it every year, but I generally don't end up playing Madden very long. I will say I have enjoyed NCAA the past couple of years.

Imo, given the way the game market has gone, exclusive license or not, I think you'd be seeing this type of DLC anyway. If 2k was still making football games, EA would still be charging for extra features.

I don't have a problem with this DLC (although I'd prefer it to be free obviously) because it's not required to play the game. It's something that allows me to manipulate my OD outside of the framework of the console game. Companies in every industry are looking for new revenue streams. To me this is like paying for an extra option on your car. If you don't want it or it's not that important to you don't buy it.

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see how you can tie this issue to licensing deals. They are unrelated imo.

[kbmnm247]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Maybe it's just me, but I just don't see how you can tie this issue to licensing deals. They are unrelated imo.

They aren't necessarily tied. But it makes situations like this get more serious than they would be if there was competition because, as many here have said, "just speak with your wallet and don't buy the game". If there was another NCAA and I wasn't happy with a charge like this I would buy the other game. The way it is now, I can't.

In the same vein with your mention of the extra options in the car... what exactly are we entitled to with our $60 payment each year? Why didn't they charge last year for the computer portion of the Online Dynasty?

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

They aren't necessarily tied. But it makes situations like this get more serious than they would be if there was competition because, as many here have said, "just speak with your wallet and don't buy the game". If there was another NCAA and I wasn't happy with a charge like this I would buy the other game. The way it is now, I can't.

In the same vein with your mention of the extra options in the car... what exactly are we entitled to with our $60 payment each year? Why didn't they charge last year for the computer portion of the Online Dynasty?

To be fair there's never been a viable option to go to for an NCAA game.

Last year you didn't have the extra options they are offering this year for the computer portion.

[kbmnm247]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

To be fair there's never been a viable option to go to for an NCAA game.

Last year you didn't have the extra options they are offering this year for the computer portion.

But there was a computer portion, correct? What makes all of that information so cheap for the servers but the ability to advance my week costs $3 per online dynasty? Why is FIFA UT web app free? That's where my questioning of this charge comes into play. I can't possibly see this causing more server bandwith or stress than the Fifa UT and the NCAA OD do/did.

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

But there was a computer portion, correct? What makes all of that information so cheap for the servers but the ability to advance my week costs $3 per online dynasty? Why is FIFA UT web app free? That's where my questioning of this charge comes into play. I can't possibly see this causing more server bandwith or stress than the Fifa UT and the NCAA OD do/did.

Why wouldn't it cause more server bandwidth? One feature basically allows you to play the game via server, which is a lot more bandwidth than any feature last year, and the other is the ability to advance, which I would assume would cause more traffic as well.

They are new features. If they want to charge for them I don't see the issue, particularly since they don't preclude you from playing the game in a manner you always have been able to before.

Do I want them to be free? Absolutely, but in the grand scheme of DLC screw jobs this ranks pretty low on the list.

[NDAlum]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

To be the commisioner of multiple leagues last year you had to pay.

[NDAlum]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Do I want them to be free? Absolutely, but in the grand scheme of DLC screw jobs this ranks pretty low on the list.

So it's a SCREW JOB!!??

I knew you would come around!!!!

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

To be the commisioner of multiple leagues last year you had to pay.

I think you had to pay for extra team builder slots or something as well. I didn't buy any NCAA related DLC last year and it had no effect on my enjoyment of the game.

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

So it's a SCREW JOB!!??

I knew you would come around!!!!

Assimilated!!!

10 char.

[Solidice]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Why wouldn't it cause more server bandwidth? One feature basically allows you to play the game via server, which is a lot more bandwidth than any feature last year, and the other is the ability to advance, which I would assume would cause more traffic as well.

with both the super sim DLC and the advance DLC, you could play the entire 60 year dynasty without ever turning on the console.

[mattbooty]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Why wouldn't it cause more server bandwidth? One feature basically allows you to play the game via server, which is a lot more bandwidth than any feature last year, and the other is the ability to advance, which I would assume would cause more traffic as well.

Without getting pulled back into the actual DLC is it good or bad discussion (cause I said I wouldn't), as an IT professional I will say that its the added processing requirements that will make these features (more) expensive to support. In both advancing and simming games you are taking AI logic that normally is handled by your Xbox 360 and now they need to have servers ready to be able to run all of those calculations on the server side. Bandwidth will play into it somewhat, but processing would be the larger chunk of this. Recruiting logic was little more than a random number generator so it required very little, simming games and advancing (which essentially sims dozens of games plus sims all the recruiting logic) will take signifcantly more. Without proper infrastructure you could see online game simming take minutes between plays while the servers support a lot of people playing simultaneously and advancing take much longer. Hopefully the added cost goes into the proper infrastructure so that doesn't happen.

[bkrich83]

Re: New Features Aren’t All Free in NCAA Football 12

Without getting pulled back into the actual DLC is it good or bad discussion (cause I said I wouldn't), as an IT professional I will say that its the added processing requirements that will make these features (more) expensive to support. In both advancing and simming games you are taking AI logic that normally is handled by your Xbox 360 and now they need to have servers ready to be able to run all of those calculations on the server side. Bandwidth will play into it somewhat, but processing would be the larger chunk of this. Recruiting logic was little more than a random number generator so it required very little, simming games and advancing (which essentially sims dozens of games plus sims all the recruiting logic) will take signifcantly more. Without proper infrastructure you could see online game simming take minutes between plays while the servers support a lot of people playing simultaneously and advancing take much longer. Hopefully the added cost goes into the proper infrastructure so that doesn't happen.

I have the same technical background, which is why I made what I would call an educated guess on the subject.