OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

[RaychelSnr]

Operation Sports staff members Chris Sanner, TJ Cutini, Chase Becotte, and Patrick Williams all check in this week with a four-way roundtable discussing the exclusive NFL license EA Sports just locked up until 2013.

"Word came a couple of weeks ago that the NFL and EA Sports were going to extend their exclusive agreement until at least 2013. It can certainly be argued the deal has been bad for the industry - putting the up and coming NFL 2K series on the chopping block.

But has the deal even been good for EA Sports? Operation Sport's roundtable will discuss."

[Bobolini]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

Even if you are a Madden fan, how can this be a positive?

[bhurst99]

"But has the deal even been good for EA Sports?"

Is that a serious question? It has been a terrific deal for EA Sports as Madden sells like crazy every year because there is no NFL competition. There are very few brands that are as big as Madden. Has the product suffered because there is no competition? Sure, but that is a different question.

[StormJH1]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

"But has the deal even been good for EA Sports?"

Is that a serious question? It has been a terrific deal for EA Sports as Madden sells like crazy every year because there is no NFL competition. There are very few brands that are as big as Madden. Has the product suffered because there is no competition? Sure, but that is a different question.

I'm curious what they'll come up with on that as well. Sales figures are speculative in video gaming, but I think it's clear that Madden was dominant in sales both before and after 2004's exclusive deal.

But I never really saw EA's exclusive deal as an effort to generate more sales, and that's what's so sinister about it. Rather, I saw it as a defensive move against an up-and-comer that was willing to: a) Innovate their product from year to year, and b) Challenge industry standards by offering a top-level game for $19 at retail. EA didn't want to compete with that, and didn't want to lose sales...so they took a gamble that it would be more cost-effective to simply buy the NFL out, rather than lose momentum and sales.

You have to remember that 2k5 was really the first year the 2k had generated ANY significant buzz for its sports title, and a lot of that was because of the price. To this day, there are tons of people who never played 2k5, or viewed it as an inferior product, much the way 989 Sports was viewed early in this decade. EA was very afraid of losing their annual cash cow, so they reacted negatively.

Aside from the hardcore fans who understand the implications of the exclusive license (and realize what 2k could have been), there's little risk for EA. The biggest negative for them is probably negative PR, but they get so much positive PR from gaming publications, NFL players, Madden Nation TV shows, and so on, that it doesn't really matter.

[StormJH1]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

Even if you are a Madden fan, how can this be a positive?

Totally agree. I never get mad at anyone because they like Madden, or even if they say they hated 2k5. People are entitled to play game they like. But I ALWAYS get angry with Madden fans who can't fathom how their game would be different if there was ANY level of competition to push it forward.

By the way, this idea that if EA bought Take Two, that Madden would simply apply 2k's gameplay and controls and add graphics and polish...that's ridiculous. There is zero incentive for EA to change a product and risk alienating its fans, many of whom are not sophisiticated video gamers, by screwing with the control scheme and gameplay of a former competitor.

[Blazelore]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

I agree that Madden needs to step up but what people don't realize is the NFL offered this exclusive deal to the highest bidder because it was no longer interested in multilicensing. Disney was in the bidding too. What if they would have won? Could you imagine how things would be? EA did what everyone else was trying to do when the opportunity came. They didn't just go to the NFL and say we want exclusitivity. It was offered to whoever was interested as long as they're willing to pay for it. Madden needs to get better and I believe it will but people getting angry at EA getting the license are mad at the wrong people. Be mad at the NFL. They put all game developers in a position where a monopoly would get created by default. Its the NFL's doing!

[Cardot]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

By the way, this idea that if EA bought Take Two, that Madden would simply apply 2k's gameplay and controls and add graphics and polish...that's ridiculous. There is zero incentive for EA to change a product and risk alienating its fans, many of whom are not sophisiticated video gamers, by screwing with the control scheme and gameplay of a former competitor.

Not to mention that it would be alot of work to integrate the two games together. Definately not worth it to EA.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Thanks for the comments, guys. You guys all need to set up your mini-avatars so they'll show up on the main page. Go to User CP to see how.

[SageInfinite]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

Good read guys. I share alot of the same thoughts as you guys. I wish the majority of the Madden and EA fans felt this way. The only way to show EA that we aren't feeling how the Madden franchise is moving along is through their wallets. Like I said in another post Madden is going to have to be a substantial improvement to get my 60 this year.

[thaima1shu]

I agree with Sage. There's definitely no way that I would buy another Madden product unless I see a substantial improvement. It's frustrating that the game never seems to really get better with each year.

[Scott]

I agree, I actually haven't bought Madden since 2005. I don't plan on buying it until NG plays better than CG.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

Nice roundtable discussion. Really loving the new OS content; will be ashamed if the number of games and subjects that can be discussed is reduced further

[Kramer5150]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

I agree that Madden needs to step up but what people don't realize is the NFL offered this exclusive deal to the highest bidder because it was no longer interested in multilicensing. Disney was in the bidding too. What if they would have won? Could you imagine how things would be? EA did what everyone else was trying to do when the opportunity came. They didn't just go to the NFL and say we want exclusitivity. It was offered to whoever was interested as long as they're willing to pay for it. Madden needs to get better and I believe it will but people getting angry at EA getting the license are mad at the wrong people. Be mad at the NFL. They put all game developers in a position where a monopoly would get created by default. Its the NFL's doing!

This is a post I wrote in the "Madden 09 will be special"

According to this,it was EA that "planted the seed"......

The deal, one EA admits to having lobbied for over the past few years, is an exclusive five-year licensing deal granting EA the sole rights to the NFL's teams, stadiums, and players. However, the publisher and Players Inc. denied a similar deal was in the works in May 2004, even requesting publications that ran the story run public retractions.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6114977.html

But the Madden 2005 game was seriously challenged by NFL 2K5, thanks to good reviews and a pricing war. NFL 2K5 was available in stores in July for $19.95. For three months, the Madden game was priced at $49.95, until the company finally relented on Nov. 8 and lowered it by $20.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sport...ory?id=1945691

But 2004 brought competition like EA had not experienced before. Take Two Interactive teamed up with Sega and ESPN to offer "ESPN NFL 2K5," which critics said was as good, if not better, than "Madden". Beyond that, the game was priced at a rock-bottom $19.99 (which EA finally matched on Nov. 8).

http://money.cnn.com/2004/12/14/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/

Kind of coincidental huh? They face the competition,but instead of improving,they simply lock up exclusivity.
TBH....I have not seen ONE thing in Madden games that called for exclusivity.
As for the cats that say "09 is going to be great"...my question to you is, why do you think that?
This "wait till next year" mentality has been going on well since last gen....what makes you think 09 will be any different?

Now...based on that,it WAS indeed EA who was the first to initiate exclusivity. I'm tired of seeing "it was the NFL" or don't solely "blame EA".
As far as this whole "bidding" thing goes.....who did you really expect to win? I believe it was just a simple "formality" when in essence,everybody knew who was going to get it.

What would Disney want with it?? Everybody knows the 2 main players were EA and 2k.
As far as Madden getting better? It's hard to say. Based on the last 3 offerings,I wouldn't hold my breath on "groundbreaking" improvements.
What I believe it will be....minimal improvements,slap some ridiculous feature on the box...call it a day.

Remember....like I said in my quoted post. This whole "wait till next year" rap has been going on well since last gen.
What makes anybody think 09 will "be the year"?

[unfriendlyghst]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

Madden needs to get better and I believe it will but people getting angry at EA getting the license are mad at the wrong people.

This is a big misconseption(sp?) that a lot of people are mad that EA bought the license. Even though you can always find one or two people who do hate for that reason, the majority of people hate EA because THEY CANT/WONT IMPROVE UPON THEIR GAME. Anyone who denies this is kidding themselves. The fact remains that there is a lot of Madden haters, and a lot of Madden worshippers, but I would put money on the fact that if they made a great game year after year, the people who hated on EA would look extremely foolish. Case in point, no one ever complains about the GTA series because they make great games.

[Kramer5150]

Re: OS Roundtable: EAs Exclusive NFL License

Nice roundtable discussion. Really loving the new OS content; will be ashamed if the number of games and subjects that can be discussed is reduced further

I agree 100% . I feel this could be a really great and informative thread,as long as it doesn't get out of hand.....which I'm hoping cats can be adult enough about the topic.