That does not include digital sales which is now how the majority of people buy games. Over three quarters of game sales are digital now. Unless I am mistaken, the majority of Madden's sales are also digital copies. If Madden is moving 4.5 to 6 million physical copies per year, but sells more digital copies annually, then they are selling over 10 million copies per year.
2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
Collapse
Recommended Videos
Collapse
X
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
That does not include digital sales which is now how the majority of people buy games. Over three quarters of game sales are digital now. Unless I am mistaken, the majority of Madden's sales are also digital copies. If Madden is moving 4.5 to 6 million physical copies per year, but sells more digital copies annually, then they are selling over 10 million copies per year.“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”
― Plato -
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
I did find this quote from the press release interesting.
“We’re thrilled to be working with the NFLPA and OneTeam to bring the biggest and best stars in football to the games we’re working on,” said David Ismailer, President of 2K. “We want to give fans experiences that are authentic, memorable and fun, and having a roster of real-life sports heroes through the Players Association and OneTeam is a huge part of delivering on that promise.”
The use of the word authentic is what caught my eye. It is how they described APF. Authentic also usually implies gameplay that is grounded and not arcade.
That said, the word choice could also have little insight to what 2k actually plans on doing, but that quote did stick out to me.Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
I'm very excited, but at the same time I want to temper my expectations because of the unknowns that surround non-simulation. Whatever we get, I pray it leads to NFL 2k's revival and we get back to Madden and 2k both having non-exclusive licenses. That would be the best outcome for gamers.Last edited by canes21; 08-03-2020, 09:49 AM.“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”
― PlatoComment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
That does not include digital sales which is now how the majority of people buy games. Over three quarters of game sales are digital now. Unless I am mistaken, the majority of Madden's sales are also digital copies. If Madden is moving 4.5 to 6 million physical copies per year, but sells more digital copies annually, then they are selling over 10 million copies per year.Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
There is more to business than what you can and can't legally do.
2K has been wanting to get back in business with the NFL ever since 2004. Now that they have a new deal with them, it would make no sense to piss the NFL off by doing something the NFL does not approve of, regardless of whether it is legal or not.
Whenever 2K's new NFL deal runs out, the NFL is under no obligation whatsoever to continue their business relationship with 2K.
So while it is possible that 2K can legally be allowed to do what you are suggesting, there is no way 2K does anything to ruffle the feathers of such a major business partner that they have regained after a decade and a half of trying.Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
Madden is literally the 2nd or 3rd best selling game annually. I don't know where you get the idea that Madden isn't selling well. The game is selling plenty well enough and the money MUT makes is the cherry on top. EA wouldn't pay $1.5 billion to keep an NFL license for a game that's not selling well. Whether you like Madden or not, it sells plenty.“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”
― PlatoComment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
Sure. My point is just that 2K will not try something like that unless the NFL is ok with it regardless of the fact that the NFL can't legally prevent them from doing it.Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
Since this is all speculation anyways I thought this was interesting. A few questions that I thought about when I heard this.
Dwayne Johnson just bought the XFL. Wasn’t 2k in talks about making a game for them? Would they be able to use NFLPA players in an XFL game? Would using the XFL league and rules help protect them against lawsuits from EA that they are making an NFL sim?
Sent from my iPhone using Operation SportsComment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
It seems like there are four possibilities on what the new 2K games could be:
1. A simulation style game with NFL players akin to what we had with the old Joe Montana football games to where it was SF in gold and red vs. MIN in yellow and purple. That would be what we all would most certainly want short of a fully licensed NFL game. It's also the most unlikely imo. So much has changed since then and there is no way that the NFL would be happy with TT putting a game like that out. If TT and the NFL did NOT have a deal already in place then there's a small possibility. But with the language in the TT/NFL deal, I just can't see that at all.
My verdict: Not happening at all.
2. Some form of Neighborhood/MUT game that's similar to APF. To me, this is a much better possibilty than #1. NBA2K's MyCareer mode may be the most popular game mode in all sports gaming and the NFL and NFLPA may want to capitalize on that. MyCareer mode is essentially seperate from the NBA aside from the actual playing of season games. I could see a NFL Park, Rec, Pro-Am type of thing happening. Plus there's more than enough room for 2K to compete with MUT if they want to compete with Madden in the card based route. The key here is the word "simulation" however. Is that word defined as "11 vs. 11"? Ironically, I believe MUT is played on in what EA themselves describe as "Arcade" mode.
My verdict: Somewhat likely. It would definitely make the NFLPA license worth it but it all comes down to the word simulation.
3. A card, mobile based game like WWE Supercard. I think this is a strong possibility although it's certainly not worth TT acquiring the NFLPA license for. I don't have much to say here because if you played Supercard you'd realize it's not much even for a mobile game.
My verdict: Very likely but definitely not a 2K's lone offering.
4. A playgrounds-like Arcade game. Similar to Blitz, NFL Street, etc. There's a still a market out there for these games and this sounds exactly like what's described in the press release. I think this a near certainty but the big question is if this game would justify being the "flagship" game under the NFL2K umbrella.
My verdict: A near certainty. Definitely happening but like #3 some question is if this is going to be THE game."Maybe I can't win. But to beat me, he's going to have to kill me. And to kill me, he's gonna have to have the heart to stand in front of me. And to do that, he's got to be willing to die himself. I don't know if he's ready to do that."Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
Seems like a waste of new agreements and money if all they want to develop are card and playground games....Last edited by ksuttonjr76; 08-03-2020, 12:01 PM.Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
Someone needs to contact the NFL rep and ask about potentially acquiring a non-simulation license and get the details about what non-simulation means.
I'm sure it's that simple.“No one is more hated than he who speaks the truth.”
― PlatoComment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
I have to imagine the NFL would reject this on some grounds, and I also have to imagine the NFLPA has some fiduciary interest in not actively harming the NFL with its own business dealings. Signing on to appear in a game involving a rival football league would actively and materially harm the NFL.
I also doubt the XFL would be okay with their league being represented by players who aren't on their fields for their games.
Would using the XFL league and rules help protect them against lawsuits from EA that they are making an NFL sim?
I don't think the specific football rules used to govern the football gameplay ultimately matter nearly as much as those other three things.Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
I have to imagine the NFL would reject this on some grounds, and I also have to imagine the NFLPA has some fiduciary interest in not actively harming the NFL with its own business dealings. Signing on to appear in a game involving a rival football league would actively and materially harm the NFL.
I also doubt the XFL would be okay with their league being represented by players who aren't on their fields for their games.
Again, we don't really know what that "simulation" bar is, but I speculate that elements such as a photo-realistic art style (which is what all AAA sports games currently chase and is arguably the most important thing for casual consumers), depth of gameplay mechanics (in a football game's case, even something such as a playbook more complex than what the original NFL Blitz offers might push it over the "simulation" line), and offered gameplay modes (specifically Franchise mode) are going to be the arbiters of "simulation".
I don't think the specific football rules used to govern the football gameplay ultimately matter nearly as much as those other three things.
I agree with you about the NFL not wanting their players in an XFL game. Maybe they were going to use XFL for a playgrounds type game first. That league sold its product on the field as something better suited for arcade games anyways.
I think anything that would get XFL attention and helping establish it would be ok with them. Using the original players and having NFL players you can collect like a MUT mode would be cool with the XFL I bet, more the NFL that would have the problem.
The last part is that 2k can make a simulation, but it can’t be NFL. If you go old school like SF in red or Wisconsin in green and gold, you’re risking a lawsuit these days. You can’t even have fake players with all of the actual players stats without possible litigation. Hall of fame players cried foul when madden did it in historic teams. An actual league like XFL might avoid that problem tho
Sent from my iPhone using Operation SportsComment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
I read it and it made zero sense. Point blank, EA's deal gives them exclusive rights to make 11v11 games with NFL themed environments. That deal runs through May 2026. Take-Two's NFL deal allows them make NFL games that is NOT 11v11 gameplay, hence "non-simulation". Take-Two's deal with the NFLPA allows them to use the current players however they see fit. The NFL deal allows them to make this stupid card game and NFL Playground that everyone keeps talking about. The NFLPA deal opens the door for 11v11 gameplay without the NFL themes. Unless I'm misunderstanding something, these are two separate deals.
It's really simple to what they can or can't do. In fact, if the 11v11 game outsells Madden, it opens the door for a possible future NFL/Take-Two deal.
EDIT: Look at the soccer videogames. There's the FIFA sponsored game (EA has the exclusive rights) then there's the "other" game in PES. There's literally a real-world example of what Take-Two can legally do.
2K Sports, on the other hand, would very much like to do this with the NFL one day. This point is more important now on my end than it ever was, now that I know that they mangled their relationship with the NFL back when they released 2K5 early and cheaper. The NFL wasn't happy about this, and it has cost 2K ever so dearly for at least fifteen years.
What 2K needs is a good relationship with the NFL, and if they end up releasing a sim game with real player names where you can customize it enough to simulate the real NFL experience (teams, logos, stadiums, league format and rules, contracts, franchise, etc.), the NFL is going to feel like a gypped party in that 2K is doing a workaround of their own deal with them.
Sure, it can last for the next five years or whatever their contract is for, but what about the next contract? What about the possibility of an exclusive license after that? Clearly the NFL won't be swayed simply by "2K making a good game," or even "2K selling a lot of their product." Money seems to be the top priority, alongside a trusting partnership. EA has seemed to provide both of these for them, and they have shared that bed with the NFL since.
That's what my lemonade analogy is for. It's not regarding their game in 2022... it's regarding their games in 2026, and onward. However, if their game simply lets them customize it as little as APF did, then you're right this isn't an issue. It also probably won't sell very well though, either.Samsung PN60F8500 PDP / Anthem MRX 720 / Klipsch RC-62 II / Klipsch RF-82 II (x2) / Insignia NS-B2111 (x2) / SVS PC13-Ultra / SVS SB-2000 / Sony MDR-7506 Professional / Audio-Technica ATH-R70x / Sony PS3 & PS4 / DirecTV HR44-500 / DarbeeVision DVP-5000 / Panamax M5400-PM / Elgato HD60Comment
-
Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games
I understand all of this, but you know what else PES isn't doing? They're not trying to build a strong relationship with FIFA and keep something going either for smaller chump change or trying to gain exclusivity in the future with them, and that much is clear.
2K Sports, on the other hand, would very much like to do this with the NFL one day. This point is more important now on my end than it ever was, now that I know that they mangled their relationship with the NFL back when they released 2K5 early and cheaper. The NFL wasn't happy about this, and it has cost 2K ever so dearly for at least fifteen years.
What 2K needs is a good relationship with the NFL, and if they end up releasing a sim game with real player names where you can customize it enough to simulate the real NFL experience (teams, logos, stadiums, league format and rules, contracts, franchise, etc.), the NFL is going to feel like a gypped party in that 2K is doing a workaround of their own deal with them.
Sure, it can last for the next five years or whatever their contract is for, but what about the next contract? What about the possibility of an exclusive license after that? Clearly the NFL won't be swayed simply by "2K making a good game," or even "2K selling a lot of their product." Money seems to be the top priority, alongside a trusting partnership. EA has seemed to provide both of these for them, and they have shared that bed with the NFL since.
That's what my lemonade analogy is for. It's not regarding their game in 2022... it's regarding their games in 2026, and onward. However, if their game simply lets them customize it as little as APF did, then you're right this isn't an issue. It also probably won't sell very well though, either.Last edited by ksuttonjr76; 08-03-2020, 12:10 PM.Comment
Comment