2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

[canes21]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Them releasing "multiple games each year" is unlikely. But an NFLPA licensed pro football sim is not at all difficult to fathom.

I would have to see it to believe it. I'd be happy if it were to ever happen, but I just don't see it being very likely. I wouldn't be surprised if EA's contract with the NFL has some language that prohibits a game of this sorts from happening as well.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Them releasing "multiple games each year" is unlikely. But an NFLPA licensed pro football sim is not at all difficult to fathom.

Isn’t this what 2k does with NBA? NBA2k and NBA playgrounds?

Seems to me this is how they would do the NFL. The league can only be used in non simulation so NFL playgrounds is the most likely game we are getting.

Having the NFLPA means an APF with real players is much more viable for them than a handful of retired and generics were. Non NFL teams would mean it’s not simulation to me.

Im not getting overly excited until actual titles are announced but it seems like it’s at least possible that this is the plan.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[J_Posse]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I feel sympathy for anyone here who think 2K has a chance to make anything regarding "real" football. They're not; if you're a big enough sports game fan to be on OS, then you know what the line of sim and non-sim is already. It's clearly a Playgrounds and SuperCard deal and to think otherwise is simply a waste of your time and energy and only setting you up for disappointment.*

Or it is just being open-minded with the realization that the lowest bar is a "SuperCard" mobile game & a NFL "Playgrounds" type game.

That could be all they'll release, but I find it hard to imagine an ambitious, innovative (and "greedy" as some would say) publisher & development house like Take-Two & Visual Concepts (if they are placed on one of these projects) wouldn't attempt to fully optimize the NFL/NFLPA license.

Those type of casual titles don't push the needle & have a niche following.

Did the NFLPA follow suit with the NFL & give EA exclusive rights to their likenesses in a "simulation" title, again? I'll have to re-read the press release from a few months back.....

****, they did. Well, that removes that idea from the equation. LOLOL


We'll find out next year.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[J_Posse]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Or it is just being open-minded with the realization that the lowest bar is a "SuperCard" mobile game & a NFL "Playgrounds" type game.

That could be all they'll release, but I find it hard to imagine an ambitious, innovative (and "greedy" as some would say) publisher & development house like Take-Two & Visual Concepts (if they are placed on one of these projects) wouldn't attempt to fully optimize the NFL/NFLPA license.

Those type of casual titles don't push the needle & have a niche following.

Did the NFLPA follow suit with the NFL & give EA exclusive rights to their likenesses in a "simulation" title, again? I'll have to re-read the press release from a few months back.....

****, they did. Well, that removes that idea from the equation. LOLOL


We'll find out next year.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

Just to quote myself & clarify a little more, I think everyone's expectations & the realization of this deal were set once the NFL re-upped with EA. That announcement, the subsequent press release & press release by Take-Two announcing their new partnership all framed what we can & should expect.

Likely a bunch of casual titles laden with microtransactions that won't appeal to the sim (or their former NFL 2K) audience.

That doesn't mean people should lose the right to speculate a bit & have fun with all this. If they decide to only make a 'Playgrounds' & mobile card games, so be it. The ship sailed on competitive AAA pro football titles back in 2005, but we'll at least now have something else in the market.

With indie developers also pushing to make their offerings better as well.

And maybe, just maybe, 2K can find a groove & make this partnership fruitful for all parties involved. Possible even the ever shrinking simulation sports video game audience.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[Kanobi]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I wouldn't be surprised if EA's contract with the NFL has some language that prohibits a game of this sorts from happening as well.

The NFLPA is its own entity. Nothing in EA's agreement with the NFL should have anything to do with or any say in Take-Two's agreement with the NFLPA.

[Hooe]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

I would have to see it to believe it. I'd be happy if it were to ever happen, but I just don't see it being very likely. I wouldn't be surprised if EA's contract with the NFL has some language that prohibits a game of this sorts from happening as well.

Yup.

The language of this Polygon article from May about EA's exclusivity extension certainly points to the idea that both their agreements with the NFL and NFLPA grant them simulation exclusivity (emphasis mine):

The exclusivity in EA’s agreements applies only to simulation titles; the contract language says that “arcade-style games, youth games, and casual/mobile games” are open to anyone.

And as J_Posse has alluded to, the NFLPA's own May press blast about their agreement with EA similarly calls out the idea of exclusivity:

Under the partnership, the EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL franchise will exclusively create authentic football simulation games, and EA SPORTS, the NFL and the NFLPA will partner to develop games in new genres, expanded esports programs, and additional experiences for fans across more platforms.

I'm not seeing any wiggle room in there for Take 2 to publish a simulation game which involves the NFL or NFLPA, much less both, and as such I won't be holding my breath for such a game.

[Hooe]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Actually, guys, what we're looking for right there in 2K's own press blast from the top post of this thread:

2K's NFL games will be non-simulation football game experiences, and are currently in early stages of development. Specific game titles, developers and release dates will be announced at a later date.

This would appear to shut the door on the idea of an NFL-licensed "non-sim" game and an NFLPA-licensed "sim" game. This points to any games released under this agreement being "non-simulation".

[J_Posse]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

The NFLPA is its own entity. Nothing in EA's agreement with the NFL should have anything to do with or any say in Take-Two's agreement with the NFLPA.

It seems vague & I can't find the official press release that states that players can only appear in a EA "simulation" title.



Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[J_Posse]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

Actually, guys, what we're looking for right there in 2K's own press blast from the top post of this thread:

Agreed, but does a APF or "MyTeam" experience fall under the premise of "simulation." And how could they or would they package those experiences without infringing on the EA/NFL agreement? Which they clearly care not to do since they've gone out of there way in the past to create an (although unsuccessful) alternative experience (in APF 2K8).

It'll likely be an arcade experience akeen to NFL Street, Blitz or a "Playgrounds" esque experience, but a lot of this is vague & left to our interpretation/speculation.

Which, again, is fun & expectations have been lowered since March or April.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[Kanobi]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

It seems vague & I can't find the official press release that states that players can only appear in a EA "simulation"

Because there is none.

[canes21]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

We know that 2k cannot make an NFL licensed game that is simulation. That much is clear. The question is whether or not 2k can make a game without the NFL branding, but uses the NFL players that is simulation gameplay.

Again, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some wording somewhere to make sure that avenue was shut for 2k also, but we don't know for sure. There will be plenty of speculation until everything is finally announced.

[bcruise]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

We know that 2k cannot make an NFL licensed game that is simulation. That much is clear. The question is whether or not 2k can make a game without the NFL branding, but uses the NFL players that is simulation gameplay.

Again, I wouldn't be surprised if there is some wording somewhere to make sure that avenue was shut for 2k also, but we don't know for sure. There will be plenty of speculation until everything is finally announced.

So basically the "Madden 64" situation (for anyone who remembers that game - licensed by the PA but not the league. so the Pats were "Foxboro"* for example)?

If they were gonna do that I couldn't really see them chasing after the NFL license in the first place though - it would mean they're creating two games.

*The full city name didn't fit in the team name string back then I guess, so they shortened it

[da_centa_fielda]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

This is what I think will happen, 2k will release a "Card/Mobile" game none of us here will care about and either an NFL Street type game and/or an actual 11v11 that will lack just enough elements to call it an NFL simulation.

EA may have the rights to making an NFL simulation. But they don't have the right to simulation football. There are other football games out that are considered could be considered simulations. I think they could do something as simple as not having the players in equipment and playing in non-NFL stadiums.

I'm just thinking of options because the term 'simulation' by definition is the imitation of a situation or process. That's too broad.

[Pray_iv_m3rcy]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

If 2k could make a sim football game with NFLPA wouldn't they announce that?

[da_centa_fielda]

Re: 2K Partners with NFLPA to Allow NFL Players in Multiple Football Games

If 2k could make a sim football game with NFLPA wouldn't they announce that?

In my opinion, not if there's a contract that says they can't do that. However, it doesn't mean they can't simulate the sport. I'm probably wrong, but if they did something like made the field 50yds, changed the amount of downs per possession, the distance to a 1st down, etc, it changes the game from an NFL simulation because those aren't NFL rules.