NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

[FaceMask]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

From what I read back in January somewhere 2K was bringing two games to E3 that had not been in their line up for awhile. Can't find article and honestly didn't really take it as truth at the time. But really hope I was wrong. Not getting my hope up though. Guess we will find out June 10th

It was said during the live investors call that 2K Sports had some new titles in the works to be announced at a later time. What they are is the question, and hopefully answers will come at E3.

[FaceMask]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

2k showing the NFL "what it can do" would not happen in Public. That would be in a private meeting, not at E3.

Normally I would agree. But perhaps 2K would do it this way to elicit public response that would put added pressure on the NFL to do a new/favorable deal, provided that the possibility for one is open. If what they were to show turns out to be something amazing, it would send shockwaves through the internet.

I seriously doubt 2K can show a game in June and ship in late August.
IF 2k is going to make a licensed football game, it would not be until next year (August 2015). They may show something........at E3, but it wouldn't ship this year.

I wouldn't expect a game this year either, but the June-August thing actually means nothing. All that matters is how long they've been working on the game prior.

Then again, this is a Rumor. The NFL would put strict terms on 2k because of the whole NFL 2k5 pricing sneak attack. That is the reason they lost the license in the first place, selling the game at $19.99 and undercutting Madden by $30 at the time. NFL did not like losing that revenue.

All of that is actually an internet myth. Thing is, the Pecover V. Electronic Arts lawsuit disproved that myth entirely a long time ago. When you read the Federal documents and court subpoenaed memos from that case, you'll find that it was EA, not the NFL, who made a stink over the pricing drop because they didn't want to have to lower the price of Madden going forward (and give up considerable profit margin) to combat it. In response to it, EA approached the NFL for an exclusive, in fact the documents map out the entire sequence of what happened point-by-point. EA was defeated in that case.

When you read those EA executive memos about what NFL 2K5 was doing to them, you can just picture a bunch of grown men running around the office in terror like Godzilla was coming. It's hilarious, and pathetic.

[Steelers4190]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

I don't see it happening anytime soon

[Aggies7]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

If this does happen. I would love to be a fly on the wall in EAs board room when the news hits.

The "oh crap we finally have to get serious and listen to consumer"

However I would think if this was a fact the NFL would probably have already told EA that 2K is making a game as well.

[roadman]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

If this does happen. I would love to be a fly on the wall in EAs board room when the news hits.

The "oh crap we finally have to get serious and listen to consumer"

However I would think if this was a fact the NFL would probably have already told EA that 2K is making a game as well.

Or EA has known awhile.

Generally, you know what your competition is up to.

[damedash]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

This is probably the reason why we haven't seen anything footage for madden 15 yet, EA doesn't want to put all of there info out there for others to duplicate. This reminds me a the good ol days when the license was open and we had to wait for summer to see football gaming news versus early march when the license was exclusive.

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

Is there any definitive word on whether the exclusive deal is done? Odd that I can't seem to find any information about it other than it was extended a few years back up to Madden 25. You'd think the exclusive deal being continued would be easy to find news on as EA is a publicly traded company, and this is something investors and potential investors would need to know.

This is the only word I could find from back in January of this year when Peter Moore responded to the question of exclusivity in an investor's call:

On a quarterly investor call today COO Peter Moore responded to a question on the status of the license by saying there are “a couple years left” on the deals with the NFL and NFLPA and that they have a “number of games in development with the NFL”.

Now, it would be odd if something as pricey as the exclusive deal—which cost like a billion dollars last time—wasn't definitively announced in some way.

I'm not sure this indicates new incoming NFL football games, but the exclusivity of the NFL license with EA seems a thing of the past. I'd have to believe with the financial success of the NBA 2k series (it shipped 5 million copies last year or something, and is the most financially successful game in the series yet), makes the prospect of the NFL license an exciting opportunity.

I also think since NFL 2k5, the NBA 2k series has really built the brand into the gaming mainstream, and so I'd have to believe the 2k label on a new NFL title would carry far more weight and recognition in the more casual market as well. I mean NBA 2k has had LeBron James, and now Kevin Durant on the front of their product, doesn't get more mainstream than that. If you could get these guys as sort of cross-sport brand ambassadors for the NFL game as well—say, I don't know, tweeting about being hyped for the new addition to the 2k family, I think it could really build some recognition.

I hope NFL 2k comes back, but I don't really take any of this seriously right now.

[Steelers4190]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

That would be awesome lol

[Hooe]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

Oh no doubt and I wasn't referring to the jokes about "sources", etc but to the posts implying there is nothing to this except Youtube hits. I wasn't sure if I had missed something where Simfball had floated a rumor like this in the past, that didn't pan out. I know HipHop Gamer and others had been floating various rumors and conjecture for some time but this was the first I had heard of Simfball weighting in on it in such a way.

Hi! I'm the one person in this thread who posted this sentiment. Feel free to address me directly next time

2K football has been "coming back" every year since All Pro Football was released. How many "anonymous sources" since then have been wrong? The dots are way too obvious to connect and the trends way too strong in the small community that is simulation sports gaming for this not to scream "publicity stunt" in big bold flashing letters.

The tweets and title of the video are "NFL 2K football to return at E3 2014". That's a statement. Not a question, not flagged with a rumor tag, nothing. That headline - which is incredibly misleading at-best and an outright lie at-worst - is obviously designed to attract page views. The content of the video obviously makes it clear that the author is dealing with a rumor. But why wouldn't he make that clear in the title of his video and/or his social media feeds? To attract attention to his videos, which are monetized with ads. There is no other reason or motive, and the wording he chose absolutely wasn't a mistake.

If I'm wrong on 2K football being dead, I'm wrong, and I welcome 2K football back to the fray open arms. I quite enjoyed the NFL 2K series and All Pro Football 2K8 when they were relevant football games. That said, at present there is nary a shred of public-facing knowledge for anyone anywhere to believe a single word coming out of any Youtuber's mouth with respect to an upcoming competitor to Madden NFL in the console football video game space. So why should I? Tell me how and why I'm wrong in my being incredulous of the source and doubting said source's motives, given the body of knowledge available.

[BezO]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

I'd bet on 2K putting out a good NFL game before EA.

[Hooe]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

Is there any definitive word on whether the exclusive deal is done? Odd that I can't seem to find any information about it other than it was extended a few years back up to Madden 25. You'd think the exclusive deal being continued would be easy to find news on as EA is a publicly traded company, and this is something investors and potential investors would need to know.

Nothing has come out publicly to the end of the the lapsing of the exclusivity arrangement, no console video game company not named EA Tiburon has announced a licensing agreement with the NFL and NFLPA, and no console video game company not named EA Tiburon has announced any intent to produce a console football video game.

To the extent of the body of public knowledge currently available, any rumors of any other console football games in development or pending announcement are completely and entirely baseless and there's no reason to believe any are coming. If some alternative to Madden NFL does materialize, that's great! However, there's no reason to be holding one's breath for one given what is currently known.

[Aggies7]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

I still take everything with a grain of salt. Trust me I want 2K back in the football game market as much as the next person.

I just don't see the marketing sense in waiting til E3 to make the announcement. Just me I would have done it earlier if this is in fact true, but I am not a marketing guy.

[Steelers4190]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

I just honestly don't see 2K coming out with and NFL game anytime soon........I would like to see what Sony could do with one if they were ever to get the rights. They do an awesome job with the Show so it makes me curious

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

Nothing has come out publicly to the end of the the lapsing of the exclusivity arrangement, no console video game company not named EA Tiburon has announced a licensing agreement with the NFL and NFLPA, and no console video game company not named EA Tiburon has announced any intent to produce a console football video game.

To the extent of the body of public knowledge currently available, any rumors of any other console football games in development or pending announcement are completely and entirely baseless and there's no reason to believe any are coming. If some alternative to Madden NFL does materialize, that's great! However, there's no reason to be holding one's breath for one given what is currently known.

Agreed there is no reason to think anyone else is developing a football game. I was merely questioning the possible implications of the lack of information on continued exclusivity with EA, and positing possible business logic for 2k to take advantage of its potential lapse. I definitely don't feel justified in hoping a new football game will be arriving.

[Aggies7]

Re: NFL 2k COMEBACK? License not exclusive?

I just honestly don't see 2K coming out with and NFL game anytime soon........I would like to see what Sony could do with one if they were ever to get the rights. They do an awesome job with the Show so it makes me curious

I agree with the Sony comment, but they would be starting from scratch, so I wouldn't expect the initial try to be anything near the quality and depth of the Show.