"The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

[venem557]

I've heard this "rumor" ever since they took the ambulances off the field. It's the reason behind there being always full stadiums, no concussion injuries, no suspensions, only certain jerseys, only certain relocations, can't use custom teams, can't do this, can't do that.

I have however, never once seen any actual evidence of the NFL or EA Sports saying any of these things. I wonder if it's even true or just excuses to not get the basic things in the game.

What have you heard the NFL is stopping EA from doing? And is there any real truth to it all?

[Hooe]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

People who worked on NFL Blitz (the original arcade cabinet) have told stories about how the NFL reviewed every single tackle animation in the game for approval.

The NFL has been extremely controlling of their brand for a long time.

Specific to Madden, I'm sure if you went back through the different forum posts of various former Madden devs here combined with their media availability elsewhere you could find some comments about certain features or request not getting licensor approval. Those anecdotes didn't appear out of thin air.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

I'm sure it has happened on some occasions, but not nearly as often as some imply.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle...

* An internal EA meeting...
EA employee: "One of the things the community would like to have is dynamic attendance"
EA rep: "Okay, we'll see what we can do"

*Later, a meeting between EA and a league rep
EA rep: "One of the requested features is dynamic attendance"
NFL rep: "Oh?"
EA rep: "Yeah, I can't imagine Shahid Kahn would be thrilled seeing his stadium half empty though"
NFL rep: "haha probably not"
EA rep: "So you'd prefer we didn't include that?"
NFL rep: "Yeah, if possible don't"

* Back at EA offices....
EA rep: "Bad news guys..."

[brandon27]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

I think it happens far more than we all think. The NFL is a massive brand. Not just a sports league, but a brand. It has to keep it's image to its own standards. Licensing agreements between even the smallest of brands can have massive restrictions in place with respect to what others can do while representing their brand. I suspect the NFL's licensing agreement includes pages upon pages and pages of restrictions for using the NFL brand within the license. They'll have control over almost anything EA does I bet. It's common practice in business and licensing. Especially when large sums of money and exclusivity are involved.

[jfsolo]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

Thinking that any of it is myth is tinfoil hat IMO.

[kehlis]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

It’s a wonder the NFL let’s the current product release as is. Money above all I guess.

Really shocking isn't it?

[Rocket32]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

I've heard this "rumor" ever since they took the ambulances off the field. It's the reason behind there being always full stadiums, no concussion injuries, no suspensions, only certain jerseys, only certain relocations, can't use custom teams, can't do this, can't do that.

I have however, never once seen any actual evidence of the NFL or EA Sports saying any of these things. I wonder if it's even true or just excuses to not get the basic things in the game.

What have you heard the NFL is stopping EA from doing? And is there any real truth to it all?

I’m not sure about the rest, but as far as suspension, ejection, fighting, type of stuff goes, I think it’s a pretty safe bet that the NFL is behind it. Suspensions and ejections aren’t really present in any current sports game, other then foul related stuff. There’s no real arguments with referees, or team brawls breaking out, no PED’s. There can be fights between two players in NHL, but that’s it.

Rather then all the game companies being lazy, I think it’s more likely that it’s just a common sensitive spot among all the leagues to protect their brands. Concussion injuries would be a concern specific to the NFL, so I think it’s safe to say they are behind that as well. It’s so simple, it wouldn’t make sense for EA to just choose not to add that injury type.

[khaliib]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

At the end of the day, the executives decide what resources/time will be allocated for a plethora of areas that the game is made up of.

In 2022 we all know what aspect of Madden gets first dibs of any resource focus & that is unfortunately driven by the consumer base.
- revisit the Vision Cone feature

Sure there are some brand protecting aspects the NFL gives yea/nay towards putting in a video game, but it will always come back to the order stated above.

There’s thousands of actual gameplay aspects that incorporate simulating the sport that are open for the game to do, yet Madden still doesn’t have in it and it’s not due to the NFL

[NickyJay]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

I'd love to see the preseason hyping of who has the highest overall rating, the highest QB Accuracy and Power, highest awareness, and highest..... likelihood to get caught taking PEDS

[SonOfEd]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

At the end of the day, the executives decide what resources/time will be allocated for a plethora of areas that the game is made up of.

In 2022 we all know what aspect of Madden gets first dibs of any resource focus & that is unfortunately driven by the consumer base.
- revisit the Vision Cone feature

Sure there are some brand protecting aspects the NFL gives yea/nay towards putting in a video game, but it will always come back to the order stated above.

There’s thousands of actual gameplay aspects that incorporate simulating the sport that are open for the game to do, yet Madden still doesn’t have in it and it’s not due to the NFL

I don't have the link, but I do remember reading the article back in the day when they removed helmets popping off animation at the request of the NFL. And there's other subtle things, like lack of knee braces on o-linemen. They have the art asset, it was available in NCAA.

[jfsolo]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

At the end of the day, the executives decide what resources/time will be allocated for a plethora of areas that the game is made up of.

In 2022 we all know what aspect of Madden gets first dibs of any resource focus & that is unfortunately driven by the consumer base.
- revisit the Vision Cone feature

Sure there are some brand protecting aspects the NFL gives yea/nay towards putting in a video game, but it will always come back to the order stated above.

There’s thousands of actual gameplay aspects that incorporate simulating the sport that are open for the game to do, yet Madden still doesn’t have in it and it’s not due to the NFL

IMO, real X's and O's gameplay elements missing from the game because of executives fiat or casual player focus while true, is a completely different discussion than the OP's insinuation that the NFL doesn't force EA to remove or leave out a lot of different things in the game. It's apples and oranges IMO.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

I think it happens far more than we all think. The NFL is a massive brand. Not just a sports league, but a brand. It has to keep it's image to its own standards. Licensing agreements between even the smallest of brands can have massive restrictions in place with respect to what others can do while representing their brand. I suspect the NFL's licensing agreement includes pages upon pages and pages of restrictions for using the NFL brand within the license. They'll have control over almost anything EA does I bet. It's common practice in business and licensing. Especially when large sums of money and exclusivity are involved.

The NFL ran down players for wearing socks the wrong height and letting bandanna knots hang below their helmets. You are 100% correct with this.

[Grey_Osprey]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

I have no doubt that the NFL is very controlling and has a lot of guidelines when it comes to Madden. I think @ggsimmonds is correct; the truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

However, it's hard not to look at what EAs allowed to do with MUT, Superstar KO, and The Yard and not question how certain assets are allowed in those modes, but not franchise? Conversely, it's hard to look at the franchise relocation uni's/team names (or lack of) wonder how the NFL, which is so image conscious, is ok with them?

Happy New Year Everyone!

[UFCMPunk]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

However, it's hard not to look at what EAs allowed to do with MUT, Superstar KO, and The Yard and not question how certain assets are allowed in those modes, but not franchise? Conversely, it's hard to look at the franchise relocation uni's/team names (or lack of) wonder how the NFL, which is so image conscious, is ok with them?

Happy New Year Everyone!

The lack of customization overall in Madden's Franchise Mode in a game in 2021(now 2022) is baffling. Sure the NFL likely has say in what goes in their games and what not, but it's quite telling how NBA is much more relaxed with NBA2K and the customization there. I remember the rumor years ago about the NFL not doing custom jerseys because they didn't want Pink Raiders jerseys or something, then all these years later they sell Women's jerseys that are Pink.

When it comes certain assets in other modes, I was just thinking about this when the NFL a couple weeks ago had the "My Cause, My Cleats" and I'm thinking, would be awesome if the NFL allowed EA to put those cleats as DLC in Madden where the money goes to a certain cause.

[ggsimmonds]

Re: "The NFL won't let EA do that" Myth or Fact?

The lack of customization overall in Madden's Franchise Mode in a game in 2021(now 2022) is baffling. Sure the NFL likely has say in what goes in their games and what not, but it's quite telling how NBA is much more relaxed with NBA2K and the customization there. I remember the rumor years ago about the NFL not doing custom jerseys because they didn't want Pink Raiders jerseys or something, then all these years later they sell Women's jerseys that are Pink.

When it comes certain assets in other modes, I was just thinking about this when the NFL a couple weeks ago had the "My Cause, My Cleats" and I'm thinking, would be awesome if the NFL allowed EA to put those cleats as DLC in Madden where the money goes to a certain cause.

While it does appear that the culture of the NBA league office is more open minded (for lack of a better term), I would not attribute even 10% of the difference in the game's feature set to respective league restrictions.

Whoever it is in the NFL league office that approves licensing material, it is their job to protect the brand, so their inclination is to say no to anything that may reflect poorly on the brand. EA shouldn't merely be asking if they can put X in the game, they need to do a little bit of selling. Tell that league rep why they should okay the addition. From my outside perspective, my guess is that they don't do that for the QOL improvements that offline franchise immersion players like myself would love to see in the game.

On the EA side, I think it is a safe bet to assume that whoever communicates with the league office is at such a level where their chief concern is units sold. They probably aren't going to push for QOL improvements because they don't feel those move the needle for moving units. It seems EA might be stuck a little in the past in terms of "back of the box" type improvements. In this digital age back of the box improvements aren't as important as they once were, and I get the impression that at high levels EA hasn't caught on to that yet.

I don't know if the problem is with the highest levels of EA Sports. The only other title I play is FIFA and I'm too much of a casual fan to be able to pass judgement on FIFA the way I can Madden. At some level of EA a change needs to be made. NBA 2k isn't perfect by no means, but the MyNBA mode is so much better than Madden because everyone involved in that game is passionate about delivering the best replication of the NBA experience they can. While I strongly dislike certain aspects of MyCareer, its obvious they are trying to give the user a feeling of playing as an NBA star. And with MyNBA, nothing comes close to it.

Madden doesn't give me that same feeling. Its feels as if EA is too in love with the Madden "brand." They are trying to give us the best Madden experience instead of the best NFL experience. Yes its small and you could rightly argue I'm reaching, but think of the cutaway presentation graphic we see in Madden after replays and between presentation elements. Its not a NFL logo, its not a TV broadcast graphic. Its a Madden shield and logo.