ESPN Presents NFL Football 07 : Could the Madden Era Be Over?

[blackceasar]

The deal John Madden has with EA as far as the football game goes has nothing to do with his name, it has to do with him being IN the game to some degree. With that said, the name of the game and everything else is open to change. You can have ESPN Football 07 and still have the John Madden character somehow intergrated in the game as long as he's not doing something that would be ESPN's role in the game. For example if there is a halftime show, pregame show, and commentators it would carry the ESPN mark...but like the playcalling "ask madden" etc could still remain.

[blackceasar]

Quote: Originally Posted by grunt

I think EA signed Madden so no one else would use them for their football game.

Yes that is a valid reason as well. if Madden signed with another company, like VC and they put his name on a new football game, even if it wasnt NFL, they could call it Madden 2007 or something like that and EA doesnt want to take the chance of casual gamers getting confused with which game to buy. Seriously, its not a stretch. Think about all the soccer moms and what not who were buying the game for thier kids over the past few years and wasnt sure wether they were supposed to pick up Madden or ESPN. EA was smart from a business standpoint with that move. I still have the bastairds though.

I actually rather liked Madden in real life, but with that said, I think this is a very good move. It gives things a new start, and hopefully will result in a much-needed presentation uplift.

EA has done this a few times already, changing the name of their franchise while also reworking the engine to create a newly built, and much improved game. Two examples I can think of off the top of my head are Triple Play and Knockout Kings, both now highly acclaimed and well known as MVP and Fight Night, respectively.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out...

[yucatan]

I'm assuming they'll be going with the Tirico, Theismann, Kornheiser commentary this year. That won't go over to well. The thing about Kornheiser is that he's good because he's spontaneous. Hearing him read canned lines just won't have the same effect.

[coogrfan]

Why is this report being accepted without question? Gamestop's own website has "Madden 07" available for pre-order on mult. platforms, but the only ESPN titles listed are used games.

Methinks I smell a rat here..

[coogrfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rodster

Wow I didn't expect that. Didn't EA sign the Madden name for another 6 years?

I'm not sure of the specifics, but Madden definitely re-upped with EA last summer:

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/07...s_6128956.html

Note that this deal was reached after Madden's departure from ABC for NBC was already official. IF EA couldn't use Madden's name or likeness because of a conflict w/NBC, why resign him at all?

EA has spent 15+ years making the Madden name synonymous with video football, they aren't going to just cast that aside. You might see something like "Madden 07, presented by ESPN", but I can't believe EA would just chuck the name entirely.

[NEW_ORLEANS]

I can see it now come e3 '06 the questions.

Will there be a pre-game halftime or post game show?
No we didn't have enough time to implicate that feature in this years version.

[Macar91]

Quote: Originally Posted by NEW_ORLEANS

I can see it now come e3 '06 the questions. Will there be a pre-game halftime or post game show? No we didn't have enough time to implicate that feature in this years version.

What does this have to do with the name change?

It's not like they weren't starting to get away from using Madden in the 360 version already. I do like the idea Clay brought up in that VC could potentially use Madden in the Legends game they might be making.