Is it just me or......

[inkcil]

Quote: Originally Posted by dQbell

ESPN will have nothing to do with presentation in these games. What it will offer is the ability to watch quick SC updates and up to date scores. I think a lot of people are going to be let down if they are expecting an ESPN type theme in EA's sports games.

Exactly. I like having the ESPN sounds and logos within the GAME ITSELF...but that's not what EA means by ESPN integration. I mean, seriously, if I want to look up real time scores or radio shows or web articles then I could just turn on my tv, pick up the paper, turn on the radio or *gasp* get on the internet.

[sammyc521]

ESPN implementation is worthless. It's just a sports ticker and the internet is faster.

Do people really want to watch SportsCenter to view their highlight catch for personal kicks? It's just their name over the box score. Why would EA want to dimish their name or have them share space with their EA logo or the Madden name?

I think they bought it so they could crush any other company making an ESPN NFL game.

Is a stock Trey Wingo really going to be that cool to watch after each game? Does anyone need to hear Chris Bergman yell, 'He could go all the way!' each week when they can hear it 5 times a week on real SportsCenter?

[Electron Blue]

Quote: Originally Posted by sammyc521

ESPN implementation is worthless. It's just a sports ticker and the internet is faster. Do people really want to watch SportsCenter to view their highlight catch for personal kicks? It's just their name over the box score. Why would EA want to dimish their name or have them share space with their EA logo or the Madden name? I think they bought it so they could crush any other company making an ESPN NFL game. Is a stock Trey Wingo really going to be that cool to watch after each game? Does anyone need to hear Chris Bergman yell, 'He could go all the way!' each week when they can hear it 5 times a week on real SportsCenter?

If I wanted anything to do with football, I could watch an actual game and forget about Madden and NCAA and other videogames altogether. But I don't because they're a fun way of interacting with the sport. ESPN for better or worse is a large part of sports and to integrate the game with ESPN themes, talents, and music, would add a level of realism.

Maybe unspectactular to some, but I don't see calling a feature that other people would appreciate "worthless."

[sammyc521]

Quote: Originally Posted by Electron Blue

Maybe unspectactular to some, but I don't see calling a feature that other people would appreciate "worthless."

I just guess my appreciation for ESPN has just crumpled in the last few years.

I would see their implemention as worthless as Madden's analysis I guess.

[lnin0]

You need to stop thinking of it as ESPN "integration" because the producer for NBA Live even said he was excited about the ESPN "partnership".

Partnership because they each work to promote the others product in their media space. Not integration as in giving us a immersive TV style presentation.

NBA Live is being touted to have all of this fantastic ESPN integration. Go watch what they are talking about in these IGN videos

http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/8...41/vids_1.html

As you can see none of the new ESPN items are even related to NBA Live or even share the same menu space. You literally go to a seperate menu for listening to ESPN radio or watching streaming clips of ESPN news. The only thing half-way integrated is the ticker bar and you only see that inthe menu (something Madden and NCAA already have and do nothing to immerse you into the game of football).

[blackceasar]

Part of me is starting to think the EA didnt buy the ESPN license to really integrate anything. They bought it because its a well known sports BRAND and they wanted to control who could use it and who couldnt. Imagine someone putting out a generic football game but using the ESPN license and having it integrated? If EA had just the NFL deal only, someone else COULD use the ESPN stuff, just not anything specifically NFL. You could have ESPN shows with Chris Berman, etc but it would have to be about a generic league, etc. I tihnk EA realized this and didnt want another compnay making a non-nfl football game but using the ESPN stuff to grab potential buyer's attention.

I like Madden for the most part this year, but I still that overall as a sports gaming compnay EA still sucks...more for the crap they pull like cutting people off from the NFL and ESPN license moresoe than for the quality of thier games themselves.

[bkfount]

well actually, didn't espn go to EA, not the other way around?

[nxt]

Quote: Originally Posted by blackceasar

Part of me is starting to think the EA didnt buy the ESPN license to really integrate anything. They bought it because its a well known sports BRAND and they wanted to control who could use it and who couldnt. Imagine someone putting out a generic football game but using the ESPN license and having it integrated? If EA had just the NFL deal only, someone else COULD use the ESPN stuff, just not anything specifically NFL. You could have ESPN shows with Chris Berman, etc but it would have to be about a generic league, etc. I tihnk EA realized this and didnt want another compnay making a non-nfl football game but using the ESPN stuff to grab potential buyer's attention. I like Madden for the most part this year, but I still that overall as a sports gaming compnay EA still sucks...more for the crap they pull like cutting people off from the NFL and ESPN license moresoe than for the quality of thier games themselves.

I'm sure you and Inin0 are both right.