What does the NBA Elite 11 postponement mean for Madden?

[SuPeRBoWlHeRo]

As far as Madden goes, and the whole "New engine" debate, i think it's not as cut and dry as some on this thread have made it out to be. Even if it is in fact mandated by the NFL that EA produce an NFL title each and every year, on time no less, why does this mean Tiburon can't build a better NFL engine for Madden?

EA Tiburon currently creates Madden NFL, NCAA Football, in the past they have made a "Superman" title, and most recently they are creating EA's MMA title. That said, a development team is capable of working on multiple projects. They do not have to "scrap" Madden in it's current state in ONE year or development cycle. They could have had a small but talented team take 2-3 years to build a solid foundation, all the while giving us Madden as it is in it's current state.

Here's what it comes down to. Many people feel Madden has gotten stale even though it is selling. What happens, and i realize this is hypothetical, that in a few years for whatever reason the NFL has a change of heart, doesn't want the negative publicity of selling it's brand to a single company anymore, and decides to open up the license. I'm pretty sure as far as business goes, there are ALWAYS "inside tips" that things like this are in motion, so other big business like 2K and Take-Two, or even Sony and it's studio's will have a "head's up" and may have more than a year to make or prepare at least a solid, more innovative football engine.

What happens then? EA gets caught unprepared, didn't listen to the writing on the wall, and gets flat out beat by a better game? Just like EA's NHL made 2K go on hiatus, just like NBA 2K made EA's NBA Elite go and hide, what then? So point is, they didn't have to scrap Madden in a single year and release a bare bones broken game. They could have taken a few years behind the scenes to get it right, then build from there.

[winrehs_007]

Quote: Originally Posted by youALREADYknow

It means one thing for Madden that most of us probably will not like. EA probably values their exclusive license more than ever after seeing what competition can do to one of their products. Expect them to pull out all of the stops to keep that exclusivity.

Exactly, they don't want the competition because they are afraid of losing. Losing of what exactly? MONEY. Why are they afraid? Because they already know that they will lose.

**OFF-TOPIC**
You saw these past few years how 2K games changed the face of NBA sim. Now, imagine what 2K games can do in NFL sim.

[DocHolliday]

This wont happen to Madden because there is nothing to Compare it too.

Personally, I think Madden is amazingly far behind of where they SHOULD be at this point. I dont even want to think if 2K5 had another 6 years to develop.

Madden is a an OK, but very stale product.

[SuPeRBoWlHeRo]

Quote: Originally Posted by youALREADYknow

It means one thing for Madden that most of us probably will not like. EA probably values their exclusive license more than ever after seeing what competition can do to one of their products. Expect them to pull out all of the stops to keep that exclusivity.

They already know what making a GOOD product means TO competition, they put 2K out of the hockey business for the time being by making a better game. Now it's being done to them on the NBA side and it doesn't feel too good.

They better not be counting on another huge industry (The NFL) to ensure their business. It's up to the NFL and the NFL alone whether or not to sell it's license. EA as big a company as it is, better not be that naive, and should be PREPARED to simply make better games than their opponents, and not rely on solely buying out competition. I believe EA spent $500 million dollars on the NFL license. What if they had spent half of that in development funding for the game itself? They wouldn't need to buy out competition.

[SuPeRBoWlHeRo]

Quote: Originally Posted by winrehs_007

Exactly, they don't want the competition because they are afraid of losing. Losing of what exactly? MONEY. Why are they afraid? Because they already know that they will lose. **OFF-TOPIC** You saw these past few years how 2K games changed the face of NBA sim. Now, imagine what 2K games can do in NFL sim.

Exactly why i said EA really needs to look within instead of worrying about buying licenses, or even worrying about their competiton, and start focusing on making better quality games with more innovation and polish across the board.

If you have read the Activision CEO's comments about EA, their products, and more importantly, their talent and ability to hire anyone, or keep anyone with talent is alarming. You cannot be succesful in the video game industry without making QUALITY games. EA needs to hire more talented people, give them what they need development wise and creativity wise to make great games, and just get out of their way.

[youALREADYknow]

Quote: Originally Posted by SuPeRBoWlHeRo

They better not be counting on another huge industry (The NFL) to ensure their business. It's up to the NFL and the NFL alone whether or not to sell it's license. EA as big a company as it is, better not be that naive, and should be PREPARED to simply make better games than their opponents, and not rely on solely buying out competition. I believe EA spent $500 million dollars on the NFL license. What if they had spent half of that in development funding for the game itself? They wouldn't need to buy out competition.

You already answered your own question. EA devoted their money to buying exclusivity instead of spending it on R&D and innovation.

What has changed since then?

[SuPeRBoWlHeRo]

Quote: Originally Posted by youALREADYknow

You already answered your own question. EA devoted their money to buying exclusivity instead of spending it on R&D and innovation. What has changed since then?

What has changed since then is they know undoubtedly that making better games beats competition even moreso than buying them out. They lost their NBA title to a better game, they put their competition out of business on the NHL front. You don't need to spend $500 million dollars of your stock holders money, you just need to make better games.

Again, they better not be relying on the NFL for business. That license is owned by the NFL, leased currently by EA. Nobody knows what the NFL will do in a few years as of yet. So a good business prepares themselves to adapt to a changing climate so they can thrive.

[SuPeRBoWlHeRo]

BTW, i don't hear anyone complaining as much about EA not having any competition on the NHL front, or now 2K not having any competition on the NBA front as much as EA and Madden get on the NFL front? Why? Because those respective companies didn't BUY out their competitors, they did it the old fashioned way, they BEAT them. EA should know now fully that beating competition is far better than buying them out by the backlash that Madden has received for not changing or innovating, or becoming stale as opposed to the mass success that their NHL title gets, and deserves.