Will Madden 11 incorporate NFL Network and ESPN Presentation?

[N@X_WiZaRD]

Quote: Originally Posted by adembroski

The problem regarding the ESPN/ NFL Network rivalry is real. Neither network wants Madden to use the other for in-game broadcasts, so neither gets used.

Are you sure? Who told you this exactly? Because this excuse actually pins the blame mostly on the Madden crew for being so hopelessly ineffective at creating a feasible compromise between both networks ... after they've had 5 years to do it. NCAA, on the other hand, was able to flawlessly integrate both CBS and ESPN into one game while still being respectful to both of them. (i.e. ESPN did mostly season games, and CBS did March Madness). And IMO, CBS and ESPN are even BIGGER competitors. To put it into perspective, CBS and ESPN are actually viciously competing for the rights for March Madness as we speak! Also, time-wise, the compromise was brilliantly efficient. EA's video-game relationship with CBS just started last year, and they were able to create a feasible compromise the very next year.

That's why I think there's more to this than the NFL Network simply not allowing EA to use ESPN in their game. Certainly this may partially be the case, but I think EA is also very much complicit in wanting to only use the NFL Network as well. Because if EA REALLY wanted to use ESPN broadcasting in their game, there are so many ways they could accommodate both networks while respecting both of them - so many ways. Ways that would actually boost the brand of the NFL Network. For example, an alternate in-game broadcast schedule between both networks would instantly increase the legitimacy of the NFLN because it would benefit from being implicitly associated with the world-wide leader in sports. And for a network that consistently experiences low-ratings, the NFLN can use all the legitimacy it can get. Most people don't even know it exists.

[cowboy_kmoney]

Ill agree we need something better then what we have now in the game..

[43Chargers4Now]

I very well hope that they do. I've been waiting for something like this for a while now.

[VDusen04]

Bummer, I was hoping for some real ESPN integration like we've seen in games from years past.