Reflecting on the EA/NCAA, EA/NFL, and 2K Sports/MLB Deals...

[spankdatazz22]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

I, like many of you, never have liked these deals at all. My favorite baseball game MVP is now gone. Although ESPN wasn't my fave football game I always bought it for a refreshing change of pace. However unlike many of you I don't scorn EA or 2K games for this, I blame it on the sport organization who sold the rights. But then again they are businesses and their about the money so unless that suffers this may be the wave of the future much to our chagrin. I'm just glad so far NHL hasn't caved to this yet. My favorite hockey game is NHL2K and if i'm forced to play EA's game I think I may just go toys-in-the-attic plumb crazy.

It's unfortunate there's no sort of oversight on the industry, especially considering it's a multi-BILLION dollar industry.

Then again, so is the porn industry (leave it alone Congress)

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by spankdatazz22

It's unfortunate there's no sort of oversight on the industry, especially considering it's a multi-BILLION dollar industry. Then again, so is the porn industry (leave it alone Congress)

Heh, well I kind of see your point but personally I believe, and this is just my own POV, that if we the fans don't like this, and alot of us don't, we should let the NFL know but really I don't believe it's violating laws and we should have the govt. step in.

As someone said, it's like Michael Jordan endorsing Powerade when you hate Powerade and are a Gatorade man. No one should step in and say Michael Jordan also has to endorse Gatorade. It's his endorsement so he should be able to do with it what he wants. Same for the NFL and other sports. If we want this changed, we need to either vote with our dollars or communicate in some fashion this is unacceptable. It's too bad though the NFL & MLB didn't see things the way the NHL did.

And the main reason I'm against the govt. intervening is as you said, there are other industries such as the one you cite that we don't want them involved in, involving the govt in things like this are usually a terrible idea.

[spankdatazz22]

Quote: Originally Posted by ODogg

Heh, well I kind of see your point but personally I believe, and this is just my own POV, that if we the fans don't like this, and alot of us don't, we should let the NFL know but really I don't believe it's violating laws and we should have the govt. step in.

I really wouldn't want the government stepping in either. My point was more to bring the issue to the general public consciousness, where pressure could be placed on [the leagues that have signed exclusivity agreements] from a competition standpoint. For example, when Walmart comes to town, other retailers are usually unsuccessful at blocking them but at least it makes the news and people are aware - from there you never know what could happen.

The problem is the majority of gamers don't see how it impacts them negatively. Most will simply accept what's set before them.

[sroz39]

Quote: Originally Posted by spankdatazz22

The problem is the majority of gamers don't see how it impacts them negatively. Most will simply accept what's set before them.

I don't neccessarily agree with this statement. Like anything else, the average consumer feels helpless when it comes to large corporate entities. And it don't get much bigger than the NFL. Face it guys, it's not EA's fault they have the license. The NFL went to ALL the companies that were ever involved with their licenses in respects to video games, and sold out to the highest bidder. It just so happened that it was EA who could afford the price tag.

Now, we as the consumer have to deal with the repercussions of the NFL's inititiative. Bottom line: though there are ways for us to be heard, we would be in the minority. The average consumer wasn't buying the other football games anyways. It always was about Madden for them. This deal does nothing to compromise the majority's buying options, because they never took advantage of those options anyways.

On a side note, I have a hard time believing EA "doesn't care", as so many people seem to think. That line of thinking is just too easy to adopt. The reality, IMO, is what I mentioned in another post. It is IMPOSSIBLE to appease all football gamers with one product. Take a look at last year's V&P passing. No way you could convince me that this was included in the game for the casual gamer. Most of the review sites and game magazines SLAMMED this new method of passing. Those different sites cater to a mostly casual audience, and definitely did not have a hardcore sports guy reviewing the game. But EA continues to show a commitment to this mechanism by including it in Madden 360, NCAA 07 and I would presume Madden 07. That's for guys like you and I, the "sim" gamers. It's also why there's a Head Coach game coming.

In the end, personally I lost my favourite football game (NFL 2K5) and my favourite baseball game (MVP 2005) to these exclusivity deals. Not happy about it, but really what choice do I have if I want to play that's year's new NFL or MLB game? Luckily for me at least with the baseball games, I had The Show to turn to. But will I be able to not buy this year's Madden on the 360, no matter how awful my memories are of Madden 06 on the 360? Fat chance. And this is where these companies have us by the balls and they know it.

[spankdatazz22]

Quote: Originally Posted by sroz39

I don't neccessarily agree with this statement. Like anything else, the average consumer feels helpless when it comes to large corporate entities. And it don't get much bigger than the NFL. Face it guys, it's not EA's fault they have the license. The NFL went to ALL the companies that were ever involved with their licenses in respects to video games, and sold out to the highest bidder. It just so happened that it was EA who could afford the price tag.

Who else was going to afford the price tag, really? That was a forgone conclusion. Whether it was EA's idea, or the NFL's is moot now of course.

I wasn't trying to say most gamers don't necessarily care, I was saying most gamers don't care enough to act on this issue. I still think that if the roles were reversed and 2K got the NFL license, there definitely would've been an organized movement to reverse it. There are just way too many Madden fans, and they have structure in place (look at all the dedicated Madden sites). And I think they would've been able to put something together to make their voices heard.

[LIGHTNING]

People disappointed with EA football should do as I have done and will continue to do and not buy it. Just do not buy the game and then you will feel a lot better. I think with no competition, EA has no incentive to correct the flaws that have part of EA football for ages. If you really want to play the game, be patient and buy a used copy. As far as natural motion in Madden/NCAA football, I do not think EA will do such a thing because they have invested so much in motion cap animations. They would be throwing money away which most corporate managers rarely do willingly especially if the money lost is not going into their pockets. In todays corporate world generally the people who manage big business are not loyal to the employees or the customer, they are only loyal to the stockholders and to themselves. Very sad and unfortunate but true.

[ODogg]

Quote: Originally Posted by LIGHTNING

People disappointed with EA football should do as I have done and will continue to do and not buy it. Just do not buy the game and then you will feel a lot better. I think with no competition, EA has no incentive to correct the flaws that have part of EA football for ages. If you really want to play the game, be patient and buy a used copy.

Yes finally someone who makes complete and utter sense!

Quote: Originally Posted by LIGHTNING

In todays corporate world generally the people who manage big business are not loyal to the employees or the customer, they are only loyal to the stockholders and to themselves.

I mostly agree with you here but what you say is not entirely 100% true.. the corporations who make games are loyal to the customers when it means increased profits. I don't find that to be sad or unfortunate because that makes sense since that is what a corporation does, they exist to make money. As you said, if you find the companies practices unacceptable then do not buy the game or wait and buy it used when the company does not profit.