Could Madden be exclusive to Microsoft and NFL 2K exclusive to Sony?

[mestevo]

Quote: Originally Posted by tsbmolina

As many of you remember leading up to the launch of the next generation consoles EA was heavily favoring Microsoft's Xbox One with exclusive content and 2K was promoting NBA 2K thru PlayStation 4. It got me to think is there more to this story then meets the eye? Why were both companies on the complete opposite side of the fence in the new console race? Wouldn't it be beneficial For EA and 2K to promote both systems equally? Was one company favoring one console over the other for more important reasons? The first thought that came to my mind was perhaps there was a deal struck with a particular sports franchise that would benefit EA and 2K to put there eggs in one basket more then the other. Could Madden in 2014 be exclusive to Microsoft and NFL 2K exclusive to Sony? Sure EA would loose money by making Madden for Xbox One alone, but imagine how much cash they would get from Microsoft for the Madden exclusive. It would more then make up for any loss in software sales and would be a win, win for both EA and Microsoft. In comes 2K Sports into the equation with NFL 2K exclusive to Sony's PS4. It would be like CBS (AFC) vs. Fox (NFC) when it comes to the television contracts and keep with the NFL's desire for exclusiveness, only in this case for specific consoles. Since we are on the subject why doesn't the NFL ink an exclusive contract to televise all there football games on one network, since as everyone loves to point out that's how the NFL likes to operate with exclusivity? I'll tell you why, because in the long run the NFL would make a heck of a lot less money dealing with one network alone, so why do it in NFL video gaming!? In a sense 2K and EA are like networks and should be treated as such. The only difference is they televise virtual football games through a console. Competition in licensing the NFL exists in tv contracts and it should exist in video gaming as well, unless in the long run the NFL wants to make less money. I may be over thinking this but it makes for interesting conversation at the very least.

Quote: Originally Posted by tsbmolina

I'm interested to know why you think it doesn't make much sense?

There are just too many if's and buts and misunderstandings/assumptions going on here. Much of this was typical of console launches, there were just 2 almost simultaneously.

EA and MS teamed up early on, which makes sense considering MS's ever increasing reliance on third parties in the face of an army of first party studios Sony has. 2k wasn't really favoring the PS4 at launch, nobody was even allowed to show Xbox One footage until less than a week before release it seemed due to various embargoes (reviews on both the titles and/or OS I think). It doesn't necessarily make sense to put your competing third party devs in the same room and watch them fight it out when the story should be the console and the lineup, so that's another reason to exclude 2k from MS pressers where EA is so prominently featured for the most part.

This fallacy of a preference of one over another spiraled from there, which is the basis for the rest of your hypothesis.

All that aside, there's really no reason for the NFL to join the console wars. If they're going to have 2 licensees and restrict them to specific consoles that really just doesn't make sense and would probably significantly diminish the value of the license. Economically your TV analogy is broken, they benefit from competition for massive licenses of content the value of which is increasing exponentially, and it equally as massively benefits them having multiple suitors capable of bidding for that content. A single licensee for the broadcast rights would be a check that probably very few if any of the broadcasters could even dream of writing without serious financial implications across that company. Meanwhile the video game license has a very finite ceiling due to costs and the market involved (which is now in transition, technically reducing the value).

Oh, and when has Sony paid for an exclusive to a third party for anything?

[inkcil]

Bottom line it could happen just like it happened with MLB. It's up to NFL and NFLPA. We have an example staring us right in the face for the last 10 years.

[PVarck31]

Quote: Originally Posted by inkcil

Bottom line it could happen just like it happened with MLB. It's up to NFL and NFLPA. We have an example staring us right in the face for the last 10 years.

But MLB is made by Sony. So if course its gonna be exclusive to PS.

The above post by Mestevo basically sums up why it won't happen.

[tsbmolina]

Sony has paid for an exclusive third party title on numerous occasions. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots and the Ridge Racer series just to name a couple.

[mestevo]

How do you know they actually paid for those, and they weren't simply third party exclusives because the third party didn't want or need to adapt those titles to the competing (and very different architecturally) platform?

I'm sure Sony's done their share of helping with the development of some of their Japanese-sourced exclusives similar to the two you cite, but they've actually gone on record in the past saying they don't, just prior to MGS4 releasing even.

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/03/so...y-exclusivity/

[tsbmolina]

Quote: Originally Posted by mestevo

There are just too many if's and buts and misunderstandings/assumptions going on here. Much of this was typical of console launches, there were just 2 almost simultaneously. EA and MS teamed up early on, which makes sense considering MS's ever increasing reliance on third parties in the face of an army of first party studios Sony has. 2k wasn't really favoring the PS4 at launch, nobody was even allowed to show Xbox One footage until less than a week before release it seemed due to various embargoes (reviews on both the titles and/or OS I think). It doesn't necessarily make sense to put your competing third party devs in the same room and watch them fight it out when the story should be the console and the lineup, so that's another reason to exclude 2k from MS pressers where EA is so prominently featured for the most part. This fallacy of a preference of one over another spiraled from there, which is the basis for the rest of your hypothesis. All that aside, there's really no reason for the NFL to join the console wars. If they're going to have 2 licensees and restrict them to specific consoles that really just doesn't make sense and would probably significantly diminish the value of the license. Economically your TV analogy is broken, they benefit from competition for massive licenses of content the value of which is increasing exponentially, and it equally as massively benefits them having multiple suitors capable of bidding for that content. A single licensee for the broadcast rights would be a check that probably very few if any of the broadcasters could even dream of writing without serious financial implications across that company. Meanwhile the video game license has a very finite ceiling due to costs and the market involved (which is now in transition, technically reducing the value). Oh, and when has Sony paid for an exclusive to a third party for anything?

Good points. So what happens if the sales of Madden decrease? Or better yet there's no other company left to attempt or have the desire to make a football game except EA due to the high entry cost of developing a game from scratch and going against a well established company. There would be a vice grip around the sacks of the NFL and they would be in MLB's position with 2K, begging EA to continue developing an NFL little at EA's asking price not there's. It would be in the best interest of the NFL to want competition in the video game sector. Without it EA has the advantage in the long run as the market shrinks as it has proven since the first year of the exclusive contract. While the NFL on television sells itself, developing a video game takes skill and only one other company can match that skill when it come to making a football game with the likes of EA and that's 2K Sports. If it doesn't happen this year with the license potentially up for grabs it will never happen and it will be the NFL not us who will be screwed in the end with only one suitor. NFL making a deal with the devil? We will have our answer Monday.

[mestevo]

After Monday the goalposts will be moved elsewhere, to something else to hope for, they always do.

If the exclusive wasn't working out for either party it wouldn't continue. Not going to speculate beyond that. Box sales are important but they aren't everything in the world of digital purchases and microtransactions.

We simply don't have all the data to make reasonable assumptions about the success and many of the market conditions, just vague barometers like Madden 25 was the 3rd best selling game in 2013.

[tsbmolina]

Quote: Originally Posted by mestevo

After Monday the goalposts will be moved elsewhere, to something else to hope for, they always do. If the exclusive wasn't working out for either party it wouldn't continue. Not going to speculate beyond that. Box sales are important but they aren't everything in the world of digital purchases and microtransactions. We simply don't have all the data to make reasonable assumptions about the success and many of the market conditions, just vague barometers like Madden 25 was the 3rd best selling game in 2013.

Well said and very true but for me the goalposts will have been demolished. One thing I can say for certain and that is the hatred towards EA will grow more then it already has if they did sign another exclusive contract and that can't be good for business or help EA get out of the shadow of the worse company in America label it has earned the past two years. .