Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

After EA's Madden/NFL announcement, there was comments being made about EA possibly purchasing Sega's ESPN NFL (XBox version). The scenario would be Madden on PS2, Cube and PC platforms. ESPN would be on XBox-only.

Considering yesterday's announcement that EA purchased ESPN's exclusiveness for 15 years, I'm wondering if EA is thinking about doing the un-imagineable, purchasing Sega's XBox version. After all, there's value in doing this from a sales, marketing and strategy perspective:

* Brings Sega's users onboard (sales)
* Softens the licensing coup (marketing)
* Builds 'best of breed' opportunity for newer platforms to come (strategy)
* Allows EA to leverage Sega's programming code; especially in how ESPN's presentation is 'already' there. ESPN's presentation is very good

I think the risk would be worth the reward.

Hopeful
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Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

They would have to buy it from Take-TWO. TT has first dibs on VC as a company.

Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

If I were EA you know what my next step would be. Buy the company who makes ActionReplay and shut them down.

Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

You're right Take-Two will have dibbs on VC. They can unbundle that team fromt the other game development teams. Or they (VC/football) can be subcontracted by EA. The bottom-line to all that is how serious Take Two will be about producing a quality football game for the next five years.

If they do let it go, this could be a win-win if Take Two is seriously trying get a MLB exclusive. Although, I can't see EA allowing that to happen to them.

Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

EA can hire all the VC developers right out from under VC's nose.

This wouldn't mean that they could take the code from ESPN games, that intellectual property belongs to VC. And they probably signed non-competes, but there is probably a buyout available. If not, they could be compensated well enough to just enjoy their six months or year off.

Even without the code, just having the VC developers' input would help immensely in all of EA's games.

Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

Yeah, I would have respected them more if EA raided VC talent vs trying to buy them out of business. I think the lead programmer for VC football worked on Madden in the past. I dont know if they want to come back. You know with the complaints how EA treat their workers.

Workers Unite

Peace

Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

EA will sign an exclusive deal with Sony & PS3 next for online. Few people play Madden on XBOX live anyway. Plus it is a port of the PS2 version carried over on the XBOX so it will always have an inferior look to it. I believe this is step one of Sony/EA's masterplan to corner the Videogame market period!

Re: Is the Plan Unfolding?
 

fine by me...then microsoft will make games again

the only reason MCSFT stopped their sporst division was to get EA onto xbox live