2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

[CreatineKasey]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

Yep, APF puts all previous football games to shame in terms of gameplay. It isn't even close in my book. I can't wait to hear the 2k13 news one day and fire up APF again!

[lvsolja]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

The guy said madden destroys k5 in gamepay n presentation....so I said their pissing down his back and telling hiM its raining...(trade him mcdonalds for redlobster)........for all the ppl that act like intellegent collegeteachers youll are damn sure stupid..its called an Fing METAPHOR

[JoeRyan33]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

I hope something is in the works and comes to fruition. The only company that makes good football games should be making football games.

[tcp]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

I hope they make a game even if they dont get the license.

Look at what happened with Winning Eleven (PES). With all the customization that was possible with the game, it really got a huge following over the years and got where it is today. I remember buying/burning so many "custom patches" of a single version (WE10).. I had a DVD for the Brazilian League, Champions League, old 70's leagues.. that was one cool game on the PS2.

The gameplay is there. If 2K releases a fully customizable game, I'm sure the community would back it up and create thousands of "add-ons" for the game. I think we've discussed this a lot of times, but it's never enough until a game comes out

[StormJH1]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

I hope they make a game even if they dont get the license.

Look at what happened with Winning Eleven (PES). With all the customization that was possible with the game, it really got a huge following over the years and got where it is today. I remember buying/burning so many "custom patches" of a single version (WE10).. I had a DVD for the Brazilian League, Champions League, old 70's leagues.. that was one cool game on the PS2.

The gameplay is there. If 2K releases a fully customizable game, I'm sure the community would back it up and create thousands of "add-ons" for the game. I think we've discussed this a lot of times, but it's never enough until a game comes out

Totally agree with what you're saying, but the issue is that they need to find that happy medium between making a good football game with feature sets that the hardcore community will appreciate, and making a game that your average NFL fan/casual videogame player will want to actually buy.

APF 2k8 is the prime example of this...really, the core gameplay there was great. I wouldn't say it was perfect (there's some weird things going on with relative speed there and drops seemed pretty prevalent with the generic players). But you could just feel with the way they marketed it that they got about halfway in and were like "Wait, why are people going to want to BUY this?" So they went door-to-door wasting money on NFL vets, which is great because your average 13 year old videogame player is really going to remember the glory days of watching O.J. Simpson and Jack Lambert when they played the game. They were so beholden to marketing themselves as a "classic players" Madden alternative, that the game went to market with really no reason for you to do anything other than play online, or play one-off exhibition games. Even worse, the odd decision to take ratings out of the game (reportedly so as not to offend the veteran players) meant that there wasn't even an infrastructure for a FlyingFinn-type mod to really work.

Backbreaker was a whole different story because there was all this build-up to it, and then they released a game that thought it would have wide appeal, but really is decidedly hardcore. The decision to lock you in this first person camera is not only visually difficult, but also requires you to understand the specific roles of individual players on the field, rather than just play the game and follow the ball like you are watching TV (in Madden). What's worse, the selling point of that game was supposed to be the physics engine, but Euphoria annoys as many people as it attracts. Heck, I threw in a copy of NFL 2k5 on B/C 360 yesterday, and I still think the physics in that game make more sense than Backbreaker or even current gen Madden.

My point is that they could make an ideal 2k football game, even one without a license (which, I'm sad to say, is more likely going to be the case), and only about 300,000 to 500,000 people would buy it unless they find some way to explain on the front of the box to kids and parents why this game deserves your money. People forget that as great as 2k5 was, Madden never even viewed it as a real threat until 2k forced the issue with the $19.99 price drop.

People have loyalty to the Madden brand the way that new smartphone users are loyal to iPhones..."I've heard about them, my friends all have them, this must be what I want". They don't actually know (or care) if iPhone has the best operating system, battery life, processor, whatever...the marketing drives the purchase.

[Segagendude]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

I think what 2k should do is develop a generic football game for the PC....


Imagine the mod possibilities! And no real threat from the NFL for licensing issues. Users could create the NFL on their own, ala Backbreaker.

[tcp]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

Totally agree with what you're saying, but the issue is that they need to find that happy medium between making a good football game with feature sets that the hardcore community will appreciate, and making a game that your average NFL fan/casual videogame player will want to actually buy.

APF 2k8 is the prime example of this...really, the core gameplay there was great. I wouldn't say it was perfect (there's some weird things going on with relative speed there and drops seemed pretty prevalent with the generic players). But you could just feel with the way they marketed it that they got about halfway in and were like "Wait, why are people going to want to BUY this?" So they went door-to-door wasting money on NFL vets, which is great because your average 13 year old videogame player is really going to remember the glory days of watching O.J. Simpson and Jack Lambert when they played the game. They were so beholden to marketing themselves as a "classic players" Madden alternative, that the game went to market with really no reason for you to do anything other than play online, or play one-off exhibition games. Even worse, the odd decision to take ratings out of the game (reportedly so as not to offend the veteran players) meant that there wasn't even an infrastructure for a FlyingFinn-type mod to really work.

Backbreaker was a whole different story because there was all this build-up to it, and then they released a game that thought it would have wide appeal, but really is decidedly hardcore. The decision to lock you in this first person camera is not only visually difficult, but also requires you to understand the specific roles of individual players on the field, rather than just play the game and follow the ball like you are watching TV (in Madden). What's worse, the selling point of that game was supposed to be the physics engine, but Euphoria annoys as many people as it attracts. Heck, I threw in a copy of NFL 2k5 on B/C 360 yesterday, and I still think the physics in that game make more sense than Backbreaker or even current gen Madden.

My point is that they could make an ideal 2k football game, even one without a license (which, I'm sad to say, is more likely going to be the case), and only about 300,000 to 500,000 people would buy it unless they find some way to explain on the front of the box to kids and parents why this game deserves your money. People forget that as great as 2k5 was, Madden never even viewed it as a real threat until 2k forced the issue with the $19.99 price drop.

People have loyalty to the Madden brand the way that new smartphone users are loyal to iPhones..."I've heard about them, my friends all have them, this must be what I want". They don't actually know (or care) if iPhone has the best operating system, battery life, processor, whatever...the marketing drives the purchase.

APF2k8 has no replay value. Seriously, it was fun to set up a team or two and play. But the season ended and what did you do?

I live in Brazil and online was never an option. I know the game is for US players and I don't dispute that, but a franchise mode with FULLY customizable league (players, teams, stadiums?), with the option to not drag the legends to the league, would make a lot of sense. 2k drop the bucket when they didnt include offline replayability to the game. Customization+draft+franchise = win.

Marketing a game with no license would be more of a effort of saying 'hey, here's this great game of football. It feels like football, its sim, you can play it online and have a deep franchise mode offline. It is totally customizable, you can add and edit 'anything' in the game. Edit team colors, helmet, stadiums, rosters. Edit each player. Edit future draft classes/draft tendencies. Here are some videos, enjoy'. And keep doing that for some time while you create a buzz for the game. Im not in the marketing business but someone close is and talking to him yesterday about this stuff, he said that would make sense. We've got great ways to promote products these days that wont cost a lot of money and would certainly gather attention. Youtube?

The reason to buy the game would float around two things -- gameplay and customization. I don't think the WE series was a success with only hardcore fans. With the ease of sharing knowledge these days, it would not be a hassle to distribute patches, rosters, etc. I strongly believe that giving the community the tools for it to improve your game is a great factor for a game's success.

I've been a researcher and a tester for the Championship Manager/Football Manager series, I've had a few websites on the topic and it's amazing how customization allows a game to become better solely based on customization. For instance, play FM from the box. Now get a nice skin, an updated roster and download player photos, pitch art and team/league badges. It's another game.

About the price.. PSN/XBL could actually help that, no?

BTW, good post about ratings.

[StormJH1]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

APF2k8 has no replay value. Seriously, it was fun to set up a team or two and play. But the season ended and what did you do?

I live in Brazil and online was never an option. I know the game is for US players and I don't dispute that, but a franchise mode with FULLY customizable league (players, teams, stadiums?), with the option to not drag the legends to the league, would make a lot of sense. 2k drop the bucket when they didnt include offline replayability to the game. Customization+draft+franchise = win.

No, I totally agree about 2k8 having no replay value. I basically bought my 360 in anticipation of THAT game...people forget how excited a lot of people were about the return of 2k football, even if it wasn't in an NFL format.

It was the use of the legendary players that became an excuse not to have a full franchise mode. What would be the point...the game already had no basis in time/reality to begin with, so how would you make a league with drafting/trades/FA's that pretended like it was real.

That game was set up to fail from the start. There never was going to be a sequel with that concept (what would it offer, MORE old players?). NBA 2k11 is the perfect example of what they could have and should have done with APF 2k8. The level of thought and detail they put into creating Jordan (and the players around him) at different points in his career is brilliant. But on top of that, they had an improved version of 2k10, and my bet is that people play the Jordan stuff first, but end up spending most of their replay time doing regular franchises and just playing the game, assuming they like it.

If you want to let me play as Barry Sanders, that's cool. But don't just create his likeness in some vanilla season mode, and then depict him talking trash at the coin toss and doing the Dirty Bird after he scores a TD. That's not Barry Sanders. And give me an actual GAME to play underneath the novelty of playing with those legends, because I would've loved playing a true franchise game with generics using that football engine.

[Cryolemon]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

I think what 2k should do is develop a generic football game for the PC....


Imagine the mod possibilities! And no real threat from the NFL for licensing issues. Users could create the NFL on their own, ala Backbreaker.

It would be cool certainly.

[wheelman990]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

No, I totally agree about 2k8 having no replay value. I basically bought my 360 in anticipation of THAT game...people forget how excited a lot of people were about the return of 2k football, even if it wasn't in an NFL format.

It was the use of the legendary players that became an excuse not to have a full franchise mode. What would be the point...the game already had no basis in time/reality to begin with, so how would you make a league with drafting/trades/FA's that pretended like it was real.

That game was set up to fail from the start. There never was going to be a sequel with that concept (what would it offer, MORE old players?). NBA 2k11 is the perfect example of what they could have and should have done with APF 2k8. The level of thought and detail they put into creating Jordan (and the players around him) at different points in his career is brilliant. But on top of that, they had an improved version of 2k10, and my bet is that people play the Jordan stuff first, but end up spending most of their replay time doing regular franchises and just playing the game, assuming they like it.

If you want to let me play as Barry Sanders, that's cool. But don't just create his likeness in some vanilla season mode, and then depict him talking trash at the coin toss and doing the Dirty Bird after he scores a TD. That's not Barry Sanders. And give me an actual GAME to play underneath the novelty of playing with those legends, because I would've loved playing a true franchise game with generics using that football engine.

Really good post, and also right on about Sanders. They didnt even try IMO

[rooney8]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

Take Two Interactive share price has jumped up over 5% so far today. Anyone know the reason?

[ReviveESPN2k5]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

CEO is resigning which the market took as a indicator that TTWO might be up for aquisition.

[sega_2k]

Re: 2K Sports Has Already Approached NFL About NFL 2K13 Licensing Deal

I think people forgot what 2k5 had to offer. People are speculating what the new game could offer and what would make it different then Madden. Well I've been playing 2k5 for 7 years now and have never played a Madden game. Here are few thing that 2k could bring back and make more in-depth.

1. The Crib- For you veterans you know what I'm talking, this was very original and you "pimp" out your house and add everything you can think of from posters to entertainment system and popcorn machine. 2k could run with this and make it something like MTV Cribs and have you show off your house with all the awards you've won through your career.

2. ESPN 25th Anniversary- Well NBA 2K11 has the Micheal Jordan Challenge where you try to re-do all the great moments in his career. Well NFL 2k5 already had that except it wasn't centered around 1 player it was on the greatest moments in NFL history which was really fun. They could make it change the name of it since it won't land on a good year like the 30th anniversary or 50th anniversary.

3. Franchise- Wow, this was the thing that I put off the most after having 2k5 for 7 years. I never played franchise until now and now I know that I missed out. It was so deep for the time period and you could have 3 player trades. 2k could make this even deeper by making it something like the NBA 2k11 Association. And have you train as a rookie and try to make an NFL team. The sky is the limit for this feature.

4. Online- This is what made NFL 2k5 addictive to me. In one word, leagues. Back when Madden 2005 was out, they didn't have leagues and this is what made me love 2k5. I could have my friends join a league with our teams and have a draft. Also, what was cool was you could link your xbox live or playstation gamertag to the 2ksports.com site and make your league have it's own personal website. It would even update after every game and have the league leaders from each game and the league as a whole. The only thing that 2k needs to do to this for the future of 2k football is penalize people for not playing their games. I don't know how they could do it, or make it so it cuts down the people not showing up to play.

5. Soundtracks- NFL 2k5 had custom soundtracks and that was cool, I never used them but it was a nice feature to have if you get tired of hearing the announcers say the same lines over and over. 2k could add this to the new game and just make it more deeper.

6. First Person Football- This was a cool idea but it never stuck with many people and no one even played it when I was online. It was more of something that you and your friends could do offline. But if they brought it back, they would have to make it a little more easier to play.

Animations- I don't know about you guys but 2k5 had tons of animations from gang tackling to juke moves. There is no game that has a better running game then 2k5. The analog stick set the men from children. I remember you could pull off strings of jukes and basically make your opponent look as if they were standing still or their legs were made of jello. If 2k could make something like the NBA 2k11 game has where you use the left trigger like on the xbox 360 to do different crossover moves and add that to a football to do different side steps and jukes. We can already right down that 2k will be the best football game hands down. The only thing that 2k5 had problems with was the defense AI. The computer would seem to be lost on man coverage and if the QB ran the ball the defense would be totally lost. I'm not afraid of this in the new football because 2k has shown that the defense in NBA 2k11 is great and reacts well to almost everything.

Overall, for the new 2k football game if it does in fact come out, all they need to do is build off of what they had in 2k5 and add more of everything I just stated and just new features that people will want to play.

[dcsoldier]

Re: 2k wants NFL License

2K has tried that route, and it was ugly lol.

yea like 7 years ago.....c'mon let it go

[dcsoldier]

Re: 2k wants NFL License

The article doesn't say anything about an exclusive Licensing deal. It simply states that 2k approached the NFL regarding licensing. EA has paid a lot for the exclusive deal. As a result of the ruling with American Needle, the NFL may not be willing, or able, to grant exclusive licenses; however, they probably want to get the same amount of money, but from 2k and EA, so maybe 2k is anticipating that the license may be very expensive. I'm no expert on EA's and 2k's finances, but would 2k even have a realistic shot at out-bidding EA for the exclusive license ? I mean EA, at one point, owned exclusive licenses to the NCAA, AFL, ESPN and the NFL. If the exclusive license was up for bid again, I'd bet on EA winning that bid, again.

Also, until the case with American Needle is actually over, we won't know what the talks between 2k and the NFLPA are about. We don't know how the licensing will work. Will 2k have to talk to all thirty two franchises ? The NFL is now considered( by the Supreme Court) to be 32 separate entities; Will the NFL and NFLPA just issue a blanket license ? They're legal if they're not exclusive.

There are a lot of things we don't know. I, like a lot of posters in the thread, am against the NFL issuing an exclusive license to either publisher. If 2k gets an exclusive deal, who's to say that we won't get more of the same crap since there's no competition ?

ea does not have as much money as people think....don't believe me, just take a look at their stock which has dipped more than 200% since 07. bottom line is this....with the below avarage sales of madden it isn't worth for ea to keep pumping money into nfl for exclusivity, therefore most likely the outcome will be that both companies will make a football game in 2013. recent shake up in the ea management and loss of their nba title surely proves that ea isn't doing as well as everyone seems to think. it was once a powerful company however those days seem to be over