Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

[tlc12576]

I obviously have too much free time on my hands these days and got to thinking about the possibility that EA might just scrap the NFL license for Madden in 2013. If you really read too much into a bunch of little things, this could be in the tea leaves.

Madden has been consistently going away from NFL simulation and more towards a generic, online social networking format to attract general gamers. Even modes like OTP and Ultimate Team focus more on a social aspect of gaming and less on an actual NFL required foundation. If the NFL brand was removed from these modes, the expected migration from these modes maybe minimal by EA's projections. Also, in podcast 4 Pasta Padre was asked what he would expect Madden 14 to be like, in general, not how far it would have come in simulating the NFL.

Secondly, Take Two has been confirmed to have sold off major assets to increase capital in order to make a bid on some kind of NFL license in the future. Most think that is just a general NFL license but it wouldn't seem likely that anything but an exclusive NFL license would require the kind of capital gained from Take Two selling major company assets.

Lastly, there have been rumors around for a while about EA wanting to abandon the John Madden name brand and start with something new. What better time to go a different way with a new EA football game then when the exclusive NFL license expires and they can phase out John Madden along with the football brand he is so famously associated with. If not, then the recent video showing John Madden still involved with the game, may be sign of EA using his football cred to validate a unlicensed Madden game.

Look, I am not saying this is the case but it is definitely one of those things that would make Arsenio Hall say "Hmmmmmmmm?"

[untrugby]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

i wouldnt buy a simulation football game or any sport for that matter that didnt have a license i like playing with my favorite players even if the game is slightly worse than a non license one i would get more enjoyment out of it

[jbrew2411]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

I don't see them making a non NFL branded game. Just look at All-Pro football to see that people want buy a game that does not have real NFL teams with current players. I could see them dropping the Madden name. I could careless what they call it as long as they have real NFL teams and players. I could see the NFL allowing more then one company to make a licensed NFL game but I don't see EA going the way of All-Pro or Backbreaker.
I think you are reading to far into those podcast. I think they were talking in general. Ian or one of them said they would not confirm any thing that would be in the game. They are just talking about what the goals for the game are and the direction they want to go.
I bought EA's game when I had a choice and will continue to buy it. I just want buy a game that does not see improvement from year to year.

[tlc12576]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

I don't see them making a non NFL branded game. Just look at All-Pro football to see that people want buy a game that does not have real NFL teams with current players. I could see them dropping the Madden name. I could careless what they call it as long as they have real NFL teams and players. I could see the NFL allowing more then one company to make a licensed NFL game but I don't see EA going the way of All-Pro or Backbreaker.
I think you are reading to far into those podcast. I think they were talking in general. Ian or one of them said they would not confirm any thing that would be in the game. They are just talking about what the goals for the game are and the direction they want to go.
I bought EA's game when I had a choice and will continue to buy it. I just want buy a game that does not see improvement from year to year.

Now of course I am just speculating for the heck of it but you shouldn't underestimate EA's arrogance about Madden. They cornered the entire NFL video game market and where convinced that Madden was "so great", they could just release whatever on next-gen and the competitions former consumers, along with the Madden nation, would still blindly buy it.

EA's arrogance about how popular the Madden brand is may be enough for them to think they could shuck the NFL license, while keeping the Madden name and still sell big.

[Phreezy P]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

Do you mean "Exclusive" NFL License?

[tlc12576]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

Do you mean "Exclusive" NFL License?

NO! LOL

I mean no NFL license.

Once again, this is just food for thought but it seems Take Two is gearing up for a BIG bid. Much too big, it would seem, to just be a general NFL license. Also, it doesn't seem like the NFL would be that interested in selling anything but an exclusive license considering the boat load of money they probably made from the one with EA.

Add that with the fact that EA might have little interest in going the exclusive route again after less than projected sales, lawsuits and all their other exclusive license's cost, this might not be as far fetched as it seems.

[cl34v4g3]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

I don't see them making a non NFL branded game. Just look at All-Pro football to see that people want buy a game that does not have real NFL teams with current players. I could see them dropping the Madden name. I could careless what they call it as long as they have real NFL teams and players. I could see the NFL allowing more then one company to make a licensed NFL game but I don't see EA going the way of All-Pro or Backbreaker.
I think you are reading to far into those podcast. I think they were talking in general. Ian or one of them said they would not confirm any thing that would be in the game. They are just talking about what the goals for the game are and the direction they want to go.
I bought EA's game when I had a choice and will continue to buy it. I just want buy a game that does not see improvement from year to year.

I really hope you meant that you want to buy a game that improves every year, which is what we all want and what EA ISN'T giving us.

On the other hand, if you meant you won't buy a game that does not improve every year, then why do you buy Madden?

[Clutch masta]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

what do you mean no NFL license? does that mean it wont be able to have any NFL association? I'd have to say no because if it doesn't include the NFL I dont want that game.

[tlc12576]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

what do you mean no NFL license? does that mean it wont be able to have any NFL association? I'd have to say no because if it doesn't include the NFL I dont want that game.

Yes, that's what I mean.

[PantherBeast_OS]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

I don't see EA stop make madden NFL even without a License. Honestly with the way every game company is hurting for money somewhat like EA. I don't think any other company with by the license of the NFL right. Companies like 2k and EA didn't even have license they still made the NFL games. I still think madden will around for years to come without NFL license.

[guaps]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

If the game is representing the sport in a good and realistic manner, I'll buy it. However, your question is if I would buy Madden without a NFL license, and to that the answer "No!" as I don't believe Madden does a very good job of representing the game of football.

Back in the last-gen days I chose Pro Evolution Soccer over FIFA for many years despite FIFA having licensed teams and players, because PES was a better soccer game. In the current-gen consoles era I've chosen FIFA because I believe it's the best soccer game available, not because of licenses players and teams.

[roadman]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

It's a message board, so yeah, anything is possible and plausible.

Will it happen? I don't see it happening.

[jbrew2411]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

I really hope you meant that you want to buy a game that improves every year, which is what we all want and what EA ISN'T giving us.

On the other hand, if you meant you won't buy a game that does not improve every year, then why do you buy Madden?

Trust me I want as much as the next guy to see a game that improves each year. My fingers were typing faster then my brain was going. I didn't buy Madden 11 for that fact. I stopped buying Madden every year when I switched to the 360/PS3 in 2007. I didn't buy Madden 08. I got Madden 09 with credit card points. I didn't get Madden 10 until October that year once I saw the game was an improvement over 09. I didn't get Madden 11 after Ian or someone with Madden said the game was just Madden 10 with tweaks.

[Phreezy P]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

There is no point of EA making a game without the license. They will just lose all their money because nobody will buy it. Ima tell you right now that I will never buy a game without an NFL license because it is basically a fantasy game and I HATE fantasy games to the next level. This is the same reason why I never bought APF 2k8. UNLESS there is a feature to create real nfl teams, jerseys and stadiums and players to 100% accuracy(or at least 75%)

[tlc12576]

Re: Is EA Considering A Madden Without A NFL License ?

It's a message board, so yeah, anything is possible and plausible.

Will it happen? I don't see it happening.

But why not? My whole point of this thread was to give small signs this could actually happen and the most compelling of all those things is Take Two's asset sell off. Of course you or I are not privy to what is going on with NFL license agreements but Take Two seems to be gearing up for a large offer to the NFL.

Why raise so much capital just for a bid at a non-exclusive NFL license?

There is no point of EA making a game without the license. They will just lose all their money because nobody will buy it. Ima tell you right now that I will never buy a game without an NFL license because it is basically a fantasy game and I HATE fantasy games to the next level. This is the same reason why I never bought APF 2k8. UNLESS there is a feature to create real nfl teams, jerseys and stadiums and players to 100% accuracy(or at least 75%)

This is the reason I added the maybe option in the poll. I don't know how many of you guys remember but there was a time when Madden wasn't licensed a long time ago. Most of the people that are answering this poll are probably gamers that enjoy playing a football simulation game but there is a whole Madden consumer base out there, that love MUT and play OTP.

If EA scraped the NFL license, focused on the socializing modes like MUT/OTP, had generic player numbers with team names again like Washington/New York/New Orleans and dynamic user customization, they might think Madden could still sell despite not being licensed.