Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

[khaliib]

EA has a signed agreement with the NFLPA through this year at least, so real players and teams will be in the game regardless of a lockout.

One thing I've learned in Sports Law class, is that no agreement is 100% fulfilled, especially in the last year.
Especially with major Sports Brands and/or it's Players. Contracts are voided many times with these two entities.

Team Logo's/Namesake are under the unbrella of the NFL (Owners). If there is a lockout, NFLPA can't use those Logo's/Namesake to make profit., even if there is/was an agreement.

From what I've heard, if there is a lockout, you can't take Players and tie them to an Owner's Brand (Team) and/or vise-versa and profit from the combination of the two as a whole when they no longer exist as one.

The main argument is how much of a cut each entitiy should get from profits from the combined brands as a whole. This would include any and all external agreements that sell both as one.

I've been told that when Owners and Players at the pro level reach this point, things get real nasty and selfish.
Meaning each does not want the other to profit in any way by utilizing their brand.

We shall see how it plays out.

[taqiyya]

One thing I've learned in Sports Law class, is that no agreement is 100% fulfilled, especially in the last year.
Especially with major Sports Brands and/or it's Players. Contracts are voided many times with these two entities.

Team Logo's/Namesake are under the unbrella of the NFL (Owners). If there is a lockout, NFLPA can't use those Logo's/Namesake to make profit., even if there is/was an agreement.

From what I've heard, if there is a lockout, you can't take Players and tie them to an Owner's Brand (Team) and/or vise-versa and profit from the combination of the two as a whole when they no longer exist as one.

The main argument is how much of a cut each entitiy should get from profits from the combined brands as a whole. This would include any and all external agreements that sell both as one.

I've been told that when Owners and Players at the pro level reach this point, things get real nasty and selfish.
Meaning each does not want the other to profit in any way by utilizing their brand.

We shall see how it plays out.

Ahh OK... I understand a little more clear now. Thank you for that info and I hope all this comes to a close soon. It's crazy how a sport can get so ugly off the field. Greed ruins so many things.

[acreyman]

Not sure how this is a bad thing for the consumer really....there is still Madden 11 to keep people's thirst for NFL Football quenched, and the developers can focus on improving Madden 13 all year intead of focusing on patching 12 and doing tuner sets.............very bad for the developer in terms of $$$ though. One thing we do know for sure........NCAA 12 is gonna be there! Maybe a record year for that game if a lockout prevents Madden from hitting the shelves? I think so. I think EA will take a hit but increased sales in NCAA will help some. Sucks though, I was looking forward to the improved franchise mode and skipped Madden 11 this year. NCAA has been great but the NFL itch is starting to get to me.

[Step2001]

Just add a deep franchise mode that can be played offline and online and the game will sell very well.

[Cryolemon]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

What happens to the rosters if the NFLPA disbands to file anti-trust vs the NFL?

That's a good question.

EA has a signed agreement with the NFLPA through this year at least, so real players and teams will be in the game regardless of a lockout.

That's fine unless the NFLPA disbands.

[bh446066]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

Actually, if they lost the ability to give us real rosters, that would be fine with me. Just give me a bunch of generics with ability to fully edit them and that would be even better! Well, for me, anyway (I like historic rosters).

[mirrored32]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

if madden was to be without the actual players, i could care less! as long as we get complete customization back! we could make our own rosters. the fact is most people complain of the rosters being this or that anyway.

Historic Rosters could finally come back! heck, Historic Teams!

besides i would love to see madden 12 be complete customization without players and if they do eventually get an agreement then send a roster update.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

IMO I don't think the NFL or NFLPA will mess with Madden if there is no season. Having no season is bad press....why would they want to add more fuel to the fire.

As far as Madden sales go...well at launch you will have the same percentage of people who will buy the game no matter what. Then you have your consumers that are swayed by marketing. Some of them will be swayed by the lack of a season and a desire to have some kind of football in their life. The lack of an official NFL push may hurt the sales a little bit, but I highly doubt it will make a significant dent.

[St. Chaos]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

It would be nice if a lockout finally meant the death of the exclusively underachieving license...

[JMD]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

On this weeks episode of Game Trailers TV, Peter Moore was asked this very question and he said there will be a Madden 12 no matter what happens in the NFL.

[ABR173rd]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

I would have to believe Madden will still do pretty decent, factoring in the improvements we hope to see in franchise mode and maybe the lack of the NFL season this will be one of the few ways the NFL can still market itself through out the year if there is indeed a lockout.

[benweird]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

Or they could just delay the release until the lockout is over and use the extra time to make a good game. I'd rather wait for a good game than get an average game in August.

[khaliib]

Re: Analysis: What Happens to Madden if There is a Lockout?

Or they could just delay the release until the lockout is over and use the extra time to make a good game. I'd rather wait for a good game than get an average game in August.

Sorry to burst that bubble, but it will still be the same game engine that's already maxed out.
Outside of visual tweaks and odd injections, nothing major can be done.

There is a reason Offline Dynasty and Audio Package have not advanced.
The engine is limiting what can be done.

Sure they can flesh out the Dynasty more, but then because the core (gamepaly engine) can't be upgraded also, you'll find Madden becoming more Text Based style as gamers simulating the Old Gameplay just to get to the Fleshed out Dynasty.

Same thing with new Audio Package. New announcers can be used or how they say their lines, but we've seen every engine replication of gameplay since being on Next Gen consoles.

That's why the audio changes have become stale so quick.
-Different Audio, same Tackling animations.
-Different Audio, same Running animations.
-Different Audio, same Sliding Movement animations.
-Different Audio, same 2-Step Dance Blocking animation.
-Different Audio, same Catching animations.
and so on the list goes.

It's not that the Audio is repetitive in itself, but that the maxed out game engine forces repetitive lines as the animations across the board are simply the same as we've seen since making Next Gen.

We're finally starting to see it hinder the Visual Upgrades also.
When there's no movement, the game looks awesome, but when movement starts, we see those Clicky-Sliding-Robotic Movements that just pull your vision to those animations.

Until their is a new game engine to develope off of, Madden will never be able to "WOW" the community with something major.

What happens if there is a lockout? Nothing!!!

Gamers will spend $60 for the same Game Engine with some tweaks and adjustments.

It's not Ian and Co. fault. If the Administrative side would give him the keys, I really believe this guy would change the Football Gaming Experiece to a level that would blow our minds.

But, business is business, and unless your the owner, you just got to do what your told (esp if you want to keep your job).

This was suppose to be a short 3 line reply.
Oh well!!!