EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

[adfletch71]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

It seems like the NFL think that the majority of gamers are 8-18 year olds and doesnt comprehend football at all except mash the buttons. This is a slap in the face of consumers and it really shows that the NFL doesnt care about its video game audience. Its all about money as far as that goes and i have grown too except it now, thank GOD i have the NBA and MLB choices, because i find myself playing those more than ever now. Hopefully next gen we get a choice of games for the NFL. Maybe 2k will develope a generic game knowing that wont have a chance this gen consoles. We'll see in the near future. NFL football is dead this gen!!!!! Just have to accept it and move on.

[johnprestonevans]

I don't think I can express just how disapointed and angry I am this morning. I hate that the executives inking these exclusive deals have NO idea how ho-hum the Madden games have become. Do they even care about quality? No. It's a business and I guess this deal is good for EA and the NFL. But that's where it stops. This is not good for us: the consumer. A lack of competition is the reason this series continues to tread water instead of pushing ahead.

I love NFL Football and I'm frustrated that I have to endure $#!&y commentary, broken AI and the worst presentation in sports gaming for another 3 years (at least). This news effectively means that this generation of consoles is a write-off for great NFL games. Sad day.

[Jackdog]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

Quick reminder. This isn't IGN. You will be banned if you cant follow the TOS. You have a point? Make it in a constructive adult manner.

[turftickler]

This is truly a sad day in video game football history. This cuts deeper than when ESPN NFL 2k6 was snatched out of my hands.

This cut me deep and I'm sure others feel the same way. This is not good news for simulation video game football fans. We deserve and demand more out of this. TheSimStandard is in effect!

[johnprestonevans]

This is sad. With no competition there is no reason to drastically improve the game. There is no one upping "the other guys." I am not Pro EA or Pro 2K. I am simply just a sports gamer looking for the best product for $60. If there is no competition there is no pressure to put out a better product. I know Ian and the guys are trying to do right by the fans, but nothing is stopping them from just saying forget about it, and dropping the same game with updated rosters.

From a marketing standpoint, I can see why they don't put out the "perfect" product. If they do that, there will be no need to purchase the next years installment, but I can assure you that this exclusive contract has SIGNIFICANTLY slowed production down. Think back to how amazing both NFL 2K5 and Madden 2005 both were. Now fast forward to Madden 2011 and EA has exclusive rights to the NFL AND ESPN. Still no half time show, still no ESPN integration other than ESPN radio, still no post game show. There is just nothing that resembles ESPN in EA's BIGGEST money maker and that is dissapointing. Even the small amount of ESPN presentation added ALOT to the way NCAA 11 was received. NCAA Football has now surpassed Madden in many eyes because they seem to use the tools given to give the fans what they want.

Bang on here. The presentation is embarrassingly poor despite owning the rights to NFL and ESPN. The half-hearted attempt with the "Extra Point" is disgusting when set next to 2K5's SportCenter. No hightlights. No stories. Nothing dynamic nor presented the way you see it on TV. I just keep envisioning these guys sitting around counting their money and saying "nah, why should be introduce real physics? Why bother re-booting the presentation? Lets spend a few hours to program surprise onside kicks." ugh.

[cgalligan]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

people are just going off of what they know. M05 was the pinacal. And its been bad ever since with little to no improvements every year.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me 2,3,4,5,6,7 times, shame me

[RJTurneR]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

I just think it’s premature to bash a game that’s 6 months from release. We don’t know everything that will be in Madden 12. They could have reworked the entire franchise mode. We know they worked on it at least. You just gotta stay positive. I think if any year will be great then this is the year.

This I agree with. I can understand people are fed up, and I can understand why people are fed up. At the end of the day though, it is just a video game. Ok, it's the only NFL game out there, and people use it to get there football fix. I know I do. But right now, there is a possibility that we could end up with no football.

I would rather have Madden if there is going to be no NFL, than just have nothing.

This year will be great for games anyway.

[Afrikan]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

I just think it’s premature to bash a game that’s 6 months from release. We don’t know everything that will be in Madden 12. They could have reworked the entire franchise mode. We know they worked on it at least. You just gotta stay positive. I think if any year will be great then this is the year.

Oh I agree, a game shouldn't be bashed 6 months before release. I think it is more so the series that people are bashing. Now I know bashing gets you no where, especially here at O.S. but I understand why some would be worried. It's not like they would give them the benefit of the doubt.

also for those who are posting remember, do not cuss in your posts...or try to filter it with symbols. You will get moderated. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!

[johnprestonevans]

Does competition really inspire change? Look at other gaming franchises. There are tons of options out there in the FPS genre, yet the top dog is Call of Duty, a series that has changed very little from year to year. There's a whole lot of speculation going on in this thread, but most of it is ill informed hyperbole.

Respectfully, I disagree. The difference between Madden and Call of Duty is that COD is doing everything right. Their product is at the top of their game at the moment. It's like being Madden 04/05 and not like Madden 11. Call of Duty offers an experience that no other FPS game can quite can match. And there IS competition in the FPS market. Tons of it. I personally like Battlefield Bad Company 2 better than COD, but that's the point - there is competition and choice. I loved being able to choose between 2 great games in Madden 05 and NFL2K5. But the fact that this series continues to ignore its glaring problems in favor of marketable gimmicks and back-of-the-box features makes it plum for the picking.

[videlsports]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

Bang on here. The presentation is embarrassingly poor despite owning the rights to NFL and ESPN. The half-hearted attempt with the "Extra Point" is disgusting when set next to 2K5's SportCenter. No hightlights. No stories. Nothing dynamic nor presented the way you see it on TV. I just keep envisioning these guys sitting around counting their money and saying "nah, why should be introduce real physics? Why bother re-booting the presentation? Lets spend a few hours to program surprise onside kicks." ugh.


I love this post .. Credit goes to this guy:
johnprestonevans******** type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_2042122522", true); </SCRIPT>

[Mos1ted]

When I initially came to this site this morning, the shock and awe of being greeting with the exclusivity extension news lasting for about 3 seconds...in real time. At the end of all, I'm really not that upset about it either. To be honest, I'm more upset with 2K for not having a football game (grant it, an unlicensed one) to attempt to grab some of the football gaming market share. The more I watch X's and O's segments on shows such as NFL Live (ESPN) or AFC/NFC Playbook (NFL Network), the more I get upset that no football game currently on the market has made any attempt to replicate the nuances of strategy that go into football. Basketball is my favorite sport to play in real life, but it's a really simple game, and that translates in the video game market (hence the easiness to cheese). Football on the other hand is a very complex game, but that's not really represented in the video game segment. After all, the NFL license is just that, a license. Take away the logos and players and what do you have in Madden? Just another football game.

2K's "We don't want to upset the NFL by making a game using NFL rules and structure" stance just blew up in their face. Obviously, you can see where the NFL's loyalty really lies. So if I'm 2K, I say bump it, and at least try to compete either in the college football market or the generic market. Either way, you're still offering gamers something different which is what many of us want right now.

[RJTurneR]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

The difference between Madden and Call of Duty is that COD is doing everything right.

And wrong.. Just look in depth.

Call of Duty offers an experience that no other FPS game can quite can match.

Introducing.. Call of Duty: Black Ops! There is no other game that makes you feel like your in the heat of battle.. Where everyone uses an AK74 w/Grip and Rapid Fire, and hides away in a corner using Ghost. Bullets are a thing of the past! Noob tubing is the future! Get your copy today!

Yeah.. it offers an experience like no over alright.. a experience that will raise peoples blood pressure and turn them into anti-social hermits.

CoD had a huge head start. A big reason why it sells so well. People find ways to exploit the game and make it to easy.. and annoying, and anything thats easy will sell better in the gaming world. Everyone knows about the way people exploit the AK74. That sets of a trend.. and ruins the game for us who play fairly.

CoD is just as bad as Madden. Ways to unfairly exploit your opponent, glitches, bugs, the AK74 is the unfair money plays of Madden.. and then there's lag.

From an in depth perspective both fail. Which asks the question.. Do EA really put a lot of effort into Madden, but it just doesn't succeed?

EA are building on a game engine that dates back a long way. Tons and tons of code. Which can cause bugs and what not. We are just seeing this type of thing in CoD, which makes me think that is this really EA's fault?

[JMD]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

I think I'm going to be done with Madden, any new Madden games that is. I started buying Madden games with Madden 06 on the 360 and have bought the game each year since then. The game has improved over the years , but the past 3 Madden games 09, 10 , and 11 show very little improvement. I actually feel Madden 10 is the best of the bunch, if not for the foolish jerking of the players when they break out in the open , I'd have no issue with the game. I'm just going to stick with the Madden games I now have and also NFL 2k5, and wait for the next generation of consoles to come along and see what video game football brings. Madden 12 is going to have to be something really special for me to buy it, I can't see myself paying $60.00 just for a roster update again this year.

[RGiles36]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

I guess I frankly don't know what to do anymore. The NFL itself is driving fans away like crazy and Madden is strongly following suit.

Is that a fact? Everything I've heard/read lately indicates that the NFL brand is more popular than it has ever been.

I love NFL Football and I'm frustrated that I have to endure $#!&y commentary, broken AI and the worst presentation in sports gaming for another 3 years (at least). This news effectively means that this generation of consoles is a write-off for great NFL games. Sad day.

I can't disagree with you here. For the sports games that I play, Madden has had thee most repetitive commentary and underwhelming presentation. They've said they're addressing these areas (well presentation at least), but I've heard that rhetoric since the marketing of M09. Show me!

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Aside from that, I think people put too much stock into competition and its effect on the quality of Madden. I know that's an unpopular opinion around these parts, but oh well. Competition hasn't yielded positive results for EA's NBA franchise. And two years ago, MLB2K STUNK in comparison to The Show (maybe it has improved since then -- I don't play it hardly).

Here's the bottom line for me: the NFL agreed to an extension of the exclusive license on the heels of Madden 08. Yes, Madden 08 -- arguably the worst NFL videogame of all time. That told me then that $$$ was the motivation...not the quality of the game. Since then, I just can't see another NFL game being made for quite some time. Like one of the articles alluded to, clearly there is a good business relationship between EA & the NFL. A couple hundred disgruntled fans on an internet forum(s) pose little threat to that relationship.

I have to say I'm not as disapointed as many of you are. No doubt I have my gripes with the current game. But I've played the last two Maddens quite a bit and I feel the arrow is pointing up.

[Pringles]

Re: EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

wouldn't be funny if we read that (take 2) got exclusive rights from the nflpa
and they made a game with real names and E.A sports made one with the real nfl teams and we as fans sat here and suffered until some judge said no exclusives what so ever.