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

[ryan36]

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

I understand that's the perception. Why do you think EA has refused to comment or answer any questions about the extension? And, if the deal is working out so great for both sides, why didn't they re-up it for 3 or 4 years like last time? It's just my guess, but I think the uncertainties of all the pending litigation had at least something to do with it. Again, we should have some more answers on that stuff in another year.

Nah, I think the uncertainty is whether or not EA wants to re-up. A competitor would have to wait a year or two to produce a playable game. EA probably thinks they can get the license for cheaper or that they can squeak buy a couple years without it and save 140 million dollars.

[coogrfan]

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

I understand that's the perception. Why do you think EA has refused to comment or answer any questions about the extension? And, if the deal is working out so great for both sides, why didn't they re-up it for 3 or 4 years like last time? It's just my guess, but I think the uncertainties of all the pending litigation had at least something to do with it. Again, we should have some more answers on that stuff in another year.

Umm... the CBA situation might have something to do with it as well, don't cha think?

[EddieV]

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

Nah, I think the uncertainty is whether or not EA wants to re-up. A competitor would have to wait a year or two to produce a playable game. EA probably thinks they can get the license for cheaper or that they can squeak buy a couple years without it and save 140 million dollars.

Remember, it's not just EA that decides. You've also got the NFL owners looking at potential legal outcomes and mounting legal expenses. If you don't think the legal uncertainties had anything to do with this most recent extension being only 1 year instead of 3 or 5, that's your opinion and you're entitled to have it. I just have a different opinion.

[bkrich83]

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

Maybe you're right, maybe I'm right -- guess we'll never know.

Given the way ea and the NFL operate. It seems pretty obvious.

You think a class action suit against ea will force the NFL to open up their license? Not likely and the NFL has even deeper pockets for litigation than ea does and no one protects their intellectual property like the NFL.

This litigation has no affect on the NFL or how they do business. And why do people think telling an entity like the NFL who they can and can't sell their licenses to is a good thing ?

[EddieV]

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

And why do people think telling an entity like the NFL who they can and can't sell their licenses to is a good thing ?

Didn't you think it was a good thing when the courts came down against Microsoft? Would you like living in a world where every pc came with Windows? Maybe you would, but I never liked companies getting away with things our monopoly laws were designed to prevent.

[EddieV]

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

Umm... the CBA situation might have something to do with it as well, don't cha think?

Good point. Like I said, maybe the legal uncertainties had nothing to do with the 1 year term. But maybe, just maybe, it had a little something to do with it.

[bkrich83]

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

Didn't you think it was a good thing when the courts came down against Microsoft? Would you like living in a world where every pc came with Windows? Maybe you would, but I never liked companies getting away with things our monopoly laws were designed to prevent.

The NFL isn't forcing every football game to be an NFL game. They are selling their intellectual rights to a specific company for a premium exclusively. The MS deal doesn't compare.

Government telling businesses who they can and can't sell to isn't something I want to encourage.

Selling your property exclusive is not a monopoly nor is it an unfair business practice.

[mestevo]

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

“For one of our core partners in a difficult environment, we say let’s look at this, and maybe it makes some sense to extend something out longer and give our partner some relief in the short term but gain something on the back end,” said Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, chairman of the NFL’s business ventures committee.

Pretty clearly relates to the CBA.

[Mr5000]

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

Good point. Like I said, maybe the legal uncertainties had nothing to do with the 1 year term. But maybe, just maybe, it had a little something to do with it.

The legal uncertainty have nothing to do with it. If the NFL felt that those lawsuits were gonna stop anything, they would have been looking to get out of their deal with EA the first chance they got.

[SageInfinite]

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

As much as I don't like what EA and the NFL have done, I'm more mad at the fact that Tiburon can't make a football game that can rival The Show and NBA2k. It's just disappointing year after year to see that they just don't provide the type of football experience I'm looking for.

I would LOVE to have a choice, but if Tiburon would make football games that made me not care if there was a choice or not it would be great. They still haven't made a football game that compares to what we got last gen as far as providing a total experience. It's just sad for me to think that they just don't have it in them. I skipped Madden 11 for the first time ever, and I'll probably be doing it again this year.

And while NCAA 11 is the best it's been this gen, as far as a total football experience during gameplay, it's still lacking.

[bkrich83]

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

As much as I don't like what EA and the NFL have done, I'm more mad at the fact that Tiburon can't make a football game that can rival The Show and NBA2k. It's just disappointing year after year to see that they just don't provide the type of football experience I'm looking for.

I would LOVE to have a choice, but if Tiburon would make football games that made me not care if there was a choice or not it would be great. They still haven't made a football game that compares to what we got last gen as far as providing a total experience. It's just sad for me to think that they just don't have it in them. I skipped Madden 11 for the first time ever, and I'll probably be doing it again this year.

And while NCAA 11 is the best it's been this gen, as far as a total football experience during gameplay, it's still lacking.

I can not disagree with a single thing you said here. Well put.

[RGiles36]

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

The licensing cost would drop because EA, the only company capable of paying that hefty fee, is no longer in the picture. The NFL isn't going to turn down money. If no company wants to pay for an exclusive license, but companies were willing to pay for a non-exclusive license, than the NFL will award multiple licenses like they did before.

The NFL will simply lower the costs, and make it non-exclusive to make up some of the difference, which is what we all want.

I mean absolutely no disrespect when I say this, but you sound a bit delirious. Is there a point in which we let go? It's been what -- 6 years?

Why do people keep saying this ? The NFL wants as much money as possible, and the deal with EA guarantees this regardless of Madden's sales. If the NFL could make more money with multiple licenses, they would award multiple licenses.

Exactly LOL. Why are we discussing the possibility of the license being non-exclusive again?

I would LOVE to have a choice, but if Tiburon would make football games that made me not care if there was a choice or not it would be great. They still haven't made a football game that compares to what we got last gen as far as providing a total experience. It's just sad for me to think that they just don't have it in them. I skipped Madden 11 for the first time ever, and I'll probably be doing it again this year.

This. Granted, I do enjoy M11, but as far as value, this game lacks. The presentation is bare bones (I'm so sick of saying this year in - year out), franchise has been ignored, etc. When you compare the kitchen sink approach that NBA2K took as far as value...

On a related note, that's why I was happy to hear Cummings say on one of the podcasts that adding value to Madden is important for M12.

[EddieV]

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

As much as I don't like what EA and the NFL have done, I'm more mad at the fact that Tiburon can't make a football game that can rival The Show and NBA2k. It's just disappointing year after year to see that they just don't provide the type of football experience I'm looking for.

I would LOVE to have a choice, but if Tiburon would make football games that made me not care if there was a choice or not it would be great. They still haven't made a football game that compares to what we got last gen as far as providing a total experience. It's just sad for me to think that they just don't have it in them. I skipped Madden 11 for the first time ever, and I'll probably be doing it again this year.

And while NCAA 11 is the best it's been this gen, as far as a total football experience during gameplay, it's still lacking.

I agree with all of this, also. Good post.

[slickdtc]

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

Like others have stated, I cared a lot more 6 years ago. Now that we have NFL 2k5, APF 2k8, and I play Madden 10 (skipped M11), I'm quite content with my football gaming library.

I'd love for the license to be dealt out to multiple developers again, but it ain't happening, at least not for a long time, if ever. I'd love to see the day when I see the thread title "Exclusive NFL deal no more", but I'm not holding my breath every day. I've been apathetic towards NFL video games for a few years now. I guess the exclusive deal really did kill my love for the yearly Madden v. NFL 2k battle, but whatever, I'm older now and I've just got a lot better things to do.

[Cre8]

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

PFT Drops The 'M' Word In Their Newest Snippet.

NFL gives Madden game manufacturer a break for 2011

Posted by Mike Florio on February 16, 2011, 11:01 AM EST
When faced with the prospect of no NFL football — and, thus, no fantasy football — for 2011, the next question from most fans is this: “There’ll still be Madden, right?”
The answer is yes. And the league recently gave the folks who hold a monopoly on NFL console video games a break for 2011, given the possibility of a work stoppage.
Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal reported earlier this week that the NFL has reduced the fee to be paid by EA for 2011. In exchange, the two sides worked out a one-year extension of their contract, through 2013.
“For one of our core partners in a difficult environment, we say let’s look at this, and maybe it makes some sense to extend something out longer and give our partner some relief in the short term but gain something on the back end,” Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver told Kaplan.
The amount of the reduction, and the value of the extension, isn’t known. Kaplan points out that the Wall Street Journal reported last year that EA asked for a $30 million reduction.
EA, which has produced Madden football for more than 20 years, says it’s preparing for the worst-case scenario.
“In terms of the NFL, I can tell you that our base assumption going into the plan is a very conservative one,” Eric Brown, EA’s Chief Financial Officer, told Kaplan. “[W]e’ve baked in, at least in our thinking, the most conservative assumption, meaning no season. We’re optimistic it can be better than that and generate further upside.”
If it “generates further upside,” we’re guessing that EA will pay more money.
Meanwhile, the NFLPA has a separate deal with EA. It’s unknown whether that deal will be adjusted in any way. From the players’ perspective, there’s simply no reason to give anything back, especially since that money will be part of the lockout fund.
Bottom line? If there’s no football on Sundays this fall, you can just spend those 12 hours playing Madden.
Good luck selling that alternative to your wife and/or significant other.