$27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

[jWILL253]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

When the plaintiffs first started this case in 08, they were going after the NFL exclusive license.

They settled for much less than that. As the article says, after 2014, EA can sign a non-exclusive license with NCAA and call it a day. EA hasn't made a AFL game since 2007.

Wow.

Yeah, looking back on it... I called it a win, but we (the gamers) got very little at the end of the day. To EA, the NCAA license is expendable, and I bet they were laughing their asses off at the AFL license being disputed.

Sure, they might hesitate to go after another exclusive license with the NFL, but they might not. Madden is a Top 10 seller every year in America, and they would've killed to see the license stand.

This should've went to trial, plain and simple...

[DaReapa]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

It also stipulates that EA will not sign an exclusive license arrangement with the AFL for five years and will not renew its current agreement with the NCAA, which expires in 2014, for at least five years.

Oddly enough, I thought the NCAA exclusivity was slated for just 6 years after the initial signing back in 2005.

Depending on the state of things over at 2K Sports, they may want to consider beginning development on a "prototype" football game à la All Pro Football or Backbreaker to get things kicked off for a possible re-entry back into college football gaming. In music terms, it would be akin to putting out a mixtape before the studio release.

[Retropyro]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

I don't see how anyone could say that a 2k college football would be crap based on the fact that NCAA 2k3 was bad. That was 10 years ago.

Well considering how everyone constantly says how an new NFL 2K would be great because 2K5 was good, I'd say's it's fair to say 2k college football would be crap based on the fact that NCAA 2k3 being bad.

I seriously doubt 2K would even make a new football game. They have been hinting more and more about dropping out of sports completely.

The thing is, while people may cheer now they may find themselves with no NCAA football games in the near future.

Pretty sure the NFL license was not included because it was the NFL that wanted an exclusive license so they had more control over their image. It was an open bid between the company's making NFL titles and EA obviously won.

[richiesbx137]

I think it will open up competition similar to the NBA and people like 2K and Sony should step up and jump in. EA will still get Madden and NCAA, but it will be open competition. Also bring back College Hoops as well. That is my point taken. I will love to see NFL 2K go against Madden I remember it was $20 and a month early before Madden and it sold really well. I think it is better for competition than exclusive licenses kills the whole deal.

[Cre8]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

I think it will open up competition similar to the NBA and people like 2K and Sony should step up and jump in. EA will still get Madden and NCAA, but it will be open competition. Also bring back College Hoops as well. That is my point taken. I will love to see NFL 2K go against Madden I remember it was $20 and a month early before Madden and it sold really well. I think it is better for competition than exclusive licenses kills the whole deal.

With you 100%!!!!

2K5 was good, but I can honestly say that I preferred Madden 2005.
It was the idea of competition driving improvement in all games. I really hope this ends up happening on all fronts, MLB, NBA, College Hoops and Football and the NFL especially.

[khaliib]

Forget the license, Backbreaker showed what gamers would/could do with a fully Customizable editor.

Gamers produced teams from the NFL, College, Arena, World League, Arena, CFL, Jr College, Highschool, Semi-Pro and on.

At this point, I would pre-pay a new developer now for a Non-Gimmicky Simulation Football to be sold after the 2014 License.

Just worry about making the game as true to life as possible and give full Customization ability and we will create whatever league we want.

I really believe the reason little progression has been done with the NCAA License/Football/Basketball is the cost of the License and are now just trying to minimize the cost as much as possible by spending as little as possible on the developement on their Remaining College Football Game.

Look at how they seperated the College from Madden and the ending product that was just sold after the 2012 issues that were there.
Communication has all but stopped with the Dev Team with another Sub-par game compared to the genre as a whole and have gone to quick, non-interaction Tweets.

Wait until end of August to try and meet some of the gamers complaints of the same yearly issues that '13 has
Not a Tuner attempt or nothing.

It's plain as day for anyone with some business savvy, to see that they are cutting ties with the College Series.

I wouldn't be surprise if they do with College Football the last year of the license in the same manner they did with Basketball.

Just drop it and don't produce instead of spending on developement.

I will pre-pay right now for another developer to start to build a football game to be sold.

It's now clear why we got, what we got on July 10th.

[MFarrer74]

Just out of curiosity...how exactly would one get the money they say they will give?

[roadman]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

Just out of curiosity...how exactly would one get the money they say they will give?

The law firm will contact you.

[scoonie05]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

Oddly enough, I thought the NCAA exclusivity was slated for just 6 years after the initial signing back in 2005.

Depending on the state of things over at 2K Sports, they may want to consider beginning development on a "prototype" football game à la All Pro Football or Backbreaker to get things kicked off for a possible re-entry back into college football gaming. In music terms, it would be akin to putting out a mixtape before the studio release.

2k already tried this with all pro football. It sold terribly.....I'm pretty much sure that take two isn't in a financial position to take another HUGE loss that it took with all pro football.

[mrmass413]

I just want to see a better game than what we currantly have college and pros

[mestevo]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

I hope this means no more exclusive rights for EA with the NFL.

*crosses fingers*

Yeah. When EA and the NFL renegotiated the license before the 2011 season the NFL cut them a $30 million break. So now they just lost that $30 million and a couple of licenses they were letting expire anyways.

Yeah, looking back on it... I called it a win, but we (the gamers) got very little at the end of the day. To EA, the NCAA license is expendable, and I bet they were laughing their asses off at the AFL license being disputed.

Sure, they might hesitate to go after another exclusive license with the NFL, but they might not. Madden is a Top 10 seller every year in America, and they would've killed to see the license stand.

This should've went to trial, plain and simple...

I think it will open up competition similar to the NBA and people like 2K and Sony should step up and jump in. EA will still get Madden and NCAA, but it will be open competition. Also bring back College Hoops as well. That is my point taken. I will love to see NFL 2K go against Madden I remember it was $20 and a month early before Madden and it sold really well. I think it is better for competition than exclusive licenses kills the whole deal.

Why do so many people think this has any impact at all (hesitation or otherwise) on the NFL license? This lawsuit isn't going to be rekindled in the event they renew exclusivity, this is over, and serves as no threat to the NFL license whatsoever now that it is settled. Also, where is this 'they lost $30m' stuff come from.

Many prematurely 'spiking the football' thinking this is something else, judging by some of the replies.

I expect you'll need to provide proof of purchase in the form of the slip cover from the game or something in order to get your refund. If you traded it in or no longer have it I probably wouldn't get my hopes up.

[bwburke94]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

I'll get $22 from this. I am happy that I'm getting anything.

[wat3]

2K Producer- "Hey, can I get all Devs into the office for a 2K team meeting please?"

"Alright guys. The time has come. We're devolping a football game."

*Everyone stands up and cheers, jumps in joy, high fives all around.*

[wat3]

Why do so many people think this has any impact at all (hesitation or otherwise) on the NFL license? This lawsuit isn't going to be rekindled in the event they renew exclusivity, this is over, and serves as no threat to the NFL license whatsoever now that it is settled. Also, where is this 'they lost $30m' stuff come from.

Many prematurely 'spiking the football' thinking this is something else, judging by some of the replies.

I expect you'll need to provide proof of purchase in the form of the slip cover from the game or something in order to get your refund. If you traded it in or no longer have it I probably wouldn't get my hopes up.

Someone's a negative Nancy...

[speedy9386]

Re: $27 Million Settlement Announced in EA Madden Price-Fixing Lawsuit

It's bull that the nfl wasn't included in this.