Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

[Peter_nincompoop55]

I am trying to stay optimistic but it seems more and more likely that the future of college football video games in bleak at best. It's truly disgusting to me that just because Ed O’Bannon sells cars now and thinks the NCAA/EA sports owe him something because small forward #31 appeared in a college basketball game 15 years ago college sports games are ruined for ever. But this is the world we live in where lawyers and greed slowly ruin the things we love and enjoy. I have been a fan of the NCAA series dating back to Bill Walsh college football and would be devastated to see it ruined. I am now well into my 30’s and with a wife, kids, and a busy work schedule NCAA football is the last remaining video game I make time for.

While I agree that EA could have avoided all of this by making roster completely random years ago; especially once roster editing was introduced, these lawsuits seem crazy to me. The reality of college athletics is this; the vast majority of student athletes will NEVER play their respective sport professionally nor do they the individual generate money for the school which they attend. Breaking down the NCAA structure because 20-30 division one football schools out of 120+ make big money (money which helps fund the schools ENTIRE athletic programs), because people think players like Johnny Manziel and Jadeveon Clowney are “slaves” (even though they represent the minority in college athletics not the majority), and because washed up bums like O’Bannon are trying to make a quick buck is just fundamentally flawed in my opinion. Regardless of how you feel about the NCAA; and I would agree they have their own issues, paying players IS NOT THE ANSWER. I am just really confused as to why this game cannot continue with the real schools, conferences, and the NCAA and just have completely random rosters out of the box.

And by the way for the vast majority of division one football players “making it in NCAA football” is considered to be a privilege………Luckily there are still people out there with a reasonable sense of perspective but unfortunately a few can ruin it for the rest of us. I rest easy at night however knowing that long after Ed O’Bannon has spent all of whatever little money he may get from this ridiculous lawsuit he will still be known as the greedy bum who ruined college sports video games. And that and that alone will be his lasting legacy. Well plaid Ed, well played indeed.

[Mouse]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

The colleges, conferences pulling out of the game is just a petty move to be honest.

The Buckeyes have one of the nation's largest programs with 36 sponsored sports and $142 million in revenue. Yet in 2012, they made only $181,000 on EA Sports videogames. The plaintiffs are seeking one-third of that revenue, which translates to $60,333 for Ohio State.

[Humperdink]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

Does anybody have any offhand idea whatsoever of what kind of profit this game actually makes? At 60 bucks a copy times however many thousand, development and publishing/distribution/marketing/royalty costs subtracted, I would bet you the margin is not immense. And to me that means two things: the game will cease to be profitable if the civil liability issue becomes too pervasive (and it appears to have gotten there, fast), and if the game returns after hiatus with some kind of royalty agreement for individual players represented, the payments given to the players--most likely after their eligibility has expired--will really not amount to a whole lot on an individual basis.

I can understand people not wanting their likeness being used to rake in money without getting their own little slice. But with 120 (or more) schools, times say 100 players per school (if you count walk-ons that could make appearances), that means that whatever portion is allocated for player royalties on every copy is divided by 12,000 (or 8400 if you want to stick with the 70 man roster figure). There is no big payday waiting for Keller and the O'Bannon brothers, or any other NCAA athlete past or present unless punitive damages were awarded in a civil trial or there was some kind of settlement. The suits are primarily against the NCAA, the video games are a way to get after that organization's TV money and make a legal statement against the NCAA and its member schools. The games are just collateral damage.

[nortobc]

But that collateral damage is only pissing off college football fans, which is only bad news for college football.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using Tapatalk 2

[bad_philanthropy]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

What's amusing to me is when Madden only had the NFL license and not the PA one it used player numbers. Like the Cowboys had QB #8, HB#22, and WR #88, and the NFLPA didn't even feel like this was grounds for lawsuit.

[LastExit]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

Does anybody have any offhand idea whatsoever of what kind of profit this game actually makes? At 60 bucks a copy times however many thousand, development and publishing/distribution/marketing/royalty costs subtracted, I would bet you the margin is not immense. And to me that means two things: the game will cease to be profitable if the civil liability issue becomes too pervasive (and it appears to have gotten there, fast), and if the game returns after hiatus with some kind of royalty agreement for individual players represented, the payments given to the players--most likely after their eligibility has expired--will really not amount to a whole lot on an individual basis.

I can understand people not wanting their likeness being used to rake in money without getting their own little slice. But with 120 (or more) schools, times say 100 players per school (if you count walk-ons that could make appearances), that means that whatever portion is allocated for player royalties on every copy is divided by 12,000 (or 8400 if you want to stick with the 70 man roster figure). There is no big payday waiting for Keller and the O'Bannon brothers, or any other NCAA athlete past or present unless punitive damages were awarded in a civil trial or there was some kind of settlement. The suits are primarily against the NCAA, the video games are a way to get after that organization's TV money and make a legal statement against the NCAA and its member schools. The games are just collateral damage.

From a recent article I read, EA takes in around 100 million which is somewhat low compared to Madden and FIFA but still a good profit considering that the game doesn't sell outside of North America whereas Madden and FIFA do.
Of course that number goes up or down depending on the year and the features in the game but it's around that. How much of that money has to be put aside for the conference logo rights and to pay the CLC and all that is another story.

[Peter_nincompoop55]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

From a recent article I read, EA takes in around 100 million which is somewhat low compared to Madden and FIFA but still a good profit considering that the game doesn't sell outside of North America whereas Madden and FIFA do.
Of course that number goes up or down depending on the year and the features in the game but it's around that. How much of that money has to be put aside for the conference logo rights and to pay the CLC and all that is another story.

The point is even if you take 20-30 percent of the 100 million a year and divided it by the hundreds of thousands of former division one football players in this country what are these guys looking at really? Ed O'Bannon is going to get a check for 15 dollars....... And for the record if O'Bannon and his lawyers think they are sniffing the TV money they are out oftheir minds! That money goes right back into the schools and the other athletic programs and if, and I use "if" lightly because I think it's a pipe dream, they won and revenue had to be shared it would have to be shared evenly across all sports thanks to title 9. The thought that Johnny Manziel could some how get X amount of dollars from his likeness and the school because of his individual status is ludicrous at best. Best case scenario for college athletics is players like Manziel are able to profit of fsignings and endorsements while in college but regardless trying to tap into the schools TV revenue and whatever profit EA makes from NCAA football is just plain stupid to me. The juice doesn’t seem worth the squeeze. O’Bannon is not a champion for college athletes everywhere he is just another washed up athlete who couldn't cut it in the pros and is now struggling to live in the real world........ just trying to grasp at any free money he can get his hands on. Period!

[CrimsontideuA]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

To much money to be made they will figure something out. I'm sure the ultimate teams guys with real names are getting paid or will be getting compensation. The rest don't have names so they it's going to difficult for them to claim likeness because we name them.

[blkrptnt819]

But Ed O'Bannon and every other player deserve to get paid off the game. They are being exploited. That player's stats was modeled off O'Bannon's strength and weaknesses. Braxton Miller the other day said something to the effect of he felt disrespect by his lack of speed on NCAA. He knows that player is him, you know that player is him so why shouldn't he get paid off the game? It doesn't make sense. The college athletic scholarship does not cover the cost of education. EA needs give these exploited players some compensation.

[canesfins]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

But Ed O'Bannon and every other player deserve to get paid off the game. They are being exploited. That player's stats was modeled off O'Bannon's strength and weaknesses. Braxton Miller the other day said something to the effect of he felt disrespect by his lack of speed on NCAA. He knows that player is him, you know that player is him so why shouldn't he get paid off the game? It doesn't make sense. The college athletic scholarship does not cover the cost of education. EA needs give these exploited players some compensation.

I'm confused by this part.

[utahman19]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

The funny thing is, money made through athletics is actually very small compared to money brought into most major universities. Research grants alone can bring in millions. Yet I don't hear chemistry, physics, or medical students screaming for any part of that money that they bring in.

They have to pay their own tuition, have to buy their books, have to pay for tutors if they need them, have to pay room and board, etc, and bring in more money than athletes. And unlike the athletics programs - which operate at a loss at most institutions (thanks Title IX) - they are actually making a profit for the University.

Why don't they care about getting their share of the profits from their "slave labor"? Because they understand that the experience they are getting in their chosen field will help them more down the road than a few extra dollars will in the here and now.

I can't wrap my head around this case. If Ed O'Bannon had never played basketball at the college level, he would be even less of a nobody than he is now. His name would have no value. It is not UCLA's or EA's fault that Ed didn't take his education seriously and prepare himself for a future without basketball. Did UCLA and EA make a few bucks off of O'Bannon? Maybe. I don't know how you can quantify that, because most people are fans of their school, not the players. Players come and players go, but fans still support their school. It doesn't matter anyway. Whatever money they made off O'Bannon is minuscule in comparison to what he made in the NBA, something that would probably have never happened had he not attended and played in college.

[utahman19]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

But Ed O'Bannon and every other player deserve to get paid off the game. They are being exploited. That player's stats was modeled off O'Bannon's strength and weaknesses. Braxton Miller the other day said something to the effect of he felt disrespect by his lack of speed on NCAA. He knows that player is him, you know that player is him so why shouldn't he get paid off the game? It doesn't make sense. The college athletic scholarship does not cover the cost of education. EA needs give these exploited players some compensation.

Wait, so, even though it doesn't look like him and doesn't play like him, it's him? Because of the jersey #? I didn't realize that jersey numbers are trademarked personal licences now. What happens when he changes his number - as players have been known to do? Does he have to go through a whole legal process to change the trademark from #5 to #10?

[CrimsontideuA]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

You're right that can't be right. I'm confident we will have a game for years to come. College football is important to the universities to allow a few players that are now broke ruin it for everyone and investors doesn't make. College player education is paid for player all they have to play whatever sport they are involved in and study. Some become millionaires and some focus on the field of study. They even have access to pell grants while on scholarship. In the ea or another company will produce a game.

[TIMB0B]

Re: Small forward #31, the NCAA, and EA sports

But Ed O'Bannon and every other player deserve to get paid off the game. They are being exploited. That player's stats was modeled off O'Bannon's strength and weaknesses. Braxton Miller the other day said something to the effect of he felt disrespect by his lack of speed on NCAA. He knows that player is him, you know that player is him so why shouldn't he get paid off the game? It doesn't make sense. The college athletic scholarship does not cover the cost of education. EA needs give these exploited players some compensation.

If the player's stats are modeled after strength and weaknesses, then why is Miller offended over lack of speed? Ah, because they aren't accurate. Meaning they aren't a true reflection of each player. You can't measure an athlete's true strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, these athletes don't deserve squat.

As far as athletes not getting full scholarships...

Division I and II institutions are permitted to provide a student-athlete with tuition and fees, room, board and required course-related books.

And if the athletes are still bitching...

Can student-athletes receive other, non-athletic financial aid?

Yes. Thousands of student-athletes benefit from academic scholarships and need-based aid, such as federal Pell Grants. In addition, there is money available from the NCAA’s own Student-Athlete Opportunity Fund.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/nli/document+library/athletic+scholarship

I'm so sick and tired of hearing people gripe about student-athletes not getting compensated enough, while I'm saddled with six-figure college debt that I'll be paying back for the next 30 years. A debt-free minimum wage worker has more spending money than I do each month! These athletes should be happy about being college educated and debt-free.

[blkrptnt819]

Wait, so, even though it doesn't look like him and doesn't play like him, it's him? Because of the jersey #? I didn't realize that jersey numbers are trademarked personal licences now. What happens when he changes his number - as players have been known to do? Does he have to go through a whole legal process to change the trademark from #5 to #10?

So it doesn't play like him? Who O'Bannon or Miller. He's a mobile QB with a strong arm but middling accuracy. He's said to be from around Dayton, OH. Come one, you can either try to make this point to make sure NCAA keeps making a game or you can be real and see what's right in front of you eyes. When you picked up the game you knew who that was suppose to be just like #2 from TAMU. Their year in school is usually spot on. It's based of real players and those players should get paid.