EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

[SpectralThundr]

2k could "Bring it" with NHL, or MLB, or any other sport. Yet they haven't, all their eggs are in one basket with their NBA game, their "Sports line" is one game.

[GiantBlue76]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

LOL well make it good enough or better and people wouldn't do that and that's a fact.

I don't see people that play the Show always comparing the current version to say MVP 2005 and saying how the latter was so much better. I don't see anyone comparing NBA 2k14 to say Lakers vs Celtics. I don't see anyone comparing NHL to Blades of Steel. These comparisons are not made because the current games, even with their flaws are far superior to the previous ones. Bottom line make a superior game in EVERY way and they won't hear it. In addition, these comparisons are the price they have to eat because their corporate team eliminated all the competition. So all eyes are on you jack and when you don't produce it make it look that much worse.

[GiantBlue76]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

Folks want a good football video game. Folks don't care who makes it. If EA made a great game with their exclusive rights, no one would care.

But they don't. That's what folks are unhappy with.

The NFL puts a great product on the field. No reason to be mad at them.

Great post Bezo, and it sums up what I've been saying for years and years now. I grew up playing every football game ever made since the Atari 2600. Madden was a big part of that. Never once did I give a crap about the company. I care about the product. The reason I left Madden and went to 2k was because it was a better game (IMO). I was extremely angry back when the exclusive was signed because I knew this would happen (along with countless others). I would not have given a damn had EA really pushed it and made a game like the guys from Sony did for baseball. Would not have even cared to post on OS about exclusivity or the frustrations. Why would I? I have a game that I love.

The problem with this whole thing is that they took away a superior product, and then haven't even been able to catch up in 10 years. That's like buying a 2001 model car. Then you go to the dealership in 2009 and you want to get the latest model. Then you find out the newest model doesn't have power steering, power windows/locks, cruise control or a stereo, but for some reason, it costs 5 grand more than your current model. Would you be happy if you were forced to buy that car or have no car at all? The same applies here.

[MAGboyswifT27]

Too bad there's not competition for EA, I think the games would change for the fans and be better. Competition brings out the best in everyone IMO..

[Jakeness23]

Why doesn't someone like 2K or SCEA, or SOMEBODY, make a generic game? Give us the gameplay, with some fictional teams, and give us really in-depth create-a-team/create-a-player modes? Then we could create the NFL, the NCAA, whatever, and they save money by not having to pay for a license. I mean, is it just me, or would that not be the simplest thing to do?

[bxphenom7]

Yep. I love the NFL and love playing an NFL game.
Madden is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it's fun for me.
I'll buy day 1 (earlier if I can) because I can live with the shortcoming and have fun.
I'll continue to post constructively about what improvements I want (And for the record I like where it's going for the most part) but as long as I have fun, I'm buying.

Good luck posting your improvements as if they'll happen. I'm strong enough to not buy a Madden game even if it means no virtual football. How? I go play real football, or I play better sport sims like MLB The Show and NBA 2k. No competition is bad for games. I'm rooting for NBA Live to be competitive and I hope EA has the balls to put out a baseball game to compete with MLB The Show. Madden-free since Madden 08 and damn proud. How they still don't have stuff in the game NFL 2k5 had on PS2/Xbox, I don't know, but I, as well as many, have learned not to trust Madden, especially when it has nothing to lose since people keep buying it. If you must buy Madden, buy it used.

[bucky60]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

In my opinion, people are getting mad at the wrong company. If there is a company to be mad at, be mad at the NFL and not EA / 2K .

I'm mad at both NFL and EA. There is email evidence that EA was begging for an exclusive license before the license was exclusive. EA and the NFL are both equally to blame. EA/NFL for the exclusive and EA for mediocre/average games.

[FaceMask]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

You're forgetting the crowd that is well beyond "us," the crowd that cares more about how the game plays.

Unfortunately there is a larger group and demographic of customers that do not at all care about the things we do. We could stop buying all we want and it would hardly put a dent in EA. The masses will still buy this game year in and year out.

Best to learn to enjoy what you can rather than yearn to have what you can't.

My thoughts exactly in bold. But the average internet forum goer who gets deeply involved in football gaming communities--who also tends to be a simhead/franchise aficionado to a larger degree than the general consumer base--dismisses that reality entirely. The very notion that the majority who buys this game is largely unconcerned with these things, is usually considered blasphemous and is met with strong ire by said goer.

[TemplateR]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

Why doesn't someone like 2K or SCEA, or SOMEBODY, make a generic game? Give us the gameplay, with some fictional teams, and give us really in-depth create-a-team/create-a-player modes? Then we could create the NFL, the NCAA, whatever, and they save money by not having to pay for a license. I mean, is it just me, or would that not be the simplest thing to do?

I would also playing ageneric football-game with fictional-teams, because I don´t really care too much for "real teams". BUT only if the game will be also on PC.


Anyway, why don´t we develop this type of football-game with the help of kickstarter/crouwdfunding?

[MajorSupreme]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

I would also playing ageneric football-game with fictional-teams, because I don´t really care too much for "real teams". BUT only if the game will be also on PC.


Anyway, why don´t we develop this type of football-game with the help of kickstarter/crouwdfunding?

Because most people are okay with settling for madden and don't want to have to do more than they need to.

[TombSong]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

I think going forward we need to address the problem where the problem lives and call it by its real name. The problem is not EA, they are the facilitator of the problem. TIBURON IS the problem. They don't have the talent there to do what the VC guys did 7 years ago. I saw in another thread guys making excuses for how madden 15's animations dont look good because we are looking at them on compressed youtube videos. LOL.

Here is a compressed youtube video of AP2k8, why do their 7 year old animations look better than yet to be released Madden 15 ?

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/H2J8x4noEhc?hl=en_US&amp;version=3&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/H2J8x4noEhc?hl=en_US&amp;version=3&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Since REX likes making challenges how about he show us some Madden 15 tackling footage / animations / OL/DL interactions that match or surpass some of the stuff we see here:

<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/-Bmz0iV2uFI?hl=en_US&amp;version=3&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/-Bmz0iV2uFI?hl=en_US&amp;version=3&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>

Also why can I send more that one man in motion in AP2K8 but still can't do it in Madden 15 ? Why can't we decide a blitz angle in Madden 15 but could in Ap2k8 ? Why can I hold more plays in my custom playbook in Ap2k8 than Madden 15 ? Why can I setup player packages for formations in Ap2k8 but can't in Madden 15 ? Why is there a around the league Halftime show in 2K5 but STILL NONE in Madden 15 ?

We can go on and on. Here is another challenge to REX play any 2k8 highlight video on youtube and play any Madden 15 video from where ever you want to get it at E3 then ask the crowd which game looks more next gen football.

[kjcheezhead]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

I think people are giving too much focus on the challenge and not nearly enough on the how disappointing the thread titles new is. I've never owned an NFL2k game, and I'm thoroughly disappointed in this news. Are we in for another X years of NFL Video mediocrity? The pace of improvements is currently so slow. Which I guess is still better than the steps backwards it has taken in the past.

So disappointing.

I agree. I literally got the news of the original exclusive deal while I was playing a game of madden 05. I was disappointed then and still am now. Even great games become stale. Madden hasn't changed much at its core. The same defensive calls work, the same money plays, the same feel...
It's refreshing to get a new take on something. Take a break from COD to play battlefield.

This news is the end of football games not named madden forever. Several years more development on madden means no one can compete with a new game now or in the future.

Rest in peace 2k, game day, fever, tecmo you will be missed. Goodbye madden as well. You might as well be dead. Just a stale boring repetitious game after all this time.

[apollon42]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

No casual gamer is going to buy a football game with fictional teams. I'm sure 2k thought of this and just realized it's not worth it to do it. I'm not sure how All Pro Football 2k8 sold, but I doubt it was stellar.

[Skyboxer]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

Good luck posting your improvements as if they'll happen. I'm strong enough to not buy a Madden game even if it means no virtual football. How? I go play real football, or I play better sport sims like MLB The Show and NBA 2k. No competition is bad for games. I'm rooting for NBA Live to be competitive and I hope EA has the balls to put out a baseball game to compete with MLB The Show. Madden-free since Madden 08 and damn proud. How they still don't have stuff in the game NFL 2k5 had on PS2/Xbox, I don't know, but I, as well as many, have learned not to trust Madden, especially when it has nothing to lose since people keep buying it. If you must buy Madden, buy it used.

Lol
There have been improvements whether you care to see them or not.
As many as I'd like? No.

I'm a gamer and like games especuially sports.
Do I want them better? Of course.
Do I want more choices? Of course.
Is it serious business? NO.
You didn't buy it which is fine.
I choose to buy.
I have fun playing Madden, which is what matters to me.

[apollon42]

Re: EA Still Owns the NFL License Exclusively

I think going forward we need to address the problem where the problem lives and call it by its real name. The problem is not EA, they are the facilitator of the problem. TIBURON IS the problem. They don't have the talent there to do what the VC guys did 7 years ago. I saw in another thread guys making excuses for how madden 15's animations dont look good because we are looking at them on compressed youtube videos. LOL.

Here is a compressed youtube video of AP2k8, why do their 7 year old animations look better than yet to be released Madden 15 ?

<EMBED height=315 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=560 src=//www.youtube.com/v/H2J8x4noEhc?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0 allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>

Since REX likes making challenges how about he show us some Madden 15 tackling footage / animations / OL/DL interactions that match or surpass some of the stuff we see here:

<EMBED height=315 type=application/x-shockwave-flash width=560 src=//www.youtube.com/v/-Bmz0iV2uFI?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0 allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>

Also why can I send more that one man in motion in AP2K8 but still can't do it in Madden 15 ? Why can't we decide a blitz angle in Madden 15 but could in Ap2k8 ? Why can I hold more plays in my custom playbook in Ap2k8 than Madden 15 ? Why can I setup player packages for formations in Ap2k8 but can't in Madden 15 ? Why is there a around the league Halftime show in 2K5 but STILL NONE in Madden 15 ?

We can go on and on. Here is another challenge to REX play any 2k8 highlight video on youtube and play any Madden 15 video from where ever you want to get it at E3 then ask the crowd which game looks more next gen football.

This makes me sad. I saw gang tackling, proper route running, real time injuries, ect. And the game is 6 years old ...