Peter Moore Discusses Microsoft's 2004 Decision to Stop Making Sports Games

[Steve_OS]

IGN's Ryan McCaffrey recently interviewed three men who have helped shape Microsoft's video game legacy: Xbox designer Seamus Blackley, former Xbox 360 frontman Peter Moore, and current Xbox One headman Phil Spencer. While the entire hour-and-a-half discussion is an informative listen, sports fans will particularly want to hear the conversation from 19:08 to 22:45, where Peter Moore explains Microsoft's decision to drop-out of the sports gaming business shortly after signing a deal with Don Mattrick -- then President of Electronic Arts' Worldwide Operations -- to finally get EA's games onto Xbox Live. NCAA Football 2005 was Electronic Arts' first Xbox title to include online play, despite the fact that Microsoft's gaming network had been up and running since November of 2002.

Read More - Peter Moore Discusses Microsoft's 2004 Decision To Stop Making Sports Games (Written by Jayson Young)

[snc237]

Ah we didn't realize at the time that we were in the golden age of sports game back then. Now it feels like we are almost extinct

[Cardot]

That 2003/2004 timeframe was the pinnacle of sports gaming for me. Most sports had 2 or 3 options to choose from. Games were starting to mature on that generation of consoles. And while online gaming was there, it didn't quite dominate the landscape as it does today. Good times.

[ven0m43]

I had alot of those XSN sports titles, along with the 2k and EA title for those years. Now I have one game for each sport which are now a few years old, with no intention of buying newer version.

It's pretty sad when you think about it. I went from having multiple games of the same sport each year to 1 game of each sport every 4-5 years.

[J_Posse]

Is it just a coincidence that Moore would help in canning the Microsoft published sports titles and then go on to be one of the leading people at EA Sports? I really miss those days having different playing and looking options of the same sport.

Now, we're down to one title for 3 out of the 4 major sports with no option for baseball in sight for Xbox One owners. Never thought that a major sports title would become a "console exclusive" back in the day..

I just want my options back, but I know that isn't very likely.. And less we forget that we haven't had a boxing or tennis title in a few years as well, yet we see tons of racing games in what is said to be a "dying" genre.

[GaryT531]

Man I miss NCAA football, especially during 4th of July weekend when it was getting set to release every year. NCAA 14 doesn't cut it for me anymore. Last summer it still did, but this year I really really miss not having that game. Anticipating the NCAA football release every July was by far the best time of year on this website.

[Introvese]

Miss options so much

[scottyp180]

Sounds like typical EA "we'll bring online play to our games as long as you stop making sports titles." Man I'd love to see some more competition in sports games but unfortunately I fear those days are all but over. Even if we were to get a new NFL, NHL, or MLB game it would really have to impress to make a name for itself or else people will just brush the series.

[Mr.Smif]

Pretty much why Madden wont ever see competition again, sports titles cost too much to make and dont get the return on investment unless you're the number one selling title; no one wants to take a chance and loose money for a few years to build a brand anymore, they rather go after the guaranteed money.

[Zlax45]

No talk of Links which was fun too?

[bigsmallwood]

NBA Inside Drive was a really good game and could have been great if given a few more years of life....the same for NFL Fever....smh @ Peter Moore and the EA power move.

[mcmax3000]

No talk of Links which was fun too?

Links was great. It's still to this day probably my favourite golf game of all time.

[DaImmaculateONe]

nfl fever was fun

[jyoung]

Re: Peter Moore Discusses Microsoft's 2004 Decision to Stop Making Sports Games

Pretty much why Madden wont ever see competition again, sports titles cost too much to make and dont get the return on investment unless you're the number one selling title; no one wants to take a chance and loose money for a few years to build a brand anymore, they rather go after the guaranteed money.

It's an easy choice if you're a publisher today wondering what kind of game you want to greenlight:

A) You pay lots of up-front money for league licensing rights, while competing in a relatively small market, alongside other franchises whose customers have 15 to 25 years of ingrained purchasing habits.

B) You create your own IP from scratch, own all the rights, and operate in a market that's much larger than the limited sports genre.

Option B makes the most sense, and the most cents. Especially with how much higher the costs are for making a 3D game in 2015 versus making a 3D game in 2005.

[yount19]

Re: Peter Moore Discusses Microsoft's 2004 Decision to Stop Making Sports Games

I have a PS4 and while I really enjoyed it the first few months that I had it, it has really lost it's appeal to me as there just are not enough sports titles that I like to play. I have The Show 15 and NBA 2K15 which are good games but the lack of an appealing football title, no college sports titles, and the constant catering to the arcade/online crowd, I am pretty much finished with my PS4. I will be allowing my son to take it to college with him and more than likely, I will just GIVE the system to him. He likes the role playing games as well so he will get way more use out of the system than I will.

Good thing that I kept my PS3 and the MANY sports titles that I have purchased over the years!