Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

[TheLooseCannon]

Seriously, the game overlays and menu fonts look pretty ugly. Especially the "Career Notes" or whatever they are called, it looks like a typewriter-style font, yikes. It bugs the hell out of me when other franchises under EA are trying to make the most out of the ESPN brand EA acquired a year back, yet Madden still sticks to it's generic look.

[Jm0ney2001]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

because EA feels they would rather people see the EA Sports logo everywhere in the game rather than the ESPN logo. They don't want it to be overshadowed. They have stated that they don't want to do the whole "hey we got ESPN" thing that 2k did. They should though. IMO

[xxzone]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

Cause 2k5 did it so well they would worry they would once again be compared to that game for their shortcommings.

[bkrich83]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

It's quite apparent to me, or at least imo, the ESPN/EA deal was nothing more than a marketing deal. I don't anticipate them integrating it in to the game anywhere near the way ESPN did. I just don't think TV style presentation like that is a priority.

[DirrtySouth78]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

TO me its one of those Microsoft type deals....With a we just bought it to keep it from the other guys feel to it

[vikingsfan1]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

Madden is the only football game out there and EA can do what they want to do. There is no excuss for the presentation on this game to be this bad. I like the game. The presentation of 2K football IMO is what made that game stand out.

[bkrich83]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

TO me its one of those Microsoft type deals....With a we just bought it to keep it from the other guys feel to it

That would make sense, if not for the fact that ESPN made a conscious decision not to re-sign with 2k.

[aukevin]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

The whole ESPN thing with EA has really disappointed me. I keep hoping they are just waiting until they can put it all in a next gen game or something, but right now, the ESPN license is being wasted, unless the whole point of it was just to keep 2k away from it. If that's so, then I guess they are using it fine, but BK says that's not the reason.

I'm pretty happy with the gameplay on both NCAA and Madden, I want to see more upgrades in presentation. NCAA has had the same pregame and postgame for a few years now. I haven't played Madden in a while before this year so I can't comment on it's presentation.

If EA ever plans on using this ESPN license in their overlays and presentation, I wish they would hurry up and do it. When MVP 06 came out this year, I was disappointed because all it had was the online ESPN ticker, now I think that's great because it pretty much is the only ESPN stuff I've seen out of EA outside of the ESPN the Mag in the NCAA game, but I really don't count that since that feature was already in there, it just used to be SI.

[MaddenMan]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

If they Make Kornheiser, Theisman and Tirico the announcers just /wrists please. I'll take Madden/Michaels any day over those tools.

Anyways having an ESPN presentation wouldn't make sense anymore simply due to the fact that ESPN is MNF, and the game is called MADDEN football, which Madden is part of a Sunday Night Deal on NBC.

Like was said before it's more of a promotional thing like for ESPN to play Madden commercials over and over, not the other way around having the game plug ESPN every chance it gets.

I still see alot of negativity from 2K fans over this whole affair, just either get over it or get mad at 2K for not buying the rights or even the NFL for making them exclusive. To blame EA or Madden for it is ludicrous, it was such an obvious business decision it's not even funny. Remember this is business FIRST and FOREMOST. Even 2K knows this because they aren't making Pro Football 2K7 this year beause they know w/o a NFL license it just wouldn't sell.

[spankdatazz22]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

I just don't think TV style presentation like that is a priority.

I would agree. Imo having good presentation has more to do with how much the developers focus on it and how skilled they are at implementing that vision. 2K's games had very good presentation that was just taken up a level when they integrated ESPN. NBA2K7 looks to have fantastic presentation and it has no television license. I always thought MVP was good from a presentation standpoint because of the various camera angles it used, use of replay angles, etc. So I'd say making great presentation in a game has more to do with developer focus/skill. Having the ESPN license should've helped Tiburon have better presentation in the game, but it shouldn't be the predominant factor.

It seems Tiburon's idea of what good presentation in a football game is differs from what most of us consider is good. It's some weird hybrid of being on the field/in the stadium that simply isn't done well - it's done rather poorly.

[MaddenMan]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

It seems Tiburon's idea of what good presentation in a football game is differs from what most of us consider is good. It's some weird hybrid of being on the field/in the stadium that simply isn't done well - it's done rather poorly.

....and to add to this point, if Madden 08 reminded you of ESPN2K wouldn't that be EA basically saying 2K was better? Something that not only they wouldn't do but obviously the devs don't feel either. It's just illogical to hope for and assume that 2K will be reincarnated in it's competitor.

[bkrich83]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

....and to add to this point, if Madden 08 reminded you of ESPN2K wouldn't that be EA basically saying 2K was better? Something that not only they wouldn't do but obviously the devs don't feel either. It's just illogical to hope for and assume that 2K will be reincarnated in it's competitor.

I don't think so. EA has "borrowed" things from 2k and put it in their game for years. 2k has done teh same thing also.

[lnin0]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

EA calls the deal with ESPN a "partnership" - that doesn't imply anything except marketing trade outs for each other.

However, even if EA wants to keep their brand in the game there is no excuse for not doing a full blow TV style presentation other than laziness. NBA 2K has nothing yet they do their own branded presentation and it lifts the series that much higher. EA's slack *** presentation manages to bring it down and make all its other flaws that much more notiable.

[Perceptor]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

I think EA, at least on their next gen football games, have higher priorities than making the game have more ESPN presentation elements. It is disappointing that NBA Live will have more ESPN integration than Madden though

[EXboxur]

Re: Why won't EA use ESPN integration in Madden games?

I think it will take some time before we see a better ESPN type presentation. People still associate the ESPN logo with 2K football games too much. In a couple years I'm sure the presentation will be a bit better after. Like another poster mentioned, I don't think presentation is EA's priority, at least not yet.

On that note, the overlays for games on Monday night in your Franchise should be in the style of ESPN. As well, Madden commentary shouldn't have been dropped, but rather limited to Sunday night games in your Franchise. It would also be nice if Sunday night games had generic looking NBC style overlays, just like NBA Jam back in the days. Isn't Arena Football broadcast on NBC? Those same generic NBC style overlays could be used on the next-gen installment of EA's Arena Football too.