EA/NFL Extend NFL Exclusive License by One Year to 2013

[tribefanisu2003]

You know what's funny? When this exclusivity deal first happened, and then shortly after the 2K MLB deal happened, I was thinking then that they got these deals mixed up. At the time, 2K was starting to show the start of what could be an absolutely tremendous football franchise, and while Madden 05 was very, very good, people were really enamored with 2K. At the same time, MVP Baseball 05 was out, and it was far and away the best baseball game on the market.

Now, there's no way to know how things would have played out had 2K gotten the NFL license, and EA got the MLB license. Theoretically, we'd still have The Show (which, when I purchased 08, it finally took the crown as my personal favorite baseball game away from MVP 05), and judging by what 2K has done with their NBA games (for me, I really could care less about the NBA at this point, but bought the game because it was an exceptional sports game), you'd have to believe their NFL game would be very good.

Again, this is all PURE SPECULATION. But, at the time, it seemed as though 2K really knew what they were doing as far as making a great NFL game, but were sorely lacking in the MLB department, and it appeared as though EA very much knew what it was doing with an MLB game. And now, people seem to be pretty disenchanted with both the MLB 2K series and the Madden series.

I just wonder how things would have played out had those license purchases been opposite of what they are.

[STLRams]

Umm NBA 2K9 and NBA2K10 were the best basketball series out those years, and NBA2K11 was probably the best sports game of the year, so I can see why the one poster feels like if 2K had a football game it would pretty much own also, it was already ahead of its time back in 2004/2005 as far as sports games go.. But this NFL EA deal makes me want to cry, I just want to be able to play another NFL game other than Madden. I was looking forward to 2013, when I read this article I was like NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. The deal makes sense I guess, but damn this is crazy we can't play another other NFL simulation game for possibly another 3 yrs, ive been waiting since 2006. Sad day, I guess I will have to be patient once again and see what EA sports is going to do with Madden AGAIN this year and hope for the best.

[droopizzle34]

all i can say is that I am sick of this exclusive license....i long for the days of choice and I'm tired of being limited to EA Sports for NFL football when they have yet to deliver a quality game since they got the license...a sad day for me today hearing this.....

[UNC_Pete]

I hate you NFL. I really do. Madden is the worst football experience every year. I equate my Madden experience with my NFL watching experience as a Philadelphia Eagles fan. Every year we get hyped up and it's just a swift kick in jewels..every year!

[khaliib]

Quote: Originally Posted by Afrikan

well we saw a small video clip of it....seems to be the same engine, with the same size player models. It shouldn't be too different from last year's version. That should be enough for some who were not satisfied from last year, to be jumping to conclusions now.....even more so when we have heard the same things from other forum posters before... it usually starts like this "just wait till there is info" then this "just wait till there are screen shots" then this "just wait till there is video footage" then this "just wait till there is a demo" "just wait till there is the final game" "just wait till there is a patch" you get the idea.

"Can lead a horse to water, but can't make it drink it"

This format has been followed for over 4 years now. and folks still refuse to understand that until there
s a new Game Engine for Madden, it will "Always" be the same game.

There's alot of Visual upgrades to give the "Illusion" that the game is different, but pop in an '07/'08 version and look past the Visuals and you'll see the same exact game engine mechanics.

Guess what you're getting in your stocking for 2012 version? Same Game Engine!!!

This deal just extends this Game Engine to 2013, Sales wiil be the "Only" factor that drives how often this get extended.
That's right, your dollars will continue to drive this Exclusive Agreement you hate so much.
The same Game Engine that a Dev verified to be Maxed out to what they can do.

What this deal says is that the Business is going to ride you gamers that must spend your $60 to get your NFL fix.

You talk a good game through your complaints on forums, but in the end, you'll be there purchasing within the first 3 days.

[droopizzle34]

Quote: Originally Posted by STLRams

Umm NBA 2K9 and NBA2K10 were the best basketball series out those years, and NBA2K11 was probably the best sports game of the year, so I can see why the one poster feels like if 2K had a football game it would pretty much own also, it was already ahead of its time back in 2004/2005 as far as sports games go..

I don't want to see ANY company with an exclusive license. Its all bad no matter who would have it cause we are limited to one game. 2K has no vote of confidence because of MLB 2K....that game is not good and unless u go buy a PS3 you are limited to only that game for MLB on the 360. NBA 2K11 has had NBA Live to push it to good heights,but yet you can't ignore the horrible online experience..so there's really no vote of confidence with 2K other than the nostalga of 2K5's greatness...

I want CHOICE....I want competition....i want to be able to have a choice to go get a different brand if I don't like the other one.And it is proven these companies(EA with the NFL and 2K with MLB)rest on their laurels and don't give 100% when they have no one to push them...

bring back choice in NFL simulation football and break us out of this prison NFL...down with this exclusive license and make video game football fun again by giving us CHOICE...

[rickmitchell22]

this is horrible news

[Giants4Natic]

Quote: Originally Posted by droopizzle34

I don't want to see ANY company with an exclusive license. Its all bad no matter who would have it cause we are limited to one game. 2K has no vote of confidence because of MLB 2K....that game is not good and unless u go buy a PS3 you are limited to only that game for MLB on the 360. NBA 2K11 has had NBA Live to push it to good heights,but yet you can't ignore the horrible online experience..so there's really no vote of confidence with 2K other than the nostalga of 2K5's greatness... I want CHOICE....I want competition....i want to be able to have a choice to go get a different brand if I don't like the other one.And it is proven these companies(EA with the NFL and 2K with MLB)rest on their laurels and don't give 100% when they have no one to push them... bring back choice in NFL simulation football and break us out of this prison NFL...down with this exclusive license and make video game football fun again by giving us CHOICE...

I am sure the NFL is willing to give up the millions to give people a choice of their liking for a video game

[Icarus2k9]

I'm just going to act as devil's advocate against the vast majority of people here, but just to clarify: people think it's fair for EA to potentially have to put out an annual videogame - as per their legal agreement with the NFL, btw - that would be gimped license wise, potentially costing them large chunks of money and then not be recompensed in some way (after all, people buy the game just as much for the player and team likenesses and so on - cornerstone of many arguments on this site).

But people think it's unfair that as a show of goodwill to a client who is paying them a lot of money to produce an NFL-approved vision of football that millions of people enjoy every year, the league would allow them an extra year of the license to make up for a potentially damaging year for finances?

Yes, the game would benefit from improvements like everything else in the world, and yes, those improvements are probably a little slower because of the funds needed for the license and the lack of competition, but please stop acting like this is the end of life as we know it, and the end of "good" football games until the end of time - which is purely an opinion thing which millions of consumers disagree with.

[droopizzle34]

Quote: Originally Posted by Giants4Natic

I am sure the NFL is willing to give up the millions to give people a choice of their liking for a video game

The NFL is gonna get money either way,whether its one company or four,they still get paid...

gamers are not caring how great a business move this is,that doesn't console people suffering with this game one bit. Yeah its great to eliminate your competition and get rich,but we as gamers suffer because of it.you can tell people "well don't buy it" or "why complain" but to alot of people these games represent fun and relaxation in their lives and shell out their hard earned money for this game, and to deal with someone half doing something because of "good business" is foul no matter how u spin it...we don't care about the business deal,we care about the game,and it is not where it needs to be after all these years of the exclusive license and stuck with one game with no choice.