EA Gains a Stranglehold in Football Game Market

[Troll King]

EA has bought exclusive rights to the NFL and the NFL Players Association licenses in a five-year contract.

This is big news for EA and bad news for Sega/ESPN who make the NFL2K series. The NFL2K series has made gains the last few years, but with this five-year agreement (which will encompass the launch of the next generation of consoles) pretty much ensures a monopoly for EA. NFL2K5 was a very good game that many rated as being better than Madden 2005, and was sold at about half the price. Some analysts feel that the price drop, though it helped entice customers to NFL2K5, was seen as a lowering of value of the NFL license which may have been a factor in the NFL's decision to make its rights exclusive.

This deal also might mean that EA won't have to work as hard for the next few editions, as it will be the only game in town. On the other hand, with the new consoles on the horizon, there is added pressure on them to take full advantage of the next generation's capabilities.


"If it's in the game, it's in OUR game."

[Ezor]

So the NFL has gone the way of every other professional sports league: to shit. We all knew it was coming.

[death row]

I always liked Madden anyways. I haven't played NFL2k5, but I heard its a little more difficult to control the players. That, and, I thought with such a low price, that the game would be shitty. =/

[Dameon Angell]

So, for the next 5 years, EA Games is the only company who can make NFL Games? Or, are they the only company allowed to use the players names and likenesses? (IE: Sega comes out with a game with Generic players).

[Richard Creager]

EA isn't dead yet?

[Troll King]

So, for the next 5 years, EA Games is the only company who can make NFL Games? Or, are they the only company allowed to use the players names and likenesses? (IE: Sega comes out with a game with Generic players).

Both. There were separate deals with the NFL and the NFLPA.

And Creager: EA is the largest game company in the world right now. They are far from being dead.

[Ezor]

I always liked Madden anyways. I haven't played NFL2k5, but I heard its a little more difficult to control the players. That, and, I thought with such a low price, that the game would be shitty. =/

Madden has been a great series. I just hope EA doesn't slack off simply because they have no competition. They can kill a great series and there won't be shit we can do about it because it'll be the only NFL game on the market. Competition is the key to assuring that companies try their damnedest to put out a high-quality product. Let's see if EA can keep building on the Madden franchise and make it better even with a monopoly on the NFL and NFLPA licenses.

[Bioture]

Love Madden though. Theres no beef here. I do feel that Madden 2005 could have included more new things, but sometimes it feels like i'm playing 2004 but the computer is cheating.

[Dameon Angell]

Sega can always do Arena Football, lol.

[Epinephrine]

Nothing beats my all time favorite football game: Mike Ditka's Ultimate Football... what a great game.

[Saturn V]

That totally sucks, but so does the NFL. Long live college football!

[Ewan]

I always used to stand by the FIFA games, but I must admit, Konami now have the best football game in Pro Evo 4. (Although I have yet to play FIFA 2005)

[Bilbo]

There's only been one good football game *ever* and that's Goal.

[NaiLed]

I always used to stand by the FIFA games, but I must admit, Konami now have the best football game in Pro Evo 4. (Although I have yet to play FIFA 2005)

yeah, same here.

[Richard Creager]

There's only been one good football game *ever* and that's Goal.

Um, super goal 2.
recognize.

and tk: perhaps biggest console developer, which is why consoles have sucked.