The War for the NBA is Over

March 22, 2005, 10:05 am EST
Total comments: 5

The NBA has entered into non-exclusive agreements to have games published by EA, Take-Two, SCEA, Midway, and Atari.

New Non-Exclusive Deals Provide Diverse Offering of NBA Video Games for Fans, Inspires Creativity with Licensees and Expands NBA's Global Reach

NEW YORK, March 22, 2005 - The National Basketball Association today announced new non-exclusive licensing agreements with Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), Sony Computer Entertainment America, Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY) and Atari (NASDAQ: ATAR) to continue to develop, publish and distribute NBA video games.

The new multiyear agreements, which begin in October 2005, provide fans with the most comprehensive and diverse video game offering in sports, with titles from multiple publishers. NBA video games will be available to fans in more than 100 countries and on more platforms than ever before, maximizing the reach of NBA video games around the world.

"This is a great day for NBA gamers," said Adam Silver, NBA Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer. "By partnering with the top developers of sports video games, our fans will be assured a broad and competitive selection of innovative products."

EA, Take-Two, Sony Computer Entertainment America and Midway will each have the rights to use NBA teams and current and retired NBA players in their NBA video game titles. The NBA will also work closely with each licensee to heavily promote the basketball video games with marketing and global branding through the league's various assets including NBA TV and NBA.com.

Talkback

Bill AurionMarch 22, 2005

nickmitchMarch 22, 2005

YES!!!!!
Way to show some integrity NBA!

darknight06March 22, 2005

awwwwwwwwwwww, what's wrong EA? Is that a tear? lol

DoerrMarch 23, 2005

it would of been nice if they went exclusive with Taketwo
or everyone except EA

jasonditzMarch 23, 2005

Its good that the NBA is going this route since none of the companies has proven adept at going much with the license yet.

Game play has changed damned little in the past several years (except to add more flash on offense at the expense of defense), and the complete failure on the big players part to make even a playable franchise mode is shameful.

Just once I'd like to have an NBA game where at the end of the first season I don't either see:

1. Free agent superstars going completely unsigned (Sega)

or

2. Free agent superstars all having to sign for league minimum one year deals because of cap restrictions (EA)... and usually all for the same team.

Admittedly, the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement is one of the more complex out there... but EA seems to more or less do a good job with Madden's franchise mode (if not perfect). Even if nobody wants to take the time to write an AI that can use restricted free agents, mid level exemptions, trade exceptions, and sign and trades they could at least come up with a more simplistic system that actually allows the player to get into season 2 without totally screwing up.

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