Even though Madden will no longer be working live games, his voice will surely live on in the form of EA's Madden NFL game franchise. In its 21st year, the franchise is the best-selling sports video game of all time and has become a cultural icon much like the broadcaster himself. Speaking to Gamasutra, EA representative David Tinson assured gamers that EA has a "long-term contract with John Madden" that "will continue into the future."
The first Madden football game was John Madden Football, released in 1988 for the Commodore 64 and Apple II. The series has sold over 70 million copies and generated $2 billion for Electronic Arts in the years since, selling 5.25 million copies across all platforms in 2008.
Normally I would agree that dropping the Madden name wouldn't be a good move. But remember that EA's situation is very exceptional: they have EXCLUSIVE rights to the NFL. So if they changed the name to just NFL Football (and thus no longer have to pay John Madden any rights for his likeness) where else are people going to go? There is no other option. Anyone who wants to play an NFL game will get EA's regardless of whether or not Madden's name is on it.
I think when there was competition the Madden brand name was a draw. But now I'd say the draw is the NFL itself. If you want to play a football game with the real teams and the real players you have to get EA's game or you're out of luck. And in the future the NFL may not even continue to use EA. Once the contract is up they may find a new publisher and then EA is shittered no matter what. I think overall the NFL licence is going to decide the market leader for football games as long as they insist on making their licence exclusive.
he is to old to sit, talk and watch football ?
Ian, you are a bit short-sighted there. When it comes time to renew the rights to the NFL license it's not certain that EA will once again have exclusivity, but I can all but guarantee that they won't lose it completely. If/when others publishers are free to develop their own NFL games the Madden name will hold some serious weight with many consumers. EA's not going to risk losing that.
Just rented.
Normally I would agree that dropping the Madden name wouldn't be a good move. But remember that EA's situation is very exceptional: they have EXCLUSIVE rights to the NFL. So if they changed the name to just NFL Football (and thus no longer have to pay John Madden any rights for his likeness) where else are people going to go? There is no other option. Anyone who wants to play an NFL game will get EA's regardless of whether or not Madden's name is on it.
I think when there was competition the Madden brand name was a draw. But now I'd say the draw is the NFL itself. If you want to play a football game with the real teams and the real players you have to get EA's game or you're out of luck. And in the future the NFL may not even continue to use EA. Once the contract is up they may find a new publisher and then EA is ****tered no matter what. I think overall the NFL licence is going to decide the market leader for football games as long as they insist on making their licence exclusive.
Does this mean that future games are going to have Madden's name on them and that's it? It seems kind of meaningless to keep the name if the man himself is nowhere to be found/heard.
