Author Topic: EA Buys Five Years of Exclusive NFL Rights (Read 23450 times)

Jonnyboy117 · « **on:** December 13, 2004, 11:14:57 AM »

Say goodbye to competition.

Electronics Arts announced today that it has negotiated an exclusive five-year contract with the NFL and the NFL Players Association for "action simulation, arcade-style and manager games" on all platforms except mobile phones. The agreement, whose financial terms were not disclosed, effectively puts an end to competing NFL series such as ESPN Football (Sega/Take Two), NFL Blitz (Midway), NFL Gameday (Sony), and NFL Fever (Microsoft). EA currently produces two NFL series, Madden NFL and NFL Street; the giant publisher is currently the only company still releasing football titles on the GameCube, GBA, and DS, and it looks like that will not change in the near future. The full press release from EA is below.

EA Enters into Exclusive Agreements with NFL and PLAYERS INC to Expand and Integrate Customer Entertainment Experience

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 13, 2004--Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced exclusive licensing relationships with the National Football League and PLAYERS INC to develop, publish and distribute interactive football games. These five-year agreements -- which EA negotiated separately -- give EA the exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums and players for use in its football videogames. Both agreements also include exclusive rights for console online features. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

For the first time, all aspects of the interactive experience -- including console-based fantasy football features and handheld game devices -- will be fully integrated with one EA game. This also provides the opportunity for new games and for EA to access both NFL Films and the NFL Network for use in the games.

"We are pleased to expand our agreement with Electronic Arts, the leading video game manufacturer and a valued NFL partner," said NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. "We look forward to working with EA to continue to enhance the quality of NFL video games that our fans have enjoyed for many years."

"For more than a decade, EA has produced the most authentic football product for fans of the game," said PLAYERS INC Chairman Gene Upshaw. "This exclusive relationship will maximize the value of NFL players through EA's continued commitment to bring fans closer to the game."

"We are excited about the opportunity to further enhance our relationship with the NFL and PLAYERS INC," said Larry Probst, Chairman and CEO of Electronic Arts. "The five-year agreements will usher NFL fans through the console technology transition with new ideas and innovative game play experiences."

Both agreements are exclusive for action simulation, arcade-style and manager games on the PC, handheld game devices and consoles -- including console online features. The agreements do not include exclusive rights to other types of games or games accessible from the Internet or wireless devices, including cellular phones.

Madden NFL Football from the EA SPORTS(TM) brand has sold more than 42 million copies over the franchise's 15 year history. Madden NFL 2005, the most complete football game ever, is available for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, Xbox(R) videogame system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCube(TM), Game Boy(R) Advance, the PlayStation(R) console and PC. NFL STREET 2 for the PlayStation 2 console, Xbox system and Nintendo GameCube will be on store shelves by December 26, 2004. Both games were developed by EA Tiburon, and rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB. The games official websites are www.madden2005.com and www.nflstreet2.com.

vudu · « **Reply #1 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:28:06 AM »

I'd be really interested in finding out how much EA paid for this.

I'd also love to see the first year of Madden for Xbox 2 and PS3 retail for $99.99.

PaLaDiN · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:31:06 AM »

Poor Sega.

What have they got that even sells anymore now?

Sonic?

foolish03 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:35:51 AM »

Espn did all that for nothing, all they can do now is release patches to nfl 2k5. EA is taking over everything.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #4 on:** December 13, 2004, 11:52:53 AM »

Well on the bright side no one can honestly say I'm too hard on EA now. I mean I've got the ultimate response to all EA defenses.

Ian: "EA is the console equivalent of MS. Their success is ruining the industry."
Some random idiot: "You're wrong. EA makes tons of quality software and have helped bring the industry into the mainstream."
Ian: "EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL to eliminate their competition."
Some random idiot: "Uh..."

This should also test my theory that EA's "high level of quality" is merely the lowest level of quality they feel they can get away with without losing sales. Madden (and NFL Street which is now Madden's only competitor) will now take a HUGE drop in quality because EA knows that if you're an NFL fan you ain't buying something else. For example observe the quality of the WWE games now that WCW and ECW are out of the picture.

It's interesting to note that EA has now killed off gaming franchises belonging to Sony and MS. I wonder how that's going to affect their relationship with those console makers.

PaLaDiN · « **Reply #5 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:01:48 PM »

You've got to admit their slogan now holds a delicious tinge of irony.

EA Games: Challenge Everything.

Jonnyboy117 · « **Reply #6 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:09:40 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: PaLaDiN
You've got to admit their slogan now holds a delicious tinge of irony.

EA Games: Challenge Everything.

You nailed it.

On the bright side, this is the perfect chance for Nintendo to finally introduce Mario Football to a starving market. Hell, get Visual Concepts to co-develop it.

VideoGamerJ · « **Reply #7 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:10:55 PM »

Ian: "EA is the console equivalent of MS. Their success is ruining the industry."

I completely agree. I cannot believe EA. They fire more than half of Westwood staff (Command and Conquer team), treat their employees like dirt and now they do this. If this madness does not stop, we will be seeing a EA console soon.

NinGurl69 *huggles · « **Reply #8 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:20:33 PM »

EA buys Mario, Halo, Olsen Twins, TELEVISION, PSP, IGN, and Harvest Moon.

That's it, we're doomed.

foolish03 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:21:05 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
Well on the bright side no one can honestly say I'm too hard on EA now. I mean I've got the ultimate response to all EA defenses.

Ian: "EA is the console equivalent of MS. Their success is ruining the industry."
Some random idiot: "You're wrong. EA makes tons of quality software and have helped bring the industry into the mainstream."
Ian: "EA bought the exclusive rights to the NFL to eliminate their competition."
Some random idiot: "Uh..."

This should also test my theory that EA's "high level of quality" is merely the lowest level of quality they feel they can get away with without losing sales. Madden (and NFL Street which is now Madden's only competitor) will now take a HUGE drop in quality because EA knows that if you're an NFL fan you ain't buying something else. For example observe the quality of the WWE games now that WCW and ECW are out of the picture.

It's interesting to note that EA has now killed off gaming franchises belonging to Sony and MS. I wonder how that's going to affect their relationship with those console makers.

I now agree with you 100%. EA is affraid of real competition, and when they get some they go and do something like this. Gamecube exclusive owners will not care as they only had madden to begin with. I liked 2k5(despite its many flaws). I believe if espn would have come out with there next game it very well could have been crowned the best sim football game of 2006.

Sad Sad state of affairs.

vudu · « **Reply #10 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:46:07 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Professional 666
EA buys Mario, Halo, Olsen Twins, TELEVISION, PSP, IGN, and Harvest Moon.

That's it, we're doomed.

Wait ... the video games rights to the Olsen twins, or the twins themselves?

Pale · « **Reply #11 on:** December 13, 2004, 12:47:40 PM »

Isn't MS the console equivalent of MS?

I'm just saying...

Savior · « **Reply #12 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:15:46 PM »

Sega just got served i suppose.

Renny · « **Reply #13 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:23:52 PM »

EA have had FIFA locked up for years. If Sega can do what Konami have been doing--making the best soccer/real football game with editable team data in place of proper licensing--then they stand a chance of competing. They still have to get through the casual gamer's ignorance to take notice of their product. If they were to release the game at a budget price without player and team names it would be passed over more than it was this year. The odds are against them.

And now that my last ounce of respect for EA is lost, I guess I won't be picking up Fight Night 2. Of course it'll be a bad port anyway, but I was at least interested. Something I can't say for any other EA series on the market.

joshnickerson · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:25:32 PM »

Monopolies are FUN!!!

Seriously, EA has been scaring me since this current generation started. Just the way they've been snapping up companies, releasing poor software, and keeping the actual good games away from Nintendo fans just rubs me the wrong way... almost in a Microsoft way...

I agree with Ian (for once

) that this is pretty much EA's ticket to just produce pure sh!t, knowing it will sell regardless. Madden 2006 could simply be a shower simulator where you have to wash John Madden's ass and idiots will STILL buy it.

Quote
If this madness does not stop, we will be seeing a EA console soon

*cough*3DO*cough*

nickmitch · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:25:59 PM »

Quote
For example observe the quality of the WWE games now that WCW and ECW are out of the picture.

Buying out the competition and buying you're way out of having competition are two different things. The WWE expanded while EA is just being a bunch of b*tches.

ssj4_android · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:31:01 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane

"EA is the console equivalent of MS. Their success is ruining the industry."

EA is kind of ruining the industry, yes. But MS, with xbox and live, is improving video games. Like them of hate them, you have to admit computers wouldn't be what they are today without MS (By that, I mean probably worse). Video gaming probably wouldn't be that much worse off without EA.

Caillan · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2004, 01:54:45 PM »

I'm guessing that sooner or later EA will enter the console market, probably in partnership with someone else to do the hardware, and keep all their games exclusive. The North American market would be in shambles; the XBox would suffer the most, relegated to Europe and Australia, while Sony would have to retreat to Japan and Europe. Nintendo could just stay where they are.

Monocultures always promote stagnation, in any medium. For all that Windows is, there are far more user-friendly and innovative window managers out there; and none of them come from megacorporations. If it weren't for Microsoft Windows, I'm sure there would be another "standard" OS, likely of a similar quality. The thing that pisses people off is MS's tactics: spreading their range of products, they'll eventually aim to integrate them all, forcing people to use all of their products. Windows is the only OS that gets bitchy when you try to network it with a different one; all the others play nice.

The only way to approach MS's market is to catch them unawares, like Firefox is with IE. The best sort of monoculture is the one most easily challenged.

Quote
Like them of hate them, you have to admit computers wouldn't be what they are today without MS (By that, I mean probably worse)

Five years ahead, if 90% of the sales come from EA, people will look at Madden, see nothing else better, and think exactly the same thing.

bubicus · « **Reply #18 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:34:01 PM »

I don't understand why so many people believe it's important to have real players. I loved Cyberball, Speedball 2, SNK Baseball Stars, and TV Sports Basketball way more than any licensed sports product because of the fantasy/role-playing aspect of them. If Mario Football is announced, I'd probably get it because of the unrealistic gameplay. I'm probably getting Mario Baseball, in the hope that it's like SNK Baseball Stars. Look at EA's own history: Archon is way better than normal chess, MULE is more fun than real business, Wasteland is more fun than a real post-apocalypse... I'm sure somebody will make a better sports game somewhere. How about a Speedball 3, Bitmap Brothers!?!

anubis6789 · « **Reply #19 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:49:00 PM »

I bet Sega is having a mixed reaction to this news, on one hand they can't use the NFL liscense anymore and thats bad, but they also (in a way) made a sucsessful challenge to EA. Look at it this way if Sega and the ESPN line hadn't made as big an impact then EA would not have done this. EA did this out of fear, fear that they might not be number one.

While most see this as the beginings of a monopoly I see this move, coupled with the news of EA's treatment of its employees and other bad news as a sign that EA might be crumbling, well I hope at least.

Maybe this will usher in an age of sports games not having to be liscensed to sale, which has been a dream of mine for a long time.

Flames_of_chaos · « **Reply #20 on:** December 13, 2004, 02:56:24 PM »

Well I guess Itagaki's ambitions to revive Tecmo Bowl are now in shambles.

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #21 on:** December 13, 2004, 03:29:31 PM »

The post about WWE games without the competition of WCW and ECW is way off if you ask me. Look what happened when THQ dropped WCW for WWF - Acclaim (RIP) took over the ECW games, and EA took over WCW...and both products were horrendous.

I do hate EA for this though.

Nile Boogie · « **Reply #22 on:** December 13, 2004, 03:45:32 PM »

This is bad.

Nile Boogie · « **Reply #23 on:** December 13, 2004, 04:38:07 PM »

This is bad.
Mario Football is looking better and better and it hasn't even been unvailed.

The dark cloud of the Sith has fallen...

TheYoungerPlumber · « **Reply #24 on:** December 13, 2004, 05:08:03 PM »

Wait, can't developers still make college football games? Sure, the rules are a little different, but it's still football! Or am I just uninformed on these matters?

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Author Topic: EA Buys Five Years of Exclusive NFL Rights (Read 23450 times)