Topic: EA Buys Five Years of Exclusive NFL Rights

[oohhboy]

Sega did the only thing it could. There is no way that Sega could have out bid EA for such a property. It is far too important to EA and a bidding war would not have done anybody  favor. If Sega had obtained the said propety, it would have been more than likely they would have be in a extreamly weak position to use it considering the cost.

Sega should capitalise on EAs stiffness and create a football game that goes beyond simple player stats.

[Kairon]

I get the feeling that EA is the most powerful videogame company in the world. I get the sense that EA ever felt inclined (they obviously don't, but hypothetically), they decimate the combined forces of Sony, Microsoft AND Nintendo combined.

Currently though, EA seems to like keeping even Nintendo in the console races, they've even stated that they feel that the competition between the consoles keeps the market healthy. Of course, they're raking in the dough...so why fix what ain't broken?

Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

*note: I actually haven't read any of the posts in this thread. I know! I'm bad....*

[Ian Sane]

"I get the feeling that EA is the most powerful videogame company in the world. I get the sense that EA ever felt inclined (they obviously don't, but hypothetically), they decimate the combined forces of Sony, Microsoft AND Nintendo combined."

Maybe MS but never Sony or Nintendo.  EA is huge here in North America but they're nothing in Japan so no matter what Sony and Nintendo could always succeed in the Japanese market.  And if they're successful in Japan then they're going to have some success in North America because there will always be a market for American gamers who like Japanese games.  EA's powerful but they're not that powerful.

Though I would love to see them overestimate their own power and try to do something like that.  Overconfidence is the sort of thing that could kill them off.

[MattVDB]

EA could never (ok, that is a strong word, but for a long time I will stick to) release their own console, and stick to releasing only for it.  They feed off of the combined user base of everything.  They got lucky with some games (Madden, The Sims, producing for Westwood) and that gave them a foot they, in many peoples eyes, shouldn't have gotten.  If they released their own system though, their large userbase goes down, and they wouldn't be nearly as succesful.  I doubt EA would ever try anything like that.  (The only reason Microsoft tried it was to _gain_ market share, not loose it)

[vudu]

MattVDB - EA's goal isn't to maximize market share; it's to maximize revenue.  If the exec's EA thought they could sell enough games on their own system (and therefore avoid paying lisencing fees) to make up for the lost market share, they would do it in a heartbeat.  (Personally, judging from the current numbers I don't think this is possible, but it is an option.)

[MattVDB]

All I was saying, was that currently, EA could create their own system.  They are big enough to be able to sink the money into it, and make it float.  The problem with it though, is that they would alienate the PC market (how many people here use a computer of any sort?  That's what I thought), the 3 consoles, as well as the 3 portables.  They currently are just becoming as big as they can, feeding off of the console makers investments.  Avoiding royalties isn't going to make up for the millions upon millions of systems that are out there.  Period.  EA could release their own system (and gosh, I would like for them to.  Not having to hear about the next Madden and it's "huge list of new features" would be sweet.) and in a sense, it would be a possitive thing.  It would give opportunity back to the smaller publishers.  

It's not going to happen though.  3 consoles is enough, anyway.  (I remember when that was "2 consoles is enough."  Gosh I miss those days)

[KirbySStar]

While I don't like what EA is doing, at least we'll finally get some original football games around here.  I'm hoping for a revival of Mutant Legue.

[Ian Sane]

"While I don't like what EA is doing, at least we'll finally get some original football games around here. I'm hoping for a revival of Mutant Legue."

I've heard a few Mutant League suggestions thrown around on different forums.  Do you know who made Mutant League Football?  Electronic Arts.  

[PKFC]

Teehee. Yes! Gimme a CFL mode! First game to offer one I will buy. Oh how I love people who give love to Canadians. We got bigger balls too. So different physics And we have nine teams? I haven't been paying real close attention since Doug Flutie left the Stampeders ;P Ah good times...

And another thing, Renny mentioned BeOS... Funny I lurve you... *poof*