EA gets NFL: it's in the game

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 14th 2004 at 11:58AM }

Madden 2006 Yes folks, gaming giant EA has reached a five-year deal, obtaining exclusive rights to all NFL & Players Association licenses. A great victory? A crushing defeat? It's your call.

Obviously, some fans are upset (see picture, courtesy of Matt)...

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

LINES @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

... That's all that i can say... DOT DOT DOT. *mumbles stupid EA *

Steve @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Will it be long before there is a customizable game that within weeks of release you can download and install the current NFL players (from an independent source obviously). I guess it will depend on how the City of Heroes/Marvel lawsuit turns out.

Jer @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

What a disapointing picture. I know that photoshop is phun but this is entirely inapropriate. Hitler is no business nor should he be compared to one regardless how one views the actions of that corporation. Figures historic or otherwise are not indicative of the actions of a corporation. It limits dialogue by comparing or contrasting the two. It also negates the real issues that are trying to be expressed. Be outraged, be upset, but boarding on absurd is meaningless pointless and easily dismissive the exact opposite of the intent.

LINES @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Take a joke. It's just supposed to show how controlling EA is, and how they own 25% of the gaming market (I think it could be more, figures were from 7 months ago)... I find the picture to be "phunny". Then again, you can't preach a joke to a jehovah witness without being damned to hell. (not saying that you are one, just... ah w/e, you won't get it)

SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

I think the picture is funny, but it would be more apt for the Sega title. "Play as the history's most powerful leaders." "Sack Alexander the Great with Hitler's zone Blitzkreig!"

Bart Pursel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Pic is hysterical. I hope you're being sarcastic if you're flaming.

Tim @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Words cannot express how pissed I am right now.

Normally, I wouldn't care too much, but I have abandoned EA's football games as of this year, after getting my hands on EPSN NFL 2K5, the best football video game in history. (Read my prior entry on NFL 2K5) The fact that the NFL is allowing this monopoly of mediocrity to continue is just sad. EA puts out the same game every year with a few added bells and whistles and charges their customers $50. Sure, they have every right to charge what they want, and luckily this year, many people smartened up and realized there was a higher-quality and cheaper alternative in ESPN's offering.

This is a huge blow to ESPN and renders their football series useless. (Nobody is going to buy the game with generic teams and players.) It's really quite pathetic that EA felt the pressure and just bought their way out of it rather than stepped up to the plate and created a truly better game.

I sure as hell hope that the MLB doesn't allow this atrocity to happen.

Steve @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

EA are bastards. End of story.

Chris K @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

I gave EA a second chance this year and bought Madden 2005 and Burnout 3 because they swallowed their pride and implemented XBox Live.

As of now, I'm never buying another EA game, sports or otherwise. I'd sooner go without football games than support EA.

illdefined @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

can't wait to pay $60 for next year's Madden "innovation", new Groundskeeper Mode.

now you too can play the same game originally put out in 2001 but with the added excitement of painting virtual grass based on actual OFFICIAL NFL fields..

Asz @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Lumberg adds another classy comment to joystiq. While EA buying exclusive rights to ANY sports game doesn't really affect me, (as I don't play/can't stand sports games) it's disheartening to see them crush the competition under a giant flood of money. EA isn't exactly my favorite company either, i've only bought one game related to them in any way in the last I dunno, 8 years. And that game of course was Burnout 3.

Wayne Phinney @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Regardless of whether or not you are a fan of the series, it's hard to deny that EA got scared of the competition. First they say that Sega's price point was just showing that they had an inferior product. Then theyhave a buy 2 sports titles get one free deal to compete. Then they drop their prices, but not by as much, to try to compete. Now they simply buy exclusivity because they were afraid of Sega?

I'm not a big sports fan, so i don't really care which one anyone likes better, but one thing I do like is competition. That's why I LOVE there being three consoles out right now. Competition is good. It gets you the best quality games out of the best companies.

It almost feels like EA is turning into the Microsoft of the gaming world.

I could go on about how EA milks some franchises like The Sims, but I've gone on long enough.

striegs @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

I'll make time to be outraged at what EA does after January, right now I have an Economics project that depends on their stock doing well. Hurry up and crush the competition, you communist bastards!

SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

But there already is a Microsoft of the gaming world... Microsoft. I guarantee that EA payed a lot more money than you realize for that right. I would expect Sega to snag MLB or NBA rights next.

Of course Professional Curling rights will remain available to all!

capone2421 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

I think one of the biggest problems I have with this is the fact that our freedom of choice is being taken away by EA and we basically no longer have a freedom we were guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States. We cannot let big business become a dictator that tells us it's their NFL EA sports games or nothing. Monopolies stop freedom of enterprise and freedom of choice..This is a felony and illegal. It is the same reason AT&T was split up and why Microsoft paid a billion dollars in fines.I think it is time consumers stopped being shy and start being heard. We need to stand up, voice our opinions, and get the word out that we will not be blackmailed, dictated to, or stand by and watch our freedom of choice be taken away. It only takes one person to make a difference. Perhaps we could all make a difference and change the outcome of things by speaking out, writing the company, or boycotting any new football games that come out on the market produced by them.What do you think--do we got it in us or are we going to sit idlly by while big business gives us no more choice in the matter?

Kris @ Dec 18th 2005 9:58PM

Uhmthis is to LINES , I am a Jehovah's Witness and first thing, we don't belive such a place as "hell" exists. Why? Because we do not belive that a god of love and justice would torcher any of his creations for eternity. And the second thing is, don't bash on a religion because you feel you don't need god to be happy, that your chose and I am not discriminating agaist any one if they feel that way.