EA's NASCAR exclusivity in question, sim series 'on hold'

Throw up your caution flags if you've got 'em, folks. Word from the NASCAR News Wire is that EA's annual racing sim is "on hold," according to SportsBusiness Journal reporter Michael Smith. Backing up this claim, EA product marketing manager Randy Chase referred to the NASCAR sim series as "the old game" while describing the "lighthearted" appeal of the new Kart version of the franchise, which was released for Wii earlier this month.

Additionally, Blake Davidson, managing director of NASCAR's licensed products, has suggested that the company is currently considering the "best model" to tap into its gaming demographic, which may include licensing its rights to multiple publishers (EA has held exclusivity since ~~1997~~ -- correction: 2003; those rights expire this year). "Do we continue with an exclusive model or go nonexclusive? Do we need annual releases? This is a very important category for us," said Davidson of NASCAR games, which rank in the top five revenue-generating licenses for the business.

Update: "NASCAR Kart Racing on the Wii is the only NASCAR-licensed video game that will ship this year from EA Sports. Due to the family-friendly atmosphere of NASCAR, we felt that a title developed exclusively for the Wii platform was the best scenario for the NASCAR racing video game franchise and fans of racing alike," a representative from EA Tiburon, the NASCAR franchise developer, confirmed with Joystiq. Read how EA Tiburon answered a few ancillary questions about exclusivity after the break.

[Via FirstCuts -- thanks Chris! Image credit: tequilamike]
How does EA feel about the possibility of losing exclusivity?

We maintain a strong relationship with NASCAR and will continue discussions regarding future NASCAR racing titles.

What can EA do to stay competitive in the NASCAR games genre, if other companies are making NASCAR-branded games?

Continue to do what we always do -- put our resources against developing the best possible sports experiences tailored for the platform we release our titles on. NASCAR Kart Racing is a perfect example. We developed a NASCAR title from the ground up, specifically for the Wii console that would appeal to fans of the sport. The response by NASCAR fans has been extremely positive.

Reader Comments (23)

EA hasn't held the exclusive NASCAR video game rights since 1997. They obtained the exclusive rights in 2003, with the first game being NASCAR Thunder 2004. Quite a few fans were upset when the Papyrus NASCAR games were no longer made.

*insert your generic redneck comment here*

EA should've picked up Formula 1 when they had the chance. I guarantee they would've made more cash.

All NASCAR games by EA are shit though. Crap graphics. Grap gameplay. Boring. Just like the real NASCAR! (lol, I just had to say it)

Couldn't agree more, like as if the first lap of going round in a circle will be any different to the next lap, lol, even with crashing and the best graphics on Earth, that's as dull as hell.

F1 ftw ^^

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28JxgyqCIS0

Look at that, doesn't that look exciting? Wouldn't you much rather be playing this then Gran Turismo? :D

I dont understand how any license can be exclusive in these days where sales are dramatically down. and developers and closing doors. wouldnt more money be made for a license if different developers were allowing to make it

Sales aren't dramatically down, especially for sports games. EA knows how to sell a sports title to millions of unsuspecting people and will pay very hansomely for an exclusive license.

I should have said that sales aren't down period. Profit is.

I'll start watching NASCAR when they finally add ramps to all the races. That's how to get my demographic on board.

I'd hurried up my reply just so our avatars could be together, then remembered that a reply would work also...

I am liking the "new EA", but this is good news. EA has made a ton of progress lately, but competition in the sports market is really needed and would be just as beneficial to EA (assuming activision doesn't just buy up everything next, but they will)

This begs the question 'Will this eventually lead to a new Daytona USA from SEGA?'

Hell, bring it to XBLA alongside Virtual On (which I heard was already coming) .... it would be fucking epic.

i used to put that game in just to hear the music

Sega could pick up the NASCAR license, contract/buy out Image Space Inc. to do a sim, and make Daytona USA 3.

I like the sound of that.

I hope Ea loses their exclusive license and someone like Codemasters or SCE makes a GOOD NASCAR game.

You mean a "good" nascar game where they go around in circles endlessly, or the EA one where they go around in circles endlessly?

I think he means the one with the better graphics where they go round in circles endlessly.

I don't really think the game not being exclusive to EA will make much of a difference, it'll always be about going around in circles endlessly...though they could spice it up a bit, add weapons to the cars, missle launchers, spikes on the walls, pits, maybe fireball blasting demons to wreck the cars, oh and hoops of flames, I think you should have a babe companion of which you can buy clothes for her and customize them and....oh wait, I'm getting carried away, I guess going around in circles endlessly will have to do.

@ Maverick

You sir are a f***ing numbnuts. You must have never watched an F1 race in your life (haha, talk about boring). While I'm not the biggest fan of NASCAR anymore, I'll still bash on the idiots like you and tmacairjordan87 who understand absolutely nothing about racing in general.

Prove me otherwise.

@ Chris72b9

So thinking that driving around in a circle is boring somehow equates to me not knowing a thing about racing? Then I guess you've pretty much summed it all up then, everyone who has ever thought Nascar was pointless knows nothing about racing :) Why prove anything? You've already proven yourself to be the know it all (haha)

I think the new Nascar game (for this season that started a few weeks ago) released sometime at the end of last year. I think that NacarT game for the Wii actually looks pretty fun. My fiance is a big Nascar fan (not me though) and watched a lot of the races. I saw a few races when I lived in Orlando and went to the Daytona poker room and greyhound track. Car racing is something I prefer to do myself instead of watching it. Speaking of which the Richard Petty Experience at Disney in Orlando is OFF THE CHAIN. It's really intense to get behind the wheel of one of those bad boys even if it is not exactly the same car. Highly recommend it to anyone who likes to go fast on wheels. I've always liked riding dirt bikes on trails more so than fast cars but speed is speed.

The second they wouldn't let you drive backward full speed and make everyone crash I was done even pretending to try these games.

Is Papyrus still alive?

I don't know how they managed it, but they were able to make nascar games that were both exciting and fun... which is more than i can say for watching nascar.

I'd buy a new Papyrus Nascar game... or GP Legends 2.

Maverick Saturn,

yes, he is saying you know NOTHING about racing if you think going around in circles is pointless, and hes right. you have no idea how smart crew chiefs are, theyre basically scientists, and i GUARANTEE you dont have the balls to strap yourself into a 210 mph rocketship and drive it 3 inches from a wall while surrounded by 42 other cars at the same speed, and that is a promise. thanks for your time, and u guys say what u want about NASCAR, but as the second most popular sport in america only to the NFL, it isnt going anywhere anytime soon so get used to it...

EA's NASCAR exclusivity in question, sim series 'on hold'

Reader Comments (23)

Posted: Feb 25th 2009 5:39PM Iwa said

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