JJNova
12-15-2004, 01:20 PM
I know everyone is tired of the Electronic Arts and NFL deal, so here I give you a different perspective (http://iiiperception.blogspot.com), and how Game developers can help Arena Football survive.
With Electronic Arts winning the bid to be the exclusive developer to create games using NFL Players, Stadiums, and Teams, it is in the eyes of this writer that the industry is about to be shaken. Sports games are a large factor for the industry as a whole, and is a gauranteed money maker for those developers that would like to have funds in order to develop other types of games. I'm sure that we'll see some Adventure games get the axe due to lack of funding.
And although the National Football League is off limits to all companies besides EA, Arena Football isn't. The general American populance doesn't view Arena Ball as football at all, but with the EA's acquiring of the NFL license, this just may change. In recent years the Gaming world has competed with the Blockbuster world of movies. Both have become billion dollar industries. This may be Arena Footballs chance to strike a chord with the more mainstream portions of American culture. Developers will be looking for a way to continue cashing in on the football sport, although not being able to use the NFL licensed aspects. Midway's Blitz is an arcade version of the sport, and wont suffer extremely from this, and it might actually help them to bring the title back to being a well known franchise. I can see nothing but good things for both game developers, and Arena football to combine. No one knows arena football that well, and the gaming Industry can make it popular. I'm not saying that Camelot Software or ESPN can make Arena ball a competitor to the NFL, but it can't hurt to give them a little shine.
I'm also under the impression that the NFL, in it's attempts to market themselves better, are causing harm. Along with Monday Night Football, they are going to be implementing Thursday Night Football games. Combine that with the Sunday games and you are pushing too many games in a week, with not enough days in between to complain, or analyze, the games that are being played. The casual fans that use Football as a family time are going to be burnt out. Arena Football is different, It's full of unknowns and new stadiums. A couple of new rules and an out of bouds that you have to work for to get. ESPN could use their current engine, throw some walls onto the field, change the names, and have a full fledged football game. No NFL? Pfffft! We have other resources.
For Simulation Football fans, yes, this is a major blow to all competitors. If you run your fantasy league than yes, this means you and Madden are going to be best friends for the next five years. For the rest of the United States that hates Monopoly's and likes suing the largest companies over it, we have Arena Ball. Simulation Arena Ball, Arcade Arena ball...Take your pick. We are the mass, we are the consumer, and we are the powerhouse.
Now for the conspiracy theory and prediction that I have. The NFL and EA just made this deal. After a first year run of nothing but EA games, the NFL is going to see that things are not right amongst the gaming community, and the Madden team is going to wonder why this years sales didn't surpass last years sales. The NFL will claim that EA hasn't held p their end of the deal, and try to back out of the arrangement. Therefore filling their pockets with EA money, and only having to suffer with it for one year.
Seriously, I think it's all a joke. In two years, when the contracts fall apart. Remember who predicted it. That's right, this shifty eyed sonuvabitch.
With Electronic Arts winning the bid to be the exclusive developer to create games using NFL Players, Stadiums, and Teams, it is in the eyes of this writer that the industry is about to be shaken. Sports games are a large factor for the industry as a whole, and is a gauranteed money maker for those developers that would like to have funds in order to develop other types of games. I'm sure that we'll see some Adventure games get the axe due to lack of funding.
And although the National Football League is off limits to all companies besides EA, Arena Football isn't. The general American populance doesn't view Arena Ball as football at all, but with the EA's acquiring of the NFL license, this just may change. In recent years the Gaming world has competed with the Blockbuster world of movies. Both have become billion dollar industries. This may be Arena Footballs chance to strike a chord with the more mainstream portions of American culture. Developers will be looking for a way to continue cashing in on the football sport, although not being able to use the NFL licensed aspects. Midway's Blitz is an arcade version of the sport, and wont suffer extremely from this, and it might actually help them to bring the title back to being a well known franchise. I can see nothing but good things for both game developers, and Arena football to combine. No one knows arena football that well, and the gaming Industry can make it popular. I'm not saying that Camelot Software or ESPN can make Arena ball a competitor to the NFL, but it can't hurt to give them a little shine.
I'm also under the impression that the NFL, in it's attempts to market themselves better, are causing harm. Along with Monday Night Football, they are going to be implementing Thursday Night Football games. Combine that with the Sunday games and you are pushing too many games in a week, with not enough days in between to complain, or analyze, the games that are being played. The casual fans that use Football as a family time are going to be burnt out. Arena Football is different, It's full of unknowns and new stadiums. A couple of new rules and an out of bouds that you have to work for to get. ESPN could use their current engine, throw some walls onto the field, change the names, and have a full fledged football game. No NFL? Pfffft! We have other resources.
For Simulation Football fans, yes, this is a major blow to all competitors. If you run your fantasy league than yes, this means you and Madden are going to be best friends for the next five years. For the rest of the United States that hates Monopoly's and likes suing the largest companies over it, we have Arena Ball. Simulation Arena Ball, Arcade Arena ball...Take your pick. We are the mass, we are the consumer, and we are the powerhouse.
Now for the conspiracy theory and prediction that I have. The NFL and EA just made this deal. After a first year run of nothing but EA games, the NFL is going to see that things are not right amongst the gaming community, and the Madden team is going to wonder why this years sales didn't surpass last years sales. The NFL will claim that EA hasn't held p their end of the deal, and try to back out of the arrangement. Therefore filling their pockets with EA money, and only having to suffer with it for one year.
Seriously, I think it's all a joke. In two years, when the contracts fall apart. Remember who predicted it. That's right, this shifty eyed sonuvabitch.