EA Has Now Bought The Rights to ESPN!!!!

[LiquidX01]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/17/news_6116473.html

The end is near....

:angry: :angry: :angry:

[soniko_karuto]

omfg.

Time for the boycott. You non boycotters are gonna start walking this way too. At least they arent getting the rights to 'football' 'soccer' and 'golf' cuz that would leave us with nothing at all. C'mon sega, pull a tecmo super bowl on them!

[digitalpress]

This is almost as bad as the time the CGE guys bought the rights to CommaVid.

[Dangerboy]

1. Holy shit.

2. So wait a minute...does this pretty much guarantee Madden (and for that matter, Al Micheals and what's her face..) won't be returning for the rest of the years as commentators?

3. Good-bye customizable 2K5 Xbox soundtracks, hello EA Suck-ass Sports Trax!

4. Can this be considered a cop-out/psyche out? Considering a LOT Of people bought the ESPN games over EA last year, is EA now hiding behind ESPN's mask like Infogrames did Atari and Madcatz does GameShark (today's GS Is really the shitty Codebreaker)?

The plot thickens....anyone know if they spotted Borg coming out of EA's headquarters? Resistance is beginning to look very futile.

[RCM]

Incredible news. I guess Sega was doing a lot of things right for EA to beat them down so bad. If Rupert Murdoch buys EA he could have President Bush do commentary.

I can't see a reason to keep the Madden name now. wow. Buy me EA. Please!

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[ChronoTriggaFoo]

I.....AM.....SOOOOOOOO........PISSED...... :angry:


Who does EA think they are!? That's the last straw, let me tell you. I cannot stand these monopolies who when are threatened just buy out all the competition. This has to stop. Its hurting the other companies like Sega Sports and Visual Concepts who deserve the chance to stay afloat to create gems like this years batch of sports games. I sincerely hope the government intervenes...or customers nationwide open their eyes and realize they've just plunked down $50 on a worthless, effortless turd of a game.

I've vented now. Please continue rants.

[LiquidX01]

My first though on this was OMG!!! because I knew Sega was going to struggle alot more because of this. It now seems Sega will be pushed out of the software market too! Lets face it, the only thing keeping them afloat was the success of the ESPN series...and now thats been ripped from them as well. :(

Like I said in the old EA thread....

EA is HITLER!!!

EDIT: Read this bullshit quote at the bottom of this CNN report...

http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/17/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/?cnn=yes

" "I think there's plenty of room for competition," said Probst. "At the end of the day its who can build the highest quality products. There's plenty of room for other third party companies - and console first-party companies - to do that. Just because EA Sports and ESPN are partnering I don't think people are going to run for the hills and not compete with us." "

Oh really???? And hows that dipshit? You own all the best franchises now.

[RCM]

Who does EA think they are!? That's the last straw, let me tell you. I cannot stand these monopolies who when are threatened just buy out all the competition. This has to stop. Its hurting the other companies like Sega Sports and Visual Concepts who deserve the chance to stay afloat to create gems like this years batch of sports games. I sincerely hope the government intervenes...or customers nationwide open their eyes and realize they've just plunked down $50 on a worthless, effortless turd of a game.

Before everything else EA is a business. What they've done is perfectly legal.


My first though on this was OMG!!! because I knew Sega was going to struggle alot more because of this. It now seems Sega will be pushed out of the software market too! Lets face it, the only thing keeping them afloat was the success of the ESPN series...and now thats been ripped from them as well.

untrue. Last year their sports games sold really wel b/c of the reduction in price. Since Sega went 3rd party their sports lines have not done to well. Sega will still be around. Visual Concepts is the one in real trouble. They really made a mark doing sports games. Their sports titles are the Archetypes for everything that has come after. I can see Sega selling them off now. If VC can't do sports titles they are worthless.

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[SoulBlazer]

Okay, radical decision -- I don't see this as being too bad.

I recall playing ESPN NFL 2K5 this year and loving the interface, how they worked the game really well with the ESPN graphics and look, Chris Berman and SportsCenter, but the graphics and gameplay were still a little better on Madden 2005.

I thought to myself 'man, if these games combined and took the best aspects from each -- the gameplay, announcers, and simulation mode of Madden with the ESPN interface and some of these other options -- it would be a perfect wet dream!

Well, looks like I got my wish. :)

ESPN knew that with EA buying the 5 year contract from the NFL that Sega could'nt put out a good football game this year. So don't blame them -- they saw the writing on the wall and decide to partner with EA instead.

Does'nt anyone remember in the mid 90's that for a couple years Madden games used the FOX SPORTS interface and music in them? They are just going to be using a outside interface again.

I think Madden and Micheals will stay as the announcers (God, the ESPN ones are bad!) and ABC and ESPN have a contract together anwyay.....now I'm really curious to see how Madden NFL 2006 works. Although the article makes it sound like nothing will happen with this years's game.....hmmmm...

We'll see what happens!

[Jibbajaba]

I don't understand either. Will there still be a "Madden 200X" or will they be dropping Madden and going with "ESPN Football 200X"???

Chris

[Gamereviewgod]

untrue. Last year their sports games sold really wel b/c of the reduction in price.

Don't say they weren't great games too. That certainly played a role. Not as much as the price, but definitely a part. EA felt threatended, that's all.

[Cryomancer]

They'll probably make both.

[Querjek]

I guess the next step is for EA to buy Sega/Sammy.

[Nick]

OMG..this is screwed up. We better get ESPN Baseball 2k5 before this all happens. :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :( CRAZY.

[Lady Jaye]

Probably the reason behind getting the ESPN name: Madden isn't getting any younger. Instead of just calling their post-mortem game "NFL 20XX, it'll be ESPN 20XX. In the meantime, who knows? Maybe all the other sports games will be ESPN (sports) 20XX while for the NFL it'll be Madden ESPN NFL 20XX.

[Nature Boy]

The answer to the Madden question, I believe, would depend on whether or not they sign John Madden to a contract! If they did they could release ESPN Madden Football (as long as it doesn't violate their agreement with ESPN).

As far as the news itself - YAWN. This news is not nearly as big as the NFL agreement. Or are there no other sports channels in the US? (here in Canada we have TSN and SportsNet and Fox Sports Canada ...)

Has anybody heard why Sega didn't renew? Did they not get the chance? Did EA outbid them? That's the story I'm more interested in. Maybe they're taking a new direction come 2006?

(Where are the people complaining that Sega took ESPN from Konami in the first place? :D)

[LiquidX01]

Here this story sheds a little bit of light on the whole deal.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/01/17/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/?cnn=yes

Hey, I didnt know those monopolizing bastards also struck a deal with the AFL last week?

[GunPanther]

Besides the whole crappy EA monopoly thing, don't forget the following:


SPORTS GAMES WILL NEVER BE WORTH MORE THAN RETAIL AFTER THEIR RELEASE.


The going rate for a Madden 2001 game is what? About $2.00.....NEW! LOL




:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[Kid Ice]

This is almost as bad as the time the CGE guys bought the rights to CommaVid.

Yeah, but at least they didn't buy Comma Vid AND Data Age.

[Lady Jaye]

The answer to the Madden question, I believe, would depend on whether or not they sign John Madden to a contract! If they did they could release ESPN Madden Football (as long as it doesn't violate their agreement with ESPN).

As far as the news itself - YAWN. This news is not nearly as big as the NFL agreement. Or are there no other sports channels in the US? (here in Canada we have TSN and SportsNet and Fox Sports Canada ...)

Has anybody heard why Sega didn't renew? Did they not get the chance? Did EA outbid them? That's the story I'm more interested in. Maybe they're taking a new direction come 2006?

(Where are the people complaining that Sega took ESPN from Konami in the first place? :D)

That could be insteresting... to counter EA's sports game, Sega will unveil CTV Sportsnet CFL 2006... featuring legends of Canadian football. Or Hockey Night in Canada 2006 starring Don Cherry and Ron MacLean...

[Nature Boy]

Here this story sheds a little bit of light on the whole deal.

Thanks - that did shed a little more light. Purchase the rights to the league and the channel will follow!

@Gunpanther: What does the aftermarket value of a game have to do with anything here?

[LiquidX01]

Here this story sheds a little bit of light on the whole deal.

Thanks - that did shed a little more light. Purchase the rights to the league and the channel will follow!

Actually I meant it toward the whole Madden deal....Anywhooo.

[Nature Boy]

That could be insteresting... to counter EA's sports game, Sega will unveil CTV Sportsnet CFL 2006... featuring legends of Canadian football. Or Hockey Night in Canada 2006 starring Don Cherry and Ron MacLean...

You know a Japanese company is in trouble if it's securing licensing rights to Canadian football and television in order to compete in the American market. :)

(Of course I'd buy that the *second* it was released!)

[Nature Boy]

Actually I meant it toward the whole Madden deal....Anywhooo.

Well yeah, that too. :)

(I actually forgot that ABC and ESPN are owned by the same company, so the only thing stopping them from using his name is to secure his services).

Of course if EA doesn't secure his services and Sega picks up his rights...

[wufners]

EA is like Anakin Skywalker in ep. III--methodically eliminating all of it's jedi competition from beneath their own noses. Without the others to balance out the force, only the evil Empire will be left in the wake.

And they treat their employees like crap to boot--hurray!

For those of you who don't care about the boycott and just want to buy whatever games interest you--cool, please do. Certainly nobody is saying there's anything wrong with that. But allow me to encourage you to pick those favorite EA games of yours up as used. You still get the game, EA hopefully still gets the message. The less money EA makes, the less power they have to gobble up the smaller and independent studios. The more studios there are, the better the inovation, game selection, and prices will be. You may not feel the impact of an EA monopoly immediately, or the changes you do see may not bug you too much. But over the long haul this is baaaaaad news.

Some greed is okay in bidness--but dominate the world greed sucks.

[NintendoMan]

Incredible news. I guess Sega was doing a lot of things right for EA to beat them down so bad.

Yep.

This is crazy. I wonder how much it cost. Does this just mean EA paid ESPN or they paid SEGA to get out of the contract??

[Nature Boy]

I've thought about it and what we *really* should start doing is boycotting everybody else's sports games. That's right! If EA is the only one making sports games they'll have no reason to innovate anymore, their product will go downhill, and the sports game as we know it will be dead!

Whose with me?

[soniko_karuto]

"We were very happy with our relations with Sega," said Skipper. "However, if you think about who you want to be working with for the long term ... EA is the natural choice for us to be associated with."

That's like saying, "well dear, after 5 years and 3 kids, i'm sending you to a new town, called dumpsville, population, you"

[SlayerOfFurbies]

God Damn it. :angry:

anyone wondering when EA is going to enter the Cosole market?

[scooterb23]

Keep telling yourself people...they're just games....

good luck trying to get 2-3 million people to boycott the most popular game released every year kids to send "a message". That's the only way that anyone will ever notice...but have fun trying anyway.




"Have fun storming the castle boys"

"Think they'll make it?"

"Not a chance"

[dethink]

God Damn it. :angry:

anyone wondering when EA is going to enter the Cosole market?

3DO 2: the search for more money?

[hezeuschrist]

Whats bullshit about this news is that Visual Concepts isn't going to be able to sell a damn thing in 2006. Sega Sports has a negative stigma on it (for some stupid reason, since NFL 2k they've always been the better game), and they can't use the ESPN rights to anything, NHL, NBA, NCAA, MLB, whatever.

The first move irked me, but this is just bullshit. I could swear there are laws against using monetary prowess to force your biggest competitor out of business.

Oh well, the industry is geared for another crash and I've got a shitload of games to last me through the draught.

[RCM]

untrue. Last year their sports games sold really wel b/c of the reduction in price.

Don't say they weren't great games too. That certainly played a role. Not as much as the price, but definitely a part. EA felt threatended, that's all.

Not saying they were bad. They were great in the past but the sales didn't match the greatness. There is no doubt that the price drop had almost everything to do with the success of the 2K5 line last year. It was an added bonus that they all happened to be spectacular games.

Gamereviewgod sucks! ha ha ha

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[Mayo]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/17/news_6116473.html

The end is near....

:angry: :angry: :angry:


This is not good news at all from a gamers perspective, less competition = less incentive to make the games more inovative. EA is going to monopolize the sports sector of the gaming market with this. :angry:

[kainemaxwell]

Worst news I've herd all day. What total bs...

[classicb]

this really sucks. how long until the sportcenter logo is replaced by a big EA sports logo.

[shvnsth]

Before everything else EA is a business. What they've done is perfectly legal.



back in the day, slavery was just a business, and it was perfectly legal

[RCM]

Before everything else EA is a business. What they've done is perfectly legal.



back in the day, slavery was just a business, and it was perfectly legal

Slavery and videogames are totally different. Bad comparison. Happy Martin Luther King day to you too.

THE ONE, THE ONLY- RCM

[stuffedmonkey]

Here is the espn.com article on all of this evilness:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1969067

Some great quotes:

"Faced with tough competition from the ESPN-branded NFL 2K5, Electronic Arts secured exclusive video game rights for its Madden franchise last month that prevented other gaming companies from using NFL marks and players' names for the next five years."


"The deal will help alleviate the slight awkwardness in the relationship between ESPN/ABC and EA."

They can all go bugger themselves as far as I care. I have a bad feeling an exclusive deal with Microsoft is the end result of this.

[LiquidX01]

I have a bad feeling an exclusive deal with Microsoft is the end result of this.

Ewww...That would be armageddon. @_@

[sirgeoph]

whats also funny is that ESPN is owned by Disney, which means that EA is in cahoots with one of the other largest companies in the world... all they need is Wal-Mart and Microsoft and they're done.

[Jibbajaba]

Besides the whole crappy EA monopoly thing, don't forget the following:


SPORTS GAMES WILL NEVER BE WORTH MORE THAN RETAIL AFTER THEIR RELEASE.


The going rate for a Madden 2001 game is what? About $2.00.....NEW! LOL




:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

:hmm: What does that have to do with anything?

Chris

[LiquidX01]

Well it seems Rupert Murdoch may want a piece of the pie too.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=6278

Read, He may want Activision and more. :/

[kainemaxwell]

Deal allows EA access to ESPN personalities
And we all know EA has little personality to begin with...

[NintendoMan]

Actually I was thinking about it, and should have realized it sooner. I mean of course EA got ESPN football rights, because in all reality it would have been hard as hell for ESPN (SEGA) to put out a good football game with "generic" players. I mean the game could have been could, but people like playing with current NFL players. You know, since EA bought the football rights.

[Griking]

I've thought about it and what we *really* should start doing is boycotting everybody else's sports games. That's right! If EA is the only one making sports games they'll have no reason to innovate anymore, their product will go downhill, and the sports game as we know it will be dead!

Whose with me?

I was all up for the idea of a boycott until it dawned on me, I don't buy EA sports games anyways so what's the point? The only sports game I really play on a console is baseball and what was the last good baseball game that EA released? Of course they'll probably buy one before next season :roll:

[LAGO]

i've got TSB and im happy with that.

[LiquidX01]

EA to take over the world.:roll:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4180453.stm

[YoshiM]

Groovy. I just love how a company retaliates against a competitor not by making a better product but by taking away the means to compete. Like it or not, sports licenses are very, very important. To do a straight up football title (meaning not having a certain slant to nab attention like the future Blitz game) would be financial suicide at this point for Sega. I'm not sure how well NBA2KX will do now without the ESPN recognition.

[SkiDragon]

Good thing I dont play many sports games. If they made Mario Football, I would most certainly buy that over ANY Madden or anything of that nature.

But yeah, I agree that all of their exclusive deals are dumb. Legal, but dumb. What bothers me more is what else they want to buy. Whatever they buy tends to suck afterwards. Like Command and Conquer.

[classicb]

i've got TSB and im happy with that.

that's what I'll be playing too. instead of buying madden I'll just spend the money on getting the new updated rosters and atributes put on a NES cart. (still looking for someone to do a SNES cart for me)

[RetroGaming2004]

ESPN 2K5 is far superior to madden so i could see why ea would do such a thing, basically what will happen is EA bought the rights to ESPN so sega will go back to just NFL 2k5 or something of that sort...sega kicks ass and madden has no offense whatsoever. EA uses money where they have no brains...unfortunately it worked

[alexkidd2000]

EA can suck my fat one. I pray anyone associated with EA dies a horrible death. (Except my buddie who works at EA Vancouver, he can just lose an arm or something)

[Ninja Blacksox]

Yawn.

And a jaw-breaking one, at that.

If the game is good, I will buy it.

End of story.

-A Boy

[-hellvin-]

Oh well, it makes me feel good inside to know that the only way EA can better another competior in the game design area is to plop down a shitload of money and sign a paper. Tools.

[Promophile]

so sega will go back to just NFL 2k5 or something of that sort...

Nope. EA has bought the rights to the NFL, sega can't use the players or NFL teams or the name NFL.

So they bought the rights to NFL ESPN AFL NASCAR and lots of other crap.

[soniko_karuto]

how does the return of the xfl sound to you?

SEGA XFL2006!!

[Zubiac666]

EA to take over the world.:roll:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4180453.stm

ROFL!

:hmm:

[mr_nihilism]

So what do you Americans think of the CFL (Canadian Football League)?

I'm kidding. Or perhaps not.

[SoulBlazer]

Hey, I'd buy it. LOL

But then again, I'm also a football nut who during the fall eats, sleeps, and drinks football and I buy every football game made, regardless of who makes it. :D

[squidblatt]

I know nothing about the CFL, so using that license would be the same as using made up players for me. I'm not saying I wouldn't try it.

I wish Sega would make a deal with the Hall of Fame since retired players aren't covered by Players Inc. They could include historical factoids about the players and set up dream teams instead of real NFL ones. Maybe they can post interviews with various players to see who their ideal line up would include. It'd be cool to field a team with Jim Thorpe, John Riggins, and Jim Brown on it against one with Dick Butkis, William Perry, and Lawrence Taylor.

[Nature Boy]

I know nothing about the CFL, so using that license would be the same as using made up players for me.

Not if you follow the NFL closely it wouldn't! There are *lots* of players that bounce between the two leagues. Obviously not the bigger stars (Warren Moon would be an exception), but it happens!

BTW: The hall of fame idea is a *great* one!

[Captain Wrong]

OMG!!!!111!!!! WTF!!!!11111111!!!!!oneoneone~~~~!!!!!!!

EA IS PURE SATAN NOW!!!!1111!!!!!111oneoneoneoneonetwo!!!


YOU D00DZ WERE SOOOO RIGHT !!!!!!!`1`1`1~1238942879235@#*!

[Oobgarm]

OMG!!!!111!!!! WTF!!!!11111111!!!!!oneoneone~~~~!!!!!!!

EA IS PURE SATAN NOW!!!!1111!!!!!111oneoneoneoneonetwo!!!


YOU D00DZ WERE SOOOO RIGHT !!!!!!!`1`1`1~1238942879235@#*!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!1

OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!111

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!11

[LiquidX01]

OMG!!!!111!!!! WTF!!!!11111111!!!!!oneoneone~~~~!!!!!!!

EA IS PURE SATAN NOW!!!!1111!!!!!111oneoneoneoneonetwo!!!


YOU D00DZ WERE SOOOO RIGHT !!!!!!!`1`1`1~1238942879235@#*!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!1

OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!111

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!11

OK.... :hmm: Was that really necessary?

[LiquidX01]

Take Two counters, well kinda.

http://sports.ign.com/articles/580/580468p1.html

[Nature Boy]

OK.... :hmm: Was that really necessary?

Besides making me howl, yeah, it is. All these EA threads devolve into the same sorta garbage.

"Well then keep out of them" you might say.

"I refuse to," I reply. "After all, there *can* be good discourse on these issues. I, for one, want to know if anybody has heard why Sega and other publishers haven't done anything to retaliate"

Of couse the Asshats who really need to learn the lesson will *never* get it...

[Rogmeister]

Obviously, this is the last season for ESPN Major League Baseball...not that it matters to me since I consider MVP Baseball a much better game. Yes, I'll likely buy that one...even if it is published by the devil :D

[vincewy]

Other than arcade style sports games (Virtual Strikers, Beach Spikers, Sega Soccer Slams, NFL Blitz), I don't play those sports games that require a whole season of playing, but is exclusivity a good thing (inc. only one console, or one publisher)?

The problem is, it rarely works, all sports league may realize the revenues aren't maximized when you only let one publisher with your label on your games. I remember THQ had exclusive deal with WWF (back then) and it didn't turn out really well, another problem is the length of contract, anything over 5+ years is too long, I'm amazed how short-sighted those sports leagues are, true, someone pays you 1 bil right away, but what about the revenues, royalties down the road? If they want to fix, amend, and/or void contract, they simply can't do that over the next 5 years.

Of all the leagues, I think NBA has the best idea so far by offering exclusive genre to one publisher, even though this is not a good idea compared to letting everyone publish games, collect more revenues, more choices for gamers, more liscensing fees for the league, a win-win situation.

[Captain Wrong]

OMG!!!!111!!!! WTF!!!!11111111!!!!!oneoneone~~~~!!!!!!!

EA IS PURE SATAN NOW!!!!1111!!!!!111oneoneoneoneonetwo!!!


YOU D00DZ WERE SOOOO RIGHT !!!!!!!`1`1`1~1238942879235@#*!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!1

OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!111

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!11

OK.... :hmm: Was that really necessary?

Was yet another thread bashing EA really necessary?

[LiquidX01]

OMG!!!!111!!!! WTF!!!!11111111!!!!!oneoneone~~~~!!!!!!!

EA IS PURE SATAN NOW!!!!1111!!!!!111oneoneoneoneonetwo!!!


YOU D00DZ WERE SOOOO RIGHT !!!!!!!`1`1`1~1238942879235@#*!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!1

OMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!111

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!11

OK.... :hmm: Was that really necessary?

Was yet another thread bashing EA really necessary?

This had nothing to do with EA buying rights to the NFL, so yes it was necessary! And yes, I am going to say...If you dont like subject, then dont post in it. Obviously it wasn't posted by me for your particular interest. :roll:

[hezeuschrist]

OK.... :hmm: Was that really necessary?

Besides making me howl, yeah, it is. All these EA threads devolve into the same sorta garbage.

"Well then keep out of them" you might say.

"I refuse to," I reply. "After all, there *can* be good discourse on these issues. I, for one, want to know if anybody has heard why Sega and other publishers haven't done anything to retaliate"

Of couse the Asshats who really need to learn the lesson will *never* get it...

EA has effectively destroyed most of our favorite sports franchies in the course of two weeks. I don't think there's any reason anyone shouldn't be upset. Either way, it spells certain doom for a small developer that made a fantastic line of sports games and was able to take on the current behemoth for but one season before the almighty dollar won again.

Aren't we supposed to be rooting for the underdog? The small guys always offer innovation and originality, and while NFL 2k5 was certainly neither of those, it was a fantastic game. Sega Sports Football 2006 will be a fantastic game as well, but it won't sell for shit, even at a bargain $20, and that'll be that, hell, if they even make the game.

It's all about being unable to make a decision. We no longer have a decision between 989, EA, MS, and Sega, now it's EA NFL or nothing. While Madden certainly isn't a bad game by any means, it was never my first choice after NFL 2k for Dreamcast. It still isn't my first choice, but now it's my only choice and I'll likely be putting sports games behind me entirely from here on out because of EA.

[Captain Wrong]

OK.... :hmm: Was that really necessary?

Besides making me howl, yeah, it is. All these EA threads devolve into the same sorta garbage.

"Well then keep out of them" you might say.

"I refuse to," I reply. "After all, there *can* be good discourse on these issues. I, for one, want to know if anybody has heard why Sega and other publishers haven't done anything to retaliate"

Of couse the Asshats who really need to learn the lesson will *never* get it...

EA has effectively destroyed most of our favorite sports franchies in the course of two weeks. I don't think there's any reason anyone shouldn't be upset. Either way, it spells certain doom for a small developer that made a fantastic line of sports games and was able to take on the current behemoth for but one season before the almighty dollar won again.

Aren't we supposed to be rooting for the underdog? The small guys always offer innovation and originality, and while NFL 2k5 was certainly neither of those, it was a fantastic game. Sega Sports Football 2006 will be a fantastic game as well, but it won't sell for shit, even at a bargain $20, and that'll be that, hell, if they even make the game.

It's all about being unable to make a decision. We no longer have a decision between 989, EA, MS, and Sega, now it's EA NFL or nothing. While Madden certainly isn't a bad game by any means, it was never my first choice after NFL 2k for Dreamcast. It still isn't my first choice, but now it's my only choice and I'll likely be putting sports games behind me entirely from here on out because of EA.

The ironic thing is anytime this comes up, a vast majority of the people getting all bent out of shape have never and will never buy a sports game in their life.

[racecar]

I HATE the way EA engulf the gaming market.. but it's a inevitible fact that EA will continue to take over the smaller developing companies and buying out all the rights to gaming titles..
i think EA owns 98% of the sport gaming genre..(in an inteview on tv a while back xbox said that they'll leave the sporting genre development to EA..and dumping the xbox sport genre..like amp and top spin and some basketball and baseball-high heat)
i heard also that EA is going to charge a special fee'$ to play the EA online title ......you can see the controll EA has on the online market already...first it's free.. to lure you in then they slap on a fee$..it might seem small..but it adds up with all the online gaming :hmm:
i can see EA TAKE OVER THE WRESTLING TITLE-WWE IN THE FUTURE!!
the remaining big sport company(sega/konami) might still have the remaining 2% of the market..

[hezeuschrist]

And while they certainly don't have anywhere near as much to bitch about as those of us who do enjoy sports games (or used to), it's never good to see a favorite developer/publisher/whatever take a huge blow.

As I'm sure most of you know, nearly all of EA's revenue is generated on regurgitation of past sports titles, which leads them to regurgitate other proporties they own until they beat the shit out of our favorite activites/licenses until we despise the source material they come from. James Bond, Lord of the Rings, Need for Speed, ect. It's a fantastic way to do business, there's little thought involved and shitloads of revenue to be had.

But now Sega no longer has that backbone. They never really did (certainly not to the extent that EA does), but next year would have been a FABULOUS year for sports titles, it would have brought us back to the 16-bit wars of old with rampant madden/espn fanboyism taking a gripping hold of the nation, and it would have been fantastic. But since that will never happen, Sega has to do something to pull in a huge chunk of revenue to continue to release their usually innovative and quirky but poorly selling titles.

This certainly doesn't spell the end of Sega entirely, absolutely not, but it certainly is going to put a huge dent in their long-term plans which ultimately means less games for us, and that pushes a conclusion to Shenmue ever farther away :(