Class Action lawsuit against EA Sports

[Ryanwb]

Woo Hoo!

Read the lawsuit here: http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0611_nfl_ea_wm.pdf

basically they reference their price increase from $29.99 to $49.99 after they got exclusive rights and their attempt to buy Take-Two which would be the only other software company that has the finance and expertise to make a viable NFL game after their masterful NFL2k5 game. Basically they have no viable competition in the market and control the price point.

Frivilous... maybe not

 

[Gaddabout]

Seeing as how EA has done very little actual improvement to game performance (obscured by the lame story layers they keep adding), I'd say the lawsuit has real teeth. When consumers are paying more for less (or even the same) and there's exclusive contracts in place, I think these types of lawsuits grow legs and start running.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

People seem to forget that it wasn't EA who wanted an exclusive license, but the NFL who put it up for auction where several companies put in their price.

 

[Ryanwb]

People seem to forget that it wasn't EA who wanted an exclusive license, but the NFL who put it up for auction where several companies put in their price.

Sorry but that's just not true. The NFL didn't want their brand name engaged in a price war, but EA wanted the license badly because of how much Take-Two began to impact them. They had to drop their price to compete

The deal, one EA admits to having lobbied for over the past few years, is an exclusive five-year licensing deal granting EA the sole rights to the NFL's teams, stadiums, and players.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/12/13/news_6114977.html

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

"Wanted" was a poor choice of words on my part (obviously if they didn't want an exclusive license they wouldn't have purchased it.) The point of the matter was that it was the NFL's decision to sell the exclusive license, and if EA didn't buy it, another company would have.

 

[SuperSpck]

YES!

Sue them into putting out a good product.

Use the PC version of Madden and Tiger Woods over the last 5 years as exhibits.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

This lawsuit will never stand up. Too bad too.

 

[dogpoo32]

I wonder what a football game would be like if it was made by a company that actually tried. It would be nice to get some more options.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I wonder what a football game would be like if it was made by a company that actually tried. It would be nice to get some more options.

see ESPN2K5

 

[BigRedRage]

espn 2k5 was flawed, madden on ps2 was the best football ever they just effed up next gen

 

[dreamcastrocks]

espn 2k5 was flawed, madden on ps2 was the best football ever they just effed up next gen

2k5 had minor flaws.

2k5 > Madden 08, 07, 06, etc.

 

[Ryanwb]

This lawsuit will never stand up. Too bad too.

What law school did you go to again?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

What law school did you go to again?

I was in ASFN Court for one session.

 

[BigRedRage]

2k5 had minor flaws.

2k5 > Madden 08, 07, 06, etc.

ill take any version of ps2 madden over 2k5.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

ill take any version of ps2 madden over 2k5.

I'll respectfully disagree.

 

[BigRedRage]

just wasnt a fan, felt the players were skiing everywhere and the "powerup moves" reminded me of arcade games. It was good and great for competition but if they would just release a new madden like the old madden I would be as happy as donald at charlies bar on 7th ave and indian school.

 

[Pariah]

Seeing as how EA has done very little actual improvement to game performance (obscured by the lame story layers they keep adding), I'd say the lawsuit has real teeth. When consumers are paying more for less (or even the same) and there's exclusive contracts in place, I think these types of lawsuits grow legs and start running.

Let me get this straight, you guys don't like the game...so you think they should be sued?

They can keep jacking the price up because the market can bear it--if it can't, the price will come back down.

As for the exclusive contract with the NFL, that's just a GREAT business move by EA. You may not like it, but you have no say-so in what kind of contracts the NFL or EA engage in.

This lawsuit, IMO, is all kinds of wrong.

 

[abomb]

Dont like it? Dont buy the game of buy that crapass version 2K released last year.

I might dust of 2K this weekend and see how it holds up.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i'm going to sue reebok because they have an exclusive on authentic jerseys

 

[Gaddabout]

Let me get this straight, you guys don't like the game...so you think they should be sued?

They can keep jacking the price up because the market can bear it--if it can't, the price will come back down.

As for the exclusive contract with the NFL, that's just a GREAT business move by EA. You may not like it, but you have no say-so in what kind of contracts the NFL or EA engage in.

This lawsuit, IMO, is all kinds of wrong.

Actually, the suit is over EA's attempt to acquire Take-Two, which could be considered a monopoly over a lucrative market. That EA has stopped attempting to improve a product since signing an exclusive deal is just circumstantial evidence of EA's intent to corner a market to prevent competition and costly R&D.

You can't be a good capitalist and not be in favor of competition.

 

[BigRedRage]

EA puts out some quality stuff but when most things are bought by then I give up. Could you imagine EA running GTA after buying take two? im sure it would suck.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Dont like it? Dont buy the game of buy that crapass version 2K released last year.

I might dust of 2K this weekend and see how it holds up.

Let's do it next weekend when I am by your way. I wonder if I am still any good at it.

 

[Pariah]

Actually, the suit is over EA's attempt to acquire Take-Two, which could be considered a monopoly over a lucrative market. That EA has stopped attempting to improve a product since signing an exclusive deal is just circumstantial evidence of EA's intent to corner a market to prevent competition and costly R&D.

You can't be a good capitalist and not be in favor of competition.

I don't know anything about the video game market, but I doubt that buying up a company that I've never heard of would make EA a monopoly. As for not improving the product, that's their business decision.

Oh, and they DID compete for the business--they competed to get that exclusive contract.

 

[Ryanwb]

I don't know anything about the video game market, but I doubt that buying up a company that I've never heard of would make EA a monopoly. As for not improving the product, that's their business decision.

Oh, and they DID compete for the business--they competed to get that exclusive contract.

Next to Vivindi, Take-two is probably the 3rd largest video game maker.

The do Rock Star, Grand Theft Auto, and 2k Sports... just to name their larger titles.

Video games are making so much money right now, like unreal amounts. EA's take over would be like Ford and Chrysler merging

 

[Covert Rain]

I don't know anything about the video game market, but I doubt that buying up a company that I've never heard of would make EA a monopoly. As for not improving the product, that's their business decision.

Oh, and they DID compete for the business--they competed to get that exclusive contract.

Actually they didn't. The NFL has no intention of going exclusive until the enormous offer from EA was made. Then NFL did the smart thing and tried to turn it into a bidding war to see how much money it could make by announcing their willingness to go exclusive.

The size of the offer that EA made was at that time larger then any exclusive contract every paid to league for exclusive rights. EA was well aware that no other company could match it. The NFL went to take 2 and said can you beat it. The obvious answer was no. Take 2 didn't have the financial resources at the time to beat that offer. You can't call that competition.

Also, anybody who loved video game football knew both Madden and the 2K franchise. NFL2K franchise had been beating Madden in reviews for several years. Madden was losing face and losing market share every year. Plus you had the 2k folks advertising their number one rated football game every year.

I don't blame EA though for doing what they could. If you can't beat the competition....eliminate the competition. It's a smart business move.

Many in the industry called it horrible for fans and and predicated EA would have little incentive to innovate or improve the franchise. Unfortunately, they were correct.

Average Rankings (Based on the number 1 selling console at the time)
NFL2k - 91%
Madden - 86.4%

NFL2K2 - 84.7%
Madden 02 - 80%

NFL2k3 - 89.9%
Madden 03 - 89.6% (lower but considered rebound year)

ESPN NFL Football (NFL2K4) - 89.4%
Madden 04 - 88.5%

ESPN NFL2K5 - 90%
Madden 05 - 89.6%

The disparity between the scores of other consoles and the PC was even worse. Clearly 2K had the upper hand with critics and was making a better product then EA.