EA Sports has a monopoly on NFL

[Ryanwb]

They have signed at 5 year exclusive deal with the NFL for licensing. All other NFL games will not get the right to use NFL players names, team names, etc.... Sega's NFL 2k5 really put a dent into their profits this year so they paid out the butt to get the NFL to agree to this deal

So the price fixing is back in.... $49.99 games again next year.

 

[thirty-two]

well that's lame!

 

[Chaplin]

What's even worse is if EA decides to do the same for the other sports as well.

I wonder what Sega and other companies can do legally? This seems more like creating a monopoly leading to price fixing, but I guess there are tons of loopholes.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

What an freaking joke, how can they do that?

Mike

 

[HeavyB3]

Who cares. Madden is the superior product anyway. Better franchise mode, better plays, more realistic.

 

[HeavyB3]

What an freaking joke, how can they do that?

Mike

Gatoraid has a monopoly on drinks, Rebok on Jerseys. Why wouldn't they do it?

 

[schel]

Yes, EA is legally allowed to do this, but I hate the move. This move is not profitable for EA, assuming they weren't going to lose customers to Sega in the future. Why else didn't they do this during the PS1 era? The fact is that Sega was starting to close the gap, and EA got worried. So rather than change the price or improve their product, they do this.

Competition is a good thing, whether you like Madden, 2k5, Fever (which was taking a 1 year break), or 989.

Oh, and online gamers, be prepared to "pay to play"...

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Who cares. Madden is the superior product anyway. Better franchise mode, better plays, more realistic.

Just because you prefer Madden doesn't mean that nobody else cares... I care, I think Madden sucks, and I have never enjoyed the franchise. From the Sega sports NFL 2k series, to ESPN NFL 2k5, I enjoy the game play much better. This is just a pathetic move on EA's part. They realized that ESPN and sega were more than competitive and at a much more reasonable price, so instead of competing, they bought out the competition. Beyond lame.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Who cares. Madden is the superior product anyway. Better franchise mode, better plays, more realistic.

That's your opinion, and at $20 for a game just as good, I'd rather play ESPN 2k5....

Mike

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Who cares. Madden is the superior product anyway. Better franchise mode, better plays, more realistic.

While I will agree with you that the franchise mode in Madden is better...

I thought the overall game play (control) of ESPN was far superior.

So ultimately I considered the games about equal, with ESPN getting the big nod due to the cheap price.

 

[HeavyB3]

What you guys have to understand is that the NFL chose to do this (with some lobbying from EA). EA simply was able to put out the most money to ensure they got rights. The NFL had to be a little irked at sega for selling NFL 2k5 for 20 bucks. It bit into their profits as well.

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

Not everyone is happy. And EA lobbied for this, but the NFL probably doesn't like to have "Budget Software" attatched to the titles of its games. Madden still sold more games than NFL2k5, its still the one thats selling games this christmas, it is the more popular franchise and its what the NFL went with.

 

[vince56]

man, I love ESPN 2k5. As a long-time Madden player, I was blown away with the play control and the graphics. I didn't find the franchise mode to be too bad either actually.

I'm really upset about this after reading it this morning. I hope Sega files a huge lawsuit and wins, the Sega product keeps getting better each year while the EA product keeps getting worse.

Oh well, we can still update our rosters manually for the ESPN game, and Front Page Sports Football for us old-school PC football guys.

 

[HeavyB3]

I wonder what Sega and other companies can do legally? This seems more like creating a monopoly leading to price fixing, but I guess there are tons of loopholes.

Its not a monopoly. Sega can continue its franchise with a football game with a fake league, fake players, fake teams and fake stadiums. It would be a monopoly if EA was the only ones who could make football games period.

 

[Ryanwb]

Its not a monopoly. Sega can continue its franchise with a football game with a fake league, fake players, fake teams and fake stadiums. It would be a monopoly if EA was the only ones who could make football games period.

You would play a game like that? Where the names of the players are their numbers?

QB-12 hands off to RB-22

It will be like 1992 all over again

 

[Djaughe]

You would play a game like that? Where the names of the players are their numbers?

QB-12 hands off to RB-22

It will be like 1992 all over again

Maybe sega can bring back the USFL?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Its not a monopoly. Sega can continue its franchise with a football game with a fake league, fake players, fake teams and fake stadiums. It would be a monopoly if EA was the only ones who could make football games period.

Do you work for EA? Seriously, if you don't recognize this as a complete power play, you clearly have the wool over your eyes. What is your definition of a monopoly? Perhaps using your power to take complete control of your market? If that isn't a monopoly, I'd love to see what is.

 

[Pariah]

Guys, having exclusive rights does not mean they have a monopoly. If they went out and bought up all of the other video-game makers and owned so much of the market that other companies simply couldn't compete, then they'd have a monopoly. Making a deal with the NFL is simply a shrewd business move.

 

[Pariah]

Does Ben and Jerry's have a monopoly on making "Chunky Monkey" ice cream?

 

[Djaughe]

I wonder how ESPN feels about this and the impact that the deal may have on its business....

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Guys, having exclusive rights does not mean they have a monopoly. If they went out and bought up all of the other video-game makers and owned so much of the market that other companies simply couldn't compete, then they'd have a monopoly. Making a deal with the NFL is simply a shrewd business move.

A move that essentially eliminates all other competition. Let's be realistic here, unless Sega wins a court battle, the odds of them producing a football game are slim to none, because nobody wants to play a game without the NFL license. While this isn't the most blatant form of a monopoly, the end result remains the same. EA got scared because ESPN and Sega produced a product that was arguably better, and at a fantastic price, an unheard of move in the market. EA gets scared and does what is has to to eliminate the competition. Explain to me how this isn't a monopoly....

 

[Chaz]

I like Madden and EA sports but I don't like this.

More choices and competition mean better games and lower prices.
If only EA can make NFL games then the product and the consumer will most likely suffer from it. The only alternative is stick with 2005 and not buy the new game.


Both EA and SEGA '05 versions have their strong points. I wish the best features could be combined.

 

[Ryanwb]

The only feature I really like in Madden anymore is the speed up feature. Where the clock will run down to 20 seconds automatically after you break the huddle. That helps make the game more realistic... instead of 1:30 drives you can get 5-8 minutes off the clock.

 

[CaptTurbo]

ESPN blew the doors off Madden. EA blows. Now excuse me whilst I buy some EA stock lol

 

[Chaz]

The only feature I really like in Madden anymore is the speed up feature. Where the clock will run down to 20 seconds automatically after you break the huddle. That helps make the game more realistic... instead of 1:30 drives you can get 5-8 minutes off the clock.

That is a good idea. I never used that.
I have just played 5Min quarters this whole time.

The scores seem to come out about right and a game takes about 40 Min.



I really wish Madden had the replay features from ESPN. After the game you can go back and look at any play in the game. That is pretty awesome.

 

[Pariah]

Explain to me how this isn't a monopoly....

It's a partnership--an exclusive partnership. Yeah, no one is going to want to buy another football game because EA made a great business move to make their game better than anyone else's. They ponied up the money that Sega didn't. Boo-friggin-hoo. Sega can still make football games, they just can't use NFL players ---those aren't public domain, they're essentially a commodity.

When Mars makes M&Ms, does that mean they have a monopoly on candy-coated chocolate? I mean, who would want to buy any other kind of candy-coated chocolate, right? Damn them and their monopoly! I want to make candy-coated chocolate but I can't because they have an unfair advantage--they've made the types of shrewed business moves to make their candy-coated chocolates the best on the market!

What about Visa (the exclusive card of the NFL). Do they have a monopoly because they have an exclusive partnership with the NFL? I mean, it's not like MasterCard can partner with them until that contract is up, right?

EA made a deal--and one that will position them in front of thier competitors for the next five years. But, they do NOT have a monopoly.