The NFL is to blame.

[Mr. Tarheel]

The NFL, for all its "standards of ethics" etc., gave its motst important asset (the fans, not the players or anything else) the least amount of consideration. For a league that makes billions of dollars and is more financially secure than any sport on earth; and for a leauge that's so worried about its image to the fans (ie. Pacman Jones, the Bengals, etc.), then why would they allow a good size of its fan base (don't be fooled there are a lot of 2k fans out there) to be slighted with the exclusive license. Have you noticed that the league has seemed to let EA take most of the blame? I haven't read or heard anything from the NFL in which they assume any responsibility for this. You as gamers should quit accpeting the fact that we are just the "little people" and the NFL doesn't really have to consider us. We are the biggest asset for a copmany with billions in assets. Sure you can criticize EA for making the same rehashed game each fall, but stop blaming them for protecting their best asset (Madden). Maybe the NFL should have followed their lead.

[ScottyP]

I highly doubt the NFL cares. They had to have made a fortune off the deal with EA and they are not losing every single 2K player because of it. I was ****ed about it also, but I'm a football fan, so I'm not going to stop watching football as a result.

Bottom line, they might lose a few upset people, but what EA paid them more than makes up for that. I don't like that they did it, but they are ultimately looking out for what makes the most money.

[baandje]

why would they allow a good size of its fan base (don't be fooled there are a lot of 2k fans out there) to be slighted with the exclusive license.
Let me list three hundred million reasons for you...

Or:

rhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbr hubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrh ubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhu barbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhub arbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarb

^^^ money talking

;)

[IMDVS2]

The NFL, for all its "standards of ethics" etc., gave its motst important asset (the fans, not the players or anything else) the least amount of consideration. For a league that makes billions of dollars and is more financially secure than any sport on earth; and for a leauge that's so worried about its image to the fans (ie. Pacman Jones, the Bengals, etc.), then why would they allow a good size of its fan base (don't be fooled there are a lot of 2k fans out there) to be slighted with the exclusive license. Have you noticed that the league has seemed to let EA take most of the blame? I haven't read or heard anything about from the NFL in which they assume any responsibility for this. You as gamers should quit accpeting the fact that we are just the "little people" and the NFL doesn't really have to consider us. We are the biggest asset for a copmany with billions in assets. Sure you can criticize EA for making the same rehashed game each fall, but stop blaming them for protecting their best asset (Madden). Maybe the NFL should have followed their lead.
You're right, Mr. T. To a certain extent. The NFL is certainly to blame for selling out to the highest bidder, but EA should have continued forward. They didn't. EA dropped the ball. They released 2 poor games with the NFL label on it. I can't include this years effort, because I haven't played it. We have to blame both parties here. NFL for eliminating a healthy competition, a competition which did nothing but benefit the gaming community, and EA for sitting back and not putting forth the effort to make a decent game for the next-gen consoles. The NFL and EA have to take equal shares of the blame.

But this is a dead topic anyway. We can gripe about it, but it is a done deal. The bidding war will start up again in 2009, and EA will win it again. It sucks, but it's true.

[Mr. Tarheel]

Guys I understand all of what you're saying. Obviously the NFL doesn't care, but its attitudes like this that have allowed to NFL to do as it pleases. You can have this atttitude now but look at some disturbing moves/trends from the NFL.

1. Taking away Monday Night Football of of ABC. Yea I know the number of viewers without cable are diminishing but a lot of viewers only have basic cable.

2. Thursday Night Footbal on the NFL Network. Yea I know it's only for a fraction of the season but watch....

3. NFL exclusive license w/ EA. No comment....

I predict that the NFL Draft will soon (w/in 5 to 10 years) will be on the NFL Network exclusively. What's next? I'm not trying to preach doom or gloom but keep watching their moves.

[baandje]

I predict that the NFL Draft will soon (w/in 5 to 10 years) will be on the NFL Network exclusively. What's next? I'm not trying to preach doom or gloom but keep watching their moves.
Not doom and gloom. It's about money. Yes, the NFL will continue to do what they feel is best for their bottomline. Not that I'm a big hockey fan, but years ago you could watch the entire NHL playoffs on Canada's national TV network. Now the playoffs are on cable because that's where the NHL can make a bit of money.

You're bringing up a subject I think that runs deeper than some of this surface stuff, though. Why do consumers put up with this c.rap? The NFL and EA s.crews consumers, yet the NFL is more popular than ever, and EA sells more copies of Madden that ever before. There are some real social questions in there, and I ceratinly have my own opinions on the subject. But to keep it simple, let's just say we are becoming a society of baa-ing sheep, generally speaking ;)

[ScottyP]

They will keep making moves like that until they realize it is affecting the fan base at which point they will scale it back.

[RhetEric]

rhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbr hubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrh ubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhu barbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhub arbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarbrhubarb

^^^ money talking

;)


lmao, thats good, i actually tried sounding it out. Its way funnier to picture a hundred dollar bill shakin a finger at you while saying it.

[twsn88]

one word....Money.

[twsn88]

if anyone thinks its any other reason? they really do not know business

[IMDVS2]

one word....Money.
moolah, scratch, bucks, deneero, green, cabbage, dolla, coin,

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR!!!

(sigh) wish I had some.

[Mr. Tarheel]

Not doom and gloom. It's about money. Yes, the NFL will continue to do what they feel is best for their bottomline. Not that I'm a big hockey fan, but years ago you could watch the entire NHL playoffs on Canada's national TV network. Now the playoffs are on cable because that's where the NHL can make a bit of money.

You're bringing up a subject I think that runs deeper than some of this surface stuff, though. Why do consumers put up with this c.rap? The NFL and EA s.crews consumers, yet the NFL is more popular than ever, and EA sells more copies of Madden that ever before. There are some real social questions in there, and I ceratinly have my own opinions on the subject. But to keep it simple, let's just say we are becoming a society of baa-ing sheep, generally speaking ;)
Good point. It would be an interesting thesis topic for someone to explore. We love the NFL and many people love EA without regard of the value they get in return.

[IMDVS2]

Good point. It would be an interesting thesis topic for someone to explore. We love the NFL and many people love EA without regard of the value they get in return.
Now you're getting it.:dance:

[SD21]

The NFL, for all its "standards of ethics" etc., gave its motst important asset (the fans, not the players or anything else) the least amount of consideration. For a league that makes billions of dollars and is more financially secure than any sport on earth; and for a leauge that's so worried about its image to the fans (ie. Pacman Jones, the Bengals, etc.), then why would they allow a good size of its fan base (don't be fooled there are a lot of 2k fans out there) to be slighted with the exclusive license. Have you noticed that the league has seemed to let EA take most of the blame? I haven't read or heard anything from the NFL in which they assume any responsibility for this. You as gamers should quit accpeting the fact that we are just the "little people" and the NFL doesn't really have to consider us. We are the biggest asset for a copmany with billions in assets. Sure you can criticize EA for making the same rehashed game each fall, but stop blaming them for protecting their best asset (Madden). Maybe the NFL should have followed their lead.

Did you make a bet with someone about how many times you can use the word "asset"?

[Excaliber]

if anyone thinks its any other reason? they really do not know business

Quite the Opposite, my friend! ;)

[twsn88]

Quite the Opposite, my friend! ;)

you know what i mean with that saying. it wasnt directed to people on here..shessh it was in general

[sleepytercel]

I'm sick of this whole "ease on EA", but as most have forgotten, EA and the NFL were already in works two months before the release of 2K5 and six months before the exclusive took place. EA and the NFL both lied to the consumers by saying that the "rumor" was untrue and that normal licenses were in place. The lesson to this story...don't be so naive.

[sleepytercel]

Here's my proof: http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/maddennfl2005/news.html?sid=6098784&mode=all

Check the date of the posting. Notice how the article is exclusive to EA and the Players Inc? Now, when you fastforward 6 months, notice how the deal went to EA? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the license was going to go to EA no matter what. You guys just got played by this "honest bidding" so EA doesn't look so evil. It's amazing how we support this, considering EA holds 6 exclusive licenses...3 of those that are football related. In my opinion...yeah...EA can be blamed as well.

[twsn88]

Here's my proof: http://www.gamespot.com/xbox/sports/maddennfl2005/news.html?sid=6098784&mode=all

Check the date of the posting. Notice how the article is exclusive to EA and the Players Inc? Now, when you fastforward 6 months, notice how the deal went to EA? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the license was going to go to EA no matter what. You guys just got played by this "honest bidding" so EA doesn't look so evil. It's amazing how we support this, considering EA holds 6 exclusive licenses...3 of those that are football related. In my opinion...yeah...EA can be blamed as well.

its in the ink. plain and simple...thats why i always say what i say on here and you just said what you said, which was the truth....

[twsn88]

but there is a thing called karma and what goes around comes around, EA should have never made those deals cause they have everything, but yet nothing. sooner or later people will wake up and see that the only reason why they brought up everything, is because it was inferer to every other product out there......

[2KSPORTS FAN]

1. Taking away Monday Night Football of of ABC. Yea I know the number of viewers without cable are diminishing but a lot of viewers only have basic cable.

the NFL didnt take away anything from any one, ABC is the one who decided not to renew
the contract specialy because they were losing money and they had the lowest ratings in over 30 years and decided to take the rights for its sister cable station ESPN, in fact ABC sports was shut down, and now it is ESPN on ABC to lower so they can run thier business on a better way.

ABC had the absolute first hand thats why NBC couldnyt even get close to monday nights.


2. Thursday Night Footbal on the NFL Network. Yea I know it's only for a fraction of the season but watch....

this had to come sooner or later

3. NFL exclusive license w/ EA. No comment....

and on this matter, i have no coment either because every one knows the story by now..

[theshiznetno1]

then why would they allow a good size of its fan base (don't be fooled there are a lot of 2k fans out there) to be slighted with the exclusive license.

Don't kid yourself, it's not as many as you think.

Have you noticed that the league has seemed to let EA take most of the blame? I haven't read or heard anything from the NFL in which they assume any responsibility for this.

What do they have to be sorry for? If I gave you 300-600 million dollars, would you apologize?

You as gamers should quit accpeting the fact that we are just the "little people" and the NFL doesn't really have to consider us. We are the biggest asset for a copmany with billions in assets. Sure you can criticize EA for making the same rehashed game each fall, but stop blaming them for protecting their best asset (Madden). Maybe the NFL should have followed their lead.

It's friggin video games, not a issue worth marching w/ signs and protesting, geez:rolleyes: