EA Could Lose NFL Exclusivity

[bapenguin]

According to Gamersreports (http://www.gamersreports.com/news/1574/), due to the current NFL negotiations with the NFLPA and the NFL, the current EA Sports/NFL/NFLPA Contract may become null and void.

Now, pay attention, cause this is a bit complicated. The current problems in the NFL between the league and the players association might make the EA/NFL contract void. This is because if the union decertifies, then anti-trust rules will apply. If this happens, then EA is out of luck. Antitrust laws would be in effect and the contract would be voided. (EA signed a deal with both the NFLPA and NFL so at the least, other companies could use the players, but not the actual team names. Not a big deal really, since we know who they would be referring to.)
Wow, that could be HUGE.

[fitbabits]

Holy moley...

[jeffool]

So if Sega made the move and got the sole NFLPA rights, EA would have the teams exclusively, and Sega would have the players?

This is insane. Kinda funny, kinda fucked up, but wholly insane.

[Grifter]

This is the best news I have heard in a long time. Ofcourse I don't play sports games so I don't know why I really care, maybe I just like it when bad things happen to EA.

[bapenguin]

I have a crazy idea. What we need to do is form a corporation. In that corporation we buy the license from the NFL and NFLPA. It's an exclusive license but we are allowed to sub license it. Then what we do is every other year give the license to EA Sports and 2k Games.

If either company fails to impress us with their offering for that year, the other company gets the license for 2 years in a row.

This way an independent company of gamers regulates the quality that an exclusive license offers.

Granted...it's going to be tough to come up with half a billion bucks.

[Grifter]

I have a crazy idea. What we need to do is form a corporation. In that corporation we buy the license from the NFL and NFLPA. It's an exclusive license but we are allowed to sub license it. Then what we do is every other year give the license to EA Sports and 2k Games.

If either company fails to impress us with their offering for that year, the other company gets the license for 2 years in a row.

This way an independent company of gamers regulates the quality that an exclusive license offers.

Granted...it's going to be tough to come up with half a billion bucks.

The problem with that Idea is it makes sence and is actually good so it would never fly.

[jeffool]

Penguin-Man, you're a fucking genius... I hear Evil owns a pretty successful website. Maybe he has spare cash? :D

[bjornbarspingvinen]

If true, BEST NEWS in years! NFL2k5 was amazing, and exclusivity is crap , doesn´t matter if it´s NFL, NHL, NBA or MLB!!!

[phantomhitman]

Even though I hate ea sports, I wouldnt mind if they made games. One company having the rights to an entire sports league is just stupid. The fan gets fucked.

GO UNION DECERTIFICATION!!

[Hizawky]

The new Madden will be football worthy. No worries in that department.

[NELS]

Oh my... Please let it be god... NFL(PA)2K7?

[Serapth]

Dumb question... but....

Would EA get their half a billion dollars back?

[emperordahc]

Still playing my XBox NFL 2k5. :)

[gzsfrk]

I fully support anything the involves EA's exclusivity arrangements blowing them all to hell and back. I don't hate the company as a whole, some of their games are still quite good. However, moves designed to stifle competition in a free market really have me peeved. (And yes, that goes for 2k's exclusive MLB deal as well--how come we don't hear as much howling about that?)

[AniAko]

I have a crazy idea. What we need to do is form a corporation. In that corporation we buy the license from the NFL and NFLPA. It's an exclusive license but we are allowed to sub license it. Then what we do is every other year give the license to EA Sports and 2k Games.

If either company fails to impress us with their offering for that year, the other company gets the license for 2 years in a row.

This way an independent company of gamers regulates the quality that an exclusive license offers.

Granted...it's going to be tough to come up with half a billion bucks.

I highly doubt they'd let a loophole in a contract where you're allowed to "sub-license" the NFL/PA licenses, although your idea has merit. What you can do instead is acquire an exclusive NFL/PA license deal and then put it up for bid. The problem is you'd be competing against the
company you're trying to sell to so no matter how high you bid,
EA would be willing to go higher, and when you won the bid, you're going to turn around and offer it for say 1 million more? I belive that would fall under extortion :)

[atrus20]

So if Sega made the move and got the sole NFLPA rights, EA would have the teams exclusively, and Sega would have the players?

This is insane. Kinda funny, kinda fucked up, but wholly insane.

Or how about this... Midway picking up the NFLPA rights and using actual player names in Blitz the League. Talk about realism. :D

[Wslove]

Actually this is not a good thing. In fact it would be a very very bad thing. If the union decertifies in '08 then there will be a lockout. That means unless you would like playing NFLPA 2K8: Sit at home edition, or its sister product Maddan 08: The Replacements I suggest all you stop rooting for this to happen. Even if they don't decertify then the player's union goes on strike. Either way there is no 'real' football come 2008 if a new CBA isn't worked out.

Of course that comes down to a bunch of rich people arguing over a few million more here and there. Players need to come down, owners need to go up, and everyone needs to sign a new CBA asap so everyone can put this crap behind them and return to providing the finest sport in America today. NFL became number 1 because the other sports leagues dropped the ball just like what's happening now. If they think this crap won't hurt them then they must all be stupid.

[Javi]

The union will not decertify. Period. The main reason the FA window was extended three days until Monday, March 6 was to give more time to negotiate a deal. Even if nothing happens, the league would be fully functional until at least '08. And I really doubt that the NFL and the Players' Association will lose money over any of it.

[SaintArnold]

Yeah, I agree with the above 2. It would be great if EA lost their exclusive deal, but this will only happen given a pretty disastrous situation with the NFL. I like the Sega NFL2kX games, but not even close to as much as I love my parity-era NFL.

Go Broncos!

[Knite]

I fully support anything the involves EA's exclusivity arrangements blowing them all to hell and back. I don't hate the company as a whole, some of their games are still quite good. However, moves designed to stifle competition in a free market really have me peeved. (And yes, that goes for 2k's exclusive MLB deal as well--how come we don't hear as much howling about that?)


Because the MLB deal is not exclusive. It's exclusional. I know that sounds strange, but the way it works is that ONLY 2k can make a 3rd party baseball game. Meaning 2k can, Sony can for the Ps2/3, Microsoft Can for the Xbox/360, and Nintendo can for the Gamecube/Rev. So who can't?
EA.

That's why there's not as much howling about it.
(Although I disagree with ANY disallowing of licences, including EA being out. wow... i need a shower now. I feel dirty. =) )

[Mortis]

Good, I hope they loose it. Even though it was a smart business decision it was still a shitty thing to do imo.

[jwbxx]

Please god! Please if this happens I'm going back to church. Yeah I know i said that after the red soxs won the series, steelers beat the colts, and when i got a 100% on my final.

But this time I really mean it!