EA Gets the NHL License

[bapenguin]

I really want to let out a stream of curse words...but I'll contain myself. Just when you thought EA couldn't buy up any more licenses, it looks like (http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/06/24/news_6128105.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6128105) EA snagged the NHL license.

Most hockey fans realize EA's NHL games for the passed 4 or 5 years have been...well lacking severly in the reality department. Sega Sports (2k Sports) has made THE hockey simulation...and it looks like it may be coming to and end.

RIP Sports Gaming

Update: Good news is they changed the text...bad news is...did they jump the gun?

[bapenguin]

oh yeah....FUCK!

[Phades]

I can't help but think this is a really good thing. EA's NHL titles have always been the best..



Oh wait, that's right they suck. Crap.

[lowlevel]

So ... what is it now? They have NFL, AFL, college football (American), and now the NHL too? They are locked out of MLB, but are doing college baseball instead, and the NBA is (for the time being) an open license.

I hate to see this happen ... this sort of exclusive sports licensing deal can only serve to stagnate innovation.

EDIT: Looks like they have NASCAR, too! Yay!

[Bushido]

Cept NHL this year will be all about picking lawyers and Unions to negotiate a pay salary or something.

[Intruder]

*cry**weep**puke*

[Blue]

Isn't there a rule sitting around that makes this kind of thing not legal? Can EA have access to make the only sports-simulations within the gaming world? Sure Midway can give us a Blitz title but, sadly, that ain't the same thing and one would think those who make these rules would realize that's a paltry substitute.

This is ridiculous.

[VoodooKarma]

I am speechless. Please, please, PLEASE do not buy EA products people. Buy used if you absolutely must. That is the only way to stop this.

[netcraazzy]

EA's deals don’t' stop companies from making Hockey or Football games, just ones that use the NHL and NFL name and players. So I guess that means they could still make a game with fictitious names but the same game play mechanics like back in the NES days. It really didn't become a necessity to have the NFL's license on every football game until recently. Maybe EA's anticompetitive deals will backfire and lead to greater diversity in the sports genre.

[Mrbunchypants]

Whats the NHL?

Kidding. With the latest problems with the NHL i don't think its as strong as it use to be.

[Arphahat]

EA's attempt to grab all the exclusive licenses may not be as big a deal as everyone thinks.

Back in the day, there was a game call "Front Page Sports: Football", by Sierra. The game had all kinds of neat things, especially for the time, including creating your own plays, moving the camera around and such. The only thing missing was that they had no license with the NFL. So, there were random player names and random team names, but you still knew who everyone was. Plus, you could edit it yourself. The key was, even without a license, their game was one of the best football games of the time.

Perhaps without the real names to fall back on, companies will have to rely on innovations in the gameplay.

[Chandler]

i hope ea gave them like millions of dollars, nhl could really use taht revenue

[Ted Huge]

oh yeah....FUCK!


Exactly. In fact, to expand on that, I would like to add "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK!" I was already boycotting EA products (with the exception of the Battlefield franchise.....hey, I'm as human as the next LAN-goer), but now I need to actually somehow declare WaR on them. Hockey is the only thing I like more than video games (I hope my wife isn't a closet Evil Avatar reader....), so for the video game version of it to be subverted and shoddily produced by EA is like getting jersied after the Hansons have been "taping the foil".

Well, NHL license or no, the 2K5 franchise is light years better than the best hockey product EA has ever shipped, and so it will stay.

[Undertakr]

One thing to think of this positively is that with modding and stuff, a company that makes a non-licensed version could ahem, 'Allow the user to modify and create his own teams and players!' As long as the game doesn't ship with the office stuff, it doesn't mean that you as a consumer couldn't take your own graphics and edit the names of the players to be the NHL guys. (And I'm sure this will happen.)

Another thing to remember is that EA now has to tack on charges to their games to recoup the cost of becoming a monopoly. Now, companies like Sega don't need to pay any licensing fees to anyone and that's one less thing taking away their profit. If I had the choice between $30 for the Sega game and $50 for the EA game, I'd take Sega everytime, even without a license and "Joe Salami" playing Center for my Hollywood Queens.

[Cubfan]

they probably got this license pretty damn cheap.

[mister_slim]

Man, I don't even watch hockey anymore, but I still enjoy a game of EPSN NHL now and then.

It's rather apt that my Sega Sports DC is black.

[Wyrm]

Truthfully, as much as I hate EA, I cant help but think Arphahat is right. If companies cant use the licenses, perhaps they'll come up with some really interesting games to play.

This is my take on sports games. They update them each year with minor graphical tweaks, one gameplay update, and some new players/stats and consider that a new game. They wouldnt still be doing it if people werent buying every new version that came out, so I guess it wont stop. But, I think the sports games side of the gaming industry (for the most part) is the same exact game rehashed over and over. When they get it right, they just keep making them.

Why even care if EA owns exclusive rights to make the same rehashed bullshit 5 other companies could be wasting their time on? Some people would say because EA doesnt do a good job with a particular franchise. Honestly? I play sports games occasionally and I could give a shit who made them. I dont have trouble sleeping at night if I cant play hockey because EAs version sucks too much.

[jacktion]

One thing to think of this positively is that with modding and stuff, a company that makes a non-licensed version could ahem, 'Allow the user to modify and create his own teams and players!' As long as the game doesn't ship with the office stuff, it doesn't mean that you as a consumer couldn't take your own graphics and edit the names of the players to be the NHL guys. (And I'm sure this will happen.)

Another thing to remember is that EA now has to tack on charges to their games to recoup the cost of becoming a monopoly. Now, companies like Sega don't need to pay any licensing fees to anyone and that's one less thing taking away their profit.

This could happen. Sega just needs to make a great game that is totally customizable. Then make it so that you can install a complete set of names and jerseys from another user online. Their game will be cheaper because they don't need to pay a licensing fee and the consumers can get their license off the internet for free. Slightly shady but I don't see any laws being broken, do you?

[VsSelf]

Now that EA is the only company that can release crappy titles that sell based solely on "official" brand recognition and rosters, competing companies will be forced to start pushing through more creative takes on sports games. Ice Hockey and Sensible Soccer are more fun than the entire EA sports porfolio, and its my guess that EA's monopolization of the realistic sports game will fortell a blossoming of creativity and solid gameplay as way of compensation. I hope I'm not just being optimistic.

[bKangy]

Problem is, Idiot Joe doesn't buy games with innovations. He buys whichever game is branded with the biggest body in his prefered sport, and nothing will change that. This is getting so silly now, I wish I could do something.

[VsSelf]

I'm holding out for the possibility that Idiot Joe will one day collectively decide that video games are too geeky and give back the industry.

I can dream. :rolleyes:

[snubber]

Friend at Kush games (makes NHL series for Visual Concepts) says EA does _not_ have the license, and they're just being dumb. If you read the gamespot article, you'll see it was just speculation based on some wording on EA's NHL website, which they've since changed since they've now been called on it.

[Shifteh]

Frankly though, would anyone be surprised if EA got this?

Also: when was the last good NHL game from EA? '98?

[fitbabits]

According to IGN, this was a blunder on the part of EA Sports.

Link (http://xbox.ign.com/articles/628/628975p1.html)

Text, for those with a stinging aversion to IGN:

June 24, 2005 - Contrary to reports popping up elsewhere online on Friday, Electronic Arts does not have an exclusive license on NHL-branded hockey games.

The brouhaha began earlier today when the official EA product page for NHL 06 included "Exclusive License" under the game logo -- the same wording used for NFL 06 -- for which EA does have an exclusive license. Other EA Sports titles with non-exclusive licenses, such as NBA Live 06, are only labeled "Official License."

Seeing "Exclusive" below NHL 06 was understandably surprising, but it turns out to have been a blunder. The product page has already switched back to "Official License," and a representative at competitor 2K Sports (which now owns the Visual Concepts crew) confirmed to IGN that there's been no license change -- both companies are still producing NHL titles for this year.

EA's NHL 06 is scheduled for release this August, with 2K Games set to release NHL 2K6 shortly after. Stay tuned for more on both titles.

[kickmybum]

Woot, time to bring back the "Blades of Steel" franchise!!

[B_Money]

Maybe EA can get the NHL's union instead.

[bapenguin]

Frankly though, would anyone be surprised if EA got this?

Also: when was the last good NHL game from EA? '98?

99 was decent, 2000 took a turn for the worst. Good to hear this isn't happening....

[bKangy]

I guess when you have that many licenses, you could easily get confused!

[agentgray]

What does it matter? The next game based on last season should be free. Um...there were no games.

[bait]

If it's true...this is your Battlefield 2 money at work.

As I said before, buying any EA games (regardless of whether they are good or not) is bad for you as a gamer in the long term. Please stop it.

[doubtingthomas]

Shouldn't this news item be removed as its false?

[*Legion*]

Screw the NHL.

2K Sports, bring us an international teams hockey game. World Cup of Hockey / Olympics action. Hardcore hockey fans adore international play, and casual fans that pick up ice hockey games because hockey just makes a great videogame won't care one way or the other.

[MasterChief55]

As long as theres something to keep me busy untill the NHL gets back on track im cool with Ea making hockey games, or anyone making hockey games for that matter!

[bjornbarspingvinen]

I am beginning to agree with Bait.
NHL2k5 was the best hockey game ever, and EA haven´t been on top since NHL98, EA has bought so many exclusives that it should be illegal, it´s clearly not good for the consumer. If EA buys this license I will not buy one of their games again. NHL videogames it´s the most fun games when you play against friends.