Is EA trying to take over the world?

[Devilbod]

A report which has appeared in a respected American business publication suggests that Electronic Arts may be on the verge of signing a billion-dollar deal for the exclusive rights to use NFL player names and likenesses.

The Sports Business Journal reports that EA is in final negotiations for a deal with the NFL Players Association to exclusively license all players for four years, at a cost of $250 million per year.

The deal - if it goes through - would give EA's NFL products a massive advantage over rivals such as Sega's ESPN NFL Football, which would no longer be able to use official player names and likenesses.

However, NFL Player Association representatives have apparently informed a moderator at the ESPNvideogames.com website that only "normal" licensing deals are currently underway, according to a report on US website GameSpot.

The report in the Sports Business Journal carries some weight, though; not only is the publication a well-respected journal in its field, but it has also demonstrated some insight into EA's NFL-related plans in the recent past, revealing only two weeks ago who the company's "cover star" for this year's NFL title would be, several days ahead of the official EA announcement.

A deal of this magnitude would be immense for EA in simple financial terms, but it certainly isn't outside the realms of possibility for the giant publisher - and the advantage which it would give to EA Sports titles in the American market cannot be underestimated.

I know not many people will care about this but EA have been going around snapping up a lot of small devellopers recently after recording massive profits over the last year, do you rekon this is a good thing that EA are beginning to look like the MS of the gaming world?

<Edit> Sorry about the poll bit, I was just having a look lol >

[Agent]

From somone who works in a computer game shop : EA are scum.
Much like Atari / Infogrames.

And just about every other publisher.

[Korky]

EA must be up there with the big guns, unfortunely they are to games wat AOL were/are to the internet :-(

[Agent]

Ive got to try and keep my cool in this thread. You have no idea how deep my hate for EA runs.....

[Knoxville]

Ive got to try and keep my cool in this thread. You have no idea how deep my hate for EA runs.....

Nearly as deep as mine?

[Ben_UK]

I wish EA would just finish the Vietnam patch

[Stoo]

EA are Evil.

[Bunjiweb]

You know EA are scum when they pay for a WHOLE bay in your store to display EA titles. Unfortunatly we decided our shop "wasn't big enough" to accomodate an EA display.... Having said that the EA rep came in today and she was HOT, so maybe I will advertise them more if she gives me any special treatment....

Ben

[directhex]

the real ones who've impressed me lately are Ubi Soft - POP:SOT, XIII, FC, etc etc etc

[MD]

you know something I beta test for EA and other publishers, and to be honest, EA are actually the most understandaing, the privacy paperwork is a pain in the ass tho.

m@

[Aaron]

FIFA. Now on it's 15th version or so (if you include all those rubbish "Road to World Cup", etc editions) and it's still rubbish! If it didn't exist then maybe Pro Evolution would be able to buy the licenses, thus making it the perfect football game.

Despite the fact it's rubbish, people still buy it too.

[Clingy]

As a simple gamer who looks after a few dedicated servers, its funny how my perception of 2 mentioned here is totally different. I was impressed with EA releasing the Dedicated Server version of BF:V before the client to allow admins to get their servers running ready for the general release. Ubi of the other hand are "public enemy No. 1" for their stance on IL2FBAEP DS. Still not released some 2 months(?) after the game release! To me, that shows how these organisations view customers. Perhaps thats why EA aredoing so well?

[Devilbod]

Ah well it appears the top story is bs, EA and the NFL have poped up today and said so. Which is a good thing because it wouldn't have been pritty.

I have a love/hate thing for them as well, I've been playing Madden since 93, and in all honesty last years version 04 was poo in terms of game play, the ai, the animation all need sorting and it no where near the 'real game' - but it still has the best presentation of all the NFL games. I do however resent this endless yearly realese of a game that has no real updates, just a few tweaks and then still charging full price, it's like paying £30 for a patch.

[directhex]

Perhaps thats why EA aredoing so well?

that or every bugger buys the big EA franchises (i.e. FIFA) rather than good games

[blockers]

I think EA are becoming very much like MS, but there are still other game developers that have very good games going round. ID, UBI, Valve (well see what hl2 is like ), rockstar to name but a few. Unlike OS's where MS has the mass market.

However EA do make some cracking games, such as NFS:U, NFS:hot pursuit 2, BF1942, MOHAA, C+C (later than RA/95.)

I dont hate EA that much, been annoyed with the Bond games, but i find their sports game to be fairly good, havent played one for a while.

[Aaron]

Let's not forget that EA have a policy of not showing in-game footage in their TV ads. I wonder if they've got something to hide?