By Tyler Menssen
The Titanic has sunk! No the news isn't that big, but it has turned the collective heads of the entire gaming world. Earlier today the announcement came that
EA Sports now has an exclusive contract with the NFL and the NFL Players Association to produce NFL football video games. This means that only
EA will be able to use NFL player names, stadium names, and team names in its games. Whether or not this means the end of the ESPN football franchise no one can yet be sure, but ESPN's ship is sinking. With this victory the
EA Sports brass is probably opening up the champagne at this very moment. Early reaction from the public, however, shows a different tune.
EA Sports has unprecedented exclusive access to the NFL and its players. They have a chance to take that access and this opportunity to make one of the greatest games ever seen. They also have a chance to fail miserably. To the fans they are already becoming the Standard Oil of the corporate gaming world. One wrong step and
EA could be facing a fan backlash of epic proportions.
ESPN's NFL football franchise has for the past few years been gaining in popularity and notoriety. Sales have been up and competition has been increasing. Fans of Madden have become also fans of ESPN. The ESPN brand name has undoubtedly brought in new gamers with its well-known and respected name. Reviewers had ESPN rated as on par or better than Madden this year. The in-game presentation for ESPN rivaled any sports game ever created. ESPN's game had been on the rise, but now all is likely lost. Without the ability to use player names, team names, logos, or uniforms the football franchise they had is now destroyed. In giving
EA Sports the exclusive rights to their game the NFL has effectively destroyed the football game market. Gamers next year will walk in the store and instead of seeing up to three different NFL football games on the shelves they will see one. That one will be the one with the big white-headed man on the cover who had he ever grown a beard may have reminded some of Santa Clause.
The members of Internet gaming forums have all seemed to cast a wary eye on this transaction. Many fans and experts believe that by buying the NFL exclusive contract that
EA has effectively crushed the competition in other areas as well. ESPN markets and sells a basketball and hockey game as well as a baseball game; however, much of its revenue comes from the football game it publishes every year. With that revenue now to be completely erased it is quite possible that they will no longer be able to effectively make the other games the company offers. If this is the case,
EA Sports has will not only control the NFL arena but the entire world of sports. No competition means that there is only once choice for consumers who want the games. No matter how good or bad, if players want to play NFL football on their PCs or consoles they will need to buy Madden. No matter how high the price is set fans of football will be stuck with all or nothing. There is a chance that the game could be good, and there is a chance that the game could be priced reasonably well, but in a world where the free market reigns, so also does want for competition.
Many old time fans have reminisced in the past few hours that during the days of the 90's when Madden had no competition, they also suffered a severe drawback in the quality of the game. One of the main fears at this very instant for many gamers is that with the exclusive rights to the NFL tag, that
EA will again try to cut costs, try to make the biggest profit, and thus perhaps create a game that is not up to the standards of today.
EA producers and developers now have no one behind their back with their arms up pushing them towards the finish line.
EA is now the lone person on the island. They set the rules and they set the standards. For at least the next five years Madden will be going up against itself in the ratings game. Most fans would love to have seen them go up against ESPN for the next five years. The clash of the titans will now never happen.
EA Sports has become Zeus.
Different games give off different vibes. Their play, presentation, and vibe are unique. Each game has its own special features and aura. Even different menus give games a much-needed separation from each other. Playing the same game day after day, week after week, and year after year can be boring. Every now and then it is nice to put a different game into the drive and just get a different feeling inside. The players on the field move differently, the controller is different, and the graphics are different. No longer will fans have the opportunity for diversity. Madden does not come in two different flavors or in two different boxes. The game will not come with two different unique playing styles or two different graphics engines. The game won't come with two different announce teams or in-game presentation settings. Madden is Madden and only Madden. It cannot be more or less, and that alone makes gamers cringe.
The NFL belongs to Madden and
EA Sports. For the next five years the only NFL football game we are likely to see on the shelves is a Madden football game.
EA has a splendid opportunity to profit and grow.
EA has a splendid opportunity to create five of the greatest football games ever created.
EA also has the opportunity to get lazy, the opportunity to raise prices, and they run the chance of alienating consumers. No consumer has ever stood up and cheered when hearing that one of their favorite games in now out of business. Many Madden lovers were also ESPN lovers. Consumers now only have two choices. They can either buy Madden or boycott Madden. Many will choose the former, but don't be surprised that if
EA comes out with anything but the best game next year that fans start to grumble. Unlike with oil, games are not a necessity. People naturally have built in them a strong will to boycott.
EA is walking a thin line between beloved and hated. If they ever once fall into the hated, their monumental deal will end up costing them monumental amounts of dollars.
