"In truth, this most recent turn is just one in a long history of competitive jockeying for market share between EA and Sega. While 2004 may have been the year in which the fight really heated up over perhaps the most valuable license in American sports video games, the actual conflict has its roots in the final days of Sega's Dreamcast console. Here, we take a look at the early days of the Sega-EA dispute over the NFL video game market, beginning with the emergence of the current generation of consoles." Gamespot take a look at the long standing fight between EA and Sega for the hearts and minds of football gamers.

IGN have posted a selection of the thousands of letters they say they have received since the announcement of the EA-NFL pact on Monday. Amongst the selection is the following comment : "Having multiple developers for a genre of games boosts innovation across the entire genre. One developer's creative spark forces other developers to come up with their own innovations, and the cycle continues. Whether or not you like the feature or its implementation, it is difficult to argue that ESPN's VIP profile system is not a great and novel innovation to the football genre of games. I was looking forward to seeing what additional refinements to the existing system and new innovations the team at SEGA had in store for us in the coming year. Likewise, I was curious to see how EA responded to the innovation that the VIP system introduced." Thought provoking... read more at IGN.

IGN have posted their roundtable discussion on the merits of the EA-NFL marriage. Respected IGN Sports editor Jon Robinson is quoted as saying "whether you are a fan of ESPN or Madden, this is a dark day in the world of sports games". Meanwhile another respected editor Hilary Goldstein remarks that "I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. Whether you are a fan of the 2K series or Madden, this sucks for you." They are pretty overwhelming in their opposition to this decision, You can read the full article at IGN Insider.

" Why compete when you can simply keep your opponent off the field!" Report on the NFL deal from Next Level Gaming.

"The final loser may be the NFL. I think EA may have gotten the better of this deal as once this contract runs its’ course, the license will be worth nothing. There will be no other company left standing to challenge EA, and none that would be willing to start again only to have the contract go back to an exclusive status. The NFL will have to accept whatever EA offers, as no one else will be willing to get involved." Mark Fossen at OS discusses the merits of the EA-NFL marriage and concludes that he can't really criticise EA.

"Those of you who love the Sega ESPN Football line, say goodbye to it as Electronic Arts and the NFL hold hands into the next generation consoles." XBox Evolved with the news.

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.

"EA did not announce the terms of the deal, but sources told me the price tag was north of $300 million (though well below the $500 million figure some have suggested)." CNN Money discuss the financial terms of this deal.

A report back in May denying all speculation that a deal would be done between the NFL and EA.

"Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. on Monday said it had signed an exclusive agreement with the National Football League and the marketing arm of its players' union, giving EA the sole rights to put NFL players, stadiums and teams in its games." Full story at Yahoo.

"Read the link below but I am sure you have already heard the news. EA Sports today has shown its cards--and it's a Straight to the King.For the next five years the only game that will have real players and real teams is Madden. Yep. That's not a typo. EA Sports bought the rights to the NFL and the NFLPA." Read more at The Blog for the Sports Gamer.

"Shares in top video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) soared on Tuesday, and shares in competitor Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (TTWO.O: Quote, Profile, Research) sank, after EA signed an exclusive licensing deal with the National Football League." More on this story at Reuters.

"Electronic Arts has signed the biggest sports free agent on the market. In a devastating blow to competitors--and in a deal sure to reshape sports gaming--the software giant signed an exclusive agreement with the National Football League and the NFL Players Inc., a subsidiary of the NFL Players Association." Read more at Gamespot.

IGN have posted a report on the exclusive deal that the NFL struck with EA Sports. "Just when you thought ESPN Videogames was catching up, in one move, they've never been farther behind. Electronic Arts announced today an exclusive licensing agreement with the National Football League and Players Inc. to develop, publish, and distribute interactive football games. These agreements give EA the exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums, and players for use in its football video games for the next five years. You read that right…exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums, and players." Read the full story here.

Remember that rumor everyone denied months back ? The one that said EA were planning to lock up exclusive NFL rights and NFL Players rights ? Electronic Arts today announced exclusive licensing relationships with the National Football League and PLAYERS INC to develop, publish and distribute interactive football games. These five-year agreements -- which EA negotiated separately -- give EA the exclusive rights to the NFL teams, stadiums and players for use in its football videogames. Both agreements also include exclusive rights for console online features.