Should Head Coach remain exclusive to Madden CE?

by pastapadre
Posted March 29th, 2008 at 4:11 am

Tucked away near the end of the press release announcing the 20th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of Madden 09 was a statement proclaiming that NFL Head Coach 09 would be exclusive to the CE. The news was followed by confirmation from Madden marketing director Chris Erb in an interview with 1UP.

For the most part the reaction to the Collectors Edition has been very positive. The main detraction seems to be regarding the Head Coach decision. Packing it in with Madden for what amounts to $30 was a pleasant surprise however forcing consumers potentially interested in just Head Coach to buy it along with Madden is a questionable decision.

The thinking is likely that the CE presents a special value and that they’ll be able to introduce a lot of gamers to Head Coach that maybe wouldn’t have tried it otherwise. However there are those consumers who want to only purchase Head Coach. While the outrage can be partially be attributed to forum exaggeration as a way of hating on Madden there certainly would be some of those people out there.

To me though the bigger issue comes from people who already have Madden but later would like to pick up Head Coach. Think of how many copies of Madden will be given away as gifts for example. Then if they are interested in Head Coach they aren’t going out and buy the Madden CE when they already have Madden.

I just don’t understand why EA would leave money on the table like that. Sell the game separately for $40, $50, or even the standard $60. I don’t believe that sales of the Madden CE would take much of a hit because of that. It would still sell to people who want both games as the value would still be the same. Unless they expect those people who would’ve only purchased Head Coach to now buy the Madden CE (not likely) it isn’t going to hurt them. There should just be the option out there. Consumers don’t like feeling that they are being forced into something.

Of course Ebay will probably see a bunch of Head Coach copies so it would still be possible to get it on its own. Again though why EA would want to have their consumers going a more frustrating and time consuming route to play their game I don’t know.

I am still of the belief that there is a good chance EA changes their thinking on this and releases Head Coach separately. Hopefully the pressure and interest from consumers will lead them to doing so.

Tags:

Fort

And also, I’d like to know how you already know HC is going to be worthless crap. Please tell me. Because the reality is that you don’t and you are talking completely out of your EA-hating ass. I find it funny that people are criticizing the type of consumers who will “fall for the CE,” yet we aren’t criticizing these mindless immature fools for whom EA can do no right. It’s time to grow up, son.
Fort

And also, I’d like to know how you already know HC is going to be worthless crap. Please tell me. Because the reality is that you don’t and you are talking completely out of your EA-hating ass. I find it funny that people are criticizing the type of consumers who will “fall for the CE,” yet we aren’t criticizing these mindless immature fools for whom EA can do no right. It’s time to grow up, son.
Mighty Boom

@ Fort

I have been a loyal EA fan for a long—- long time. In fact I have NEVER bought a 2K football game. When Madden made the jump to the 360 I expected all the bells and whistles from the previous gen. I.e., total control of the D, d-line, and O-line. The ability to assign D-players to a specific receiver. Analog stick audibles (aka Ghost audibles), ect…

Instead, we were given one of the worst football games to date. Once the novelty of the visuals wore off you really realized the crap you were playing. I dont want to hear, “the developers needed time to adjust to the new hardware.” Thats BS. If we can put a man on the moon, we can program a football game properly. I dont need to rehash every problem up to 08. We all know about them.

Since the jump to the next gen, the aforementioned bells and whistles have been repackaged in 07 and 08 as if they were brand new. Total control of the D is not new! It was included in the previous gen. Im willing to bet that in 09 slide protection will be marketed as a “brand new” feature.

The list can go on and on. We dont even have classic teams, uniforms or any of the other “little things” EA conveniently ignores. It ridiculous. The culture at EA has slipped in to mediocrity because of the money its guaranteed to bring in. Largely impart due to the exclusivity deal with the NFL. There is no incentive for them to deliver a cutting edge, innovative football game. EA will use as little resources as they can to produce and deliver this game. The least resources EA uses the more money they make and Peter More and the share holders end up getting a huge check. But hey, thats business. It just sucks for the vast majority of the Madden fans.

With that said, I am part of the problem. I will be at GS at 12:01 am, just like I am every year, to fork over my $60 bucks in the hopes that the game will deliver this year. I love the game of football and I want to play with NFL teams. So until EA regains my trust or they lose their exclusivity license I will continue to expect a rehashed game and deliver negative word of mouth. And make no mistake about, I would jump ship right now if 2K had a NFL licensed game out. EA has failed me one to many times.
Mighty Boom

@ Fort

I have been a loyal EA fan for a long—- long time. In fact I have NEVER bought a 2K football game. When Madden made the jump to the 360 I expected all the bells and whistles from the previous gen. I.e., total control of the D, d-line, and O-line. The ability to assign D-players to a specific receiver. Analog stick audibles (aka Ghost audibles), ect…

Instead, we were given one of the worst football games to date. Once the novelty of the visuals wore off you really realized the crap you were playing. I dont want to hear, “the developers needed time to adjust to the new hardware.” Thats BS. If we can put a man on the moon, we can program a football game properly. I dont need to rehash every problem up to 08. We all know about them.

Since the jump to the next gen, the aforementioned bells and whistles have been repackaged in 07 and 08 as if they were brand new. Total control of the D is not new! It was included in the previous gen. Im willing to bet that in 09 slide protection will be marketed as a “brand new” feature.

The list can go on and on. We dont even have classic teams, uniforms or any of the other “little things” EA conveniently ignores. It ridiculous. The culture at EA has slipped in to mediocrity because of the money its guaranteed to bring in. Largely impart due to the exclusivity deal with the NFL. There is no incentive for them to deliver a cutting edge, innovative football game. EA will use as little resources as they can to produce and deliver this game. The least resources EA uses the more money they make and Peter More and the share holders end up getting a huge check. But hey, thats business. It just sucks for the vast majority of the Madden fans.

With that said, I am part of the problem. I will be at GS at 12:01 am, just like I am every year, to fork over my $60 bucks in the hopes that the game will deliver this year. I love the game of football and I want to play with NFL teams. So until EA regains my trust or they lose their exclusivity license I will continue to expect a rehashed game and deliver negative word of mouth. And make no mistake about, I would jump ship right now if 2K had a NFL licensed game out. EA has failed me one to many times.
hubcapp

just one question, if head coach is as good as ea says it is then why not sell it separately and make more money .i dunno but something just aint right, and since when has EA or any business for that matter not care about money ,sure its not madden but it is football , football game + football fans = money nuff said
hubcapp

just one question, if head coach is as good as ea says it is then why not sell it separately and make more money .i dunno but something just aint right, and since when has EA or any business for that matter not care about money ,sure its not madden but it is football , football game + football fans = money nuff said
The Smart Consumer

because hubcapp. they know like I know that a consumer who complained about 08 will run right back and fork over $100 on the same game with just a roster update and no change whatsoever. little do people who bomb apf 2k8 is the fact that 2k did what they could do with…loyal crumb suckers of EA cant understand that wake up and realize the market and realize what was done then you realize why 2k had very little to work with.. oh and guess what? remember when Some dude from EA said he will make sure that competition will be stopped? guess who that was towards? hey big hint EA is trying to buy them out right now…
The Smart Consumer

because hubcapp. they know like I know that a consumer who complained about 08 will run right back and fork over $100 on the same game with just a roster update and no change whatsoever. little do people who bomb apf 2k8 is the fact that 2k did what they could do with…loyal crumb suckers of EA cant understand that wake up and realize the market and realize what was done then you realize why 2k had very little to work with.. oh and guess what? remember when Some dude from EA said he will make sure that competition will be stopped? guess who that was towards? hey big hint EA is trying to buy them out right now…
http://pastapadre.com/ J.R.

Advantage SMART CONSUMER hands down like 6:30
http://pastapadre.com J.R.

Advantage SMART CONSUMER hands down like 6:30
MattMVPStroehms

I like the idea, idk about you guys but as soon as I heard that I can create my own plays/playbooks in HC and then transfer them to Madden, I was sold. I love the idea and yeah bash me for it but I’m glad they’re packaging it. just wondering but uh….Who’s gonna buy just Head Coach anyways?
Might as well package it with madden for people who want both. and whoever just wants Madden by itself can go buy the regular edition.
MattMVPStroehms

I like the idea, idk about you guys but as soon as I heard that I can create my own plays/playbooks in HC and then transfer them to Madden, I was sold. I love the idea and yeah bash me for it but I’m glad they’re packaging it. just wondering but uh….Who’s gonna buy just Head Coach anyways?
Might as well package it with madden for people who want both. and whoever just wants Madden by itself can go buy the regular edition.
Eski

If the only way to get Head Coach is to buy Madden CE, so be it.

It is simple. You either want HC or you don’t. If you do, you will need to spend $90.

Worse comes to worse, for those that want HC and not Madden, go in with a partner and split the cost. You will each get your choice of game for $45 (or $48 with tax)…

Whether EA sells them separately or not, it is the consumer who will dictate what EA does in the future….
Eski

If the only way to get Head Coach is to buy Madden CE, so be it.

It is simple. You either want HC or you don’t. If you do, you will need to spend $90.

Worse comes to worse, for those that want HC and not Madden, go in with a partner and split the cost. You will each get your choice of game for $45 (or $48 with tax)…

Whether EA sells them separately or not, it is the consumer who will dictate what EA does in the future….