Could EA change their mind about selling NFL Head Coach 09 separately?
by 
Soon after the news was clearly relayed that NFL Head Coach 09 would be exclusive to the 20th Anniversary Edition of Madden 09 I wrote about why the decision didn’t make much sense. The value of the Anniversary Edition would not be harmed by selling the game separately for the standard price and being able to save money through purchasing the special edition set. However it would keep people from purchasing Head Coach who had no interest in or already owned Madden.
I still feel that this is a decision EA may reverse. Curiously Gamestop/EB still lists Head Coach as releasing individually on September 4th. Generally when an announcement is made they would make corrections to their database, so to see it still there makes you wonder if things are up in the air or if a contrary decision has been made behind the scenes. I also like the potential symmetry of the game releasing on the opening day of the season. A day in which Tony Dungy and his Indianapolis Colts are featured in their brand new Lucas Oil Stadium against the Chicago Bears. Could selling the game separately but only after the Anniversary Edition of Madden has been out for a few weeks be a good compromise?
As mentioned previously even if Head Coach does not end up being sold separately then you’ll be able to find copies of it on Ebay or possibly even in gaming stores (depending on how they decide to value it). It will have its own case. Otherwise I think Tony Dungy would be disappointed with being designated as the cover coach for a game that has no actual cover.
April 8, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Gladly I have already pre-ordered Madden anniversary Edition. I have high hopes for this version of Head Coach and am as excited about madden more than I have been since 06′ on Xbox.
April 8, 2008 at 1:10 pm
If your going to pay Tony Dungy to be on your cover then you might as well sell the game separate and put him on the cover.
April 8, 2008 at 1:10 pm
But at the same time I plan on buying the anniversery edition regardless.
April 8, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Do you honestly think that Dungy cares if he is on his own cover? It is all about the money and as long as he gets paid, he could care less.
April 8, 2008 at 1:30 pm
BTW Pasta, when are you putting your MLB 2K8 Patch write-up?
April 8, 2008 at 2:23 pm
[quote comment="17175"]Do you honestly think that Dungy cares if he is on his own cover? It is all about the money and as long as he gets paid, he could care less.[/quote]
I would imagine that the contract he signed has certain stipulations that have to be met. Although since they already said they were going to pack it within the set maybe not. I just think that wouldn’t be a respectful move at the very least.
[quote comment="17178"]BTW Pasta, when are you putting your MLB 2K8 Patch write-up?[/quote]
After playing that more I wasn’t sure if there was much more I could add. Framerate is somewhat better but not great and online is still troublesome.
April 8, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Yeah I did not really see a huge difference with the patch. I just wish Ben Brinkman would stop hiding out and come out with something on this.
April 8, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I hope that they do sell it separately,Head Coach looks like it could be good and I think EA will lose some potential buyers by throwing it on as an add-on to the CE, which I do not plan on buying myself.
April 8, 2008 at 3:22 pm
It’s obvious to me that this year’s edition of Head Coach will be dumbed down and possibly not very good. EA realized this and is putting it in with Madden so when the complaints come rolling in, they can just say, “Well it was extra gift we gave you in the collector’s edition.”
It’s a revolving cycle people… start catching on…
April 8, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I could care less about the patch. I did not mind the frame rate. I just want the roster update to start my chise with.
April 8, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Knowing EA football they’ll both probably suck anyway, so why not sell them together but drop the price to 75 bucks instead of 90.
April 8, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Dungy doesn’t care about the money. I can guarantee that, as I read his book. But I’m sure he’d love to be on the cover of a game, because that’s an honor, and EA Sports is disrespecting him by not putting out a game with him on the cover.
April 8, 2008 at 7:06 pm
lol does anyone actualy like head coach?
April 8, 2008 at 9:28 pm
[quote comment="17193"]lol does anyone actualy like head coach?[/quote]
I bet some of us might like it.
April 9, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Of course, they’ll sell it stand-alone. And they know it right now, too. This is all just goofy marketing posturing. I’m pretty sure they have distribution lined up for one month after the CE hits.
April 13, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Says on psu.com the release for Head Coach is now Apr 22 in time for the draft!