Gamers and Econ Professor Sue EA Sports

by Fred
Posted July 16th, 2009 at 5:17 pm

drevil

How many times have we seen this one? A couple of gamers get together and try to sue one of the largest video game makers in the world over a sports game? Usually it’s some die hard NFL 2K fan coming up with some whacky scheme to sue EA Sports in hopes of them losing their exclusive license with the NFL. This time around, we aren’t just talking about gamers. We are also throwing in an Economics professor the University of Michigan. Gamepolitics.com has the story:

A University of Michigan economics professor estimates that Electronic Arts collectively overcharged Madden buyers between $701 million and $926 million during the years 2006 through 2009.

Dr. Jeffrey MacKie-Mason made his claim in a document filed last week with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Mackie-Mason was brought into the case as an expert witness by attorneys representing Geoffrey Pecover and Jeffrey Lawrence. The pair of gamers are named plaintiffs in a class-action suit alleging that EA used its exclusive licensing deal with the NFL to eliminate Take Two Interactive’s competing NFL 2K series. The suit charges that EA then exploited the resulting competitive vacuum to dramatically raise the retail price of Madden.

I guess my question is how did EA overcharge for Madden? Was it the fact that games now cost $60 instead of $50? Did the professor not see that most new games coming out on PS3 and XBOX 360 cost $60? Madden is on par with most new titles coming out, whether they have exclusive licenses or not.

If he believes $60 is overcharging, then aren’t all game companies overcharging? Will THQ now be sued over an exclusive license with the UFC and charging $60 for UFC Undisputed? The only way I can see this case holds water, well I really can’t see it, is if the professor and gamers think Madden is trash and shouldn’t cost $60. In that case, well then yes EA is probably overcharging. And in the end that is opinion. I’m not sure how you can really prove this in court, but then again I didn’t go to law school. Analyst Michael Pachter seems to agree. In an email sent to Gamepolitics from Pachter himself, he calls the professor “a fool”.

What kind of fool is this U of Michigan economics professor? …Madden (according to NPD) sold 23 million units in 2006 – 2009, not the 30 million that Dr. MacKie-Mason claims… The total retail sales were $1.034 billion, meaning that EA’s cut was around $800 million (retail margin is 20%). How in the world does [MacKie-Mason] conclude that EA overcharged by more than they generated?

Obviously the plaintiffs haven’t played NBA 09: The Life. If they did, they would have sued Sony for even making that game let alone charging for it.

Tags:

BrownsBoy315

The first thing they told me at Penn State orientation was that University of Michigan is fool of dips**ts. Something I already knew growing up with a Ohio State father haha.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Halosniper52 Halosniper52

GO PENN STATE!!!!!!!!!
http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

Did Penn State… by any chance … teach you that what you REALLY mean to say is that they are "FULL" of dipshits? I mean really.. hopefully the state of Pennsylvania taught you that in the 2nd grade.

BrownsBoy315

The first thing they told me at Penn State orientation was that University of Michigan is fool of dips**ts. Something I already knew growing up with a Ohio State father haha.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Halosniper52 Halosniper52

GO PENN STATE!!!!!!!!!
http://intensedebate.com/people/darkheath darkheath

Did Penn State… by any chance … teach you that what you REALLY mean to say is that they are "FULL" of dipshits? I mean really.. hopefully the state of Pennsylvania taught you that in the 2nd grade.

GGGGbrown

Don't Know whos right or wrong , but any time the heat is put on EA to be accountable ILOVE IT !!!DOUBT if this will work though
GGGGbrown

Don't Know whos right or wrong , but any time the heat is put on EA to be accountable ILOVE IT !!!DOUBT if this will work though
dabearsdabears54

I believe the aspect of this debate that goes unmentioned far too often is the fact that the NFL strictly monitors the products it gives it name and/or license to and tests all of these with their own people. That being said, I feel this is the reason why EA has felt the pressure to put forth a good effort most recently. EA would not want to lose the most lucrative of all the exclusive licenses as the NFL is America's most popular league. With the premium the NFL puts on excellence, I am of the opinion that the NFL has put pressure on EA to produce a game worthy of the nation's most popular sport; hence the recent phenomenon of actively engaging the community and even listening to consumer feedback (what a novel idea). Now, I do not think that EA has done enough to produce a game worthy of the NFL, the most recent changes are an attempt to step the bar up. It will be interesting to see how EA moves forward with Madden the year after this one; if it will continue to be an attempt to continue on the path toward making the highest quality product or if EA will slip back into the who cares we will sell games anyway mode…
dabearsdabears54

I believe the aspect of this debate that goes unmentioned far too often is the fact that the NFL strictly monitors the products it gives it name and/or license to and tests all of these with their own people. That being said, I feel this is the reason why EA has felt the pressure to put forth a good effort most recently. EA would not want to lose the most lucrative of all the exclusive licenses as the NFL is America's most popular league. With the premium the NFL puts on excellence, I am of the opinion that the NFL has put pressure on EA to produce a game worthy of the nation's most popular sport; hence the recent phenomenon of actively engaging the community and even listening to consumer feedback (what a novel idea). Now, I do not think that EA has done enough to produce a game worthy of the NFL, the most recent changes are an attempt to step the bar up. It will be interesting to see how EA moves forward with Madden the year after this one; if it will continue to be an attempt to continue on the path toward making the highest quality product or if EA will slip back into the who cares we will sell games anyway mode…
MadFan

The bottom line is we all as gamers need to get on board and support this lawsuit as a consumer. There is no competition to force EA to advance the game, as it should. I will always buy it because I am a gamer and that is all that is out there football wise (hence the reason why EA exploits us the way they do), but by no means am I happy with how the progression of the development of these games. When EA has competition as they do in basketball your really see how inferior their gaming development really is.

EA will always cover up their Develop flaws with added features, which do not enhance the game play but just spark the interest of you and me as gamers. We all see what happen to the College basketball when 2k pulled out because they did not want to get in a bidding war with EA. EA needs competition for there to be advancements in the sports gaming market. How would you enjoy your favorite shooter if all they did was change the story line, left everything else alone, and gave you a few new guns to use? You would not.

While I think this lawsuit, won’t fly in court because the wording in the suit is wrong not the basis of the Idea. It will not fly in court only because video games (sports, shooter, RPG’s, etc.) lumped in together with in the videogame industry and EA is one player in it. Major loophole but it is what it is. Until they classify each type of game as its own industry will EA be touched on this issue (Not going to happen).

No one really knows how we as gamers are affected by what EA is doing because to sports games because the people in the power to change do not play them. The Professor from Michigan is clueless on what the suit should be about and who should all be involved like a poster above stated the NFL need to be in the discussion as well.

Bottom line for me if I am going to give a price increase for my next gen system at least let me get my monies worth. Remember guys and gals the next, next gen will be out soon with the advancement we have seen from PS2 to PS3 or XBOX to 360 are you really getting your monies worth from the EA sports games you are buying. TH question is are you going to stand for paying $80 dollars for a game because it’s coming.

This is just my opinion I can rant on but I will stop here.
MadFan

The bottom line is we all as gamers need to get on board and support this lawsuit as a consumer. There is no competition to force EA to advance the game, as it should. I will always buy it because I am a gamer and that is all that is out there football wise (hence the reason why EA exploits us the way they do), but by no means am I happy with how the progression of the development of these games. When EA has competition as they do in basketball your really see how inferior their gaming development really is.

EA will always cover up their Develop flaws with added features, which do not enhance the game play but just spark the interest of you and me as gamers. We all see what happen to the College basketball when 2k pulled out because they did not want to get in a bidding war with EA. EA needs competition for there to be advancements in the sports gaming market. How would you enjoy your favorite shooter if all they did was change the story line, left everything else alone, and gave you a few new guns to use? You would not.

While I think this lawsuit, won’t fly in court because the wording in the suit is wrong not the basis of the Idea. It will not fly in court only because video games (sports, shooter, RPG’s, etc.) lumped in together with in the videogame industry and EA is one player in it. Major loophole but it is what it is. Until they classify each type of game as its own industry will EA be touched on this issue (Not going to happen).

No one really knows how we as gamers are affected by what EA is doing because to sports games because the people in the power to change do not play them. The Professor from Michigan is clueless on what the suit should be about and who should all be involved like a poster above stated the NFL need to be in the discussion as well.

Bottom line for me if I am going to give a price increase for my next gen system at least let me get my monies worth. Remember guys and gals the next, next gen will be out soon with the advancement we have seen from PS2 to PS3 or XBOX to 360 are you really getting your monies worth from the EA sports games you are buying. TH question is are you going to stand for paying $80 dollars for a game because it’s coming.

This is just my opinion I can rant on but I will stop here.
http://intensedebate.com/people/rezluk Rezluk

hahahahah last sentence mad funny
http://intensedebate.com/people/rezluk Rezluk

hahahahah last sentence mad funny
SwiFt4

EA came into my house. Raped my children. And stole my $60.

Yeah right. Let's sue apple for charging an extra 50% for their overpriced products.

http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

then you can sue dell, hewlett, sony and every other computers out there

SwiFt4

EA came into my house. Raped my children. And stole my $60.

Yeah right. Let's sue apple for charging an extra 50% for their overpriced products.

http://intensedebate.com/people/okafor43 okafor43

then you can sue dell, hewlett, sony and every other computers out there

TZS

Hope they take EA for all they are worth
TZS

Hope they take EA for all they are worth
Headstomper

Must suck being retarded and still live in Mommy's basement fellas. This is the stupidest lawsuit, dumbest argument and waste of time discussion. I thank fred for the news but really a lawsuit? If you guys hate Madden so much go play American Pro Football or whatever the fuck it was called or juice up on the Blitz the game…fuck those were fun huh? If someone wanted to make a football game and leave the names asnumbers..like NCAA Im sure they could..there's an audience out there to rename rosters…but guess what…we like name brand shit. So if NFL wants to make money by giving their franchise to EA…let them…we can wait for a CFL game to come out…lol (BTW that stands for Canadian football Leaugue not College Football for you retards)
Headstomper

Must suck being retarded and still live in Mommy's basement fellas. This is the stupidest lawsuit, dumbest argument and waste of time discussion. I thank fred for the news but really a lawsuit? If you guys hate Madden so much go play American Pro Football or whatever the fuck it was called or juice up on the Blitz the game…fuck those were fun huh? If someone wanted to make a football game and leave the names asnumbers..like NCAA Im sure they could..there's an audience out there to rename rosters…but guess what…we like name brand shit. So if NFL wants to make money by giving their franchise to EA…let them…we can wait for a CFL game to come out…lol (BTW that stands for Canadian football Leaugue not College Football for you retards)
patch

Hey, what about Backyard Football? That game also has the NFL license. I wonder if they'll be sued next.
patch

Hey, what about Backyard Football? That game also has the NFL license. I wonder if they'll be sued next.
MATT

DA BEARSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MATT

DA BEARSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

This is more stupidity. Madden doesn't cost more than any other game on the market. Figures it would be a jerkhole from the University of Michigan who would file some garbage like this….
http://intensedebate.com/people/Skihawks Skihawks

This is more stupidity. Madden doesn't cost more than any other game on the market. Figures it would be a jerkhole from the University of Michigan who would file some garbage like this….
X2KSportsGodX

You Morons, This lawsuit is legit. and all you blind sheep who continue to believe it was the NFL who decided to pawn off license think again.

EA lobbied for the NFL exclusive starting in 2002 and common sense will tell you that why all of sudden EA had all the exclusives under their belt IN THE SAME YEAR?????????
PGA
NFL
NCAA
Arena
FIFA
Nascar
They also approached the NBA several times!!
When will you people realize EA is the villain here? They wanted a full monopoly in sports gaming and because of unethical gamers of this new generation of sports gamers they might succeed soon enough.
EA knows Madden would be the NBA Live of today without the exclusive…2K/VC makes superior sports games period!!

Good day kiddos..
X2KSportsGodX

You Morons, This lawsuit is legit. and all you blind sheep who continue to believe it was the NFL who decided to pawn off license think again.

EA lobbied for the NFL exclusive starting in 2002 and common sense will tell you that why all of sudden EA had all the exclusives under their belt IN THE SAME YEAR?????????
PGA
NFL
NCAA
Arena
FIFA
Nascar
They also approached the NBA several times!!
When will you people realize EA is the villain here? They wanted a full monopoly in sports gaming and because of unethical gamers of this new generation of sports gamers they might succeed soon enough.
EA knows Madden would be the NBA Live of today without the exclusive…2K/VC makes superior sports games period!!

Good day kiddos..
KRIS

screw the case and all that. i just wanna say madden has sucked ass for about 4 years. i went out and got 2k5(75 cents) and it is like at least three times better than madden 06(next gen)-09. its really kinda wierd. im not a ea basher by any means but i just wanted to see what all the hype was about and all those ppl are right. ea has screwed us royaly for the past 4-5 years(since ive been playin madden). madden is just getting features that 2k5 already had 5 YEARS AGO!
KRIS

1/2 sacks, assist tackle stats, online leagues,deep player progression, they even got a stat for qb hurries, and next gen madden just recently got double tackles, the o-line and d-line interactions are amazing and run blocking is perfect, i could go on and on. im not sayin that madden 10 isnt gonna blow away 2k5 but i think its too late to just now be getting these things and a game 5 years old already had it. and maddens halftime and post game show looks like ass!!! and 2k5's is way better. all the new presentation work is stripped right from 2k5, from camara angles to sideline shots all copied. EA should just let the liscence thing go so we can have a choice and not just be forced to buy their shitty overrated game. o yea and they completely ripped the new ratings system from 2k5. u should do a real comparison of these two games and right up on it please i would love tp kno ur opinion.
KRIS

screw the case and all that. i just wanna say madden has sucked ass for about 4 years. i went out and got 2k5(75 cents) and it is like at least three times better than madden 06(next gen)-09. its really kinda wierd. im not a ea basher by any means but i just wanted to see what all the hype was about and all those ppl are right. ea has screwed us royaly for the past 4-5 years(since ive been playin madden). madden is just getting features that 2k5 already had 5 YEARS AGO!
KRIS

1/2 sacks, assist tackle stats, online leagues,deep player progression, they even got a stat for qb hurries, and next gen madden just recently got double tackles, the o-line and d-line interactions are amazing and run blocking is perfect, i could go on and on. im not sayin that madden 10 isnt gonna blow away 2k5 but i think its too late to just now be getting these things and a game 5 years old already had it. and maddens halftime and post game show looks like ass!!! and 2k5's is way better. all the new presentation work is stripped right from 2k5, from camara angles to sideline shots all copied. EA should just let the liscence thing go so we can have a choice and not just be forced to buy their shitty overrated game. o yea and they completely ripped the new ratings system from 2k5. u should do a real comparison of these two games and right up on it please i would love tp kno ur opinion.
X2KSportsGodX

EA is trash, all their crappy games are just polished turds for sports gamers who care not for the sport itself but for the flash, logos and players. It really sickening how gamers could support a company who has released nothing but dumb down sports titles since its inception. Just look at the Madden 10 videos, its is the same game as Madden 99 with upgraded graphics..The ice skating, no pocket, the robotic running, the turn on a dime momentum…its pathetic. Sheep see only the logos and the flash of the No Fun League and are just zombified….The only way EA can be stopped if people stop buying the crap for just one year….Its up to gamers to take a stand against this unethical hype machine….will you join me? I haven't bought an EA produced game since 1999…and never will again.

APF2K8=The Greatest Football Sim to date…
NFL 2K5=The greatest NFL licensed game to date….

Stop the Maddeness!!!!
X2KSportsGodX

EA is trash, all their crappy games are just polished turds for sports gamers who care not for the sport itself but for the flash, logos and players. It really sickening how gamers could support a company who has released nothing but dumb down sports titles since its inception. Just look at the Madden 10 videos, its is the same game as Madden 99 with upgraded graphics..The ice skating, no pocket, the robotic running, the turn on a dime momentum…its pathetic. Sheep see only the logos and the flash of the No Fun League and are just zombified….The only way EA can be stopped if people stop buying the crap for just one year….Its up to gamers to take a stand against this unethical hype machine….will you join me? I haven't bought an EA produced game since 1999…and never will again.

APF2K8=The Greatest Football Sim to date…
NFL 2K5=The greatest NFL licensed game to date….

Stop the Maddeness!!!!
KRIS

well im with u but DAMN!!!! i need me a football game maybe i'll just stick with 2k5 but i cant keep playing on those old ass rosters. idk i'll probably break and end up buying the potential turd anyway. im sorry buts its all we got. its really sad tho. are mopopolies even legal? how can they do this shit??
KRIS

well im with u but DAMN!!!! i need me a football game maybe i'll just stick with 2k5 but i cant keep playing on those old ass rosters. idk i'll probably break and end up buying the potential turd anyway. im sorry buts its all we got. its really sad tho. are mopopolies even legal? how can they do this shit??