Latest Exclusive License Developments Indicate EA is the Less Satisfied Party

by pastapadre
Posted February 16th, 2011 at 10:00 am

No matter where the most blame is placed by gamers when it comes to the NFL exclusive license, whether that be the league or EA Sports or an equal share, the extension of a year to the current contract and the manner it was negotiated could be telling. Based on each side’s actions it appears that the NFL is much more in favor of the deal as it currently stands than EA Sports who took a reduction on this season’s payments while tacking on another year.

The following quote from Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, the chairman of the NFL’s business ventures committee, says it all.

“For one of our core partners in a difficult environment, we say let’s look at this, and maybe it makes some sense to extend something out longer and give our partner some relief in the short term but gain something on the back end.”

Essentially the NFL gave EA Sports the break for this year but wanted something in return. That something was the addition of a year to the contract that will take it through 2013 (Madden 14). As Weaver states the NFL is “gaining” on the back end. The way it is phrased makes it evident that EA agreed to the additional year primarily for the cost reductions being offered in the short-term rather than necessarily wanting to extend it in its current state. The nature of negotiations are in the give and take so obviously EA was not going to win out (and the NFL lose out) on both ends of the restructuring.

Sales of Madden 12 will surely take a big hit if the labor strife affects the upcoming season despite some who may suggest that the lack of a season would make Madden a fill-in for those that miss the sport. The excitement as the NFL season nears is what largely drives the excitement for the release of Madden. Roster updates also are critical in generating interest in sports games beyond release week and without those week-to-week developments it just wouldn’t be able to capture the same level of attention. There is also a question surrounding rookies and whether they would be able to be included in the game.

Over the years many have hoped for the NFL to cease their use of an exclusive video game license and open things up for multiple parties. The NFL’s actions however show they cherish these exclusive deals and that hasn’t changed as of late. Whether it be DirecTV with NFL Sunday Ticket, Nike taking over on-field apparel, Bud Light replacing Coors this year as the official beer, or a single video game representing the league…this is simply how they operate.

The exclusive license is far more lucrative than what would be had with multiple publishers paying a much smaller rate to secure the rights. It is estimated that EA Sports pays twice as much as the NFL used to get when there were four (or even more) companies making NFL branded games. Why would the NFL wan’t to turn away from that? They are guaranteed that large sum regardless of how many copies sell. Despite the unrest amongst the hardcore gamers the league still believes Madden represents them well and they retain a higher level of control over how their product is presented.

Madden isn’t the only NFL product that EA produces in hopes of capitalizing on the NFL license. The problem is the spin-offs have not been all that successful. Attempts such as NFL Head Coach, NFL Tour, and Madden Arcade have not delivered. There are rumors that the company will be resurrecting NFL Blitz but after the flat sales of NBA Jam bringing back a popular franchise from the past doesn’t seem to provide the potential they had at first anticipated. EA is also now utilizing the license for Facebook gaming with Madden NFL Superstars as well.

The longer the market goes with no competition the more difficult it is to imagine another company being able to jump in and take over the reigns. The initial investment would be much greater and it would take years to produce a high quality product. The NFL is surely well aware of this and would rather go with the devil they know (and have a close relationship with) rather than the one they don’t.

No one can know what the market will bear for an exclusive NFL license the next time it comes up for negotiation. As of now it appears that EA Sports will have some trouble justifying a deal that has similar terms to what they originally signed. Whether the NFL will accept lesser terms or flirt with a different party when the time comes will be determined by a number of factors. One thing seems certain however and that is the league, unless forced by an unlikely court decision, will continue their practice of selling the exclusive rather than opening it up for multiple parties.

Tags: latest news

Jain

Very interesting stuff Pasta. Always appreciate your insight on the business side of things.

Sdot

PASTA WHILE I APRRECI8 DA NFO U JUST BASICALLY CONFIRMED D@ I WILL PROLLY NEVA OWN ANUTHA

FOOTBALL GM (DAMN GUESS I’LL START PLAYN FPS IM GONNA NEED A NU GM 2 REPLACE NOT GETN FOOTBALL GMS)

Guest

learn how to type and spell..
shyvoodoo

My God I feel dumber just reading your post…

ben
voodoo

Sdot

LMAO @ BOTH OF U TRYNA SMD on A VG MSG BD WTF ILL SMH

BOTH OF YA’LL BITTIES CANT E.A.D JUS NOT DIS 1 TAH HA

Skihawks

Exactly
Abc123

what? lol

Sdot

LMAO @ BOTH OF U TRYNA SMD on A VG MSG BD WTF ILL SMH

BOTH OF YA’LL BITTIES CANT E.A.D JUS NOT DIS 1 TAH HA

Anonymous

Reading this is like trying to decipher Morse Code…

Rjblitz02

This…hurts my brain.

Sdot

LMAO @ N e 1 HAVIN TROUBLE TRYNA FIGGA IT OUT

MUST B A DUMB BROAD ESPECIALLY IF UR HEAD HURTS FROM TRYNA READ LMAO BITTIES HA HA HA HA HA

Mylesgilbert6

Good analysis

Maybe EA isn’t as happy as they could be, but if it werent for the exclusive deal in general they’d likely be getting dey asses beat by 2k just like in the NBA.

EA probably is thankful for that at least.

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

There’s truth to that. And Madden is incredibly important to EA Sports as a brand. If they lost the NFL they’d have more trouble establishing other titles.

Geeznutz

If madden is so important to EA why does Ian cummings and other madden developers continue to ignore or just shrug off the hardcore gamers and indirectly say that people who criticize madden have no lives and are nit picking! …..what because people want gameplay(CONSECUTIVE HIT TACKLES, PHYSICS) and franchise modes that have already been done in past football games including first gen madden games thats not nit picking! nit picking is …”hey why no interactive sidelines” like APF2K8 has … I expect madden 12 to be another year of football sold in yearly compartments as always
Newtonfb22

If thats the case Pasta why dont you be the voice of so many and tell them they need to make it an actually “next gen” game that we were promised in 2006? Myself and others have no voice..EA will never listen to use but you have one. I know you point out little things like they need better online franchise but what about the core elements plus online franchise? How bout take a stand and actually get the game that we should be getting? I know you dont like to be biased one way or another but you have the opportunity to have atleast a little bigger voice than the rest of us. You should hold the the company to the same quality as other games now.

Have we really made strides from when madden and 2k were great games in 2005 as we should have? I dont think so

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

I quite enjoyed Madden 10 but was down on Madden 11 and they recognized not only that but general reaction to the title. They seem to have learned that marketing towards casuals won’t boost their sales, so the hope is they are better focused this year. I’ll continue to hold all these companies accountable but even the influence the site has ultimately won’t change their plans when they are convinced they know better than everyone else (referring primarily to marketing not the devs).
Guest

Pasta has already jumped the shark. He’s not speaking for the masses. He doesn’t want to be left out of the circle

Cdrap44

Pasta what other titles? Of the Three major sports, they have Bowed out of Baseball, College football just showed signs of life, College basketball got canned and now with March maddness around the corner what is a gamer to do and When Nba “un”live or what ever they will call it comes out its basically a run of the chappelle show cause the laughs dont stop.

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Keith.

Madden used to sell 8 million units across all platforms, now they’re sitting at just over 5 million with M12 — despite there being many more millions of people with consoles in their homes.

Combined with the hundreds of millions of dollars EA has been losing each quarter, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that overpaying for the exclusive license backfired on EA.

Victor

There are NOT more consoles in homes. The PS2 has sold 150 million units alone. This generation we have worldwide totals to date with the 360 having crossed 50 million and the PS3 close to 48 million. I guess if you’re counting the Wii in then there would be more, but the Wii is not a hardcore driven system (would be like looking at Gamecube’s Madden sales for last generation).

Keith.

There’s still 150 million PS2s out there, right? Why did Madden’s sales drop off a cliff on the PS2? Probably because people are tired paying for the same game they’ve gotten since 2000.

abe98

why would anyone be buying madden on the ps2? come on now.

SPOUSAL WARRI0R

Rather than fishing with failed garbage like NFL Blitz, why not just merge with 2K and share the license thus bringing back those 3 million fans they have lost over the years of exclusivity, maybe more. I think it could be beneficial to both sides especially if they can bring in a whole new generation of console users and allow them to pick their poison. Then NFL still get’s their $ and if 2K brings back the lost consumers with the same quality they left with both 2K and EA wins……minus a little hurt pride for EA.

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

What would EA gain from “merging” with 2K as it relates to football? Most of the guys who worked on 2K5 are either on other projects or with other companies now.

kip

i think its funny that people think the few hundred guys obsessed with 2k5 in forums = millions of people not buying madden.

SPOUSAL WARRI0R

And I think it’s funny that you are satisfied with mediocrity and mock those who remember back when quality football games were produced. A few hundred guys obsessed with 2K5 in forums doesn’t = millions of people not buying madden……3 million people not buying madden = millions of people not buying madden. Now use those superior powers of deduction you possess to figure out why.

kip

who says im satisfied? but people who talk like 2k5 was perfect (it wasnt it had a bunch of problems) and think that all of the sudden 2k would bring it back and kick ass are delusional. have to make the best of what we get and hope it gets better
Guest

yeah but also since then games have increased in price the sales will go down a bit, also people not moving on to the next gen consoles may not bother buying it, and also they are getting more profit from DLC and things like madden ultimate team, they’re gaining just as much or more profit as they did before. So please, remove 2K’s *ick out from you’re mouth.
SPOUSAL WARRI0R

So those weak excuses amount to 3 million lost sales? Nice try, how bout lack of ingenuity and regurgitation of the same game every year while adding a few new bells and whistles so they can call it a new game……which they end up removing a year later anyway cause its trash. A turd repackaged in a new box is still a turd. They never address the root of the problem. Oh yeah, DLC really? I think I’ll leave 2K’s dick in my ass cause they at least know how to please me. Maybe you should try wiping Ian CUMmings off your face first, cause he has obviously made you his bitch already.
Fireflyjam

Now it feels like a pasta forum…lmao
Eye’m Sofahking Wright

dont let these few pple in here sway u, ur completely right about everything u said. ea isnt going to bother making a game actually satisfies us unless there is some competition or maybe if the got some insight from pple at 2k. dont get me wrong i am a hardcore madden fan but this years copy is bullshit, i play it cuz its the only football game and i love football. and also yes i kno 2k has flaws just like madden does, even tho it has waaaay less, but it seems like the problems madden has arent there in the old 2k games and the problems 2k has arent apparent in madden. so yea maybe they would benifit from merging, as long as they did it for the right reason. but either way im never going to agreee with what that one douche said and just take what ever pile of shit ea dumps on the shelves every year cuz thats just the way it is, not with how much they charge for games and DLC. its “US” the hardcore and even semi-hardcore gamers that make them who they are, without the sales and popularity there nothing…. if we REALLY tried and got pple to boycott madden (obv i kno this wont happen but let me dream) and not buy the game for a year they would HAVE to step it up, or else go broke and fade away. and im sure they would rather get swallowed alive in an elephants ass then do that.. ok im done dunno if all that made sense but i needed to rant a lil. let the criticism begin!!!
FireFlyJam

2k was from Venus, they got 2 *icks there…
FireFlyJam

It’s all the Pittsburgh Steelers fault. Think GOD they lost the superbowl, if they would’ve won, there would definetly be a strike !

ThunndaKat

Well, let’s just say that power is in the numbers, but the power is also in the people. TheSimStandard is more than just a few hundred people. The group is growing at a rapid pace just on youtube alone. We are the 8th highest subscribed to channel on youtube this week.

VC is video gaming. Visual Concepts has always meant quality. EA Sports fell off back in 1995.

SPOUSAL WARRI0R

Well my first lengthy response didn’t post hmmm. Should I bother writing it again?

Crmosier79

EA knows that nothing they can possibly do will make the 2K fan boys happy… so why even try. You have people that drink the fan boy hater-ade from the release of the 1st new version details every year and get louder every week. EA surely knows that this is a very small portion of the football game fan base so why would they ruin their game to suit a small percentage of people?!

SPOUSAL WARRI0R

Then maybe EA should just worry about making their own consumers happy cause they seem to be jumping ship more and more each year, and not even onto another boat cause there is none. They’d just rather hang out in the ocean instead and not even play a football game rather than be disappointed again. If EA could look past their own “we know best” arrogance and actually listen to their fanboys for once maybe they could stop the bleeding finally. Case and point; franchise mode. It doesn’t take a new idea or even much effort and the people have been screaming for it for years……yet again “we know best”. I’m not the fanboy I am coming off as today, I am making a point. The point is as long as there is no other competition out there for EA they will continue to make the lackluster disappointing product they have made for years……oddly enough just like they did in the late 90′s before Dreamcast and 2K gave them a kick in the ass. History will just have to repeat itself again.

Fireflyjam

Dreamcast.smdh..those were the days…lol not…dial up sucked

SPOUSAL WARRI0R

Rather than fishing with failed garbage like NFL Blitz, why not just merge with 2K and share the license thus bringing back those 3 million fans they have lost over the years of exclusivity, maybe more. I think it could be beneficial to both sides especially if they can bring in a whole new generation of console users and allow them to pick their poison. Then NFL still get’s their $ and if 2K brings back the lost consumers with the same quality they left with both 2K and EA wins……minus a little hurt pride for EA.
TheDCD

Terrific observation…and it makes me shudder to think we’ll have a season without the NFL…
TheDCD

Terrific observation…and it makes me shudder to think we’ll have a season without the NFL…
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Conrath/593054155 Alex Conrath

The NFL is extremely selfish and are narcissistic money hogging (curse word). It is sad, very sad…

Enzz

thats business.

Thunnda

I call B.S. on this one. It wouldn’t take years for 2k Sports to develop a game worthy of the NFL association. 2k Sports has already made a game and that is All Pro Football 2k8. All the need to do is add Real NFL team and player names and stir. And there you have it. The NFL’s money problems are solved.

2k sports stinks

He said high quality product. Not “product that somewhat resembles the game of football”

Samkaveli

considering the fact that Madden doesn’t resembles the game of football at all 2K fans should take that as a compliment now go play your ice skating football 11 you tool.

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

Really? APF didn’t have a franchise mode. It didn’t have real stadiums which would have to be rendered. It didn’t have a proper (for the NFL) player ratings system. The list goes on and on on all the work that would have to be done when creating a new game. Expecting all of that and good gameplay in a single year is unrealistic.

WE NEED TRUTH

GET THE FUCK OUTTA HERE DUDE SERIOUSLY.. YOUR TALKING ABOUT A RATING SYSTEM THAT ISNT PROPER FOR NFL PLAYERS,…. LMFAOOOOO ROFL…. RATGINGS DO NOT MATTER IN MADDEN… AT ALL… IF YOU SAY THEY DO THEN DAMN DUDE YOU ARE SUFFERING FROM A SEVERE CASE OF FUCKING TUNNEL VISION… DAMN BRO YOU ARE INSANELY BIAS… ITS FUCKING CRAZY HOW A SO CALLED “GAME REVIEWER” SHITS ON OTHER COMPANIES BESIDES EA…. YOUR THE FAN BOY… SUCKING COCK IN THE PODCAST YOU CHUMP!!

Fireflyjam

*Spoiler Alert* lotta cock sucking going on in this forum, or people accusing peeps of sucking cock. lol
Malikstarks

While I think WE NEED TRUTH is a being a bit harsh. Pasta I do think you are exaggerating the difficulty 2k would have. First off, it is well known that 2k approached the league last year, basically 2 years prior to the original exclusive deal expiring. Therefore it is safe to assume that had 2k gotten the green light they would have begun developing a game last year or early this year in order to have it ready, obviously the labor difficulty and the extension have derailed that. Second, from what I understand 2k developed APF2k8 in well under a year (correct me if I’m wrong), and while it may not have had all the bells and whistles you speak of, there is no question that on the field it was (and still is) the better product. Given this I have a feeling that yes, even if all they had was a year 2k could still pump out a game that far exceeds Madden.

Cdrap44

Though Madden has its share of problems you are right about that it would take a while to get a game out there that would match even the quality of a madden 11. Who ever whould try to make a game would not hit the bullseye dead on spot. As good as the Mlb “the show” is it took them a while to get it right

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Richardfordaze

I really don’t think it will be a good “licensed” for this generation. Might as well wait for ps4/xbox1080…….
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000295534671 Jared Baxter

I wouldn’t mind EA Sports having the exclusive license at all if they just gave us a decent, quality product. At least give us your best. We’ve given them ours. Some of us are hardcore, dedicated gamers. Show us some respect and give us a great game.

we need truth smh

Keep waiting bro.. Maybe your kids, kids, kids will see a decent Madden game… No hope for us…
XeX

i dont see how anyone could say madden isnt at least decent. its got a ton of features, good gameplay, great graphics, good online. madden just isnt great. and thats what people expect out of it so theyve been letdown.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000295534671 Jared Baxter

For 2010, 2011? No. Madden 11 is not a decent game. It’s the same old thing. Just better graphics, new equipment, a handfull of “new” features, and roster updates.

I do expect Madden to be a great game. They’ve had years to properly produce a great game, and they still haven’t done it. There direction is not forward. They take out good features, and replace them with gimmicks.

Chris

It is because of the exclusive license that you aren’t seeing a decent quality product. If they have the exclusive, why should they work hard to differentiate themselves? You as a videogame-playing NFL fan have nowhere else to go.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000295534671 Jared Baxter

Exactly. There is no competition. EA Sports knows that they can make a below average product, and people will still buy it. Just because of the NFL license.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000295534671 Jared Baxter

Exactly. There is no competition. EA Sports knows that they can make a below average product, and people will still buy it. Just because of the NFL license.

WE NEED TRUTH

SERIOUSLY, BY A COMPANY BUYING AN EXCLUSIVE LICENSE JUST SHOWS HOW GREEDY THEY ARE FOR MONEY… IN NO WAY DO THEY WANT TO PROVIDE THE MOST REALISTIC, MOST AUTHENTIC GAME FOR THE CUSTOMERS… IAN CUMMINGS AND EA BELIEVE THAT THEY PROVIDE THE BEST REAL SIM FOOTBALL EXPERIENCE… SO WHY NOT HAVE SOME COMPETITION TO BACK UP YOUR BULLSHIT TALK… IF THEY CAN SERIOUSLY OUT PERFORM EVEN JUST ANOTHER COMPANY, THEY WILL HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING… BUT BEING THE ONLY COMPANY ABLE TO MAKE NFL FOOTBALL GAMES IS RIDICULOUS… 2K ALSO WITH THEIR LICENSE WITH THE MLB… COMPETITION BRINGS THE BEST OUT OF PPL… WHY NOT JUST LET COMPANIES GO AT IT AND TRY TO MAKE THE BEST GAME OUT THERE INSTEAD OF HOLDING A LICENSE WHERE THEY CAN PUT THE SAME SHIT GAME OUT EVERY YEAR AND MAKE MILLIONS BECAUSE WE HAVE NO CHOICE… IT SUCKS MAN!!

2k sports stinks

Your caps lock is on

WE NEED TRUTH

I COULD TELL YOUR OBSERVATION IS AMAZING… YOU WERE TOP OF THE CLASS, WERENT YOU?

Guest

“EVERY YEAR AND MAKE MILLIONS”, you said it yourself man…

WE NEED TRUTH

WHAT POINT ARE YOU TRYING TO PROVE…

Cdrap44

The Nfl I think is the one behind this exclusive deal. If they wanted to I’m sure they would lower the asking price of the license and give it out to multiple of companies

2K Sports stinks

NFL 2K5 was not a good game. I don’t get all the love.

Samkaveli

yeah Because Madden next gen are so great right? LOL your a idiot.
WE NEED TRUTH

HAAAAA… U DOUCHERS ARE HILARIOUS.. TELL ME ANOTHER JOKE MOTHER GOOSE!!
WE NEED TRUTH

HAAAAA… U DOUCHERS ARE HILARIOUS.. TELL ME ANOTHER JOKE MOTHER GOOSE!!
Anonymous

Your obviously a child

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000295534671 Jared Baxter

You’re*

AzureEffect

I guess we are supposed to feel sorry for EA or blame the NFL. Either way; this is bad for the Football game consumer. That’s why a Football game with Total Customization needs to hit the market; we can recreate any league we want to…just get rid of this trash of football fundamentals called “Madden” which is a shell of its former self

Lonii

the mass market will not accept a total customization game. the extreme hardcore that would is in the minority. and companies are too scared to give it (APF, Backbreaker) because they think the nfl will sue them

ME

i dont believe it if it was a crappy deal ea would turn it down oh please people ea begged for the extension

PASTA IS A CHUMP

NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN… EA HAS CUM IN THE BACK OF THEIR THROATS AFTER GETTING THIS EXTENSION… IDK WHY THOUGH! ITS NOT LIKE THE NUMBERS IN SALES WILL INCREASE…

DJ

EA kind of did this to themselves. They had a great MVP Baseball franchise and last time I checked they were neck and neck with 2K in football in 2005. They could’ve had 3 great sports titles out and/or on the horizon(FIFA, MVP, and Madden).
Guest

Face it guys, Pasta is only going to push EA but so far. He’s in cahoots with EA, Operation Sports, etc. The worst he will ever say about Madden is “I was down on Madden 11″.

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

So…what do you want me to do. Freak out about the game? What good would that do. I have no ties to EA…they don’t even send me the freakin game for gods sake. Why would I care what they think of me? They have zero influence on anything I say or do. Which is probably why they want nothing to do with me

sad

Yeah, they want nothing to do with you. That’s probably why they invited you on their podcast. Give me a break dude.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=5018460 Victor X Liceaga

Look Madden hasn’t really done anything new lately. Its changed a thing here or there every year but nothing amazing. But I still play it, and I do enjoy it. I wish 2k would maybe make a college football game? I don’t know if they’d be able to get the license to make one but I’d like to see how they do after 5 or 6 years of not making a football game.
HOLLIS RAY

madden Gamers> As much time and money we have invested in Madden over the years U would think they would have the game almost perfected. But the glitches and the cheaters and the wishy washingness of a game when U are competing is KLOWNISH. U BEAT RAY LEWIS ACROSS THE MIDDLE HE TACKLE YO ANKLES AND U FUMBLE OR DROP THE BALL. U THROW A PASS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, REED IS DOUBLE TEAMING THE 2 RECEIVER RUNNING A STREAK DOWN THE SIDE LINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SLIDES ACROSS THE FIELD LIKE SUPERMAN AND INTERCEPTS THE BALL IN MIDDLE OF FIELD. THEY HAVE REALITY TV LETS HAVE REALITY MADDEN. IT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE FUN. THIS IS 2011 U DESIGNERS HAVE ALL THE TOOLS TO MAKE THIS GAME AWESOME. WHAT UP, CAN WE SEE SOME YA’LL SKILLS ON THE NEXT MADDEN PLEASE!!!!!
HOLLIS RAY

madden Gamers> As much time and money we have invested in Madden over the years U would think they would have the game almost perfected. But the glitches and the cheaters and the wishy washingness of a game when U are competing is KLOWNISH. U BEAT RAY LEWIS ACROSS THE MIDDLE HE TACKLE YO ANKLES AND U FUMBLE OR DROP THE BALL. U THROW A PASS DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, REED IS DOUBLE TEAMING THE 2 RECEIVER RUNNING A STREAK DOWN THE SIDE LINE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SLIDES ACROSS THE FIELD LIKE SUPERMAN AND INTERCEPTS THE BALL IN MIDDLE OF FIELD. THEY HAVE REALITY TV LETS HAVE REALITY MADDEN. IT WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE FUN. THIS IS 2011 U DESIGNERS HAVE ALL THE TOOLS TO MAKE THIS GAME AWESOME. WHAT UP, CAN WE SEE SOME YA’LL SKILLS ON THE NEXT MADDEN PLEASE!!!!!
Ben Roethlisberger

Is it just me or does pasta seem to edit any responses that may make him look stupid? Notice how every now and then after his comment it says edited by author. Maybe if you can’t stand being shown up on your own site you shouldn’t voice your opinion to begin with. Or is it EA that edits your site for you????

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

That would be you since I don’t edit people’s comments. If theres one thing I’ve never been criticized before for its not allowing people to speak their minds in the comments!

Ben Roethlisberger

Then why did SPOUSAL WARRI0R’s original comment to your response not post? Is he a registered account? Out of all of your comments on here there are 2 “edited by author” alerts and neither one seem to be in a conversation with a registered member. Am I wrong?

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

All I know is I don’t mess with people’s comments and I’m really not going to take the time to investigate what you’re claiming. It’s ridiculous to think I would when I’ve never blocked anyone’s thoughts be that about games or about me.

sad

Ok, how about comments that’re submitted, hit the page, get listed at the top when sorting by New Posts, are still there when the page is refreshed, and then disappear 10-20 mins later after responding to a different post?

You can get all “I’m so on the up and up that I don’t need to bother addressing your ridiculous concerns” if you want, but what if your site’s malfunctioning? What if your comment software itself is eating the posts, you aren’t even going to check out that possibility?

Methinks he doth protest too much, but there’s any easy way to show me up: CHECK INTO IT.

Anonymous

Man STFU duke. No one is editing comments.

I’ve thought so myself at times, but this that shit is clearly not happening

sad

Well he’s not the only one who notices posts disappearing. Happens to me intermittently, and seems to be much more likely on comments that criticize you directly. I had a big one a bit ago where I was talking about EA’s “Ten Dollar Project” and what a funny coincidence it is that there was zero coverage here of EA being so blatant about soaking people via DLC that they gave the initiative a name and explicitly stated they want to extract 5 more bucks from each copy sold. I submitted, it went up, it appeared at the top of the comment section when using the “Newest Posts” filter. Then after I replied to someone else, poof! The post that criticized Padre had vanished. Every other post I made in this thread is still here, but the one that mentions a lack of coverage of something that makes EA look bad disappeared.

All a big coincidence, huh?

SPOUSAL WARRI0R

It’s no coincidence sad. Ben Roethlisberger is SPOUSAL WARRI0R. I set a trap of sorts to see what he might say. The quick, and seemingly defensive, responses from pasta combined with a lack of explanation (or concern for that matter) pretty much confirmed my suspicion.
SPOUSAL WARRI0R

It’s no coincidence sad. Ben Roethlisberger is SPOUSAL WARRI0R. I set a trap of sorts to see what he might say. The quick, and seemingly defensive, responses from pasta combined with a lack of explanation (or concern for that matter) pretty much confirmed my suspicion.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_2BNOIBHBFICJEAPJLGHKK3WHPE DADDY WARBUCKS

whats the underlining issue is how when nba live or whatever got canned this year, ea simply updated the rosters for live 10 and moved on.

why cant madden do the same thing?

everything about madden stinks. plays that work in the nfl dont in madden.
madden is all about speed and maybe 7 plays.

maybe im geting older and grumpier (im 30 now), but i miss 2k football gaming.
i even went and rebought 2k8 the other day. now THAT GAME plays like a football sim, but without the nfl players & teams.

http://pastapadre.com/ pastapadre

I don’t think anyone would put Madden in the same category as NBA Elite!

Even if it was the exclusive license requires EA release the game every year on all the major platforms.

sad

Nice try. It doesn’t require that they stop updating old games. It doesn’t prevent them from releasing rosters that’re compatible with multiple years’ versions of the game. The only thing preventing EA from releasing current rosters for old versions as paid DLC is their own desire to force people to buy new copies.

Anonymous

NFL 2k15! LETS GO 2KSPORTS!
Clintbeastwoods

Blah blah blah nobody gives a fuck about the nfl license anymore! Real football gamers want a generic football game with full customization as an alternative to maddens garbage! If 2k released a patch for all pro 2k8 that gave us full customization and online franchise and leagues we woule be in heaven! 2K could sell the patch on xbox live marketplace to avoid the costs of printing it on discs! I would pay 50 dollars if the patch was what we all crave! EA has held us hostage with horrible games for the past 6 years! enough is enough already!
Ed2k

So they felt it was more important to make a deal with a company that doesn’t fully represent the game of football like it should after years of exclusiveness rather than try to actually make a deal with the player that put the real money in their pockets. This is the problem with the NFL right now. Thanks Roger for destroying football as we know it. I guess we gotta hope for the XFL to come back. lol

(And to the guy that suggested EA and 2k merge. EA would quickly cancel any 2k product/project that threatened one of their own and screw up any other that was fine before them. That’s what they have done for years when they acquire another development company and try to “EA-atize” it.)
Ed2k

So they felt it was more important to make a deal with a company that doesn’t fully represent the game of football like it should after years of exclusiveness rather than try to actually make a deal with the player that put the real money in their pockets. This is the problem with the NFL right now. Thanks Roger for destroying football as we know it. I guess we gotta hope for the XFL to come back. lol

(And to the guy that suggested EA and 2k merge. EA would quickly cancel any 2k product/project that threatened one of their own and screw up any other that was fine before them. That’s what they have done for years when they acquire another development company and try to “EA-atize” it.)
sheredia

the nfl has EA right where they want them……strike or no strike. i like how they proposed this deal right before the strike is about to happen…..it would have been smarter for EA to wait until the owners and players union settled on an agreement and negotiate their deal after that. now, the nfl comes up with this extension to avoid that situation…….
Jwade3247

Wouldn’t this have more to do with the current labor situation than anything else?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Ragland/13752595 Corey Ragland

Seriously, has there EVER been a post that even referenced Madden and EA Sports that someone wasn’t complaining about 2k not making a NFL game? I just wish the exclusive deal would end so 2k Could make a game again so that people would shut up. Then again they would probably still troll articles about Madden and complain no matter the quality of a 2k game.
The real issue I’d like to see addressed is if a new CBA isn’t done until summer, will Madden 12 have time to implement changes that would need to take place (like a rookie wage scale since I don’t think an 18 game schedule will happen)? Madden 12 sales would probably take a huge hit if it had to release either before a new CBA is done or before they can adjust the game accordingly after a new one.

sad

Has there ever been a post without someone who can’t tolerate differences of opinion freaking out because other people want 2k to make an NFL game? Holy crap, people are expressing a desire for something that doesn’t currently exist! How offensive! Where does these people get off, what with their representing half of the fundamental function of a supply and demand economy? If a 2k football game happens again then good for them, but in the meantime they should just shut up and 2k should gauge demand for a football game psychically instead.

Rookie wage scale? In other words you think they should work on franchise mode? In that case the answer is no, won’t be happening. The present CBA has existed in its present form since 2006 and they haven’t gotten contract demands anywhere approaching realistic any time this generation. What are the chances that they have the willingness & ability to throw in a rookie scale on a shortened schedule when there’s no way to justify charging people extra for it?

http://www.facebook.com/people/Corey-Ragland/13752595 Corey Ragland

So 2k is going to know that there is demand for them to make a NFL game by going through comments on articles about EA Sports by the same handful of people? Yeah I’m sure that’s how they would go about doing that. No need for you to get pissy because I pointed out that it gets old hearing the complaints about 2k when 2k5 wasn’t the holy grail of football games, not even close. When an article gets posted about 2k sports feel free to complain about 2k football all ya want.
I don’t know what the chances are for them to be able to implement any changes that come from the new CBA on a shortened schedule. That’s why I’m saying it’d be nice for them to be asked what the chances are.

Reign

2k5 is the holy grail of football games shill boy.

Anonymous

This whole mess can b straightened out by not buying this glorified download, when was the last time EA gave you your money’s worth?
The first new feature announced for 2012 is surprise onsides kicks, need any more proof?
Yes I’m saying don’t buy it, and I dare Pasta to leave this post up.
Cbtaylo

Surprise onside kicks??? OMG….Madden 2012, back to gimmicky stuff instead of gameplay and presentation upgrades.
Internationalp

youtube.com/thesimstandard
sad

Oh gee posts are disappearing again. I guess the board’s acting up in a way that just happened to eat the post where I criticized Padre for ignoring the controversy around EA’s “Ten Dollar Project” — and even the existence of the project itself — while leaving the one where I was simply arguing with other posters intact. Funny.

Padre, either you edit posts or your site has the most broken, f’d up comment feature of any I’ve ever used.