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http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3138341

First it was the NFL. Then came ESPN. And now, it appears Electronic Arts is very close to securing another license: NCAA Football. Sources tell us that the publishing powerhouse will soon announce an exclusivity deal with the NCAA, enabling only EA to make football games using university squads (thus shutting another football door in the face of rival 2K Games).

No word yet on whether this will also affect college basketball.

 

[Suikoguy]

wow, NCAA will have some splain' to do if this goes through.

 

[Wario64]

Boycott EA.

 

[Mrbob]

Is this move really necessary?

Visual Concepts doesn't even make a college football game anymore and that is where the money is in NCAA sports. NCAA March Madness and ESPN NCAA basketball sell a small, tiny amount compared to NCAA Football. EA already owns the NCAA sports market.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Boycott EA.

Been doing that for twelve years, man.

 

[Mrbob]

Been doing that for twelve years, man.

Looks like that turned out well.

 

[Kon Tiki]

I'd rather EA get NCAA. That way you can bring a player from college to the pros.

 

[Drek]

Can't wait to see how the NCAA will reason this as helping to progress student athletics.

I'd rather EA get NCAA. That way you can bring a player from college to the pros.

I'd be surprised if an exclusive license nets them the rights to player names since not only would that go against the NCAA's whole thing about not wanting to use specific student athletes with money making, but also open the way for those students to sue for likeness/naming rights from the NCAA for compensation.

 

[teruterubozu]

Makes you wonder about the NBA though. Has Take Two pretty much cornered NBA so EA is left with NCAA (who wants to pay for NHL at this point)?

 

[LakeEarth]

Boycott EA.

What if you only buy EA games used? Technically you're not giving EA any of your money.

 

[Kon Tiki]

Can't wait to see how the NCAA will reason this as helping to progress student athletics.

I'd be surprised if an exclusive license nets them the rights to player names since not only would that go against the NCAA's whole thing about not wanting to use specific student athletes with money making, but also open the way for those students to sue for likeness/naming rights from the NCAA for compensation.

I meant brining a create-a-player save over.

 

[dskillzhtown]

seems like a unnecessary move, IMO. There is not other NCAA football game on the market and the b-ball game doesn't really sell anyway. But once EA started this game and Take Two kept the ball rolling, I am sure every sports league or association with have some kind of exclusivity contract.

 

[Meier]

Is this move really necessary?

Visual Concepts doesn't even make a college football game anymore and that is where the money is in NCAA sports.

I think the concern is they would possibly develop one now that they couldnt do an NFL or AFL game.. not that it hurt EA when they did do one though.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Take Two *could have* gone and developed an NCAA football title and tried to really build that brand up as the big-name alternative to Madden. If they succeeded the NCAA might have seen an increase in revenue. Now, if this deal goes through, they'll probably be forever relegated to playing second fiddle to Madden.

 

[Mrbob]

^^^

VC/Sega already tried to make a NCAA Football competitor and failed miserably.

 

[Meier]

^^^

VC/Sega already tried to make a NCAA Football competitor and failed miserably.

A $20 price tag could go a long way though. Now EA can price their football title at $50, comfortably.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Yeah, but if TT/VC made a NCAA game now, it would be the only competition to Madden. It would be the #2 football game by default.

 

[chespace]

A $20 price tag could go a long way though. Now EA can price their football title at $50, comfortably.

Videogames at $20 bucks?? Do you want the industry to crash again?!

 

[Meier]

Videogames at $20 bucks?? Do you want the industry to crash again?!

The point is that Take 2 could price their NCAA game at 20 bucks again and apply pressure to EA's dominance of the NCAA Football market. When they were both 50, no one so much as looked at Sega's offering, but if they provided a cheaper alternative for at least a year, then that might not be the case down the road and EA doesnt want to risk that clearly.

 

[Pimpwerx]

No fucking way. Can the NCAA really do that? It's still an amateur organization, right? I mean, going exclusive with one company has gotta cross some ethical boundary, doesn't it? I'm really not liking where this is going. Hope this is bullshit. PEACE.

 

[Joe]

the ncaa bitch slapped ethics a LONGGGG time ago.

 

[chespace]

The point is that Take 2 could price their NCAA game at 20 bucks again and apply pressure to EA's dominance of the NCAA Football market. When they were both 50, no one so much as looked at Sega's offering, but if they provided a cheaper alternative for at least a year, then that might not be the case down the road and EA doesnt want to risk that clearly.

Yeah, I know you're right. I was joking.

 

[Meier]

Yeah, I know you're right. I was joking.

I figured as much due to the ?! but I figured I may as well clarify my point in case some people didnt get it.

 

[Mrbob]

Yeah, but if TT/VC made a NCAA game now, it would be the only competition to Madden. It would be the #2 football game by default.

Nononononononnono NCAA Football is the #2 football game by default.

TT/VC NCAA game would be #3.

 

[Mr_Furious]

Boycott EA.

Why not just boycott football?

 

[Kobun Heat]

Nononononononnono NCAA Football is the #2 football game by default.

TT/VC NCAA game would be #3.

At $20 vs. $50 I sincerely doubt it.

 

[Mrbob]

Lets throw out some more random numbers too while we are at it.

If VC/TT offers an unlicenesed football game at $2 it will be the number one seller.

Which game brought their respective companies more profit. NCAA Football 2005 or ESPN NFL 2k5. You can throw stuff out for dirt cheap all you want but with piling development costs you aren't going to be able to keep it up for long and stay in business.

 

[Soul4ger]

Any word on the NCAAPA? If Take Two was smart, it would snag the rights to the Players Assocation immediately.

 

[Mrbob]

Any word on the NCAAPA? If Take Two was smart, it would snag the rights to the Players Assocation immediately.

:lol :lol :lol :lol

 

[Kobun Heat]

You can throw stuff out for dirt cheap all you want but with piling development costs you aren't going to be able to keep it up for long and stay in business.

Thank you Mr. Iwata.

 

[Mac the KNife]

Boycott EA.

Seriously. Boycott them.

 

[Mrbob]

Thank you Mr. Iwata.

You're welcome. I know it is tough to realize since Iwata now runs Nintendo all his statements aren't wrong, MR Mouthpiece.

 

[impirius]

DAMMIT.

I was finally starting to get back into sports gaming after skipping all of last generation and most of 16-bit, and now all this shit happens.

 

[Kobun Heat]

You're welcome. I know it is tough to realize since Iwata runs Nintendo now all his statements aren't wrong, MR Mouthpiece.

I'm not sure where you're going with this.

 

[Mrbob]

I'm not sure where you're going with this.

Yes you do.

DAMMIT.

I was finally starting to get back into sports gaming after skipping all of last generation and most of 16-bit, and now all this shit happens.

:lol I know these exclusive deals suck.

 

[Kobun Heat]

I'm not sure

Yes you do.

I do am not sure?

 

[Mrbob]

Indeed.

 

[Beezy]

I do am not sure?

XD

 

[impirius]

I do am not sure?

Unless

I know these exclusive deals suck.

Maybe EA can just start signing gamers to an exclusivity deal. You get $70 or so and can buy only EA games for one year.

Quick, give me the number for the patent office

 

[worldrunover]

This just in;

EA INKS DEAL WITH XFL