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[sonycowboy]

I think this is old news, but I don't think it was "official" until today. In any case, it seems EA thinks it's the first announcement.

July 13, 2005 09:00 AM US Eastern Timezone

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 2005--Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that John Madden, football icon and television analyst of ABC's Monday Night Football, has signed a multi-year agreement to continue to license his name and appear in and consult on the development of future iterations of the blockbuster game that bears his name. Madden NFL 06, the newest iteration of the EA SPORTS(TM) best-selling football franchise with the official videogame license of the NFL and its players, will feature the name, voice, likeness and expertise of the celebrated sports personality. EA SPORTS Madden NFL 06 is scheduled for release on August 9, 2005. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"John Madden personifies authentic football in any medium -- television or interactive," said Electronic Arts Chairman and CEO Larry Probst. "We look forward to a great future with John in EA SPORTS Madden NFL."

"I am proud that we started to develop Madden Football twenty years ago," said Madden. "Each year our goal is to improve the game, and with EA, we have been able to do that."

With the official videogame license of the NFL and its players, and in its 16th year of the franchise, Madden NFL Football offers game changing innovation and complete NFL authenticity. With more than 43 million copies sold, Madden NFL Football continues to be the #1 football franchise and the all-time best selling sports franchise in North America. Since its inception in 1989 the game has become a cultural phenomenon and is the game the players all play. Madden NFL 06 is rated "E" (Everyone) by the ESRB and will be available on August 9, 2005 for six platforms and the PSP(TM) (PlayStation(R)Portable) entertainment system version will launch in September. For the first time in 10 years, the Madden NFL Football franchise has revolutionized its passing game with the new quarterback vision and precision placement. For more information check out www.madden06.com

 

[dskillzhtown]

But....but....EVERYONE said that EA was getting rid of Madden!!!!

 

[Gattsu25]

Madden, ESPN, and exclusive rights to NFL games?

What could they be planning??

 

[sprsk]

Madden, ESPN, and exclusive rights to NFL games?

What could they be planning??

Why, ANOTHER MADDEN GAME I BET!

 

[VALIS]

Madden, ESPN, and exclusive rights to NFL games?

What could they be planning??

John Madden Kart Racing.

Actually, hmmm. *starts scribbling notes furiously*

 

[themadcowtipper]

Oh Yeah who doesn't love Maddenisms

"You can only make one play at a time."

"Whoever Scores the most points wins the Game"

 

[akascream]

John Madden must be *raking* in the dough at this point. Could you imagine what would happen if he pulled his name from the franchise? EA just cannot let that happen. It would flush thier brand name recognition down the toilet.

 

[sonycowboy]

John Madden must be *raking* in the dough at this point. Could you imagine what would happen if he pulled his name from the franchise? EA just cannot let that happen. It would flush thier brand name recognition down the toilet.

"multiyear agreement" = rest of your friggen life and then some.

 

[monchi-kun]

EA will have exclusive rights to a corpse....nice!!!

 

[harry2020]

How OLD is Madden now? I remember seeing him on an N64 Madden game and thinking - damn, he looks old... that was years ago...

 

[WasabiKing]

They might not even use Madden. Probably signed to lock him up away from the other companies.

 

[akascream]

If EA launches thier next football game without the madden name, it will sell far less. EA won't ditch it, they aren't that stupid.

 

[Stinkles]

If he lives past the PS3 launch it'll be a testament to the secret goodness of pies.

 

[dskillzhtown]

You don't build a brand like Madden and just let it walk. People identify with 'Madden', not EA Football. Around the time of the ESPN license announcment, a VP at EA made it clear that the game will still be called Madden. They know the value of the brand. I wish they would do something to leverage that brand in other areas. I would think that something simple as Madden clothing would sell.

 

[monchi-kun]

there's always this guy....

John Madden....John Gruden....the sheep will follow the sweet familliar sounds

 

[LakeEarth]

Oh great, now they have Madden, WHAT NEXT EA WHAT NEXT!!!

 

[monchi-kun]

July 14th, 2005....EA buys the Hip Hop genre

 

[DarienA]

July 14th, 2005....EA buys the Hip Hop genre

Damn I was just getting ready to try to buy that myself... take that take that take that take that...

 

[dskillzhtown]

Damn I was just getting ready to try to buy that myself... take that take that take that take that...

Speaking of Diddy, why in the hell do people keep giving him money? I saw that 'Bad Boy of Comedy' crap on HBO and Pepsi is using him. When is the last time he had a hit? When is the last time he had a song or a group? He is quickly becoming the Black Paris Hilton. Famous, but why I don't know.

 

[Jim]

Madden will be 70 next year I believe.

 

[Blackace]

Damn I was just getting ready to try to buy that myself... take that take that take that take that...

i thought I told you that we won't stop I thought I told that we won't stop..eh eh eh eh

 

[Tiktaalik]

Speaking of Diddy, why in the hell do people keep giving him money? I saw that 'Bad Boy of Comedy' crap on HBO and Pepsi is using him. When is the last time he had a hit? When is the last time he had a song or a group? He is quickly becoming the Black Paris Hilton. Famous, but why I don't know.

He has a bunch of business interests that I don't know about, but I do know that he is a respected fashion designer. People laughed when he started his own clothes line, but now the fashion world has embraced him. Mostly I think he's famous because he's rich and very stylish. He's sort of like the modern day Frank Sinatra. It's more about style than anything else I think.

 

[Mayor McCheese]

How OLD is Madden now? I remember seeing him on an N64 Madden game and thinking - damn, he looks old... that was years ago...

For something that old, you'll have to cut him in half and count the rings...

 

[akascream]

For something that old, you'll have to cut him in half and count the rings...

mmm onion rings

 

[DarienA]

He has a bunch of business interests that I don't know about, but I do know that he is a respected fashion designer. People laughed when he started his own clothes line, but now the fashion world has embraced him. Mostly I think he's famous because he's rich and very stylish. He's sort of like the modern day Frank Sinatra. It's more about style than anything else I think.

In addition Bad Boy has a decent amt of artists, he owns a restaurant chain called Justins and his clothing line as mentioned about is VERY popular and well-regarded.

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

Speaking of Diddy, why in the hell do people keep giving him money? I saw that 'Bad Boy of Comedy' crap on HBO and Pepsi is using him. When is the last time he had a hit? When is the last time he had a song or a group? He is quickly becoming the Black Paris Hilton. Famous, but why I don't know.

He's the CEO of Bad Boy records I believe...which has no good artists signed to them. So yea, that's why he's famous. Plus I hear he throws the best parties....


As for this Madden thing, I honestly don't know what to make of it. I'm absolutely speechless. I can't believe EA would do this, it's suicide. Nobody will buy the game now. NOBODY.

 

[Spectral Glider]

Madden will be 70 next year I believe.

Yep, he turned 69 this past April.

 

[FortNinety]

I loved how people automatically assumed that EA was gonna dump the guy once the NFL deal was inked. Why the hell out they have dropped him in the first place. They afford to buy a lot of crap, so why not his contract?

 

[Xenon]

Could you imagine what would happen if he pulled his name from the franchise?

They'd have him killed

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

I loved how people automatically assumed that EA was gonna dump the guy once the NFL deal was inked. Why the hell out they have dropped him in the first place. They afford to buy a lot of crap, so why not his contract?

The more they buy, the more they justify a $60 price tag

 

[Revolver]

I loved how people automatically assumed that EA was gonna dump the guy once the NFL deal was inked. Why the hell out they have dropped him in the first place. They afford to buy a lot of crap, so why not his contract?

A lot of people thought that once EA bought the ESPN license Madden's days were numbered. I figured they'd stick with what works though. The brand recognition is too strong to risk starting over from scratch unless they absolutely had no choice. I wouldn't be surprised if even after he passes away EA strikes a deal with his estate to keep using the name, so long as it boosts the bottom line.