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[Matlock]

http://www.maddenmania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123795

We got a call today from our District Manager at GameStop, and the name for EA Sports' new football game will be "ESPN Prestents: NFL Football 2007".

Maybe they will change it at the last moment, but it looks to be the end of an era.

 

[bumpkin]

Still not as good a piece of news as the NFL exclusivity going out the window would be.

 

[DMczaf]

I will remember you....

Will you remember me...

Don't let your life....pass you by....

Weep not for the memories.

 

[Mrbob]

I don't believe this news.

Madden will never die!

 

[ronito]

So they finally did it, eh? Oh well, I'll miss Mr. Obvious.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I will remember you....

Will you remember me...

Don't let your life....pass you by....

Weep not for the memories.

Very nicely played. :lol

 

[Ninja Scooter]

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOOOOooooOOOOOOOOOO!!"

 

[I <3 Katamari]

Wow, if this is true, sales will take a hit, I think.

This series sells based on name brand alone.

 

[Speevy]

I would die laughing if the ESPN name made it sell worse.

 

[CB3]

I will remember you....

Will you remember me...

Don't let your life....pass you by....

Weep not for the memories.

I FUCKING KNEW SOMEONE WOULD PUT THAT SONG'S LYRICS :lol :lol :lol

Anyway, Celebrate! The less madden the better!

 

[Ristamar]

I find this hard to believe, to imagine any company throwing that sort of brand recognition out the window?!? EA cannot be that stupid.

 

[SuperPac]

EA better hope those who only buy one game a year and know it as "Madden" can decipher that it's been renamed.

 

[Hitokage]

So is it going to have ESPN commentators now?

I know it's a scary thought, but this is what they can do now with a monopoly and there's nothing any of you can do about it!

 

[Scottlarock]

Wow, if this is true, sales will take a hit, I think.

This series sells based on name brand alone.

how much does the madden name cost tho? has to be more then the espn rights... if they let go of madden can 2K pick it up? oh man twilight zone!

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Wow, if this is true, sales will take a hit, I think.

This series sells based on name brand alone.

sales won't take any hit whatsoever. For one, The game is called "Madden", but nobody buys it cause of Madden so he won't be missed. For two, the EA name is probably just as big as Madden, and even the casual fans relate EA Sports to the Madden brand, so as long as they slap a big EA SPORTS label on the cover, and advertise it accordingly, they'll be fine. Thirdly, EA is the only game in town when it comes to NFL.

 

[DMczaf]

how much does the madden name cost tho? has to be more then the espn rights... if they let go of madden can 2K pick it up? oh man twilight zone!

The thing is, EA signed him up for an extension in 2005. His name WILL be on there someone. IT BETTER BE!

Madden = Football.

 

[I <3 Katamari]

how much does the madden name cost tho? has to be more then the espn rights... if they let go of madden can 2K pick it up? oh man twilight zone!

Well doesn't EA have exclusive NFL rights now? Is 2K doing any kind of football game?

 

[DDayton]

Hmm... does EA still have the rights to the Madden name? Are they just "shelving" it?

 

[Speevy]

Right. But if you're a casual gamer who's picky enough to have deliberately bought Madden over ESPN when both existed, there's a pretty good chance you're going to hold out for a Madden game that no longer exists.

 

[CB3]

Holy Shit its that Stick dude that used to be on in the summer on Nick! That dude kicked ass! Ah, good times....

I thought 2K was working on that legends Football game no?

 

[DMczaf]

Hmmm, did EA resign Madden to a long term deal in 2005 just to make sure 2K Sports couldnt get him? :lol

Thats pretty damn funny if thats what happened.

 

[Mrbob]

I wonder if this has something to do with him going to NBC for Sunday Night broadcasts.

Perhaps they couldn't have him on the cover anymore with ESPN, since he is leaving ABC (Who is owned by Disney and who also owns ESPN) and with Monday Night Football going to ESPN, they couldn't integrate him with brand recognition into the ESPN brand anymore.

 

[Scottlarock]

Well doesn't EA have exclusive NFL rights now? Is 2K doing any kind of football game?

I read they are doing a 'hall of famers' game... or people that aren't playing in the NFL anymore which would kind of fit madden.....

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Right. But if you're a casual gamer who's picky enough to have deliberately bought Madden over ESPN when both existed, there's a pretty good chance you're going to hold out for a Madden game that no longer exists.

contrary to popular belief, casual gamers aren't retarded (well not all of them). They know that EA makes the Madden games, they'll make the correlation, and if not, some EB or Gamestop employee will let them know. Its not brain surgery.

 

[johnjohnson]

Are they completely nuts now? I sure didn't expect this.

 

[masud]

It's a sad commentary on humanity, but the sales will take a hit due to confusion.

 

[pilonv1]

 

[Scottlarock]

contrary to popular belief, casual gamers aren't retarded (well not all of them). They know that EA makes the Madden games, they'll make the correlation, and if not, some EB or Gamestop employee will let them know. Its not brain surgery.

I had a fellow coworker think EA's golden eye was the sequal to rare's game....he had no idea who made the origanal

 

[Mrbob]

contrary to popular belief, casual gamers aren't retarded (well not all of them). They know that EA makes the Madden games, they'll make the correlation, and if not, some EB or Gamestop employee will let them know. Its not brain surgery.

True, dat. All gamers need to see is this and things are golden:

 

[AdmiralViscen]

This would be like Toyota renaming the 2007 Camry the Toyota Automotive Transport.

I hope EA does this, because sales are likely to drop. though I suppose exclusivity will prevent them from falling too far.

 

[DMczaf]

July 14th, 2005 (3:42pm) - John Madden and EA have come to an agreement to continue branding the best-selling football franchise with his name for an undisclosed amount of years.

When the ESPN licence was picked up by EA, many people believed that John Madden’s hopes of renewing his contract were "hit by a Mack truck," and the portly commentator would no longer be kept in the titular role, but those people were wrong.

"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 John Madden. "Each year our goal is to improve the game, and with EA, we have been able to do that."

He's not dead! I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THIS!

 

[I <3 Katamari]

sales won't take any hit whatsoever. For one, The game is called "Madden", but nobody buys it cause of Madden so he won't be missed.

Do you honestly believe that?

If Sega Sports and EA, back in the day, said "Hey, let's switch names for a year and see what happens", and Sega's NFL 2K2 was called Madden 2002 and EA's Madden was called NFL 2K2, you don't think Sega's game would sell better?

That's a pretty out there example, but the Madden name is EXTREMELY important. Moreso when they had competition of course.

 

[AdmiralViscen]

I wonder if this has something to do with him going to NBC for Sunday Night broadcasts.

Perhaps they couldn't have him on the cover anymore with ESPN, since he is leaving ABC (Who is owned by Disney and who also owns ESPN) and with Monday Night Football going to ESPN, they couldn't integrate him with brand recognition into the ESPN brand anymore.

This is probably the reality of it.

 

[dskillzhtown]

GAF has sunk to a new low. Taking a Maddenmania forum post as gospel. Especially when believing what a GS Manager 'said'.

From the IGN interview last year after the rights were bought, the name of the game is going to be "ESPN Presents: Madden Football 2007".

But at the rate this board is going, I guess people will believe something posted on Barbieworld.com forums next.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Do you honestly believe that?

If Sega Sports and EA, back in the day, said "Hey, let's switch names for a year and see what happens", and Sega's NFL 2K2 was called Madden 2002 and EA's Madden was called NFL 2K2, you don't think Sega's game would sell better?

That's a pretty out there example, but the Madden name is EXTREMELY important. Moreso when they had competition of course.

yes, i honestly believe that. Back when VC or 989 had some competition for EA, maybe it would have been a problem, but now thats not a threat. There will only be ONE NFL game on store shelves. Eventually, even the dumbest of gamers will ask the clerk wherever they buy games "Hey i see you have some ESPN game but where is the new Madden?" and then they will be told "That IS the new Madden". Ta-Da. End or problem. Also, with the way Madden release launches are becoming more and more like events ever year, im sure EA will spare no expense and use every resource afforded to them (commercials, ESPN spots, shit, probably a fucking story on SPortscenter) to make sure their audience knows about the change.

 

[Zep]

Also, with the way Madden release launches are becoming more and more like events ever year, im sure EA will spare no expense and use every resource afforded to them (commercials, ESPN spots, shit, probably a fucking story on SPortscenter) to make sure their audience knows about the change.

ding ding!

 

[ToxicAdam]

 

[Speevy]

But at the rate this board is going, I guess people will believe something posted on Barbieworld.com forums next.

 

[Juice]

I wonder if this has something to do with him going to NBC for Sunday Night broadcasts.

Perhaps they couldn't have him on the cover anymore with ESPN, since he is leaving ABC (Who is owned by Disney and who also owns ESPN) and with Monday Night Football going to ESPN, they couldn't integrate him with brand recognition into the ESPN brand anymore.

This is absolutely what happened, but it was absolutely inevitable. I'm sure the plan was to make the Madden logo smaller and smaller for a few years before erasing it, but I guess things just worked out this way.

All the better. Madden's an irritating jackass who couldn't come up with an insightful comment if Al Michaels whispered it to him.

 

[mj1108]

They're doing this to trick people into purchasing what we know what would be the better game (2K series). Then when you start the game, you see "Madden 2007: Fooled ya, bitches!"

 

[Ninja Scooter]

They're doing this to trick people into purchasing what we know what would be the better game (2K series). Then when you start the game, you see "Madden 2007: Fooled ya, bitches!"

NEVER FORGET!

Reigning bargain bin champion.

 

[Juice]

They're doing this to trick people into purchasing what we know what would be the better game (2K series). Then when you start the game, you see "Madden 2007: Fooled ya, bitches!"

Better yet, they'll release two versions. Both the exact same game, but with two different boxarts. One saying ESPN, one saying Madden.

They'll charge $20 for ESPN, just for consistency's sake, but don't worry, Madden will keep outselling it.

 

[Tamanon]

Wow, more Gamestop employee news. PS3 with 2 SKUS at $400 and $600 also?

I dunno, I'll wait for an actual press release. I can see Madden letting the license go since he made the Hall of Fame, but not this quickly

 

[M3wThr33]

Better yet, they'll release two versions. Both the exact same game, but with two different boxarts. One saying ESPN, one saying Madden.

They'll charge $20 for ESPN, just for consistency's sake, but don't worry, Madden will keep outselling it.

HAHA! That is genius!

 

[methodman]

Better yet, they'll release two versions. Both the exact same game, but with two different boxarts. One saying ESPN, one saying Madden.

They'll charge $20 for ESPN, just for consistency's sake, but don't worry, Madden will keep outselling it.

That'd be pretty fucking crazy. Even if you're in the know, you would go to the store and see an espn case and be like FUCK THIS SHIT, and end up walking out paying 60+ for the collectors edition of Madden

 

[john tv]

I don't mind them changing the name, but that new name totally sucks...

 

[HyperZone<3]

EA titles their new football managment sim Madden Headcoach 2007, or some crap like that, and makes thier "classic" series NFL Football ESPN 2007, or some crap like that.

Strengthing the new franchise with a familar brand(and lets face it, Madden himself is more useful as a coaching figure then a commentator) and using their exclusivity deal to their maximum advantage.

Win-win.

 

[krypt0nian]

Casual: "Weird. No Madden this year."

Buys 50 Cent: Bulletproof instead.

 

[Juice]

That'd be pretty fucking crazy. Even if you're in the know, you would go to the store and see an espn case and be like FUCK THIS SHIT, and end up walking out paying 60+ for the collectors edition of Madden

Someone do me a favor and write what FrenchMovieTheme's mental dialogue would look like!

 

[SKOPE]

Ignoring the fact this news comes from a forum post I can't read of a Web site I've never heard of allegedly using a GameStop manager as its source, I still don't believe this.

People buy Madden NFL every year because it's called Madden NFL. EA clearly knows this, as it signed the man to a new multi-year contract after it picked up the exclusive NFL license. And ESPN surely knows that even with John Madden no longer working for ABC Sports/ESPN, it stands to make far more money with his name in the title than it would without.