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[Shinobi]

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.

Bingo.

And it honestly wouldn't even matter if it was an EA game. If 989, Sega, 2K or fucking Nickelodeon had the only NFL game in town, people would snap it up, 3 to 5 million strong, without a lick of advertising.

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

And that's the point. With no competition, it doesn't make a a bit of difference.

Anyway, the Madden name is probably gonna be used for a while longer. But they'll likely have to retire it eventually. And with EA having the NFL pie all to themselves for the next four years, this honestly wouldn't be a bad time for EA to retire it. Chances are he's gonna croak before the ESPN deal is up, and they're not gonna want to use the name of a corpse to sell the game.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Chances are he's gonna croak before the ESPN deal is up, and they're not gonna want to use the name of a corpse to sell the game.

Mutant League Football 2008 Featuring Zombie Madden?

 

[shantyman]

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.

It's pretty pathetic that the anti EA people are clinging to a hope that this will in some way affect sales, if it is even true.

PS: I know a lot of people label me anti EA, but that is not really the case.

 

[qcf x2]

Who cares. I just hope:

1. They ensure the next Madden doesn't suck

2. They use the ESPN license at least as well as ESPN 2k5 did

I can't wait to see what they do with the college football game, assuming they use the ESPN license for it, and assuming they don't just port the Madden graphics & gameplay engine over

 

[aparisi2274]

Weird... EB has Madden 2007 listed as 8/2/06

Oh well...

 

[Ramirez]

Call it anything you want EA,try to make it not suck balls this year :|

 

[Amused_To_Death]

Calm down folks. If EA wants to retire the Madden name, they will do it gradually. If there's any truth to that rumor, it's likely that EA will be making a SECOND football game, with ESPN content, and maybe less features and lower price point along with the premium Madden version. EA signed Madden in 2005 for a multi-year deal, the game is not going to change names overnight. That would hurt sales and EA is not dumb.

 

[GitarooMan]

Do people really think it would hurt sales to change names? Why, it's the only NFL game out there, people love buying NFL games. Plus as someone else said, EA would advertise the hell out of it.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

Didn't EA just give Madden a lot of money to use his name for like the next 5-10 years?

 

[Chris_C]

But... wait, isn't this an EA game? It makes no financial sense.

 

[hgplayer1]

when I heard that John Madden had been inducted into the Hall of Fame the first thing I thought was, "I guess EA can put that on the cover now". it would kinda suck for them if they are getting rid of the name just as he enters the HOF.

 

[AirBrian]

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.

:lol That would be just awesome.

Then imagine the craziness and confusion in the ensuing NPD thread whether or not the sales should be combined. "Different SKUs!" "Same game!"

 

[Miguel]

Madden 07/ESPN 07 would be #1 and #2 on the NPD lists :lol
With Madden 06 at #27

 

[Juice]

:lol That would be just awesome.

Then imagine the craziness and confusion in the ensuing NPD thread whether or not the sales should be combined. "Different SKUs!" "Same game!"

And then you have Fuzzy and others arguing over whether or not the fact it pushed more units should be weighted against the fact it was a budget title ($20) or inflated because it was so successful at a premium price ($60).

Pretty sure Sales-Age would simply explode, die, and never return.

 

[Pimpwerx]

If it increases the presentation value, then I'm all for it. I'd really like them to have some option to have Sportscenter guys doing commentary over highlight reels. No Berman, though. I'm so fucking tired of that guy. PEACE.

 

[EAJAPAN]

An ESPN football game with decent gameplay? Sounds great to me! Thanks EA!!

 

[Sabaku Ika]

EA hates Madden and they've wanted to change the name of their game for years, but knew that brand recognition was the only thing keeping the series successful, so they couldn't.
The NFL exclusivity deal was intended to get around this. If there's nothing else available, it doesn't matter anymore what it's called. Therefore, they continue to win.
I have no idea if that's true, but it makes sense, doesn't it?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

it actually might be a very good idea to just drop the Madden name completely overnight rather than gradually overa few years. Now they have (at least) 4 years of NFL exclusivity to build up the new ESPN NFL name, and make gamers forget about Madden, so that in 2010 if Sega or Take 2 or whoever gets NFL rights again and try to snatch up Madden's likeness and license, it'll be worthless.

 

[Shinobi]

Mutant League Football 2008 Featuring Zombie Madden?

:lol

It's pretty pathetic that the anti EA people are clinging to a hope that this will in some way affect sales, if it is even true.

Hell I'm anti-EA and I know the name change wouldn't mean shit with no competition around. If 2K or another strong NFL title was out there was well it'd be different story, though the EA Sports brand and marketing muscle would still give it the end..

Calm down folks. If EA wants to retire the Madden name, they will do it gradually. If there's any truth to that rumor, it's likely that EA will be making a SECOND football game, with ESPN content, and maybe less features and lower price point along with the premium Madden version. EA signed Madden in 2005 for a multi-year deal, the game is not going to change names overnight. That would hurt sales and EA is not dumb.

I think they'll ride the Madden name at least one more year (hell he's a Hall of Famer now...it'd be kinda tough to not use him the same year he got into Canton), but as someone else theorized EA might've just signed Madden up simply so 2K couldn't use him. If that was the case that would be a good move, if a little expensive.

 

[Dsal]

Mutant League Football 2008 Featuring Zombie Madden?

PREORDERED

I was anticipating EA doing this, but part of me kept thinking they wouldn't have dumped one of the most dominant brands in all of videogamedom. But it has to happen some day, and it might as well be before Zombie Madden.