EA Sports scores big...

I was in the gamestore Xmas shopping last night and thought it would be cool to have everyone protest by flipping all of the EA game boxes over on the shelves.

I could see it on the news ""Gamers around the world are ''flipping'' over publishing giant EA''s exclusive licensing of the NFL""

Next there would be a shot of a sign above a bunch of EA games that read - ""Please leave boxes as they are""

Then they''d cut to a game store owner - ""They just keep flipping them over. I don''t know how to make them stop. I''m not going to kick them out of my store because I want their money, so what can I do?""

Back to the reporter - ""Electronic Arts commented about the protest by saying - What do we care? We own their souls and they will bow down and gobble up anything we feed them. If the protest continues, we''ll just print the front of the box on both sides.""

Cut to a pimply gamer with piercing all over his face and a pirate bandanna on his head - ""teh EA is the sux!""

Reporter - ""I''m sorry what did you say?""

""Day cut n00bs lEEt dis''n Sega 4 reel""

Okay,
Please remain in your seats until the imagination train comes to a complete stop, and enjoy the rest of your day at Ridlin''s overactive imagination park.

"Ridlin" wrote:

""Day cut n00bs lEEt dis''n Sega 4 reel""

This line gave me a headache. But I''m pretty sure it''s because I could decypher it. Which makes me a sad clown. Great post though, Ridlin.

I''m thinking about really trying to get this started. Wouldn''t it be cool?

Let''s do it

His reason doesn''t matter, and the reality is that his opinion of ESPN''s football game does not either. The comparative merits of ESPN 2k5 qand Madden 2k5 are not germane to the issue. What matters is that now that EA has bought the license, competion will be smothered and quality will suffer. No matter which company did this, the consumer loses in the end game.

Thanks for the lesson about staying on topic. The EA deal sucks but it won''t change my taste in football games. Ohh and regardless of this deal I am still interested in E''s opinion on the merits of Madden over ESPN. Everytime I play the most current iteration of Madden I feel like I missing the point/something. Generally the opinions on this site are well thought out and thats what I care about.

So back on topic, this is a horrid joke that we have little control over and EA will now crush all other FB titles in the coming years whether or not they are putting the best product out....heck they have already been doing this for years.

In my dream world where I rule as king and you all knife fight cracked-out monkeys for my enjoyment EA and the NFL will both lose buckets of money on this deal.

Thanks for the sig, Swampy.

Nitpicky but:

The deal also affects Manhattan-based Take-Two Interactive Software, which this year began distributing the ESPN brand of NFL games.

Um. Wrong.

/red pen

"Grumpicus" wrote:

Nitpicky but:

The deal also affects Manhattan-based Take-Two Interactive Software, which this year began distributing the ESPN brand of NFL games.

Um. Wrong.

/red pen

A good reporter never lets anything as trivial as facts get in the way of the drama of the story. That would be unjust to all the people craving up-to-the-minute ... drama.

"Highlander" wrote:

Let''s do it

Come on guys! Spread the word! Say you came up with the idea I don''t care. It would really send a message ""from the people"".

Flip the boxes over on the shelves. What harm could it do? It''s a great way to send a message.

EA talks to Team Xbox. Link.

"There are a lot of choices for consumers to choose from when it comes to spending their hard earned dollars on a video game. Madden NFL Football goes up against the Halos, GTA's, and every other great game that is in the marketplace whether it is in the sports, action, rpg, or racing category."

So Madden is the same game as Halo or GTA ...? Let''s put that in a different context:

"There are a lot of choices for consumers to choose from when it comes to spending their hard earned dollars on a book. Bodice Ripper 4 goes up against the Hemingways, Joyces, and every other great author that is in the marketplace whether it is in the literature,mystery, non-fiction, or biographycategory."
"Highlander" wrote:

EA talks to Team Xbox. Link.

"There are a lot of choices for consumers to choose from when it comes to spending their hard earned dollars on a video game. Madden NFL Football goes up against the Halos, GTA's, and every other great game that is in the marketplace whether it is in the sports, action, rpg, or racing category."

You slimy bastards, there are alternatives to each of those titles, moreover, Bungie didn''t cut a check to prevent Chronicles of Riddick from coming out for the next 5 years.

Skanks, man. They are total skanks.

"Prederick" wrote:

You slimy bastards, there are alternatives to each of those titles, moreover, Bungie didn''t cut a check to prevent Chronicles of Riddick from coming out for the next 5 years.

Man, I wish they would have though. Or that someone would have paid Vivendi to not make the new Leisure Suit Larry.

Update: Blitz: The League Interview

IGN Sports: What modes will be online?

Mike Bilder: Both the PS2 and Xbox version will support online gameplay with a variety of customized game modes. One thing we''re particularly excited about is our Las Vegas-style betting on games that you''ll never see in a licensed sports game. Basically, any time you match up with an opponent, our online sports book will create a gambling line that the user can bet on. All of the teams will be available for play online, of course, and after you beat the Campaign Mode you''ll also be able to bring your customized team online to battle against everyone.

Edit:

IGN Sports: Is the game going to be a realistic football game with fake players, or an over-the-top, players with broken limbs game with no hint of realism?

Mike Bilder: Our drive for this product has always been to deliver a brutal, realistic, and fun football experience. We''ve avoided being immature and wacky. It''s a mature game for a mature audience. For example: Will you see a Joe Theisman like leg-break on a player in the game? Yes (and you''ll cringe at it). Will that player be able to stay in the game and continue to play? Not a chance. But there will be some injuries that, if ""treated"" the right way, can get a player right back into the action, though it might not be the best choice for his career. This realistic approach has led us to remove some of the more wacky elements found in past Blitz games, but we''ve replaced them with even more compelling, shocking, and entertaining content. Realism doesn''t have to mean, slow paced, simulation style gaming like you will get in other football titles. Blitz will stay true to the fast paced, highlight-reel gameplay it''s known for.

I''m cringing now just thinking about it. ... I''ll still be getting a sim title (hopefully from VC [the makers of 2k5] but I''m not above getting Madden if it''s the better game; it''s always had the better campaign mode) this fall, too, but I may just pick this one up, too...

So you would use your credit card information to bet on your own football game?

That''s sure to stop the online cheating dead in its tracks.

I won''t be getting Madden. May have to see how this plays if Take 2 doesn;t come out with a title.

I really don''t want to buy Madden. Is there any chance they can continue roster updates for NFL2k5?

The contract with ESPN and the NFL is not forever.

When that contract runs out, EA will hold those rights and they can''t do anymore roster updates.

If memory serves me right, anyway.

I noticed the interview but missed the preview that came out on the same day.

Gamers don''t just advance through a normal season; they enter a ""campaign mode"" that takes a team from its inception to the championship. Players are put in charge of a team that is coming off of a bad season and requires some significant regrouping. Instead of a normal play schedule there are three tiers of competition that must be completed in order to reach the final game which is comparable to the Super Bowl.

Well I don''t know how crazy I am about that.

Unfortunately, the article focuses on the single player and doesn''t answer my two biggest questions: is it 11-man football (previous versions in the series were only 7 or 8)? and how will online play be done? Oh well, it''s definitely a different take on campaign mode anyway.

Edit: Looking at the video, nope, it''s not 11-man again this year. My interest is waning. This title just dropped from ""probably"" to ""maybe/I''ll wait to read the reviews"".