EA buys ESPN License, Takes Huge Dump on Visual Concepts

[FriskyTanuki]

[quote name='CaseyRyback']http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/18/news_6116543.html

their marketing man claims to be a big fan of ESPN and watches it all the time, but does not even know any of the programming on the network.

[quote name='EA marketing director']But on the sports information side, you look at things like College Game Day, you look at some of ESPN's banner shows like NFL Tonight, things like that, wherein broadcast integration of our assets into their broadcast is an opportunity.[/quote]

I never knew there was a show named NFL Tonight. I know of an NBA Tonight (pretty sure this is still on, though Shootaround is the main NBA show), and an NHL Tonight, but nothing of this NFL Tonight.

If I am wrong, I am wrong, but I watch a ton of ESPN and have never heard of this show (unless this is the show with Suzy Kolber and Merill Hodge that is on once a week really late on the weekends)[/quote]

He could mean NFL Live or Matchup, Matchup uses Madden to show plays and different outcomes that can happen.

 

[goosedude]

CheapyD and I were discussing this whole EA rocking Visual Concepts debate.......Now you have to give kudos to EA for laying the smack down like it did. Don't tell me you didn't go "WHOA" when you read the NFL and ESPN exclusive agreements. The NFL and ESPN are more deserving of any anger than EA.....as they pretty much decided that EA is the only player to do business with.

You can hit EA....but they will hit back.....HARD. Same with SONY (see the PS and PSP).

Now here's my prediction that I shared with CheapyD. It seems everyone is making a hullaballoo about the future of football games....the sad truth is....its never really been a contest save for this year's ESPN Cheaper Price blip, and the original NFL GAMEDAY.. Its like a PC vs Mac debate.

While I argue that this year's Madden was the overall superior Football game ( i do love the HIT STICK ). I do commend ESPN on all the extra things like soundtrack customization on XBOX.

The honest possibility is....with the new teams ramping up for the next generation of consoles games.....not to mention larger and larger development teams being needed for each game (see concept photos of next4 MADDEN)....Visual concepts programmers if not the entire team will most likely be absorbed by if not hired away by EA.