outlawauron said:
EA was forced go through the process in order to re-release the series. I have no idea what the case was with Sega and ATP. I didn't even know it existed. I do know from people who work in EA Sports, that they can't not release/delay their game. They have hard dates to meet. |
So they actually lost their old contract. It's kinda understandable, given that they acted unlilaterally. However I have a hard time believing that things would happen this way when trying to sign a new contract:
Mr. EA - Last night I received the visit of the three christmas ghosts* and I think that we should make a game and then support it with yearly DLC updates (also available at retail at a discount price) until the next game is tested enough and properly finished. That way we can offer a better and more polished product for our customers which will be better in the long term.
Blatter's minion - Sorry Mr. EA, unless it's full retail games every year we don't want your money.
* I'm trying my best to make it believable.
BMaker11 said:
Sports licenses are pretty much open to anyone willing to make the game. Only license that was "lost" was NFL, due to EA making an exclusive deal because ESPN 2K5 beat the brakes off Madden that year and Madden is their bread and butter. Everything else seems to be fair game. There's FIFA and PES (if PES made a far superior game and made is $25 MSRP, soccer might get "Madden'd" and become exlusive). There was MLB: The Show and MLB 2K. EA NHL and NHL 2K. Etc At this point, 2K Sports could easily make an exclusive deal to get the NBA license (2K >>>> Live)...but they aren't dicks. For most sports games, the dev just needs to renew their license. But they don't ever "lose" it, unless they are legally unable to get a license due to exclusivity. |
EA has the Fifa license in exclusive. That's why PES has to rely in smaller licenses (Champions League, etc) and fill the remaining gaps with fake teams.
