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NBA Rejects EA Deal

Posted by Zonk on from the one-sports-league-does-the-right-thing dept.

PuppiesOnAcid writes "Although the NFL buckled under EA's mighty stronghold in the video game football market (Madden), the NBA has chosen to reject EA's exclusive rights deal. Jon Robinson explains, 'One of the reasons is that the NBA Live series simply doesn't have a stranglehold on the market the way Madden has for years, so by signing an exclusive deal with EA, the NBA would actually be losing money.'"

16 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. Too wild by Steve+Embalmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    The NBA probably just couldn't handle the violent level of EA's tough corporate culture.

  2. EA probably allowed players to go into the stands. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    So they can beat up the fans.

    NBA said "No, that's way too realistic."

  3. No worries about this with NHL by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    No worries about this happening with the NHL. Pro hockey does not exist OUTSIDE of videogames at this point!

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
    1. Re:No worries about this with NHL by ShelbyCobra · · Score: 5, Funny

      Which brings up an interesting point, will NHL 2004 exist as if there had been a real hockey season, or will it showcase all of the NHL's big stars playing for european teams to pay the bills and stay in mental and physical shape?

      --

      -ShelbyCobra

      Living life in the right side of the s-plane

    2. Re:No worries about this with NHL by jaredbpd · · Score: 3, Funny

      Maybe it'll just be a fixed camera outside a rink, with the option to zoom in and look at the padlock on the doors... or better yet, you go inside, and the Ice Capades are performing.

      Either way, maybe Winter 2004/5 is the season of the professional zambonie driver simulator. Gotta make the money somehow!

  4. Removing Competition by drakethegreat · · Score: 2, Funny

    Thats all this is. I actually find it disgusting that the NFL signed abord. Lets give into one corporation to try to make money rather then allow all game producing companies to potentially make a sports game involving our league. Well I can tell you this much. I don't like Madden's voice so I won't be picking up the next EA NFL game.

  5. Oh, the poor, poor NBA by Neil+Blender · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guess high priced tickets, concessions and TV contracts just aren't enough to cover things like Kevin Garnets 11 year $305 million salary.

  6. Buckled under? by SetupWeasel · · Score: 4, Funny

    The NFL was not crushed by EA's awesome might. EA decided to pay the NFL an ungodly amount of money for exclusive use of properties that they own. The only thing the NFL cares about is money. It doesn't matter to them what the ESPN game will do. It doesn't matter to them how powerful EA is.

    You don't need an NFL licence to make a good football game. I think they should make a "Historical World Leaders Football 2K6," because I want to hear the phrase "Zone Blitzkrieg."

  7. EA allows defense by SoupGuru · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard the deal was rejected because EA allows players to defend... mush too unrealistic in the NBA's eyes.

    --
    What doesn't kill you only delays the inevitable
  8. EA, NBC: No matter who wins, word usage loses by AEton · · Score: 3, Funny

    From article summary: "Although the NFL buckled under EA's mighty stronghold..."

    Main Entry: strong-hold
    Pronunciation: 'stro[ng]-"hOld
    Function: noun
    1 : a fortified place
    2 a : a place of security or survival <one of the last strongholds of the ancient Gaelic language -- George Holmes> b : a place dominated by a particular group or marked by a particular characteristic <a Republican stronghold> <strongholds of snobbery -- Lionel Trilling>

    EA won the match by camping! Losers!

    (Later in the article summary the word 'stranglehold' is correctly quoted. Was submitter going for variety with the use of nonsynonyms?)

    --
    We recently had heard in the office over one of the Yellow Machine that's made by Anthology Solutions.
  9. Re:EA probably allowed players to go into the stan by Man+in+Spandex · · Score: 2, Funny

    and Chewbacca dunks from downtown! It does not make sense!

  10. Yes... by _PimpDaddy7_ · · Score: 2, Funny

    I heard at the board meetings, if you throw a cup at the CEO he chop blocks you, then goes beserk punching other people...Truly a dog-eat-dog culture... :)

    1. Re:Yes... by SetupWeasel · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, they just bring in Terry Tate: Office Linebacker.

      "The pain train's comin'! WOO-WOO!"

  11. Re:Hear that? The sound of zamboni's rusting by Feynman · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, it's the sound of Zambonis exploding.

  12. Re:They should make a law against this. by Skim123 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Good God, man, have you forgotten about Double Dribble? It did not have league teams/players, and it, many would argue, was the pinnacle of basketball console games.

    --

    I could not justify my existence if I were a turkey farmer. Would I terminate myself? Undoubtably, yes.

  13. Re:Mod Up! by flithm · · Score: 2, Funny

    Doh! I'm always forgetting minor details... a checkbox here, order of magnitude there. At least my name's not Michael Bolton.