Exclusivity and the Modern Gamer

If's it a Football Game, Then It's EA's Game

The motto of Electronic Arts sports division has long been, "If it's in the game, it's in the game."  

Since December 14, 2004, that motto may well be changed to "If it's a NFL game, then it's EA's game."  

On that day, Electronic Arts and the National Football League announced that EA would have exclusive use of NFL teams, players, and logos for football video games released in the next five years.  

This means no more NFL GameDay, no more NFL Quarterback Club, no more ESPN NFL2K games.  

Even if popular opinion says that the absence of two of these are no big loss, then at least the sudden lack of an ESPN-backed football should be alarming.  

Doom-and-gloomers are quick to say that a monopoly leads to stagnation.  Take the recent example in the virtual monopoly that professional wrestling mainstay WWE created after acquiring its rival, WCW, in 2001.  

A sharp decline in business soon followed, one that the company still has not quite shaken.  EA hasn't gotten to the top by being foolish.  The timing of the contract is the most important factor, and the one that is most often overlooked.  

The recent past of the Madden franchise has been rocky, and the broadcast future of the NFL is about to change drastically.  This is the best time for EA to strike. The unexpectedly fierce competition from NFL2K5 proved that the Madden franchise is not invulnerable.  

The easiest way for EA to assure themselves of continued market dominance is to eliminate competition.  I'm not going to argue the legality or the ethics of making sucha  movie.  I wish to discuss the risk involved, and why I believe EA made the move this specific year.  While I disagree with the creation of exclusivity, I want to point out several reasons why the football gaming community need not fear it.