EA is at it again

EA has purchased the exclusive rights to make NFL video games. This, quite frankly, is a kick in the balls to the consumer. I was trying to decide which game to buy next year after picking up both Madden NFL 2005 and ESPN NFL 2k5 this year, but I guess that's a moot point now. I haven't played a lot of either game really, save for several games of ESPN between my buddies and me, but I did like what ESPN had going for it. With another year to work out the kinks I thought it could have been great. Unfortunately, this is the real world and stuff like this happens.

Really, I blame the NFL more than EA. This is not to imply that I am a fan of EA, mind you, just that I think the NFL is the force behind this transaction. This is from the Gamespot article:

A source close to the negotiations said it was at a spring, 2004, off-site meeting attended by top NFL officials that the league determined it would take the league license exclusive. GameSpot was told the league put the license up for bid and that EA was among as many as five software publishers competing for it. An EA spokesperson said today, "Obviously, exclusives are more expensive. We are most certainly paying a premium."

I am really not sure what to think about this, other than to be disappointed. I guess I'll just see what happens from here on out and play it by ear.

-Mark