No more SEC in video games..

[dublinirish]

College Football's Most Powerful Conference Ends Deal with EA Sports

Well this is kind of a big deal, will be tough for EA to market their new "post NCAA era" games now.

 

[STLDomer]

Doesn't really mean much. It's just the SEC name and logo they can't use. The teams are still in play

 

[Cackalacky]

I have never understood how it is ok for the NCAA to allow for likenesses to exist in the game while maintaining they don't allow it (even though they do and it is obvious), then hold the student athletes to a likeness use rule.

 

[Anchorman]

I have never understood how it is ok for the NCAA to allow for likenesses to exist in the game while maintaining they don't allow it (even though they do and it is obvious), then hold the student athletes to a likeness use rule.

Two Words:
Rev
Anew

 

[ACamp1900]

Can someone post the article here or summarize, it's blocked at my work.

 

[Cackalacky]

The Southeastern Conference, whose teams have won the past seven national championships, announced today it will no longer license the use of its symbols and trademarks in EA Sports' college football title, joining the NCAA in leaving the game under a cloud of litigation brought by former players.

Like the NCAA, the SEC noted that its members were free to license their names, symbols and appearances in the game, so the news itself does not mean that any of the SEC's schools—such as Alabama, Auburn, LSU and Florida—have left future editions of the game. It does mean that the SEC's logo and references to the conference in the game's dialogue library must be stripped from future editions. The conference's official championship game also will no longer appear.

"Each school makes its own individual decision regarding whether or not to license their trademarks for use in the EA Sports game(s)," the SEC said in a statement. "The Southeastern Conference has chosen not to do so moving forward."

Like the NCAA, the SEC also repeated the assertion that neither the conference nor its schools "have ever licensed the right to use the name or likeness of any student to EA Sports."

BULLSHIT

The NCAA, the separate licensing clearance house that handles many of its member schools' business, and EA Sports are all beset by multiple lawsuits alleging, among other things, that the NCAA Football series uses current amateur players' likenesses without their permission or compensating them. The largest of these cases, a potential class action lawsuit brought by the former UCLA standout Ed O'Bannon, involves the sale of memorabilia as well as television contracts.

RELATED

NCAA to Stop Licensing Games, but EA Sports' College Title Isn't Dead
The NCAA will not renew its licensing agreement with EA Sports for its 21-year-old NCAA Football series once the current deal expires in 2014, the… Read…
In light of this, the NCAA last month said it would no longer license NCAA Football, though its absence would appear to be largely cosmetic. EA Sports said it intended to move forward with the series, likely calling next year's game College Football. That said, losing conferences or, worse, big-name schools definitely strips away the realism which helps give a sports video game its annual relevance.

Kotaku has reached out to EA Sports for comment and will update this post with any statement the label makes.

 

[IrishLion]

I initially thought the NCAA/EA thing wouldn't really affect the game aside from lacking "NCAA" anywhere, but this news makes me nervous. I thought without a doubt that conferences and schools would still want to be involved in the game for the exposure. However, it appears that the SEC as a conference is not trying to be involved with any "likeness" disputes in the future, and I am now concerned that other conferences and even individual schools will follow suit.

EA can promise to randomize everything from skin tone to jersey numbers, but this has now become an issue that schools won't want to touch regardless. Buy an extra copy of NCAA 14 and keep it unopened lol.

 

[dublinirish]

i think the schools will follow suit now plus other conferences..unless the SEC is looking to leverage a deal with EA here...which I wouldnt put past them

 

[phork]

Two Words:
Rev
A
New

3 Words.

Wouldn't it be nice to swipe the SEC in one stroke like that in real life?

 

[ACamp1900]

3 Words.

Wouldn't it be nice to swipe the SEC in one stroke like that in real life?

I just thoguht the same thing... lol

 

[irishpat183]

Some say this isn't a "big deal"


But it is. It takes away from the realism of the game.

Not having the SEC title game is a big deal. Regardless of what you think about the SEC..

 

[ACamp1900]

I couldn't care any less honestly...

In a perfect game we have the ability to make conferences from scratch with emblems and all anyway... as long as most if not all teams are in the game I don't care.

 

[NDWorld247]

The Big 10 and Pac 12 followed the SEC's lead and opted out of the game. CFT is reporting most, if not all, universities will also opt out. I haven't played the game in years, but this sucks for you gamers.

In related news, Ed O'Bannon is an a$$hole.

 

[LoveThee]

This may be the wrong thread for this and I have no idea of the logistics of this idea, but is it feasible for the NCAA to just pay the athletes X amount of money and then lawsuits like this go away. Obviously there would still be the potential for cheating, but it happens no matter the system. Why not take the responsibility of paying athletes off the shoulders of the schools and put it on the NCAA, I'm sure they make enough to be able to afford whatever stipend they see fit for athletes.

*Note that I am not in favor of paying athletes, I have no preference on the whole topic

 

[LoveThee]

No more Pac 12 either

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Pac-12 says it decided not to renew its current licensing agreement with EA Sports.</p>— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP/statuses/367729628883861504">August 14, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ACamp1900]

This is gonna get real interesting ....

They have a three year deal intact...

EA Sports' College Football Series Survives Another Three Years

They are already moving forward with and invested in, next year's "College Football 2015"...

There will be a game next year... How will they do it???

I suspect a full editable via team builder like game simialar to Pro Evolution Soccer would be a great move here... Make the game generic like Bill Walsh CFB back in the day but allow full customization...

If they do it right it'll be a bigger hit than the current game...

We shall see

 

[BGIF]

This may be the wrong thread for this and I have no idea of the logistics of this idea, but is it feasible for the NCAA to just pay the athletes X amount of money and then lawsuits like this go away. Obviously there would still be the potential for cheating, but it happens no matter the system. Why not take the responsibility of paying athletes off the shoulders of the schools and put it on the NCAA, I'm sure they make enough to be able to afford whatever stipend they see fit for athletes.

*Note that I am not in favor of paying athletes, I have no preference on the whole topic

Do you realize that the NCAA IS the schools?

 

[GATTACA!]

In a perfect game we have the ability to make conferences from scratch with emblems and all anyway

Yea that would be great if EA would update the stock logos. I've been forced to use the same stupid stock phoenix since 2003

I suspect a full editable via team builder like game simialar to Pro Evolution Soccer would be a great move here

It would be interesting if they took the downloadable roster capability and expanded it. Allow for the moders to alter everything. It would probably lead to a more realistic game.

 

[dublinirish]

i doubt we will ever see a branded college football game ever again. EA might as well go and make it a High school football game now or something

 

[Cackalacky]

I couldn't care any less honestly...

In a perfect game we have the ability to make conferences from scratch with emblems and all anyway... as long as most if not all teams are in the game I don't care.

I agree. The last time I played this game, I got tired of destroying everyone with ND and chose East Carolina (the years they had Chris Johnson, little did i know). I ended up winning a bunch of NCs in a row and got invited to the SEC while Kentucky got demoted to another conference. LOL.

 

[dublinirish]

the only way to play franchise is to start out with a 1 star team and build them up. its just too easy and uninteresting to do it any other way

 

[irishpat183]

This is gonna get real interesting ....

They have a three year deal intact...

EA Sports' College Football Series Survives Another Three Years

They are already moving forward with and invested in, next year's "College Football 2015"...

There will be a game next year... How will they do it???

I suspect a full editable via team builder like game simialar to Pro Evolution Soccer would be a great move here... Make the game generic like Bill Walsh CFB back in the day but allow full customization...

If they do it right it'll be a bigger hit than the current game...
We shall see

No it won't. Guys like me, the pick up and play, will not go for that. Sure, the hardcore guys will love HOURS of customization...but it won't be a hit

This is football, not soccer. I want realism...not made up teams and conferences.

 

[irishpat183]

You guys that are hardcore gamers have to think about the masses.

Hardcore gamers are gonna buy no matter what. The target is those college dorm room males that want to play with their favorite teams.

A buncha made up teams with stock logos will be a huge bust. Remember that game on Dreamcast (I believe it was a NFL game, the name escapes me) that had no teams or players becuase of the lack of licensing?

 

[greyhammer90]

No it won't. Guys like me, the pick up and play, will not go for that. Sure, the hardcore guys will love HOURS of customization...but it won't be a hit

This is football, not soccer. I want realism...not made up teams and conferences.

All you'd do is download a set of pre-made uniforms, conferences, rosters, etc. from a guy who made it. It really would be simple for you.

 

[irishpat183]

All you'd do is download a set of pre-made uniforms, conferences, rosters, etc. from a guy who made it. It really would be simple for you.

hmmmmmmm...you and your computer talk has intrigued me.

But whos to say that the guys who made the customizations did it right?

I've downloaded some rosters before and they suck

 

[IrishLion]

Operation Sports would probably have a team of guys do rosters, another team of guys step up to do Uniforms, another to do stadiums, etc...

EA could make a game where there is nothing on the disc but generic team editor, random base rosters, and settings/rules/gameplay info. Users could then download teams, rosters, uni's, stadiums, sounds etc. via a "roster share" option in the game.

I think this is actually an intriguing idea. If EA could work with a group on simply improving team builder and expanding its options, teams of guys could completely create DI football on the internet and have it ready for download the day the game drops.

 

[dublinirish]

hmmmmmmm...you and your computer talk has intrigued me.

But whos to say that the guys who made the customizations did it right?

I've downloaded some rosters before and they suck

Gaming Modification (Modding) has been around for decades, its up the developers to implement the tools, the hardcore gamers will take care of the rest.

The last non licensed football games were Blitz the League and APF. APF is by far a better engine than Madden but with no licenses it didnt gain much mainstream success. It is still modded every year though with up to date rosters (the game came out in 2005)

 

[irishpat183]

Gaming Modification (Modding) has been around for decades, its up the developers to implement the tools, the hardcore gamers will take care of the rest.

The last non licensed football games were Blitz the League and APF. APF is by far a better engine than Madden but with no licenses it didnt gain much mainstream success. It is still modded every year though with up to date rosters (the game came out in 2005)

And that's where they make their money.


I'm just saying that no licesing means no success...UNLESS you have an easy system for which mainstream gamers can download.

Even then, there are a ton of gamers that still don't use online capablities. I don't even play online and I consider myself to be pretty game savvy.

 

[rikkitikki08]

I still think 2k sports should make a college football game....EA is terrible anyways

 

[IrishLion]

There are still a solid core of guys that play NFL 2K5, and still customize/update rosters. And the graphics/gameplay truly do seem to hold up a bit still.

Worst case scenario, guys update NCAA 14 rosters/coaches every year, but this would eliminate the playoff from being included, as well as adding teams that aren't DI yet such as Charlotte.