*laughs at Sega*

[TheGame]

September 05, 2003 - In what could only be described as a surprise move, and only a couple of days after the release of ESPN NFL Football, ESPN and the team behind the show ESPN NFL Matchup have decided to team with EA Sports and Madden NFL 2004 over their own brand of games, turning their back on their gaming partner and officially changing the name of their show to the EA Sports NFL Matchup.
Produced by NFL Films and starring Suzy Kolber, Ron Jaworski, and Merrill Hoge, the show is now entering its 10th season. For the first time, however, there will be a feature called The EA Sports Analysis where the hosts will talk strategy and matchups using footage exclusively from Madden NFL 2004. Viewers will also be able to email questions to the hosts via easports.com. Each week, one question will be answered on air at the end of the show.

"We are very excited about the marriage of NFL Matchup and EA Sports," said Jaworski. "The graphics in Madden NFL 2004 are so realistic and in some ways it's better than watching the coaches video that I break down on a weekly basis."

What this says about the relationship between ESPN and Sega, or as they now like to refer to themselves, ESPN Videogames, is left open to interpretation.

One thing's for sure: Looks like money is the only loyalty left in the world...or at least the world of sports and sports video games.

-- Jon Robinson

http://sports.ign.com/articles/436/436953p1.html

[PuPPeT]

September 05, 2003 - In what could only be described as a surprise move, and only a couple of days after the release of ESPN NFL Football, ESPN and the team behind the show ESPN NFL Matchup have decided to team with EA Sports and Madden NFL 2004 over their own brand of games, turning their back on their gaming partner and officially changing the name of their show to the EA Sports NFL Matchup.
Produced by NFL Films and starring Suzy Kolber, Ron Jaworski, and Merrill Hoge, the show is now entering its 10th season. For the first time, however, there will be a feature called The EA Sports Analysis where the hosts will talk strategy and matchups using footage exclusively from Madden NFL 2004. Viewers will also be able to email questions to the hosts via easports.com. Each week, one question will be answered on air at the end of the show.

"We are very excited about the marriage of NFL Matchup and EA Sports," said Jaworski. "The graphics in Madden NFL 2004 are so realistic and in some ways it's better than watching the coaches video that I break down on a weekly basis."

What this says about the relationship between ESPN and Sega, or as they now like to refer to themselves, ESPN Videogames, is left open to interpretation.

One thing's for sure: Looks like money is the only loyalty left in the world...or at least the world of sports and sports video games.

-- Jon Robinson

http://sports.ign.com/articles/436/436953p1.html

I just can't see why thats so funny me self! But hey If i was ESPN I would have jumped ship a long time before this as Sega has really really lost it. If some one don't buy them it could all be over for yet another Old Skool Gaming name.

[Jonbo298]

I will make a new curse and call it the "ESPN Curse". Konami got the license and they lost it, then Sega got it and lost it, now it seems that EA has it. I wonder what's next.......

(I can't remember any previous companies that had the ESPN license, but feel free to name them:))

[Jason1]

Just another sad example of the superior franchise getting the shaft, because of money and name recognition. Tis a sad world we live in.

[TheGame]

superior? That's why ESPN NFL football got worse scores than Madden everywhere... and Madden has been around longer and it sells better. Everything about Madden around this time is better :D

(ah it feels good to use that as a defense after 3 years ;))

[Perfect Stu]

Just another sad example of the superior franchise getting the shaft, because of money and name recognition. Tis a sad world we live in.

EA earned money
EA earned name recognation

Kudos to EA...I think, essentially, that they DID beat ESPN Football in the sales race before it began...but they put themselves in that position. http://www.gametavern.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif for Electronic Arts :D

[Jason1]

and Madden has been around longer and it sells better. Everything about Madden around this time is better :D

;))


And that makes it a better game right? You sound like a casual gamer.

[Joeiss]

Did you not read what he said before? All of the ratings were pro-Madden.

[DeathsHand]

http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=ikaruga

Ikaruga is one of those games that comes along, kicks incomprehensible amounts of ass, but nobody notices because everyone's too busy playing dog **** football games. I don't get it: they re-package the same ****ty football games every year, update a few stats, call it a new game and millions of suckers keep buying them. What's the point? Why not just go outside and play real football instead? Or even better yet, get bent. Nobody likes football.

Sorry I just find that very funny... Though I don't know if Ikaruga is infact a good game... :sneaky:

And I enjoy football games... just not buying it every single year at a full 50 bucks... I bought Madden 2002 at full price... It was ok... Was thinking of buying NFL2K3 for 8 bucks... but didn't get around to doing so... I rented it awhile back, it was better...

Conclusion: I like the NFL2K/ESPN football series better than Madden... :sneaky: :sneaky: :sneaky:

[TheGame]

And that makes it a better game right? You sound like a casual gamer.

lol... funny that you didn't quote the most important line of my post...