Fireside Chat: NCAA's Future

In wake of the NCAA’s recent decision to end relations with EA, Jeff and I talk about what’s next for the gaming franchise.

The NCAA’s decision to part ways with EA does not leave them high and dry as they still are allowed to create a college football game complete with the teams, conferences, etc., just without mention of the NCAA, it’s logo’s or any direct reference to it.

Although this won’t destroy EA’s collegiate juggernaut, it gives the NCAA the option to license another developer the rights. Our conversation all started with Jeff Smith’s question of “What studio should get the rights next?”

Henry Hollaway: Man, that’s tough. I’d have to say ultimately EA have sports titles almost in a monopoly. Think of a studio that’s released a sports title in the past 3 years that’s as good as an EA one, if at all.

Jeff Smith: Other than Sony’s MLB team.

Henry Hollaway: Yeah, Sony San Diego. I mean, EA has invested so much money it would be tough for a studio to come out with the same sort of realism that has already been brought to the table, let alone any sort of upgrade besides graphically

Jeff Smith: Totally. That’s not to say some studios wouldn’t love the chance.

Henry: Of course, there would just be some growing pains there. I understand that there have been some problems with EA and courts with player-likeness suits, but if the NCAA wants their brand out there I feel that EA is there best chance.

Jeff: Activision would love it. Yearly franchise, big money, and I’m sure they have a studio or two that could pump out a game every 12 months.

Henry: Haha, they would and that would be insane, both Call of Duty and NCAA? Oh lordy. It would be great to see another studio try their hand at a football game, the last non-exclusive title we saw came from Sega by way of the 2K series, which was giving EA a run for their money before they gained the rights.

2K's inevitable reign was halted by exclusivity,
2K Sport’s inevitable reign was halted by exclusivity.

Jeff: They tried an annualized NASCAR series and it doesn’t look like they want to keep it going.

Editor’s note: That NASCAR game was awful.

Henry: Well NASCAR isn’t a huge seller for gaming, when racing games work they support a console, when they don’t they really don’t.

Jeff: We know Activision wouldn’t mind a sports game.

Henry: If Activision got their hands on NCAA that would be insane, but as much as I’d like to see what they could do, I’d like to see a larger studio come out with subsidiary just for the franchise. Someone that we wouldn’t expect, because I feel that these games just need a big breath of fresh air and only an entirely new studio could give that, not a studio that’s just making the last game again because they don’t want to risk the brand too much.

Jeff: Yeah, I see what you mean.

Henry: Maybe 2K makes a football return. In any case, like I said before, I don’t believe rights will fall to one studio. We very well could end up back in the days where there are multiple sports titles for the same sport by different developers.

Jeff: That would be pretty nice for the consumer. The landscape has changed heavily. It would be interesting to see how different multiple sports games would be today.

Henry: Heaven knows it wasn’t hurting the genres progress, seeing as there was actually competition and EA has basically released the same game with minor tweaks over the years. It would be nice to get back to the point of having real NFL teams in NFL Blitz again haha. And seeing developers play off of each others ideas, I loved knowing that they were trying to one-up each other every year with innovation.

[End]

Nostalgia: Bears versus literal Broncos.
Nostalgia: Bears vs. literal Broncos.

What do you think? Should the rights be given to someone like Activision or should they be given to someone new? Maybe you think that the rights shouldn’t be given to anyone at all and that competition should reign once again! Either way let us know your opinion in the comments below.

Editors note: It’s expected that EA Sports will release a college football game next year, as they still have the rights for the teams. 

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
Pocket
Email
Tumblr
Final Checkpoint Podcast
Full Circle Podcast
Latest Posts

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Email
WhatsApp

Recent Posts

The LG transparent tv from CES displayed in a high rise apartment CES

LG at CES 2025

Every year CES comes around and every year, LG has a great booth. They may be one of the most consistent companies when it comes to showing technology at the ...
Six Days in Fallujah Key Art. Two soldiers preparing for breech Features

Real Warfare with Six Days in Fallujah

Six Days in Fallujah was originally announced in 2009. It is a first-person shooter based on the 2004 conflict in Iraq. It was met with much opposition because it is ...
The Mad Catz M.2.X Pro Force Feedback racing wheel Gaming

Level Up You Racing Experience With the Mad Catz M.2.X. Pro Racing Wheel

Mad Catz, the company known for their fight sticks, is releasing a new force feedback racing wheel. The Mad Catz M.2.X. Pro force feedback racing wheel is the perfect plug-and-play ...
Three fortnite character overlooking the map Features

How Fortnite Hurt The Gaming Industry

When Fortnite was initially released in 2017, it was a PVE defense game that didn’t seem like it would be around for long. With the growing popularity of games in ...
Master Chief holding his helmet. Halo Infinite Features

What Halo Infinite Should Have Been

https://youtu.be/Cagxj2RchQI?si=_fFf3fs_fsh7d0Fq Many people have a gaming franchise that changed their life in some way. I have life-long friendships that have been formed while playing games like Mario Kart and Golden ...
Gaming News

Should You Buy A Meta Quest 3S?

https://youtu.be/EVSbA2Yxx2k?si=G2KXmPguAB_45u5n Meta recencetly heald their Meta Connect conference and announced some excited things if you’re into VR and AR. The Meta Quest 2 was once the hottest item in their ...