March 22, 2005 - In a move first reported by IGN Sports on Monday , the NBA announced new licensing deals with EA Sports, Take-Two Interactive, Midway, Sony, and Atari to develop, publish and distribute NBA videogames.
"The deals are non-exclusive, and we feel that under these agreements we will be able to offer our fans the most diverse assortment of videogames on the market and continue to inspire the creativity that we believe has been one of the primary reasons why our video game business will continue to grow," said Sal LaRocca, Senior Vice President, NBA Global Merchandising Group. "They are multi-year deals beginning this fall and continuing for multiple years."
In terms of 5-on-5 simulations, Sony, EA Sports, and Take-Two Interactive will all compete with new titles on a yearly basis, Atari will continue to publish Backyard Basketball, while NBA Ballers and NBA Street will alternate years to provide arcade hoop fans a new experience every season.
"In the ongoing quest to create the best possible videogame," continued LaRocca, "the competition in the category we believe has fueled companies to create great games."
"This is a great day for NBA gamers," said Adam Silver, NBA Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer. "By partnering with the top developers of sports videogames, our fans will be assured a broad and competitive selection of innovative products."
Industry influencers and insiders agree.
"We are extremely pleased with the commitment of the NBA to preserve competition and provide sports fans with choice," said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts. "At the heart of 2K Sports is a passion for innovation and the desire to make the best titles possible. With our proven ability to make outstanding video games and our understanding of the nuances of basketball, we will work to fully leverage current and new video game platforms to provide a gaming experience that rivals what an NBA player experiences on the court."
And Thomas was not alone.
"As a platform holder and software developer, we are very pleased with the NBA's decision to create a competitive environment for league licensed basketball games." said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America "Sony Computer Entertainment America has always championed competition and diversity on our platforms and we believe that the new deals with the NBA will lead to better choices for our consumers and that innovation will attract new consumers to the category."
Collectively, the deals are said to be worth over $400 million, but that's not to say the NBA wasn't tempted by the exclusivity bug that has caught the NFL and MLB.
"We did have discussions with current licensees of ours," said Greg Lassen, Senior Director, NBA Electronic and Interactive. "And even some who are not current licensees of ours about what an exclusive arrangement would look like. And when we looked at where we thought our business would get to in an exclusive deal, we just felt that remaining in this capacity was the best way to move forward. So we did in fact consider exclusivity, both within the current licensing family and outside of that."
In the end, though, just like the NBA itself, competition is king, and King James will continue to rise toward the rim in all of your favorite basketball titles for years to come.
Forget "I love this game," the NBA's new slogan should read: "I love these games!"
In terms of 5-on-5 simulations, Sony, EA Sports, and Take-Two Interactive will all compete with new titles on a yearly basis, Atari will continue to publish Backyard Basketball, while NBA Ballers and NBA Street will alternate years to provide arcade hoop fans a new experience every season.
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"In the ongoing quest to create the best possible videogame," continued LaRocca, "the competition in the category we believe has fueled companies to create great games."
"This is a great day for NBA gamers," said Adam Silver, NBA Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer. "By partnering with the top developers of sports videogames, our fans will be assured a broad and competitive selection of innovative products."
Industry influencers and insiders agree.
"We are extremely pleased with the commitment of the NBA to preserve competition and provide sports fans with choice," said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts. "At the heart of 2K Sports is a passion for innovation and the desire to make the best titles possible. With our proven ability to make outstanding video games and our understanding of the nuances of basketball, we will work to fully leverage current and new video game platforms to provide a gaming experience that rivals what an NBA player experiences on the court."
And Thomas was not alone.
"As a platform holder and software developer, we are very pleased with the NBA's decision to create a competitive environment for league licensed basketball games." said Jack Tretton, executive vice president, Sony Computer Entertainment America "Sony Computer Entertainment America has always championed competition and diversity on our platforms and we believe that the new deals with the NBA will lead to better choices for our consumers and that innovation will attract new consumers to the category."
Collectively, the deals are said to be worth over $400 million, but that's not to say the NBA wasn't tempted by the exclusivity bug that has caught the NFL and MLB.
"We did have discussions with current licensees of ours," said Greg Lassen, Senior Director, NBA Electronic and Interactive. "And even some who are not current licensees of ours about what an exclusive arrangement would look like. And when we looked at where we thought our business would get to in an exclusive deal, we just felt that remaining in this capacity was the best way to move forward. So we did in fact consider exclusivity, both within the current licensing family and outside of that."
 |
In the end, though, just like the NBA itself, competition is king, and King James will continue to rise toward the rim in all of your favorite basketball titles for years to come.
Forget "I love this game," the NBA's new slogan should read: "I love these games!"
