EA Will Not Publish College Football Game In 2014

[TheImmortalGoud]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2013/09/26/ea-sports-ncaa-13-video-game-keller-obannon/2878307/

Video game manufacturer Electronic Arts will not publish a version of its college football game next year and it may stop doing so permanently because of litigation concerning the use of the athletes' names and likenesses, the company announced Thursday.

The company also said it is trying to settle the lawsuits that have been filed against it by former athletes. There are three such suits pending, and earlier this week the company filed documents with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to take up the two cases in which EA had suffered adverse rulings from separate panels of federal appeals court judges.

"This is as profoundly disappointing to the people who make this game as I expect it will be for the millions who enjoy playing it each year," Cam Weber, the general manager of American football for EA Sports, wrote in statement posted on the compabny's website.

The statement went on to say: "We have been stuck in the middle of a dispute between the NCAA and student-athletes who seek compensation for playing college football. Just like companies that broadcast college games and those that provide equipment and apparel, we follow rules that are set by the NCAA – but those rules are being challenged by some student-athletes. For our part, we are working to settle the lawsuits with the student-athletes. Meanwhile, the NCAA and a number of conferences have withdrawn their support of our game. The ongoing legal issues combined with increased questions surrounding schools and conferences have left us in a difficult position – one that challenges our ability to deliver an authentic sports experience, which is the very foundation of EA Sports games."

Former Arizona State and Nebraska football player Sam Keller is pursuing a presumptive class-action related to publicity rights against the NCAA, EA and the nation's leading collegiate trademark licensing firm, Collegiate Licensing Co. over the use of college athletes names and likenesses in video games. In addition, in separate cases, former Rutgers football Ryan Hart and former West Virginia football player Shawne Alston are suing EA.

EA also is a co-defendant in anti-trust case filed by a group of former and current college football and men's basketball players headed by former UCLA basketball star Ed O'Bannon.

EA this week filed motions seeking Supreme Court review of rulings in the Keller and Hart cases.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs could not be reached for immediate comment.

 

[TeflonDonny]

I'm shocked

 

[Misogi]

http://www.ea.com/news/update-on-co...w&LSsiteID=TnL5HPStwNw-7hQT8P5lUQMIUah_gbqZSg

Today I am sad to announce that we will not be publishing a new college football game next year, and we are evaluating our plan for the future of the franchise. This is as profoundly disappointing to the people who make this game as I expect it will be for the millions who enjoy playing it each year. I’d like to explain a couple of the factors that brought us to this decision.

We have been stuck in the middle of a dispute between the NCAA and student-athletes who seek compensation for playing college football. Just like companies that broadcast college games and those that provide equipment and apparel, we follow rules that are set by the NCAA – but those rules are being challenged by some student-athletes. For our part, we are working to settle the lawsuits with the student-athletes. Meanwhile, the NCAA and a number of conferences have withdrawn their support of our game. The ongoing legal issues combined with increased questions surrounding schools and conferences have left us in a difficult position – one that challenges our ability to deliver an authentic sports experience, which is the very foundation of EA SPORTS games.

At EA SPORTS, college football has always been a labor of love, and it is unfortunate that these business and legal issues have impacted our ability to make next year’s game. This franchise has been developed by a team that is deeply committed to the tradition and culture of this sport – that’s why fans have always loved it. We are working to retain the talented people who are part of the team by placing them elsewhere within the EA SPORTS organization.

In the meantime, we will continue to be connected and engaged with our fans who are playing EA SPORTS NCAA Football. Our decision does not affect our commitment to NCAA Football 14 and the consumers who love playing the game.

 

[ram29jackson]

noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Atlas]

well, on the bright side, at least next year will be the first year in a long time where we didnt get a POS offering from the EA NCAA team :dd:

 

[Sharkweather]

One year shy of having the playoff in the game too. Damnit.

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Nasty has some 'splainin to do.

He told me that EA would make a game next year.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

Hopefully some other company will step up and release one; there's certainly enough demand. But I seriously doubt we'll get one, at least not for a few years

 

[Glenbino]

Said this game was ass during the season pass free play through and was sternly rebuked by some NCAA homers here. :garbage:

Sent from my HTC6500LVW using Tapatalk 4

 

[Woy]

Knew this was coming after the NCAA ended their contract with the company.

 

[Maynard]

i dont see how this will be limited to football only when you have former BB players named in the lawsuit. I have to think EA will abandon all college games.

 

[BigBucs]

No fucks, hope Madden meets a similar fate, will be for diff reasons obviously.

 

[KnightNoles]

i dont see how this will be limited to football only when you have former BB players named in the lawsuit. I have to think EA will abandon all college games.

EA Sports discontinued its college basketball title in 2009.

2K stopped publishing college hoops titles in 2008

 

[Goober]

Lol at the Mr Bills of VSN who insisted this wouldn't happen.

 

[ryne candy]

Lawsuit has been settled. EA is out of the NCAA games at least for now but I can't see them making $ out of it any time in the near future.

Electronic Arts Inc. and Collegiate Licensing Co. settled a series of wide-ranging class-action lawsuits on Thursday afternoon regarding college players' likenesses for an undetermined amount.

The settlement will affect more than 100,000 current and former college players who have appeared in the basketball and football versions of EA Sports' video games since 2003. It was not immediately clear if the eligibility of current players will be affected by accepting settlement checks.


Prior to the settlement filing, EA announced earlier in the day it would no longer manufacture the popular football game.

“I'm disappointed in that because there should be a game,” said plaintiffs' attorney Eugene Egdorf. “All that has to happen is the NCAA allow players to be paid and there would be a game. This is Step 1 to players being paid that should.

“There will be players who play Saturday who should be paid [for their services] as they should be.”

The settlement affects lawsuits brought by former Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart, former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller and former UCLA basketball star O'Bannon. The settlement does not include the NCAA's ongoing battle with O'Bannon and other plaintiffs in the fight over the rights to player likenesses.

Essentially each player who has appeared in the football and basketball games marketed by EA in the last decade – approximately 125,000 men – are eligible for settlement money. According to court documents filed Thursday and obtained by CBSSports.com the settling parties are in the process of preparing documents for the court to approve in order to disburse the money.

The NCAA did not immediately offer a rules interpretation. In other words, would the NCAA view that money as jeopardizing current players' amateur status?

"We learned of this national settlement today," said NCAA chief legal officer Donald Remy. "We have asked for, but have not yet received, the terms so we cannot comment further."

In such class-action settlements, the monies awarded can range from very little to very large. It depends on how the money is disbursed. But those players will now be compensated by EA using their likenesses in the game without their permission. It is not known yet from the formal settlement if EA is admitting any guilt.

EA annually manufactured the popular college football game which includes the numbers – but not the names – of at least every school in FBS.

EA has maintained throughout that any none of the players' attributes or physical qualities or likenesses is based on an actual player. However, one SB Nation reader found former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow's name in Florida's playbook in the 2010 version of the football game.

As a condition of eligibility, the NCAA requires players to sign a document that guarantees the rights to their likenesses in perpetuity to the association.

Here is some background on the three main plaintiffs – Ryan Hart, Sam Keller, Ed O'Bannon.

The Hart case was filed in New Jersey. O'Bannon and Keller were consolidated in California.

In related news, CBSSports.com confirmed the NCAA is headed to mediation in a landmark concussion case.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...-of-current-former-players-eligible-for-money

 

[Playmakers]

This just opened the door for some of the most incredible Classic/fictional Team rosters ever.....I'm totally bummed by this decision but I have a few great ideas in my head to add so much replay value to this game next year. I wouldn't have the time or patience to work on regular rosters next year...but I think the VSN community can put together the best ever Classic Roster files for this series.....hell it's even possible to use this game to create USFL, CFL and NFL Teams via Team Builder for download as long as EA doesn't shut down the sites.

 

[Cornelius]

This blows. I don't even buy Madden anymore cause it sucks ass. I only like this game. Maybe I'll go back to the last year they had character issues in players.

 

[ram29jackson]

 

[NAHSTE]

:crying:

 

[CCBrink]

Going the way of CH2k8