With all the naysaying going on about how the videogame market is in decline, and there's no innovation in the market, I was starting to lose my faith early on this year. However, once the DS, Halo 2, and games like Katamari Damacy made their way into our hands, I regained that faith that I had that the industry would pull through, and that good games, no matter what their origins or quirkiness might be, would be played and would be recognized my intelligent gamers everywhere.
Well, that's the way everything was until Monday. Then EA had to go and shit on my heart.
I could go into much more detail about this, but I'm not going to. You can get that on other websites, and it's the same thing you've heard everywhere else. It's horrible for the industry, it's horrible for innovation, and it's horrible for the gamer. Want to play an NFL game next year? Alright, fork over $60 for Madden 2006, plus the $10-$20 per month fee for online gaming on top of that. You don't want to pay it? Fine, but good luck playing another NFL game on any system until 2010.
EA Games: Challenge Nothing, Buy Everything.
EA Sports: It's REALLY going to be all the same.
My only hope is that this bolsters the ESPN crew, and makes them put out the finest football game ever conceived by man. Whether it has the NFL License or not, if they put out the best football game ever, and I mean hands-down ever, then I don't think people will be able to ignore it. I'd hate to see ESPN football get relegated to Winning Eleven status, but sadly, unless something changes, that's probably what's going to happen.
So once again, look forward to our E3 coverage this coming May for the exclusive video coverage of when I sneak up behind an EA rep. and punch him in the face. I'm certain I won't be the only one with this idea, either.
-Jack
