http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=6209923


Can't believe no one had posted this!!!! This is big news guys, so what shalll EA do now since they own the license to SF, but Zuffa is going to be the new owner.

Wow! Does this mean we'll finally see Fedor in the UFC?

No.

Strikeforce will still be its' own league.

technically ufc owns fedor hahahaha.

people on sherdog are worried how this will effect or is it affect??? ea:mma2.

In a shocking development today UFC parent Zuffa has agreed in principle to purchase struggling rival MMA promotion Strikeforce. The official announcement is expected to come on Monday.


Though EA Sports has publicly vowed to develop EA Sports MMA 2 this news could bury the potential sequel. Strikeforce represented the main branding for the game, the majority of the roster was made up of fighters from the promotion, and the television broadcasts acted as the main marketing opportunity.


What isn’t clear for the time being is how the contracts with Strikeforce as well as individual fighters will be handled. It is possible that the contracts were made for longer than just one year, but if that is the case then the UFC may now own all of them. Obviously the UFC would squash any attempts to use those fighters in a rival game to their Undisputed series.


Needless to say EA Sports’ attempts to work their way into the MMA market may have proven all for naught. That is unfortunate given the quality of the first effort and its potential going forward as well as THQ’s track record when they have the market to themselves. UFC recently extended their exclusive license partnership with THQ through 2018.


(Update) Despite early comments about the two promotions largely acting separately and current contracts being unaffected make no mistake about it, there is now no longterm viability for an EA Sports MMA. That is why they’d be likely to cut their losses sooner rather than later.

Droges wrote:Needless to say EA Sports’ attempts to work their way into the MMA market may have proven all for naught. That is unfortunate given the quality of the first effort and its potential going forward as well as THQ’s track record when they have the market to themselves. UFC recently extended their exclusive license partnership with THQ through 2018.

1st off nice find Droges

2nd This is what all of us should watch, this statement above. That is the scariest thing for us MMA video Game fans. What do i mean?? EA MMA, whether you admit, hate, etc etc. made THQ push their release of UFC Undisputed 2011 to 2012. They saw the effort EA MMA released, and it created competition. How does this affect you?? If EA MMA decides to 'cut their losses' and relinquish their hold of EA MMA and Zuffa garners rights for THQ to include Strikeforce fighters, Unless you are a Huge UFC Undisputed fan, we are in for the Same thing that's happened to football on video game consoles.

How So??Madden holds the rights to the NFL til 2013? or 2015? can't remember, if you guys need hard data i'll supply. Which in essence means, that no other football game can garner NFL names, teams, etc etc. Backbreaker was a breathe of fresh air, but it didn't catch wind because there was no recognizable names, teams, etc. Madden and NCAA essentially have no competition, ie. what UFC Undisputed would be faced with. Madden and NCAA (yes i buy and play but hate that this is my only option) only supplement small changes each year, they know customers will buy either way because there are no other options. How many of us madden/ncaa fans have been complaining about the running motions? Looks like their gliding on the field if you haven't seen, this year it was a ground breaking solution, they implemented the new running motion, which only made the guy look like he was highstepping.

They don't have to implement new features as vigorously as if they'd have competition. Each year its the same game with only a few new enhancement. This year looks like they're implementing dreads and new "grass" (tune in to easports.com/ncaa tmw they supposedly have new info) So UFC 'wont' push the game back a year to fix problems that shouldn't have even been in that version. They won't have competition, therefore the strides we seen them take won't be there. I think thats a scary thought if we'll only have UFC Undisputed and MMA Supremacy (i think thats the name)..sigh..our days are numbered lol

Nice Find though droges, sorry guys i had to rant lol but i think if you look at Madden/NCAA (ea's track record) and how THQ is pretty much the same with WWE/ETC ETC.. this is something to worry about

Some Notes from press confrence

Elbows now legal on ground in strikeforce

The Finals of the heavyweight grand prix might be on PPV

Showtime controls who the Annoucers are for strikeforce

Despite what was said yesterday,They will make fights people want to see even if it means Champion vs Champion

Strikeforce will still use the Hexagon

Expect more international shows

ovfd55 wrote:Some Notes from press confrence

Elbows now legal on ground in strikeforce

The Finals of the heavyweight grand prix might be on PPV

Showtime controls who the Annoucers are for strikeforce

Despite what was said yesterday,They will make fights people want to see even if it means Champion vs Champion

Strikeforce will still use the Hexagon

Expect more international shows

Thanks for the update ovfd, the elbow situation makes it more intereting, so excited about that. And yea, i know dana was bs'n about the business as usual stuff. As soon as strikeforce's contract with Showtime is over, All you know what is gonna break lose

contract with showtime runs out in 2014 so 3 years away

So EA MMA is fucked. THQ is a joke gaming company when it comes to sport games. EA Sports makes the best lets face it. Only reason why they on license rights to the NFL is because no other gaming company can compete with them when it comes to sports. Dana the little fucking stubborn prick should realize this SOB imma have to play fucking Fight NIGHT again just to play a decent fucking fighting game. As much as I like Dana, there is still a lot I hate about him. Thanks for fucking up a wonderful game you fuck.

ele25 wrote:Only reason why they on license rights to the NFL is because no other gaming company can compete with them when it comes to sports.

This statement is true to an extent. 2K Sports released NFL 2k5 and all you know what broke lose. Not only was the product better, it was cheaper, retailing in at 19.99. What does EA do?? They by the studio that made the game, and fire or "laid off" the members. NCAA hasn't had proper competition since College Gameday back on the ps1.

2K has decimated competition basketball wise. After 2k released NBA 2k11, NBA (can't remember the new name they gave for the franchise) released, oh NBA Elite, few weeks later they pulled the product because sales were dropping rapidly, buyers weren't satisfied, and 2k11 was plain and simply the best product. Also the reason why they won't be releasing anymore NCAA College basketball reboots and until last year, NHL 2k was defeating NHL miserably.

No one else can make a suitble boxing game, so our only option is fight night. EA stopped making nascar, Tennis is dominated by 2K, Golf is another one no one else makes besides EA because they own the most touted marketing figure in Golf. So i'd say the only games they truly dominate, Outside of EA MMA, are the games that no one else has the license to compete or just no other alternatives/competitors.

I have been Playing Madden since Madden 98. Compared to others games I have played Madden always seemed to take the cake. There were a few the competed with it that I enjoyed. For NCAA I dont play college football games as much as I used to but NCAA does capture the College Football environment. When I go play at the SWAMP, Jordan-Hare Stadium or even Braynt-Dent stadium the environment is amazing. They really capture those stadiums impressive feeling.

Comparing THQ to EA is not even fair to THQ. What is the only legitimate game they make now? I think they make the WWE games if I am right. Why even be associated with them then. What THQ did for the most part was take the gaming engine from those games and modify it for MMA. That did it really cheap and we can see that with UFC 2010. EA MMA did take some mechanics from Fight Night but why not? That is possibly the best realistic fighting game on the market. We all remember how Don King boxing game worked out. Not to well. Point EA sports provides some of the best sport games on the Market. If you look at there titles and there success there is no reason why to take away from it. Fight Night, Madden, NCAA, Tiger Woods come on I am sorry but Dana trusting the UFC's name with THQ and as well as MMA is not going to work out in the long run. EA MMA did force UFC Undisputed to hold of a year before coming out with a new one. I wonder what statement that makes.

This sucks, and I hope EA does not cut their loses and fold out of MMA. I think Dana should reconsider his contract with THQ, and possibly extend that to EA Sports. Then it is a win for Dana, and EA. MMA fans don't get stuck with a shit game developer and a shit game.


I think Dana will not do this though, considering he would lose money for voiding with THQ (even though he still would be fine) and paying EA Sports to make the new UFC game.



Only way I could see him doing that, was if there was a petition of MMA gamers, that ask him to change developers for a better quality name.....


Oh I wish, I wish

BlazedGonzo wrote:This sucks, and I hope EA does not cut their loses and fold out of MMA. I think Dana should reconsider his contract with THQ, and possibly extend that to EA Sports. Then it is a win for Dana, and EA. MMA fans don't get stuck with a shit game developer and a shit game.


I think Dana will not do this though, considering he would lose money for voiding with THQ (even though he still would be fine) and paying EA Sports to make the new UFC game.



Only way I could see him doing that, was if there was a petition of MMA gamers, that ask him to change developers for a better quality name.....


Oh I wish, I wish

Good Idea. Lets start one up if this is the case

Dana seems to listen to twitter lets all follow him and bug him to death til ea gets it

He could keep both franchises going without any impact to his bottom line.

Keep his ufc contract with Thq (which is to bad)

and

Also allow Ea: MMA to produce strike force again.

He is not breaking his contract and can cash in on both games
Atleast we get ea:mma2.

I am sure that wouldn't happen though.

Ya I feel the same way ele about FN, thats the next best.

I used to play FN anyways..so..it is not like i wont be missing anything.

If you guys are up we could start one heck of a petition birthed by Us at OMMA. We'd have to do a little research, find out if EA MMA is indeed in trouble before we start. Nothing would be more embarrassing then us getting (insert amount) of signatures and name only for Dana to release he wasn't going to cut EA MMA 2 out.

I say he let EA have a shot at developing UFC too. Think this, Strikeforce and UFC, along with Mystic in career mode. The roster could, in essence, be the most decorated in MMA game history, we'd have over 100 fights FOR REAL, instead of multiple guys fighting in multiple weight divisions, along with the addition of the lighter weight classes and hopefully women next outing.

This is going to get interesting though, because i think out of spite, Dana is going to cancel EA MMA 2. I'm praying not, but something has me feeling this isn't going to bode well for us guys.

Either way, we'll have to keep our eyes posted, this could be a call to all MMA video gaming leagues to voice our united voice, I mean us Along with OFC, UOC, UFF, and all the other various promotions are pretty much the voices for this game. UFC Undisputed 2010 was based off the fans, EA MMA --FANS, and who are those fans?? US, those whom make up these leagues. Everyone keep your eyes posted.

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/5435443.page#12857122

pretty good, well written argument over what we're discussing here. You guys should take a look,and if you have a EA account you should reply

Love how he says you get back and forth battle in EA MMA. it is true. Never had them in UFC 2010.

In UFC 2009 I had a lot but only with one person my cousin. Who are really big MMA fans and fight smart and understand the sport. We fight for realism man if you could see those fight your mouths would literally drop. He catch me with a HK and drop me I recover get him in clinch get him in the ground...UFC 2009 was great for me and him. Bee trying to make him get EA MMA so he can fight with us here.

of course I want him in Fight Force. haha.

charles, can post some some of what the ea forum stated.. blocked at work and interested in what it said.

Droges wrote:charles, can post some some of what the ea forum stated.. blocked at work and interested in what it said.

NaturalSlacker wrote:To all the guys at EA-T, seriously thanks for a great experience. There are gripes with the game, as there always are, but for alot of us faithful MMA fans out there it has been and is a blast.

From all the sweet features like fight cards to replays and all the different rule sets, you guys said you were aiming to represent MMA as the global sport that it is(was is probobly the better term as of recent news with Zuffa/SF) and I feel you guys succeeded with flying colors, especially for a first try; the effort and attention to detail that is geared towards the hardcore fans was a huge treat.

The overhauls to gameplay through patches, from listening to the community about stats to adjusting the game to be as exploit-free as possible is greatly appreciated, at least by me.

Not everyone agrees with the patched changes, others feel alot of things were done right with a few bumps here and there, but regardless, I think the major changes are a testement to the rocognition you guys have given to the community.

The community, myself included, might have been hard on you guys, but that only shows that there is a real passion for the game you guys created. We wanted it to be the best it could be and lately you guys have proven that you were listening the whole time and wanted to deliver the best you could deliver.