Moore was quick to point out that it wasn't Electronic Arts that asked for the exclusive deal, but rather the NFL which was seeking a single licensee. He said that EA feels that licensing remains an important part of adding realism to their sports titles and that he can't imagine a time when they wouldn't seek them.

Yesterday I posted more of a plea than a story, asking Tecmo not to F-up their return to the beloved football franchise Tecmo Bowl and it seems that most of you were with me. Heck, I even received a private email with assurances that things would remain F-up free. And for the most part, it seems that that is the case.

But Stephen Totilo IMed me this morning to point out what he's found out about the upcoming game, most of which sounds great, some of which... OK one of which, is not so much.

First of all, I’m told that this game isn’t a new 3D re-invention. It’s a classic 2D game.

I’ve also learned that the game won’t include any NFL teams or players, due to EA having the licenses locked up. It won’t include retired players either, and that includes “Tecmo Super Bowl” icon Bo Jackson.

No Bo? Say it ain't so!

Hit up the link to read Tecmo's take on what you should think of Tecmo Bowl Kickoff.

Tecmo: No Bo Jackson, No NFL For New ‘Tecmo Bowl’ — But Still Faithfully Old-School [MTV Multiplayer]

Dungy was the first African-American coach to ever win a Super Bowl when the Colts saw victory in 2007. He's been with the Colts since 2001, and has won 70 regular season games since his arrival. In a Game Daily interview, Dungy said that he hopes the game will help prepare young people who are looking for a career in coaching football.

Hey, it makes more sense than training to become a football player by playing Madden!

EA ANNOUNCES NFL HEAD COACH 09 Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy Will Grace the Cover of NFL Licensed Strategy Game REDWOOD CITY, Calif., - February 26, 2008 - Put on your headset, grab your clipboard and see if you have what it takes to be a head coach in the National Football League. Today, Electronic Arts Inc, (NASDAQ: ERTS) announces NFL Head Coach 09, featuring Indianapolis Colts' head coach Tony Dungy on the game's cover. Released under the EA SPORTS™ brand, NFL Head Coach 09 is a unique NFL experience that gives gamers the power to make decisions that define their career and ultimately the fate of their franchise as a head coach in the NFL. "In NFL Head Coach 09, the gamer has complete control of their franchise's destiny," says NFL Head Coach 09 Executive Producer Jeremy Strauser. "From draft day to game day, the gamers' decisions impact their team's success and make or break a team's road to the Super Bowl." In 2007, Dungy became the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl when the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Chicago Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI. Since Dungy's arrival to Indianapolis in 2001, the Colts have earned six playoff berths and have won more than 70 regular-season games. Dungy has an impressive .661 winning percentage as a head coach over the past 12 seasons. NFL Head Coach 09 provides a complete NFL experience, offering a variety of different ways to control an NFL franchise, on and off the field, in-season and off-season. With strategic game planning features, NFL Head Coach 09 places gamers in the coach's seat by allowing gamers to comprehensively scout the opponent, build playbooks, and develop a team that will adapt to the philosophy and system of an NFL franchise. The sideline is your playing field in NFL Head Coach 09 - gamers can make adjustments to plays and game strategies in an instant. The outcome of every game depends on game-time decisions made on the sideline. Success depends on proper preparation and knowledge of the opposing teams' strategies, as well as expert and timely play calling. Developed in Orlando, Florida by EA Tiburon, NFL Head Coach 09 will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360™ video game system from Microsoft.

EA SPORTS™ is the leading interactive sports software brand in the world, with top-selling titles and franchises including Madden NFL Football, FIFA Soccer, NHL hockey, NBA LIVE basketball, NCAAFootball, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR and NASCAR racing.

Electronic Arts sent out the official release this afternoon confirming that they have extended their exclusive license with the NFL and NFL Players Association through the 2012 season, which ends in Feb. 2013. Not a whole lot new here from my interview with Peter Moore about the deal.

There are these two lovely quotes from the two organizations:

"This is all about bringing authenticity and realism to NFL videogames," said Eric Grubman, President of NFL Ventures. "EA SPORTS continually works to maintain the cutting edge for NFL products across a variety of gaming platforms. We like the fact that they never rest."

"This is great news and it means we can continue to produce the best interactive experience possible. It also allows NFL PLAYERS, the NFL and EA to continue to build our brands," said Gene Upshaw, Chairman of NFL PLAYERS and Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association. "We offer a very unique experience. "

No mention of the cost to EA for the deal, something Moore also declined to tell me in our talk last night. I'm still confused about why the NFL would seek an exclusive deal instead of selling the rights to a number of publishers. Maybe they want to keep a better handle on how their license is used? Full release on the jump with more Mooreisms.

EA EXTENDS INTERACTIVE VIDEOGAME AGREEMENTS WITH NFL AND NFL PLAYERS

Exclusive Agreements Renewed Through 2012 Season

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - February 12, 2008 - Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS) today announced an extension of its exclusive licensing relationships with the National Football League and NFL PLAYERS to develop, publish and distribute interactive football video games. These agreements - which were negotiated separately and are extensions of contracts originally signed in December 2004 - provide EA continued rights to NFL teams, stadiums and players for its critically-acclaimed and best-selling football videogames through the end of the 2012 season, which culminates in February 2013.

Both agreements include all aspects of the interactive experience, including console and handheld games as well as console-based online features. The agreements also provide EA access to both NFL Films and the NFL Network to enrich its game experiences. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

"This is all about bringing authenticity and realism to NFL videogames," said Eric Grubman, President of NFL Ventures. "EA SPORTS continually works to maintain the cutting edge for NFL products across a variety of gaming platforms. We like the fact that they never rest."

"This is great news and it means we can continue to produce the best interactive experience possible. It also allows NFL PLAYERS, the NFL and EA to continue to build our brands," said Gene Upshaw, Chairman of NFL PLAYERS and Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association. "We offer a very unique experience. "

"We are excited about the opportunity to extend and expand our relationships with the NFL and NFL PLAYERS," said Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS™. "For nearly two decades, EA SPORTS has been bringing sports fans closer to the great game of football through the breakthrough interactive experiences of our videogames. Game quality is our top priority, and we're committed to pushing our gameplay innovation, connecting football fans via rich online experiences and delivering the most visually stunning sports games on the market."

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2008, EA's Madden NFL franchise has consistently been one of the videogame industry's best-selling and top-rated products, generating more than $2 billion in retail sales. Madden NFL 08 earned awards from the 2007 Game Critics Awards at the E3 Media and Business Summit, The SpikeTV Video Game Awards, and the GameSpot Readers Choice Awards last year. The game is available on the PLAYSTATION®3 and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems, Xbox 360™ and Xbox® videogame and entertainment systems from Microsoft, Nintendo DS™, Wii™, PC, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, mobile handsets and Mac. EA also produces the arcade-football game NFL Tour which hit stores in January 2008, and NFL Head Coach, which was released in 2006. EA SPORTS recently hosted Madden Bowl XIV in Scottsdale, Ariz., as part of Super Bowl XLII festivities.

Both agreements grant exclusive rights for action simulation, arcade-style and manager games on the PC, handheld game devices and consoles.

Electronic Arts today announced that they've extended their exclusive agreement with the NFL and the Players Association for another three years, meaning the publisher has the only agreement in place with the league for creating licensed football games through the 2012/2013 season.

"We've just completed a period of renegotiations with the NFL for a three year extension of our current deal," Peter Moore said in an interview with Kotaku. He added that Electronic Arts plans to expand that license to include games beyond Madden, including, potentially, a fantasy football title.

Moore said had they not locked down the NFL license soon the publisher would have had to start making decisions about "redeploying" the team who would have been starting work on Madden 2010 in eight months or so.

Moore declined to comment directly on rumors that Electronic Arts has been in talks with the NBA to land a similar exclusive deal, but he did say it wasn't the way EA operates.

"The deal we had with the NFL it was instigated by the NFL, it wasn't EA going after them," he said. "The NFL tendered for the exclusive license and EA bid on the license."

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Madden a franchise that Moore said has a "legacy of innovation" and one he says will continue to innovate.

I asked Moore if the Madden franchise might ever make the leap from retail distribution to digital, perhaps episodic distribution and he said not anytime soon.

"Sports has that opportunity... to have levels or different types of teams delivered digitally, but I think we are a long way away from that," he said. "The model we currently have, where we have the game on the disc and updates every few weeks and some micro-transactions works for us. We continue to look at that, but we're still away from truly episodic."

Moore said that EA is looking at making a bigger push in the fantasy football arena.

"We do have a fantasy product, but we haven't been able to break through with it," he said. "I think there is an opportunity to bring our 3D engine to fantasy in the future."

Moore said he also feels there is potential for Madden broadening its and football's reach in Europe, something that is one of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell commitments for the year.

"It's never goint to challenge soccer (in Europe) let's be clear, but I think there's enough Americana in the game that there will be this fascination for people to watch it," he said. "A great number of consumers have been introduced to sports through video games. My son learned most of the games he plays now through games like Madden or World Series baseball."

In any case, she has two blogs, and the second, 'Such Things That Never Was', deals with games that never came out. Her latest post discusses the somewhat forgotten 'Road To Sunday' non-licensed football games planned by Sony back in 2005, and boy, this was crazier than I recalled - sadly, both games were cancelled:

Road to Sunday was the football/fighting cross where a football owner, his partner, and his team have to the owner's father's debt to a Jamaican kingpin, and that debt is now his because the father was killed in a mysterious explosion. You brawled in the Santa Monica Pier, Griffith Observatory, a game show set, tunnels under the White House, outside the Mann's Grauman Chinese Theatre, Sepulveda Dam, the Alamo, Los Angeles River, The Encounter Restaurant, subway tunnels, yacht floors, and a surf shop.

And, of course, we wish the best for the Young family following this saddening news. You're in our thoughts and prayers. Michael McWhertor

Althought not officially confirmed, Nashville's The City Paper is reporting that Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young will be the featured player for EA's next NFL title.

Well, Vince had a good run. Congrats, Mr. Young, and I wish you a speedy recovery! Michael McWhertor

Young to grace cover of Madden '08 [The City Paper via NeoGAF]

The Madden Curse, if you're unfamiliar or too lazy to click to the rich Wikipedia entry on the subject, supposedly dooms that years Madden cover athlete with either poor performance or season ruining injuries. Last year's featured player Shaun Alexander suffered a fracture in his foot in the first game of the year, keeping him out for nearly half the season.

In an effort to keep Ladainian Tomlinson from suffering the same fate, fans have put together the web site SaveLTFromMadden.com with a petition to urge EA to keep their MVP from harm. Fortunately, petitions always work, so I'd say he's gonna be okay.

Anyone remember the Joe Montana Sportstalk Football curse? Players who appeared on the cover would be cursed with thinning hair and earned millions of dollars! Not as horrifying. Michael McWhertor

Chargers fans plead to keep LT off Madden cover [Gamespot]

Newsweek's N'Gai Croal spent the weekend hanging out in Miami checking out the Electronic Arts affair leading up to this year's Super Bowl.

With EA monopolizing the rights to make NFL-branded games, this was it in the way of video game related Super Bowl happenings. That's right. no more Sony sponsored Game Before the Game. Instead we had Sony's Challenge a Playmate event, featuring Madden. And we had Microsoft's Madden Bowl 2007.

Croal says EA insists it is working to change their tone, making it "less arrogance, more humility." Could this change in demeanor have something to do with 2K Sports announcing that they are getting back into the videogame football biz? Who cares? What really matters is how the games look come publishing day. And for that I have to say a big thank you for the renewal of competition in this market. Brian Crecente

Double Life: At the 13th Annual Madden Bowl, Electronic Arts' Football Marketing Director Christopher Erb Discusses The Future of Virtual Pigskin [Level Up]

No official word on teams, players, or how Visual Concepts plans to entice video game football fans to invest in an non-Madden, NFL-license free product. However, the rumors that IGN posted late last year hinted at historical players and a "throwback phenomenon" would lead one to believe that we'll see some familiar faces. Michael McWhertor

2K returns to gridiron [Gamespot]

2K Sports Announces All-Pro Football 2K8

NEW YORK, NY - January 31, 2007 - 2K Sports, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTWO), announced today the return of football to its video game line-up with All-Pro Football 2K8. The critically acclaimed 2K football series once again hits the gridiron with the legendary gameplay, innovative features, and outstanding visual quality sports gamers have come to expect from 2K Sports.

"Football gamers have been awaiting the return of the 2K series," said Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio. "All-Pro Football 2K8 will deliver an authentic next generation gridiron experience and we are happy to give fans another choice in the football category."

All-Pro Football 2K8 will be available this summer on next generation video game systems.

For more information, log onto http://www.2ksports.com.

Competition is coming back in 2007, and that means two things.

2K fans need to brush up on historical players (how can you play a game with legends if you can't tell Steve Young from Steve Bono?). And EA Sports is going to come out blazing with new features in Madden to try and hold off the throwback phenomenon Visual Concepts will finally announce sometime after the new year.

Interesting. Your "historical football" angle intrigues me, Visual Concepts. EA gets a lot of flack for excluding features in now-gen versions of Madden that appear in previous generation versions of the same game. Hopefully, this rumored competition will light a fire under EA and Tiburon, giving them more reason to keep up with the Joneses. Michael McWhertor

Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood - Talking Madden Wishlist and the competition coming from 2K football. [IGN]

Starting tomorrow, November 30th, Xbox Live users and owners of Madden NFL 07 and NCAA Football 07 can download (at no cost) new, alternate uniforms for both and "throwback" uniforms for Madden. Did I mention these were free?

Pretty smart, EA. Don't start pissing off the userbase of your biggest cash cow. We'd appreciate more of this sort of behavior in the future. Michael McWhertor

NCAA Football Alternate Jersey Details and Madden Alternate Jersey Details [SportsGamer]

You know the story: Big time football player becomes Madden coverboy, gets struck with horrible luck. Last year's was injured, missing seven games. Three weeks into the NFL season, this year's cover athlete Shaun Alexander cracks bone in foot and is out the rest of the season. "Madden Curse" smadden purse, there ain't nothing to be afraid of superstar NFL players. Right? Right?! Brian Ashcraft

More Here [ESPN] Thanks, Kenneth!

Freed from the shackles of NFL servitude, Midway continues to deliver up spicy football titles that show what the game really is like, both on and off the field.

Blitz: The League for the Xbox 360 is set to hit this October and Blitz: The League Overtime is coming in November for the PSP.

Midway today said they've named Bill Romanowski and Lawrence Taylor as co-cover athletes for the 360 version of the game. Romanowski will also be lending his winning personality and voice to the game as Bruno Batagglia, one of the fantasy league's most hated linebackers.

Spit in the eye of the NFL: Buy this game. Brian Crecente

At first glance, I mistook these pics for shots of something John Madden was having delivered to his warehouse. Were these thousands upon thousands of aerosol cans of itch relieving Tinactin? Tons and tons of savory Lunchables for John to snack upon while travelling on the Madden Bus? The shipment of crisp twenty dollar bills to pay off the exclusive NFL license?

Sadly, its just a bunch of copies of Madden NFL 07. It's an impressive display and the folks at Screw Attack have exclusive pics of the shipment. Before you can grunt out a "How is this news?", just check out the full pics for the impressive display of the cash cow that is EA's footballer. You will be in awe of the massive shipping capabilities!! Michael McWhertor

Madden '07- Ready To Ship!

The possibility is there, albeit it a slim one, that EA may lose its exclusivity rights over NFL properties because of the possible breakdown in the collective bargaining agreement, according to GamersReports.

If the Players' Union decertifies, anti-trust rules will go into effect. Additionally, the NFL Draft would disappear in 2008 and college players would be free to negotiate as though they were Free Agents. If those rules go into effect, EA's contract essentially goes up in smoke - and we're not talking about Snoop Dogg. There's a lot to this complicated issue, read more here. Unfortunately for gamers, it's pretty likely that nothing will change and EA will retain their exclusive deal. We can always dream, though.

EA's NFL Exclusivity Contract May Be Voided [GamersReports]
Questions and Answers About the NFL Labor Talks [ESPN]