THQ & UFC Announce “Fight Nation” Game on Facebook
February 3, 2011
THQ Inc. and Zuffa, LLC today announced the latest edition to their sports videogame franchise with the launch of UFC Undisputed Fight Nation, the first official UFC Facebook game.
The interactive experience, developed by Embassy Interactive and available on Facebook at apps.facebook.com/ufcfightnation, allows players to take control of their virtual UFC careers in a fun and engaging environment by training moves, competing against others and sharing their results on Facebook, as well as enabling them to successfully manage their progress for the opportunity to compete against many of the UFC’s most renowned fighters.
“We are excited about the tremendous opportunities available in the social networking space to deliver key franchises to our core audiences in unique and compelling ways,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “UFC Undisputed Fight Nation delivers a great combination of gameplay, competitive spirit and replay value, making it the perfect fit for millions around the world to enjoy on Facebook.”
In UFC Undisputed Fight Nation, players train with guidance from UFC President Dana White to master moves from multiple mixed martial arts disciplines, compete against friends and other Fight Nation members inside the virtual OctagonTM and share their results on Facebook as they progress from student to professional in their virtual careers. Players are given access to a number of mixed martial arts camps to build their arsenal of moves, including wrestling, kickboxing, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well as the ability to decide which moves are taken into each fight.
Through successful management of fight experience and training, players will “level up” their fighters to reach new career milestones, unlocking access to items such as new training camps and more skill points to build fighting and training needs, including energy, health and stamina. Players will also earn Cred for their achievements, enabling them to acquire items from the in-game store to train specific moves, access new camps, replenish health and increase stamina. A UFC Points system is available for those who wish to progress their careers faster and purchase the items through monetary transaction, while a Gifting option lets players show respect to their friends by sending them complimentary boosts of energy, stamina or health to aid their progress.
As part of the UFC Undisputed Fight Nation experience, the accomplished player will earn opportunities compete against and learn moves through Pro Fights from a number of today’s most prominent UFC fighters, including current champions Cain Velasquez, Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and Frankie Edgar. As well, players will have access to a live Twitter feed, keeping them up to date on the latest UFC news and events.
Payout Perspective:
The UFC has shown a great deal of focus on social media as of late, mostly directing fans to access their Facebook page to watch live prelim fights and now, in conjunction with THQ, releasing UFC Undisputed Fight Nation. I’ve stressed what a powerful tool social media has become to MMA promotions, and the UFC is taking full advantage of the reach Twitter and Facebook gives them.
The UFC is hoping to create an interactive community here, one where fans can come to watch fights, play games, and interact with other members which they are able to track and collect information to analyze and further improve attacking their target market and demographic, not to mention the interaction the game will create between their audience and their brand. Facebook reaches over 600 million people and is one of the fastest growing social entities in the world. Heavily focusing on the social media platform now appears to be the priority for the UFC at this moment, hoping to cash in on the investment in the long run as it sets itself apart from other sporting leagues around the world.
Zuffa Files Trademark Infringement Complaint Against Ubisoft
December 13, 2010
On December 8, 2010, Zuffa, LLC filed a complaint against Ubisoft, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada alleging trademark infringement based on the packaging for the Ubisoft video game, “Fighters Uncaged.” (hat tip Robert Joyner).
According to Zuffa, the “UFC® names and logos are trademarks that are owned by Plaintiff and registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including, among others:
ULTIMATE FIGHTING: Registration No. 2,925,669 for goods and services, namely, compact discs, laser video discs, digital video discs, digital versatile discs and CD-ROM discs, all featuring sports events and mixed martial arts; computer software for programming video games in the field of sports and entertainment; video game cartridges and discs; computer game cartridges;
Zuffa alleges that since 1993 it, and its predecessors, made continuous use of the UFC® marks, including the Ultimate Fighting name and mark:
As a result of the extensive advertising and promotion of the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® brand, ‘ULTIMATE FIGHTING,’ either standing alone or in conjunction with the word ‘CHAMPIONSHIP,’ has become and is distinctive and famous for mixed martial arts.” “‘ULTIMATE FIGHTING’ and ‘ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP’ have acquired a special significance and meaning to the consuming public as identifying Zuffa and the UFC® as the source of origin of goods and services, and mixed martial arts in particular, which bear the ‘ULTIMATE FIGHTING’® name and mark.
Specifically, as to video games, Zuffa alleges that it “has entered into license agreements with certain video game manufacturers that have produced numerous mixed martial arts video games lawfully using UFC® fighters, which, in turn, use the UFC® and the ULTIMATE FIGHTING® names and marks,” including, inter alia, “‘Undisputed 2009’ for XBox 360 and Playstation 3 was released for sale to the public on May 19, 2009; and ‘Undisputed 2010,’ the sequel, for XBox 360, Playstation 3, and Playstation Portable, was released for sale to the public on May 25, 2010.”
Zuffa alleges that “‘Undisputed 2009’ and ‘Undisputed 2010’ both note on their respective back covers that the UL TIMATE FIGHTING® name and mark is a registered trademark.”
Zuffa alleges upon information and belief that Ubisoft “recently released for sale to the public ‘Fighters Uncaged,’ a mixed martial arts video game about illegal street fighting for XBox 360.”
The crux of the complaint is Zuffa’s allegation that “[o]n the back cover of the video game, Defendant invites players to ‘Become the ULTIMATE FIGHTING weapon!’, setting the words ‘ULTIMATE FIGHTING’ apart from the other text by depicting the words in bolded capital letters.”
Zuffa attached a copy of the back of the “Fighters Uncaged” box to its papers, which includes, in part the following:
Zuffa alleges that Ubisoft’s “use of the ULTIMATE FIGHTING name and mark is identical or confusingly similar to the use of the UFC® Marks, including the ULTIMATE FIGHTING® name and mark on Zuffa’s licensed video games.”
Zuffa asserts claims for “trademark infringement, trademark dilution and unfair competition under federal statutes, with pendent state and/or common law claims for trademark infringement, and deceptive trade practices.”
Zuffa seeks “damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.”
Payout Perspective:
My quick take on the complaint is as follows. Plaintiff does have a registration for the mark for video games and this video game is directly competitive. I do not think that the fact that Fighters Uncaged involves illegal street fighting – as opposed to the sport of MMA — is determinative.
While the Zuffa mark is weak, i.e. it registered 2(f), there is an argument given the large bold (all capitalized) font for “Ultimate Fighting” that Ubisoft’s alleged use is not purely descriptive and may be infringing. Moreover, Zuffa clearly has an interest in protecting its mark so the lawsuit makes sense from a practical standpoint.
Justin Klein is an attorney at Satterlee Stephens Burke & Burke LLP in New York City where he concentrates his practice in commercial litigation and represents clients in the fight industry. He regularly addresses current legal issues that pertain to combat sports, including efforts to legalize MMA in New York, at his Fight Lawyer website. He is a licensed boxing manager with the New York State Athletic Commission as well as the founder and Chairman of the Board of the New York Mixed Martial Arts Initiative, a non-profit organization that gives inner city youth the opportunity to experience the emotional and physical benefits of martial arts training. Justin lives in New York City where he trains in jiu jitsu and boxing.
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EA Sports MMA and UFC Undisputed 2010 Updates Plus Black Friday Deals
November 24, 2010
In the spirit of the holidays, I would like to share some great deals for MMA and video game fans who have held off buying any titles until the holiday deals to save a couple of bucks. I will also discuss the recent EA Sports MMA and UFC Undisputed 2010 iPhone/iPad releases along with overall sale figures.
Best Buy Link:
http://www.bestbuy.com/doorbusters
GameStop Link:
http://www.gamestop.com/gs/weeklyad/current/112610US/default.aspx
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EA Sports MMA and UFC Undisputed 2010 Updates:
UFC Undisputed 2010 was released on the iPad and iPhone by THQ Wireless on Nov 12, 2010 (selling for $6.99) just a few weeks after EA Sports MMA was released by EA Mobile (selling for $4.99) on the same platforms on October 20, 2010. As of today, EA Sports MMA has had 405 customers review the app, while UFC Undisputed 2010 has only had 17 customers review the app.
Both games have received good customer feedback, but it appears that after 12 days of being available on the Apple Store, UFC Undisputed has not taken off with the fans. It is currently not in to the top 50 most popular apps or in the top grossing apps, where EA Sports MMA was ranked in the top 35 most popular paid apps and ranked as the 12th most grossing app for apple a week after it was released. Not exactly sure why Undisputed has not taken off on the iPhone/iPad yet considering the good reviews so far, but the $2 dollar pricing difference between the games could be impacting the sales, along with THQ releasing the mobile version of the game months after the console version was already released.
On the console side, EA Sports MMA has sold roughly 45,000 copies in its first month of release according to GameIndustry.biz. On the other hand, UFC Undisputed 2010 roughly sold 413,000 copies in its first mont of sales, which was considered disappointing due to the lofty expectations Undisputed 2009 created for THQ.
The year has been a tough one for MMA video game releases, where analysts attributed the weaker than expected sales due to releasing the games around the same dates blockbusters like Red Dead Redemption (over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide) and Fallout: New Vegas (over 5 million copies shipped worldwide) were set to also release. GameSpot reports that “… a number of analysts–Wilson included–circulated notes to investors offering their takes on what did and didn’t live up to expectations. While NBA 2K11 and Fallout: New Vegas both exceeded Wilson’s expectations, many of the month’s other high-profile games did not. In particular, Wilson called NBA Jam for the Wii and EA MMA “dismal failures so far.”
THQ’s bottom line was heavily impacted this year due to lower than expected game sales, which include the UFC Undisputed 2010 sales, as the company saw their shares sharply drop from $8.29/share to $5.01/share as it currently stands this year. In response, THQ has pushed out their release cycle from 12 months to 18 months, hoping to get better results on their next release. EA Sports, who reportedly lost over $200 million last quarter, originally announced to release EA Sports MMA every other year alternating with a Fight Night release. At the moment, EA has said that it is too early to make any decisions on a future EA Sports MMA title, as they will wait and analyze the sale numbers throughout the holiday season.
EA Sports MMA Addresses “One-and-Done” Rumors
October 27, 2010
Rumors have been floating around for the past couple of days involving the recently released EA Sports MMA title being “one-and-done” and “dead on arrival” according to Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz, but when MMAPayout reached out to EA Sports marketing manager Randy Chase, he told us that the report is a bit premature.
The video gaming website ComputerAndVideoGames was the first to report Creutz analysis of EA Sports MMA, which was then picked up by many MMA websites, eventually reaching ESPN’s MMA blog and other big name online media. Creutz went on to say in his report:
“EA’s recently released ‘MMA’ appears to be more or less DOA at retail, while UFC recently announced an extension of its license with THQ, likely putting an end to EA’s efforts to expand into the mixed martial arts genre,” the analyst said in a research note this morning.
The ComputerAndVideoGames article also goes on to note that EA Sports MMA debuted at No. 23 this week, just edging out another competitor which was released on the same day, Activision’s DJ Hero 2 which debuted at #25. The key factor for the disappointing debut for both titles was the the same week release of Fallout: New Vegas, which finished #1 on the chart and was highly anticipated by many video game enthusiasts.
EA Sports released the following statement regarding the rumors:
“EA SPORTS MMA has been in stores for less than a week and it has been well received by critics and consumers for bringing innovation to the genre. We are confident the game will connect with fight fans.”
Contrary to what Creutz stated on his report, PastaPadre, a well known sports video game news website, believes there is a future for EA Sports MMA.
Just one week after the release of EA Sports MMA there are analysts predicting that the company will cease making an MMA game going forward. Sales are reportedly soft and with THQ locking up the UFC license through 2018 the thought is being perpetuated that there is no room to grow and pushing forward would prove futile. That really isn’t the case however and EA is not likely to abandon a growing sport when they have now established themselves as players in the market even as that comes from an underdog role.
Keep in mind these are the same analysts who just recently discussed poor sales coming in for Madden 11 only to have the official sales numbers release and the game show a 12% year over year increase. Basically take anything an analyst says with a grain of salt because they are not tied into the goings on of the sports gaming world and may not be even using official data. They are just looking at numbers and not taking into consideration the context of them.
Payout Perspective:
The low initial sales was something that MMAPayout noted in the EA MMA perspective write-up, and something that should be expected as realistic expectations for this title release. We also mentioned that the game was well received with good scores from respected video game websites/publishers and also garnered positive user feedback.
As PastaPadre points out, EA went into this project with full knowledge of being the underdog in the market and had realistic sale expectations. The key here, if they choose to continue the franchise in 2012, is to establish the base for an MMA franchise that can be released on alternating years with their Fight Night boxing franchise. Though we must point out, releasing the game on the same week as highly anticipated Fallout: New Vegas was released was a big mistake (just as THQ did with releasing UFC Undisputed 2010 in the same week as Red Dead Revolver) and affected their sales.
Despite the low sales this year for both MMA franchises, there is no doubt that the MMA market is still growing and is predicted to keep growing in the next several years, so it is well worth their while to stay in the market. There is no doubt that the UFC brand creates an almost impossible hurdle for EA as they continue to dominate the market, but they also don’t have the pressures of having high licensing costs attached to the game, which ultimately lowers the expectations of the game. Only time will tell what EA decides to do with the franchise, but I believe it is just too early to make decision’s of this magnitude based on the current conditions. When MMAPayout asked EA Sports if there were any existing plans for a 2012 release, they said we were already working on it.
EA Sports MMA: Payout Perspective
October 22, 2010
It’s been a few days since EA Sports MMA was released, and what seemed liked a bit of pessimism based on fan and critic reaction from the demo a few weeks back, has now turned into optimism for future MMA games with the much improved released version of the game.
MMAPayout will take a look at some of the critic reviews and what the fans are now saying about the game.
GamePro Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
EA Sports MMA isn’t perfect, the lack of UFC fighters is a huge gaping hole that is impossible to ignore and the number of special moves available are fairly slim. Those problems are overshadowed by smooth animations, intuitive controls, and incredibly dynamic online features. By not being limited to the UFC brand EA has used the resulting freedom to present more of a worldwide MMA experience, such as the inclusion of alternate rule sets or the ability to fight in the cage or ring. Despite lacking the dominant brand in MMA [and according to Dana White, president of UFC, having the audacity to claim it wasn’t even a real sport—Ed.], EA has made a compelling and fun game and has raised the bar for what gamers should expect of their MMA games in the future. (GamePro)
GameInformer Rating: 8.5/10
EA’s first attack on the mixed martial arts scene heads back to its corner looking pretty strong, but there are still a few holes in its defense, one of which is the game’s roster. There are some great fighters in this game – such as Fedor Emelianenko, Satoru Kitaoka, and Randy Couture – but without the UFC license and many of its most potent combatants, there is a large hole in the game’s roster. The game’s presentation also lacks a bit of the spectacle and style found in real broadcasts. I’d also like to see some refinement to the submission system as the minigames you use to put the hurt on your opponents feel a little gimmicky. Despite these issues, EA Sports MMA is still a powerful brawler, and another year or two in the gym should turn it into a true monster. (GameInformer)
GameShark Rating: 9.1 (A-)
EA Sports MMA is a strong first entry that is only slightly held back by the lack of more common fighters from the UFC, but the inclusion of big names like Randy Couture, Fedor Emelianenko, Bob Sapp and Tim Sylvia ease the blow. It’s great to see some real competition for THQ in this genre and MMA fans shouldn’t hesitate to pick this one up. (GameShark)
Joystiq Rating: 4/5 Stars
Comparisons between MMA and THQ’s UFC Undisputed franchise are inevitable, but the two games offer up very different experiences that are, for the most part, complementary. MMA is a fuller game that celebrates the broadest scope of the sport with a loving precision, while UFC brings out a roster of more recognizable fighters for a more casual, beer-and-buddies experience.
It remains to be seen if there is enough interest to support both franchises, but with the series’ first outing, EA Sports MMA provides not only a must-play experience for fans, but a compelling argument for a two-MMA-game world. (JoyStiq)
IGN Rating: 8/10 (Impressive)
EA Sports MMA wrestles away the belt from the reigning champ with its stellar combat that feels much closer to the genuine article than what we’ve seen elsewhere. While its modes don’t span the same breadth of other sports titles, it gets things like the international flavor of MMA and the raw nature of the sport down perfectly. Now if they can just refine the AI a bit and add some meat to the scope of the career mode, this one will transcend MMA games and could contend for a spot as one of the best sports games of the year. (IGN)
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EA Sports MMA Sales and Impact on The Strikeforce Brand
On the sales side of the launch, Loretta Hunt of the LA Times was able to reach EA Sports marketing manager Randy Chase and was notified that EA MMA was doing comparable numbers to THQ’s UFC Undisputed 2010.
And while Chase said EA doesn’t release its sales figures, he did confirm that the game’s distribution numbers are on par with the UFC title. Chase said the company has already started to work on an updated installment, and the game leader plans to alternate release years with its “Fight Night” boxing game.
As for what type of impact the release of the game could have on Strikeforce, here is what Randy Couture had to say:
Strikeforce, which trails the UFC as the second most recognizable promotion in the U.S., is featured heavily in EA’s game and stands to gain much-needed exposure in a market mostly dominated by the UFC.
“The brands and the promotions will be recognizable (in the game) to those people that weren’t exposed to MMA before, so when they seek out the sport, those are probably the brands they’re going to seek out,” said Couture.
On the mobile front, EA Mobile also released EA Sports MMA for the iPhone, which is also compatible with the iPod and iPad Apple mobile devices. So far, it appears to be a success with the Apple customers who have downloaded the game, getting very positive reviews and a Customer Rating of 4.5/5 stars. The game currently ranks in the top 35 most popular paid apps and ranks as the 12th most grossing app for Apple, selling for $4.99 a unit.
Payout Perspective:
It’s still early since the release, but from the feedback we have received, the game seems to be a pretty big hit with the fans. In fact, many that were skeptical from the demo release have changed their opinions after playing the full version of the game.
Although the initial response has been great, lets not forget THQ’s UFC Undisputed 2010 received great reviews but after playing the game for a while, fans started to show great frustration with the games career mode and online play, which many said was almost non-functional and really hindered the replay value of the game. This could still be the case for EA MMA, so we will hold back our final decision on the game for just a bit longer. As of now, fan reaction of the game has been extremely positive.
If there are any gripes to the game so far, coming from both customers and critics, it’s the lack of UFC fighters in the game (obviously) except for the likes of Jake Shields, Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko, and Randy Couture. We can say that the lack of the UFC license and roster, as pointed by the critics, is offset a bit by the deeper career mode, the online functionality, the fun factor, and the Create-A-Fighter feature which lets gamers create or download fan-made fighters (which include fan-made UFC fighters).
In the end, the lack of the UFC brand will indeed hurt the sale numbers of the game, not to mention the heavy competition the EA Sports MMA title received from video game titles releasing that same week such as Fallout: New Vegas, DJ Hero 2, Time Crisis: Razing Storm, and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 to name a few. It is important to note that this is the second MMA title (UFC Undisputed 2010) to be released in the last six months, which will definitely impact those MMA fans which have already purchased the UFC title just a few months back. Some analyst are expecting low sale figures for the game and the pre-order numbers show that it wont be a runaway hit by any means, but if EA can establish a fanbase with this release, they definitely have a franchise worth their while to keep growing. It is also one of those games where word-of-mouth from happy customers can have an impact in sales later on.
What this video game does nicely, and something I have touched upon before, is display a mutual benefit relationship and synergy between EA and Strikeforce. If the game does good sale numbers, it would mean great exposure for the Strikeforce brand and it’s fighters. It would also benefit EA Sports for Strikeforce to keep growing as an MMA promotion, which would create a bigger fanbase of their brand, and ultimately, would create more potential customers for EA’s future installments of the game.
THQ & Zuffa Extend Video Game License Agreement Through 2018
October 21, 2010
THQ and Zuffa have officially announced an extension of their exclusive video game licensing deal to continue publishing their UFC branded franchises through 2018.
THQ Inc. today announced that it has extended its exclusive, worldwide agreement with Zuffa, LLC to publish videogames based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (UFC(R)) brand through 2018.
“We’re very excited to extend our relationship with Zuffa and the Ultimate Fighting Championship,” said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Games, THQ. “Working closely together with Dana White and the incredible team at UFC, we plan to continue to deliver outstanding interactive UFC experiences to gamers around the world in all new ways, including social, mobile and brand extensions.”
“THQ has delivered the quality demanded by UFC and its fans with the first two Undisputed(TM) games and we are about to broaden the UFC brand experience among gaming fans through social and mobile apps,” said Dana White, UFC President. “We are impressed by the passion that THQ brings to making great games and we look forward to working together to create even greater gaming experiences for our fans in the future.”
Under the terms of the agreement, THQ has obtained the rights to create videogames for all current and next-generation consoles, PC and handheld platforms, in addition to certain social media and wireless rights, including iPhone and iPad. Rights also include online, downloadable and multi-player capabilities in connection with the various gaming systems.
Payout Perspective:
The deal was struck just a few months after UFC Undisputed 2010 fell short of expectations, shipping 2.7 million units for gaming consoles, trailing UFC Undisputed 2009 who shipped 3.5 million units the year before. Due to the drop in sales, THQ decided to delay the next UFC Undisputed release and move the development for the title into a 15-to-21 month cycle instead of the originally planned yearly release. Since the next Undisputed release is not scheduled until the first quarter of 2012, THQ and Zuffa are planning to release UFC Trainer (a motion-sensored workout game) in January of 2011 for the Wii, PlayStation Move, and the Xbox 360′s Kinect.
The move to extend the licensing agreement with THQ was a bit of a surprise for some industry insiders, who expected Zuffa to shop around for the highest bidder. Instead, UFC and THQ agreed to an extension which would guarantee at least 4-5 more Undisputed titles and plenty of other side projects such as the UFC Trainer game within that period. The deal also guarantees exclusivity for the UFC brand to be developed into video games for the PSP, iPhone, and iPad mobile devices, which will be a vital market to target within the next few years. Last month, THQ released Undisputed 2010 on the Sony PSP mobile platform.
EA Sports MMA Comes Out Swinging On Launch Day
October 19, 2010
As of today, EA Sports MMA is officially available to all MMA and video game fans stateside (European fans will have to wait a bit longer).
EA certainly pulled no punches by hiring Paul Heyman’s production company “Looking 4 Larry” to create short commercials leading up to the release of the game, hosted an on-line launch party through USTREAM with fans and fighters revealing game features, and will also be hosting an official party later on in the day in Los Angeles where the likes of cover athletes Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko will be in attendance to meet the media and fans. MMAPayout will now take a look at some of the promotional efforts from EA leading up to the launch date.
EA Sports MMA Reviews:
Game reviews for EA Sports MMA from video game media giants GamePro and Joystiq are already out, and the news so far has been very positive for EA’s first venture into MMA, where GamePro gives EA Sports MMA a score of 4.5/5 stars, while Joystiq said the game came out swinging, giving it 4/5 stars. Joystiq does a great job in reviewing the game and asks whether the market can support two MMA titles.
Comparisons between MMA and THQ’s UFC Undisputed franchise are inevitable, but the two games offer up very different experiences that are, for the most part, complimentary. MMA is a fuller game that celebrates the broadest scope of the sport with a loving precision, while UFC brings out a roster of more recognizable fighters for a more casual, beer-and-buddies experience.
It remains to be seen if there is enough interest to support both franchises, but with the series’ first outing, EA Sports MMA provides not only a must-play experience for fans, but a compelling argument for two-MMA-game world.
EA Sports MMA Hires Paul Heyman’s “Looking 4 Larry” To Promote Game
Here are the three videos produced by Heyman’s production company “Looking 4 Larry” as viral promos used during the lead up to the game’s release, which have received a great deal of attention and support from MMA and wrestling fans. In fact, many have pointed out that this is exactly what Strikeforce needs to get their fighters over with the mainstream media and casual MMA fan. On that note, the possibility of Heyman and Strikeforce working together next year are very likely once contractual obligations are met, so it should be another interesting venture to keep an eye out next year from Strikeforce.
Cung Le Promo:
Fabricio Werdum Promo:
Frank Shamrock Promo:
Nick Diaz Promo:
Official EA Sports MMA TV Commercial and Press Release:
Electronic Arts Inc. announced that EA SPORTS(TM) MMA is available in stores throughout North America starting today and will launch worldwide beginning October 22 and in Japan on November 11. EA SPORTS MMA, offering the most authentic, intense and broadest mixed martial arts experience to date, allows players to travel the world and learn a multitude of fighting techniques and skills. The game features a vast array of world-class fighters, and players can extend their gaming experience online through a first-of-its-kind feature – EA SPORTS Live Broadcast. (PRESS RELEASE)
Strikeforce, Sherdog, and EA Announce “MMA Fighter Exchange” Project
October 11, 2010
During the Strikeforce: Diaz vs Noons II post fight press conference, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker announced the “MMA Fighter Exchange” program with partners Sherdog.com (Crave Online) and EA (Electronic Arts).
Watch worlds collide as Strikeforce MMA giants Gegard Mousasi, Jacare Souza, Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Luke Rockhold take four up and coming fighters under their wing. See these fighters grow as they fly across the globe to train in new fighting arts in foreign countries. Follow each fighter’s page as they post daily blogs, photos, video and live twitter feeds about what it’s like to push their bodies and minds, learning from top fighters and famous trainers in unfamiliar lands, striving towards their dream shot at fighting in an upcoming Strikeforce Event!! (Sherdog)
Sherdog.com will be providing a behind the scenes look throughout the fight camps with blog and video coverage of each fighter. After completing their respective training camps, the protégés return to prepare for their debut at the December 4th STRIKEFORCE promotion where their undercard fights will be streamed live by Sherdog.com.
Here is video from the post fight press conference thanks to TWinCombatSports:
MMA Fighter Exchange Website: http://easportsmma.sherdog.com/
MMA Fighter Exchange Twitter: http://twitter.com/fighterexchange
Payout Perspective:
There were a number of announcements from Strikeforce during the week leading to their October 9th event in San Jose, most having a great impact on where the company looks to be heading in future. This is another pretty significant step on their part, adding Sherdog (Crave Online) as a partner for this upcoming project with EA. Not only are they gaining a strong partner, but their fighters will get more exposure, new talent will be introduced in a way where fans can follow their progress, and then MMA fans will witness their progress in an upcoming Challengers card.
This appears to be the premise of what a potential Strikeforce TV show (along with the help of their partners EA and Sherdog) may look like on TV in the future, keeping their motto of strong synergies among it’s partners as key to their success in the future. The website has a ton of information, interviews, and videos with each fighter and “Big” John McCarthy appears to be a big part of the project as well. Stay tuned to MMAPayout as we will track the evolution of this interesting venture.
Really: EA Sports picks fight with UFC in new trailer
September 25, 2010
EA Sports latest trailer hyping its video game, EA Sports MMA, takes a shot at what it perceives to be a slight about its game by UFC Executive VP Bob Gold.
EA Sports used the following portion of the quote in the trailer:
“…there is nothing in that game that would entice me or anyone I know that’s an MMA fan to buy it.”
After a montage of its video game, EA responds to the quote at the end of the trailer with one word: Really?
The full context of the quote according to Bloody Elbow via gamespot.com:
“We have a lot of respect for them, but there’s nothing in that game that would entice me or anyone I know that’s an MMA fan to buy it. If you want stars, the best organization, the best graphics, you’re going to stick with what you bought last year because this game is even better. And the fact that we didn’t cheat or cut corners in 2010, I think our fans are going to be very happy.”
The statement was made last February prior to the release of UFC Undisputed 2010. Gold spoke about how EA was not really into MMA and couldn’t get the licenses that the UFC had in developing its game.
EA Sports MMA comes out October 19th.
Payout Perspective:
EA Sports takes advantage of Gold’s comments in order to advance its own product. I think EA does a great job in highlighting what it has that UFC Undisputed does not have. With EA Sports MMA, there is more of an international feel and you have the ability to perform moves that are illegal in the UFC (head stomps and soccer kicks). Overall, a great promotion for its video game especially since UFC Undisputed has not reached its expected sales goals.
THQ Pushes Next UFC Game Release Until Q1 2012
September 16, 2010
THQ recently reported quarterly losses of $30.1 million due to lower-than-expected sales of UFC Undisputed 2010, which was released earlier this year with big hype stemming from the huge success of UFC Undisputed 2009 the previous year.
The company blamed competition from Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption as the culprit for the lower than expected sales, and was considering pushing back the date of the next release to address the lackluster numbers.
It looks like THQ has just released their schedule for the 2012 fiscal year and GameSpot reports on the findings:
Sure enough, the slate reveals that the next UFC game won’t arrive until Q1 2012, nearly two years after May’s UFC Undisputed 2010. While still a best-seller with nearly 3 million units shipped, the game did not perform as well as expected.
PastaPadre gives their take as to why UFC Undisputed 2010 did so poorly and the reasoning behind pushing the game release date out:
Following a botched launch of UFC Undisputed 2010, huge sales slide from the previous year, and consumer discontent towards the product, THQ came out and stated that they were considering moving off the yearly schedule for the series. It was initially expected that any change to the release pattern would follow a UFC 2011 product in spring. It now appears though that they have shifted expectations and have decided that the next UFC game will have an 18+ month development cycle.
Soon to be facing competition in the market from EA Sports MMA, a series being developed on a two year development cycle going forward, winter 2011 positions the next UFC game well. Those are generally slow months where it would likely avoid facing heavy competition for dollars as it did against multiple AAA titles that released in the May-June period this year.
Payout Perspective:
UFC Undisputed 2009 was a great release for THQ in 2009, where the game sold beyond anyone’s wild expectations and gave THQ a huge boost to their bottom line, considering the financial woes the company was going through the years before. Though the high expectations of UFC Undisputed 2010 were not met, due to problems such as timing of release and customer dissatisfaction, it’s good to see that they won’t be rushing another release next year.
There are a good amount of issues that THQ must address before their next release, and moving the game development time to 18 months is a great move. Not only that, but MMA is not a seasonal sport where rosters and teams change dramatically from one year to another, so expecting MMA fans to buy a yearly release where most of the changes are minor and roster oriented is not a great selling point. EA Sports anticipated such a response and will be alternating between their boxing and MMA releases.
