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Fight fans will remember that EA announced that it was getting into mixed martial arts gaming at its E3 2009 press conference. EA Sports MMA looks to capitalize on the burgeoning popularity of the sport. One of the biggest challenges to EA Sports is building a recognizable and sizable roster for this game. Zuffa, LLC currently owns the rights to the majority of fighters appearing in UFC and WEC, the former being -- by far -- the most popular MMA organization in America. In a recent interview with Gamasutra, EA Sports president Peter Moore revealed his strategy for building a roster in EA Sports MMA:
"We are looking obviously at every fighter that we can, that we feel is applicable from a quality level and then analyzing their image rights, and if they're available and we want them -- then we'll get them. If they're not then we'll move on to the next fighter."
The problem with this strategy is that most fighters sign away their likeness rights when they commit to a large company like UFC. This leaves EA Sports MMA with the option to go after the few MMA fighters that control their rights, talent working for Affliction MMA, and lesser-known fighters competing in smaller leagues. Even if the gameplay turns out amazing, it will be tough for EA Sports to duplicate the amazing success of THQ's UFC 2009: Undisputed without a large roster of popular fighters. While I don't doubt that EA will sign several popular fighters, I doubt that it can serve up a roster comparable to the one in UFC 2009.
For you MMA fans in the house, what fighters would you like to see in EA Sports MMA? I'm hoping for Carlos Newton, the master of Dragon Ball Jiu-Jitsu!
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Comments
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Thundercracker
also apparently im a zuffa zombie, being as how ive established the fact that i dont follow the ufc that closely, im clueless as to what that is
Iconz
Oh and about Fedor. You are forgetting one of the issues with Fedor is that he wants to be able to compete in his Sambo competitions, and the UFC doesn't want that. I think the best bet will be a 1 fight contract against a non-champion. Dana doesn't want Fedor possibly beating his champion and making the UFC's heavyweight division not look like the best. As long as Fedor continues to want that level of freedom, he won't be under a Zuffa contract heh.
Iconz
@Padilla You make a good point. But I think most people who picked up on the UFC and MMA have really been getting into the history of the sport. It seems to me that like every PPV telecast, Joe Rogan will bring up someone like Royce Gracie or Bas Rutten during the telecast. Or they will hear about a fighter being from the Millitich camp. So I think anyone who has become a fan of the sport would be excited to play a game with the legends. Especially if they can get some of the video footage for their classic fights. Also, a woman's division in the game would be awesome. The chicks really bang, and I think they deserve some credit.
r_pad
@Iconz You're ignoring why MMA truly took off in America. It didn't become a mainstream success until UFC's The Ultimate Fighter. The "legends" you cite are great for fans that have been following the sport for a long time, but not for the majority of the current fan base.
@Thundercracker Affliction has paid him a lot of money. I guess it depends on how long Affliction can continue to run. I'm sure Zuffa would sign him in a second if (when?) Affliction collapses.
Thundercracker
@padilla
you follow the sport more than me dude, what are the odds we see fedor in the ufc in the future? His talents are being wasted right now
optimum5
Besides the idea of introducing "legendary" MMA fighters into a game, just combining talent from DREAM, M1, Affliction, and Strikeforce together into one ring/cage would be awesome. This would be the MMA game for hardcore MMA fans, and not just for "I only know the UFC" fans. Would a game like that sell though? Through heavy marketing it might.
Iconz
I disagree w/ you Padilla... i think that EA can do what they do with Fight Night in terms of the roster. Most of what is great about Fight Night are the use of legends... so in terms of being "washed up" i dont think its a problem as long as the gameplay mechanics are solid and the presentation is beautiful. Think about fight night's roster (Ali, Frazier, Holyfield, Tyson, Duran, Leonard, etc)... they can do the same thing with this MMA game. Use a few of the current guys that are missing from Undisputed (Fedor, A. Rogerio Noguiera, Kimbo, Barnett, Lawler, Scott Smith) along with some legends (Royce Gracie, Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ken and Frank Shamrock, Bas Rutten, Pat Militich).
r_pad
@Rub_Out Frank Shamrock was great...in the 90s. He's clearly past his prime. Cung Le is good, but hardly great. Last time I checked, three is hardly "lots".
wentarmed
I am so sick of zuffa zombies like thundercracker. They just won't stop drinking the sauce of bankrupt casino owners the Fertittas.
Good for EA! MMA could use a game that doesn't include overrated frauds like that hack forest griffin. Despite what the zuffa zombie media writes, most of mma's talent has never set foot in a zuffa ring.
armed.vox.com (where zuffa is exposed, and dismantled)
Rub_Out
Cung le, frank shamrock, Fedor Emelianenko...
there are lots of great fighters that are outside of the ufc
ProjektX13
@thundercracker
Kimbo is going to the UFC later in the Fall.
Thundercracker
i hear EA is making an XFL game next, which is great cause i really want to play as "he hate me"
BAD BAD TERRIBLE IDEA EA
r_pad
@NakedSnake14 Thanks for the catch. I know the game name, just typed it wrong. Ha!
@KingOfRok A "ton" of fighters? I don't know about that. Of the ones you listed off, several are considered "washed up", while others aren't household names. The women fighters are interesting and could be a nice differentiator. I wonder if EA would sign the girls.
NakedSnake14
@ Raymond I agree with you because if EA cant sign a Randy Couture or Antonio Nogueira this game wont sell. If only they could spark a deal with Dana and the UFC. By the way Raymond thats UFC 2009 Undisputed
NakedSnake14
Raymond has a point popularity is the big thing, and if EA cant land fighter like a Randy Couture or Antonio Nogueira this game will make very few sales, unless they spark a deal with Dana and UFC. O yea by the way Raymond it's UFC 2009 Undisputed
r_pad
@drunkmetaldude Similar to my last comment, I don't think signing Japanese fighters will help this game sell in America.
KingOfRok
Off the list due to being in the UFC game or signing UFC contracts: Kimbo, Randy Couture (But who owns his likeness? He's not in the UFC game, unless he will be in a download pack.), Tim Sylvia, Arlovski, Tito Ortiz, and Mirko Cro Cop.
KingOfRok
Fedor is a no-brainer! Josh Barnett, Babalu, Sokaju and Big Country from Affliction. They could also 'tap' into Strikeforce woman's division and sign Kim Couture (yes, Randy's wife)Gina Coranno and Cris Cyborg. Also, Frank Shamrock, Phil Baroni, Robbie Lawler, Nick Diaz (his brother is in the UFC game), Bob Sapp, Bobby Lashley and Hong Man Choi. There's a ton of fighters that deserve to be in this game and take on the over-marketed UFC juggernaut.
EOB
The league is DREAM and Fedor would be available, Sakaraba, Newton, Josh Barnet, Bas Ruten, Frank Shamrock and those sorts but it will certainly feel "B" level after the THQ game
GreedyMcNasty
Just go after the old school fighters or after the old pride fighter. There is a big MMA league called D.E.A.M. that is where a lot of the pride fighters went. Or partner with the UFC and they smaller WEC.
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