Justin J. Giangrande’s Post

EA SPORTS College Football 25, among most anticipated sports video games in history, hits the market. EA SPORTS College Football 25, among the most highly anticipated sports video games of all time for the NCAA, has flooded the market as gamers who waited more than a decade for the franchise’s next installment rush to play the game. The game officially launched on Friday, July 19th, with EA Sports increasing its server capacity ahead of time to handle the crush. More than 2.2 million people had already played the game before it was officially launched during its early access period. EA Sports college football games used to be released annually, and they were a cultural icon in American sports for much of the franchise’s existence. The company froze its future editions in 2013 when athletes began questioning why they weren’t getting paid to be featured in the games. With all the athletes’ compensation rights being sorted out in the courts and now allowed by the NCAA, EA Sports announced in 2021 that it would be reviving the franchise. The video game developer offered Bowl Subdivision players a minimum of $600 and a copy of the game to have their likeness included. More than 11,000 players have accepted the offers. Many schools are included in the game, such as UCLA, Mississippi State University, San Diego State University, and University of Colorado Boulder.  By: Ryan Kryska The Associated Press #EASports #NCAA #athletes  #AssociatedPress #UCLA #MississippiState #SanDiegoState #Colorado #collegefootball 

EA Sports has announced their new NCAA Football game, and along with it how players will be compensated. All athletes who opt into the new EA Sports College Football video game will receive: • $600 • A free copy of the game That means EA Sports is paying out a maximum of $6.6 million (11,000 players x $600 payment) to use players name, image, and likeness in the video game. Some athletes will be worth more — a starting SEC quarterback is different from a backup offensive lineman at a group of five school. That being said, group licensing isn't easy, and people underestimate how many players just want to be in the game (and the future opportunities that come in as a result). EA Sports will also do one-off NIL deals with certain athletes to promote the game, which could be a way for them to make some extra money. It's scheduled to be released this summer, and I for one will be hanging 200+ points on every not named TCU. https://lnkd.in/e6j2qGGY

Video game companies offered too little, too late to college sports stars Why it matters: Once upon a time, video games were the primary example college athletes used to make the case that they should be paid. Now that college athletes can be paid for the use of their name, image and likeness, the spotlight has shifted to the multi-million dollar incomes some athletes are generating via television ads and social media posts. But what about video games? "EA Sports College Football 25" is getting ready to launch and the compensation each athlete will be offered to be featured in the game is reportedly $600 and a free copy of the game. That's not bad for no-name athletes at low-profile schools, but it's nowhere near enough to entice big-time stars to opt-in to being featured in the game.  https://lnkd.in/dtmgEVmy

💰 $220MM - That's how much this game made in their 3-day early access period. 2.2MM units...at $100 a pop. Just to give you an idea of how big of a success that is: When Electronic Arts (EA) stopped making "NCAA Football" in 2013, it was a 2nd tier sports title. That's not an insult, btw. Competing with Madden and FIFA ain't easy. If FIFA was the world's football game...and Madden was America's football game...well, the circle on the PPT slide that represented NCAA FB's target demo - it had plenty of room to move about inside the Madden one. Who was buying it?...not college kids, believe it or not. The most responsive buyers for NCAA FB were nostalgic alumni (makes sense if you think about it). FWIW - "Mascot" mode was, and still is, my favorite thing about sports games...ever. Pistol Pete vs whatever that Christmas tree thing is from Palo Alto. Glorious. But here's the thing...NCAA FB typically sold between 1-3 million units...and its Metacritic score was usually a respectable mid-60s to high 70's. Yes...that was respectable. It may not seem so today, now that every game has to have 200 hours of gameplay and a +90 score...but NCAA FB was a steady, profitable game for the company. But there was always that one thing with this game: no real player names on the jerseys. Student athletes were not allowed to make money in any way, if linked to their status as college athletes. This meant that EA was not allowed to compensate them - or ultimately...even feature them in the game. What about the cover athletes, you say? They were typically recent graduates who would go on to (sometimes) respectable careers in the NFL (looking at you, Mark Sanchez, PSP NCAA FB 10)...unencumbered by the constrictive, and frankly, questionable...laws around what is known as NIL, or "Name Image & Likeness." But, were there "likenesses" in the game? Not touching that one...I'll let the courts decide. Regardless, in 2013...it all came to a head. Legal issues mounted, and the NCAA and EA decided NCAA FB 2014 would be the final installment. Frankly, they didn't have much of a choice. Public companies can't (intentionally) make games that don't make money...and this one wasn't going to...at least not until the NIL dust settled and someone came up with a new plan. 11 years later...new laws on the books...and a pent up demand for a once much beloved game. Are those new laws perfect? Obviously not...but they are an improvement over what we had in 2014. Is the compensation for the athletes fair? That's a tough one...probably deserving of its own post; it's a nuanced question. Players can opt-in to be included in the game...and get $600 and a free copy of the game. It may seem like peanuts on the surface, but there are around 30,000 D1 football players. That's $18MM right off the top. Not peanuts. Perhaps compensation is reviewed for future iterations of the game...which, given the success with this release...seems like a lock.

It’s been 11 years, but this summer EA is finally bringing back EA Sports College Football! So many of us grew up loving this game, humming the school fight songs, checking out the unique stadiums and calling turnover-inducing RPO routes whenever possible. But one thing was always missing: who ARE these people?!? College Football was always a game played by amateurs so athlete's names, images and likenesses were never used. Instead, a generic team of bulky Washington Huskies would square off against a generic team of bulky Kansas Jayhawks. But not anymore! Due to 2021’s NIL rule change, athletes are now allowed to make money based off their on-field talents. This is where EA Sports College Football 2025 comes in. On February 22nd, EA began allowing college athletes to sign-up to be featured by name as part of the upcoming release in exchange for $600 (and a free copy of the game!). While that might not sound like much, you can almost buy 3 college textbooks with that amount of money! Plus, the opportunity to live in immortality as part of a video game! Sign me up! I still have 4 years of eligibility left! If only my knees did... *** For more gaming and creator industry news, subscribe to YPM's bi-weekly newsletter here: https://loom.ly/MC93bsU #influencermarketing #nil #Newsletter #gaming

I see the ethics, actually reminds me of some of the issues Esports college students run into. I'd not have even heard about it if it weren't for streamers like Esfand and everyone streaming the hype. Twitter does go brrr. C'mon EA SPORTS if your game is good, a commercial hit please consider offering some or more scholarships if you're doing that or maybe even injecting some money into the arm of college football with sponsorships or something, anything. If the source of your inspiration can't get a bag, then do a #McDonalds and think how you can impact and reach the most people in the simplest ways. Watering the plants is a good idea in my mind. Give back, invest in people, in the culture, in the real sport that you simulate with your game. Think big, think long term, think lifecycles, college kids go into play in what now exactly...? Which you already sell that so... I see some other brands that are in your promo material that are enduring for the very reason I'm suggesting. Reminds me of that ACDC song, who made who? Ps: If you aren't following Bill Young, hurry up and do so, I've learned a tonne from this gent's posts.

Fabrice Polche and I were chatting about sports the other day, and as I tried to keep up (I don’t follow sports at all, with the exception of the Olympics -- go USA!), he mentioned he’s been waiting ten years for the return of EA Sport's NCAA video game. Ten years! Naturally, my marketing/business brain had to dig deeper to understand the hype. The original game was a hit but was shelved due to legal issues over player likenesses without proper compensation. Now, with NIL deals allowing for player compensation, the new version generated $220 million in sales before its official release. Players who opted in received $600 and a copy of the game (which seems low given the game’s impact, but that’s another post for another day). NIL deals have not only enabled EA to reconnect with its audience but also created new opportunities for athletes. To maximize this, it would be great to see these athletes: develop branded merch, produce behind-the-scenes content showcasing their athletic lives and monetize it on platforms like YouTube, and explore brand partnerships and product collaborations. I'm interested to see how these athletes leverage this excitement to bring about more opportunities within the NIL space. #brandloyalty #easports #ncaafootball #marketing #NIL

🚀 Exciting News for NCAA Athletes & Esports Fans! 🏈 EA SPORTS has officially launched its NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deal, marking a historic moment for over 10,000 college football players. For the first time ever, athletes can now be compensated for appearing in the much-anticipated EA Sports College Football 25. 🎮💰 🔍 But it's not all about the game. This groundbreaking initiative raises important legal and ethical considerations, especially since many NCAA players are minors. The complexities of US laws governing contracts with minors add a layer of challenge to the agreement's enforceability and the athletes' understanding of their rights. 📜🤔 EA Sports is offering USD 600 and a free copy of the game to each participating athlete, with opportunities for additional marketing deals. While this opens new doors for athletes to benefit from their NIL, it also sparks a conversation about fair compensation and the protection of young athletes in the evolving landscape of college sports and esports. 🌟📈 As we navigate this new era, it's crucial to ensure that these young athletes are not only fairly compensated but also fully informed of their rights and the implications of their agreements. The NCAA's evolving stance on NIL rights requires careful navigation to ensure the best outcomes for all involved. 🏛️👩🎓 Stay tuned as we continue to follow this developing story: https://lnkd.in/e4ppYB4k What are your thoughts on the NIL deal and its implications for college athletes and the esports industry? Let's discuss! 🗨️💬 #EsportsLegalNews #NILDeal #EASports #CollegeFootball25 #NCAA #AthleteCompensation #LegalEthics #Esports

The EMJFL Summer League kicks off this weekend, promising an exciting start to the season! The Summer League’s main mission is to help teams grow and adapt to new regulations, team sizes, and pitch dimensions. As teams transition from 5v5 to 7v7 and eventually to 9v9, they must navigate different rules. This league offers a fantastic opportunity to play competitive games under these new regulations, allowing teams to get comfortable before the full season launches in September. This summer brings a significant change for the Under 7/8/9 divisions with the removal of heading the ball during games. This monumental shift in gameplay is expected to have a substantial impact on players, coaches, and fans alike. Implementing such changes requires careful consideration and collaboration. It's crucial to involve everyone affected, gain their support, and be ready to adjust based on their feedback. Effective communication is key to ensuring everyone understands the reasons behind the change and its long-term benefits. I am really looking forward to helping embed these new changes going forward and seeing how the game evolves and develops in the future. https://lnkd.in/eRsPXwtd