So the gaming corners of the internet have been all a-twitter with the news of EA signing deal with the NFL Players' Association granting EA exclusive rights to use the actual players and teams of the US National Football League for the next 5 years. I find it interesting that the same people who like to complain about how every videogame that comes out these days is either a license a sequel are up in arms over the idea that any developer other than Electronic Arts wanting to make a football game is now bestowed with a mandate to come up with something original. Not only that, but these other developers would have all the more reason to innovate in tech, art, and design, just to overcome the licensed product they were competing against.

Isn't this what we all want? More innovation? More originality?

Or do sports games fill a special category. The play is not the thing, rather sports videogamers are looking for fantasy simulators. Are sports games more about the branding than about the love of the naked game?

I don't play sports videogames, so I wouldn't know. Enlighten me.

UPDATE Midway Games throws their hat in the ring as only they can.