Dana White: EA Sports spurned UFC video game, now wants a piece of the THQ money pie
by Jesse Holland on Jul 15, 2009 3:29 PM EDT
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Props: Yahoo Sports
Quoteworthy:
"I went to EA Sports. Know what EA Sports said? ‘It’s not a sport. This isn’t a sport. We would never get involved in something like this.’ We come out with a video game and now they want to come out with a video game? (Expletive) you. All these people that want to cry and bitch, EA Sports didn’t give a (expletive) about you and wouldn’t even touch this thing with a 10-foot pole. We went out and made this whole thing happen. THQ basically put their entire business on the line. If this game didn’t work, they were in big trouble. The great thing about this business is, the UFC brand, plus stars, equals success for everybody. So when we do a video game, you’re a guy in the video game for (expletive) ever ... and you get paid off of that forever. You think Leon Spinks is getting royalty checks somewhere? I just saw a thing on him; he’s a janitor. That’s what we’re trying to not let happen to these guys."
UFC President Dana White blasts video game publisher Electronic Arts (EA) for being a fair weather business partner. White alleges that EA wanted nothing to do with a UFC video game so he went to THQ, which put its business on the line to produce "UFC Undisputed 2009." After a wildly successful launch, EA announced a mixed martial arts video game of its own -- much to the chagrin of Dana White, who acknowledged that any UFC fighter under contract would be unemployed if they signed on to the still-in-development fighting game. EA vehemently denies banging the bandwagon and claims its MMA title has been in the planning stages for two years. So, who do we believe?
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Dana White usually speaks truth so I’ll believe him. I just bought Undisputed 2009 on Newegg for $40 bran new if you guys are interested, it’s an awesome game.
by MikeD on Jul 15, 2009 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I played it for like 3-4 hours tops, haven’t touched it since it’s release date. I think I played that stupid PS3 for 15-20 hours combined total over the 2-3 months I’ve had it, it just collects dust now. What a waste of $$$.
by O damn he got caught on Jul 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Well I still use it as a DVD player and a coc mirror every now and again; it does count for something I guess…
by O damn he got caught on Jul 15, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Suck my d!ck?? How about that one..
by O damn he got caught on Jul 15, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
wow I was just joking guess its hard to read sarcasm
by Tyler Durden on Jul 15, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
thats an advantage PS3 has over the Wii and XBox is that it’ll also play Blue Ray’s
by McArthur on Jul 15, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
dana white usually tells the truth? what r u fing reeeetaaaarded?
by brendan on Jul 15, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
dana white usually says what you want to hear, and that is usually complete bs!.. he’ll tell any lie there is to make himself and the UFC look better
by RoB on Jul 15, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Something for all maniacs to think about. If you were not currently with the UFC but had hopes and aspirations to one day fight there, would you take the reported $10,000-$15,000 that EA is offering to use you in their video game? I would def turn it down esp if I was on the verge of having a contract with them. Even if you sign a TUF contract and lose 2 fights you will have made more money then giving your rights to EA.
Like I said, its just something to think about.
by ehoglund on Jul 15, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Not this time, ea botched it. They didn’t want to take a chance since they didn’t know how to make agood mma game.
Now that thq has laid the groundwork and took the risk of rediscovering the mma video game market ea just want to cash in.
Dana has a right to be pissed, and honestly I hope ea puts together a piss por product and fail.
Ea always lies about their production cycle, they claim every need for speed takes 2 years to develop yet they all look and play like ass.
Without ufc who contracts out 80 percent of the significant mma fighters, the game will not sell. :istorically if ea don’t get the licensing of the major sports organization, their game won’t fly
by liukangstoupee on Jul 15, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
360’s online is 1000x better then ps3…..and i allready have a blu-ray player so 360 trumps ps3 hardcore for me
by JG on Jul 15, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Ps3 vs Xbox, what happened here? Liukang I Totaly agree.
by RoJ on Jul 15, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
You can add Fedor and the the handfull of other non UFC fighters to the UFC game pretty easy anyway, just go to http://www.mma-caf.com/ check out the Brett Rogers formula I put together. Use him to KO Arlovski if you like, I do.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions
Heres the direct link to the Brett Rogers formula i did – http://www.mma-caf.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=225
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions
ehoglund – I wouldnt do business with EA under any circumstances.
Further to your point the whole thing about Dana White saying that was made up, here is the source of the rumour -
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/?go=forum_framed.frame&forum=1&thread=1482515&page=1&pc=3
the whole thing came from that casual comment from a forum poster FFS. At no point did Dana say these things and not a single agent has confirmed this rumour and speculation. Some people posting on here have picked this up and ran with it as if it was true, you just look like idiots.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 3:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I still don’t like the not hiring anyone who signs the game clause but I understand its point. Its to prevent the EA game from ever coming out, whether he stands firm if the game does come out that will determine if they are going to be that dumb. EA has a lot of work ahead of them if they want to come out with a video game that has even a flick of standing against the UFC. They have to scatter to Affliction, Strikeforce, Dream, Sengeku, and maybe K1. Dunno if they can convince all the fighters they need or else they’ll have to do some thug rap version of the MMA game where all these famous rappers get into a ring and fight one another for cred. I could picture EA sports trying something that dumb.
by Cogito Ergo Sum on Jul 16, 2009 7:32 AM EDT up reply actions
try reading the post above you before you post – there is no suchclause! the whole thing was just made up. jeez
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions
are you serious? Dana White is the biggest Bullshitter there is. EA is a publicly traded company that could get into serious trouble for lieing about anything. Dana White jsut wants to piss off everybody that wanted nothing to do with the UFC when it wasnt popular and accepted. And if true, I dont blame Electronics Arts for not wanting to risk its entire business.
by ANONYMOUS on Jul 15, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
They couldn’t get into serious trouble by saying that they have been working on a game for two years now. That statement says nothing. It could mean that it was an idea that they tossed around once a month. BFD.
And I don’t think that one game is going to risk their entire business. Come on.
Say what you want about Dana but I definitely believe that he is a very loyal person and has the fighters best interests at heart. I wish they would disclose all of the extra compensation and medical bill payments that they dish out on a regular basis. Just look at the relationship that the Fertitta brothers have with Dana, you can tell they are super tight.
by Adam T. on Jul 15, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions
man ea sports is always doing stuff like this , they make awesome games bud they are shady
by JG on Jul 15, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
MikeD, are you serious aboug buying a PS3? I’ve got a 80gb PS3 that I bought for Fight Night and Undisputed, along with some other games, but I’ve probably only played the system for a few hours tops. Feel the same way as O damn, big waste of money for me. Tried Craigslist, but you just get scammers for the most part.
by MikeG on Jul 16, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m a video game developer working in Vancouver (where EA’s head office is located). I myself have never worked for EA ( and never will) but I know a ton of guys that have. EA is a horrible company. They certainly don’t care about the sports they develop games for and do whatever they can to cut costs. They mistreat their employees. A lot of there games suck because Exec’s with no idea what there are doing make decisions they shouldn’t. I for one am glad the UFC did not partner with EA and I understand Dana’s hatred of them.
by boz on Jul 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Man, there is no possible way you could be a developer with that horrific use of the english language. If you can’t determine how their and there should be used, how in the hell can you program an f-ing computer game?
by slim473 on Jul 15, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
SLIM473, I’m not sticking up for BOZ because I don’t know anything about him, but I know of a couple of software developers that are horrible spellers.
by DAVE A on Jul 16, 2009 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions
I am a software dev and I suck at spelling…always have. Most devs are good at math and other analytical subjects, but many have issues with language. Not at all related to development or programming skills. Being good at spelling does not lead to having sound logic or problem solving skills. Being poor at spelling certainly does not imply anything with regard to developing sound algorithms.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s weak EA responded that way and now they’re eating thier words….Its also weak Dana would fire a fighter for being a part of the game….A bit extreme….
by It'sCalledMMAnotUFC on Jul 15, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m confused by this D. WHITE QUOTE; “So when we do a video game, you’re a guy in the video game for (expletive) ever … and you get paid off of that forever.”
I thought UFC fighters signed off in the fight contract on their likeness and would not receive $$$ nor royalties for their likeness on a video game. Is this true or not?
by DAVE A on Jul 16, 2009 1:54 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I haven’t had a video game system since my PS2 bit the dust back in 2000. I bought my buddies xbox 360 and his games for $100, then traded in the 4 games and got Undisputed for $4.
It is maaaaaaaaaad fun. I’m so happy my wife went away with her mom for 2 nights
by ViolentMike on Jul 15, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Too bad I have a ps3, we could have fought…. :-(
by Dragon on Jul 15, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Me and Alpha have been trying to do a “Best of 5” series, but haven’t got around to it yet. One fight per weight class. Whats your online ID?
by Synyster on Jul 15, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
You beat off for 2 days, you didn’t play undisputed.
by Slap Nuts on Jul 15, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Dana rules the business issues. And everyone who called Dana a little dictator or worse for threatening his fighters who signed up for the EA game, there’s your reason. Another company took a huge gamble going with UFC, and Dana is being loyal to the company that was loyal to him. Hardly a bad thing.
by PW on Jul 15, 2009 3:34 PM EDT reply actions
This is true, I’ll eat my words on this one. The initial news on this kind of painted Dana as a villain though; I’m waiting for an Introvert post on how everything Dana says here is a lie and how he’s scamming everyone into thinking that he’s not just being the bully with the biggest stick on the block; persecuting the fighters and taking money out of their pockets for no reason!!
by O damn he got caught on Jul 15, 2009 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I stiil don’t think it’s right to ban a fighter for life over it. That’s Dana being an egomaniac and this added info does not change that. and i’m a Dana fan
by BOW on Jul 15, 2009 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions
You’re the UFC and you are partnering with a company in THQ. Their main competitor and a company more than 10x larger than them want to develop a game. There is nothing wrong with not allowing your fighters to participate. Dana basically says you are either with us or you are with them. Seems pretty simple to me.
by Adam T. on Jul 15, 2009 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed. I think the bigger problem is that he said anyone who’s in it will never be in the UFC. So guys like Nick Diaz, Eddie Alvarez etc. have to choose between the money/exposure from being in the game or ever being in the UFC. It seems pretty harsh to ban non-UFC fighters from the company forever over it.
by KDawg2600 on Jul 15, 2009 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I think they can and will make exceptions if it comes to that. You might as well come out swinging hard and see what happens.
by Adam T. on Jul 15, 2009 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Where the f**k is introvert when you need him?!
by Syd[a.k.a."the Negation"] on Jul 15, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions
“anyone who’s in it will never be in the UFC” Dana never actually said that at all, it was an internet rumour with no source.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but this is a slippery slope…..Soon he can start to force fighters to train in UFC gyms because other gyms are competition or tell them who can and cannot endorse them…….Although he already does that…>Dana manages an MMA organization and if he and the Fertitas choose to expand that business to other products so be it but as a conglomerate they cannot force ALL thier fighters to share in ALL thier businesses……As a business this is not lucrative to the fighters, only the UFC…..People always refer to MMA as simply a business..>Well if the fighters are businessmen then it makes no sense for them to tie themselves to only 1 revenue stream…..They may fight for the UFC but they dont have to eat, drink, sleep, and play UFC…..If they did then it would be a dictatorship…..
by Venzia on Jul 15, 2009 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I rarely believe Dana but hes probably telling the truth this time FUCK EA SPORTS!
by Khaos_Warrior on Jul 15, 2009 3:36 PM EDT reply actions
tyler wants dana’s manstick inside of him obviously
by brendan on Jul 15, 2009 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
sometimes I just wish Brendan would tell us how he really feels j/k ;)
by McArthur on Jul 15, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Which Cyborg? The husband or the wife? I guess it doesn’t matter one way or the other.
by PW on Jul 15, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions
FU-C_K EA SPORTS
AND
FU-C_K Affliction
AND
brendan
by Tyler Durden on Jul 15, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Why f**k Affliction dude?! WAR Affliction!!!
by Syd[a.k.a."the Negation"] on Jul 15, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions
FU-C_K EA SPORTS
AND
FU-C_K Affliction
AND
brendan
by Tyler Durden on Jul 15, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Dana’s rough around the edges, but he tells it like it is. EA sports has been on top from making that Madden/ NFL money. I’m glad THQ is on the come up…good for them.
by Ground-Game on Jul 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions
Yeah, THQ is creepin’ on a come up!
by Syd[a.k.a."the Negation"] on Jul 15, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions
lol, I love how the UFC fighters will get fired if they sign onto the game. Thats awesome! Screw EA Sports.
by MMAFan on Jul 15, 2009 3:41 PM EDT reply actions
Hmm…this is sloppy journalism :
“EA vehemently denies banging the bandwagon”
They didn’t deny any of Dana’s claims. Peter Moore from EA hardly responded to his criticism, and absolutely did not deny claiming that EA thought MMA wasn’t a sport.
Lets not give EA credit they do not deserve, just because they aren’t the UFC, eh?
by WholeMilk on Jul 15, 2009 3:42 PM EDT reply actions
If these guys are collecting royalties off the game then more power to Dana; at least they’re getting something out of it.
by O damn he got caught on Jul 15, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions
I also believe Dana. EA is know for trying to swallow up other companies and their ideas. They probably thought that not enough ppl were interested in a MMA video game and when THQ released theirs’ they knew it was a new way to make some serious money.
by Miguel on Jul 15, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions
I have to give Dana props he is pretty loyal. THQ put their asses on the line to make this happen. I would do the same thing if I was Dana. EA bashed MMA, and all of the sudden when another game developer takes a risks and makes it, they jump on the wagon. Hell no
by mr-fancypants on Jul 15, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions
really? EA wants us to believe they have been working on an MMA game for two years and never contacted the UFC about it? i call bs.
by JB on Jul 15, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions
This is complete BS. THQ has been the guys making EVERY UFC game and infact also had a hand in making the Pride FC game for PS2 as well as the UFC’s best game which was SUDDEN IMPACT for PS2 as well. Matter afact the current UFC game is an almost exact replica of the THQ UFC SUDDEN IMPACT for PS2 minus the ability to pin upagainst the cage or knock the fighter into the cage.
I’m sure that they attempted to shop to EA but to make it sound like THQ is somehow putting their whole business on the line with backing a UFC game that they have already done almost 5 other versions of is complete nonsense. I love how Dana hypes things up.
when you listen to him you feel like he is really dead on with his comments and like its all straight talk but when you look at the facts they rarely ever back up his statements
by Tommy B Goode on Jul 15, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions
How do you know he’s not referencing the first UFC game made by THQ?? It doesn’t say he’s talking about Undisputed in his quote, just says EA refused the deal when he came to them.
by O damn he got caught on Jul 15, 2009 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions
It was a huge risk. All the MMA games before undisputed were pretty much failures. In this PoS economy, making a game, that might fail like all the other games like it, spending all the time and money on producing the game that you know might fail badly, is a big f’ing risk. Like a lot of other companies, THQ wasn’t doing as well as it was in a better economy. If undisputed failed badly, it could very well put them that much closer to bankruptcy, it might not do them in, but it’ll certainly get them closer. It affects the ufc as well, ‘cause if the game didn’t succeed, there probably wouldn’t be anymore in the future. And it would show no one cares about the sport enough to buy the game. If that happened, it would hurt MMA badly, ’cause it would be speaking against all the hype and eventually slow the growth of the sport to a crawl. If you think about what the consequences of that game failing are, you would see why its a big risk for both THQ and UFC.
by EAssholes on Jul 15, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions
This article is poorly written. EA never “vehemently denied” anything in the linked article. They danced around the issue. If I could bet on this, I would say that they still don’t think MMA is a sport but they do see $$$.
by WholeMilk on Jul 15, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions
Dana is full of it. EA was discussing this title long before Undisputed launched. They signed Randy 2 years ago, which is why that was a point of conflict with getting him back in the UFC.
The real story is likely that EA would not give Dana the terms he demanded. Dana will act like a spoiled little boy and go home with his toys after throwing a tantrum if he doesn’t get his way. This is likely what happened here. EA was the big name in sports games and wasn’t willing to bend over for Dana. Dana interprets this as them telling him to f-off. He goes to THQ, most known for their epic failures with their pro-wrestling game and a company desperate for a hit title. They agree to everything that Dana demands and in exchange Dana gives them an unexpected bonus. That being "we will guarantee all UFC fighters will be available for this game and they will sign over their likeness to you for life. This is unheard of. This is why Fitch was briefly kicked out, as he said “why do you want me to sign for life, when you won’t sign me as a fighter for life”. This alone was enough for THQ to sign everything Dana demanded.
Don’t believe everything Dana says. I am sure he feels EA dissed him, but reality and perception are two totally different things, especially with a spoiled hothead like Dana. He has done more for MMA than any other person. This does not mean he is always right nor that he is above screwing everyone else-fans, fighters, partners and especially those that he feels are against him. He is acting absolutely Gotti-esque.
by JR on Jul 15, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions
Ea sign Randy to be a cameo on another game Thats why he’s been signed two years ago
by Tower on Jul 15, 2009 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, he was just a personality in EA’s PC game Command and Conquer Red Alert 3. I don’t believe he’s tied to any other games they may be working on.
by Greggo on Jul 15, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Randy was publicly known to be in discussions with EA for their MMA game in May 2008. THQ UFC Undisputed was released in May 2009. That is at least a year before, so that alone shows Dana is not being truthful when he says EA was only interested after Undisputed was shown to be a success.
This week, Randy said the following about this issue:
"I struck a deal with EA during my hiatus with the UFC," Couture explained to MMAWeekly. "And it was an exclusive deal, so it was a point of contention when I came back to the UFC. Obviously, they wanted me to be in their game, and I had already done an exclusive deal with EA that, frankly, was a lot better deal for me. The ancillary rights are something I’ve been fighting for almost since Zuffa bought the company. It’s a major point of contention between us for a long time, so this was no different. Part of the negotiations in coming back to the UFC was that EA deal, and being allowed to do that. It was an exclusive deal with EA, and there wasn’t any room to negotiate."
He left the UFC in Oct 2007 and returned in Sept. Within that time, he signed an exclusive contract with EA. Again, well before Undisputed was out, let alone became a hit.
Some of you guys really have to get off of Dana’s sack. He playing you and you are all swallowing whatever he unloads. Again, he has done much for MMA, more than anyone else. This doesn’t give him the right to trample on everyone else and it certainly doesn’t make him suddenly truthful.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 8:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Really? where are your sources? like you said yourself, reality and perception are two totally different things. Dana voiced his perceptions that didn’t bend over to yours so you throw a tantrum and bad mouth the guy. If Dana being pissed off isn’t warranted and EA sports was making the game for 2 years as they said, why did EA sports wait til UFC Undisputed was successful to announce their own MMA game? THQ made, promoted, and sold out the game in under 1 and a half years. After 2 years, EA sport is still working on it? Bull F’ing S***. EA sports are f’ing losers and f’ing cowards. They’re like all the other MMA promotions created after UFC became successful, and like microsoft, they wait til something is successful, then bootleg their own version of it. Apple creates the online appls store, suddenly, everyone does it, nintendo wii creates mii’s, everyone follows, apple creates the ipod, everyone then creates a ipod-like players. They’re all f’ing bootleg wannabies too f’ing scared to start anything so they wait til they see someone else does it and if its successful, ride on their coat tails.
by EAssholes on Jul 15, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
You mean like every other business in the world other than the first one?
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions
What sources to I need for an opinion? I never bad mouthed him. I have a lot of respect for what he has done for the UFC and for MMA in general. That doesn’t mean I agree with everything he does, nor does it mean that I am ignorant enough to believe everything he says.
If you were familiar with software development (I am) you would know that it is not uncommon not to formally announce a product to many months or even years before release. That is a fast track to failure and creates a lot of bad will with customers who end up feeling it is just vaporware.
Now, one fact (google is your friend, use it) that is undisputed, is that EA and Randy were known to be linked for an MMA game in may 2008. A full year before Undisputed was released. So, Dana’s assertion that EA waited until Undisputed was a hit before deciding to do their own is obviously untrue, to anyone not stuck on his nuts anyway.
I agree with your statement about the Apple AppStore. But, really, the iPod was hardly the first of it’s kind. It was the among the best of it kind and that is why i bought one the first year they came out. Similarly, I am an Apple fan and have had Macs and Apple products since the early 80’s. Again, this doesn’t mean I think Steve Jobs is Jesus Christ nor that he is above reproach.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Bet EA gets Fedor and Randy to push their game
by Ognitinoc on Jul 15, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions
I wanted to ask that myself dawg!
by Syd[a.k.a."the Negation"] on Jul 15, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Ever remember on the Simpsons when Comic Shop Guy was chucking out that box of She-Hulk vs Leon Spinks comics, totally hilarious, pity the Simpsons aint so anymore.
by attakdog on Jul 16, 2009 6:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I know Dana White has been known as a liar in the past but, EA is a cancer. Dirty dirty people.
by Nick on Jul 15, 2009 4:10 PM EDT reply actions
Dana is totally telling the truth here. EA Sports are just a bunch of sleezeball sellouts hoping on the MMA moneywagon. EA, you’re a bunch of idiots to not see this huge opportunity. MMA has clearly surpassed boxing as the most popular combat sport and you guys turned down its #1 promoter? Retarded.
As far as EA developing an MMA game…who the f—k is gonna be in it? And please don’t say Fedor. I’d much rather see him fight in the UFC then screw up his chances aside from all the other stuff that is keeping him from getting in the octogon.
By the way, I played the demo of Fight Night Round 4 and it blows. It doesn’t hold a candle to Undisputed. The biggest reason is the fact that when you’re punching your opponent it doesn’t feel like you’re doing any kind of damage plus you have to hit him like a thousand times to possibly drop him. It gets REAL boring and repetitive fast. I’m sure the online and career mode are better than Undisputed, but who the f—ck cares? The gameplay is what matters. If fight night is this bad, I can’t imagine how bad a generic MMA game will be.
by MMA Fanatic on Jul 15, 2009 4:16 PM EDT reply actions
fight night runs 1000x smoother than undisputed.. and you dont have to hit them a million times in order to drop them, i have had a few one punch knockdowns on FN, it sure beats getting a 1st rd KO 19/20 times. i own both games and do prefer to play UFC over Boxing however FN is the better game.
EA!
by Ted on Jul 15, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that EA mistreats its employees…(had opportunity to work on Godfather game a few years back, doing Audio work, glad I didn’t get it becuase what I have heard and read is that 60 hour weeks are considered a luxury, 80 hour weeks are the norm, with so many kids coming out of college that think they would love nothing more than ot be in a video game company, they work you to the bone for Intern pay, these people burn out and quit after practically being slaves, and then there is always a fresh batch of college grads ready to take their place… BS!)
Don’t know if I believe Dana White totally in this tho’…
He does BS and fly off the handle, he IS a business man…
EA does make good effin games tho’…
just look at Skate compared to Tony Hawk…
I like UFC Undisputed a lot and still play it to this day (not every day or all day but it is still in rotation)
mixed feelings for ol’ Kip
by cagefightingkip on Jul 15, 2009 4:24 PM EDT reply actions
Dana needs to be careful when he says shit like this. Not only can EA sue him for interfering with their business, he’s creating anti-trust problems for himself and the UFC. I don’t know who their counsel is, but he needs to reign in Dana White.
by MMA Lawyer on Jul 15, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions
I think it’s the guy with the pretty pink parking place and the mini cooper.
by Adam T. on Jul 15, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
No worries lawyer man. The statements he is making and the things the UFC are doing are well within their rights.
antitrust not anti-trust.
by Adam T. on Jul 15, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Report about EA’s MMA game from May 2008 by IGN.com: http://sports.ign.com/articles/873/873358p1.html
by Ivan Trembow on Jul 15, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions
i went to best buy and had to make a dicision between this or fight night round 4. i chose fight night. i thing EA will do an amazing job at making everything look fluid based on the great job they did with fight night. this sucks for dana though. EA’s filled with a bunch of liars,they do a damn good job.
by tapps on Jul 15, 2009 4:38 PM EDT reply actions
Dana is saying these guys will get paid for life off of the game. How do they get paid for life if they all have to sign over their likeness rights for life? Did I miss something?
by wAyNe on Jul 15, 2009 4:48 PM EDT reply actions
Anybody that knows anything about videogames knows that EA is crap
by Lestat on Jul 15, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions
A multi-billion dollar company with a pristine balance sheet. Doesn’t sound like crap to me but WTKDIK.
by Adam T. on Jul 15, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions
i play all kinds of games. skate(EA) is way better than tony hawk however i believe that NBA 2k is a much much better basketball game then nba live(EA). i also prefer Battlefield(EA) over Call of Duty. just depends on the person. i prefer FN’s gameplay over ufc for sure but i like to play ufc because well, shit its mma!
by Ted on Jul 15, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions
EA is way better than any crap THQ is gonna do. Anything sports related in videogames…EA rules.
Dana is so full of shit.
Do you guys not realize that every fucking time he is in a bind, all he has to do is press release his excuse and every fucking UFC fan in the world falls for it? It must be nice being this guy…all he has to do to cover his ass is talk for 30 seconds to win over his ‘huggers. Don’t you guys get it?
EA had this game planned forever, and Dana wanted too much of the pie (as usual), so the biggest sports videogame producer told Dana to fuck himself…then Dana came out with the “any fighter in the UFC that signs with EA is out of a job, and any fighter not in the UFC that signs with them will never fight for the UFC.”
Whether or not EA is the bad guy or UFC is the bad guy in this scenario makes NO FUCKING DIFFERENCE TO FANS!!!!!!!! AT LEAST IT SHOULDN’T!!!!!!!!!!!! What UFC fans should be worried about is that the UFC is willing to substitute their quality of fighters and future fighters OVER A FUCKING VIDEO GAME!!!!!!
Wake the fuck up!!!!!!!
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions
"any fighter in the UFC that signs with EA is out of a job, and any fighter not in the UFC that signs with them will never fight for the UFC."
You put it in quote marks but it is not a quote. Dana never actually said that at all, it was an internet rumour with no source.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Since you seem incapable of using google, I have done it for you.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ys-mmaweek071509&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
“White confirmed the second charge, namely, that he had told managers that if fighters wanted to fight for or continue fighting for the UFC, they should not sign on to the EA game.
"Sounds like me," said White. "Sounds like something that I would say.""
Hmm, guess he did say it. Might be time to get off Dana’s nutsack. I think the lack of air might be responsible for you lack of coherent thoughts.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions
He fobbed them off by saying it sounds like him not a direct quote at all. He basicly is saying that he doesnt give much of a shit for all the complaining, the UFC official line is not – “we wont hire any fighter who is in another game”, but they are happy to let the rumour perpetuate itself as it will make fighters think twice without any commitment to the point by the UFC. You may not know this but to defend EA over Dana makes you look pretty dumb because they are real industry tyrants and have decimated the talent they sign and the litlle guy over and over with their lies and underhanded dealings.
by paniczoo on Jul 20, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions
…who gives a fuck about the video game anyway?
What UFC fans should be worried about is the future of the sport. By possibly limiting fighter re-signings and future signings over a video game, the UFC is obviously not worried about the future as much as they tell you they are.
Could you imagine Major League Baseball telling Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols that they are tearing up their contracts, because they refused to do a Kentucky Fried Chicken Commercial? Seriously?
UFC is the top dog in MMA, and always preaches that they are the only ones that can, and will, take it “to the next level.” But, shit like this just reeks of bush league, and as long as they deal with stuff like this like they are bush league…UFC is going to milk every penny they can out of you, and not give a fuck about the future of the sport…..it’s fucking obvious.
Limiting your talent over a video game while claiming to care about the future of the sport are two different things, and are at the opposite sides of the spectrum.
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 6:13 PM EDT reply actions
And it always will be as long as the UFC is bush league.
Get it?
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
yOUR ARGUEMENT IS DOA "anyone who’s in it will never be in the UFC" Dana never actually said that at all, it was an internet rumour with no source.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 3:18 AM EDT up reply actions
He may not have actually said it publicly, but he did kick out Fitch for not signing away his rights to his own image in video games for life. For life. Do you know what that means? Hell, White could kick any fighter out of the UFC at anytime, forever, and THQ would still have rights to their image. These exiled fighters could never sign to be in another game, even though they aren’t in the UFC anymore. That is BS, no matter how you spin it.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 8:14 AM EDT up reply actions
he didnt say it at all, ever, damn youre slow. it was all made up by a forum poster, when mmanews sites approached fighters managers and zuffa about it they didnt even dignify it with a response.
Fitch was just in the final match of a historical card in the biggest MMA event ever – he must be so pissed right now.
You are also ignoring what Dana White did just publicly say in this very thread
“So when we do a video game, you’re a guy in the video game for fucking ever … and you get paid off of that forever.”
So these fighters are getting payed to be in a game, if they move to another org they are still getting paid, sounds fair to me. Its not like affliction or strikeforce are going to be bringing out a game and looks like EA are only paying a small one off fee anyway.
On top of that – if it wasnt for Dana and the UFC there would even be MMA games.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions
So, Dana says they are getting paid, and without even hearing 1 single fighter say they are getting paid…you believe it?
by introvert on Jul 16, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
paniczoo: Are you really as dense as you seem? Fitch was kicked out of the UFC because he wouldn’t sign his lifetime agreement for Undisputed. He did multiple interviews confirming this. He was brought back in when he spoke to Lorenzo and agreed to sign. Seriously, if you can’t come up with a thought on your own without it coming from Dana, you need to consider not posting. You make yourself sound really, really dumb.
When asked why Fitch was kicked out of the UFC, Dana said “We’re looking for guys who want to work with us and not against us, and frankly I’m just so [expletive] sick of this [expletive] it’s not even funny," White told Yahoo Sports. "Affliction is still out there trying to build its company. Let [Fitch] go work with them. Let him see what he thinks of those [expletives]. [Expletive] him. These guys aren’t partners with us. [Expletive] them. All of them, every last [expletive] one of them.”
I didn’t say he said it. Saying I did and then arguing it against it is retarded…I guess if you cannot debate points, it is easier just to make them up? Please tell me you are not a stupid as your comments. You make MMA fans look like the retarded morons people think we are. get off Dana nuts and try to find yourself a thought of your own.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
paniczoo: also, that sounds fair to you. if they leave the UFC and EA offers them a shitload more money, they can’t accept it? That sounds fair? Really? For all you know, they are getting peanuts for being in Undisputed. But they get their peanuts forever and that is fair? You really are thick. I wish you would come work for me. I just took a rather large dump and you sound like just the guy would would accept it as payment, so long as I promise you another one tomorrow. Sounds ‘fair’, right?
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Normally I defend Dana’s opinions and actions but in this case he is completely in the wrong. For one thing, EA have been linked with an MMA game for ages, it was an open secret that they were going to do one, signing up Randy was an early step and I’d be amazed if they only intended on using him for Command & Conquer.
And his comments about THQ were strange, the WWE franchise has been very successful for them but their contract is coming to an end and it just so happens that around the same time they signed up the UFC, a franchise that has taken away a lot of the 18-35 male demographic from the WWE. This was not a big risk, they just found their next meal ticket as annual releases for a popular franchise are easy money makers.
The past MMA games were unsuccessful because they were made at a time when the sport wasn’t particularly popular, there weren’t any casual fans of the UFC or Pride in the US or Europe so there was no mass market like there is for the UFC today. The fact that they were all awful games didn’t help either.
Like EA, THQ are doing an MMA game to make money, neither are doing it for the love of the sport and there is nothing wrong with that, like the UFC they are looking to be successful businesses, it’s not a case of good and bad video game companies. All parties are doing this for themselves and not for the fans so it’s childish for Dana to just accuse EA of this.
I don’t really care about what a bunch of executives think about the sport, as long as EA produce a quality game then I’m buying it, competetion will help both EA and THQ bring out the best possible MMA games, so as long as Dana stops acting like an idiot the fans are the winners.
Personally I think Dana is scared of the competition because there is a chance that EA will produce a superior game, despite not having the licences at THQ’s disposal, this could be the MMA PES to THQ’s FIFA. It’s clear that he thinks this game will be a threat, otherwise why else would he use the bully boy tactics against EA and the fighters, it’s bad enough that he almost lost all of the AKA talent because of likeness issues and he has threatened to sack his roster for supporting another game but he is actually trying to frighten off potential new fighters over this game. Not only is this a restraint of trade but it’s a huge boost to rival promotions because Dana has single handedly put off quality fighters from joining and may even sack the likes of Machida and Couture for signing with EA, Strikeforce and Affliction will be laughing to the bank.
by David W-S on Jul 15, 2009 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed…that’s a solid point about the other promotions. They’re probably licking their chops thinking about how many fighters the UFC is going to turn their backs on over a stupid video game. Hell, as it stands (if Dana isn’t full of shit), Affliction and Strikeforce could even low-ball fighter’s salaries, because where else they gonna go?…not the UFC.
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 10:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Your post might be worth reading if it wasnt based solely on an internet rumour posted in a forum saying something like – a guy i know told me that one of the agents told him that someone from the ufc said blablahhh- you only make yourself look stupid quoteing this as fact.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 3:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Or based on something Dana confirmed that he did indeed say. You keep saying that he didn’t say it like you think this is true. Head up ass syndrome is tough to overcome. You should try.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
man ,dana white does care about the fighters.he just said so.
by hddavidson on Jul 15, 2009 7:19 PM EDT reply actions
God, you UFC lovers are crazy to look oast this shit and actually think the UFC is looking out for anyone other than their bank accounts.
They’ve actually done experiments about people like you. They put Coca Cola in two different glasses, marked one “cola”, marked the other “Coke”….and 90% of the people who drank both glasses chose “Coke” as the better tasting drink…even though they were both the same product…you all buy the hype, not the actual product.
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 8:56 PM EDT reply actions
DAM Intro!!! Go get f*ckin laid, get a beer, or do something with your life to make you alittle happy. Your either an Atencio “nuthugger” or you are Atencio? Maybe you are g@y, so you love anything Atencio does. Or maybe you are one of the Shaw’s? Dana should be burned at the stake for looking out for the Zuffa Bank Account! And everything that is UFC is a conspiracy. You must be stuck in a fantasy world where you think the UFC is a real life Matrix!
by JV on Jul 15, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes, insult another MMA fan because he doesn’t like Dana White….go on…go ahead…lol. Why does this guy bring out so much passion in you?…that’s what your concern should be lol.
…and I’m the one that’s gay (rolling eyes)….tsk, tsk.
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
oh yeah me too. My arms are sore from giving 25 cent handjobs in the corner of my local bar, high-five!
by tapps on Jul 15, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Why do you even come to this site and comment if all you are is a little basement-dwelling douche who sits on his computer and does nothing but hate the UFC and Dana White any chance you get? What have other promotions done to raise the bar for the sport other than leech off the UFC?
If you hate the UFC, Dana White and everything they’re about then don’t f—cking watch the PPVS! Don’t watch Spike! Quit wasting everyone’s time with your 13-year old garbage!
You claim that we’re all ‘UFC lovers’? Well what does that make you dipshit?
by MMA Fanatic on Jul 15, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t hate Dana or the UFC…you just assume I do because I don’t dream about him nightly and spew my love all over the internet like you do. Even if I did (like many other people do), why would that make me a “basement dwelling douche”? The only time I go into my basement is to do laundry, hit the heavy bag, or oil paint. I have one computer in my office on the main floor, and my other computer is upstairs, and my laptop is in one of my cars (depending on which one I’m driving on that specific day…today it was in the Pathfinder).
I don’t buy UFC’s PPV’s or watch Spike…UFC gets none of my money, and Spike TV is for basement dwelling douche’s, and so are video games (which I don’t play).
Now that we have all that clear…how does Dana’s ass taste, anyway?
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow, you are a loon. I can’t believe people like you actually exist. It’s funny because you probably think you’re normal when everyone you know (or don’t) thinks your a whack-job just like everyone else here. But hey, our society needs people like you to make fun of so keep it up…lol.
by MMA Fanatic on Jul 15, 2009 11:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey MMA Fanatic be nice to introvert, dont scare him off, i need him around to make me look sane.
by paniczoo on Jul 16, 2009 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Hopefully the competition between the 2 games will push each other to be better games. I bought undisputed and I like it but it could be better. If Ea’s game comes out and I like it I’ll buy it too. If it can’t get a lot of the more well know mma fighters it will just need a deep create a fighter mode. Anyway it’ll probably have Fedor attached to it.
As big as EA is they can dump a chunk of change to get Fedor.
by Ognitinoc on Jul 15, 2009 9:27 PM EDT reply actions
I guess that means no Brock vs Fedor then…unless of course the UFC’s full of shit.
by introvert on Jul 15, 2009 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions
EA gets what they deserve. They sucked the soul out of NFL football games when they acquired the sole rights to the NFL. It’s nice to see them get a taste of their own medicine.
by mikemick on Jul 15, 2009 10:27 PM EDT reply actions
If he was having such problems with EA, why did he have them as one of the sponsors at the TUF9 finale?
by RED on Jul 15, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions
I guess nobody cares about you solid point, RED. They need Dana to back up your facts first.
by introvert on Jul 16, 2009 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions
UFC Undisputed is a pile of crap. It was fun and entertaining for all of the first week when I got the game, now it collects dust. It’s an unfinished product. EA generally makes a pretty good game when they have competition making the same thing. NHL 2k series was good, and EA strove to make their NHL series better and I think they’ve made the better product. Dana’s just acting out for attention.
by Belisarius on Jul 15, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions
F$CK EA thats what they get for being a bunch of whores.
by GSP4Prez on Jul 16, 2009 1:10 AM EDT reply actions
EA Sports.. Only their NHL game is better than any other hockeygames. Otherwise they nowadays just suck.
Undisputed is a cool game. No doubt about it. But, not my favorite. Still prefer PES and COD.
by lavis on Jul 16, 2009 4:08 AM EDT reply actions
Didn’t Couture sign with them awile back and that is why he isn’t in the UFC game – that would mean that EA was in it awhile back as well.
by Jason on Jul 16, 2009 4:28 AM EDT reply actions
Yup. At least a full year before Undisputed was released. Dana says they waited for Undisputed to become a hit before they decided to create an MMA game. Obviously untrue, but the nuthuggers here can’t seem to understand that.
by JR on Jul 16, 2009 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
You guys are so funny.
Dana – “EA sports said that they don’t think MMA is a real sport”…oooooh…aaaaaah….oh the horror. EA must be assholes because Dana said that they dissed MMA….ooooh…aaaah…oh the horror. Hate EA…hate EA…hate EA!!!!!!!! EA Sports are evil-doers, and anyone who works with them are evil-doers. We must rid the world of these terrorists before they kill us all!!!!!!!! Ooooh…aaaah….oh the horror!!!!
You guys realize how shitty, not to mention expensive, all products would be if there was no competition? Think about it.
My guess if half you guys fall for this shit every time. You were probably 100% behind George W too weren’t you? Iraq is evil…ooh…aah…oh the horror!!!!
Too funny
by introvert on Jul 16, 2009 10:26 AM EDT reply actions
I’m with Dana all the way on this one. He is absolutely telling the truth. Fuck EA Sports!
by James on Jul 18, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions
It seems Dana has successfully painted himself into a corner here. If EA were to strike a deal with Brock, Lyoto, Anderson, GSP, or BJ to be in EA’s MMA game, then Dana will be forced to either 1) fire a fighter who will likely generate more revenue for the UFC than any video game could ever do, or 2) contradict his "warning", thereby setting a precedent to allow any other UFC fighter to also strike a similar deal with EA. The blasting of EA by Dana is actually good publicity for EA, THQ, and the UFC, as more people will actually want to try the current game, others who trust in EA game quality will wait for the EA game, and the UFC will have two games dedicated to their "sport", which in the end should bode well for UFC ticket sales as marketing from three fronts is better than one. The consumer also wins, as competition between gaming companies ultimately translates into higher quality of the finished product(s). In the end, Dana would be smart to work with (and not against) EA, but for the time being he is already being smart by generating said publicity and free marketing, which has always been his strong suit anyway, and which is the main reason why the UFC is as successful as it is today.
by John Connor on Aug 5, 2009 1:41 PM EDT reply actions
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