EA Sports Class Action

[CmdrSlack]

I got an email today informing me that I am eligible to participate in a class action that was filed against EA Sports. The case was filed in 2008, but I didn't find any other threads on the topic.

At any rate, the class action is based on EA's exclusivity deals with the NFL, the NCAA, the NFLPA and the AFL. If you've purchased an EA Sports title involving any of those franchises since 2005, you're probably a member of the class. The argument is that EA's monopoly on these franchises led to "customers who purchased certain football video games [being] overcharged."

The entire email is inside the spoiler tags.


I'm not 100% sure this will go anywhere, but the class got certified, so there's that. I'll have to get on PACER later and see if I can't find more info on the case.

[Bandit]

I hate the exclusive deal with the NFL, because I enjoyed the 2K games.  The fact that 2K games were significantly cheaper and pushed competition was icing on the cake.  But the bottom line in this class action suit is that people are being "overcharged" for this monopoly.  While crazy expensive, the pricing is not out of line with any new release (all being crazy).  So I am not sure how EA sports pricing is specifically overcharging.  Am I missing something?

Don't get me wrong, EA sports can rot in hell. 

[Furiously]

If the 2k games WERE lower priced... it seems like the case has legs.

[Bandit]

I got an email yesterday to join the class action suit  I eagerly await my settlement.

[NiX]

If the 2k games WERE lower priced... it seems like the case has legs.

I remember them releasing around the $30-40 price mark. Much cheaper than Madden and it often forced them to lower their own price to compete.

[Sky]

Should be a class action suit for people who had bought every version of NFL Football 2k until the EA behemoth squarshed it.

And then stopped making a pc version of Madden.

[Bandit]

If the 2k games WERE lower priced... it seems like the case has legs.

I remember them releasing around the $30-40 price mark. Much cheaper than Madden and it often forced them to lower their own price to compete.

I had a hankering for some football action earlier this year so I picked up NCAA 11, and nearly choked when the game came in at $80 with taxes (Canada). 

[Sky]

I got a copy of Madden 2008 (iirc) because it's the last version they made for the pc. Turns out playing with out-of-date rosters really bugs the shit out of me.

[NiX]

I had a hankering for some football action earlier this year so I picked up NCAA 11, and nearly choked when the game came in at $80 with taxes (Canada). 

Yup, worked in an EB back when 2K was still making football games and a lot of people would switch just because of the price difference. Only about 1/4 would return it because they didn't like it. Of course this is all anecdotal.

[Bunk]

For several years, I thought 2k was putting out the better version of hockey, and as a bonus it was cheaper.

[HaemishM]

The 2k football franchise was one of the best sports games year after year. 2k5, the last one they made, just absolutely crushed every version of Madden in terms of fun and fidelity to football. It was such a superior product. The NFL earned a lot of my scorn for agreeing to give EA the license, because no version of Madden since then has been as good of a game.

[Sky]

Yeah, that was a dumb license move. You'd still move a ton of Madden units, because the branding is amazing. But then you could have this massive secondary games, and both games improve as a result.

As I said before, I hate crusty rosters. I played 2k5 and Maddox was QB for the Steelers and my mind kind of 

[Riggswolfe]

I also got the email but the problem is I don't know how I'd prove it. I've sold back all my EA sports titles except maybe Fight Night Round 4 which I don't think counts does it?

[MuffinMan]

Would you even have to prove it? I mean, you're automatically included as a class member unless you request exclusion so it seems like they would have already verified that you are entitled to the settlement.

[Yegolev]

I might defend by pointing out customers are free to play games using fake teams and players.

[dusematic]

I hope you guys are all looking forward to the $12 checks that you probably will never receive!

[WayAbvPar]

I care less about any finanicial compensation and more about opening the market to competitors to drive innovation up and prices down. And to fuck EA right in their greedy balloon knots.

[NiX]

Did anyone else read the thread title and think that EA might actually make a game with that name?

[Trippy]

No but now that you mention it that would be a good title for their 2011 football game (NFL players filed an antitrust class action lawsuit against the league a month ago).

[Yegolev]

Followed by EA Sports Criminal Indictment and EA The Sims Football.

[Kovacs]

Am I the only one who's immediate thought was that it was really professional looking for phishing?

[MuffinMan]

Yea, you're probably the only one since they aren't asking for any information. They are saying if you want settlement money then don't contact them or provide any information. Worst phish ever.

[CmdrSlack]

Yea, you're probably the only one since they aren't asking for any information. They are saying if you want settlement money then don't contact them or provide any information. Worst phish ever.

 

[Kovacs]

Yea, you're probably the only one since they aren't asking for any information. They are saying if you want settlement money then don't contact them or provide any information. Worst phish ever.

Huh.  Gave me a "You're account has BEEN CHANGED.  If you haven't made any changes to your account recently click here link.  Directly to a pop up asking me for my account info.

[MuffinMan]

Hmm I clicked both links in the quoted e-mail and didn't get anything like that. What account would they be talking about? I'm confused. Is this real life?

[Merusk]

Followed by EA Sports Criminal Indictment and EA The Sims Football.

Can I sexually assault females then pay large sums of simoleans to hush them up in Sims Football?  How about being able to run-down people and only getting a few years probation?