Depending on how you look at the numbers, NASCAR is the most popular sport on earth. But despite this, EA doesn't appear to be too enthusiastic about continuing the NASCAR video game tradition.
According to GameSpot , EA boss Peter Moore has revealed that the company "has no plans" to pursue a new NASCAR installment. Since the franchise's debut way back in 1997, EA has produced almost 20 different entries with the "NASCAR" name in the title, but Moore says they've had to make some "tough trade-offs" and at least for the time being, NASCAR is one of the casualties. Said Moore:
"There are no plans right now for NASCAR from EA. We had a great relationship over the years that I thoroughly enjoyed when I first got here. Unfortunately…we had to make some tough trade-offs. We've had to redeploy some of those folks. A number of the NASCAR team has moved over now to EA Sports MMA, which will be shipping next year. [We're] still a huge fan of NASCAR, but no plans right now to develop any further games for NASCAR from EA Sports."
Oddly enough, despite all the numbers seeming to point towards massive sales success on the video game side, EA's NASCAR series was never as giant as the likes of Madden . Maybe it's because the NASCAR games always fell just a little shy of simulation superiority, or maybe it's because NASCAR is more of a spectator sport (which doesn't seem right; who hasn't wanted to try it?). Whatever the reason, EA just doesn't feel the need for another NASCAR title. Oh well.
Would NASCAR being in GT5 have anything to do with this?
I was wondering the same thing. Good catch.
Exactly! Why would a nascar fan choose EA's nascar only game over GT5 (presuming nascar is integrated), it just doesn't make sense. Unless EA's version is available at a heavily discounted price: perhaps around $39 / £20.
Thumbs up for techy for that avatar.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 9/4/2009 3:08:36 PM
I want an F1 game. Nascar will be there in GT5 so i think EA cant compete with that in terms of sales
Last edited by taus90 on 9/4/2009 11:13:21 AM
One coming to the PSP this year, won't see one on the PS3 until 2010. If you really need to play it, I think I saw and ad for F1 on the Wii coming with an F1 inspired wheel…
Last edited by CH1N00K on 9/4/2009 12:09:26 PM
Awhile back I saw something about Codemasters snagging the F1 rights. They are suppose to be working on a new F1 game.
Have always found any game that involves NASCAR to be on the dull side.
I used to enjoy the Nascar games back in the day(98-99). I'm from Daytona Beach(Daytona 500) but I lost interest in the games over the years.
Hard to make a game about something when you sold off the rights. But don't worry, Polyphony's upcoming greatest-game-ever will have your fill of NASCAR, if you're a fan. I'm personally more excited about WRC being in the game.
GT5 has NASCAR, right? Could it be that EA lost the NASCAR license to Polyphony?
Moore says this "We had a great relationship over the years". He talks about the relationship between EA and NASCAR in the past tense. I bet EA lost the license and Polyphony grabbed it.
Did EA ever own an exclusive liscense over NASCAR? cause I know many leages such as the NBA and MLB still have an open liscense, allowing competition in games. I'm pretty sure EA only ever had the rights to the NFL
if NASCAR is in GT5, are the race tracks in there as well? i mean, can i race with tony stewart at talledega? or am i racing on the tracks that the tuners are on? that's what i always wanted to know with GT5 having NASCAR in it…
it wouldn't be the same if tony stewart is racing down a grand prix track… lol, i'm not a NASCAR fan but, i kinda wondered how GT5 was gonna pull this off… it might be the EA replacement for NASCAR fans if it features all the drivers and the american race tracks…
Well in the older games you could take a formula 1 car into races designed for regular vehicles so I wouldn't be surprised if you can take your stock car from your garage and use it in other races
right but, i wanted to know if the game featured the american race tracks… because, if i was a NASCAR fan, i would probably be picking this game up… but, if they aren't even gonna include tracks like talledega and daytona, i would be pissed…
GT5 might finally make NASCAR games fun if they include the elements from NASCAR and not just the cars…
they will have oval tracks..but i want to put a NASCAR race car around the top gear track just to see how horrible these race bricks are…i mean they leave off a rear diffuser just to make the rear end loose at high speeds so they crash easier. makes crashing a fun sport to watch…
the top gear track has corners are you insane!! arr just wait, their is a full runway, a NASCAR car could work on it.
I'm going to follow the herd with this one. GT5 has the license and EA hasn't just come out and say that they paid too much for the NFL license to fork over enough cash to do MLB or NASCAR as well.
I'm gonna say that EA just can't compete with how well Polyphony creates a more realistic driving experience.
Just curious on what Ben has to say on this topic!! (Knowing that Ben has a huge grudge on NASCAR) 😉 Good article btw John.
THANK GOD…
I myself enjoy making lefthand turns…followed by RIGHThand turns….
Ohhhhhhhh
oohhh, there's the sarcasm..lol
Actually, it's quite the opposite of sarcasm. I enjoy making turns in both directions, ergo I dont like NASCAR, ergo Im happy no more NASCAR games are planned.
A realistic driving experience on GT5 vs EA???
Yeah, that pretty much sums it up!
I mean it's pointless to release it with Nascar being in GT5. You would have to be stupid to buy it when it comes in GT5 and it will prob be a better experience anyway.
ok i have to speak on this now, after reading this article i must say SOMETHING!! NASCAR in itself doesn't "suck" but honestly in my own opinion it's somewhat of "dry sport" i say that because how in the hell can somebody enjoy a racing sport where the cars only make left turns?! how can EA "spruce up" a racing sport like NASCAR when the whole race is the same each time?! ready, set, GO! "straight…straight… (maybe a slight right curve)….straight ok here comes the big part!… OMG TURN LEFT!!! …..straight….straight (for however many laps this repeats itself) …finish!!!" and don't let the "finals" come up those left turns are "tough" gtfoh! im sorry but NASCAR is a fun …. no WOULD BE a more enjoyable sport if they would just change they're formula and keep it fresh. am i wrong? please prove me wrong.
with that said i'm an big fan of the site, but for the sake of this article i couldn't resist finally creating an account and posting comments im 22 years old, i hail from New York, i own a PS3 60gig which has recently been sent to sony for a replacement after 2 years of owning it (disc drive no longer reads discs) but feel free to add me: myrieboy is the screen name, and to clear the air now "myrie" is my last name, as for the xbox "lerkers" on this site i only own a 360 for the sake of DOA4 hoping 5 comes to the PS3 i'm also a former GameStop employee after 5 years of working for them and yeah. nice to meet all of you! 🙂
lol, welcome…
Are there any Nascar fans here? So what's the appeal? It's the beer right?
No, the appeal is being associated with American high-class society, and rubbing elbows with our culture's most elite.
……and drinking PBR whilst beating your wife on your way to get food stamps to pay for your corn dogs.
hey, i drink PBR… it's the only cheap beer with a decent flavor lol… othwerwise, i drink micro-brews… i'm fortunate enough to live near a micro-brewery :D…
i have NASCAR friends and i still don't know what the appeal is…
NASCAR driving is very techinical. I appreciate all motorsport.
In NASCAR you're pretty much always at the brink of death. Think about 150+MPH and one bump can turn you sideways.. with 30+ other odd cars racing past you 🙁
But I love WRC more ^_^
The appeal is the wrecks, apparently. At least, that's the only reason most of my NASCAR fan friends go to see these races.
lol wow the wrecks? in a game fine but your friends go just to see the wrecks [if there are any]? that's sad lol people really can get hurt, but that's the enjoyment of NASCAR? man what has society come to..
I think the appeal is if you break the sport in a whole down..it's like a chess game with left turns.
btw I am not a fan of nascar but in a small way I can see the appeal.
Yayaya.
Atleast it's in GT5.
what's with all the hate towards nascar? i don't think driving around in circles sounds so stupid when most sports are consist of throwing, catching, hitting (with a piece of wood), kicking, or running with some animal's skin.
Last edited by dlte on 9/5/2009 12:25:23 AM
im not going to break down in full detail but those sports you just named while the play is the same each time those are sports that can give you a bit of a "twist" if that makes sense, one example Basket Ball while the rules remain the same, the game always has something unique about it hell it was so unique that it started up a whole new "association" if you will. are you familiar with And1 Basket Ball? you can't tell me that wasn't a breath of fresh air.
Well I guess this is one game series EA decided not to continue screwing up ! Anyways the best Nascar series I ever played was the old Papyrus/Sierra Entertainment Nascar games !
The best Nascar game I've played to date is the old NASCAR Racing 2003 Season ! Unopened versions of this game can and have sold for upwards of $130 bucks ! I should have bought two copies ! LOL !
Supposedly, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex, Jr. still use this game as part of their training !
Why need NASCAR when you got Gran Turismo! =D
I love nascar, and it is a real sport. most of the drivers work out, and condition themselfs. For 3 hours in a 120 degree car cranking on a wheel. and there is different setups for different tracks. the racing stratagies for each race could be when to make pit stops, how much fuel, how many tires, and any adjustments made to the car durring that time. everyone has to be on there game to get a win.