ESPN NFL 2K5 ships

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The challenger to the Madden throne will soon be touching down in stores everywhere.

Take-Two and Sega announced today that ESPN NFL 2K5's controversial road to release has finally come to an end. After being drastically discounted, the now-$19.99 football sim has shipped to stores, nearly two months prior to its originally scheduled release date. Rated "E" for Everyone, it is being released for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, and it should be in stores everywhere by the weekend.

"ESPN NFL 2K5 represents our dedication to delivering the finest gridiron experience ever," stated Greg Thomas, president of Visual Concepts, the Sega-owned developer of ESPN Videogames. "The formula is simple: 20 bucks on the weekend of July 23rd nets the consumer the best NFL game at the best price."

News source: GameSpot

Updates

According to the article at MSNBC, the new iPod will also contain the following features:

Longer battery life (50%) through more efficient method of power conservation.

Increased averaged play time, now at 12 hours.

Multiple On-The-Go playlist support

Ability to delete songs off the playlist

Users will now be given a choice to play their tunes at 25% slower or faster.

Lower price: $399 for 40GB, and $299 for 20GB. The 15 GB model has been discontinued.

Personally, I am hoping that some of these new features will be made available to existing users through firmware updates. I guess we will just have wait and see...

#1 stncttr908 on 21 Jul 2004 - 00:02

I think they're going to outsell Madden by a far margin with the $19.99 price tag. I'm going to be getting a copy for sure.

#2 SlammedGST on 21 Jul 2004 - 04:10

madden will still outsell espn just for the fact that people know madden, and know its going to be a great game. especially with the collectors edition for ps2

#3 ChadyzGroove on 21 Jul 2004 - 06:33

ESPN is a great game hopefully this will even up the sales for both and make for even better games for 2k6

#4 Mr. Apex on 21 Jul 2004 - 11:36

I am still trying to get a straight answer from them as to when they will release this in the UK/PAL territores, and if it will be the same price tag. I hope it is the same time (This weekend) but as far as coding for PAL systems and actually getting it out to the UK, I am not holding out much hope.

#5 Toxikk on 21 Jul 2004 - 11:43

2 months early.

i bet its a turd. im waiting for madden.

#6 briangw on 21 Jul 2004 - 11:58

pushed out way too early. It's gotta be buggy.

#7 saabcaptain on 21 Jul 2004 - 13:54

and you can't make money selling a game for $19.99 ... they are getting desperate to do anything to match sales numbers with Madden in the hope that in future years the name recognition of ESPN Football will allow them to compete head to head at $49.99 and win. it won't work, and Madden will continue to win. I suspect the end of ESPN Football is coming soon.

(3 replies) #8 dan213 on 21 Jul 2004 - 14:36

The reason they are selling the game for 19.99 is that they are trying to get people to give it a chance. All reviews have been very good for this game. IGN gave it a 9.4, Operationsports gave it 5/5. I picked up mine last night. The game plays great not to mention they will have an opening day roster update. Also online leagues with trading and injuries within your league, Madden does not have this. So don't knock a game you have never tried. A low price point does not mean its bad. I can highly recommend this game to anyone who likes football and is not blinded by the madden name. And if the game is done why not release it before madden? Makes sense to me.

#8.1 briangw on 21 Jul 2004 - 15:39

pfff. We'll see how long that price lasts. They'll lose money eventually. There's no way you can turn a profit on 19.99 esp. when the game will be warez.

For everything you mentioned, I don't do. I'll stick with Madden.

#8.2 dan213 on 21 Jul 2004 - 16:35

Why can't they make money? A cd and packaging only costs a couple of dollars.

#8.3 briangw on 21 Jul 2004 - 20:05

You can't tell me that man hours isn't affected. They've got to have the same number of people working on their team, like the team that develops Madden. After advertising, maufacturing, and other expensives, I bet these developers would be making minium wage in order to create this game, unless The publisher is paying out of pocket.

#9 RangerLG on 21 Jul 2004 - 19:44

Fry's here in town is advertising it for 17.99 when its released tomorrow.

#10 ND40oz on 22 Jul 2004 - 17:56

I haven't noticed anything buggy in it. I played it for a good three hours last night on the xbox. It logs you into xbox live as it boots up and does automatic online roster updates. They already had one available last night.

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