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EA sued over Madden feature

By Tim Surette, GameSpotPosted Dec 2, 2005 3:50 pm PT

Game developer claims publisher stole his idea for football game; EA says suit is "without merit."

Electronics Arts, the world's largest game publisher, is finding itself in a legal battle over one of the features of its popular Madden NFL 06 game. Pernell Harris, owner of Virtual Jam, has sued the game maker over breach of contract and confidentiality violation.

According to Harris, he met with EA in 2003 to discuss some ideas he had concerning a football game titled Heart of a Champion. In the game, players take a high school athlete from the preps to the pros, making sure they get passing grades and even picking their parents to assure an optimum gene pool.

Legal papers flew when Harris noticed some of these features were included in this year's edition of Madden NFL 2006. Harris is seeking unspecified damages, restitution, and lawyer's fees.

EA doesn't seem bothered by the allegations. A company spokesperson told Reuters, "We have read the complaint and the allegations are completely without merit."

Madden NFL 2006 was released in August, and is one of the top-selling games of the year.

96 Comments

  • jakeboudville

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 7:06 pm PT

    i agree with blackcrimson004

  • blackcrimson004

    Posted Dec 10, 2005 1:35 pm PT

    not much of a suit if u ask me

  • BeatOfMax

    Posted Dec 6, 2005 11:44 am PT

    phhhhhhhh!! sOUNDS PRETTY CHEAP !! lol !!!

  • omarmalick

    Posted Dec 6, 2005 4:34 am PT

    Right...this joker probably copied off some other game - i'm pretty sure you can do something similar on a gamecube wrestling game

  • bbooty

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 6:19 pm PT

    That High School to pros idea would be AWESOME. He should talk to microsoft and make that happen with real Nfl teams because microsoft or XSN sports isnt held back by that exclusive right Bull S#*t that EA has.

  • gonzalezj1

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 4:59 pm PT

    Whatever. The NFL was MY idea anyway. You don't see me runnin' around all namby-pamby suing people. I took it like a man. ... Kids these days. Humph.

  • MadGamer132

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 2:18 pm PT

    don't sue EA over a feature in a game, please! LOSER!

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 12:07 pm PT

    lol, Long live EA.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 11:48 am PT

    EA, is the smart parts of the gaming industry, in manys eyes they push profits and tend to steer clear of real inovation , ubisoft used to be original, the last compelingly creative game they made, farcry, could have been so much greater. EA pushes partially finished pc products(battle for middle earth any one) they then sit there and rake in the profit. few if any of there ideas are theres. they then try to buy up and own everyone rather then really helping the industry they are trying to own it, this narrow mind set will eventually force people away from games as they realize the ever increasing price of games is delivering ever decreasing gaming experience. when EA owns valve, id(ignore the "quake 4" blemish) and the other greats we'll all be screwed.

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 11:47 am PT

    EA, is the smart parts of the gaming industry, in manys eyes they push profits and tend to steer clear of real inovation , ubisoft used to be original, the last compelingly creative game they made, farcry, could have been so much greater. EA pushes partially finished pc products(battle for middle earth any one) they then sit there and rake in the profit. few if any of there ideas are theres. they then try to buy up and own everyone rather then really helping the industry they are trying to own it, this narrow mind set will eventually force people away from games as they realize the ever increasing price of games is delivering ever decreasing gaming experience. when EA owns valve, id(ignore the "quake 4" blemish) and the other greats we'll all be screwed.

  • ZugZug4

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 11:12 am PT

    EA should be sued for sucking.

  • BurningWreck

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 10:52 am PT

    I think he missed an idea...why just pick your parents? I think you should be there when they have sex to create your player, then you could be the sperm that fights its way up the uterus and fertilizes the egg! Booyaah!! Your first win! The making of a champion!!!

  • reallaughingman

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 10:40 am PT

    they had to see if it was popular before they sued for cash. If it was a flop nothing would have happened.

  • coolfx13

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 9:47 am PT

    Hey EA you know that new feature with the quarterback vision in the newest edition of madden, well that was my idea and now I'm going to sue you, I want half your share in the profits.-lol

  • prtynacan

    Posted Dec 5, 2005 9:45 am PT

    Why is the assumption that Harris is the liar here, and Harris is the money hungry villain? I can't believe people what I'm reading on this board - "oh poor multinational billion dollar corporation Electronic Arts is being sued by a money hungry individual who is seeking compensation for an idea that EA stole from him. Harris is obviously a complete fraud." This thread makes me realize why the tobacco companies still won't admit their product causes cancer. This is ridiculous. I would give Harris the benefit of the doubt over EA by far. Let's take a look at EA's not so stellar track record - it has cornerned the market by securing the NFL license for itself. This move drove an arguably better football game out of the market, thus hurting all NFL video game fans who desire improvement and options. EA's monopoly now allows the company to rest on its laurels and reap the cash cow that is Madden football. It produces a nearly identical game year after year after year. Put a 2007 on the box, a new cover athlete, new rosters, and a flashy new "how many cheerleaders can my created player hook up with in a season" or "construct your own stadium" and, voila - I've just created EA's new Madden game (if EA steals either of these ideas, I'm suing them by the way). Minor improvements are what drives the people to buy the new version game, and what eases EA's conscience in producing yearly Maddens. If Harris came up with an idea that EA used - and it looks that way, he should be compensated, plain and simple. EA needs people like Harris to keep their stagnant product fresh - they can't take his ideas and ignore him later. If this cae makes it past the initial stages of trial, which it probably will, look for a fast settlement from EA.

  • Maraxusofkelds

    Posted Dec 4, 2005 10:44 pm PT

    LOL. If this guy actually wins i will eat my shorts. This is worse than the Wendy's finger incident because this guy is bascially claiming to have done something after he sees the potential without any hindsight. Jeez, i can go around saying i invented Halo if i was like him. lol..................................

  • metaldeath87

    Posted Dec 4, 2005 10:17 pm PT

    Isn't it strange that people would automatically assume that this guy is just suing EA to make money? We have no clue what kind of proof is involved. I'm sure that nobody thought Immersion would get money out of Sony for the Dualshock, but they did. I would advise shutting up unless you have an idea what the case is all about.

  • CareyxFMXxHart

    Posted Dec 4, 2005 5:58 pm PT

    wow, that guy is dumb, he probly just made it all up

  • GoodWillDie

    Posted Dec 4, 2005 4:14 pm PT

    Yo you have to look at it this way. It takes six months for a lawyer to prepare a legal case agaist such giants as EA.

  • luc11044

    Posted Dec 4, 2005 2:41 pm PT

    It wouldn't surprise me if EA stole his ideas. Like it would kill them to come up with new ones.

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