WWE reduced its royalty payment to convince 2K to make WWE 2K14

[The 4th Doctor]

Source http://www.mcvuk.com

 

2K Games was only convinced to release WWE 2K 14 last year after the wrestling organisation agreed to reduce its royalties.

That’s according to CageSideSeats.com, which has word from the Wrestling Observer newsletter writer Dave Meltzer that the publisher instead wanted to hold back its first WWE title since its post-THQ agreement with the company until this year.

“2K Sports didn’t want to do the game right away, preferring to launch late 2014,” Meltzer said. “After not making much money off the video game in 2013 due to the THQ bankruptcy, WWE didn’t want to go without video game money for the 2014 books because that’s tens of millions and it would look really bad for Wall Street, and give an illusion of a company falling in its licensing.

“So in cutting the deal WWE was getting royalties at a substantially lower rate. They will start to make significantly more money once sales reach a certain level.”

The saga is impacting on the talent, too, with wrestler Mick Foley complaining that video game royalty payments have been on a downward trend.

"Another top tier star noted to us that he earned more than six times more two years ago from video game royalties than this year,” Meltzer added. “Last year’s royalties off the video game were way down because of the bankruptcy and everyone expected that. But the expectation was this year would be back to normal levels, and instead it was a small percentage of what it used to be.

“With the exception of the super merchandise movers like [John] Cena and [CM] Punk, the video game royalties are the biggest supplemental income the performers have. Since Foley publicly said what he did, we got notes from three major names and their video game checks were in the $10,000 to $15,000 range, and two years ago they were $70,000 to more than $100,000."

The report comes at a time of wider discontent within WWE, with claims that failed investments such as its themed Times Square restaurant and early struggles for video streaming service WWE Network have seen WWE cash reserves dwindle by 20 per cent over the last three months and that the company could run out of cash within a year is the satiation isn’t changed.

[Pac.]

Damn. Thank you, WWE.

[iamthedoctor]

I kinda wish they had held the game back as then it would have given them more time to fill things in.

[the King Lives]

I kinda wish they had held the game back as then it would have given them more time to fill things in.

 

yeah now we know why the dlc felt incomplete lol

[best in the world]

Yeah and now you see what I have been saying all along:  WWE wants quantity and not quality.  They should delay the game to make everything right instead of churning out yearly titles that are just mediocre with little changes.

[the King Lives]

Yeah and now you see what I have been saying all along:  WWE wants quantity and not quality.  They should delay the game to make everything right instead of churning out yearly titles that are just mediocre with little changes.

yeah I can see where they're going but yeah that's real stupid on wwe's part

[best in the world]

Ideally, what 2K should do is release patches to fix older games like WWE2k14 and WWE '13.  Then they can delay the game and totally revamp everything including updated graphics[more realistic ones], better more refined gameplay, a better story mode, and even a smarter version of WWE Universe mode.  Also, delaying the game might allow 2K/WWE to secure more rights to a better roster with people who haven't been included in past games.  I'd like to see a more comprehensive roster going from the 80s all the way up until now.  Even with NXT stars included.  But we all know that won't happen because WWE are a monopoly and want yearly titles to fatten their bottom line and at this point it is painfully obvious fans take a backseat to greed.

[iamthedoctor]

 

I kinda wish they had held the game back as then it would have given them more time to fill things in.

 

yeah now we know why the dlc felt incomplete lol

 

 

Its a shame really as some of the DLC needed entrance attire.

[the King Lives]

 

 

I kinda wish they had held the game back as then it would have given them more time to fill things in.

 

yeah now we know why the dlc felt incomplete lol

 

 

Its a shame really as some of the DLC needed entrance attire.

 

yeah and nash needed his corner knee strikes lol

[the King Lives]

Ideally, what 2K should do is release patches to fix older games like WWE2k14 and WWE '13.  Then they can delay the game and totally revamp everything including updated graphics[more realistic ones], better more refined gameplay, a better story mode, and even a smarter version of WWE Universe mode.  Also, delaying the game might allow 2K/WWE to secure more rights to a better roster with people who haven't been included in past games.  I'd like to see a more comprehensive roster going from the 80s all the way up until now.  Even with NXT stars included.  But we all know that won't happen because WWE are a monopoly and want yearly titles to fatten their bottom line and at this point it is painfully obvious fans take a backseat to greed.

Mother 2K Is always Watching! LOL

 

but yeah I agree 100% especially with patching 13 and 14.  Seeing a combined roster from the 80s to current would be awesome (minus benoit and owen of course lol)

[iamthedoctor]

 

 

 

I kinda wish they had held the game back as then it would have given them more time to fill things in.

 

yeah now we know why the dlc felt incomplete lol

 

 

Its a shame really as some of the DLC needed entrance attire.

 

yeah and nash needed his corner knee strikes lol

 

 

There were alot of moves that needed doing.

 

What always got me is that they badly screwed up on Warrior's comeback. There was no shaking the ropes which he did in every match.

[the King Lives]

 

 

 

 

I kinda wish they had held the game back as then it would have given them more time to fill things in.

 

yeah now we know why the dlc felt incomplete lol

 

 

Its a shame really as some of the DLC needed entrance attire.

 

yeah and nash needed his corner knee strikes lol

 

 

There were alot of moves that needed doing.

 

What always got me is that they badly screwed up on Warrior's comeback. There was no shaking the ropes which he did in every match.

 

yeah and he should have done 2clotheslines