Thread: Future of F1 Games: Eccelstone Asks More than Sony is Willing to Pay

Formula One fans may have to wait for the next official video game, as Sony and F1 Chief Executive Bernie Ecclestone are reportedly locked in stalemate over a new publishing deal. Sony Computer Entertainment's previous exclusive publishing deal, covering the 2003-2007 period, was for a rumoured $200 million, according to the technology news source TG Daily.

The website said the "gap between what Sony is willing to pay for a (new) license and what Bernie Ecclestone's (company) is demanding is too wide.

Industry sources are reporting that rival computer publishers EA, Ubisoft and Codemasters may now be in the running for the new five-year contract. The last Formula One game published by SCE and Liverpool Studios was based on the start of the 2006 season.
Source: F1-live.com

How greedy can you be !? Eccestone is already as rich as the sea is deep, he recently held an auction of 50 rare and valuable cars from his collection.
The sale of the cars, which Ecclestone has been collecting since the 1950s probably brought in more than $30 million.

His collection, which car experts have called one of the most important in the world, includes a Mercedes Roadster worth more than $6 million. He's one of the wealthiest men in Britain with an estimated $6 billion fortune.

He also sold the most expensive house in the world for approx. $128 million.

Originally Posted by Driverdb

Bernie should give the rights exclusively to Geoff Crammond.

Or to the top 4 best known game publishers. This would at least have some competition. The only competition there is now is to get the 5year contract, that's also where half the money goes in. Develloping a great game is now secondary.

If they all pay 100 million for instance, they could use the rest of their money to compete to eachother and make a great game for a change.

And let us decide which F1 game we like to buy and play and not Bernie.

Originally Posted by FAlonso

He also sold the most expensive house in the world for approx. $128 million.

It's definitely not the most expensive house in the world. I would go as far as saying not even in England. But that's not really the point here

The ongoing discussion between Sony and Ecclestone have been going on for a bit, and it's widely known that he is simply asking for too much. It's his right, considering how quickly the video industry is growing. But Formula 1 might just not be popular enough to really capitalize on an investment like that.

This is why I think no other video game producer, be it EA or Ubisoft, signed a deal until now

Formula One has reached a new video game licensing deal, with the British company Codemasters, gaming websites reported on Friday.

The news follows reports earlier this week that said Bernie Ecclestone was at odds with F1's previous game developer, Sony Computer Entertainment, who last produced an official title for the Playstation 3 last year.

The gaming websites on Friday said Codemasters has already begun development of its first official F1 game, which will be available on multiple gaming platforms in 2009.

"This alliance with Formula One is the jewel in Codemasters' racing crown,"
CEO Rod Cousens is quoted as saying.

Source: GMM