Free Online Football Simulator QUICKHIT Grabs NFL License

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If you’ve noticed an absence of football video games featuring actual NFL teams, there’s a reason. EA Sports and its Madden franchise has had an exclusive agreement with the NFL for years now, first signed in 2005 and recently extended through 2012.

However, free online football simulator QUICKHIT has managed to ink a deal with the NFL as well and starting with the 2010 season, all 32 NFL teams will be present and accounted for.

The deal likely comes about as a result of EA axing Madden on the PC altogether and the fact that QUICKHIT is more of a point-and-click coaching simulator than anything else. Still, it’s a promising sign that things are starting to open up a little bit.

It’d be interesting to see if, say, 2K Sports would be able to create a PC-only version to compete with Madden. Something tells me that A) it’s not worth their time to make a game that won’t also be on consoles and B) if the game were too Madden-like, they wouldn’t be able to get the NFL license.

Full press release:

QUICKHIT® SCORES NFL LICENSE FOR QUICKHIT FOOTBALL™

FOXBORO, MA – June 10, 2010 – Quick Hit, Inc. (“QUICKHIT”), a leading developer and publisher of free social sports games, made news in advance of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), announcing that it has secured a multi-year NFL license from the National Football League.  Under the terms of the agreement, QUICKHIT will have the right to use NFL trademarks in its successful free-to-play, browser-based game, QUICKHIT Football. Although the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, the license includes the 32 NFL team names, logos, colors, uniform and helmet designs, as well as the Super Bowl, NFC, AFC, and Pro Bowl logos.

“This agreement represents an exceptional opportunity to partner with the National Football League in the exploding digital and social gaming space,” said Jeffrey Anderson, QUICKHIT’s founder and CEO. “Their focus on quality and authenticity is the same as ours, and we look forward to working closely with them.”

QUICKHIT’s agreement with the NFL will provide compelling game play for football fans of all ages. Starting with the 2010 season, online fans will be able to show their support and affinity for a given NFL team by customizing their QUICKHIT Football team.  Options will include the ability to choose the logos, colors and uniforms of their favorite NFL team, select plays that are consistent with that team’s style of play, and much more.

“We are excited to partner with QUICKHIT and enhance the gaming experience online for our fans,” said Hans Schroeder, Vice President of Media Strategy and Development at the NFL. “This partnership is a key part of our goal to expand and enrich the online experience for NFL fans throughout the year.”

Attendees at E3 can catch a sneak peek of the game’s new NFL trailer and hear more about QUICKHIT Football at the company’s booth in the South Hall (Booth #3013), including an exclusive event on Wednesday, June 16th, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

QUICKHIT Football started its open beta in October 2009 with the goal of making a free, accessible and authentic football game for the masses. In just a few months, the game attracted more than a million users. QUICKHIT Football features NFL personalities like Super Bowl-winning coaches Bill Cowher and Brian Billick, as well as players like Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Brian Westbrook, Barry Sanders, Randall Cunningham, and more. The addition of NFL team marks and logos to the game provides fans even more realistic and riveting gridiron action this year.

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