IGN has an interview with Greg Thomas of Visual Concepts; they develop the ESPN branded sports games for Sega. In the interview, he mentions that MS is introducing LSP (Live Server Protocol) next year that will allow developers to host their own servers with Xbox Live, something that stopped Electronic Arts from bringing their industry-leading sports games to the XBL service when it launched. Coupled with MS' cancellation of the 2005 season of its own XSN sports games, this could indicate a readiness on EA's part to play ball in MS' field soon.