R.I.P. College Basketball Gaming? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

R.I.P. College Basketball Gaming? Stuck

Posted on February 11, 2010 at 03:25 PM.

(11)

First 2K Sports decided it wasn't profitable to make a college basketball game. Then EA, with the market all to itself, couldn't muster a title which could sell very well (much less be of good quality).

And now, with the NCAA under fire from multiple directions via lawsuits about how it's licensing player likenesses, it seems as if College Basketball gaming might just be dead.

At least for now.

Unfortunately, in the near term, it might be a tough sell for anyone going to any publisher looking to develop a college basketball game. According to the best figures I can find (the not so reliable but best thing we have VGChartz), College Basketball games have always had a tough time selling. The best selling College basketball game I could find only mustered just about half a million sales on any given platform -- and that was in the much more favorable to sports games PS2 generation of games.

Given the risks involved in the market at the present time (potentially paying a huge sum out of pocket in a lawsuit settlement) plus the simple fact the games aren't selling very well in an environment not very conducive to risk, it shouldn't be a huge surprise EA is dumping NCAA Basketball from a business standpoint.

So will anyone take up the torch at a later date and make a college basketball game? I think the answer is yes, and I think EA might be the company to do it at some point again in the future. But for now, the folks on the NCAA Basketball team have been reassigned in house, which could only be a good thing for other titles in development at EA Canada. In the meantime, college basketball gamers will have to settle for NCAA Basketball 10 or College Hoops 2K8 as their college basketball game of choice.

Do you care NCAA Basketball is no longer being developed by EA? Will we see another college basketball game? Sound off with your opinion!

Comments

# 1 jyoung @ Feb 11

College Hoops 2K8 is still my favorite basketball game this gen.

The dynasty mode in that game is still the best around IMO.

Plus we have the great 2K Share feature to keep the rosters fresh.

# 2 stlstudios189 @ Feb 11

I was enjoying NCAA this year. I had to keep my CH2k8 and will most likely play both of these games untill we get a new one hopefully in 2011

# 3 Valdarez @ Feb 11

College basketball should just be a XBox Live Arcade game. That's one that's easily worth $10 to $15.

# 4 bigsmallwood @ Feb 12

I think that EA or 2K should try to release a new game within the next year or so....we cannot afford to lose the College Franchise.

# 5 NoleFan72 @ Feb 12

You guys think this is do to the court case with that player from UCLA advancing?

# 6 RaychelSnr @ Feb 12

I think this decision was made long before the O'Bannon case advanced and there are a lot of other simple factors like college basketball games just don't sell well that played bigger roles. But it definitely does not help any game based on college sports' chances of being developed that there are potential payouts coming to current and former players among other things.

# 7 Valdarez @ Feb 14

@Logic Doctor
No, but many who receive full scholarships are required to be teacher aides and for graduate level required to teach a set of classes. They typically give 25 hours a week of their time.

# 8 geezmeister @ Feb 15

I actually like ncaa this year. I hate to hear this because I like to play whatever sports games are in season, and im not really a NBA fan. Oh well I guess ill just be playing more Ncaa and Madden and the Show. Honestly I still think EA should bring back Ncaa baseball, I think it would be a good chance for them to get a next gen baseball title out there. But nothing can ever hang with the MLB the show in baseball terms

# 9 statum71 @ Feb 15

I don't really care. I was always kinda "left out" of the EA NCAA fun anyway. Because they refused to allow multi-player franchise.

Can't miss what you never had.

# 10 meisenbe @ Feb 18

Remember Coach K for Sega? That was the ****!!!