Would Changing the Release Date Have Shifted NCAA Basketball's Fortunes?

Feature Article

Submitted on: 12/06/2011 by Thomas Surovy

The last college basketball game released was back in 2009 with EA Sports’ NCAA Basketball 10 and it’s been four years since 2K Sports released a college basketball game, with the much beloved College Hoops 2K8. Both series suffered from poor sales and it is believed that those figures, combined with the high cost of the NCAA license, led to their cancellations. The games were traditionally released in the middle of November, with the exception of a special download-only “March Madness” edition of NCAA Basketball 09 that was released in March of 2009. One frequently talked about issue with the sales involves the November release date. So it makes me wonder if that date was changed, would the sales increase?

Bad Timing

A November release meant that the college basketball games often got lost in the shuffle. The NBA games are normally released in early October, so many gamers were still fully involved in those games and probably didn’t feel the need to purchase another basketball game. The release date was also right in the middle of football season, so Madden and NCAA Football were still in many gamers’ rotations. Finally, November is also the most popular time for many big-name, non-sports game franchises to be released in time for the holiday season. Combine all of those factors and it’s easy to see how the College Hoops and NCAA Basketball series may have been overlooked by fans.

Not Prime Season

With a November release date, EA Sports and 2K Sports made die-hard college hoops fans happy by releasing their games right as the season was kicking off. While there are some very good non-conference match-ups and interesting tournaments early in the season, college basketball is barely on the average sports fan’s radar in November. The NFL is beginning its stretch run to the playoffs while college football in November features many of the big rivalry games and conference championships. The NBA, in non-lockout years, is just kicking off its season, while the NHL season is moving along, so there is a lot of competition for a sports fan’s attention. It’s safe to say that college basketball isn’t a priority for the average sports gamer during such a busy month for sports.

If Not November, When?

Obviously, March is the time of year when sports fans are giving the majority of their attention to college basketball. NCAA tournament gambling makes everyone an expert on whether Duke will win another title or whether Butler can make another Cinderella run to the Final Four. However, a March release for a college basketball game would limit gamers to about a month with their game before the actual season was over, making them reluctant to part with their hard-earned money for only a short time of having the game in their rotation. In addition, March usually sees the release of the baseball games that would compete for sports gamers’ dollars.

Early January would be the ideal release date for a college basketball game. Three months will have passed since the release of the NBA game(s), so basketball fans could be looking for something different to get their fix. In addition, the college football season has ended and the NFL has only a few playoff games remaining, so gamers may be phasing their football games out of their regular rotation. Meanwhile, college basketball has started conference play and many big rivalry games are being played. The game release schedule in January is usually lighter since the holiday shopping season is over, so there would be less competition from non-sports games as well. A January release gives gamers a solid three months of in-season play of the college basketball game, with plenty of time to get familiar, without getting burned out, before March Madness.

Final Thoughts

A myriad of factors led to the demise of the NCAA Basketball and College Hoops series. One of those was a poorly timed release date. Moving the release date back to January lessens the competition for gamers’ attention while still giving basketball fans plenty of in-season time with the game.

If the NCAA Basketball and/or College Hoops series were resurrected, when do you think the optimal release date would be for ensuring the long-term success of the game?

Member Comments

# 21 jsquared52 @ 12/06/11 11:31 PM

I think the star HS players going straight to the NBA helped destroy the franchises as well. For a while there, you really had to be a college bball fan to know who was playing where. Stars sell the NBA games and stars use to sell the college games. I still reember the Coack K series that was loaded with future NBA players and that's really what is needed for the avg fans to move units off the shelves. I don't like the one and done rule but I'll admit that it is helping college bball. With guys like Jones @ UK and Sullinger @ OSU staying for their 2nd yr and even the 1 and dones help some, avg fans get to learn who these guys are and start to have favorites gain to follow to the NBA. I use to get frustrated and turned leaving early off b/c all my stars would leave after their 1st yr just like real life. It messed up the game to me a little and ultimately messed up college bball in real life. It's why I think this year's season is going to be really good and hopefully it will lead to more stars staying to bring back the popularity of college hoops which should drive the demand for a new game.

# 22 Boogiemanjay @ 12/06/11 11:40 PM

With the my player mode if they find a way
To add it to ch2k them it will be a must buy

# 23 ghm125 @ 12/07/11 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcpats


	Back in 2004 I was drooling hearing about the graphics and processing capabilities of the coming PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles. If you told me then that I would only have one NFL game to choose from and NO college basketball games at all, I would have punched you in the face and called you a communist...little did I know.

LOL so true though!

# 24 sithlord06 @ 12/07/11 09:53 AM

The greed of the NCAA has killed the video game market for college basketball, licensing deals are expensive....and people are simply not buying games like they have in the past. I do believe that a college game by 2K would be the best in the market, I would like to see it return but it would have to be creative and exciting enough to get gamers to fork over 60 bucks.....maybe lowering the price would be a better idea for the college experience or doing digital download of a college game, lowering some of the costs to the consumer.

# 25 mcpats @ 12/07/11 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JStapley


	I think EA should focus solely on creating an NCAA hoops game. Instead of having to split money and resources between an NBA game and a college game, having just the one focus would, in theory at least, lead to a more highly polished game. Unless 2K came out with something revolutionary with their series, a lot of gamers might look at picking up the college game just for the uniqueness of it. I know I would.

While focusing strictly on an NCAA game might help EA offer something 2K doens't in terms of a basketball title, EA would never do it because they can sell the NBA game internationally while the NCAA game really only has domestic appeal. That's why so much time is spent on FIFA and NHL because those games sell to a global audience, which generates much larger numbers. Same for an NBA game.

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