News Post

OS Roundtable: Can a College Basketball Game Succeed in 2011?

12:54 PM - April 11, 2011 by RaychelSnr

Chris Sanner: Let me start this roundtable in a strange sort of way, which is with a brief discussion about why college basketball gaming failed. Put simply, it failed because it didn't capture the audience's attention -- sales were low, attention was lower, and this almost always translated into an average at best game. Even when College Hoops 2K games seemed to break into the realm of being kind of good, they still sold extremely poorly.

I think considering everything, a college hoops game would have to be of just exceptional quality to even start to sell well, but the even bigger problem is that college basketball just isn't that popular from November through February in America. However, this is me framing the basis for the rest of the debate, so how about it OS staffers, can a college basketball game not only survive but thrive and how?

Read More - OS Roundtable: Can a college basketball game succeed in 2011?

Game: College Hoops 2K8Reader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 93 - View All

Member Comments

# 1 SHAKYR @ 04/11/11 01:06 PM

I think 2K College Basketball had a huge following. I thought the EA monopoly put a bad taste in their mouth at the bargaining table.

# 2 HustlinOwl @ 04/11/11 01:17 PM

Look, I get it, College Basketball games are never going to be a companies cash cow, but for developers to turn their back on the genre completely is just ludicrous to me.

Perfect Christian and this reason alone is why I am no longer purchasing EA Sports titles.

# 3 supersol13 @ 04/11/11 01:44 PM

My god...someone please make a good game for this year...2K I know your listening out there!!

# 4 bigsmallwood @ 04/11/11 02:13 PM

I long for the day College Hoops makes its way back to consoles...until then CH2K8 I play.

# 5 MHammer113 @ 04/11/11 02:19 PM

make the game 50 dollars by itself or 35 when bought in a package deal with NBA 2k12...booom!

# 6 Shield @ 04/11/11 02:22 PM

I think people looking for consistency aren't likely to pay attention to an NCAA bball game. The reason being a player's decision to go to the NBA after 1 year. The same frustrations there are in real life will be mimicked in NCAA bball. How is someone to be consistent if they lose their best players every year? Not appealing to an avid NBA fan, and i don't think there are as many avid NCAA fans who play video games.

# 7 malachijohn666 @ 04/11/11 02:38 PM

I would like to see another college game, but only if there is a draft class link up with the NBA title. Otherwise, I am not sure if I would buy it.

# 8 tril @ 04/11/11 02:49 PM

it's all about marketing!!!
include a my player mode in the college game and have the ability to have your created player be eligible for the NBA 2k imported draft class would increase the college bball sales.
In addition, IMO 2k has done a poor job marketing alot of their sports titles.

Plus the continued mention of college 2k8 as being one of the greatest bball games of all time, would also aid in sales. 2k8's popularity has grown over the years, it has a huge cult following. this would alo aid in sales.

another factor of course would be the actual use of player likeness. But there is so much legal issues regarding this topic, that it would never happen. The NCAA wouldnt allow it, and neither the college player unless they could be compensated in some way.
Maybe on a pro rated basis, but again that would be complicated.

A College hoops game would need player recognition.

regardless 2k needs to give it a go, at least one more time.
cause CH2k8 is always in heavy rotation year round in my gaming console.

# 9 johnnyg713 @ 04/11/11 02:51 PM

Ive made this comment before and ive been told that EA has the rights to NCAA BB, but the best bet would be for 2k to just have college teams in 2k12. Idk how much disk space it would eat up but if u had both NBA and NCAA all in one game it would be the best of both worlds. 2k may not make as much money if they had 2 separate games but i know it would attract a lot more costumers to the franchise

# 10 23 @ 04/11/11 02:54 PM

Id personally love to have another College Hoops game

..but if the main issue is the bottom line its not happening

Love the idea about the date change, and the other thing is the advertisement was never really up to par IMO

# 11 booyagadget @ 04/11/11 03:50 PM

Since OKC stole my friggin sonics, now I hate the NBA.. I HAVE to roll WSU Cougs, and I need a College basketball game. I want to recruit, I want tdynasty. I want to turn my cougs into the Tarheels.

They can count on at least 1 sale, from me !

# 12 jenglund @ 04/11/11 04:00 PM

I don't necessarily agree that you need player recognition, since college basketball is getting more faceless every year with 1 and dones, but you do need an easy to use, robust player editor, deep synergy with NBA2k so draft classes work well, and the insane tourney atmosphere. I'd suggest looking at the game in 2 year cycles, instead of a new game each year. Create a great game, launch it in December, provide some downloadable content for March Madness, and then just patch it extensively the next year.

The coaching carousel/career legacy, the deep recruiting, along with the gameplay still makes 2k8 my single favorite sports game of all time. NBA2k11's gameplay has finally surpassed it, but I still played 2k8 over the past few months during the tourney.

# 13 Hova57 @ 04/11/11 04:16 PM

this is my thing if the college 2k game was one of the best CBB ever. why didn't 2k lump in with 2k11 or something why did they drop it. Honestly if this years CBB season wasn't so wild I doubt we would be having this convo. I don't think we will see a game for CBB for many years . we barely holding on with college football.

# 14 stlstudios189 @ 04/11/11 05:06 PM

Just release a new game every other year with a downloadable update inbetween for $15 or whatever. I would buy College Hoops 2k12 and 2k12.5 you would be the only game in the genre if marketing was done properly and tied into their sucess with NBA 2k series you would easily sell 200,000 copies. Watch every Duke, MSU, Texas, North Carolina, and OSU game they are sold out every darn game. There is an audience to be captured.

# 15 Gramps91 @ 04/11/11 05:07 PM

I would buy one opening day. I think it would do well.

# 16 khaliib @ 04/11/11 06:03 PM

A cheap little cost way for 2k would be to have a DLC editor that allows teams/conferences to be made and injected into NBA 2k.

The DLC Editor allows...
-Teams/Uni's to be made
-Conferences makeup
-Stadium/Court design
-Fictional College Coaches (can be edited) that interface with the NBA side
-Playbook editor (per team)
-Tournament setup
etc....

I'm sure others could add to what DLC could have.

I wouldn't mind having the ability to create a Basketball game with Females.
WNBA, College etc...

As DLC, they make profit and most importantly, it's optional.
Most would purchase just to see what it looks/play like.

# 17 Boogiemanjay @ 04/11/11 06:06 PM

Add my player to it and it's instantly becomes a must buy because everyone wants to be a
Number 1 pick will it be you mark this down for the slogan !!!

# 18 StevenSeagalsLipitor @ 04/11/11 06:59 PM

I'm not going to pay $60 for teams with fake players, I wanted real names in my college basketball, they should try to work something out with the NCAA if they make a new college basketball game.

# 19 whittleboy615 @ 04/11/11 07:00 PM

I don't think the 2-year dev cycle would work very well. It seems like one of the biggest expenses for NCAA games is the cost of the NCAA license. Since they pay for the licensing in advance, it would make more sense to release a game every year to maximize time-sensitive profits. Its also questionable that a stand-alone, $15 downloadble game could make enough money to justify the cost of the license.

I like the idea of the January release date for a College Hoops game. EA tried this with MM 07 and failed miserably. However, they didn't have a record-selling NBA 2K11 (or a decent gameplay engine) to use as a marketing tool. In addition, they probably lost a portion of sales to people who bought CH 2K7 at release and then didn't need a second CBB game in January.

Another thing that most people overlook is the Sam Keller/Ed O'Bannon lawsuit. I really don't think we are going to see a new NCAA game until that is settled. EA removed all 65+ of their classic teams from NCAA Basketball 10 in fear of having to give up its profits. Game companies are actually taking those suits seriously.

# 20 whittleboy615 @ 04/11/11 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenSeagalsLipitor


	I'm not going to pay $60 for teams with fake players, I wanted real names in my college basketball, they should try to work something out with the NCAA if they make a new college basketball game.

Interesting. So the 2K Share/EA Locker features aren't good enough for you?

I kind of figured that most people who visit online gaming forums would be knowledgeable and willing to download roster files with names and appearance edits. I bet there are tons of people with this opinion who are completely oblivious to the fact that sites like OS even exist.

« Previous12 3 Next »

More Links

OS Roundtable: Can a College Basketball Game Succeed in 2011?