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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

# 21 sithlord06 @ 04/11/11 07:18 PM

Doesnt EA hold licensing to college B-Ball too? If so, I would not want their game. 2K8 was a great college game and I would welcome a DLC update for 2012, it would be incredible to see the subtle changes and college atmosphere placed on a game that I know 2K could develop. Imagine, a hyper version of 2K11 (best basketball game ever) on a college level with recruiting, March tournament, juco transfers, one and done freshmen, this should excite any true lover of hoops.

# 22 whittleboy615 @ 04/11/11 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sithlord06


	Doesnt EA hold licensing to college B-Ball too? If so, I would not want their game. 2K8 was a great college game and I would welcome a DLC update for 2012, it would be incredible to see the subtle changes and college atmosphere placed on a game that I know 2K could develop. Imagine, a hyper version of 2K11 (best basketball game ever) on a college level with recruiting, March tournament, juco transfers, one and done freshmen, this should excite any true lover of hoops.

The licensing is a contract that has to be renewed/repurchased continually. Currently, no one has the license. If someone did, they would have published a game to make money. It wouldn't make sense to buy the license and just sit on it.

# 23 jconpoet @ 04/11/11 08:20 PM

to answer the guy that mentioned putting NCAA and NBA in the same game... I recall an SNES game doing this with football with the exception that they didn't have the NCAA or NFL licensing for the real teams and players and it was pretty good and fun for what it was in its day... and that would be the only way a game developer could put college and pro sports in the same game is without the licensing seeing as someone like Kemba Walker isn't yet in the NBA Players Union which offers their licensing to allow for majority of the NBA players to appear in games like the NBA 2K series, the NCAA license wouldn't allow for Kemba to officially be in the game only "UConn PG #15".

The best bet is for 2K to release College Hoops 2K on the same night as Midnight Madness which is the first official day of practice for college basketball teams or wait until the end of February and release it as people prepare for March Madness and the Final Four

# 24 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 04/11/11 08:30 PM

Could 2K make a game with one of those editors like the old NHL games had where you could take a photograph and basically scan the face into the game and couple that with 2k share and people would have a way to get their players to really look real

# 25 Behindshadows @ 04/11/11 11:15 PM

If they don't release one, we'll just keep modding the game.....

I agree the market for it is strong and selling it cheaper isn't going to solve the problem, it's just going to make it worse. Remember NFL 2k5 $20 now gone!

The cost of the license vs the sales of the game is what ended College Basketball games. So lowering the price will just cause more issues. So we can eliminate that suggestion, but what they do need to do is release the game before the NBA title and really market it too death with real highlights of last season.

Pump it up, during commercials of NCAA games on tv, ESPN, TNT, TBS, CBS, etc. Especially around tournament time, to sale those copies that didn't in the beginning of the season.

People will buy it, they just have to do better marketing, less on the web and more in the real world.

# 26 supermanemblem @ 04/12/11 02:28 AM

They can start by negotiating more favorable licensing fees with the NCAA and remind them of their mission. Now that the NCAA has gone a couple of years without the cash, exposure and interest that a game would bring, they may liwer their demands. Second, pool creative and design processes with the NBA product, economies of scale. I'm not convinced that downloadable versions or moving the date will help. They need more aggressive marketing of the product--ads, sponsorships on major network games and promotional bus tours. They can find youngsters who would love to tour the country partying and playing video games. Madden is a powerhouse and yet EA promotes the game like mad. Marketing doesn't have to be expensive to get the job done.

# 27 oneamongthefence @ 04/12/11 05:21 AM

As I don't religiously watch college basketball don't hang me but it seems that the difference in gameplay between college and pro is minimal. But presentation is where its at. Also integrate it into 2k.

# 28 Dazraz @ 04/12/11 05:46 AM

If a developer was creating a basketball game from scratch, then you could argue that it would be hard to justify those development costs against the sales forecast of a college basketball game. After all those gamers that yearn for such a game, myself amongst them, aren't really interested in a budget title with little depth.

However 2K already have the core of the basketball game to hand. All they would really need to do is convert it to the college experience. New commentators, more flamboyant college style cut scenes & revised playstyles & they could be on their way.
Ultimately we would have to be satisfied with a rebadged NBA 2K11 but I for one would go for that rather than no game at all.

Those who want a completely new college game built from the ground up could be left wanting for a long time.

# 29 gilla @ 04/12/11 07:21 AM

I'd love another college bball game, however it is a business and probably not enough college gamers for a company to put a development team behind it.

# 30 smithdynasty @ 04/12/11 12:13 PM

I thoroughly agree with the comments pertaining to the marketing of this game. The marketing team would have to do a much better job with this. Although I now prefer College Hoops 2k over NBA 2k, it wasn't always like this. It wasn't until my friend let me borrow his college hoops game that I became hooked. 2k must get hoops fans to experience the College Hoops game and then let the sales follow. I for one will be completely happy with the implementation of NBA 2k gameplay with updated shoes and uniforms and the dynasty mode from CH 2k8. I can't imagine it costing that much. Or 2k can partner with a sponsor (nike, adidas etc) to possibly cut down some of the cost which I'm sure is what they did with Brand Jordan and NBA 2k11.

# 31 steelernut @ 04/12/11 02:29 PM

I would luv to see 2k come back with college again. I remember playing the last installment of the game, and I liked it better than NBA 2k to be honest. I was sad when I heard they stopped it. I believe if they bring it back it would sell great. Back then college basketball didn't get as much coverage as it does today. Nowadays sport media covers even the highschoolers to see who will be the next college star. People are more into high-school and college basketball versus when 2k started the college series. I hope they bring it back!

# 32 Boogiemanjay @ 04/12/11 05:12 PM

Like I said if you have a copy of ch2k8 just imaging it as my player mode I'll say it again if you add my player mode to the choops series and reward the buyers by having them more develop before entering the draft or
Being the number one pick tell me that it want sale just as NCAA football compelments madden guys let be real it's all about sim these day and leaving out a choops game kills the full experience

# 33 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 04/12/11 07:05 PM

If 2K WERE to make CH2k12 or 13 or whatever, all I would really want is the same legacy mode with slightly more realistic results come tournament time and stuff, better zone defense and presses, and My Player mode. That would instantly make it the best basketball game out there in my opinion.

# 34 jerryrice4949 @ 04/13/11 01:34 AM

2k stopped making a game because the licensing fee was ridiculous for the game. Sales was not that bad, over 300,000 and the platform base is much bigger 5 years into release. If you extrapolate sales to many more people owning a ps3 or 360 sales would probably be well over 500,000 which would not be bad of the NCAA changed a reasonable licensing fee for the game.

# 35 whittleboy615 @ 04/13/11 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jerryrice4949


	2k stopped making a game because the licensing fee was ridiculous for the game. Sales was not that bad, over 300,000 and the platform base is much bigger 5 years into release. If you extrapolate sales to many more people owning a ps3 or 360 sales would probably be well over 500,000 which would not be bad of the NCAA changed a reasonable licensing fee for the game.

I think it's fairly safe to say that the College Hoops series did not sell well when compared to other major sports games that require similar licensing fees. Below, I have compiled a rather comprehensive list of stats from the 2007-08 sports/racing game library using VGChartz. It's no coincidence that the four franchises at the bottom of the list were cancelled.

Xbox 360, PS3, and PS2 Combined Current Total Sales According to VGChartz.com:

$6,433,822 - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
$6,269,448 - Need for Speed: ProStreet
$6,140,607 - FIFA Soccer 08
$5,577,925 - Madden NFL 08
$4,776,107 - WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008
$4,080,592 - Forza MotorSport 2 (no PS3, PS2)
$1,955,178 - NBA 2K8
$1,812,204 - NBA Live 08
$1,769,037 - NCAA Football 08
$1,559,525 - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08
$1,061,829 - Top Spin 3 (no PS2)
$1,031,285 - MLB 08: The Show (no 360)
$991,600 - MLB 2K8
$952,285 - Virtua Tennis 3 (no PS2)
$626,478 - NASCAR 08
$497,448 - NHL 08 (no PS2)
$477, 983 - College Hoops 2K8
$441,904 - NCAA March Madness 08
$417,126 - All-Pro Football 2K8 (no PS2)
$217,007 - NHL 2K8 (no PS2)

# 36 delija66 @ 04/13/11 02:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whittleboy615


	I think it's fairly safe to say that the College Hoops series did not sell well when compared to other major sports games that require similar licensing fees. Below, I have compiled a rather comprehensive list of stats from the 2007-08 game library using VGChartz. It's no coincidence that the four franchises at the bottom of the list were cancelled. Xbox 360, PS3, and PS2 Combined Current Total Sales According to VGChartz.com: $6,433,822 - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 $6,140,607 - FIFA Soccer 08 $5,577,925 - Madden NFL 08 $4,776,107 - WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008 $1,955,178 - NBA 2K8 $1,812,204 - NBA Live 08 $1,769,037 - NCAA Football 08 $1,559,525 - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 $1,061,829 - Top Spin 3 (no PS2) $1,031,285 - MLB 08: The Show (no 360) $991,600 - MLB 2K8 $952,285 - Virtua Tennis 3 (no PS2) $497,448 - NHL 08 (no PS2) $477, 983 - College Hoops 2K8 $441,904 - NCAA March Madness 08 $417,126 - All-Pro Football 2K8 (no PS2) $217,007 - NHL 2K8 (no PS2)

Go PES! hahaaa

# 37 Roggie @ 04/13/11 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whittleboy615


	I think it's fairly safe to say that the College Hoops series did not sell well when compared to other major sports games that require similar licensing fees. Below, I have compiled a rather comprehensive list of stats from the 2007-08 game library using VGChartz. It's no coincidence that the four franchises at the bottom of the list were cancelled. Xbox 360, PS3, and PS2 Combined Current Total Sales According to VGChartz.com: $6,433,822 - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 $6,140,607 - FIFA Soccer 08 $5,577,925 - Madden NFL 08 $4,776,107 - WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008 $1,955,178 - NBA 2K8 $1,812,204 - NBA Live 08 $1,769,037 - NCAA Football 08 $1,559,525 - Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 $1,061,829 - Top Spin 3 (no PS2) $1,031,285 - MLB 08: The Show (no 360) $991,600 - MLB 2K8 $952,285 - Virtua Tennis 3 (no PS2) $626,478 - NASCAR 08 $497,448 - NHL 08 (no PS2) $477, 983 - College Hoops 2K8 $441,904 - NCAA March Madness 08 $417,126 - All-Pro Football 2K8 (no PS2) $217,007 - NHL 2K8 (no PS2)

5 out of the bottom 6 are gone. No more NASCAR either (at least EA's version, which hadn't been good since 06.) NHL 08 at the bottom though is shocking, but then I remember NHL 09 was the turning point in that series.

# 38 Barbatrucco @ 04/13/11 05:39 AM

College Hoops 2K8 is still consider the best basketball game ever. You dont consider an aspect: college basketball style is very close to european basketball games and rumorous crowd. College basketball i very popular in Europe, and Europe is cut away from market. College basketball consolle games, for example, runs only on Playstation in Europe, but not for xbox 360, because College Baskettball game are made in NTSC format, while european consolle run in PAL format.

Nba 2K11 is sell in all World. College hoops basketball didnt run in european Xbox consolle, while Europe he's a great market for college basketball games.

# 39 imhim312 @ 04/13/11 01:00 PM

The way to go is a college basketball my player mode starting out from maybe the McDonald's all American game and having a press conference to announce your college choice and starting from there

# 40 Yeah...THAT Guy @ 04/13/11 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roggie


	5 out of the bottom 6 are gone. No more NASCAR either (at least EA's version, which hadn't been good since 06.) NHL 08 at the bottom though is shocking, but then I remember NHL 09 was the turning point in that series.

NASCAR just came out with a game a few weeks ago...

Edit: Not sure who made it though

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