NBA 2K16 News Post

College Basketball in NBA 2K16? Here's What We Know...

06:19 PM - July 16, 2015 by RaychelSnr

There's a lot of speculation around Operation Sports right now about what 2K Sports could be up to with the leaked achievements list, which included mentions of college themed activities for MyPlayer. Also, some of the cover athletes are pictured in their college uniforms (Curry and Harden are, while Davis and Jordan are not) on the official game covers.

The two achievements in question involve both picking a college and leaving early for the NBA Draft -- which tends to indicate that there will be something in between both events to allow you to progress from one to the other.

On that same token, many OSers confirmed, (more specifically King_B_Mack and Phreezy P - See video here) that some Universities were showing up on the CLC website as having a video game's license bought by 2K. As of right now that listing is no longer listed on the CLC website, which means they were taken down at some point in the last day.

In total, there were 10 universities (scratch that, make it 11) listed with 2K Sports as a licensee on the CLC website before they were removed (once again, thanks to King_B_Mack for the tip). Those schools included: Arizona State, Arizona, UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, Michigan, Texas, UCLA, Villanova, Wisconsin and Kansas.

Also it should be noted that some schools do not license through the CLC, so the aforementioned list is likely not a complete rundown of schools that would be licensed by 2K at this time.

What this could mean is pretty simple: If 2K has indeed licensed with schools -- they plan on using their brands (logos, uniforms, etc.) in the game at least on some level. Now what level of involvement there will be or not is entirely up in the air.

However, it is seriously doubtful any attempt at a 'realistic' depiction of NCAA basketball with likenesses, etc. is coming given ongoing litigation. Getting schools to sign off on their logos and such being used would probably require that any usage is as far away as possible from having likenesses of current athletes in the game. It's also worth mentioning that there is no official NCAA licensing listed at this time -- and any official tournament branding wouldn't be possible without that.

So what do you think the colleges and universities in NBA 2K16 mean? Sound off in the comments!

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# 1 PRAY IV M3RCY @ 07/16/15 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	There's a lot of speculation around Operation Sports right now about what 2K Sports could be up to with the leaked achievements list, which included mentions of college themed activities for MyPlayer. Also, all of the cover athletes are pictured in their college uniforms on the official game covers. The two achievements in question involve both picking a college and leaving early for the NBA Draft -- which tends to indicate that there will be something in between both events to allow you to progress from one to the other. On that same token, many OSers confirmed (thanks to a video on YouTube) that some Universities were showing up on the CLC website as having a video game's license bought by 2K. As of right now that listing is no longer listed on the CLC website, which means they were taken down at some point in the last day. In total, there were 10 universities listed with 2K Sports as a licensee on the CLC website before they were removed (thanks to a post on OS for the tip). Those schools included: Arizona State, Arizona, UConn, Georgetown, Louisville, Michigan, Texas, UCLA, Villanova, and Wisconsin. Also it should be noted that some schools do not license through the CLC, so the aforementioned list is likely not a complete rundown of schools that would be licensed by 2K at this time. What this could mean is pretty simple: If 2K has indeed licensed with schools -- they plan on using their brands (logos, uniforms, etc.) in the game at least on some level. Now what level of involvement there will be or not is entirely up in the air. However, it is seriously doubtful any attempt at a 'realistic' depiction of NCAA basketball with likenesses, etc. is coming given ongoing litigation. Getting schools to sign off on their logos and such being used would probably require that any usage is as far away as possible from having likenesses of current athletes in the game. It's also worth mentioning that there is no official NCAA licensing listed at this time -- and any official tournament branding wouldn't be possible without that. So what do you think the colleges and universities in NBA 2K16 mean? Sound off in the comments!

Right this may be nothing more than a cutscene in my player about you announcing the college that you go to and some kind of event that forces you to jump to the pros early, probably pressure from income issues, or scouts saying that you could be a lottery pick.

I just hope in the future that they can expand on this colleg� experience.

# 2 Phreezy P @ 07/16/15 06:40 PM

*Cough* My video came first *Cough* (Thanks To King_B_Mack of course)

You could add Kansas to that list as I scrolled across it in my own findings.

# 3 loco78 @ 07/16/15 06:43 PM

What about fiba national teams?

# 4 eko718 @ 07/16/15 06:52 PM

Very interesting. While as in the past, they wouldn't have the likeness of actual amateur players on the college teams, they could have the current professional players on the college teams they played for last year(I.E. Kaminsky & Dekker on Wisconsin), along with generic teammates. It would be crazy if they are looking to simulate an actual portion of the NCAA tournament.... This sounds promising. Have always wanted this sort of pathway in MyCareer.

# 5 Vic Viper @ 07/16/15 06:55 PM

I think it's all MyPlayer/Career mode related. I see the player aka (Frequency Vibrations) starting in High School and playing games throughout his High School senior year. We eventually make it to the High School State Championship game and after that game we have to make a decision on what College we will attend. (Achievement Rewarded) Once we choose our school, we play a random schedule or a specific amount of games that pertains to the storyline. We eventually have to make a decision. Do we go to the league early?! Do we Chase the money and become a high lottery pick or do we wait it out til our senior or junior and risk going lower in the draft? I think these are all possiblities.

We will eventually face hardship, betrayal, injury setbacks and/or off court issues related to the player's upbringing. How will it play out? I think 2K signed deals with the top 5 major college basketball conferences. I HIGHLY DOUBT and will put money on 2K not using all of the college basketball schools, or smaller schools for that matter. Spike Lee did a great job with "He Got Game" and I think he will do a magnificent job with incorporating College schools and telling a solid story.

# 6 Cabish @ 07/16/15 07:13 PM

How about they just make a college game, with a career mode that starts from higschools to college basketball and the. Have players import into nba 2k through the continuation of a well in depth career mode .

# 7 Vic Viper @ 07/16/15 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeGSW


	I still doubt the college game is this heavily involved. I feel like it's going to be about 10-15 minutes of back story with interactive cut scenes. The first game you play will be the rookie showcase or summer league. As usual. That's just my opinion though.

I highly doubt they would obtain licenses from a number of College schools to only use their brand and name for a simple cut scene or two. That would upset the community heavily and show how shallow the mode is.

Side Note: I never saw any mention or any indication of Summer League being implemented in MyCareer Mode.

# 8 23 @ 07/16/15 07:26 PM

Yeah yall gotta give CSI King B credit for the research

# 9 King_B_Mack @ 07/16/15 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Viper


	I highly doubt they would obtain licenses from a number of College schools to only use their brand and name for a simple cut scene or two. That would upset the community heavily and show how shallow the mode is. Side Note: I never saw any mention or any indication of Summer League being implemented in MyCareer Mode.

Eh, it's very possible that that's exactly why they did it. It does seem unlikely to pay the prices for just that. Majority of those schools charge a 15% royalty rate for the use of their trademarks.

# 10 georgiafan @ 07/16/15 07:59 PM

My guess is they just have you play the final 4 or sweet 16

# 11 Steve_OS @ 07/16/15 08:11 PM

Hey King_B_Mack and Phreezy P, I've updated the story w/ credit. We ALWAYS give credit where credit is due.

Phreezy, if you can send me the video, I'll be sure to add it to the post. King_B_Mack, send me the original post where you found it. I can't seem to find the original.

23, you of all people should know we always give credit.

# 12 bravesvolsfan @ 07/16/15 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by georgiafan


	My guess is they just have you play the final 4 or sweet 16

My guess as well. 2K will probably start you as a senior playing in a high school state championship game, then decide where you go to college, then have you play in the elite eight all the way to the National Championship. After that, you declare for the NBA Draft. The story begins...

# 13 23 @ 07/16/15 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_OS


	Hey King_B_Mack and Phreezy P, I've updated the story w/ credit. We ALWAYS give credit where credit is due. Phreezy, if you can send me the video, I'll be sure to add it to the post. King_B_Mack, send me the original post where you found it. I can't seem to find the original. 23, you of all people should know we always give credit.

Haha of course..... I was ribbing Chris

Hence the CSI nickname Mike gave OS last year

# 14 Steve_OS @ 07/16/15 08:24 PM

LMAOOOOOOO

# 15 23 @ 07/16/15 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bravesvolsfan


	My guess as well. 2K will probably start you as a senior playing in a high school state championship game, then decide where you go to college, then have you play in the elite eight all the way to the National Championship. After that, you declare for the NBA Draft. The story begins...

Would be DOPE man.... Id love a full tourney though myself. Not even sure thats possible but i can dream lol

# 16 ggsimmonds @ 07/16/15 08:28 PM

So I think we will play some college games (tournament probably) but my bigger question:
Are the options for colleges to attend limited by those schools with the license?

I don't think they would have college jerseys on the cover if college gameplay was not present. At the very least I expect a handful of games, but I'm hoping for a season

# 17 BA2929 @ 07/16/15 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_B_Mack


	Eh, it's very possible that that's exactly why they did it. It does seem unlikely to pay the prices for just that. Majority of those schools charge a 15% royalty rate for the use of their trademarks.

Here's a good article from 2013 which shows how much revenue certain schools made from appearing in NCAA football/basketball games back in 2012/13 and 2010 for basketball.

Spoiler

Also, here's an interesting quote on how EA came up with these figures:

Quote:


	Although none of the administrators were able to tell me the exact formula used by EA Sports to distribute revenue from the video games, they did tell me a school's ranking in the polls and appearances in either bowl games or March Madness play a role.

If I'm reading that correctly, it looks like 2k might be able to pay just a small fee for these schools and not a 15% royalty rate, depending on how much they're used in the games. However, I'm not a math nor a business person so I could be reading into this wrong.

# 18 King_B_Mack @ 07/16/15 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve_OS


	Hey King_B_Mack and Phreezy P, I've updated the story w/ credit. We ALWAYS give credit where credit is due. Phreezy, if you can send me the video, I'll be sure to add it to the post. King_B_Mack, send me the original post where you found it. I can't seem to find the original. 23, you of all people should know we always give credit.

Thanks Steve. Just trying to live up to the CSI OS moniker lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23


	Would be DOPE man.... Id love a full tourney though myself. Not even sure thats possible but i can dream lol

No doubt man. I don't think it's possible because I'm pretty sure the NCAA and some conferences as a whole decided to not make their licenses available for video games after the lawsuit, but as we can see schools on an individual basis can make deals. Without the full NCAA licensing, I don't know if a full tournament would have the same oomph to it. With how long it's been since we've had a college game though, I wouldn't even care lol

# 19 Taer @ 07/16/15 09:05 PM

The reason I think the college level involvement is limited is because if you were to play one or more years on the college level it would require made-up draft classes to become mandatory in MyCareer, or the Association modes.

Made up draft classes are barely tolerated as is; who'd enjoy playing without experiencing this year's draft-class as rookies at the appropriate time.

Sure, you can have a replay of last-year's college experience but not all the schools that relevant draftees come from are licensed.

Before anyone gets upset at what I wrote... this is all just my opinion and I've been wrong before and will be wrong again. So no worries.

# 20 23 @ 07/16/15 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_B_Mack


	Thanks Steve. Just trying to live up to the CSI OS moniker lol No doubt man. I don't think it's possible because I'm pretty sure the NCAA and some conferences as a whole decided to not make their licenses available for video games after the lawsuit, but as we can see schools on an individual basis can make deals. Without the full NCAA licensing, I don't know if a full tournament would have the same oomph to it. With how long it's been since we've had a college game though, I wouldn't even care lol

Its a start King... thats all im asking

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