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

[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?

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[SHAKYR]

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.

[HustlinOwl]

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.

[supersol13]

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

[bigsmallwood]

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

[MHammer113]

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

[Shield]

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.

[malachijohn666]

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.

[tril]

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.

[johnnyg713]

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

[23]

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

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

[Agent 007]

Break it down simpler. ...demand and supply. Which of these two is missing the most in the College BB market?

[booyagadget]

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 !

[jenglund]

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.

[Hova57]

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.