Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

[jwilphl]

Here I am two years later with a "new" PS4 taking up most of my game time, even though I am still enjoying NCAA '14 on my now mostly defunct PS3.

I was pondering about how the return of the collegiate sports game appears bleak, even though I long to see how an NCAA game could perform with this new hardware at its fingertips. It seems as though the main sports titles have already come a long way in the last couple years (for the most part - looking at you NHL).

So what is next for college sports? With all the new branding platforms for universities and conferences alike, it would seem harder and harder to get them all to agree to a licensing venture. With that in mind, does anyone think we will ever again see a fully-licensed (or otherwise) collegiate video game? And if so, how much more time will be needed to sort out the legal and programming issues?

For these questions I've created a straw poll to gauge the community's feelings on this issue: http://strawpoll.me/5366045.

The question is more general, but you can certainly expand on your opinion below if you think NCAA basketball or NCAA football is more likely to make a return. Of course it has been considerably longer since we've had a basketball game.

You can also elaborate on why you do or don't think a game is likely to return. Not profitable enough? Licensing costs too high? Not enough interest? Too popular to completely ignore?

I'll share my own opinion below:

Spoiler

I'm inclined to think a new collegiate sports video game is highly unlikely in any capacity. We already saw 2K more or less ditch its NCAA basketball game because of licensing costs and lack of ROI, with conferences and teams now gaining their independence to barter licensing deals, it would seem as though costs would only go up.

If a game does come back, football is the most likely candidate by far. I think the game remains popular enough to generate a profit, but the biggest hurdle (outside of the legal likeness issues) would of course be the prospects of licensing all the D-I teams. I think a "generic" college game doesn't have mass appeal, so you really need those licenses.

An alternative, perhaps, would be to create a game based on the FCS schools, with teambuilder in-tact, as a way to get around dealing with the power conferences and the schools with too much clout. However, I do still see problems with mass appeal for such a game; the power five is really where the money is, and that isn't likely to change any time soon.

In summation, if I were to vote, I'd say the chances are higher than not of never seeing another NCAA sports title again. It makes me incredibly disappointed, but I think that's just the reality of the world we presently live in.

[Raleigh]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

In short..No
It's dead and gone for good.

[dynastyovercfm]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

We could only hope. More realistically i think another company will create a football game with unlimited customization so you can create NCAA teams. Pretty much Teambuilder. With full customization. Thats what i think could and should happen.

[fballturkey]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

Yes, I think we'll get one in the next 5 years or so. There's too much money on the table.

[StoneCalf]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

I'll just say I'm not holding my breath for a return. That's about as much energy as I'd like to expend on the subject, but since I am joining in the discussion I'll just say this- I believe there is still plenty of interest there and profit potential, but the legal issues are a huge prohibitive factor right now. (stating the obvious here....)

[RedRaider10]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

I think it will but I wouldn't expect a new game until 2019 or so.

[aaron84ka]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

We could only hope. More realistically i think another company will create a football game with unlimited customization so you can create NCAA teams. Pretty much Teambuilder. With full customization. Thats what i think could and should happen.

I'm with you on this. I would use team builder teams anyhow. I really enjoyed that aspect of the game.

[grabursock55]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

I think EA will try it one more time. Just to see how it goes. I mean they were pretty daring for a while when they were throwing out all kinds of ideas (and implementing them) like rugby, College baseball, and arena football. I think theyll give it a shot and if the profit isnt there, theyll let it go.

[Kodos]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

An alternative, perhaps, would be to create a game based on the FCS schools, with teambuilder in-tact, as a way to get around dealing with the power conferences and the schools with too much clout. However, I do still see problems with mass appeal for such a game; the power five is really where the money is, and that isn't likely to change any time soon.

I like this idea. If you could customize conferences and the number of teams, it'd be perfect. Player likenesses should matter less in college games because in 5 seasons (to account for redshirts) every real player is gone anyway.

[OldHossRadbourn]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

I think it will be back. All they really have to do is randomize the players and not make them representative of real life guys. Roster editors take care of the rest.

[NP_Omar]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

We have to see how those union talks go before a game will be made

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[Hooe]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

I think you will see a college football video game for major consoles by the end of the decade, personally. As another poster in here said, there's too much money on the table for the thing to not exist.

[jerwoods]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

i would say 2020 is my hope i wouild like to see 1-aa teams as well

sadly i think u might have to take roster share away
but if u can cut a deal with the CLC made side deals with ND etc
keep teambuilder
make basiclly a port of ncaa 14 with the playoff added

it wouild sell

[redsox4evur]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

i would say 2020 is my hope i wouild like to see 1-aa teams as well

sadly i think u might have to take roster share away
but if u can cut a deal with the CLC made side deals with ND etc
keep teambuilder
make basiclly a port of ncaa 14 with the playoff added

it wouild sell

That's the big key. There won't be anymore roster share though. There was a discussion in the madden forums about having fully customized draft classes and Aholebert said that there would be no issue with having fully customized draft classes but having a draft class share would be an issue because the main purpose would be sharing NCAA player's likenesses. And in college sports roster share would be an issue because the main purpose would be to create realistic rosters and share them online and that's a no-no.

[buckeyezombie]

Re: Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

Man, just imagine an NCAA game that looks and plays like Madden 16. With the teambuilder, and file share. Man what if..


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