Ben-DutkaMarch Madness may be just around the corner but EA isn't all that enthusiastic about their virtual iteration of college basketball.
The NCAA Basketball series has been around for a very long time but according to Game Informer , EA Sports senior director of communications, David Tinson, confirmed that a new installment in 2010 isn't in the cards. This doesn't necessarily mean we'll never see the franchise again but for now, it seems clear that EA isn't interested in pursuing this particular sport for gamers. Said Tinson:
"We do not have an NCAA Basketball game in development at this time, and we’re currently reviewing the future of our NCAA Basketball business. This was a difficult decision, but we remain a committed partner to the NCAA and its member institutions."
Now, unfortunately, 2K Sports opted to do the same thing with their NCAA b-ball franchise, which means any college basketball fans will simply have to do without this year. The article also mentions a history of poor sales, lackluster critical reviews, and the fact that EA and the NCAA are currently embroiled in pending lawsuits over player likenesses in the games. The good news is that this decision by EA won't result in more layoffs; the team that would've been responsible for this year's NCAA Basketball have simply been reassigned to other projects. Well, when a franchise isn't doing well, it isn't doing well, right? Might as well cut out the weaker link in your sports chain.
Well no kidding. Can yo say "over saturation?"
I can say "yo!"
This is good and bad news. EA hasn't made a decent college game since Coach K on the Genesis. Hopefully, 2k will pick up the ball and resurrect theirs.
so who do i have to talk to for a full 3D pinball and snooker game?
one with a normal tournament and full professional snooker rules.
and another NRL game for next gen consoles?
cant believe the amount of sport games we have.
baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, NFL.
but no snooker, pinball or NRL games.
Gotta love how they say they're committed to the NCAA yet aren't releasing the game. I don't care, the only basketball videogame I ever liked was NBAJam.
I haven't brought a copy of NCAA basketball since 2004 when it was called March Maddness when they allow you to export college players into NBA Live 2004. I think that's part of the problem NCAA Basketball they don't allow you to export players from NCAA to NBA Live like they do with NCAA Football and Madden.
For some players it's part of the experience playing those guys you played with in NCAA into the pro version of the game.