March Madness Gets a New Name

by pastapadre
Posted July 8th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

NCAA Strategies, which has received a copy of NCAA Football 09 for the PS3, mentioned today that within the previews presented on the game is a quick trailer which lets on to a name change for the March Madness franchise. It will now simply be known as NCAA Basketball. It looks like Fred @ SG was actually the first to notice.

2K Sports’ decision to end their College Hoops franchise opened up the door for this change. It makes sense in that the name matches the football branding and it will be more easily understood as the only college basketball game on the market (which it is at least for the time being). This is a critical year as EA will be looking to provide a product that can satisfy those gamers who may have purchased College Hoops instead. A disappointing release would make it even tougher to recapture them in the future.

Also of note is that NCAA Basketball 09 will release in November. While this has generally been the norm, the past two releases of March Madness have come in January and December.

Tags:

roxxxxx2323

This is gettn out of hand lol im not gonna buy this shh CH2k was a tight game. Expecially when they added in the T-shirts lol i no it sounds corny but i liked the t-shirts under my jerseys. Man i hate the game is cancelled……..Im hurt
roxxxxx2323

This is gettn out of hand lol im not gonna buy this shh CH2k was a tight game. Expecially when they added in the T-shirts lol i no it sounds corny but i liked the t-shirts under my jerseys. Man i hate the game is cancelled……..Im hurt
http://pflnation.com/ DaveDQ

They should have named it College Hoops 2K9. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the head?
http://pflnation.com DaveDQ

They should have named it College Hoops 2K9. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the head?
Jake

It will be the only NCAA BB game out and it will suck. They ave no reason to make a great game B/C they will have no competitors. If you want to play the latest game you will buy it. EA is the scum of the earth and I will not waste my money on a crap game with stupid gimicks instead of solid game play.
Jake

It will be the only NCAA BB game out and it will suck. They ave no reason to make a great game B/C they will have no competitors. If you want to play the latest game you will buy it. EA is the scum of the earth and I will not waste my money on a crap game with stupid gimicks instead of solid game play.
Oz

Beautiful pic. go pokes!!
Oz

Beautiful pic. go pokes!!
Boilers

EA is so weak now. College Hoops 2k8 was awesome and now they are out of the equation. I’d be shocked if EA’s college basketball was anywhere close to what college hoops was. The reason I say that is because it seems like EA has gone downhill as a franchise every year.
Boilers

EA is so weak now. College Hoops 2k8 was awesome and now they are out of the equation. I’d be shocked if EA’s college basketball was anywhere close to what college hoops was. The reason I say that is because it seems like EA has gone downhill as a franchise every year.
FCS

Why did 2K drop CH, WHY?!?!?! March Madness or “NCAA Basketball” has been trash for years now, just like Live. 2K kills EA in basketball every year. DAMN YOU 2K.
FCS

Why did 2K drop CH, WHY?!?!?! March Madness or “NCAA Basketball” has been trash for years now, just like Live. 2K kills EA in basketball every year. DAMN YOU 2K.
leglockfan

2k does such a great job on making Basketball games that they have to drop them from their collections. Damn fine job making those games that NOBODY BUYS.

wake up people
leglockfan

2k does such a great job on making Basketball games that they have to drop them from their collections. Damn fine job making those games that NOBODY BUYS.

wake up people
Badger Boy21

Do you guys really think EA sits around and tries to make crappy games for people??? I remember the first few editions of some games for the ps2 and they werent very good..then they get it going and its fun to play..the reason 2k isnt around anymore is cuz they werent selling enough to stay in business..so obvioulsy there games werent that great….overall i wasnt that pleased with college hoops 2k8, and thought nba although fun was the same game if not slightly worse then the 2k7. EA still has makes WAY better games then 2k can compete with.
Badger Boy21

Do you guys really think EA sits around and tries to make crappy games for people??? I remember the first few editions of some games for the ps2 and they werent very good..then they get it going and its fun to play..the reason 2k isnt around anymore is cuz they werent selling enough to stay in business..so obvioulsy there games werent that great….overall i wasnt that pleased with college hoops 2k8, and thought nba although fun was the same game if not slightly worse then the 2k7. EA still has makes WAY better games then 2k can compete with.
http://freewebs.com/easportscustomcovers ok

i agree i always found the two gaes were different.

Whoever thinks that NCAAB wont be good because they have no competition.

think about their 2 best Games

Madden has had no competition since 05 or 06,
NCAAF, i have never seen a 2K College Football Game

I must admit MLB 2K8 get my vote over mlb the show

BTW is MLB The Show from EA or not
http://freewebs.com/easportscustomcovers ok

i agree i always found the two gaes were different.

Whoever thinks that NCAAB wont be good because they have no competition.

think about their 2 best Games

Madden has had no competition since 05 or 06,
NCAAF, i have never seen a 2K College Football Game

I must admit MLB 2K8 get my vote over mlb the show

BTW is MLB The Show from EA or not
http://freewebs.com/easportscustomcovers ok

o and also how do you know they wont bring it back for 2010. Thats what happened for EA Sports NCAA Baseball, it skipped 08 because people thought that 06 and 07 were the exact same game. I heard this next year it going to be as fun as the MLB. If EA Sports NCAA Basketball 09 isnt good then 2K Sports will heavily consider bringing back CH

i also must admit i was wrong by saying they have no competition, its just the competition isnt taking away from their sales this year
http://freewebs.com/easportscustomcovers ok

o and also how do you know they wont bring it back for 2010. Thats what happened for EA Sports NCAA Baseball, it skipped 08 because people thought that 06 and 07 were the exact same game. I heard this next year it going to be as fun as the MLB. If EA Sports NCAA Basketball 09 isnt good then 2K Sports will heavily consider bringing back CH

i also must admit i was wrong by saying they have no competition, its just the competition isnt taking away from their sales this year
MultiThreat

I’m not going to blast on EA for being the only NCAA hoops game in town, it’s not their fault that 2K axed College Hoops. That being said, I have been much more satisfied with the 2K product for the last few years, so I am sad to see it go.

What bothers me is that EA has another uncontested sports arena. While being uncontested alone doesn’t necessarily bring about a poor product, I feel that a lack of competition can hinder a company/series.

Take the Rock Band / Guitar Hero “feud” for example. These are two companies competing for the same core audience (roughly) and it is forcing both sides to bring their “A” game with various new modes and innovations. All the while, the consumer (that would be us) comes out a winner because we reap the benefits of their competition.

I agree with Badger Boy21 when he states that EA doesn’t set out to create any sub-par games. However, without a true challenge to step up to, it is hard to imagine having as much pressure to get the absolute best out of their abilities.
MultiThreat

I’m not going to blast on EA for being the only NCAA hoops game in town, it’s not their fault that 2K axed College Hoops. That being said, I have been much more satisfied with the 2K product for the last few years, so I am sad to see it go.

What bothers me is that EA has another uncontested sports arena. While being uncontested alone doesn’t necessarily bring about a poor product, I feel that a lack of competition can hinder a company/series.

Take the Rock Band / Guitar Hero “feud” for example. These are two companies competing for the same core audience (roughly) and it is forcing both sides to bring their “A” game with various new modes and innovations. All the while, the consumer (that would be us) comes out a winner because we reap the benefits of their competition.

I agree with Badger Boy21 when he states that EA doesn’t set out to create any sub-par games. However, without a true challenge to step up to, it is hard to imagine having as much pressure to get the absolute best out of their abilities.
E z E

I have a filling that EA is gona step up and create one hell of a game! You know what would make this game is if they had something like college football, like campus legend. Where you start out in highschool and work for a scholarship. That would make any college basketball game from a 7.5 to a 10.0
E z E

I have a filling that EA is gona step up and create one hell of a game! You know what would make this game is if they had something like college football, like campus legend. Where you start out in highschool and work for a scholarship. That would make any college basketball game from a 7.5 to a 10.0
Bob

all Hell naw Collge hoops was the best game ever play it and you will love it
Bob

all Hell naw Collge hoops was the best game ever play it and you will love it
Erik

I loved College Hoops 2k8 on ps2. I used to play MM every year and was always disappointed. I switched to 2k two years back and loved it. I really hope Ncaa Basketball on Ps3 will be realistic, but I’m not expecting much.
Erik

I loved College Hoops 2k8 on ps2. I used to play MM every year and was always disappointed. I switched to 2k two years back and loved it. I really hope Ncaa Basketball on Ps3 will be realistic, but I’m not expecting much.
Anonyman

I didn’t get to play last year’s title and only could get my hands on College Hoops 2K8. It was the first and only basketball franchise I played to date and I have to say I was pretty impressed. But NCAA March Madness 08 looked so cool and I hope NCAA Basketball 09 is even better.
Anonyman

I didn’t get to play last year’s title and only could get my hands on College Hoops 2K8. It was the first and only basketball franchise I played to date and I have to say I was pretty impressed. But NCAA March Madness 08 looked so cool and I hope NCAA Basketball 09 is even better.