Just received March Madness 2003 for the PS2...

CheckMate · Post by **CheckMate** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 7:33 pm

Hey bump up from 3 stars to the max for 5 minutes and tell us if the AI gets more aggressive. Nothing specific, just if they take the open shots more. Does 3 stars = "normal"?? Thanx. [ This message was edited by: CheckMate on 12-11-2002 15:34 ]

Heelfan71 · Post by **Heelfan71** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 7:36 pm

cool. I wonder if you were to mess with the sliders, it would make you shoot more mid range shots? Or if the CPU has an offensive awareness slider, they won´t pass up as many open shots? Just a thought. Thanks for all the info.

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Tue Nov 12, 2002 9:53 pm

How many players and teams can u create, I hope it is much as NCAA Football 2003?
 
 Can we add the created teams to a Dynasty?
 
 Thanks. [ This message was edited by: Shadow on 12-11-2002 17:54 ]

TJdaSportsGuy · Post by **TJdaSportsGuy** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 11:02 am

I can´t believe nobody has asked this question yet.
 
 Which conferences are included in the game? From everything I´ve read and been able to find, all EA Sports will say is that "We´ve included the top 15 conferences in college basketball." Well, which 15 conferences are there?

Heelfan71 · Post by **Heelfan71** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 12:49 pm

I can answer that one:
 
 A-10
 ACC
 Big 12
 Big East
 Big 10
 CUSA
 Ivy
 MAC
 Moutain West
 Pac 10
 SEC
 WCC
 WAC
 MEAC
 SWAC

Post by **Jared** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 1:10 pm

Well, that´s great. I wrote a ton of new impressions, and then my browser crashed. (I´m at a junky computer right now, opened Operation Sports, and I think the pop-ups opened one too many windows...ah well.)
 
 Anyways, I´ll try to get to as many questions as I can in this update. I´ll be posting a first impressions piece on the main page sometime later tonight (if i have the time). In the meantime, here are some more answers to questions.
 
 Recruiting: It´s just like NCAA Football 2003, with a few minor tweaks (for instance, each team gets the same # of recruiting points...however, it´s still harder for bad teams to get recruits).
 
 Only one human in a dynasty (sorry).
 
 Defensive AI does close out fairly well...however, there is still the occasional wide-open shot.
 
 Cameron Indoor is not unique, except for the actual court. I believe there are only 3 arena models. And atmosphere there (outside of team-specific chants) is exactly the same as anywhere else.
 
 Momentum meter: Depends on what you mean by better. It has a huge effect on games...I´ve had to turn it down because you seem to be able to make everything when it´s up (and conversely, the other team seems to miss everything as well). Almost too powerful..and it stays "high" way too long.
 
 Computer shooting %. I´ve seen it range from 47-63%. A bit too high if you ask me. I´m averaging about 57%. I´m thinking about turning the shooting sliders down a bit, to make it more realistic. However, I´m afraid that I won´t be able to make layups and easy shots if I do that...will let you know how that works. The high computer shooting percentage comes mainly from alley-oops (I really need to drop that slider...I played against Miami and they had probably 12 in a game...it was annoying, since otherwise my D was pretty solid that game.)
 
 Switching defense: The computer will switch from a zone to a 2-3, and it tends to press when behind (and the defensive press works if you´re lazy). Don´t know, however, if the switch from zone to 2-3 is predicated by effective inside or outside play. Will keep an eye on that and try and find out if that happens.
 
 Shot blockers: Big shot blockers make it tough to go inside...but ANYONE can block shots on default. Point guards act like Manute Bol. Sliders are extremely important in making this realistic....I´ve hit a spot where they´re OK. And most big men can be tough to shoot over, esp. w/o the height advantage.
 
 Teams going to strengths: Yes...they tend to go to their better players/hot hand, but not all the time. And this is somewhat inconsistent...it might have to do with team style of play.
 
 There is a slider for adjusting game speed. It seems a bit faster than real life.
 
 Crowds: They are animated. And they react to the game. They even do the wave. But they´re not amazing....I´d say they´re pretty good.
 
 There is no difference in crowd noise between arenas.
 
 There is use of the analog sticks as in live...the Freestyle control system is there.
 
 Dunk rating: James White, 99; David Lee, 97. (White´s got skills, but he´s got too much of an attitude. Donovan likes players with a strong team concept...and he doesn´t have it. He´s tough to lose with all the injuries right now, but it´s probably for the better.)
 
 CPU does not have an offensive awareness slider that I know of.
 
 You can add created teams to the dynasty. I think you can create 10 teams....don´t know how many players, though.
 
 And that conference list is right. No Colonial Athletic.
 
 Let me know if you have any more questions. I´ll be travelling a lot in the next week, so answers may be more scarce.

hoop_man99 · Post by **hoop_man99** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 5:02 pm

I was wondering if it all possible you could give us a rundown of the Top 25 teams in the game? Thanks alot for fielding all of these questions and doing a nice job.

Post by **Jared** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 1:33 am

FYI, there won´t be a first impressions today....going to Florida for the weekend, just got home, and I haven´t packed. Just don´t have the time. But I´ll try to get a first impressions out over the weekend. In the meantime, let me know if you have any more questions. [ This message was edited by: Jared on 14-11-2002 21:33 ]

Steve_OS · Post by **Steve_OS** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 12:18 pm

(I´m at a junky computer right now, opened Operation Sports, and I think the pop-ups opened one too many windows...ah well.)
 
 LOL, gotta pay the hosting bills somehow. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_razz.gif"> [ This message was edited by: Steve_OS on 15-11-2002 08:19 ]

gmulion · Post by **gmulion** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 12:32 pm

Can you explain the recruiting a little bit more, do you get a list of players who want to come to your school after each and then you offer them a spot or what?
 
 Thanks for you time and all the answers

Post by **Jared** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 2:04 pm

Steve,
 
 Just to let you know, this is one of the few/only times that I´ve ever had my browser crash from Operation Sports. We all LOVE the site, even when it crashes our browser. <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_smile.gif">
 
 Gmulion,
 
 It´s just like NCAA Football 2003. You have 100 recruiting points for each recruiting week...a head coach visit costs 8 points, while an assistant coach phone call is 1. Each prospect has a list of top 3 schools, and you can focus on them or others. It´s 5 weeks, and at the end you have your recruiting class. Then you redshirt and cut players, and then it´s time for next season.
 
 Any other recruiting related questions?

TJdaSportsGuy · Post by **TJdaSportsGuy** » Fri Nov 15, 2002 2:36 pm

Where does EA Sports get off by telling us that they´ve included the "Top 15 Conferences" in college basketball in this game?
 
 Here was the final Conference R.P.I. rankings for the 2001-2002 season. I will indicate which of these conferences EA Sports has decided to include in March Madness 2003.
 
 #1 - SEC **(Included)**
 #2 - ACC **(Included)**
 #3 - Big 12 **(Included)**
 #4 - Big East **(Included)**
 #5 - Pac 10 **(Included)**
 #6 - Big 10 **(Included)**
 #7 - Mountain West **(Included)**
 #8 - C-USA **(Included)**
 #9 - Atlantic 10 **(Included)**
 #10 - WAC **(Included)**
 #11 - MAC **(Included)**
 #12 - CAA (Not Included)
 #13 - Missouri Valley (Not Included)
 #14 - Ivy League **(Included)**
 #15 - Southern Conference (Not Included)
 #16 - Sun Belt (Not Included)
 #17 - Horizon (Not Included)
 #18 - WCC **(Included)**
 #19 - Big West (Not Included)
 #20 - Atlantic Sun (Not Included)
 #21 - Big Sky (Not Included)
 #22 - Mid Continent (Not Included)
 #23 - Southland (Not Included)
 #24 - Metro Atlantic (Not Included)
 #25 - Ohio Valley (Not Included)
 #26 - Northeastern (Not Included)
 #27 - Patriot League (Not Included)
 #28 - America East (Not Included)
 #29 - MEAC **(Included?!?!?!?!)**
 #30 - SWAC **(Included?!?!?!?)**
 #31 - Big South (Not Included)
 
 So, you forget about the Sun Belt conference with Western Kentucky in it. You totally shun the CAA with UNC-Wilmington, who knocked off Southern Cal in the tourny last year, and you ignore the Missouri Valley Conference that sent TWO teams to the NCAA Tournament last year included Sweet 16 team Southern Illinois?!?!
 
 Let´s even go further. Here are some other numbers to throw out there. Here are some Win/Loss records vs. RPI ranked opponents. (*) indicates a conference that has been included in March Madness 2003.
 
 Conference (vs. Top 25) (vs. 26-50) (vs. 51-100)
 ---------
 CAA (1-5) (1-6) (23-55)
 Missouri Valley (4-8) (10-40) (11-26)
 MEAC(*) (0-14) (0-6) (0-16)
 SWAC(*) (0-7) (0-11) (0-17)
 
 What the HELL were they thinking including two of the three worst conferences in all of college basketball in the MEAC and SWAC? Neither one of those conferences had ONE win over an opponent ranked in the Top 100 of the RPI!!! What the HELL?!?!
 
 I am VERY disappointed in this. My money is going to be spent on Sega´s college hoops effort, since they´re going to include EVERY conference.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 [ This message was edited by: TJdaSportsGuy on 15-11-2002 11:05 ] [ This message was edited by: TJdaSportsGuy on 15-11-2002 11:07 ]

RustedWalleye · Post by **RustedWalleye** » Sat Nov 16, 2002 7:14 pm

My opinion on this is I dont think EA has the rights to a lot of the conferences currently. Sega definately was ahead of them this go around. To avoid putting some of the teams from a conference in the game they just didnt put any, and put all of the conferences they had rights to. EA wont tell anyone what they do and dont have rights to. Why do you think EA waited so long to get back into Nascar, they wanted exclusive rights.
 
 I didnt see Jared answer the question, but player names according to an interview I read at OS are not said during the game. They didnt have time to record names while recording new dialogue. (One thought is why couldnt they have taken the player names from NCAA football and just put them in, sure a lot will be left out but at least its something)
 
 According to the NCAA they may not allow name customization in the future, which could be another reason for this.
 
 FYIs for ya. Correct me please if I am wrong.
 
 Jared, thanks for the impressions, im not overly excited yet about 2k3 especially without the sliders (NBA had to be tweaked so there is no way they got this perfect). So even with the lack of teams I think I can get plenty of playtime with EAs effort.
 
 Walleye

blacklover · Post by **blacklover** » Wed Nov 20, 2002 2:06 pm

EA has the rights to the schools in the SWAC and MEAC in NCAA Football 2003.
 
 So basically they are just being cheap skates. And recycling those rights to the COllege BBall game.
 
 But why not pick up a few more conferences?
 
 Other than the A10 and the WCC there are no conferences unique to the March Madness series.
 
 All the rest of the conferences are picked up straight from the NCAA Football game with the adjustments made to the Big East.
 
 How about a rest of college basketball section where the top teams are picked out of the conferences they did not include?
 
 It´s just stupid that the SWAC and MEAC are in there over the CAA and the MVC.
 
 THe horizon should be in there before the MEAC and SWAC.
 
 EA hasn´t upgraded their conferences since they added Gonzaga and Pepperdines WCC.
 
 I assume because Gonzaga went on that elite 8 run.
 
 Maybe if that little MVC school had made it to the elite 8?
 
 EA sucks about this.
 
 This is how many versions of their college basketball game without all the teams? Is it 6 now?
 
 989´s game had all the teams last year and this year.
 
 Sega has all the teams.
 
 I will still pick up MM but this lack of all the conferences continues to disappoint me. [ This message was edited by: blacklover on 20-11-2002 10:17 ]

teebeebee1 · Post by **teebeebee1** » Wed Nov 20, 2002 3:45 pm

Blacklover, are you on all these sites too??? Sweet , man.

blacklover · Post by **blacklover** » Wed Nov 20, 2002 3:52 pm

I am omnipresent!!!!!!!!! <IMG SRC="images/forum/icons/icon_wink.gif">