OT: Sports gaming

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:27 pm

Since politics now are the prevailing topic of threads at DSP, I wanted to make this off-topic post:

Anyone else really stoked for the arrival of ESPN College Hoops 2K5?

Take care,
PK

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:29 pm

Which is why I titled my NBA League thread OT. This is gettin ridiculous.

But to answer your question...yes I'm excited for it. It's the only chance I get to see Miami actually make it into the top 25.

Post by **Jared** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:32 pm

I'm aware of the proliferation of the OT posts...but I figure this is a once in 4 years thing, so I'm gonna let people celebrate/vent/etc. Things will swing more towards sports gaming in the next few days.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:33 pm

A big Hell Yeah. However, I just read over at OS the Xbox version has been pushed back a week while the PS2 version remains the 16th.

I'm thinking maybe they didn't want to release it too close to Halo 2.

sportdan30 · Post by **sportdan30** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:36 pm

By the way, if you haven't already checked out the videos of CH over at OS, they're well worth viewing. Great gameplay vids.

webdanzer · Post by **webdanzer** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:36 pm

Better fire your exit polling org.

15 topics sports or gaming
13 topics politics
2 other OT (Best Wishes Again, Rally!)

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:39 pm

Not me.

For whatever reason, I just can't get into hoops video games. I haven't even tried a hoops game in a couple years. If this one gets universal approval, I might give it a shot. Hell, $20. I've thought about giving the ESPN NBA game a shot, I liked it quite a bit back in the DreamCast days, but the little things really started to bug me after a while, especially the FIFA-style lack of intuitive player movement, and for example the herky-jerky fast breaks. I guess this year the Sega game has a separate 'lead-pass' button? Maybe that is all I would need.

I am a big fan of the college game, although I don't really get into it until the conference seasons start. Of course, I grew up a Bullets fan, so it's not hard to see why my attention to the NBA comes and goes. Actually, though, this year without the NHL I may be watching a hell of a lot more NBA games.

Anyhow, like I said I may get this one if it gets ringing endorsements around here. I hope they have updatable rosters for online play; what of freshmen? Sometimes freshmen become hugely critical players, how can they even begin to guess about them in a video game?

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:44 pm

Yes, I am excited about it, if for no other reason then its $19.99 price tag. It's really amazing how many good games I have purchased this year for $19.99-$29.99. It is a good year for gaming.

Why didn't Bush bring this into his political campaign? "My administration has been working hard to lower the prices of video games and it has been mission accomplished with the ESPN and Codemasters series of games."

Sudz · Post by **Sudz** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:59 pm

when is it out?

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:02 pm

Definitely fired up about this one. Enjoyed last years on the PS2 and my only concern is that the control schemes are getting so complicated that I won't be able to keep up with anyone online.

Danimal · Post by **Danimal** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 3:29 pm

Can't wait.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:27 pm

I will have to rely on you guys to let me know if it has any gameplay changes over NBA 2K5. If it does, I might consider it. While I'm a big fan of the sport of basketball, I can't stand college basketball (it absolutely sucks, unless you are actually *in* college) so I won't buy it unless it does something different than NBA 2K5.

Sport73 · Post by **Sport73** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:34 pm

Despite the overwhelmingly positive word on ESPN College Hoops, I'm wondering if March Madness won't once again be my title.

So far, I'm really enjoying NBA Live over ESPN. Not sure what my final opinion will be, but I wonder if it will spill over to the college game...

FatPitcher · Post by **FatPitcher** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 4:47 pm

What's the word on March Madness? I was given last year's version and thought it was awful, but I'm too lazy to go look for info on MM2005.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:05 pm

Kazuya wrote:While I'm a big fan of the sport of basketball, I can't stand college basketball (it absolutely sucks, unless you are actually *in* college) so I won't buy it unless it does something different than NBA 2K5.

Yeah, basketball more oriented toward fundamentals, great rivalries and the incredible excitement of the small-conference tournaments and the NCAA Tournament really do suck ...

To each their own, though, Kaz. I respect your opinion, as I would be a complete hypocrite to rip your stance as I shred the NBA mercilessly and think it sucks as much as you do the college game.

Take care,
PK

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:18 pm

While my thoughts aren't congruent with Kaz's, I understand completely where he's coming from. I used to be a huge college hoops junky, but now with the top players sticking around for a year (if they go) or two at the most, it is quite diluted. I hope that the NBA can get an NFL-like drafting requirement for its own sake as well as the NCAA's.

For videogames though, I really enjoy being able to play as a smaller school and all of that, plus the shortened season makes dynasty modes easier to work through without massive amounts of simming.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 5:21 pm

Dave wrote:I used to be a huge college hoops junky, but now with the top players sticking around for a year (if they go) or two at the most, it is quite diluted.

Exactly my problem with the NCAA as well. I just can't stand the constant turnaround. Your team signs a big named recruit....but dude decides he doesn't want to play college and just goes pro. WTF?

I, like Dave, hope they do something like the NFL. I don't think it will ever happen, but I can hope.

Plus it doesn't help me that my favorite team is pretty bad at basketball. Seems as though the Hurricanes can't recruit hoops quite as well as football. Being in the ACC now will help a little bit, but still.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:19 pm

Dave and db sum up my thoughts about college basketball perfectly. Absolutely no talent at all, just a bunch of mediocre players squaring off each other that I could probably give a good run (definitely when I was 20 and in good shape). As with college football, about half of the games on the season schedule are mismatches, but at least college football has loads of talented players.

Can you imagine LeBron and Carmelo in the Final Four? It would rival Elvin Hayes vs. Lew Alcindor or Magic vs. Bird. Instead, there is no chance that will ever happen again. A talented player might make it to be a sophomore, not a minute further. And if he was really that good in the first place, he wouldn't have gone to college for a day.

The argument that college basketball is some kind of fundamental haven compared to the NBA is ridiculous. The guys in college can't shoot or pass either. FG% is down by more or less the exact same quantities that the NBA has gone down over the years. If you enjoy watching average players back-picking and screen and rolling each other to death, here's your game.

Tim Duncan was and will be the last great college basketball player ever. Can you imagine any scenario where someone like Tim Duncan would make it through 4 years of college?? If he had Tim Duncan's size and could walk and chew gum at the same time, he would be the number one pick in the NBA as a HS senior (see Howard, Dwight or Brown, Kwame).

I suppose there is a lot to be said about a bunch of kids who *aren't* going to the NBA just out there trying as hard as they can to win and represent their school. Like I said, if I was still in college I would be rooting like hell for the home team. Other than that, I see no incentive to watch basketball of rec league quality.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:24 pm

Kazuya wrote:If you enjoy watching average players back-picking and screen and rolling each other to death, here's your game.

Thank you very much. Precisely one of the reasons I enjoy college hoop. Oh, and a team that plays zone almost exclusively -- Syracuse in 2003 -- can win a championship.

I like that, too.

Take care,
PK

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:29 pm

Tim Duncan was and will be the last great college basketball player ever.

Well I could roll off a list longer then this website could handle the transfer load. First off you do not have to play 4 years AND THEN go to the NBA to be considered a great COLLEGE basketball player. If that was the case the please explain Gonzaga's success.

As for someone after Duncan who played 4 years Shane Battier pops into my mind. I could name my share of those also.

Absolutely no talent at all, just a bunch of mediocre players squaring off each other that I could probably give a good run (definitely when I was 20 and in good shape).

Please do not try to insult a college basketball fans intelligence with this hogwash. When you were 20 and in good shape you probably could not hang with many of the female college basketball players.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:32 pm

pk500 wrote:
Kazuya wrote:If you enjoy watching average players back-picking and screen and rolling each other to death, here's your game.
Thank you very much. Precisely one of the reasons I enjoy college hoop. Oh, and a team that plays zone almost exclusively -- Syracuse in 2003 -- can win a championship.

I like that, too.

Take care,
PK

The problem is, it's average players doing it. If you want to see good movement and back-picking, the Sacramento Kings (using former Princeton coach Pete Carrill's system) are absolutely masterful at it. If you watched the NBA, you'd know this...

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:33 pm

Kazuya wrote:Absolutely no talent at all, just a bunch of mediocre players squaring off each other that I could probably give a good run (definitely when I was 20 and in good shape).

Kaz:

Just curious: Where and when did you play D-I ball as a scholarship player?

Take care,
PK

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:35 pm

bdoughty wrote:
Tim Duncan was and will be the last great college basketball player ever.
Well I could roll off a list longer then this website could handle the transfer load. First off you do not have to play 4 years AND THEN go to the NBA to be considered a great COLLEGE basketball player. If that was the case the please explain Gonzaga's success.

As for someone after Duncan who played 4 years Shane Battier pops into my mind. I could name my share of those also.

Absolutely no talent at all, just a bunch of mediocre players squaring off each other that I could probably give a good run (definitely when I was 20 and in good shape).

Please do not try to insult a college basketball fans intelligence with this hogwash. When you were 20 and in good shape you probably could not hang with many of the female college basketball players.

Shane Battier was not a great college basketball player. Great college basketball players: Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, Akeem Olajuuwon, James Worthy, Oscar Robertson, etc.

Anytime you want to make the trip down (or is it up?) you can test me. I'll even let you pick the court. Bring your Jordans.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 03, 2004 6:41 pm

Kazuya wrote:Anytime you want to make the trip down (or is it up?) you can test me. I'll even let you pick the court. Bring your Jordans.

That wasn't Brent's point, or mine when I asked what D-I school you played for on scholarship.

The point is that it's pretty ballsy and Walter Mitty-ish for a very good rec basketball player, of which I have no doubt you are, to say that you could give a tough run to a four-year college player who is going to be an NBA player the next year.

So, you could have given four-year player Shane Battier a good run? You could have dusted four-year player Emeka Okafor in one-on-one? You could put four-year player Hakim Warrick on ice? You could have taken four-year player Jameer Nelson to the rack repeatedly and ruined him?

Somehow I doubt it.

Take care,
PK