NCAA Basketball 2K3 for gamecube??

[Dobie]

My friend and I both went to pick up this game, and we had great difficulty finding a Gamecube copy. When we finally DID track one down, my buddy bought it (I figured I could find one later for cheaper), but after he did, I asked the checker why it was so hard to find--well, apparently its been discontinued by Sega, and they are pulling the ones that haven't sold off of shelves. Why they are doing this I don't know, but it is my personal speculation that maybe there are some licensing or copyright issues?

A quick check on ebay confirms this, as copies are selling between $80-100. FOR A SPORTS GAME.

This all elicits one big, resounding "DOH" from myself.

So if you happen to find a copy, pick it up, and if you're super nice, maybe send it my way? Nobody here likes sports games anyways, right?

[Mayhem]

It's because of lower than expected sales figures for the title (generally Nintendo machines aren't the ones for the sports games)... and there will be no more in the series made for GC...

[salt peanuts]

I can't believe this went back 4 pages....I would sure like more info on this, WHY is this game selling for so much???? I heard they recalled it and they only printed about 5,000??? Is this true?? Anyone with more info, please elaborate........

[Raedon]

collecting is fun

[salt peanuts]

ok, USEFUL info :P

[zot wildstarr]

I have visited and/or called at least 50 stores in the last week and have turned up..........ZIP. Most places had remembered having 2 or 3 initially, but those original supplies have been exhausted. Their inventories have not been replenished, and according to most stores, they don't expect them to be.

Zot

[salt peanuts]

so this DOES look like it could be a REALLY rare title already, maybe it wasn't recalled like Kakuto Chojin, but it does seem VERY hard to come by....hmmm....this is pretty unusual, anyone else have any luck finding this or any more info??

[salt peanuts]

I recommend everyone start picking this up if you see it....I just sold one for $85 on ebay I wonder if Joe is gonna have this in a future Tips and Tricks???

[norkusa]

Even if its true that this game had a VERY limited print run, will it actually retain its value over the years? Isn't 2k3 easily available on PS2 right now? If so, why would people want to fork out extra $$ for the GC version, especially years from now when 2k4,2k5, ect, come out?

[Nature Boy]

My 2 cents:

NCAA games are incredibly tough to come by here in Canada as well. There is a market for it, but it's a small one. I find that all NCAA games (regardless of console, football or basketball) are more difficult to find. As was mentioned, they get in a few copies for the hard core fans and then don't bother replentishing (because demand isn't there).

[Dobie]

Even if its true that this game had a VERY limited print run, will it actually retain its value over the years? Isn't 2k3 easily available on PS2 right now? If so, why would people want to fork out extra $$ for the GC version, especially years from now when 2k4,2k5, ect, come out?

That's just the point. Its that freaking difficult to find. Not ALL sports games lose value like Madden or NFL Blitz. I for one don't have a PS2 (or an Xbox), and never will buy one. This game is the ONLY NCAA basketball game that will ever be released on the gamecube, unless somebody else decides to make one, which look highly unlikely. Being a sports fan, especially college sports, this is a must buy title. There is a bit of demand for it right now, and I don't see it going down as "collectors" catch on to the low print run.

Unfortunately I was unable to find one in the stores--but my friend still doesn't have a clue, so I'm going to try and buy it off of him when he gets bored with it.

By the way, you can't even buy this game off of Sega's web-site.

[Nintendork]

Ok ok, but here's a question? Is it a good game, for a college bball junkie? Does it play well?

[Dobie]

Well... Its OK. The game seems a bit easy, from the little bit that I've played. My friend took Baylor to the national championship, losing only one game. Just to give you an idea of how difficult this NCAA 2K3 truly is.

Graphically, its similar to NBA 2K3, as well as controls. But I was impressed with the "little" things--like when I played my alma mater (Univ. of Idaho) it had the school fight song, the proper arena, uniforms, etc. This is saying a lot, because most college games skip over the smaller to mid-major programs entirely, giving them some generic fight song or a stadium from some other school, and focus entirely on getting the bigger programs right.

EA's NCAA Football 2003 did this, and it still irks me to no end. I could go on about how NCAA Football included Div. 2 teams, but "forgot" the REIGNING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Montana Grizzlies, but that's another thread.