Do you think NCAA football will ever return?

[jwilphl]

Here I am two years later with a "new" PS4 taking up most of my game time, even though I am still enjoying NCAA '14 on my now mostly defunct PS3.

I was pondering about how the return of the collegiate sports game appears bleak, even though I long to see how an NCAA game could perform with this new hardware at its fingertips. It seems as though the main sports titles have already come a long way in the last couple years (for the most part - looking at you NHL).

So what is next for college sports? With all the new branding platforms for universities and conferences alike, it would seem harder and harder to get them all to agree to a licensing venture. With that in mind, does anyone think we will ever again see a fully-licensed (or otherwise) collegiate video game? And if so, how much more time will be needed to sort out the legal and programming issues?

For these questions I've created a straw poll to gauge the community's feelings on this issue: http://strawpoll.me/5366045.

The question is more general, but you can certainly expand on your opinion below if you think NCAA basketball or NCAA football is more likely to make a return. Of course it has been considerably longer since we've had a basketball game.

You can also elaborate on why you do or don't think a game is likely to return. Not profitable enough? Licensing costs too high? Not enough interest? Too popular to completely ignore?

I'll share my own opinion below:

Spoiler

I'm inclined to think a new collegiate sports video game is highly unlikely in any capacity. We already saw 2K more or less ditch its NCAA basketball game because of licensing costs and lack of ROI, with conferences and teams now gaining their independence to barter licensing deals, it would seem as though costs would only go up.

If a game does come back, football is the most likely candidate by far. I think the game remains popular enough to generate a profit, but the biggest hurdle (outside of the legal likeness issues) would of course be the prospects of licensing all the D-I teams. I think a "generic" college game doesn't have mass appeal, so you really need those licenses.

An alternative, perhaps, would be to create a game based on the FCS schools, with teambuilder in-tact, as a way to get around dealing with the power conferences and the schools with too much clout. However, I do still see problems with mass appeal for such a game; the power five is really where the money is, and that isn't likely to change any time soon.

In summation, if I were to vote, I'd say the chances are higher than not of never seeing another NCAA sports title again. It makes me incredibly disappointed, but I think that's just the reality of the world we presently live in.

[Raleigh]

In short..No
It's dead and gone for good.

[dynastyovercfm]

We could only hope. More realistically i think another company will create a football game with unlimited customization so you can create NCAA teams. Pretty much Teambuilder. With full customization. Thats what i think could and should happen.

[fballturkey]

Yes, I think we'll get one in the next 5 years or so. There's too much money on the table.

[StoneCalf]

I'll just say I'm not holding my breath for a return. That's about as much energy as I'd like to expend on the subject, but since I am joining in the discussion I'll just say this- I believe there is still plenty of interest there and profit potential, but the legal issues are a huge prohibitive factor right now. (stating the obvious here....)

[RedRaider10]

I think it will but I wouldn't expect a new game until 2019 or so.

[aaron84ka]

Quote: Originally Posted by dynastyovercfm

We could only hope. More realistically i think another company will create a football game with unlimited customization so you can create NCAA teams. Pretty much Teambuilder. With full customization. Thats what i think could and should happen.

I'm with you on this. I would use team builder teams anyhow. I really enjoyed that aspect of the game.

[grabursock55]

I think EA will try it one more time. Just to see how it goes. I mean they were pretty daring for a while when they were throwing out all kinds of ideas (and implementing them) like rugby, College baseball, and arena football. I think theyll give it a shot and if the profit isnt there, theyll let it go.