ESPN or March madness

[phillyboy16]

I was wondering which game you guys think is better.

ESPN College Hoops or NCAA March Madness? I am looking to buy a college Bball game and was wandering which one you guys think is better.

I rented March Madness and the gameplay is awsome but the recruiting is terrible and it is really slow. What I mean by this is that it takes like 30 seconds for it to go from one screen to the next.

Although I do like March Madness i have heard good things about ESPN.
Please tell me which one you guys think is better.

[msuforever]

I was wondering which game you guys think is better.

ESPN College Hoops or NCAA March Madness? I am looking to buy a college Bball game and was wandering which one you guys think is better.

I rented March Madness and the gameplay is awsome but the recruiting is terrible and it is really slow. What I mean by this is that it takes like 30 seconds for it to go from one screen to the next.

Although I do like March Madness i have heard good things about ESPN.
Please tell me which one you guys think is better.

I own ESPN, and I can tell you the gameplay is MUCH improved from 2003. It is much more fluid, and the recruiting is bar none. I'm sorry I can't compare it to the other game, but I would recomend ESPN College Hoops to anyone.

[Papa LoneStar]

I own ESPN, and I can tell you the gameplay is MUCH improved from 2003. It is much more fluid, and the recruiting is bar none. I'm sorry I can't compare it to the other game, but I would recomend ESPN College Hoops to anyone.

Same for me..........but one thing I tell you.......If March Madness is anything like NBA Live............pick up ESPN College Hoops............March Madness 98, 99, and 2000's progress made me hate that series.

[phillyboy16]

Same for me..........but one thing I tell you.......If March Madness is anything like NBA Live............pick up ESPN College Hoops............March Madness 98, 99, and 2000's progress made me had that series.
I have heard that March Madness is like Live. So you are suggesting that I get ESPN?

[Papa LoneStar]

Yes.....the recruiting is great and you can customize your schedule......very tyte.

[msuforever]

If there is a better CBB game EVER, I haven't found it yet. Go ESPN.

[phillyboy16]

If there is a better CBB game EVER, I haven't found it yet. Go ESPN.
Thanks for the advice guys I'll try and buy it this weekend!!

I have too much stuff to do during the week!!!

[RedHawk00]

I was just having trouble with the same question. I bought NCAA 2k3 used and have 7 days to decide if I like it. I picked it up today on my lunch hour. Good to know that people like the ESPN/Sega version better.

What are the benefits of the 2004 over 2003, besides the rosters, I don't care about them?

[TrickyD]

I would in all honestly highly recommend you try them both first. Go to a used video game store... i guarantee they'll have both in stock... and ask to try them out. Some stoes... gamestop and rhino i'm pretty sure... even let you buy one and give you 7 days to return it.

I know this board is very pro ESPN, but I would swear by March Madness. While it lacks recruiting, the gameplay is just plain great. To back that up, look at a source like Metacritic or User reveiws on something like Gamespot and you'll see MM has a slight edge over ESPN on nearly all of them.

Anyway... Just suggesting you look into it yourself as I know there is a heavy bias on here ;)

[msuforever]

I was just having trouble with the same question. I bought NCAA 2k3 used and have 7 days to decide if I like it. I picked it up today on my lunch hour. Good to know that people like the ESPN/Sega version better.

What are the benefits of the 2004 over 2003, besides the rosters, I don't care about them?

Benefits of 2004: Much improved defensive AI- The CPU now plays defenses other than the 2-3 zone. It starts with that usually, but it switches to something like a 2-1-2 zone or a man to man. They switch it up constantly. There is also just an improvement in the CPU IQ.

Much improved human defense- No more 30 steals a game for the player, you can't just jump every pass the CPU makes, you know have to work for your steals.

Much improved Recruiting- And you thought last year's was deep. Now you can invite recruits to home games, watch their games, live, and get verbal commitments during the season. It is the sweetest thing ever.

New Rankings systems- Really rewards star players, no more 90's rankings, really.

Improved post play- It still ain't great, but it's a lot better than before.

Improved Free throws- I could never line up those stupid arrows on all american. The new free throw system is much better.

Those are just the ones I can think of on top of my head.

[msuforever]

I would in all honestly highly recommend you try them both first. Go to a used video game store... i guarantee they'll have both in stock... and ask to try them out. Some stoes... gamestop and rhino i'm pretty sure... even let you buy one and give you 7 days to return it.

I know this board is very pro ESPN, but I would swear by March Madness. While it lacks recruiting, the gameplay is just plain great. To back that up, look at a source like Metacritic or User reveiws on something like Gamespot and you'll see MM has a slight edge over ESPN on nearly all of them.

Anyway... Just suggesting you look into it yourself as I know there is a heavy bias on here ;)

Yeah, we're all biased. I have a question: Is MM's gameplay like NBA Live 2004's?

[TrickyD]

Yeah, we're all biased. I have a question: Is MM's gameplay like NBA Live 2004's?
don't know... hate the NBA and haven't played the Live series in nearly 10 years!

[msuforever]

don't know... hate the NBA and haven't played the Live series in nearly 10 years!

The new one is much more simulation, almost too simulation.

[Jedite21]

I have both games and i tend to play ESPN a lot more than MM

Why...

1. Longevity - Having to start from a bad team and work your way up is fun... even if you sim all your games and it feels more realistic (although it is still a little too easy to recruit, but not near as easy as in MM)

2. Recruiting is better ten-fold... during season recruiting is cool, and actually having to think during the recruiting process and make decisions is very cool

3. The in-game feel... momentum can be a big thing in ESPN and has saved me in quite a few games. The crowd and band things are cool too... (although as in any sports game gets used a little too much).

4. If you are a simming freak... ESPN gives you more control and actually encourages you to sim when you want too.

Now just because I love ESPN doesn't mean I don't see the good points of MM. If you are looking to play online or just against friends mostly MM has better gameplay then ESPN (it just feels better playing MM, ESPN still has a few minor quirks that get annoying at times). But if you want an all-around game or one that puts an emphasis on longevity then pick up ESPN. It all depends on what your looking for in a game... I still have trouble putting ESPN down it just has a replayability factor that MM doesn't have for me.

[phillyboy16]

I have both games and i tend to play ESPN a lot more than MM

Why...

1. Longevity - Having to start from a bad team and work your way up is fun... even if you sim all your games and it feels more realistic (although it is still a little too easy to recruit, but not near as easy as in MM)

2. Recruiting is better ten-fold... during season recruiting is cool, and actually having to think during the recruiting process and make decisions is very cool

3. The in-game feel... momentum can be a big thing in ESPN and has saved me in quite a few games. The crowd and band things are cool too... (although as in any sports game gets used a little too much).

4. If you are a simming freak... ESPN gives you more control and actually encourages you to sim when you want too.

Now just because I love ESPN doesn't mean I don't see the good points of MM. If you are looking to play online or just against friends mostly MM has better gameplay then ESPN (it just feels better playing MM, ESPN still has a few minor quirks that get annoying at times). But if you want an all-around game or one that puts an emphasis on longevity then pick up ESPN. It all depends on what your looking for in a game... I still have trouble putting ESPN down it just has a replayability factor that MM doesn't have for me.
Do u know if there is someway to do alleyoops in ESPN like in MN.

Like a combo of bottons or something like that.

[White Chocolate]

Yea, I think its the White button, or somethin like that on the X-Box. All u need is someone streakin to the basket. By the way Philly, I got some updates in my dynasty... check them out if ya get the chance. Thanx man.

[RedHawk00]

Thanks for all the comments. I played 2k3 all night last night. Simming games to get job offers and stuff. Loved the idea behind having to work your way up. I think I will stick with 2k3 for now and pick up 2k5/ESPN when the new one comes out. I found recruiting really challenging when I needed like 5 roster spots filled. Never enough points to get all the guys I wanted.

Good comments all, I will have to pick a dynasty and post it on the site, I have yet to do that, I never stick with my NCAA Football ones, always want to try a new team, new conference, or a new quirky way to go about a dynasty.

[phillyboy16]

Yea, I think its the White button, or somethin like that on the X-Box. All u need is someone streakin to the basket. By the way Philly, I got some updates in my dynasty... check them out if ya get the chance. Thanx man.
I have PS2 so there is no white botton.

I did check out ur updates and good stuff!!

[Lhsballa11]

I have March Madness and I have played ESPN. I prefer March Madness slightly because i like the controller configuration. I enjoy the gameplay very much. I have found a great set of sliders where i lose when i should and win when i should. I have a Illinois State Dynasty and I have three 85+ 3pt shooters. It is very exciting as I lost by about 10 to #1 Purdue and beat NC Ashton by 20. So i would suggest MM just for gameplay.

[HogsRule22]

to do an alley oop on ESPN on PS2, push R2 when you got a guy streaking to the basket.

[RedHawk00]

I picked up ESPN and love it. The new pass mode is very handy, my PF is always the Y button that makes for easy passes to wide open guys when needed. The in season recruiting is mandatory, otherwise you are screwed when the off-season recruiting comes. I like that small schools have the same number of recruit points as large schools, but large schools just have more interested students. The game is complex enough to make you think about who you want to recruit, but fun enough that I continue to neglect my wife. Glad I picked it up!!!

[phillyboy16]

to do an alley oop on ESPN on PS2, push R2 when you got a guy streaking to the basket.
ok

Thanks! :)

[Arsidubu]

ESPN has a better Dynasty set up and recruting but March Madness's Gameplay is about 10 times better.