Home > Basketball

The "06" edition of EA Sports' annual college basketball game is designed to emphasize the importance of tactics and defensive pressure. The game introduces the "Lockdown Stick" feature, which allows defensive players to line up with the ball handler and block his path. Once the ball handler has been "locked down," players can try to strip the ball away from him directly, or use the expanded "Floor General" system to set up a defensive formation to try to trap him, breaking up the play and promoting a turnover.Other new features include an enhanced 30-year Dynasty mode, which puts emphasis on the concepts of Senior Leadership and league awareness. Gamers can more easily follow the play of teams across the country and adopt special game plans against tough opponents. Once again, there are many teams to follow, as hundreds of real-life schools are featured, allowing gamers to take the reigns of their favorite recurring contenders, or lead a more obscure alma matter to an unprecedented national championship.

NCAA College Basketball enrolls for a second term on PlayStation 2 with a brand new name and a number of features designed to improve upon its predecessor. Now under its second year with the ESPN brand, the game expands its broadcast-quality coverage to include pop-up overlays, dynamic commentary, and authentic music from the top-rated sports channel. The distinct atmosphere of a college game is represented with 100 mascots and fight songs, 3D crowds, and team-specific chants. While on the hardwood, players can call inbound plays, go on fast breaks, perform skip passes, pivot to set up the open jumper, and elude defenders with double pump fakes. In addition to the modes found in 2002's title, ESPN College Hoops features a Create-A-School option where players can choose everything from team mascots and fight songs to their arena's name, floor type, and head coach. The newly created alma mater can then participate in a Franchise Mode complete with a 3D office, where players can look over the scouting reports for new recruits, seek out All-American athletes, and customize playing schedules. Graduates and fans alike can relive some of the heated battles between certain schools in the Rivalry Mode, which features classic matchups like Duke versus North Carolina, Arizona versus UCLA, and more. As in the rest of Sega Sports' lineup for 2003, online play is supported for head-to-head action.

2K Games' brand of NCAA basketball returns to the virtual arenas in this release for Xbox and PlayStation 2. Along with fan favorite features from past versions, the "2K6" edition of College Hoops brings a new "Court Awareness" system to the virtual hardwood, designed to promote teamwork and make the best use of individual abilities by encouraging gamers to note the strengths, weaknesses, and positions of their five men on the floor. The game also introduces a "Coach's Clipboard" interface, which can be used during time-outs to set up the next play.

Sony's take on pro basketball gets passed back onto PSP, in this follow up to the handheld's NBA launch title. A new "trading card" system allows gamers to capture highlights and save them, to trade with other players (or reminisce over past glories). Players can also earn special cards by completing other challenges, such as winning their way to the top of the game's new "ladder challenge." Mini-games based on Horse, Dodgeball, and a 3-point contest are also available. Head-to-head multiplayer competition is supported through the PSP's local "ad hoc" connections, or over the Internet.

NBA 2K6 hits the hardwood with all the ingredients necessary to continue its reign as the #1 rated pro basketball game. Achieve NBA superstar status with the new 24/7 mode, where created players now partake in training camps, competitions and even land endorsement deals. Elevate your game by utilizing the innovative V.I.P. System to challenge profiles of friends and other NBA 2K6 ballers across the country that match their gameplay tendencies down to every minute detail. Then head over to The Crib to customize your pad, buy music and unlock mini-games with crib credits earned playing the game.

Feel the emotion and intensity of one of the most complete basketball experiences with NBA Live 06. With a totally enhanced transition game, take the point and deliver fast break passes on the fly as teammates run the lanes awaiting your pass. On defense, get inside and feel what it's like to block a dunk -or to be dunked on - as big bodies collide under the basket. Will you live in the paint or set up camp outside the arc? The choice is yours. The sport of basketball is elevated to a whole new level with NBA Live 2006.Enjoy playing with Freestyle Superstars. You are in control of the top NBA stars, performing like their real-life counterparts based on distinct character types, including Power, Playmaker, Stopper and more.You also get authentic 5-on-5 gameplay. The all-new animation system helps to visually present the up-tempo, fast-break brand of basketball that makes the NBA thrive. Also featured, is an improved transition game and a more physical brand of play with collisions and dunked-on scenarios. A new graphics engine now has player models not only playing and acting like their real life counterparts, but looking the part with striking detail and realism. Joining Marv Albert is new color commentator and former NBA star Steve Kerr. The on-air TV partners call the 5-on-5 action, while Ernie Johnson and Kenny Smith bring their own unique flavor to the Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Shootout. NBA All-Star Weekend is better than ever as it allows users to create new jaw-dropping dunks in the Slam Dunk Contest. Also featuring the 3-Point Shootout, Rookie Challenge and NBA All-Star Game, All-Star Weekend is available as a stand-alone game mode as well as within Dynasty mode. Users can play online with Xbox Live against opponents from anywhere in North America.

Get back on the court with another round of NBA 2006. It has additional animations and dribble moves, as well as a host of mini-games. In addition to the returning paint mode, the three-point contest, and the skills challenge, gamers will be able to partake in H.O.R.S.E. and dodgeball. The game features a trading card system that can be stored as collectibles or shared with other gamers, as well as wireless play both locally or over the Web.

The first NBA Live for the PlayStation Portable features enhancements in gameplay and player graphics from previous years. Gracing the cover of his first NBA Live will be second-year player Dwayne Wade from the Miami Heat.