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EA letting you get in on the madness

by: John - posted: 3/3/2009 6:43:00 PM
More On: NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition
Here's an interesting one. EA's going to be releasing a downloadable NCAA basketball game . For 1200 Microsoft points, you can pick up NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness which will let you play play last year's tourney and this year's tourney when the selections are made on March 18th. The download will feature the 65 schools in the tournament as you take one of them through and try to win the naitonal championship. It's a scaled down version of their NCAA Basketball 09 game with less features but neverthelss it features the full on court game. The game is only appearing on Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live service so sorry PlayStation 3 owners.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – March 3, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc., (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced EA SPORTS™ will for the first time offer a downloadable official NCAA® Tournament edition of its college basketball videogame. Fans will be able to replicate the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship bracket and play with all the schools in NCAA March Madness®. Called NCAA® Basketball 09: March Madness® Edition and available exclusively for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system for 1200 Microsoft points ($15.00), it will be available to download just in time for the start of the NCAA tournament. The 2009 Tournament tips-off exclusively on CBS Sports on March 19th.

NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition will be easy-to-download exclusively for the Xbox 360 through Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft points beginning March 11, 2009. The game will initially feature teams from last year’s tournament, and then beginning on March 18, will feature the just-announced official Selection Sunday brackets and accurate teams with updated ratings.

NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition will re-create all the atmosphere and intensity of NCAA March Madness by enabling fans to authentically replicate the entire NCAA Tournament and play through the “virtual bracket” with their favorite team under the same conditions they’ll face throughout March Madness. Take on the challenge of leading any of the 65 schools competing on the road to the Final Four®, from the opening round right through to a virtual reproduction of the Final Four on the authentic Ford Field court in Detroit, where one team will be crowned NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Champion on April 6, 2009.

“We really wanted to make our game available to a wider selection of fans that are drawn to college basketball by the passion, excitement and drama that surrounds March Madness,” said Connor Dougan, Producer for NCAA® Basketball 09: March Madness Edition. “Fans will be able to experience the tournament, feel the adrenaline rush that comes with a single loss elimination tournament and write their own history.”

“Few sporting events capture the excitement and intensity of March Madness, so it’s great to be able to offer everyone a chance to play with NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition, an exclusive to Xbox LIVE and Xbox 360,” said Marc Whitten, General Manager of Xbox LIVE. “Xbox LIVE continues to break new ground, offering new ways to play and enjoy your favorite games and entertainment. With EA we are offering everyone a chance to experience a blockbuster game tailored specifically for March Madness in a way that has never been done before.”

NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition challenges gamers to replicate their school’s style of play, set the tempo and win. Plus, the game features Division I coaches in-game providing real time instruction and feedback, helping gamers control the tempo by executing their team’s offense and defense to perfection.

Download NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition through Xbox LIVE Marketplace and follow the tournament through NCAA March Madness on Demand®, the free, live, online streaming of all tournament games available at NCAA.com and CBSSports.com.
NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition is in development at EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game is rated “E” for everyone by the ESRB. To learn more about the game visit www.ncaabasketball09.com.