By Andrew Hornback
Since 2000, EA Sports’ collegiate sports games—NCAA Football and NCAA Basketball—have combined to sell over 15 million copies worldwide.
The games give fans a chance to play as their favorite college football and basketball teams, square off against their school’s bitter rivals, and even compete for a national championship in a virtual creation of the same arena or field that the actual national title game would be played in, during that season.
For the athletes in the games though, the experience is not only a chance to simulate their respective sports, but to play as themselves.
“It’s kind of crazy when you realize you’re in a video game,” said senior linebacker Jon Dempsey. “You always want to do good as yourself when you play.”
In these simulations of themselves, players have the ability to choose different play types and make moves that they would make on the field during a real game. With these games, the possibilities are endless, and athletes know the power that they hold, not only as themselves, but over their opponents as well.
“I play a whole lot and always blitz a lot with myself, to try and get sacks and fumbles,” said Dempsey. “You want to get good stats. But still, if you aren’t winning during the real games, it kind of isn’t as rewarding. If you are winning on Saturdays, winning in the game makes you feel even better.”
EA Sports doesn’t release the actual formula for rating players, but they typically reflect real-life performance ability, based on statistics.
“I feel like I’m a little underrated on the game,” said Dempsey. “But that’s how [the creators] feel. I just have to work hard to prove otherwise.”
Redshirt freshman running back Darius Ashley isn’t a big gamer, but he has lived the experience through his friends and family.
“It’s kind of weird at first, realizing you’re in a game,” said Ashley. “I haven’t played much, but some of my friends would take me and put me in as the starting back and try to make me look good. It’s pretty cool.”
Though not all athletes are interested in playing the game, the idea is still an interesting one for them. Having the ability to dominate a game, real or virtual, is hard to pass up for an athlete.
“If I played the game, I’d play with myself,” said Ashley. “If I was able to help my team win on the game by using myself a lot, I’d do it.”
U of L basketball players also enjoy playing as themselves, in the recently released NCAA Basketball 10.
“I shoot with myself every time,” said senior guard Reggie Delk. “I try to get at least 60 points. I only pass when I absolutely have to. I have to get huge stats for myself first. Lots of points and rebounds too. Not worried too much about assists though.”
While the numbers that players record in video games would be nearly impossible to record in actual games, players still get nearly the same thrill in video games as they would in a real game.
“I think we all think it’s cool, just being in the game,” said Delk. “At first I thought it was kind of crazy, but it really is fun picking up the controller and playing, knowing you are controlling yourself.”
Both NCAA Football 10 and NCAA Basketball 10 are available for all major gaming consoles, and have complete and accurate rosters for the University of Louisville football and basketball teams.
