 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
College Hoops 2K7
- Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox
- Price: $59.99
- Genre: Sports
Common Sense Media says
NCAA b-baller's focus is more off-court than on.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this game depicts the sprawling, complex world of college basketball. In addition to the game on the court, players manage rosters, player development and chemistry, recruiting, and budgets -- all while watching for job openings with better teams. Players can spend twice as much time micro-managing the business of their program as they do playing (maybe not what your 7-year-old had in mind). Since college basketball is an amateur game, the players' real names aren't used.
What's it about?
2K Sports delivers another season of mascots, chants, and champions with COLLEGE HOOPS 2K7, a spirited but demanding take on the complex world of college basketball. Gameplay is almost completely copied from earlier 2K basketball franchises.
Players use "iso-motion" controls -- a combination of well-timed button pressing and stick moves -- to spin, juke, cross over, and hop-step past defenders to the hoop. They direct where the ball will be passed, and, by using the "shot stick" right analog control, can change a shot in midair. The only real gameplay difference here reflects the college game -- there are more missed shots, a faster pace up and down the floor, and wilder athletic moves around the hoop.
Is it any good?
Atmosphere is what distinguishes a college basketball video game from an NBA simulation, and College Hoops 2K7 has plenty. If you've ever attended a college game, you'll recognize the excitement and energy that 2K has captured. The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the soft-focus quality of the instant replays looks really, really good.
That said, gamers who just want quick trips up and down the hardwood might want to think twice before buying College Hoops 2K7. Gameplay is solid, and a quick game between division rivals is always fun. But the stand-out part of this game is the Legacy mode, in which players build a small program over multiple seasons, investing money in recruitment, developing underclassmen's skills, fostering team unity, and chasing after a Final Four Championship. The level of detail is mind-boggling.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about differences between college and professional basketball. Why has college basketball grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise? Is the spirit of amateur sports compromised when it's surrounded by so much hype and money? Do universities that emphasize sports diminish the quality or reputation of the education they provide, or do they simply provide a venue for loyal alumni to show support?
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| Platforms: | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox |
| Available online? | Available online |
| Genre: | Sports |
| Developer: | 2K Sports |
| Release date: | November 20, 2006 |
| Price: | $59.99 |
| ESRB rating: | E |
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