Tag Archives: NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some reflections on the server shutdowns that have taken place in 2024 – or will soon take place – as it relates to basketball gaming.

As gamers, we all know too well that server shutdowns are inevitable. While it’s unfortunate, it’s also understandable. There comes a point where there simply aren’t enough people still playing a game to justify the cost, time, and energy required to maintain online support. We’re also given a clear heads up in the documentation for games. For example, following a change in policy in the wake of the backlash to the NBA 2K14 server shutdown in 2015, we’ve been able to bank on 27 months of online support for each game in the NBA 2K series thereafter.

Still, even when we know that they’re coming, and can understand the reasons behind them, server shutdowns remain a bummer. Most of us are going to be left with some unfinished business, or just be disappointed that we can’t revisit and continue playing a memorable save in a connected mode. To that end, as of writing, we’ve lost online support for one Triple-A basketball game in 2024, while a second will see its server shutdowns happen very soon. Meanwhile, the closure of another online service was a blow for anyone still playing their Xbox 360. As such, I’m reflecting on those server shutdowns, and how my basketball gaming has been (or will be) impacted by them.

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As mentioned in Episode #536 of the NLSC Podcast, NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition is still available to purchase through the Xbox Live Marketplace. However, with the Xbox 360 store set to close on July 29th 2024, there isn’t much time left to pick it up.

Like many titles in the store, NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition is currently on sale, at a bargain price of $1.49 USD. The Bracket Pack DLC, a free add-on for the game, is also still available. If you don’t already own the game and its DLC, the shutdown sale is a great opportunity to grab it.

For those who are unaware, this digital-only version of EA Sports’ 2009 college basketball title is essentially the same as the disc release, however it lacks online play, and only includes the 64 teams that made the NCAA Tournament back in 2009. The free DLC adds the real 2009 brackets automatically.

You can purchase NCAA Basketball 09: MME from this listing in the Xbox Live Marketplace. Please note that the game was only released in North America, and is not available to international gamers. However, as I understand it, if you do have a US Xbox Live account, it may still be possible to change the region of your console and purchase the game. As always, attempt any such workarounds at your own risk! Once again, time is running out as the Xbox 360 store closes down next week, so if you’re interested, be sure to pick up the game and its DLC ASAP.

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #536 of the NLSC Podcast!

The NBA 2K League has been put on hiatus until 2025, an announcement that came as a surprise to both league players and everyone else involved. This week, we join the community in discussing how and why the NBA 2K League failed to meet some incredibly lofty expectations, despite the backing of the NBA. We also recap a game of NBA Live 10 in which we took on Argentina with Team USA, as well as an NBA 2K10 session in which we ran back a showdown between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz using the fantastic 1997 season mod. There’s also some fun trivia to share, along with a PSA to grab the digital version of NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition from the Xbox Live Marketplace while you still can.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 50:42 — 35.2MB)

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