Producer Q&A with Mike Mahar
 

RE: All-Time Teams in NCAA March Madness

1. How many total teams are available as All-Time teams? 

There are 39 All-Time teams in the game this year. 

2. How many are new to the game in 06? And what are some of the highlights? 

There are 14 new All-time teams to the game this year. Highlights include All-Georgia (Dominique Wilkins), All-Gonzaga (we have such depth now we can start compiling all time teams for the best 'mid-majors'), All-NC State (David Thompson), and All-Time teams for the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, PAC 10, and CUSA.....basically the best players ever from each of the 'major conferences. 

3. How do you determine the rosters for the all-time teams?  

We select a wide range of players from each school/conference using websites and the respective Hall of Fame. From there we send the list out to as many basketball experts as possible.....for example I asked Kenny Smith who he thought should be on the All-Time Carolina team when he was recording here last year. Occasionally, player’s names are passed by Dick Vitale, we use existing lists such as the ACC Top 50 players of all time...etc.  After we have the short list we look at the ratings, historical stats, and achievements as well as players who will be popular with our consumers and we come up with the bench and the starting 5.

4. Is there one team that is the best among all the all-time teams from a ratings standpoint? 

I think it would be hard to beat the All-ACC or All-Big East teams. For schools, All-Duke, All-UNC, and All-LSU are great skill wise and fun to play with because they don't have any weaknesses.

5. Is this an unlockable feature or is it available from the main menu in the front end? 

The teams that are new to the 2006 product must be purchased in the store or unlocked with a secret code. They appear with a lock icon beside the logo until this is done. All previous All-Time teams are available as soon as you boot up the game.

6.  Last year you guys introduced Classic Matchups, have you expanded upon that feature? 

Last year there were a total of 10 Classic Matchups.  To 06, we’ve added an additional 10 Classic Matchups, giving us a total of 20.  Classic matchups are essentially past rivals who have squared off against each other in heated battles, such as LSU vs. Loyola matchup in 1990, and UNC vs. UCLA. 

List of the 14 new All-Time Teams:

1. All Georgia

2. All Gonzaga

3. All NC State

4. All Ohio State

5. All Purdue

6. All Texas

7. All Utah

8. All ACC

9. All Big Ten

10. All Big 12

11. All Big East

12. All Big SEC

13. All Pac 10

14. All CUSA

There is a new Video also - http://downloads.gamezone.com/demos/d13677.htm

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