College basketball computer games, as most people know them, have changed forever. The release of NCAA Championship Basketball marks the first time in video game history that the Iowa State Cyclone basketball team has not been left out.

The Cyclones are one of 64 teams featured in the game, all of which are shooting for a spot in the Indianapolis-based championship game.

“We’re elated to be on that computer [game],” Iowa State Head Coach Tim Floyd said. “Any exposure we get is positive. There are so many people that are Cyclones who live outside our area that now have an added access to this program.”

Cyclone starting point guard Jacy Holloway was unaware of the game, but said he was, however, flattered and looking forward to trying it for himself.

The game does have one downfall for Cyclone fans in that the team isn’t given its full set of “props.” ISU is ranked 34th in preseason, while the University of Iowa’s team is ranked fourth.

The names of actual Cyclone players are not included, to avoid violating NCAA rules. However, the characters’ playing abilities are based on statistics from past Cyclone teams, as well as the current squad.

According to Valerie Motis, Public Relations Director for GTE, the company that created the game, the NCAA gives game-makers the permission necessary to include a school on its game.

The process was a little different for this game. Each school went through extensive meetings with the company to create the authentic look and feel of its school.

According to GTE, NCAA Championship Basketball is the closest ever to the actual college basketball atmosphere. The game even shows each arena rendered in full three-dimensional graphics.

Hilton Coliseum is replicated exactly to specifications, featuring the hanging scoreboard, the Cyclone logo on the floor, the cheerleaders and all the chants of the Cyclone fans.

NCAA Championship Basketball also includes the first-ever artificial intelligence engine featured in a personal computer game, which means the game can learn and evolve.

Players can be recruited out of high school and “coached” for a simulated four years.

With each free-throw, dunk and steal, the computer alters the characters playing personality, making them smarter, quicker and tougher. This allows for a computer owner to take a crop of freshman and make them National Champions by their senior year.

Motis said the program took roughly 18 months to complete.

“The most important thing is that we are the most realistic college basketball simulation game on the market today,” Motis said. “With artificial intelligence, and the ability to ‘grow’ a team, nothing else on the market can touch it.”

NCAA Championship Basketball, retails for $59.99, and is available at most electronic and computer stores.