EA has just released information on NCAA Basketball ‘09: March Madness Edition coming exclusively to the Xbox Live Marketplace. The game will be out just in time for the NCAA tourney on march 11th (tourney starts on March 19th) and will cost 1200 MSP ($15). The game itself appears to be A tournament edition of NCAA Basketball ‘09 with the play focusing exclusively on playing through the NCAA tournament (thus no season mode, etc.).

“NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition will be easy-to-download exclusively for the Xbox 360 through Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 1200 Microsoft points beginning March 11, 2009. The game will initially feature teams from last year’s tournament, and then beginning on March 18, will feature the just-announced official Selection Sunday brackets and accurate teams with updated ratings.

NCAA Basketball 09: March Madness Edition will re-create all the atmosphere and intensity of NCAA March Madness by enabling fans to authentically replicate the entire NCAA Tournament and play through the “virtual bracket” with their favorite team under the same conditions they’ll face throughout March Madness. Take on the challenge of leading any of the 65 schools competing on the road to the Final Four®, from the opening round right through to a virtual reproduction of the Final Four on the authentic Ford Field court in Detroit, where one team will be crowned NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball National Champion on April 6, 2009.”

Looks like a great way to follow the tournament later this month, and great for those that don’t want to spend the money on the full game. Only downside is my Iowa State Cyclones wont be in it, *sigh* there is always next year.