While the ramifications of the exclusivity war left Electronic Arts without an MLB license, the industry giant is nonetheless looking to capitalize, taking its game a league down to the NCAA. MVP 06 NCAA Baseball, as it's called, is well in the works, or, should we say, through the works, as the game has reached gold status and is primed for a January 17 debut.

128 teams and 19 authentic stadiums make for a pretty robust selection when it comes to testing out those nifty new gameplay innovations, for one, the Load and Fire Batting promising a true emulation of the at-bat experience. Even ESPN is all over the game, with their trademark real-time ticket adorning the screen bottom as live Sportscenter radio updates deliver up-to-the-minute stats. You can hear the ESPN chime already... "buh duh DUM! Buh dum DUM!"

It's batter up for EA's college baseball offering come Tuesday, January 17. Keep an eye out for it, though that $29.99 price tag may be hard to resist.