Going live this year

[Whaaaazuuuuup]

Re: Going live this year

well, while everyone's arguing who stole what, i'll be enjoying both games as they both look to offer great gameplay and each will offer something the other doesn't. personally, i'm excited as hell to see EA got LIVE back on track. i'll playing the hell outta the demo...

[SageInfinite]

Re: Going live this year

well, while everyone's arguing who stole what, i'll be enjoying both games as they both look to offer great gameplay and each will offer something the other doesn't. personally, i'm excited as hell to see EA got LIVE back on track. i'll playing the hell outta the demo...

Same here and Imma hardcore NBA 2k fan.

[joel0078]

Re: Going live this year

well, while everyone's arguing who stole what, i'll be enjoying both games as they both look to offer great gameplay and each will offer something the other doesn't. personally, i'm excited as hell to see EA got LIVE back on track. i'll playing the hell outta the demo...

I completely agree with you. Every year for the past 5 years, I've bought both games. I've always said that both games offer something the other doesn't. And for me, I usually prefer 2K, but after a while I get bored playing 2K and I pop in Live. With the exception of last year, its always been a refreshing change. I love the demo, regardless of how many complaints some of these guys can pick out about it. Its a huge difference from last year and it feels like its getting back on track. I have no hesitation about getting both games this year.

[Combo]

Re: Going live this year

This game is a real breath of fresh air. Its a well made basketball game that plays completely new despite a few quirks. But overall this game is really fun and the final version should be much better than the demo. It seems as if you played a long game the pace would definitely have its ups and downs like a real NBA game. I'm so excited for the two games this year.

[AirLobo23]

Re: Going live this year

This game is a real breath of fresh air. Its a well made basketball game that plays completely new despite a few quirks. But overall this game is really fun and the final version should be much better than the demo. It seems as if you played a long game the pace would definitely have its ups and downs like a real NBA game. I'm so excited for the two games this year.

You hit the nail on the head with the breath of fresh air comment....i'm really loving this demo....only getting 1 b-ball game this year and i think Live is gonna be it....while i appreciate how good 2k7 was, 2k8 looks exactly the same to me....going Live because its different...not saying its better, just different.

[aholbert32]

Re: Going live this year

You hit the nail on the head with the breath of fresh air comment....i'm really loving this demo....only getting 1 b-ball game this year and i think Live is gonna be it....while i appreciate how good 2k7 was, 2k8 looks exactly the same to me....going Live because its different...not saying its better, just different.

I guess I can understand that but my question is how long can "different" last? I'm enjoying the hell out of the demo and at least will rent this game but I always thought the point of buying something was to by the best, whether its a game or any other consumer product. Especially when the best is the same price.

Like I said, I love the demo but there are so many things that this series is still lacking or behind the competition that I could see myself becoming really frustrated with it after a month or 2. I'm not saying that 2k8 wont have flaws or some aspect wont become frustrating but its clear from the videos, that 2k8 will be the better game.

[donkey33]

Re: Going live this year

To be honest, no one can really say 2k7 is the same as 2k8 until at least the demo hits.

As you've all said, I'm loving the demo but 2k is most likely going to be awesome so I can't wait for that also.

[LandoRigs]

Re: Going live this year

I want to bring up a point that I think is related to this topic. EA Sports is doing a heck of a job this year in their games. Before playing this year's Madden and NCAA football titles, I thought that I could never really get into EA Sports football again after NFL 2K5. But this year, both Madden and NCAA individually were way better games than All-Pro Football 2K8 in my humble opinion and then I check out the reviews and find out that the reviewers feel the same way. It goes beyond the NFL license and NCAA license. EA football was just more fun and polished this year. So now, 2K can no longer say they have the highest rated football game.

Next, I've played the NHL 08 demo and really enjoyed it. I have NHL 2K7 from last year. Good game but not better than the demo I played. I don't know how good NHL 2K8 is but the reviewers have already picked EA for the hockey crown this year as well. So now 2K can no longer brag about having the #1 rated hockey franchise. There's a pattern here and it's not a coincidence.

Now 2K doesn't do golf, Nascar or FIFA but Tiger Woods 08 is a solid title, FIFA 08 is shaping up to be another solid title (even though they don't have a lot of official international teams, and I have no interest in Nascar so I don't know how that turned out. Bottom line, EA Sports is hungry this year while it appears that 2K has underestimated EA this year. You get the feeling that now 2K is in the position of having something to prove because quite frankly, EA dropped the bomb on 2K with the announcement of FIBA, Go To Moves, Own the Paint, graphic enhancements, etc. And what was 2K showing during that time? The Sprite Blacktop Slam Dunk contest instead of matching EA and showing off what it really had. It's stuff like this that gives EA better sales than 2K even if 2K has a better quality product. 2K's marketing and promotion has been horrendous for 2K8. They've let Live go virtually unchallenged for months in revealing pieces of what will be a good title that's going to have the Live fanbase pumped and also have many longtime 2K players curious. And it's more likely that more players will cross over to Live from 2K than from Live to 2K as a result of this strong promotion by EA.

Now 2K will most likely still be the highest rated basketball game come October (and for good reason too, NBA 2K is a great franchise) but EA Sports is going to win a lot of people back with NBA Live 08. I myself am leaning more towards Live this year and I choose my basketball game each year according to my interests, not the company. I have NBA 2K7 and love that game but I'm looking for something different this year. Playing NBA 2K7 reminds me that I've played 2K6 and 2K5. Live 08 reminds me that I'm playing Live 08. I agree with the posters who say that NBA 2K has the same feel every year but adds new features here and there. What's exciting about Live is that we already know it's going to be worlds different than 07 or even 06 and 05 for that matter in the department of gameplay. How different will 2K8 be from 2K7? Time will tell and this is 2K's greatest challenge in trying to outsell Live because from the IGN videos on 2K8, I didn't see much difference than just some touch-ups here and there. Whatever differences the producers of 2K8 were talking about regarding the gameplay, I didn't see much other than Lebron throwing a strong pass while in the air. Why isn't 2K showing us these things?

The fact that EA got their act together means good things for us as consumers. But EA is on a roll right now with their sports games for 08 anyway and I don't think that NBA Live is going to stop that momentum but continue it. I'm a basketball fan period, and unlike last year where 2K7 was the easy choice because of how bad Live was, this year 2K will have to have it together to warrant my purchase over Live. Live has shown me what it's got and I've played the demo so I know what to expect from EA and I accept and like it. 2K has been slow on its info and currently has nothing up on the Xbox Live Marketplace for people to check out. I get the impression that EA is pumped about Live this year whereas 2K seems to have the attitude of business as usual even though it appears they have some great additions to this year's game. Whoever is in charge of marketing and promotions for NBA Live has done a superb job and it's going to lead to a lot of sales.

So now if anything, it's time for 2K to step it up, not EA because they've already been doing that this year. I know NBA 2K8 will be a good game but for 2K, after losing in football and hockey, it needs to be what they use to pull themselves out of their slump. We'll see come October.

[Chi Dynasty12]

Re: Going live this year

anyone who plays live is wasting 365 days they could be playing a game years ahead of it (2k) . that's all i'm gonna say.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: Going live this year

I guess I can understand that but my question is how long can "different" last? I'm enjoying the hell out of the demo and at least will rent this game but I always thought the point of buying something was to by the best, whether its a game or any other consumer product. Especially when the best is the same price.

Like I said, I love the demo but there are so many things that this series is still lacking or behind the competition that I could see myself becoming really frustrated with it after a month or 2. I'm not saying that 2k8 wont have flaws or some aspect wont become frustrating but its clear from the videos, that 2k8 will be the better game.

This is new girl syndrome. Live is not being judged as critically as 2k at all this year. It's being graded on a big 90 degree curve because of last year's outing. I also think there is the online factor. 2k7 was not as "sim" online as it was offline. So for people who play mostly or strictly online, the great things about 2k7 aren't in every game. It's just running up and down court and wiggling to the basket. If Live has solid game play and it looks like it will be solid, then it's a perfectly viable option.

For people who like sim style gameplay and play with like minded people, they have to be looking at Live 08 through rose colored (or 07 colored) glasses to even consider it. Playing 08 and 2k7 back to back reveals the huge gaping chasm that still remains between the two franchises.

It's an easy game with good textures and EA's usual charismatic presentation. For some people that's enough. Comparing it to a game as deep and subtle as the 2k series has to be looked at for what it is. New girl syndrome.

In a few weeks people will realize she talks too much and her *** wasn't that great. It was the jeans.

[Combo]

Re: Going live this year

^ If anything its the other way around. Live is being judged more because its been awful for years so to break that trend is much harder. 2k has wowed people so many times that they almost take for granted their game is better.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Going live this year

^ If anything its the other way around. Live is being judged more because its been awful for years so to break that trend is much harder. 2k has wowed people so many times that they almost take for granted their game is better.

^EXACTLY

[aholbert32]

Re: Going live this year

^ If anything its the other way around. Live is being judged more because its been awful for years so to break that trend is much harder. 2k has wowed people so many times that they almost take for granted their game is better.

I disagree. To me it seems like people are giving Live a ton of praise for going from an "F" in 2007 to a "B" in 08 and calling 2k stale for going from a B+ in 07 to an A- or A in 08 (assuming the game looks and plays better than last year's game) Live is getting the benefit of the doubt because its playable, there is a ton of info about it and its much better than last year.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: Going live this year

Live is getting the benefit of the doubt because its playable

That is such a broad statement.

I can't see anyone dropping $60 for this and saying, "I'll buy this because it's playable and was better than the crap they put out last year."

My thinking is, this game is enjoyable regardless of what they put out last year. (I didn't play 07 BTW.)

You can correct me, but when you say "benefit of the doubt", are you saying people will buy Live knowing full well that it's not the best game out on the market? And they're wrong for that?

So they shouldn't enjoy it because there's a better option out there?

I don't think like that. I'm thinking which game is going to give me the most enjoyment based on how it plays. That's just me though.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Going live this year

^ If anything its the other way around. Live is being judged more because its been awful for years so to break that trend is much harder. 2k has wowed people so many times that they almost take for granted their game is better.

Nah. 2k3 and 2k4 were so bad most people on this board had completely written off 2k5. It was all ID and Live. 2K5 won people over with a ridiculous ammount of quality, and this Live isn't even in the same realm of comparative improvement. This is Live 07 with Playmakers edits and a few more animations, IMO.