Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

[stephensonmc]

Hey guys,

Just wanted to give this to you guys really quick. I've been doing weekly 1 on 1's with line producer Brian Ullrich, and it's going pretty good right now. I lock the thread when questions are awaiting answers so that questions don't just add up. Keep an eye on this thread guys, and when you get a chance...feel free to post a question.

http://forums.ea.com/mboards/thread.jspa?threadID=339087&tstart=0&start=0

[Lynsanity]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Interesting... I never assumed you had an alter-ego. EAcrazylegs?!?!

Which does remind me of something. I used to know a guy named Wes. He looked exactly like the Crazy Legs character from Def Jam New York, and even danced like him in the Clubs. Probably just a huge coincidence, but I always wondered.

How does this work, exactly? I know you send them a list of questions, but what is the actual precedure and time frame of the questioning and answering?

[bateman11]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Hasn't been a new 1 on 1 posted in over a month..

[stephensonmc]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Hasn't been a new 1 on 1 posted in over a month..

Really?

"4/11 Update: http://forums.ea.com/mboards/thread.jspa?threadID=339087&tstart=0&start=90"

Interesting... I never assumed you had an alter-ego. EAcrazylegs?!?!

Which does remind me of something. I used to know a guy named Wes. He looked exactly like the Crazy Legs character from Def Jam New York, and even danced like him in the Clubs. Probably just a huge coincidence, but I always wondered.

How does this work, exactly? I know you send them a list of questions, but what is the actual precedure and time frame of the questioning and answering?

It's usually weekly, but if either of us is out on business (which we have been), we'll postpone. I select questions and ask everything within the time I unlock the thread, to the time I lock it. I made it clear though that for obvious reasons, some can't be answered until certain times. It worked very well with the NHL series, and I'm hoping you NBA LIVE heads will get something useful out of it.

[nikkiwii]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Is the Wii version handled by a different team? I saw on EA forums that Brian isn't answering questions on the Wii. Just wondering why Wii questions are not getting answered.

[stephensonmc]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Is the Wii version handled by a different team? I saw on EA forums that Brian isn't answering questions on the Wii. Just wondering why Wii questions are not getting answered.

that's true nikki, there is a different team working on the Wii version.

BTW -- Answers for the latest questions will be posted on Wednesday.

[BiggD]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Cool thanks Crazy...oh.. i mean Stephen. By the way did you have a chance to look at the wishlist list in this forum? i know there not questions but still some good ideas there

[edubbs]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

I would like to know how many signature shots have been added this year. I think they said they had about 50 for last year year but, that number needs to 'atleast' double for LIVE09 IMO.

Also, soo many signature shots were wrong in this year's game. I hope they have spent some time correcting the shots for the players.

BTW, I read the last responses (4-11-08) and it's good news that they will not have the pitch black arenas for all the teams this year. It sounds like they will have accurate arena lighting in LIVE09.

[wsu_gb23]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Will the NBA Live series ever be as good as the NHL series? NBA Live has the graphics down, it just needs better ball physics, dribbling and a million more animations.....

[wsu_gb23]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Is it true that Mike Wang (2ksports) is now the lead producer for the NBA Live series? That would be a great thing to actually have someone that knows something about what basketball should look like working on the game....

Another question: It seems to me like EA is starting to get things right for a change.....Is this the impact that Peter Moore is having with EA Sports games? I know he has talked a lot about Madden, but does he have input in all areas of EA Sports?

[edubbs]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Is it true that Mike Wang (2ksports) is now the lead producer for the NBA Live series? That would be a great thing to actually have someone that knows something about what basketball should look like working on the game....

Another question: It seems to me like EA is starting to get things right for a change.....Is this the impact that Peter Moore is having with EA Sports games? I know he has talked a lot about Madden, but does he have input in all areas of EA Sports?

I'm not sure what his exact role is with EA but, yes Mike Wang is working on the Live series now. I agree, any talent form the NBA2K staff can only help Live.

With his addition and depending on how much creative control he gets, I expect Live to be atleast 'playable' this year. And by Live 2010 the game could be back to respectability, if they let him do his thing.

[stephensonmc]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

FYI guys -- the answers SHOULD be posted today.

I'll let you know if otherwise.

[Pared]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Q: What steps are you taking in order to stop the dunkfest?

A: This is a tricky one- lots of things are contributing to what you are referring to as a “dunkfest”, and yes we are addressing them all in LIVE 09. I agree that in LIVE 08 it was too easy to get to the hoop, and we definitely need to have more layups and shots mixed in. However, I don’t think you will ever see NBA LIVE move completely away from dunking as a big part of the game- I agree that dunking in LIVE 08 was too easy, but I also think that people want to be able to pull off all of the cool stuff the players do. I think LIVE 09 will be the most simulation NBA LIVE game we have every shipped, but we can’t lose sight of the fact that it needs to be fun at the same time, and dunking is fun.

[bateman11]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Sliders better be effective then.

[stephensonmc]

Re: Weekly 1 on 1 with Brian Ullrich

Sliders better be effective then.

They should be, and I don't think you have to worry too much Pared.