Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:

The only REAL (eg. non slider fixable) negative I see is the lack team-specicific game flow. ID has spoiled me in this dept.

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Nice review from a guy who knows all the games...enjoyed it

Re the team specific flow, how is LIVE in that regard? I mean, do the Sixers and Magic ISO Iverson and McGrady? Do the Spurs go inside-out? LA run a triangle ?

Are Jersey and Dallas noticeably more up tempo than other teams like Detroit?

ie, does each game feel different like ID03 or is it pretty much the same game no matter who you are playing?

These things are pretty important to me...so any opinion would be valued

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
XBox_Roughneck said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:
EA didn't quite capture the team tendacies as well as Drive, so while the AI is vastly improved, its still a step behind.

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Thanks HM, that's what I needed to know.

Most of my gaming time will be spent offline and team specific tendancies are VERY important to me. I hate when each team plays exactly alike.

I'm actually looking forward to ESPN more than ID 04, but if the team tendancies aren't in ESPN...ID will be my bball game of choice this year.

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My thoughts exactly.

Like you, I much prefered ID03...but I am more psyched for NBA 2K4. Maybe that's a fools optimism...but I am just hoping it's off the map good / teams play different styles / can maintain interest for a full season etc.

I loved how each teams style made each ID game feel different...BIG factor if you want to play a full season IMO

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
XBox_Roughneck said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:
EA didn't quite capture the team tendacies as well as Drive, so while the AI is vastly improved, its still a step behind.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks HM, that's what I needed to know.

Most of my gaming time will be spent offline and team specific tendancies are VERY important to me. I hate when each team plays exactly alike.

I'm actually looking forward to ESPN more than ID 04, but if the team tendancies aren't in ESPN...ID will be my bball game of choice this year.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

My thoughts exactly.

Like you, I much prefered ID03...but I am more psyched for NBA 2K4. Maybe that's a fools optimism...but I am just hoping it's off the map good / teams play different styles / can maintain interest for a full season etc.

I loved how each teams style made each ID game feel different...BIG factor if you want to play a full season IMO

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
XBox_Roughneck said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:
EA didn't quite capture the team tendacies as well as Drive, so while the AI is vastly improved, its still a step behind.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks HM, that's what I needed to know.

Most of my gaming time will be spent offline and team specific tendancies are VERY important to me. I hate when each team plays exactly alike.

I'm actually looking forward to ESPN more than ID 04, but if the team tendancies aren't in ESPN...ID will be my bball game of choice this year.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

My thoughts exactly.

Like you, I much prefered ID03...but I am more psyched for NBA 2K4. Maybe that's a fools optimism...but I am just hoping it's off the map good / teams play different styles / can maintain interest for a full season etc.

I loved how each teams style made each ID game feel different...BIG factor if you want to play a full season IMO

[HMcCoy]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

Monk, you and I have pretty much been on the same page so trust me when I tell you the teams do feel specific, but just a slight notch below ID. Also, let me preface my impressions by noting that alot of those things we liked in ID didn't happen all the time, but enough to be very noticable in controlled game. With Live, I see the tendacies, just not as much (To be fair, I haven't played teams with drastically differnt styles to REALLY critique, so take these with a grain, y'know).

In ID you would see reggie come off a double screen and go "Damn, just like Reggie" but lets be realistic, you'de only see it 3-4 times. The other 50 or so possesions were video-basketball business as usual.


The one thing I've found intriguing about lives play is that the AI is kinda like the little engine that could, trying to break thru all the arcadish components and masses-friendly facets of Live. As an open-minded gamer, I see this. The way they hold their hands up to create a target when cutting to the basket. The way they fight around picks. The low-post battles. Defending the fast-break by knowing when to go to the glass and when to get back on D. The ball-movement. The double-teams. The options they give you to create spectacular, jump-off-the-sofa moments. All things that are so satisfying (and surprising...you go, EA.) for a sim guy like myself, I'm willing to concede a little of the "specific-ness" of Drive....For reference, it is far, FAR, more realistic than 2K3 in it's feel.

Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

Monk, you and I have pretty much been on the same page so trust me when I tell you the teams do feel specific, but just a slight notch below ID. Also, let me preface my impressions by noting that alot of those things we liked in ID didn't happen all the time, but enough to be very noticable in controlled game. With Live, I see the tendacies, just not as much (To be fair, I haven't played teams with drastically differnt styles to REALLY critique, so take these with a grain, y'know).

In ID you would see reggie come off a double screen and go "Damn, just like Reggie" but lets be realistic, you'de only see it 3-4 times. The other 50 or so possesions were video-basketball business as usual.


The one thing I've found intriguing about lives play is that the AI is kinda like the little engine that could, trying to break thru all the arcadish components and masses-friendly facets of Live. As an open-minded gamer, I see this. The way they hold their hands up to create a target when cutting to the basket. The way they fight around picks. The low-post battles. Defending the fast-break by knowing when to go to the glass and when to get back on D. The ball-movement. The double-teams. The options they give you to create spectacular, jump-off-the-sofa moments. All things that are so satisfying (and surprising...you go, EA.) for a sim guy like myself, I'm willing to concede a little of the "specific-ness" of Drive....For reference, it is far, FAR, more realistic than 2K3 in it's feel.

Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

[HMcCoy]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

Monk, you and I have pretty much been on the same page so trust me when I tell you the teams do feel specific, but just a slight notch below ID. Also, let me preface my impressions by noting that alot of those things we liked in ID didn't happen all the time, but enough to be very noticable in controlled game. With Live, I see the tendacies, just not as much (To be fair, I haven't played teams with drastically differnt styles to REALLY critique, so take these with a grain, y'know).

In ID you would see reggie come off a double screen and go "Damn, just like Reggie" but lets be realistic, you'de only see it 3-4 times. The other 50 or so possesions were video-basketball business as usual.


The one thing I've found intriguing about lives play is that the AI is kinda like the little engine that could, trying to break thru all the arcadish components and masses-friendly facets of Live. As an open-minded gamer, I see this. The way they hold their hands up to create a target when cutting to the basket. The way they fight around picks. The low-post battles. Defending the fast-break by knowing when to go to the glass and when to get back on D. The ball-movement. The double-teams. The options they give you to create spectacular, jump-off-the-sofa moments. All things that are so satisfying (and surprising...you go, EA.) for a sim guy like myself, I'm willing to concede a little of the "specific-ness" of Drive....For reference, it is far, FAR, more realistic than 2K3 in it's feel.

Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:


Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Consider it purchased. Will get it and 2K4 next week. Thanks

I am moving house...so I'm not going to get much time on the games machine for a week or so. Me and my mrs are staying at my brothers house at the moment...my big screen tv is in storage, and I honestly don't even know what box the x-box is residing in...I really picked my timing well, with the NBA gaming season starting

One last question, I noticed on one of Steves screen shots that there were 'team specific' settings, ie it had Dallas on FULL fast break, it had Detroit on half court etc.

Thought that looked very cool...can you control all teams in season mode? ie, if I control them all...but use just one, sim the rest...I should be able to set all the team styles to reflect their real life counterparts?

Thanks again brother

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:


Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Consider it purchased. Will get it and 2K4 next week. Thanks

I am moving house...so I'm not going to get much time on the games machine for a week or so. Me and my mrs are staying at my brothers house at the moment...my big screen tv is in storage, and I honestly don't even know what box the x-box is residing in...I really picked my timing well, with the NBA gaming season starting

One last question, I noticed on one of Steves screen shots that there were 'team specific' settings, ie it had Dallas on FULL fast break, it had Detroit on half court etc.

Thought that looked very cool...can you control all teams in season mode? ie, if I control them all...but use just one, sim the rest...I should be able to set all the team styles to reflect their real life counterparts?

Thanks again brother

[Court_vision]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:


Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Consider it purchased. Will get it and 2K4 next week. Thanks

I am moving house...so I'm not going to get much time on the games machine for a week or so. Me and my mrs are staying at my brothers house at the moment...my big screen tv is in storage, and I honestly don't even know what box the x-box is residing in...I really picked my timing well, with the NBA gaming season starting

One last question, I noticed on one of Steves screen shots that there were 'team specific' settings, ie it had Dallas on FULL fast break, it had Detroit on half court etc.

Thought that looked very cool...can you control all teams in season mode? ie, if I control them all...but use just one, sim the rest...I should be able to set all the team styles to reflect their real life counterparts?

Thanks again brother

[HMcCoy]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
monkey said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:


Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Consider it purchased. Will get it and 2K4 next week. Thanks

I am moving house...so I'm not going to get much time on the games machine for a week or so. Me and my mrs are staying at my brothers house at the moment...my big screen tv is in storage, and I honestly don't even know what box the x-box is residing in...I really picked my timing well, with the NBA gaming season starting

One last question, I noticed on one of Steves screen shots that there were 'team specific' settings, ie it had Dallas on FULL fast break, it had Detroit on half court etc.

Thought that looked very cool...can you control all teams in season mode? ie, if I control them all...but use just one, sim the rest...I should be able to set all the team styles to reflect their real life counterparts?

Thanks again brother



<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">


No prob. I'm at work now, but i'll check and post back...

[HMcCoy]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
monkey said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:


Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Consider it purchased. Will get it and 2K4 next week. Thanks

I am moving house...so I'm not going to get much time on the games machine for a week or so. Me and my mrs are staying at my brothers house at the moment...my big screen tv is in storage, and I honestly don't even know what box the x-box is residing in...I really picked my timing well, with the NBA gaming season starting

One last question, I noticed on one of Steves screen shots that there were 'team specific' settings, ie it had Dallas on FULL fast break, it had Detroit on half court etc.

Thought that looked very cool...can you control all teams in season mode? ie, if I control them all...but use just one, sim the rest...I should be able to set all the team styles to reflect their real life counterparts?

Thanks again brother



<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">


No prob. I'm at work now, but i'll check and post back...

[HMcCoy]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
monkey said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
HMcCoy said:


Monk, you OWE it to yourself to play this game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Consider it purchased. Will get it and 2K4 next week. Thanks

I am moving house...so I'm not going to get much time on the games machine for a week or so. Me and my mrs are staying at my brothers house at the moment...my big screen tv is in storage, and I honestly don't even know what box the x-box is residing in...I really picked my timing well, with the NBA gaming season starting

One last question, I noticed on one of Steves screen shots that there were 'team specific' settings, ie it had Dallas on FULL fast break, it had Detroit on half court etc.

Thought that looked very cool...can you control all teams in season mode? ie, if I control them all...but use just one, sim the rest...I should be able to set all the team styles to reflect their real life counterparts?

Thanks again brother



<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">


No prob. I'm at work now, but i'll check and post back...

[Klocker]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

OK this is after about 4 full LIVE 2004 games and some practice time.

About my experience:
Playing BBall games since Atari 2600.
I have played LIVE on Sega, SNES, PS and the PC.
the last version being in 1998.
My favorite was LIVE '95 on Genesis.

didn't play B Ball in '99
Played ID 2000 on PC
Played 2K1 DC
Rented ID 2002 and did not warrant a purchase and only bought ID 2003 about 3 months ago (after it went cheap), I have been disappointed in BBall games lately (until ID 2003).

This game takes some getting used to because the controls are DEEP. There are so many things to do and so many moves it is RICH.

I am disappointed in the textures for an Xbox game. colors are bright and there is no aliasing at ALL but the textures are blurry. The player faces are 75/100 in quality and alikeness, the body types are well done and they look similar to the player they are representing.

The ANIMATIONS are the best I've ever seen in a game PERIOD. Better than ESPN NFL only because of how smooth they combine together and how natural they make the player movements look. this game looks ALIVE. The 10 player mo-cap is that good. Players interact, they set-up, double, backpedal and move more naturally than any sports game (with 10 players or more) that I have ever seen.

The gameplay just keeps getting better and better with each game that I play. The defense is tough and the AI is smart and reacts very well both around and off the ball.
The number of moves makes for some sick plays. I an just scratching the surface here but it plays very real...slightly moreso than ID IMO.

The tendencies seem pretty varied to me. The only thing missing that I can tell is the ability to adjust each individual player tendencies on the court. (which is sweet in ID).

This game reminds me of an NBA version of NHL 2004. I like NHL 2004 because I feel its FUN. I am not a SIM guy and I'm not an arcade guy. I like the game to feel real and have fairly acurate game stats but I don't need every percentage to fall exactly in the norms all the time. I also couldn't care less about the whole Dynasty FA thing.

If you're looking for a game that plays as well as (better IMO) than ID 2003, LIVE can give you that.

the graphics aren't quite on par and the Drive Cam is missing (I love ID's Drive rotating cam). But the animations and feeling of PLAYING Bball are in LIVE.

[Klocker]

Re: Any Inside drive 2003 guyz play live 04 yet?

OK this is after about 4 full LIVE 2004 games and some practice time.

About my experience:
Playing BBall games since Atari 2600.
I have played LIVE on Sega, SNES, PS and the PC.
the last version being in 1998.
My favorite was LIVE '95 on Genesis.

didn't play B Ball in '99
Played ID 2000 on PC
Played 2K1 DC
Rented ID 2002 and did not warrant a purchase and only bought ID 2003 about 3 months ago (after it went cheap), I have been disappointed in BBall games lately (until ID 2003).

This game takes some getting used to because the controls are DEEP. There are so many things to do and so many moves it is RICH.

I am disappointed in the textures for an Xbox game. colors are bright and there is no aliasing at ALL but the textures are blurry. The player faces are 75/100 in quality and alikeness, the body types are well done and they look similar to the player they are representing.

The ANIMATIONS are the best I've ever seen in a game PERIOD. Better than ESPN NFL only because of how smooth they combine together and how natural they make the player movements look. this game looks ALIVE. The 10 player mo-cap is that good. Players interact, they set-up, double, backpedal and move more naturally than any sports game (with 10 players or more) that I have ever seen.

The gameplay just keeps getting better and better with each game that I play. The defense is tough and the AI is smart and reacts very well both around and off the ball.
The number of moves makes for some sick plays. I an just scratching the surface here but it plays very real...slightly moreso than ID IMO.

The tendencies seem pretty varied to me. The only thing missing that I can tell is the ability to adjust each individual player tendencies on the court. (which is sweet in ID).

This game reminds me of an NBA version of NHL 2004. I like NHL 2004 because I feel its FUN. I am not a SIM guy and I'm not an arcade guy. I like the game to feel real and have fairly acurate game stats but I don't need every percentage to fall exactly in the norms all the time. I also couldn't care less about the whole Dynasty FA thing.

If you're looking for a game that plays as well as (better IMO) than ID 2003, LIVE can give you that.

the graphics aren't quite on par and the Drive Cam is missing (I love ID's Drive rotating cam). But the animations and feeling of PLAYING Bball are in LIVE.