EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

[spankdatazz22]

EA REALLY needs to work on it's AI, and not just in NBA Live. I'm sick of the speed cheats, the ridiculous things the computer can do in the name of keeping a game competitive, or outright winning the game.

Case in point, NBA Live.

EA did a great job improving Live; initially I loved it and it took me away from playing ESPN Football and Madden. But Live, probably even more than Madden, highlights the problem in how EA does AI in games. I'm playing w/the 76ers with Allen Iverson. How in the !@#$%!! can seemingly ANY computer controlled opponent get in front of him when I have at least a 10ft cushion on the break? I toned down the contact using sliders, but STILL the computer can stop me from going to the hoop when it wants to, by "knowing" every direction I'm trying to run (of course it knows - it's the computer!). Of course, it has no problems driving to the hoop when it needs to. And wtf about watching the computer hit off balance threes as the 24-sec clock is winding down - and watching it happen CONSISTENTLY. It's a shame that I can't count on the computer being fair if I take a jump shot in a close game. Runs seems to happen out of thin air, rather than within the flow of the game.

I think Live is a good, fun game. But it could be a GREAT game if the game wasn't so guard/small forward dominated and if the AI would allow game flow to occur NATURALLY. If you look at various Madden site threads, you see tons of posts about "comeback AI". Hopefully EA will take note and address the problem. So I'm making a point to say it myself, since I don't see many people willing to challenge the game to be better. I don't know the first thing about coding AI - but these AI issues run consistently across all EA sports games. The speed cheats and illogical jump in player abilities is getting old.

[ZoneBlitz]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Man are you absolutely right. EA's AI in sports game expands the concept of cheating in new ways. The other day, the CPU hit 68% from the 3 point line to close the gap. It didn't matter whether they were off balance, defended against, or adjusted, they made all their shots. There is no way, you can shoot 68% from the 3-point line and make like 5 in a row despite being closely guarded. Also, the rebounding in NBA Live is the worst ever in the history of basketball games - maybe except for March Madness 2004. The offense never crashes the boards, no matter what you do, and after any shot you take, the man is too off balance to try for a putback or try to get his own rebound. Get this, I've also seen instances wherein my man takes the shot, is standing still, then when the AI realizes that the shot might not go in, all of a sudden, my man - untouched and standing still - looses his balance and can't go up for the rebound. This is absolutely awful AI programming.

Also, as you mentioned, somehow a lumbering center can not only run down a streaking point guard, but stay with him throughout all of his juke/fake moves. That is ridiculous. EA, this is really getting old. Also, NBA Live's user interface system is horrible. IMO, Madden is the gold standard for user interface, depth, and the ease of saving files/changing options, etc.... Madden is the best sports game EA makes. NCAA Football is also awesome and is a blast to play. The basketball franchises, while they do show streaks of greatness, are poorly put together and their AI is horrific.

Guys, we must post this or EA will produce even worse garbage next year in these games.

[ZoneBlitz]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Man are you absolutely right. EA's AI in sports game expands the concept of cheating in new ways. The other day, the CPU hit 68% from the 3 point line to close the gap. It didn't matter whether they were off balance, defended against, or adjusted, they made all their shots. There is no way, you can shoot 68% from the 3-point line and make like 5 in a row despite being closely guarded. Also, the rebounding in NBA Live is the worst ever in the history of basketball games - maybe except for March Madness 2004. The offense never crashes the boards, no matter what you do, and after any shot you take, the man is too off balance to try for a putback or try to get his own rebound. Get this, I've also seen instances wherein my man takes the shot, is standing still, then when the AI realizes that the shot might not go in, all of a sudden, my man - untouched and standing still - looses his balance and can't go up for the rebound. This is absolutely awful AI programming.

Also, as you mentioned, somehow a lumbering center can not only run down a streaking point guard, but stay with him throughout all of his juke/fake moves. That is ridiculous. EA, this is really getting old. Also, NBA Live's user interface system is horrible. IMO, Madden is the gold standard for user interface, depth, and the ease of saving files/changing options, etc.... Madden is the best sports game EA makes. NCAA Football is also awesome and is a blast to play. The basketball franchises, while they do show streaks of greatness, are poorly put together and their AI is horrific.

Guys, we must post this or EA will produce even worse garbage next year in these games.

[ZoneBlitz]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Man are you absolutely right. EA's AI in sports game expands the concept of cheating in new ways. The other day, the CPU hit 68% from the 3 point line to close the gap. It didn't matter whether they were off balance, defended against, or adjusted, they made all their shots. There is no way, you can shoot 68% from the 3-point line and make like 5 in a row despite being closely guarded. Also, the rebounding in NBA Live is the worst ever in the history of basketball games - maybe except for March Madness 2004. The offense never crashes the boards, no matter what you do, and after any shot you take, the man is too off balance to try for a putback or try to get his own rebound. Get this, I've also seen instances wherein my man takes the shot, is standing still, then when the AI realizes that the shot might not go in, all of a sudden, my man - untouched and standing still - looses his balance and can't go up for the rebound. This is absolutely awful AI programming.

Also, as you mentioned, somehow a lumbering center can not only run down a streaking point guard, but stay with him throughout all of his juke/fake moves. That is ridiculous. EA, this is really getting old. Also, NBA Live's user interface system is horrible. IMO, Madden is the gold standard for user interface, depth, and the ease of saving files/changing options, etc.... Madden is the best sports game EA makes. NCAA Football is also awesome and is a blast to play. The basketball franchises, while they do show streaks of greatness, are poorly put together and their AI is horrific.

Guys, we must post this or EA will produce even worse garbage next year in these games.

[gee05]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Boy am I happy to see this post, sometimes after playing NBA Live I just wanna kill someone. I just played a game where there was span where I stole the ball from the Mavs raced down the court with Iverson and Shawn Bradley caught up and blocked him from behind. Very next play, I intercept the ball with Iverson at the three point line race down the court only to have Steve Nash get IN FRONT of me and take a CHARGE!!!!!!!!! VERY NEXT PLAY, I miraculously steal the ball again, this time its stolen by Glenn Robinson, I outlet it to a streaking Iverson who goes up, gets completly mangled by Shawn Bradley who already made it SOMEHOW in the circle and NO CALL!!!!!!! Snow somehow recovers the ball goes for a shot and I get blocked by Dirk Nowitzki who then grabs the ball while Snow is just standing there seemingly pondering what the heck just happened and the Mavs go on a uncontested break away.......

you are right this is really getting old!!!

[gee05]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Boy am I happy to see this post, sometimes after playing NBA Live I just wanna kill someone. I just played a game where there was span where I stole the ball from the Mavs raced down the court with Iverson and Shawn Bradley caught up and blocked him from behind. Very next play, I intercept the ball with Iverson at the three point line race down the court only to have Steve Nash get IN FRONT of me and take a CHARGE!!!!!!!!! VERY NEXT PLAY, I miraculously steal the ball again, this time its stolen by Glenn Robinson, I outlet it to a streaking Iverson who goes up, gets completly mangled by Shawn Bradley who already made it SOMEHOW in the circle and NO CALL!!!!!!! Snow somehow recovers the ball goes for a shot and I get blocked by Dirk Nowitzki who then grabs the ball while Snow is just standing there seemingly pondering what the heck just happened and the Mavs go on a uncontested break away.......

you are right this is really getting old!!!

[gee05]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Boy am I happy to see this post, sometimes after playing NBA Live I just wanna kill someone. I just played a game where there was span where I stole the ball from the Mavs raced down the court with Iverson and Shawn Bradley caught up and blocked him from behind. Very next play, I intercept the ball with Iverson at the three point line race down the court only to have Steve Nash get IN FRONT of me and take a CHARGE!!!!!!!!! VERY NEXT PLAY, I miraculously steal the ball again, this time its stolen by Glenn Robinson, I outlet it to a streaking Iverson who goes up, gets completly mangled by Shawn Bradley who already made it SOMEHOW in the circle and NO CALL!!!!!!! Snow somehow recovers the ball goes for a shot and I get blocked by Dirk Nowitzki who then grabs the ball while Snow is just standing there seemingly pondering what the heck just happened and the Mavs go on a uncontested break away.......

you are right this is really getting old!!!

[tenth]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

heh, those situations sound all too familiar to me as well. A couple weeks ago you would have been ripped into because "runs happen" or "it is possible" or whatever other dumb excuse some [censored you naughty boy] could come up with, but the fact remains that EA has a history of implementing cheating AI in its games and there are definitely glimpses of it shown in both their basketball titles this year.

Just thank god it's not worse than NHL 2002 or 2003. Almost every game late in the 3rd the computer would go on streaks up the ice where you could do nothing about the computer scoring. They'd all of a sudden take off down the ace at record speeds (much faster than user controlled teams could) and rocket off stupid-quick passes if anybody came near them, generally capping it off with rediculously fast one-timers that go in. For some reason hits are almost not effective at all in these situations either. With less than a minute left in a game I let in 3 goals to lose by 1 to the computer.

I guess it's a tradeoff between the buggy Sega titles and the cheating EA titles.

[tenth]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

heh, those situations sound all too familiar to me as well. A couple weeks ago you would have been ripped into because "runs happen" or "it is possible" or whatever other dumb excuse some [censored you naughty boy] could come up with, but the fact remains that EA has a history of implementing cheating AI in its games and there are definitely glimpses of it shown in both their basketball titles this year.

Just thank god it's not worse than NHL 2002 or 2003. Almost every game late in the 3rd the computer would go on streaks up the ice where you could do nothing about the computer scoring. They'd all of a sudden take off down the ace at record speeds (much faster than user controlled teams could) and rocket off stupid-quick passes if anybody came near them, generally capping it off with rediculously fast one-timers that go in. For some reason hits are almost not effective at all in these situations either. With less than a minute left in a game I let in 3 goals to lose by 1 to the computer.

I guess it's a tradeoff between the buggy Sega titles and the cheating EA titles.

[tenth]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

heh, those situations sound all too familiar to me as well. A couple weeks ago you would have been ripped into because "runs happen" or "it is possible" or whatever other dumb excuse some [censored you naughty boy] could come up with, but the fact remains that EA has a history of implementing cheating AI in its games and there are definitely glimpses of it shown in both their basketball titles this year.

Just thank god it's not worse than NHL 2002 or 2003. Almost every game late in the 3rd the computer would go on streaks up the ice where you could do nothing about the computer scoring. They'd all of a sudden take off down the ace at record speeds (much faster than user controlled teams could) and rocket off stupid-quick passes if anybody came near them, generally capping it off with rediculously fast one-timers that go in. For some reason hits are almost not effective at all in these situations either. With less than a minute left in a game I let in 3 goals to lose by 1 to the computer.

I guess it's a tradeoff between the buggy Sega titles and the cheating EA titles.

[bls]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Unfortunately for me these issues don't dictate a comeback by the computer for me. I must admit it is near impossible to get a clear fast break on your own no matter who it is without the computer running you down to stop you. And the computer does hit alot of clutch threes to try to make a come back if there down.

But i must say none of this effects me and in alot of ways is more challenging to me. I win some games and I lose some games. Sometimes I'm able to go on a 4 or 5 game winning streak and other times im on a loosing streak, but it's all fun and chanllenging to me. I don't want to go 82-0 in my season like all of the past basketball games I've ever own.

Right now in my dynasty im 19-24 using the Timberwolves. I played a game last night against the Phoenix Suns and we were going back and forth the whole game until the 4th quarter. When i broke away from them to win the game 98-79. There leading scorer was Marbury with 22 points but he had a horrible shooting performance. When I see that there gonna try to take threes to close the gap I just make sure I get a hand in there face the next time down the court and for the most part it WORKS! I also call timeouts and change defensive matchups where I see fit.

All in all i think its all about coaching, strategy and adjustments. With the rebounding, tone down of the pro hop, and spacing being fix for next year I think this game can be excellent. Just my OPINION though

[bls]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Unfortunately for me these issues don't dictate a comeback by the computer for me. I must admit it is near impossible to get a clear fast break on your own no matter who it is without the computer running you down to stop you. And the computer does hit alot of clutch threes to try to make a come back if there down.

But i must say none of this effects me and in alot of ways is more challenging to me. I win some games and I lose some games. Sometimes I'm able to go on a 4 or 5 game winning streak and other times im on a loosing streak, but it's all fun and chanllenging to me. I don't want to go 82-0 in my season like all of the past basketball games I've ever own.

Right now in my dynasty im 19-24 using the Timberwolves. I played a game last night against the Phoenix Suns and we were going back and forth the whole game until the 4th quarter. When i broke away from them to win the game 98-79. There leading scorer was Marbury with 22 points but he had a horrible shooting performance. When I see that there gonna try to take threes to close the gap I just make sure I get a hand in there face the next time down the court and for the most part it WORKS! I also call timeouts and change defensive matchups where I see fit.

All in all i think its all about coaching, strategy and adjustments. With the rebounding, tone down of the pro hop, and spacing being fix for next year I think this game can be excellent. Just my OPINION though

[bls]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

Unfortunately for me these issues don't dictate a comeback by the computer for me. I must admit it is near impossible to get a clear fast break on your own no matter who it is without the computer running you down to stop you. And the computer does hit alot of clutch threes to try to make a come back if there down.

But i must say none of this effects me and in alot of ways is more challenging to me. I win some games and I lose some games. Sometimes I'm able to go on a 4 or 5 game winning streak and other times im on a loosing streak, but it's all fun and chanllenging to me. I don't want to go 82-0 in my season like all of the past basketball games I've ever own.

Right now in my dynasty im 19-24 using the Timberwolves. I played a game last night against the Phoenix Suns and we were going back and forth the whole game until the 4th quarter. When i broke away from them to win the game 98-79. There leading scorer was Marbury with 22 points but he had a horrible shooting performance. When I see that there gonna try to take threes to close the gap I just make sure I get a hand in there face the next time down the court and for the most part it WORKS! I also call timeouts and change defensive matchups where I see fit.

All in all i think its all about coaching, strategy and adjustments. With the rebounding, tone down of the pro hop, and spacing being fix for next year I think this game can be excellent. Just my OPINION though

[Gilateen]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

good response BLS!!! BTW what sliders are you using?

most people thinks that the game is cheating but in all fairness, WE ARE CHEATING!!!!

how? cuz when we adjust the sliders we up our shooting and various other sliders more than the cpu. am i right? then we start the game and move our controller over to the cpu side and change their dbl team and pressure options. next, we make them run the offense we think is suitable for the team.

is that cheating? maybe.....but if we are winning then no it isnt but when we lose then yes it is.

whatever we set the cpu for, the user should be set at the same or at least +/- 5 slider points.

[Gilateen]

Re: EA - watching the computer go NUCLEAR late in the game is getting old

good response BLS!!! BTW what sliders are you using?

most people thinks that the game is cheating but in all fairness, WE ARE CHEATING!!!!

how? cuz when we adjust the sliders we up our shooting and various other sliders more than the cpu. am i right? then we start the game and move our controller over to the cpu side and change their dbl team and pressure options. next, we make them run the offense we think is suitable for the team.

is that cheating? maybe.....but if we are winning then no it isnt but when we lose then yes it is.

whatever we set the cpu for, the user should be set at the same or at least +/- 5 slider points.