Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

[greenegt]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

I'm going with Live this year. The demo won me over, big time. It plays an excellent game of basketball, with smooth player locomotion and a great control scheme.

[vc15dunker15]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

I am going to have to agree with JerseySuave. Something strange happened yesterday, I played the NBA 2K10 demo for two hours straight and then went on to play the NBA Live 10 demo for an hour and a half straight and to be honest each game has certain things that make you think "Man, I am getting this one...!"

<O
Here's a quick breakdown of what I found...
<O</O
<O
GAMEPLAY:
Both games have improved tremendously in this aspect. NBA 2K might not have that player control feel you get when you play NBA Live, but the game plays as close as real as it can get. NBA Live has improved big time from last year's version, but it still has area for improvement especially on the rebounding and blocking department. I blocks and rebounds are just plain beautiful in NBA 2K10 while in Live 10 it just feels uncanny, feels like you have no control over a rebound or a block. The game just feels "right" on NBA 2K10 while Live has improved, it still has ways to go.<O
<O
EDGE: NBA 2K10
<O
<O
ANIMATION:<O</O
This one is going to be quick, it goes to NBA Live. It's so easy to pull off dribbling moves and the Signature Shots just look plain beautiful. NBA 2K10 dribbling system is just confusing and it needs to improve quickly. NBA 2K's signature shots just look old. Another big issue for me is the way the players shoot, NBA Live does a great job with leaner’s, floaters, fadeaways, etc… while NBA 2K goes to that strange “set your feet” mentality which slows down the shooting form of players, especially when there is one second or less in the game.<O
<O
EDGE: NBA Live 10<O

<O
REALISM:
After playing the 2K demo and then jumping to Live I thought to myself, “Am I really considering buying this game?” Live just does not play realistic. Someone in another thread referred to Live as a “child’s game” and I got to say, I agree with him. The biggest beef I have with Live is the dunking animations. I’ve seen dunks in which the dunk is converted in like a millisecond, Kobe just jumps and BAM!! Kobe just dunked all over my team. Another big issue is the rebounding and blocking, this is a big, big issue… but it has not been a deal breaker for me yet. In 2K you simply see the game being played like you see it on TV. The realism is incredible, the way the players pace themselves, rebound and block, overall just a better game if you are into really playing a basketball game.<O></O>
<O
EDGE: NBA 2K10
<O
<O
GRAPHICS:<O
It’s tough to say, but in my mind NBA 2K has better graphics than NBA Live, especially when you play them back to back. One big reason is because NBA Live player model look way too cartoonish. The faces are great in both games, but 2K nailed it when it comes to facial animations, while NBA Live seems, again… too cartoonish.<O
<O
EDGE: NBA 2K10<O
<O

CROWD / ENVIRONMENT:<O
This one goes hands down to NBA 2K10, but Live 10 beats NBA 2K10 in one area and that is in arena sounds. NBA 2K10 has the sounds, but they do not sound like they would in a real game. Also, the crowd in Live 10 sounds great; the noise lever might be too high. Where 2K beats Live is in the way the crowd looks and feels, way, way more realistic than that in Live.<O></O>
<O
EDGE: NBA 2K10, not by much.
<O
<O
OVERALL: After playing both demos for a combined four hours I came to the conclusion that if your goal is to play real basketball and treat your association or dynasty as if you were a real GM then your safest choice is NBA 2K10. If you would like to purchase a game with a little bit of flaws here and there but that is fun to play and with better shot animations, more shoes and accessories, then your choice would be Live 10.
<O
<O
Me personally I want a bit of both, so my best bet as of right now is to get both games. Both companies did a great job this year, but when it comes down to it NBA 2K10 is still the king of realism and sim basketball out there.<O
<O
Just my .02!<O

[ehh]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

Here's a quick breakdown of what I found...
<o></o><o></o><o><o></o>

Funny, I feel the exact opposite in every single one of those categories.

</o>

[vc15dunker15]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

Funny, I feel the exact opposite in every single one of those categories.

</O>

That's why there are two video games out there and we can pick and choose from the two... Those were my .02

[kolanji]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

finally both demos r out and so is the truth.nba 2k10 has done it again.with the comparison of both the obviousness of the style is very apparent.live is about moments they seek to make it fun by adding sick dunks and a lot of fast breaks,which is good but not real basketball.i feel like it is about picking ur favorite team and trying to outscore ur opponent while getting lots of highlight materials(way too much if u ask me)to keep u intertained.2k on the on the other hand is about team work defence forcing ur will and playing to the teams strength for victory.wins feel more accomplished by skills and basketball know how.
graphics is separated greatly 2.live character looks good no doubt but only as good as still images like in a book.nba 2k has that life like look (nicely done image matrix).
all in all both games r well developed only that nba 2 k10 is best developed.no better nba sim out there...and i say that with confidence.so it is easy to filter out the sim fans to basketball fans.they r not one in the same like i used to think.sime fans r the ones down for nba 2k this year basketball fans r leaning towards the more arcade nba live.sim fans have no prb with the slow pace real to life motions even if it is not fashy but simulated change of pace to quick step running floater in the paint compared to crossing over to btw the legs to round the back dribble drive to the basket and dunk on 3 ppl for 2 points of nba live.spend ur $60 bucks wisely.......... i will

[i c u cant stop me]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

iam going with live this year the king is back!!

[vc15dunker15]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

finally both demos r out and so is the truth.nba 2k10 has done it again.with the comparison of both the obviousness of the style is very apparent.live is about moments they seek to make it fun by adding sick dunks and a lot of fast breaks,which is good but not real basketball.i feel like it is about picking ur favorite team and trying to outscore ur opponent while getting lots of highlight materials(way too much if u ask me)to keep u intertained.2k on the on the other hand is about team work defence forcing ur will and playing to the teams strength for victory.wins feel more accomplished by skills and basketball know how.
graphics is separated greatly 2.live character looks good no doubt but only as good as still images like in a book.nba 2k has that life like look (nicely done image matrix).
all in all both games r well developed only that nba 2 k10 is best developed.no better nba sim out there...and i say that with confidence.so it is easy to filter out the sim fans to basketball fans.they r not one in the same like i used to think.sime fans r the ones down for nba 2k this year basketball fans r leaning towards the more arcade nba live.sim fans have no prb with the slow pace real to life motions even if it is not fashy but simulated change of pace to quick step running floater in the paint compared to crossing over to btw the legs to round the back dribble drive to the basket and dunk on 3 ppl for 2 points of nba live.spend ur $60 bucks wisely.......... i will

AMEN.

[TheGreatOne13]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

finally both demos r out and so is the truth.nba 2k10 has done it again.with the comparison of both the obviousness of the style is very apparent.live is about moments they seek to make it fun by adding sick dunks and a lot of fast breaks,which is good but not real basketball.i feel like it is about picking ur favorite team and trying to outscore ur opponent while getting lots of highlight materials(way too much if u ask me)to keep u intertained.2k on the on the other hand is about team work defence forcing ur will and playing to the teams strength for victory.wins feel more accomplished by skills and basketball know how.
graphics is separated greatly 2.live character looks good no doubt but only as good as still images like in a book.nba 2k has that life like look (nicely done image matrix).
all in all both games r well developed only that nba 2 k10 is best developed.no better nba sim out there...and i say that with confidence.so it is easy to filter out the sim fans to basketball fans.they r not one in the same like i used to think.sime fans r the ones down for nba 2k this year basketball fans r leaning towards the more arcade nba live.sim fans have no prb with the slow pace real to life motions even if it is not fashy but simulated change of pace to quick step running floater in the paint compared to crossing over to btw the legs to round the back dribble drive to the basket and dunk on 3 ppl for 2 points of nba live.spend ur $60 bucks wisely.......... i will

Took the words right out of my mouth. Live is to arcade like for me and 2k is a more genuine sim. Live is gonna be better this year but not enough for me to switch now.

[Jamin23]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

I am going to have to agree with JerseySuave. Something strange happened yesterday, I played the NBA 2K10 demo for two hours straight and then went on to play the NBA Live 10 demo for an hour and a half straight and to be honest each game has certain things that make you think "Man, I am getting this one...!"

<o></o>
Here's a quick breakdown of what I found...
<o></o>
<o></o>
GAMEPLAY:
Both games have improved tremendously in this aspect. NBA 2K might not have that player control feel you get when you play NBA Live, but the game plays as close as real as it can get. NBA Live has improved big time from last year's version, but it still has area for improvement especially on the rebounding and blocking department. I blocks and rebounds are just plain beautiful in NBA 2K10 while in Live 10 it just feels uncanny, feels like you have no control over a rebound or a block. The game just feels "right" on NBA 2K10 while Live has improved, it still has ways to go.<o></o>
<o></o>
EDGE: NBA 2K10
<o></o>
<o></o>
ANIMATION:<o></o>
This one is going to be quick, it goes to NBA Live. It's so easy to pull off dribbling moves and the Signature Shots just look plain beautiful. NBA 2K10 dribbling system is just confusing and it needs to improve quickly. NBA 2K's signature shots just look old. Another big issue for me is the way the players shoot, NBA Live does a great job with leaner’s, floaters, fadeaways, etc… while NBA 2K goes to that strange “set your feet” mentality which slows down the shooting form of players, especially when there is one second or less in the game.<o></o>
<o></o>
EDGE: NBA Live 10<o></o>

<o></o>
REALISM:
After playing the 2K demo and then jumping to Live I thought to myself, “Am I really considering buying this game?” Live just does not play realistic. Someone in another thread referred to Live as a “child’s game” and I got to say, I agree with him. The biggest beef I have with Live is the dunking animations. I’ve seen dunks in which the dunk is converted in like a millisecond, Kobe just jumps and BAM!! Kobe just dunked all over my team. Another big issue is the rebounding and blocking, this is a big, big issue… but it has not been a deal breaker for me yet. In 2K you simply see the game being played like you see it on TV. The realism is incredible, the way the players pace themselves, rebound and block, overall just a better game if you are into really playing a basketball game.<o>></o>>
<o></o>
EDGE: NBA 2K10
<o></o>
<o></o>
GRAPHICS:<o></o>
It’s tough to say, but in my mind NBA 2K has better graphics than NBA Live, especially when you play them back to back. One big reason is because NBA Live player model look way too cartoonish. The faces are great in both games, but 2K nailed it when it comes to facial animations, while NBA Live seems, again… too cartoonish.<o></o>
<o></o>
EDGE: NBA 2K10<o></o>
<o></o>

CROWD / ENVIRONMENT:<o>
This one goes hands down to NBA 2K10, but Live 10 beats NBA 2K10 in one area and that is in arena sounds. NBA 2K10 has the sounds, but they do not sound like they would in a real game. Also, the crowd in Live 10 sounds great; the noise lever might be too high. Where 2K beats Live is in the way the crowd looks and feels, way, way more realistic than that in Live.<o>></o>>
<o></o>
EDGE: NBA 2K10, not by much.
<o></o>
<o></o>
OVERALL: After playing both demos for a combined four hours I came to the conclusion that if your goal is to play real basketball and treat your association or dynasty as if you were a real GM then your safest choice is NBA 2K10. If you would like to purchase a game with a little bit of flaws here and there but that is fun to play and with better shot animations, more shoes and accessories, then your choice would be Live 10.
<o></o>
<o></o>
Me personally I want a bit of both, so my best bet as of right now is to get both games. Both companies did a great job this year, but when it comes down to it NBA 2K10 is still the king of realism and sim basketball out there.<o></o>
<o></o>
Just my .02!<o></o>

I disagree with you. I think the crowd sounds better in nba live. They have the authentic arena sounds because they record their sounds from live games. They have everyone wearing the same colored shirts in the playoffs in live and the arenas are more accurate and just look better in live. When you play the game it makes you feel like you are there and they spent a lot of time making the lighting authentic in each arena. I think the edge in this category goes to NBA live.

</o>

[ehh]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

Baffles me how anyone can call Live an arcade game, especially if you're playing on Superstar.

What Live does well:

1. Controls: They are new and take time to get used to, if you play the demo for two hours and that's it there is no way you have mastered the controls.

2. Momentum: once you get used to it it's hard to go back. I was playing CH2K8 last night and the absence of it is remarkable. I feel like this is the biggest thing that will really limit the amount of cheese that will be exploitable in Live and why 2K will still be able to be abused. I mentioned this on here before but I played one of my boys in the Live demo and he has always been a 2K cheeser; constantly double teaming, trying to steal every inbounds pass, etc and it has always been effective in 2K for the most part. He could gamble all game and barely get hurt. He brought this same strategy to Live but couldn't do any of it successfully and was really burned when he gambled and failed. We both played college ball and I laughed at him and told him to start playing like he would in real life. After he did that he admitted, "Damn, this is a really good game."

3. Playbooks: no "arcade" game would boast such amazing playbooks, let alone the execution - guys coming off picks hard, running and cutting with a purpose.

4. Spacing: Spacing on the floor, driving lanes, help defense and the like are all amazing in Live. They nailed this, it is extremely realistic. Yes, the NBA features more two-man and isolations than any other level of basketball but you can still be rewarded for team play, ball movement, making the extra pass, etc. This was good in Live 09 but they improved it quite a bit, I can't wait to see how big of an affect it has on NCAA10's gameplay.

5. Perimeter defense: I read a lot of love/hate reviews in the demo impressions thread regarding this but I think it's very good. If you use the stick correctly and cut your guy off you will be rewarded and stop him. Plus sometimes, like IRL, you have to anticipate a move. If you play the angles, don't over-commit, gamble or cheat and play defense like you would in real life then you'll be fine - and impressed by what you see. Momentum comes into play here again big time, slam the L-stick in one direction and watch Kobe stop on a dime, you can't recover and boom, Kobe has shaken free for another bucket. Momentum also helps in this case with the offensive player because they can't slide and stop on a dime three times in a row and give you way too small of a reaction time window (which is why 2K needs the lock-down D assist feature to begin with).

6. The mid-range game: Probably my favorite facet of Live. It is beautifully done. You can create space and there's no magical recovery from the defense. There are no defenders coming from 15 feet away trying to swat your shot like a madman when they have no chance in hell of even coming close. If you're Kobe on the wing and you notice your defender is giving you just a smidget of too much space you can pop the jumper and hit it constantly. I feel like 2K punished you in the past for shooting too many jumpers or shooting too quickly. Live doesn't do that, if you're open and it's a shot your player typically makes (thanks to DNA) then there's a good chance it's going in. Plus the ability to read the defense instead of picking a random cross over or isomotion move is awesome. If a guy is playing a step off you can hit the J, if he's too tight it's easy to blow by. If he's a half step off you can call for a pick and roll or hit him with a jab step and see how he reacts. It's all gravy, all the drills I've done IRL when it comes to perimeter offense come into play in Live. And of course the drifters, leaners and stepbacks and the footwork included in this shots are a thing of beauty.

7. Star players (and all players) feeling different. All you need to do is screw around in the Hangar and this is evident as hell. Can't wait to see how big of an affect it as in the retail version. The days of LeBron James feeling and playing the same as Gerald Wallace are over. You can tell the difference just between Kobe and Vince in the demo when using them.

8. Passing. In terms of control (the off-ball and freestyle passing are very good, it's the first off-ball scheme I've ever used constantly, I've used it in every single demo game I've played) it's very good. The other big thing with passing is that you have to make realistic passes now. No more wild cross-court passes where three help defenders don't even blink at the ball whizzing by them. If there's no passing angle or lane then the pass is going to get stolen. People will have to unlearn a lot of bad video game passing habits with Live, even if it's just a case where you need to use one dribble to create a better passing angle, Live does a good job at encouraging realistic passing. I've already seen it a few times where I'm at the top of the key, Howard is on the block and Vince is in the corner and I try to make an entry pass to the post (a no-no IRL, post entry passes should come from the wing or baseline in almost every case besides a high-low or a set quick-hitter) and it gets stolen.


What Live needs to improve on:

1. Play in the paint: Gameplay-wise this is clearly #1 for me. A bit broad, but post moves and rebounding seem a bit predetermined to me. The ability to read the defense and act accordingly on the perimeter is so wonderful but it really makes the post play seem bad because you can't do that on the block. I feel like it's the same old "ok I've got the ball in the post, I'll try an up and under here and hope it works." strategy. Pick a move and pray. There certainly is a lack of control to rebounding and blocking shots as well.

2. Animations: Some are good but overall I think they still have a ways to go esp in comparison to 2K.

3. Graphics: Like animations, I still give the edge to 2K. The only thing I don't like about 2K is the uniforms, they've always seemed off. I hate how the jerseys kinda float above a player's shoulders and the jersey material seems to be more like a paper bag or a tin foil sheet than mesh/dry fit/durasheen. Outside of that I'll take 2K's graphics all day, though Live's aren't bad. I'm perfectly fine with how the game looks, just prefer 2K visually.

[Pappy Knuckles]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

Feeling your impressions, ehh. I can't wait until I get the game so I can change the camera angle and really start seeing the court the way I'd like to. They did a great job with Live this year.

[JerzeyReign]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

For the first time in three or four years I'm torn between both games. 2K has been so much better than Live the past few years that I wouldn't even think about Live. **** I wasn't even considering Live this year until I played the demo on the PS3. I loved the control I felt over the players and it was pretty damn ****, it reminded me of how much fun I had with Live when they first introduced freestyle control. The presentation isn't the best but I just want a game that I'll be playing into the summer of next year. 2K has presentation locked down this year especially with the NBA Today commentary stuff. The My Player mode is pretty cool too, even though I'm not that big of a fan of the Draft Combine. My main problem with 2K is I never feel like I'm really having full control of the players. I have never liked isomotion going back to when they first introduced it, I just never liked it. The mid-game range in 2K was also kinda iffy to me last year. It was mostly all threes or all dunking especially in online games. I love franchise modes but I don't think I've ever been able to complete one in 2K because the gameplay just really isn't that fun to me after so long. It's more realistic but it's just something I can't quite put my finger on. I'm not in the position right now to drop 120 on video games so there can only be one. I wish EA would give the green light to OS to give out the Live info and/or 2K would release the PS3 demo this Thursday. Those two things would really help me come up with a decision. Right now I'm leaning more towards Live but it's hard with all the 2K info we've been getting thanks to those who got the game early.

Everything I wanted to say has already been said. Good Post. With 2k's lack of a demo right now and I'm stuck playing the Live Demo I'm almost willing to get Live instead this year. The freestyle control is so much better than Iso-Motion. Freestyle control makes it fun, but on the contrary it makes it to arcadish. But something happened to me today that makes me want to go with Live this year, I crossed Jameer Nelson up and made him fall. I don't know if the charge animation was trying to play or what but when I made that move and had that happen it literally made me jump out of my seat. I love 2k but they gotta come hard this year. I'm certainly at a crossroads....

[stewaat]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

ehh you spent way too much time on that.

Personally I just did not like the Live demo and I'm going with NBA 2K10. Live played well, but I'm an Association guy and EA sports and their game depth has really dropped off. Next year I'll give Live another chance.

Not hating on Live, it's just not for me.

What I am gonna hate on is the people who bash others for liking one game or another.

Grow the **** up it's a video game

Are you guys getting a kickback for each copy sold?

[michaeljordanjr]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

what's the difference between 2k7 2k8 and 2k9 and 2k10? more animations.


after playing live 10 demo I realized the game is makin me use my real basketball knowledge and not video game knowledge. once I did that I had the most fun ever. real control over dribbles, exactly how I would in real life real contextual logic for getting by opponents and it makes younplay smart. you can't just run into your guy and do behind the back until you slide passed him like in 2k10 and you can't take layups and dunks through people.

there's real defense and blocks of all kinds. although I think both companies lied about run down blocks cause they don't exist as they look in real life.

with live you have intricacies like moving while in charge stance and having control over your pick and roll guy popping out or running in. you also have control over how you want to take a jumpshot.

player momentum and size play a roll on how they get back on defense and of they bite on a pump fake rest assured you won ge blocked.

live 10 is worth $60 and 2k10 should be free for making the same game the passed 4 years. all they add is gimmick presentation and a flood of uncontollable animations then have spiffy trailers to entice fanboys.

[ehh]

Re: Bottom Line: Live 10 or 2K10?

ehh you spent way too much time on that.

Very quiet afternoon at the office.