Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

[driddy]

The more I read about the excuses regarding NBA Live, the more concerned I get. Why? Because this game is selling without the competition even being looked at. It looks like a game with one arena, a subpar franchise mode, no sliders, horrible rim physics, One handed palmed steals, block happy, 100mph passing game will outsell its competition combined. Hmm, I wonder what treats we will get next year, maybe freestyle dunks? Create a shoe? Sure, forget about the sim elements, and the fact that the game will still be played in a single arena (ala NHL) with canned cutscenes. We get an exlusive soundtrack!(yeah) I'm reading posts from guys that ripped NFL2k3 to shreds over nonsim/yetfun elements and clamored for Madden's sim style approach and depth, yet somehow standards go out the window when it comes to basketball. Since basketball is my favorite videogame sport, this saddens me. Basically, EA has become Madden/NCAA, and a bunch of over the top circus acts. NHL, too arcadey, Triple Play, a complete joke, NBA Live, nuff said. Thankfully, Madden still sells so they probably wont turn it into Blitz lite, but if the trends keep continueing, sim sports will die out ungracefully only to be replaced by a marketing slogan and a custom soundtrack. I'm guessing EA could slap Madden on Blitz, and more people would buy it than the competition combined. They could drop Live, and just release NBA Street Live (with more freestyle moves) and we'd have threads on this very site saying things like "i've created a formula, just subtract 50 from each star player's overall dribble rating, add 25.4 to each player over 6'10's rebounding rating, lower speed by 35%, increase net sway by 12% and turn on injuries and you have the perfect fun/sim. Oh well, hopefully there will always be a developer that tries to simulate the real thing and makes enough profit to make it all worth improving on the next year.

[CheckMate]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games

I don't understand your post. You say "Disturbing Trend in Basketball Games", yet you only express your dislikes about Live. What's disturbing about the other games?

[silky4]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games

Whatever, man, what about 2K3??... "I've created the perfect slider formula, just increase def stopping power by 20%, decrease ball handling by 10%, increase game speed to the max, and you have the perfect blah blah blah"...it's the same thing. BTW, March Madness will have A.I. sliders this year, and a more in-depth dynasty mode so expect the same type of improvements in Live 04. Then what are you going to say???

[EWRMETS]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

I'm sorry you're so disturbed, I hope you're going to be okay. Live is the most fun out of any of the games.

[Will]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

I completely agree driddy. Live is easily the least realistic, and yet it's selling like crazy. That doesn't send a good message to developers.

[driddy]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

Imagine if they made Madden the same way they made Live, or NCAA with one field and freestyle control. Oh well, the consumer is always right.

[fsquid]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

I haven't bought Live since 99 and I don't look at the sales figures at all. Just buy what you like. I will say that its incredible how good their football and now Golf (at least on the PC) is at simulating the real thing, but come up short on all the other sports. Rugby was pretty good too. I think with basketball, EA is trying to sell to those that only like to watch Sportscenter and "and 1" videos. Its all about taste and marketing and until teenagers start taking pride in hustle and fundamentals and pick and rolls and the back door (on the court anyways), EA will not change their game to resemble that.

EA has done nothing wrong, they are a business and they have to report to their shareholders. Luckly, there are two alternatives for others like me.

[CheckMate]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

How is freestyle not sim? If I want the ball in my left hand, I can put it in my left hand. It's a known fact that big men should keep the ball high when in the post---with freestyle, I can do that. When I'm in the post, if I want to turn and face the defender without dribbling, I can.

I don't even look at the arenas or stadiums after the intros, so that is a moot point. When the game is being played it's all about the players and the court or field. As long as the courts are correct and the endzones are correct, I'm happy. Touchdown Jesus is on Notre Dame Stadium on NCAA 03, but how many times per game are you thinking about it?

[Heelfan71]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

well, allot of people buy games on name recognition. And not everyone is as anal about realism as we are. Look at the Triple Play series, it sell plenty of games every year.

[WaddupCouzin]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

I think you guys are missing everything Driddy is saying. Instead of games bringing the aspects of simulation it appears that games today are being dumbed down sim wise in order to be more fun. Well, there are a lot of us who think "sim" is fun and not over-the-top type antics games are being reduced to. Every Basketball game I play doesn't have resemble "And 1" video. The games being produced reminds me of something BK Rich said when calling out another poster on this forum he asked the poster do you watch the game or just the highlights? I laughed about it, but I think it captures the essence of what sports knowledge and sports videogames have turned into, highlights.

[dave41082]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

I am a huge fan of the 2K series, but I have to admit that the release of 2K3 shows that Sega Sports is going in a 100% realistic direction. I really don't think that will sell well so they might put in some fun things. I want the 100% realistic game, but most people probably don't. You can't blame them for making what sells.

However, I believe the main reason Live sells so well is because of name recognition. Just look at our boards...can you convert a 2K fan to Live or a Madden fan to 2K??? It's hard as hell. Live has been out for the longest so people just blindly buy it.

[LIGHTNING]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

NBA LIVE 2003 is probably the easiest most non realistic basketball game I have ever played. The game play is too fast and the defense is HORRIBLE. This is all OK for people not concerned with realism, but for EA to market this game as a simulation is deceptive. They also try to market NHL 2003 as a simulation. EA is slipping and they are going to lose market share big time.

[WaddupCouzin]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

Good point.

They use to do the same thing with FIFA and we all know how realistic that gamw was

[Graphik]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

BRING BACK SIERRA SPORTS!
BRING BACK SIERRA SPORTS!
BRING BACK SIERRA SPORTS!
all together now.

[fsquid]

Re: Disturbing Trend In Basketball Games --- Rant about sales figures

FIFA 1998 and LIVE 1998 were the 2 most realistic games they ever made. Period. It's just a shame.