ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

[23bluesman]

Alright, I'm also gonna put this in the wishlist thread when I finish my write-up, but I want to start this new thread for community discussion.

When I first heard of EA acquiring the ESPN license some years ago, I was really excited, and the first thought that came to my mind was, "That's great, now we're gonna see ESPN style tv presentation in NBA Live". I was expecting the real life ESPN scorebeards, stat overlays, halftime and post game shows, etc...

Now we're at NBA Live 09, and we have yet to see the ESPN license being used in those areas. PC gamers through the years have taken advantage of patching to get this in the game. The following pictures are examples of the patch, made by Pdub over at nba-live.com for Live 07. Don't mind the errors, it's not exact, but it's a great patching job nonetheless. First pic (it's an old pic, but I believe ESPN still uses the same graphics) is the actual scoreboard, next ones are of the patch:








(There's a glitch here, showing the Denver logo instead of Dallas)

It seems obvious now that gamers want realistic broadcast/tv style presentations in their sports games. I haven't played NFL2k5, but just watching some of the videos I have to say they really used the ESPN license well. The scoreboard, stat overlays, pre-game/halftime/postgame shows were really well done. NBA 2k9 has THE BEST tv style presentation I have ever seen in an NBA game to date, it totally blows Live away in that department, and I'm sure not many people will argue that (and if you notice, they even adopted the "parallelogram-shaped" scoreboard/stat overlays that ESPN uses). And we know that come next year, 2k will bring more of that in their game, further beefing up their tv style presentation. Those two games are great games on their own, but the presentation simply made it better for a lot of gamers, and a lot of OSers. Even NBA 09 got some props for using the actual TNT scoreboard/stat overlays, albeit a year late in the design. Even Madden is beginning to go in that direction with its "beyond broadcast" presentation.

So now I'm wondering if Live will ever use the ESPN scoreboard/stat overlays, pre-game/halftime/postagame shows, etc. I for one would ABSOLUTELY love for them to use it. It simply makes the playing experience that much more authentic and immersive. It would be so cool watching ESPN game telecasts, playing Live, then seeing the exact graphics. I'd especially like the "ESPN HD" transition graphic to make it into the game, and replace the transition graphic that Live uses (the one with the team logo, then weird colored streaks, which I personally hate).

I would rather have those than the ESPN radio updates, stat tracking, sports news, etc that we're getting.

What do you think guys? Would you rather have the actual ESPN scoreboard/stat overlays in the game, or do you like what Live has been putting up the past few years? I'd also like to invite the devs (stephensonmc, beluba, iminurbase) to chime in on this discussion, if you're allowed to speak on it. Do you guys have any plans at all to use the ESPN scoreboard/stat overlays? What are your opinions on this? Am I oversimplifying things?

Please make this a good discussion thread guys. I'm not bashing EA's design decisions, just simply stating my opinion on what could be improved upon, especially given that they have the ESPN license, and comparing it to what 2k did when they had it.

Every year I wait for Live to finally incorporate this. And every year that they don't, I always wish that next year they would.

[jewelz1132]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Co-sign..that would add so much to the game because the presentation is really lacking compared to what 2K9 did this year. It would be ill if EA replicated an ESPN broadcast in all their games but it seems like its not a direction they want to go in. I noticed March Madness has a 3rd person (Erin Andrews?) like 2K does..I think that MM09 could've been used to try the ESPN presentation to see how it works and if it went well, use it for Live 10.

If some developer would get exclusive rights, it would be CRAZY if they had all licenses to each broadcast and depending on what day your game was on in your franchise, you'd get an ESPN/NBC game, NBATV, or TNT with the correct broadcast teams..Kinda like the SvR series, where u got the Raw brand with their set of commentators and Smackdown with theirs lol...I know thats reaching but by the way NFL2K5 was, it seems like games would be this way by now

[23bluesman]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Hmm...so aside from jewelz and myself, no one really cares to have this in the game? Honestly, I really thought that a lot of Live players would/have been wanting to see this implemented since the ESPN license acquisition. Sigh.

The more that I think about it, the more that I am saddened and disappointed. The last Live game that I really enjoyed was 05 for the PS2/PC. Now I really like Live 09, but how is it different from that game presentation-wise? Not a whole lot at all. Aside from the in-game cutscenes, it seems that everything else is just the same.

Like you said jewelz, it seems like EA isn't interested in going towards that direction, and I don't blame them for that. But I really think that they should. It just makes so much sense - they already have solid commentary, so dressing everything up with actual ESPN broadcast presentation style would make it so, so much better. If they do that for 2010, gamers will be blown away. For sure.

2K9 is getting comments such as "wow, it looks and feels like I'm watching (playing) an actual NBA telecast", and they're doing it too without any licenses. Imagine what they could accomplish with the ESPN license.

Cmon EA. Please do this. I really, really, really wish that you would.

Let Live 2010 be the new NFL2k5 (and surpass it) in terms of ESPN presentation.

[dave374]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

You will never see ESPN overlays in an EA Sports game.
Peter Moore wants to establish the EA Sports brand.
We will always get the EA Sports overlays.

[Earl1963]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Does EA not want to perfect their game? Cause this is little to ask for but yet nice.

[evarts2616]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Hmm...so aside from jewelz and myself, no one really cares to have this in the game? Honestly, I really thought that a lot of Live players would/have been wanting to see this implemented since the ESPN license acquisition. Sigh.

just because no one replied doesn't mean we don't agree. i'm with you on this 100%

it would help the game big time, even if they could reach the that nfl 2k5. that would still be a huge step up for the series.

[vc15]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

What's so special about the ESPN stuff? I know it might be more immersive but to be honest, I think their graphics packages look ugly and outdated. I much prefer the scoreboard, transitions the way they have them now.

I think 2K9 presentation is really ugly. Their menus, scoreboards, everything. EA's presentation is far above 2K's games.

[Pared]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

You will never see ESPN overlays in an EA Sports game.
Peter Moore wants to establish the EA Sports brand.
We will always get the EA Sports overlays.

End. Of. Story.

[23bluesman]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

End. Of. Story.

Pretty much.

Well, they need to add more creativity in their graphic designs. What they've had for the past few years are pretty much lame imo.

[Pared]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Honestly... this is the first year were I think they've done a fantastic job on the overlays. There could be more, but graphically I really like what they have done.

[bigeastbumrush]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Honestly... this is the first year were I think they've done a fantastic job on the overlays. There could be more, but graphically I really like what they have done.

You need binoculars to read the stat overlays.

They're done well, but way too small and kind of inconsistent.

The stat overlays need to be in a larger font on the bottom of the screen.

[P-Dub]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Heh, you showed my work-in-progress overlays in the middle images, and the more realistic and final one at the bottom. /modder self-plug

I think I remember an interview where one of the producers said that ESPN is a competing brand and they want to continue to establish the fact that it is an EA Sports branded game, not an ESPN one. Similar to what Peter Moore said, but right form the mouth of a NBA Live producer.

I would like to see ESPN or NBA TV overlays in the future, in combination with EA Sports overlays. What I mean is that the "game of the week" or the playoffs or finals could use one of the different overlays, while games considered to be normal would use the EA Sports overlays.

[23bluesman]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

Heh, you showed my work-in-progress overlays in the middle images, and the more realistic and final one at the bottom. /modder self-plug

I think I remember an interview where one of the producers said that ESPN is a competing brand and they want to continue to establish the fact that it is an EA Sports branded game, not an ESPN one. Similar to what Peter Moore said, but right form the mouth of a NBA Live producer.

I would like to see ESPN or NBA TV overlays in the future, in combination with EA Sports overlays. What I mean is that the "game of the week" or the playoffs or finals could use one of the different overlays, while games considered to be normal would use the EA Sports overlays.

Oh hey P-Dub! I just used the pics that were in your thread, I would've taken actual in-game screenshots of your final work, but the game isn't installed in my pc anymore.

It was great work man, I enjoyed it a lot! I remember I also downloaded an "ESPN-HD" transition patch (can't remember who made it), and the combination was great.

Regarding the EA Sports brand, I definitely understand now where they're coming from, though I still don't agree with it. I love your idea though, with the "games of the week" and whatnot having different broadcast presentations.

[evarts2616]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

You need binoculars to read the stat overlays.

They're done well, but way too small and kind of inconsistent.

The stat overlays need to be in a larger font on the bottom of the screen.

i completely agree

[23bluesman]

Re: ESPN Scoreboard/Stat Overlay/TV Presentation discussion

I also think that they should get rid of the drawn player portrait arts and use real pictures instead.