[kgisyourfather]

This game is pretty well done, and close to perfect in my opinion. What needs to happen next year is more housecleaning type stuff. I think the gameplay is lightyears ahead of 2k, where 2k has gotten kind of bland and stale, and has too many legacy issues. I am a bit concerned when you lose a guy if they will be able to take it to the next level which would be a shame. Maybe wang will reenergize the 2k brand. I think 2k is in financial trouble and needed to do something because bball is all they really have. They cancelled their hockey series. They had that contest in mlb, trying to straighten out their mlb game, trying to make as much as they could out of a failed license they purchased. They are focusing their resources imo. As we all know money talks. 2k basketball is all they really have and they might have barely held the crown ths year but they would have lost it next year if they didn't do something. As far as Live though, this game is a blast imo. I think they took the crown this year as far as best game, but the word just isn't out yet(2k still might have won the sales battle). It just needs to be cleaned up and taken to the next level.

I was just playing a game online and it was really sim. The colors were popping. The sound was great. The gameplay was addictive. We were forced to call timeouts to stop runs. Very sim. Popping jumpshots. Rebounding, playing D, taking it inside etc. Moving the ball. Missing cutters and bad passes etc. But there are still some issues that annoy the hell out of me that could be improved. There are still some funky things with defense and rebounding and the post game in particular that need to be cleaned up. A lot of the and 1's appear to be pretty random as well. Contact in the lane in general and how players swarm needs to be cleaned up. A lot of little details with the presentation that Czar pointed out etc... There are nuances with the gameplay that also really need to be cleaned up. The second patch cleaned up some things but it was also just a patch and created other issues, the way players slide forward when catching hte ball etc instead of it being seamless. I understand why they did it and it's better and playable, but it's still just a patch and doesn't rectify what is really going on. Playing vs the cpu also causes other issues as far as realistic tendencies and fast breaks etc... The game is tight, but there are also still some shaky things that take away from the overall experience. The game can be broken if you really want to break it. It's not as bad a 2k and is lightyears ahead in most, but it still is on shaky ground in a lot of areas.

It's a sweet game though. I haven't been this impressed with a basketball game if you really delve into it in a while. What needs to stay in Live 11 is a dedication by the EA team to create a great product. Whether that be by improving the gameplay or expanding modes, perfecting the presentation etc. Hopefully this doesn't become a case of 2k basketball meaning more to 2k as a business where to EA Live doesn't mean as much. I realize EA has hockey. They make money off Fifa and Madden etc. Let's hope Live doesn't get overlooked and is brought to that level. In all honesty I have NHL and I enjoy this game as much if not moreso. The gameplay is really addictive. It would be a shame if that is lost. I'm honestly surprised that people have lost interest in this game. It's like people assume it's not good and don't take the time. I didn't like it that much at first but I've taken the time and gone back to it and it's a great little game. 2k might have the graphics but this game is so much better gameplay wise. Too many people want instant gratification and follow. I hope EA is dedicated to the cause and taking the same time that some gamers do. When you lose a gameplay guy like Wang that's an issue. I sort of wish he stuck it out. But at the same time maybe he laid the foundation here and is going to try to rebuild the 2k series now. Maybe EA didn't need him as much as 2k did. I just hope EA can take this game to the next level so we can have 2 great basketball games.