OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

[vtcha]

Re: OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

Considering the fact that 2K hasn't done anything major to its Association mode in the past few years, I'm definitely looking to see what Live has to offer ...

[TheHypeMachine6]

Matthew Coe: The surprising answer is yes and I'll tell you why with two points. The first reason is because despite the incredibly consistent quality of NBA 2K, some gamers are tired of 2K's style of basketball and are looking to change it up. Even if it means buying an unproven, potentially inferior basketball title. The second reason has to do with NBA Live 14 releasing exclusively on next generation consoles. This was a smart move by EA no matter what your opinion of the game or the company is. It has the advantage of being on new hardware and having unknown potential. The excitement of the game's potential on next-gen hardware can only be a positive.

Having said all of that, EA has to show some 5-on-5 footage and they have to do it soon. Even the fans of the Liveseries are starting to get impatient and that doesn't bode well. I think everyone wants competition in every sports gaming category. If NBA Live 14 releases as a competent basketball title with some simulation elements, and a working franchise/dynasty mode then I think it does have a chance.

NBA Live 14 will not beat 2K14 in terms of sales or review scores, but the series will have a chance to come back and regain a small foothold in the NBA basketball gaming market. That's all that EA Sports could realistically hope for right now.


I completely agree with this view of the upcoming release of Live 14 & 2K14, and honestly believe that the time for change is at hand, and having the EA and 2K facing off on the hardwood is only going to benefit us the consumer. Over the past few years its been a let down with only 2K releasing a game, and they have been great games IMO but it's healthy for the genre to have a competitor vying for the No.1 spot and this year with NBA Live making it's comeback the rivalry is on. Personally I agree that NBA 2K has slowed up on innovation & features, but why wouldn't they, it's been just them for 3 years & surely they knew Live wouldn't be out forever need to keep something fresh for the LIve reboot. I understand that we haven't seen any next-gen gameplay from either title yet & I'm not bashing NBA 2K basketball, but if they produce the same game modes as 2K11-13 with the addition of updated rosters, player models, new animations but still quite a few of the old it may just have casual gamers & sim nation looking at Live 14 as a serious alternative. I feel with more than a year to fix past mistakes EA Sports is ready to come out fired up, and this season I'm rooting for the underdog.

[PepsiRacer4]

EA will draw me in big time if they bring over their CFM/CCM from Madden. I love how they do it, and if they also get the interactive draft classes I'm sold. Association and the terrible default draft classes that 2K has can be annoying. If EA does that they got me.

[TreyIM2]

Of course Live has a chance...maybe. I was of the mind that with the new tech and all that is on the line for EA, it should be decent, if not surprise us all and be above our expectations, however, I had to think about how long it's been worked on because Live 13 never released and I would think they were at least trying to get that puppy up and running with almost an all hands on deck before eventually pulling the plug on it.

I would certainly believe they had some of their resources getting next gen prepped with PCs but there a bunch of questions about what's been going on behind the scenes and for how long with this version of Live 14.

Hope that/those 5 on 5 vid/vids is/are coming real soon...like manana....

[poloelite]

That's your opinion but if you really look at it what's the biggest change from 2k12 to 2k14 maybe its the best game to go against the cpu but going online your telling me these are the best games??? the defense doesn't get back, the 1-3-1 zone is god like there is barely any defense played scrubs get away with more bs in these last 2 games than ever before and if you don't think so how many times have you lost to someone who had the heat and did a spin dunk with LeBron James all game long?? Or swivel with players like Carmelo at the 3pt line and hit 3s all game? To me the last decent 2k was 2k11 I'm not knocking 2k just saying they been taking it easy these last couple years because they had no comp and I believe that after its said and done Live will outsell 2K

I hear your concerns, but I've played 2k14 and even on demo build the defense is vastly improved. I'm not much of an online gamer, because to be honest with you it will ALWAYS be cheese. No matter who makes the game, it will always just be a game and open to exploits. Unfortunately, defense and simulation have NEVER been NBA Live's strong suit, so I don't think your particular grievances will be addressed anytime soon. Personally, the jump to me with 2k12 over 11 was subtle, but the animations and control stick for 2k13 was a huge jump. This year it's defense. 2k isn't anywhere close to perfect, but perfection takes time. Here they are, around 14 years into tweaking the game and it still needs help. It's almost unbelievable to think Live can come out the gate and just get it right, when they haven't been able to do that in almost a decade. True the online may be more stable, but would you rather drive a bucket on a smooth street or a Bentley on a slightly bumpy one??

[GOBLUE_08]

Re: OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

Absolutely, It will definitely be nice to have another option out there. 2k has been pretty stale over the last few years imo, and hopefully live can breathe some new life into video game hoops. EA has had time now to sit back and watch, no its time to show and prove

[TheLetterZ]

Re: OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

Where's all this 2k hate coming from?? I hope Live can come back and at least be viable one day, but I'm reading people taking crazy shots at 2k for the last couple of games. 2k11, 12 and 13 are easily the best 3 basketball games I've ever played and I've played them all (Double Dribble, Arch Rivals, Jam, Showdown, Live etc). Each of the last 3 games made significant improvements in my mind and having played 2k14 (demo build), they've done it again. I'm all for honesty, but to bash something unfairly to prop up the one you love is ridiculous. Even EA tips it hat to 2k11, 12 and 13 when they cancelled their games and said they couldn't compete at this time.

I hear you. There's a type of hypocrisy with it. It frustrates me.

Often times, the people who bash a company for pushing "fluff back of the box features" are the same people who don't recognize when a game focuses on improving the under the hood elements that are essential to making the gameplay better.

For example, I keep seeing people rip 2K for adding blocked dunks, ignoring the fact that the blocked dunks are just one aspect of an entirely new shot-blocking system. Core gameplay!

Plus, 2K did a huge overhaul of defensive rotations this year, making them significantly more realistic. It's not a "marketing" feature, and people choose to ignore it. Core gameplay again!

[arimamba]

tell me why does ricky rubio look like a chinese mario brother

[juicey79]

Nba live needs to show some gameplay vids...maybe do a live stream

[coolcras7]

Re: OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

I hear your concerns, but I've played 2k14 and even on demo build the defense is vastly improved. I'm not much of an online gamer, because to be honest with you it will ALWAYS be cheese. No matter who makes the game, it will always just be a game and open to exploits. Unfortunately, defense and simulation have NEVER been NBA Live's strong suit, so I don't think your particular grievances will be addressed anytime soon. Personally, the jump to me with 2k12 over 11 was subtle, but the animations and control stick for 2k13 was a huge jump. This year it's defense. 2k isn't anywhere close to perfect, but perfection takes time. Here they are, around 14 years into tweaking the game and it still needs help. It's almost unbelievable to think Live can come out the gate and just get it right, when they haven't been able to do that in almost a decade. True the online may be more stable, but would you rather drive a bucket on a smooth street or a Bentley on a slightly bumpy one??

No use trying to be logical with some people they need to believe that 2k is a bad game in order to justify getting excited over a game that has failed to launch for 3 years, and has yet to show a single in game unaltered video of the game in action. EA recently released a statement saying they were hard at work on the game and that was enough to get some people excited, which is just sad.

[lookatmenow]

The question should be who will come out on top b/c this is a new system and if im not mistaken live has had more time to prepare for nex gen so that kind of evens things out as far as next gen consoles. I say that only b/c 2k has a pretty decent record when it comes to delivering with the exception of nba 2k13.

Dont get it twisted 2k just has momentum b/c they have been releasing games so everybody assumes whats going to happen based off of past history. However this is NEW SYSTEMS so nobody knows whats going to happen for sure until we see gameplay.

So fanboys chill the xxxx out with the arguments until we see gameplay b/c somebody is bound to get their feelings hurt as serious and emotional as you mufs get.

So what it's a new system, what does that mean? Absolutely nothing. You guys act like EA is going to show something that we haven't seen. Remember EA didn't make a basketball in years not because they couldn't like 2K in football, They didn't make a basketball game because they couldn't compete. They couldn't even come close to 2K and they had 4 years to give us one good game and they couldn't do it. NBA Elite and Live 13 was straight garbage, so I don't know why some guys continue to believe that this company has what it takes to compete with 2K. Can you imagine what the basketball game would be like if they had those license as well? Wow! ....they have really killed football as we know it.

[WarlordZMaster]

I think this series is dead. I feel that they lack the creative and artistic talent to pull this game off. They have some great sports series, unfortunately, where it counts in the US - NFL and NBA, the company lacks talent and direction. NBA 2K is the reigning champion!

[nick_sr]

Re: OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

I think this series is dead. I feel that they lack the creative and artistic talent to pull this game off. They have some great sports series, unfortunately, where it counts in the US - NFL and NBA, the company lacks talent and direction. NBA 2K is the reigning champion!

again, there's a new team in charge of live.

[wxn8822]

NBA 2k, for this year, has impressed me with a rehashed product with unnoticeable fixes here and there.

Live has the chance this year for a big restart, see if they can take advantage of it?

[magicman32]

Re: OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

I think they stand a chance this gen if what they have is solid and they can build upon it. However, they haven't proven to be able to last gen. As for this year's game, 2k will be better IMO. The advantage 2k has is that they have a solid foundation and has been building it for years. Live hasn't come out with a game in like 3 years. They will be behind in a lot of fundamental basketball aspects. And I don't see 5 on 5 gameplay being better than 2k anytime soon.