EA's Move to Elite Will be a Test of Patience - RaychelSnr's Blog

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EA's Move to Elite Will be a Test of Patience Stuck

Posted on September 3, 2010 at 03:14 PM.

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I'm typically not one to call a game dead in the water a full month before release, and I'm going to try my best not to through the next 300 words or so -- although you could argue I just did.

Back in June, I wrote an article about the move to Elite was a last-ditch desperate attempt by EA to spur sales in the face of an opponent which was beating EA down at every corner.

Because, when you have a highly recognized brand which is 15+ years old, you just don't dump it if things are going well.

And now that we're seeing some gameplay video and some general impressions, I think things might just be worse than I ever thought. I'm not saying people should start piling in the lifeboats just yet, but you'd better be getting in line.

To me, the move to Elite was a move to try to garner some additional buzz to try to make up a huge sales deficit not only with NBA 2K, but with what the series used to garner. It was an odd move considering Live had been steadily improving in quality for a few years up to the point of the name change. In fact last year Live was pretty close to being a very competitive option with NBA 2K in quality, it just got trumped in sales.

The problem EA now has put themselves in is that they need an excellent game to go with the name change and by all accounts, the game very well might have actually regressed this year. I don't think EA is about to cancel the Elite series, but I also don't think fans of the series can rest easy knowing they have a guaranteed game in future years.

The series has seen a marked decline in sales, as they are down almost 75% from their peak back with NBA Live 2005. That is a giant decline, but almost every sports game has seen a decline from previous generation platforms to the current generation -- just NBA 2K has seen a far softer decline.

So my outlook is basically this: barring a disastrous retail life for Elite 11, we will see Elite 12. But unless things turn around, the series is not as profitable as it used to be and I think the suits are panicking at EA.

The real question is quickly becoming not whether Elite 11 can produce quality and sales but rather: can the suits be patient enough to allow the old Live series to be reinvented over a period of a few years?

Either way, this year is almost certainly going to NBA 2K11, and it's not even close.

Comments

# 1 Lajoya10 @ Sep 3

Amen to that haha

# 2 UnusualMattyB @ Sep 3

As a long-time NBA Live fan, I completely agree.
Things seem to be going backward rather than forward. This is the first year I have considered buying both NBA 2k and NBA Live/Elite and after seeing these latest videos, I have thought about only going with NBA 2k11.
It's disappointing, but I'm not into shelling out 60 bucks for a game that is a shell of what it once was...even if it is a "work in progress" towards a greater goal...my wealth is also a work in progress, so I'm not sure I feel safe giving it away for garbage when I can have sweetness with NBA 2k11.
Who knows, I may still end up getting it, but it feels like most of my time will be spent playing NBA 2k11 instead of a one-time close, basketball video gaming, friend.
I hope I'm wrong and its also fun to play, but we'll see in October...

# 3 turftickler @ Sep 3

None of us would want to have only one choice in a basketball game, ie. NCAA basketball, football, and the NFL. We all know what that brings, "No More Innovation" or real effort to produce.

# 4 jugganott @ Sep 3

"Ship Be Sinking" -Michael Ray Richardson.

What else could be said...I thought that Live 10 was moving forward, then they just switched it all up. Oh well...I don't believe I'll buy both games this year. 2K seems like they slammed the door shut, put nails in it, and put a moat around the building.

# 5 adwin7 @ Sep 3

If you think EA's hoops career is over just look at what they did with NHL. I believe we may see an amazing product... next year!

This year Elite seems to be too far behind, granted there is no major change between now and next month.

# 6 jugganott @ Sep 3

@amatrex....so you don't believe that if 2K was spread as wide as EA is that they would still be able to dominate? 2Ksports can focus a great deal of their attention on the few sports that they have. They don't have to worry about making a NFL game, NCAA Basketball or Football, MMA, Boxing (eventhough they did release prize fighter I doubt they will release another), Soccer, or Golf.

Not to defend EA, but Sun Tzu said in so many words when you spread yourself wide, you're weak everywhere. EA is spread to wide....2K can't afford their basketball game to be outdone by EA...if it was, then it would be lights out for 2K sports.

# 7 adwin7 @ Sep 3

@jugganott EA like 2k has the resources to make plenty of games and still make quality games. While the game comes from EA its made in one of their studios which EA and 2k has plenty. 2k could quit Sports and just sell Mafia, civilization and bioshock if they wanted to.

Its no excuse!!

# 8 BuddyColtrane @ Sep 3

@ jugganott... you make a very valid point. However, you don't recognize that EA (and to a lesser extent 2k) was doing a lot of different sports games back on the PS2 and XBOX yet we saw some amazing games come about, particularly the 04-05 game cycle. I truly believe that Live/Elite suffers from an identity crisis, and has been that way for years. Do you want a true sim, or an arcade game where anyone can pick up and play? Do you want to be a better version of 2K, or do you want to be a completely different game. As a gamer who grew up with Bulls vs Lakers and Live 95, I resisted 2K for the longest other than the 2 years my old roommate had a Dreamcast. I finally caved in 07 when I brought Live, played it for a week, and traded it in for 2K7. I haven't looked back since, but I really want Elite to succeed.

# 9 Philstat @ Sep 3

I'm glad someone is finally coming to reality. Whatever the reason, EA has struggled in this generation of consoles to make a quality basketball game, they just can't seem to hit a groove. I was looking forward to Elite 11 this year, I had hope - though it's not even close to what 2K is offering this year, I can't imagine why ANYONE would buy this game over 2K11, they shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence for comparison. EA has FAILED miserably in their efforts to create a good basketball game, I have to admit Elite 11 looks so far from being ready - EA should hold off this year - or discount the game to about $29 to have a realistic chance of competing. The game looks like it's in Alpha stage development and it's shipping less than a month from now - deplorable!

# 10 jugganott @ Sep 3

@adwin7....they can just sell Mafia, civilazation, and bioshock?
LOL..Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Left 4 Dead and Rock Band waves Hello....
Not even with that EAs soccer games are big...NCAA 11 made great progress etc.

I'm just saying. 2K puts a great deal into their game, and it's great. Not saying Elite isn't putting a great deal into that game....it's just not happening. I'm sure if that was their cash cow in the sports genre it would be all hands on deck like it is with NBA 2K. Face it..MLB is not better than MLB The Show..and their Hockey game isn't better than EAs hockey. Prizefighter was joke vs. Fight Night Round 4...etc. Thus all efforts on NBA2K.

# 11 statum71 @ Sep 3

Every since I switched over to 2K a few years ago, I haven't looked back.

But as a formerly faithful NBA Live player...I feel bad for the series. Hard to watch it struggle so badly.

# 12 scatman @ Sep 3

@BuddyColtrane... Live 08 was the last Live I bought. My reasons at the time for switching was when I looked at 2K and how the game played, how the game felt, Live just didn't appear realistic for me. The standing in one spot trying to break somebody down off the dribble was redundant because there wasn't anything to do once your guy was in motion. 2K had the whole "signature" this and that to go along with gameplay that fit what I though a basketball game should be. Fast forward to now, I still have a place in my heart for the series Live use to be. But when compared to 2K overall, the polish has worn off EA completely. Not just in live, but in everything they do. I'm sure for the fans of EA, the games do for them what they want it to do. But for me, I want as close to a sim as I can get and right now 2K gives me that. I'm sure in another 10 years or so, another basketball franchise will start with some company (hell maybe I'll start it myself lol) and give us true basketball fans, an experience like no other. But until then, 2K is now, EA has some work to do. I think there is definitely a market for there game, but it's about carving out your niche. EA needs to figure out what it does well and build around that.

EA has added some very nice features to their LIve games over the years (Player DNA, ESPN License, FIBA License & All Star weekend) that I really would love to see in 2K. For now I wait until we can get a complete basketball experience with the NBA, NCAA, Euroleague, FIBA Championships, Olympics all rolled in one game. Something that integrates all those leagues into one, so that we can truly have a global basketball experience. Imagine that, just imagine the immersion. And it imagine it works, like the way you think it should work, man that be a great damn game lol. For now we all dream, I hope EA finds their way but right now it's not looking so good for them....

# 13 Philstat @ Sep 3

#16 - VERY TRUE WORDS INDEED - when EA can't beat someone they either try to buy them out or destroy them from within. I'm still pained by their takeovers of Bioware and Westwood - I'll never get past the pain on those two acquisitions.

# 14 edaddy @ Sep 3

I think EA should take a step back with this series..take off a entire year ,get some talent that can actually develop a realistic basketball game, and throw all their eggs in the basket for Elite12...Elite 11 is no where in the ballpark as 2K11 and its not close..the name change was to garner interest and to distance themselves from the NNBA Live disaster..Elite 11 will be a draw on the already depleted resources at EA so why not cut it and go all out for 2012..Either that and concentrate on making GREAT fottball games with Elite 11 resources...2K cut their losses and concentrated on making a great basketball game thats good business sense..While I love the competiton factor that having two games provides apparently it isnt rubbing off on EA as their basketball titles have regressed..Now its either the talent at EA or the fact that 2K is just vastly superior technically,, talent wise , and business wise...Something tells me basketball titles at Ea will be gone after this year...The real moneymakers are Football, Soccer, and MMA...

# 15 shadthedad @ Sep 3

Great read Chris! I was on the fence to get Elite over 2k, but after seeing the gameplay, I'm getting 2k

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