Chris' NBA Elite 11 Demo Impressions - RaychelSnr's Blog

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Chris' NBA Elite 11 Demo Impressions Stuck

Posted on September 21, 2010 at 06:21 PM.

(73)

Wow.

I'm not sure what to say about NBA Elite 11, and that speechlessness doesn't have to do with the game being great.

I've spent the afternoon playing the demo some, thinking what I was playing was an aberration, but at this point it's becoming very clear: NBA Elite 11 is a resounding and very clear step backwards from NBA Live 10.

Name an area of the game, and it feels like it has taken a step backwards. The game doesn't play nearly as smooth, the controls are potentially revolutionary but really they're just going to end up being a bad attempt to emulate the success of NHL's controls, even the graphics are a clear step behind last year's NBA Live.

I actually feel bad for Kevin Durant being put on the cover of the game.

The control scheme has potentially revolutionary aspects to it, but I think these controls will ultimately go the same direction as the vision cone: hotly debated and ultimately toned down or scrapped altogether. Yes, having this much control is refreshing, but the controls are also geared towards stick skills people. A few tweaks to the ideas behind the control, perhaps meeting NBA 2K in the middle in terms of analog controls, would probably go a long way for the survivability of the controls.

As they stand right now, the controls are going to be very polarizing. People who are good on the sticks will love them, people who aren't will loathe them. As for me, I think the idea was good but the execution seems to be off and with time, I think more people will agree with that sentiment.

However, where the game really falls flat is where it matters: realism. Player movement on the court is decidedly sluggish and it's not fluid at all. If you aren't moving, neither are your teammates for the most part. Correct player spacing, jockeying for position: none of it is in NBA Elite.

Shooting seems a mixed bag with the controls. I like the idea behind shooting, but I think it's going to ultimately either limit or give no restrictions to offense. Someone who is good on the sticks might not miss a shot, I doubt it'll happen....but I won't be surprised to hear about it. Shot variety seems to be miss or swish, hardly any middle ground. That's not good at all.

Passing is jerky, as are animations. It really feels like the game is very static and moving from step a to step b at any given point. There's no real dynamics to it.

As things stand right now, roughly one week to release, there is literally no reason to consider NBA Elite 11 for your NBA gaming. NBA 2K does a better job at almost everything, and in most areas, the two games aren't even close. In my opinion, Elite 11 is a title that was best left unreleased. The Elite experiment is a multi-year process and EA would've done themselves a favor by making sure the game was ready for prime time by giving the guys an extra year.

I don't fault the developers for this, they were dealing with the equivalent of the Clippers organization hiring a new coach, trading the entire roster for undrafted practice squad members, and then being expected to deliver a championship team. They didn't have a chance here. The fault here lies with the people up the corporate food chain who decided to give unrealistic demands to a development team which was already battling from behind. As it stands, Elite 11 will most likely do the brand irreparable harm.

Unless of course the suits at EA were going for the irony factor with the name NBA Elite, then I completely understand their intentions.

Chris is the Executive Editor of Operation Sports and maintains this blog on the site. He is also a native Oklahoman and avid storm chaser. You can follow him on Twitter @ChrisSnr.

Comments

# 16 yellowboy91 @ Sep 21

The sucked so bad it was terrible 2k is getting preordered tomorrow i wanted to see what elite was about it was terrible big let down i guess ill see if ea failed with ea mma i hope not since im lookin forward to it

# 17 turftickler @ Sep 21

Well, after playing the demo a grand total of 25 games, I recant my post early when I said the gameplay was good. As I watched and played NBA Elite 11, I think I was just in awe of the ball control and shooting, but not so much anymore.

I am disappointed with the outcome of this, because I really wanted NBA Elite 11 to be worthy of my playing time. Unfortunately, I am left down in the dumps. Truly a sad day for the EA Sports NBA Elite 11 Dev team. I hope they pull it together for next year, if their is a next year for this series.

# 18 scatman @ Sep 21

Lol I feel really bad for EA folks for some reason.... I know most of those guys have probably read our comments, and just have no idea what it takes or what direction they want to pursue when making a basketball game.

For most of the devs in EA, they probably don't care what happens anyway, but I'm sure there is 1 or 2 (if that) that do care and have their name in the credits for this game. For me as a die hard basketball fan and a hopeful employee of the NBA someday, Elite 11 is disgusting to see. And as the author of this article said, I feel bad that Kevin Durant, the games' new star, the anti-Lebron if you will, has his name on this.

This game in no way shape of form reflects what KD brings to the game of basketball and if EA had any respect for itself or KD, they wouldn't use his name or image like this. It's embarrassing and sad to see where EA sports and basketball has come..... as my dude Blak_Baki_Hanma said "so glad EA changed the name to Elite because NBA Live deserved to die with SOME dignity".

# 19 VUUAASSHHH! @ Sep 21

And you ppl think NBA Jam shall save Elite11 from pit?? Both games will be dunked on by 2k11.
Boom-shaka-laka!! lolz

# 20 Dantecamp21 @ Sep 21

As I already stated this on the demo impressions thread but I'll say it again: yesterday was the saddest day of my gaming life history. I've owned every EA Sports NBA title since 89...I couldn't believe my eyes after a few seconds into the 5 vs 5 experience.

Dare I say it, I'd rather play NBA Live 07 over this...

# 21 turftickler @ Sep 21

I suddenly feel like I got sucker punched by a Mac Truck. It is too bad for this team that they couldn't have given us the demo 2 months ago and asked us what needed to be fixed before release. That might be the way things go from here on out.

Had a feeling that when Mike Wang left, everything would go south. I have mixed emotions toward Mike Wang now. Respect him for leaving, but hate that he did, but the dude has skill to pay the bills.

# 22 Suave35 @ Sep 21

I understand hard work was put into this game, but I feel that reconstructing the game wasn't a good move , due to the fact that you had a solid product on last year ! U don't get rid of a Rolls Royce cuz it has a dent! No disrespect , but just being honest ,and sharing my opinion

# 23 RaychelSnr @ Sep 21

@Suave35 I think that feeling is pretty common here man. I know I'm feeling the same way, it's a strange sense of regret, disappointment, and anger. We know those guys worked their butt off, but at the same time we know they were given an untenable position. You can't blow up a series like this and release something like Elite 11 in the middle. That's HORRIBLE corporate strategy. 2K nailed this by giving NHL 2K a year off.

If this game's outcome doesn't confirm my blog post earlier this year that said the change in direction was a desperation move by EA in response to 2K kicking their butts, I don't know what will.

# 24 Blak_Baki_Hanma @ Sep 21

@MMChris.... my bad, I'm still kinda new to OS, forums and blogs in general.
But your impression is spot on.
And having spent 15 years w/ this franchise, I'm sure the community can understand why so many of us are so touchy about what has been done to a long time fav...
Just disheartening.
And I really don't mean to damn the devs that come in here and participate.
I think it's cool as hell to interact w/ the ppl that make the games we enjoy.

This game just isn't any good.
Stuff happens... maybe next time.

# 25 Philstat @ Sep 21

I just can't get past how rough the player movement and animation is. Players jump and move in a VERY odd way, the game looks as if it's in alpha development stage. Thanks for telling the truth. I was hyped on this game for months, I was looking forward to trying something new, not anymore, as they say "be careful what you ask for".

# 26 DGMikeBarker @ Sep 21

It's funny how KD is the cover athlete for Elite but Westbrook is in the 2k commercials. Hope the locker room won't get divided.

# 27 kobe8ph @ Sep 21

I don't know what the fuzz is about the controls. I don't even think that these devs understand basketball at all....they made the game complicated in terms of 1on1 basketball but for 5on5, i don't think they paid significant attention to that. Firstly, i don't think this devs remember that it was NBA LIVE that came up with FREESTYLE CONTROL in which you dribble w/ the right stick and move with the left. It was good enough that knockout kings/fightnight followed with the right stick controls. "Revolutionary" should be taboo...they should not use it in the same sentence with NBA elite. I feel bad for KEVIN DURANT...i would even choose NBA 2K2 for the dreamcast over this hands down.

# 28 Symph7486 @ Sep 21

Well you know what..., All the pregame cut scenes and animation (particularly in Become Legendary mode) is top notch..., I always loved that since Live 10..., Video Production is really tight
But that's about the only thing Elite has over 2K11. Game-play is obviously most important. I dont understand how your video quality is so good..., and you have the in-game graphics looking like $h!+
With Elite it feels like im playing with little miniature men. 2K11 you get the full depth of an actual NBA game. It just feels more realistic..., (despite Ray Allen looking like a gorilla - lol )
Playing Elite felt like playing and watching a cartoon. Never been a 2K owner..., but best believe I plan on copin' that this year. Can't wait to see what Elite sales look like. This should be interesting.
And you know now looking back at all these videos, it just seems hilarious that these developers really believe like they made a breakthrough. And they had me going all the way up to the start of the the 5 v. 5 demo. The tutorial - Practice shoot around was cool.

# 29 Carrington618 @ Sep 21

mike wang left then they got the hockey guy to do a basket ball game

# 30 savoie2006 @ Sep 21

Baffling to me that EA would make a move like this just when they were begginning to get the series back on track on Live10. Much like when 2K decided to rebuild their hockey series with 2K9, a game that would have been better off unreleased, instead of just improving on 2K8 and changing the default control scheme. Unless they make some giant improvements for Elite12 they may not recover from this mess.

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