NBA Live's Not So Secret Weapon? - RaychelSnr's Blog

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RaychelSnr's Blog

NBA Live's Not So Secret Weapon? Stuck

Posted on September 25, 2013 at 12:04 PM.

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Somewhere, someday, someone is going to have a backcourt with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson with Wilt Chamberlin and Lebron James in their frontcourt.

I, of course, am talking about the day in the future when Basketball Ultimate Team becomes reality.

It's coming, you and I both know it is. While we have heard nothing concrete to suggest Ultimate Team will or won't be included in NBA Live 14, the mode is such an obvious cash cow for EA that I don't think we'll get past NBA Live 15 without seeing it.

And if Live can deliver on gameplay, then there is no other sport better built for Ultimate Team than basketball. Fewer players on a team, bigger superstars -- it's a mode begging to be put into Live quickly.

And it's the type of mode which can attract a lot more fans than it does in other sports.

But, let's take a moment to pause -- because thus far we haven't seen real five on five gameplay from NBA Live, we don't know what the game is bringing with it to the table. So don't take this as me declaring the game will be great, I am just as (if not more) skeptical as everyone else.

Fool me once shame on me. Fool me twice....well....

But let's imagine the possibilities of Basketball Ultimate Team. If EA can sign on a bunch of classic players to compliment the current players in the game, then a theoretical Basketball Ultimate Team mode would have real legs to work on.

Build a team of 10-12 players, use a mixture of current stars and superstars -- play seasons, complete challenges -- it's all there for the taking. Imagine if some of Basketball Ultimate Team's challenges simply involved beating historical teams or besting historical moments or reaching individual milestones.

Of course, there is a segment of players who will never touch Ultimate Team modes, and that is fine. But FIFA's Ultimate Team mode garners much praise and offers with it a lot of fan support, I see no reason why Basketball Ultimate Team with classic players from classic teams couldn't do the same thing.

I was skeptical about Ultimate Team modes not so long ago, declaring the NCAA Football Ultimate Team mode a gigantic waste of time and a misunderstanding of what NCAA gamers wanted. What happened instead is that the mode ended up doing quite well for itself and a lot of people have gotten behind it, myself included. Count me as an Ultimate Team fan, convert and believer now.

NBA Live 14 will have to prove itself in other areas first -- the gameplay has to be workable and solid and the game itself needs to deliver good basketball. You can't have Ultimate Team without players willing to play games, so job number one is and will have to be to deliver a basketball experience fans can get behind.

But when it comes time, either this year or next year -- Basketball Ultimate Team is coming and I personally can't wait to give it a shot.

Do you think an Ultimate Team mode in NBA Live would be a success?

Comments

# 1 poloelite @ Sep 25

I think it could be a success if the gameplay delivers. What I found difficult in 2k's offering of My Team was the lack of variety in what you can do in the mode (seasons, auctions, play a friend, etc.). EA seems to nail this in their other games, so a mixture of the two could be huge. This is one of the areas where I think they can close the gap in perception of the two games.

# 2 P4N748E42 @ Sep 25

yes i think it will be a huge success...in fifa its massively popular AND it creates a whole new revenue stream for the game. im guessing ultimate team game modes and the evolution of those modes (ie you compete with a team that is your own with your own identity and personality rather than compete with a real life franchise) will become sports gamings core. i called this a million years ago. just sayin....

# 3 RaychelSnr @ Sep 25

A good call for sure P4n748E42 (man I hate usernames sometimes! haha)....I really do think so long as the gameplay is good Ultimate Team will see its best days as a basketball mode. There was a rumor back on 5/1 it will be in this year's game, it'd be easy to get this year's game with simply current players. However, when classic players are introduced is when this mode will really take off IMO! (Given good gameplay, which I'm not 100% sold on yet)

# 4 GrandMaster B @ Sep 25

Also don't forget about having EASBL.

# 5 juicey79 @ Sep 25

Where is the trailer?

# 6 LingeringRegime @ Sep 25

Ultimate Team only works when everyone is on a level playing field. But, we all know that it would be saturated with micro transactions so it loses it's integrity from the jump. It would be great without them, but that will never happen.

# 7 LingeringRegime @ Sep 25

There is no fun when you HAVE to buy your team to even compete. I lose all interest in a mode like that.