You can say what you want about Live (I know that I have) but the name WAS recognized around the video game world. This is a HUGE risk from EA, and I don't think that it will help. In this market, you need to go with a reliable name.

More importantly, why in the world would they use the NCAA hockey license in NHL '11, but not use the NCAA basketball license in NBA Elite? Even if profits were low on NCAA, there were still profits. At the very least, I don't see why they don't charge $10 as DLC to cover the licensing fees and include college teams.

While I just don't like the name, and the name change could cause sales to tank because of name recognition being lost, I think if they pull off this new, real-time physics engine and gameplay, this could be a great thing for EA. Live 10 really grabbed me and 2K10 didn't get my dollars. First time since NBA2K came out that I decided to buy Live instead of it. I don't want to really go back especially if this new gaming engine wows me...but I still look forward to seeing what the 2K cats are up to. I still keep a fair mind about things.

@Buddy - I agree...they definitely have done focus groups and whatnot on this. But honestly, those mean very little once the rubber hits the road. If the game isn't of awesome quality, it will bomb...and I don't know how much confidence I have in the game surpassing NBA 2K. However, EA Canada has historically handled series re-boots (NHL, FIFA) VERY well. Both of those games are simply top-notch, so it's anyone's guess.

@chandley - I thought that EA was missing an opportunity here as well. I think the problem with doing the same thing with the NCAA BBall license is that it's actually kind of expensive, so packaging the teams in DLC would be tough. You wouldn't be able to get all 318 in the package and only including a few would be kind of lame IMHO.

@Logic Dr I think you are right the concept is possibly brilliant. But if the game isn't up to par quality wise (very possible) then you lose name recognition. If the game gets subpar reviews, you are going to have some issues with sales...perhaps a bigger uphill battle than Live was already facing. The new focus is a good one, but I'm clearly in a wait and see mode on this. While EA Canada has done a great job on stuff like this before... and while basketball games have been stale for a long time...it's possible EA could really be making a huge mistake here. It's a risk which reeks of a bit of desperation and we'll have to see if it plays out in their favor.

I think the name change is just that - a name change. After all is said and done, if EA is able to put a solid product out for all to play and provides a stimulating, fun experience, then I say EA will continue with this franchise and work to make the title the Madden equivalent to 2K's NBA. It just seems they have so many years vested in the product and development not to. I could only perhaps see them letting the product lapse like Fight Night, only to come back to it "new and improved" a year or two later....

I believe the name change is just that...a name change. And while everybody is busy loving and/or hating the Elite title....EA could very well be on it's way to revolutionizing the genre. It could be all smoke and mirrors as well. I think that they are ready to snatch back the crown from 2K. Live 10' was a good game of basketball that was pretty sim. NBA Live 09 was a much better step up from 08'....so I think that for them to go on a Media Blitz THIS EARLY......they have to have a Trump card up their sleeve. Otherwise this is going to backfire in their face in a pretty ugly way!

@bigsmallwood - I think you are onto something there probably. I feel they have to have something special up their sleeves which they feel a name change would compliment. Otherwise, EA is making a horrible mistake here...but it wouldn't be the first time a big corporation has done something incredibly stupid.

I'm pretty sure I've heard somewhere that they weren't even going to try to do a sim game anymore. I don't think Elite is the same thing as NBA Live... they're just so far behind 2k they're giving up entirely.

( Plus 2k just put the nail in the coffin... I don't even like video game basketball, but I AM buying the new 2k game... Michael Jordan on the cover? Friggin' historical. Nobody's done anything like that since Desmond Howard was on NCAA )

@adembroski: You probably heard wrong. David Littman (who is also the creative director on the NHL Series) is now the creative director on the NBA series as well. He was always about bringing authenticity to NHL armed with an intuitive control scheme. My guess is they are going to try to do the same thing with NBA. Theres likely going to be no speed burst (LS analog control instead), Right Stick will pretty much do everything that a basketball player can do with his hands including defensive controls, shooting and fancy moves, and R2/RT will become the pass button.

Boooooo!!!!!

Live is so garbage, ea might as well let 2k have the dam basketball and concentrate on football and hockey. and fifa too cuz that ish is dope too lol. basketball and ea is a lost cause tho. 100

@adembroski How is Jordan being the cover athlete the nail in the coffin? I don't by ether game or any sports title based on who the choose for the cover. I guess i can see how this impacts a kids decision to buy a game but for most adult and hardcore sim fans this has no baring on what the game will be. I might add i'm a huge Jordan fan but it doesn't make me want the game.

Even though Live 10 was good, EA had to do something because for the past 6 or 7 years before that, depending on whom you asked they would say Live was garbage. I know that's what I was saying... It's crazy, when I went back to Live last year and tried to reconvert my old friends back to it from 2k which took me FOREVER to convert them to in the first place... they wouldn't come back. It's crazy how people are so close minded.