OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?

Feature Article

Submitted on: 09/12/2013 by Jayson Young, Matthew Coe, Robert Kollars, Bishop Tart, Evan Crilley

Let's face it, NBA 2K is king currently.

There are no other game series which are awaited as anxiously by OS'ers than NBA 2K, and for the last couple of years the game has gone unchallenged on the marketplace.

Of course, changes this year as NBA Live 14 is entering stage right.

With such an ingrained dominance on the marketplace right now from NBA 2K, does NBA Live even stand a chance to make a mark on gamers this year and establish a foothold to work off of?

Bishop Tart: EA knows they have to release NBA Live this year, and it will of course see the light of day come this November. Does it need to be the best basketball game ever? No; but it does need to be a competent basketball game at the very least.

Although we have yet to see any 5-on-5 footage (2K has yet to show any for NBA 2K14 next gen as well), I think they can establish a foothold. The one positive they have is that NBA Live 14 is being developed only for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. That means they can dedicate everything to those next gen consoles and get the most out of each one. They won't win the battle against 2K with one relase, but competition is always good for the consumer.

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 Live series 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.

Evan Crilley: I honestly think EA can steal a steal a sizeable portion of 2K's market share as long as they focus in the right places and deliver unique features. I equate it to the Battlefield series vs Call of Duty series, both sell a ton of copies despite being within the same genre so both have to find ways to differentiate from one another.

Battlefield (2K) is more realistic. Rounds take forever, but feel complete and full of options, strategies, and gameplay elements to choose your route to victory. Call of Duty (EA) is all about get in and get out as quick as you can in multiple game resembling a military shooter, but sacrificing some elements of realism to lead to a more fun, arcady, and social experience with a small group of friends.

I believe the EA NBA series can borrow a page from their EA NHL brethren and pick up users where 2K is weak, that being the online play. Imagine an EASHL type mode with 5v5 (user v user) matchups of created players vying for wins and titles versus one another. Basketball is probably the only sport other than hockey or soccer which lends itself to such a mode with grab and go appeal.

If EA adopts this strategy and throws in an addictive Ultimate Team mode (which they never fail to do) they can chip away at pretty much everywhere where 2K leaves their customers wanting more. Start with this as a base point and use the revenues and expanding user base to build and add on to the online and offline franchise/association modes, and EA has a recipe for success to take on 2K in the next-gen battle for hard court supremacy.

Jayson Young: As someone who enjoyed NBA Live 10's five-on-five team play mode until the servers were shut down, Electronic Arts undoubtedly has an opportunity to bring in online players who are tired of NBA 2K's continually weak multiplayer experience.

Even after rewriting their entire online code base, 2K Sports still hasn't been able to deliver a multiplayer mode that is worth playing. It has been amazing to watch a sports franchise that was so ahead of its time on the Dreamcast fall so far behind the times on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

If Electronic Arts can successfully incorporate the team play mode from FIFA and match that with the connected career mode from Madden, then NBA Live 14 could be a huge seller for online-starved basketball gamers.

Robert Kollars: I think Live has a great chance if they can put out a quality product - and quality doesn't mean it has to be perfect.

Of course EA has a ways to go recoup some of their fan-base, but that is a given considering the last game released was NBA Live 10. We all know the story of the past promises and cancellation debacles - I think it's time to finally move past that storyline. I for one plan on judging this Fall's release on it's own merits, and not that of previous development teams.

I am a firm believer that there is plenty of room for two quality basketball titles, and never understood the idea of rooting for one to fail. Competition means quality, and if EA can deliver a solid product come November, everyone comes out a winner.

What do you think OS? Does NBA Live stand a chance to establish a foothold in basketball gamer's hearts and minds?

NBA Live 14 Videos

Member Comments

# 81 LRBTODAY @ 09/14/13 03:26 AM

And now Live is pushed back..............

# 82 oldman @ 09/14/13 09:34 AM

I think we all can agree, unless Live is released on Day One then it will bomb. Sure there will be some people that still like it, but it will not succeed.

Now on a positive note I am not ready to say that it won't be a launch day release yet.

# 83 cdwjustin @ 09/14/13 10:09 AM

Competition is good im glad its coming back for NBA too bad it will never come back for NFL... Go figure the Tax Exempt non profit organization know as the NFL sign a for profit huge $$$dollar$$$ deal with EA.... Its sickening plain and simple they pulling this for profit **** for decades and they are tax exempt their the worst of all the pro sports

# 84 oldman @ 09/14/13 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdwjustin


	Competition is good im glad its coming back for NBA too bad it will never come back for NFL... Go figure the Tax Exempt non profit organization know as the NFL sign a for profit huge $$$dollar$$$ deal with EA.... Its sickening plain and simple they pulling this for profit **** for decades and they are tax exempt their the worst of all the pro sports

The NFL's tax exempt status is not because they are a non-profit organization (i.e. a charity), it is because it is classified as a trade organization. Big difference.

# 85 cbjr @ 09/14/13 09:10 PM

Unless EA is willing to sell its game at a bargain price, people would rather spend the money for 2K if they had to make a choice. They would have to totally blow 2K away with graphics, game play and roster updates to win this round

# 86 I Djm @ 09/14/13 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbjr


	Unless EA is willing to sell its game at a bargain price, people would rather spend the money for 2K if they had to make a choice. They would have to totally blow 2K away with graphics, game play and roster updates to win this round

if i had to make a choice i wouldn't spend it on 2k

# 87 kd35okc @ 09/15/13 12:09 PM

EA sports twitter :
#NBALIVE14 is coming in the next-gen launch window. Today's blog was about gen-3 to gen-4 titles. First game screen coming Monday!

# 88 riggs6taters @ 09/15/13 03:26 PM

This article title and entire article is a shame. This website tries way too hard to make sure they show bias for 2K. I mean it's like people on here think that game has no flaws...Does Live stand a chance? lol what a joke last time I checked Live did just fine back when they were making games.

Hey OS wipe yourself off, your bias is showing.

# 89 Rockie_Fresh88 @ 09/15/13 09:33 PM

This article is pretty cool

http://gamingbolt.com/dev-explains-w...ngine-benefits

If EA can back this talk up it'll be one hell of a game

# 90 SageInfinite @ 09/15/13 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mars5541


	This article is pretty cool http://gamingbolt.com/dev-explains-w...ngine-benefits If EA can back this talk up it'll be one hell of a game

A little disappointed in the living worlds description. I thought it had more to do with the arena environment/atmosphere and not the content they are going to be delivering.

# 91 jcofor25 @ 09/16/13 11:53 AM

The only way I see EA stealing fans from 2k is getting the non-sim gamers. I had Live 10. It reminds me of the March Madness series. Live has had the ugliest player models. They look like they have a food disorder, just waaay too skinny. I know 2k isn't perfect but they look more like the real life counterparts. I mean just look at Lives Ricky Rubio. He looks like he has chicken legs.

# 92 TheLetterZ @ 09/16/13 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riggs6taters


	This article title and entire article is a shame. This website tries way too hard to make sure they show bias for 2K. I mean it's like people on here think that game has no flaws...Does Live stand a chance? lol what a joke last time I checked Live did just fine back when they were making games. Hey OS wipe yourself off, your bias is showing.

EA Sports' NBA sales of new games in the last three years: Zero.

You don't think that's cause for skepticism?

Hell, EA Sports has released a college basketball game more recently than they've released an NBA game! And that was three years ago!

# 93 WarlordZMaster @ 09/16/13 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

I would "like" to see NBA Live succeed. I grew up on it with Lakers v Celtics and Trailblazers v Bulls way back in the day. Competition is always good as the Madden series has made me lose interest in f'ball gaming. And i still hve fond memories of Madden and Mutant league from EA. Sadly, i watched EA become a gaming giant and lose focus and commitment to quality games, only to focus on shortcuts to make $.

# 94 bumpyface @ 09/16/13 05:31 PM

I'm skeptical up to this point. You would imagine (or at least I would) that by this time EA would have given up gameplay video and a lot more details than what they have produced thus far. I'll have it sent through gamefly, but I'm not expecting to like it. I'm not trying to hate or anything, and I would love for EA to give 2k some comp, but I just don't see it.

# 95 bumpyface @ 09/16/13 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpenias


	Don't care about all star weekend things. Don't care about street-balling. Don't care how many sneakers I can buy my player. JUST WORK AS WELL ONLINE THAN IT DOES OFF

You and I are brothers.

# 96 BaylorBearBryant @ 09/16/13 11:03 PM

If they unleash a hella good online mode similar to the EASHL in the NHL series, it could knock 2K out. Crews mode is terrible.

# 97 FR33 @ 09/17/13 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DatGD12guage


	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.

I agree! I have been a 2K fan since Dreamcast, but Live did have some little nuances in presentation that I always liked better. Game play just seemed a little too arcady on Live to me. There usually isn't a huge difference in the graphics. Like you said DatGD12guage's, we're in for something different on the new systems. I can't wait to see how 2K & Live look on next gen systems. I also agree with Robert Kollars that the competition will be good.

Now if only we can get a return of 2K football.........

# 98 knick9 @ 09/17/13 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaylorBearBryant


	If they unleash a hella good online mode similar to the EASHL in the NHL series, it could knock 2K out. Crews mode is terrible.

I never played the NHL series but agree with the idea. I've been saying for awhile that 2k's weakness is online play and consistent up****** of the game--two important areas EA could really dominate. If they can create semi-realistic gameplay they definitely have a chance. Also, now that 2K has strongly emphasized earning "VC" which involves a lot of monotonous, time-wasting, mind-numbing, button mashing and/or paying actual money--a game without all that nonsense would be really appealing to a lot of people.

# 99 miamifan1997 @ 09/17/13 05:30 PM

Looking at the screenshots, Live looks like trash. No one other than Kyrie looks anything like real life and all shoes, accessories, etc. look extremely generic. That being said, even with all that Live will win me over if there is a more RPG feel to a career mode. That is what I have been looking for. And that screenshot of looking out into the Arena gives me chills thinking about the possibilities of being able to walk from a locker room into an arena in the game

# 100 The 24th Letter @ 09/17/13 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riggs6taters


	This article title and entire article is a shame. This website tries way too hard to make sure they show bias for 2K. I mean it's like people on here think that game has no flaws...Does Live stand a chance? lol what a joke last time I checked Live did just fine back when they were making games. Hey OS wipe yourself off, your bias is showing.

Was the last time you checked 2009?

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