OS Roundtable: Does Live Stand a Chance?
Submitted on: 09/12/2013 by
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.
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.
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.
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?
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