How NBA Live Could Dethrone NBA 2K

Feature Article

Submitted on: 10/09/2013 by James Kerti

It will take several years and good games along the way, but Live has a chance.

The gaming landscape has changed greatly in the four years since NBA Live and NBA 2K last faced off in competition.

NBA Live went on vacation; NBA 2K grew into a juggernaut.

If EA Sports tries to recapture the basketball gaming market out of the gate, it will be like Jose Calderon trying to guard Kobe. To return to relevance, the Live team needs to rebuild brick by brick.

By focusing on delighting one segment of the community at a time, they can win over different groups of gamers and convert them into loyal customers. To optimize this process, EA can focus on gamers who feel that 2K falls short of satisfying their main desires.

Thankfully, EA picked the perfect way to start.

Despite the many joys of playing NBA 2K14, its one-on-one dribble game has never felt quite as responsive and rewarding as it could.

NBA Live 14's introduction of BounceTek – coupled with the series' historical success in that area – underscores its devotion to nailing that aspect of the game. To many basketball fans and gamers, nothing captures the sport's allure quite like a tight crossover leading to broken ankles and a high-flying dunk. By making this part of NBA Live as rewarding as possible, EA can start winning people over.

Live has to win gamers back piece by piece.

From there, EA can move on to dominating another subset of the market.

Resurrecting Be A Pro mode (it's now called Rising Star) could make a huge difference. Especially with the joy of using BounceTek dribbling to pull off highlight reel plays.

Rising Star mode also lets you go online, allowing would-be NBA All-Stars to take their players into tournaments and leagues with their online teams. With some gamers feeling a bit underwhelmed with NBA 2K14's Crew mode return, NBA Live 14 could snag a few more fans if Rising Star impresses.

NBA Live could possibly develop Rising Star into a more full-featured mode like Connected Careers in Madden. This mode satisfies both the competitive one-on-one diehards, as well as the gamers who crave a more immersive franchise experience.

But NBA Live won’t become a contender in a day. Building a complete basketball game, both in terms of modes and gameplay, takes time and practice. Trial and error plays a role in finding balance and success.

2K Sports had years to build what they offer now. EA can't hope to close the chasm between the two in the span of a year or two. They can, however, eliminate small gaps one at a time.

With strong first impressions from Rising Star and BounceTek, EA can jump back into the basketball gaming world and make an impact this year regardless of how rough other areas of the game turn out. They will start building a devoted, loyal NBA Live following immediately. Adding a new segment of customers to that group each year will build the momentum necessary to get even more gamers on the bandwagon.

And if NBA 2K can't counter this strategy, they will eventually find themselves looking up at NBA Live as they did during the heyday of the PlayStation 2.

NBA Live 14 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 poloelite @ 10/09/13 02:20 PM

Yo, let's not forget that the dethroning of Live happened when 2k11 dropped (one of the greatest ever) and NBA Elite didn't ship. I don't see 2K making that awful mistake next gen and Live has a long way to go to deliver a classic. If we're honest, the last time they came close to delivering a classic NBA Live would be 04, if you're being generous. So to think they're hiding this masterpiece of a game, after we saw the NBA Live 13 video isn't a bright assumption. It's actually a ton of wishful thinking. 2K and Live went to battle and they both earned their spots. You cancel Elite, cancel Live 13 and a month out you haven't shown any gameplay, you should expect criticism, skepticism and down right hate. If you drop 2k11-2k14 that has seen the biggest and best years of video game basketball strung together, then you deserve the benefit of the doubt that you won't screw up next gen. It's not about being a fan boy, more than keeping it 100.

# 22 poloelite @ 10/09/13 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poloelite


	Yo, let's not forget that the dethroning of Live happened when 2k11 dropped (one of the greatest ever) and NBA Elite didn't ship. I don't see 2K making that awful mistake next gen and Live has a long way to go to deliver a classic. If we're honest, the last time they came close to delivering a classic NBA Live would be 04, if you're being generous. So to think they're hiding this masterpiece of a game, after we saw the NBA Live 13 video isn't a bright assumption. It's actually a ton of wishful thinking. 2K and Live went to battle and they both earned their spots. You cancel Elite, cancel Live 13 and a month out you haven't shown any gameplay, you should expect criticism, skepticism and down right hate. If you drop 2k11-2k14 that has seen the biggest and best years of video game basketball strung together, then you deserve the benefit of the doubt that you won't screw up next gen. It's not about being a fan boy, more than keeping it 100.

**It's not about being a fan boy, it's about keeping it 100.

# 23 cree ross @ 10/09/13 02:31 PM

because i haven't seen any gameplay i'm worried about nba live 14

# 24 juicey79 @ 10/09/13 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoTiCe_O


	I was on youtube looking for a Kyrie Irving video to prove the same point, good post Skopin

Yeah awesome in a non nba game mode...how often does that happen in the regular season...1 a week if that.
Nice feature but that is a small component that's why showing gameplay is essential.

# 25 scottyp180 @ 10/09/13 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poloelite


	Yo, let's not forget that the dethroning of Live happened when 2k11 dropped (one of the greatest ever) and NBA Elite didn't ship. I don't see 2K making that awful mistake next gen and Live has a long way to go to deliver a classic. If we're honest, the last time they came close to delivering a classic NBA Live would be 04, if you're being generous. So to think they're hiding this masterpiece of a game, after we saw the NBA Live 13 video isn't a bright assumption. It's actually a ton of wishful thinking. 2K and Live went to battle and they both earned their spots. You cancel Elite, cancel Live 13 and a month out you haven't shown any gameplay, you should expect criticism, skepticism and down right hate. If you drop 2k11-2k14 that has seen the biggest and best years of video game basketball strung together, then you deserve the benefit of the doubt that you won't screw up next gen. It's not about being a fan boy, more than keeping it 100.

Good point. Even at the start of last gen 2k started on the right foot. 2k6 for 360 was just as good if not better than its current gen version and 2k stuck with that formula and improved year after year. Ea decided to go a different route with live 06 and it was essentially a reboot for the series which in theory sounded great. And then for the next 4 years ea released some of the most unsatisfying basketball games. Live 10 appeared as though live was finally on the right track...and we all know what happened from there. I want live to continue to exist and hopefully this game, at worst, will be a playable and enjoyable basketball game that EA can build on in the future but its hard to have confidence in this game. 2k doesn't need to show off 2k14 for nextgen because at worst it will be the same as current gen with better graphics. Live on the other hand should have been shown off weeks if not months ago. I want this game to be good but my faith is all but lost. Ea needs to show some kind of sign of life soon if not we might be hearing rumblings of a cancellation yet again.

# 26 joeisup @ 10/09/13 03:30 PM

GUYS NEW SCREENSHOTS! ON INSTAGRAM !!!!!!http://instagram.com/p/fQKXE0yHS0/ nd another of the cleveland court http://instagram.com/p/fQKdckyHTA/

# 27 Gosens6 @ 10/09/13 03:38 PM

Arena looks a bit too dark all the way around. Here's a real life pic for comparisons sake..

# 28 poloelite @ 10/09/13 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosens6


	Arena looks a bit too dark all the way around. Here's a real life pic for comparisons sake..

I didn't read you comment at first and thought this was the screen shot. My jaw dropped for a second lol.

# 29 poloelite @ 10/09/13 03:48 PM

I didn't read *your*

# 30 Rebel_INS @ 10/09/13 03:51 PM

We don't believe u, u need more people...

# 31 Jarbeez @ 10/09/13 03:59 PM

So here is the thing, we want competition between our video game makers. If EA bombs this year, meaning they make no money and then they just forever leave the NBA basketball market that hurts us the gamers overall. So in some ways it makes a little sense to invest in the future... At the end of the day I don't know what I'm gonna do, but I'm hoping at least enough people buy it to keep the market open for EA just for that reason alone.

# 32 Cold_Fries @ 10/09/13 04:09 PM

I'm sorry but I think ea is gonna cancel this one too, they saw that small next gen 2k clip and they realized that **** was real.. Literally

# 33 Cold_Fries @ 10/09/13 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poloelite


	I didn't read you comment at first and thought this was the screen shot. My jaw dropped for a second lol.

Mine too!! Lmaoo

# 34 Gosens6 @ 10/09/13 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cold_Fries


	Mine too!! Lmaoo

Trust me guys, I wish it was hahaha

# 35 Sundown @ 10/09/13 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MMChrisS


	If EA Sports tries to recapture the basketball gaming market out of the gate, it will be like Jose Calderon trying to guard Kobe. To return to relevance, the Live team needs to rebuild brick by brick.

For a basketball game, not sure this was the best choice of wording.

# 36 VilleCity101 @ 10/09/13 04:39 PM

Lets not 4get EA has been making bball games 4 over 20 years. Live doesnt get a "pass" just because THEY decided 2 make crappy bball games. 2k is not going 2 give up tha crown they fought so hard 2 get.

# 37 juicey79 @ 10/09/13 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skopin


	I'm not seeing your point. Players dribble the ball all the time. It is a major part of the game of basketball. Sure, ankles don't get broken every game, but it's a highlight. Would you go see a movie if the trailer made it look mundane? Probably not.

When u posted a highlight vid of dribble moves i thought you point of emphasis was to showcase the importance of BounceTek, when actually coaches want as less dribbling as possible...they would rather have movement of the ball from passing thanks dribbling around for 5-7 secs...in reality true basketball isn't played like that and the success of that play is very rare in real life and recreational that's why it was a highlight

# 38 The 24th Letter @ 10/09/13 05:34 PM

I truly think Live will come out of the gates beating 2k on the presentation front as far as accessories, colors, shoes and all that...

The problem is well, pretty much everything else...IMO they have a lot of ground to make up as far as things like signature style, gameplay etc.

Well see what they can do..

# 39 nick_sr @ 10/09/13 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VilleCity101


	Lets not 4get EA has been making bball games 4 over 20 years. Live doesnt get a "pass" just because THEY decided 2 make crappy bball games. 2k is not going 2 give up tha crown they fought so hard 2 get.

fought hard? ea hasn't dropped a ball game in 3 years, pretty easy to take the crown that way lol

# 40 DonWuan @ 10/09/13 07:14 PM

Have decent gameplay and association type mode and its a slight win for me.

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