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

# 81 King_B_Mack @ 10/15/13 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlpimpmonsta


	Anything is possible. To think otherwise is crazy especially since the landscape of video games can change drastically in a blind of an eye. Remeber we wondered if 2K could overthrow Live a decade ago and they have. The same can happen to 2K. Nothing is untouchable in video games.

You're talking about two different things though here. The questions about 2K being able to overthrow Live a decade ago stemmed solely from a sales perspective because 2K's name just wasn't an established name going up against a juggernaut in EA Sports. Since NBA 2K has come on the scene they have owned Live in gameplay and presenting an accurate simulation of NBA basketball in video games. The sales eventually came years later, but EA's name value made it a "fight" for much longer than it should have been.

# 82 Gosens6 @ 10/15/13 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlpimpmonsta


	Anything is possible. To think otherwise is crazy especially since the landscape of video games can change drastically in a blind of an eye. Remeber we wondered if 2K could overthrow Live a decade ago and they have. The same can happen to 2K. Nothing is untouchable in video games.

Not only has 2K been winning the "War" way before EA cancelled Elite 11, Live 12, and 13, but now, they have a 3 year lead on an already one sided battle.

It's great that Live is back for the fans that enjoy this series, but to say that EA has a huge chance of dethroning 2K as the king of the virtual basketball court is just blind optimism. Realistically speaking, it probably won't happen ever, and if it does, it won't be for a very, very long time.

# 83 NoTiCe_O @ 10/15/13 12:34 PM

I think the problem is too many people are concerned with "winning the battle" when it's really not about winning the battle, at least from consumer standpoint. I mean if you're working for EA or 2k sure you want one company to do better, but to argue and shutdown other peoples opinions of a game because you don't think it's better is childish.

The fact of the matter is we have two basketball games on the market again, and if you like the sport of basketball you should be rooting for both, so that when you get tired of one style of gameplay you can switch to the other but still enjoy the sport of basketball.

When I had Live 10 and 2k10 I would play both, once I got sick of 2k I would switch to Live, after playing Live and getting sick of it I switch back to 2k, but overall I was having fun with BOTH games.

Who cares if Live messed up in the past, I mean some of you people must hold grudges in real life like no other, me I'm a fairly forgiving person so it's in my nature to want to see people do better than before. I'm giving both Live and an established 2k a chance. I'm not gonna knock someone because they pre-order Live over 2k, it's their choice. We as gamers should be happy we have options, yet people continue to argue over foolishness.

Live and 2k both have the potential on next gen to become great basketball games in their own right.

# 84 stlpimpmonsta @ 10/15/13 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gosens6


	Not only has 2K been winning the "War" way before EA cancelled Elite 11, Live 12, and 13, but now, they have a 3 year lead on an already one sided battle. It's great that Live is back for the fans that enjoy this series, but to say that EA has a huge chance of dethroning 2K as the king of the virtual basketball court is just blind optimism. Realistically speaking, it probably won't happen ever, and if it does, it won't be for a very, very long time.

Where the hell did i say "Huge" chance? Oh wait I didnt. I said Anything is possible which means they could but it also means they wont. Or is 2K paying your bills and this is how you repay them by misreading posts that arent completely possible towards 2k?

# 85 Gosens6 @ 10/15/13 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stlpimpmonsta


	Where the hell did i say "Huge" chance? Oh wait I didnt.

For one, wasn't specifying just you, I just quoted your post for context.

# 86 yungflo @ 10/15/13 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirs


	Dribbling is and should be important because it affects the players feet, mobility and fluidity of animations. Just look at the vid with the differences between 10 and 14. Major improvement not just in dribbling.

Care to share what other aspects than dribbling? Cause I'd love to hear them. Graphical withstanding.

# 87 yungflo @ 10/17/13 11:16 PM

you can't win a war in one battle. I don't get the hate anymore, its an improvement, its an obvious they are not going to beat the competition, Live was real good cause their arena was more dynamic, user control was more ****** game friendly so you didn't have to feel like a Tech god working to get the controls down. It can appeal to a lot of people and still sell, probably more than the competition like early years

The only problem with EA is now with the internet, they never been the underdog. [Critically, they have.all of their games are rated lower, despite selling more]In the old gen, you could get away with sliding and stuff, fans were just happy to see an NBA product they can play. I remember so many companies had the license. Now a days, everyone wants sim, if people want to invest 60 dollars in a fallen economy, then the game must be worth it. It has to be for a yearly edition. They want the full experience. Putting out a game that mimics sim, but isn't sim won't do it anymore. this isn't 2000. I think what EA needs to do is take a hard look at themselves in the mirror and ask themselves, what do we really want to do moving forward?

[I apologize for my typos, my keyboard sucks, and it costs 50 dollars to replace..and I'm not going to do that lol]

# 88 wordtobigbird @ 10/17/13 11:23 PM

If EA formed an alliance with the Lannisters and the Mother of Dragons. Maybe.

# 89 Sundown @ 10/18/13 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wordtobigbird


	If EA formed an alliance with the Lannisters and the Mother of Dragons. Maybe.

I hope 2K aren't the Starks.

# 90 lnin0 @ 10/19/13 01:02 PM

Quote:


	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.

I agree that EA's approach is to delight one segment of the community first and foremost. I think one feature spells out the group of gamers EA wants - UT kiddies outfitted with their parents' credit card and seeking to buy instant gratification.

Quote:


	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.

Indeed one of 2K's shortcomings has been its learning curve. 2K has always respected the full game of basketball and not just the highlight reel.

EA can set itself apart by building a game that is offensively overpowered, full of flashy, high-flying dunks that allows even the least knowledgeable basketball fan to feel like Jordan going up against a McDonald's HS All-Star. This is a proven model that EA is all too familiar with.

The question from the basketball fans perspective is - is this really a brick-by-brick strategy OR once EA has a foundation built from gold bricks do they ever come back and finish the house ? If history serves as a precedent, EA will just buy everyone else's house on the block and raises the rent to make theirs look the most attractive.

# 91 bigeastbumrush @ 10/19/13 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnin0


	I agree that EA's approach is to delight one segment of the community first and foremost. I think one feature spells out the group of gamers EA wants - UT kiddies outfitted with their parents' credit card and seeking to buy instant gratification.Indeed one of 2K's shortcomings has been its learning curve. 2K has always respected the full game of basketball and not just the highlight reel. EA can set itself apart by building a game that is offensively overpowered, full of flashy, high-flying dunks that allows even the least knowledgeable basketball fan to feel like Jordan going up against a McDonald's HS All-Star. This is a proven model that EA is all too familiar with. The question from the basketball fans perspective is - is this really a brick by brick strategy or once EA has a foundation built from gold bricks do they ever come back and finish the house ? If history is any answer, EA just buys everyone else's house on the block and raises the rent to make their look the most attractive.

Great analysis.

Time will tell if/when they release commercials.

All they have to do is showcase the dribbling (like the Kyrie dribbling CGI) and it will suck people in. The game can play like dog crap but people will flock to it because (and I can't believe I'm saying this) dribbling is fun.

# 92 23 @ 10/19/13 01:28 PM

So in other words yall telling me they should just come out and say theyre just making a pick up and play arcade game?

# 93 bigeastbumrush @ 10/19/13 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23


	So in other words yall telling me they should just come out and say theyre just making a pick up and play arcade game?

Come on man. You know the formula.

How much strategy is involved in Madden?

They released a trailer yesterday talking about 3,000 animations and super intelligence of the players.

I think it's a farce. But even if it is true, the majority of people playing will only care if it's fun.

If fun is the only thing you got going for yourself, work it. Because they can't claim anything else. Hence the 3 year plan.

# 94 23 @ 10/19/13 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigeastbumrush


	Come on man. You know the formula. How much strategy is involved in Madden? They released a trailer yesterday talking about 3,000 animations and super intelligence of the players. I think it's a farce. But even if it is true, the majority of people playing will only care if it's fun. If fun is the only thing you got going for yourself, work it. Because they can't claim anything else. Hence the 3 year plan.

The thing is there is only one football game out there.

They can lie all day but when its said and done they own the license. Not the case here.

# 95 DistortedAudio @ 10/28/13 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigeastbumrush


	Come on man. You know the formula. How much strategy is involved in Madden? They released a trailer yesterday talking about 3,000 animations and super intelligence of the players. I think it's a farce. But even if it is true, the majority of people playing will only care if it's fun. If fun is the only thing you got going for yourself, work it. Because they can't claim anything else. Hence the 3 year plan.

I think that's the way its worked with video games for a while now.

# 96 ataman5 @ 10/28/13 08:59 PM

Get Online Leagues right and get my money!

# 97 Mauer4MVP @ 10/29/13 03:35 PM

They could dethrone it by buying out 2k and producing the only basketball game.

Other than that, no chance. Have you seen the footage?

# 98 mof57 @ 10/29/13 06:58 PM

That forum is very closed. I talked crew it was removed. I said there new crew was a joke, gone faster then a cheetah. You cant say anything bad about the game.

# 99 hesko @ 10/30/13 12:08 AM

seems that way in all the forums. i thought these where set up to be that place where we could speak freely and honest about the games we love. bottom line nothing's perfect and i agree totally with criticism good or bad alongside healthy competition. that's how we get better. #nfl2kfever.

# 100 Boilerbuzz @ 11/02/13 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royounggoku


	I was talking about the 2k forum here on operationsports.

That's what HE was talking about as well.

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