NBA Live 15: Is the Delay a Reason for Panic or Optimism?

Feature Article

Submitted on: 09/09/2014 by

In case you have been living under a rock today, NBA Live 15 has been delayed until October 28. For EA to delay a sports game is pretty unprecedented, especially at this stage in the game. Given the slow trickle of PR releases, and the rumblings we've been hearing, this is a move that likely was made some weeks ago.

There are several things this could mean, it could mean the game isn't finished and may not be by October 28. It could mean the team simply needed a few more weeks to finish the game and it'll actually come out better. It could mean the game will be cancelled, it's not like this hasn't happened before.

So with that, what do you think the delay means for NBA Live 15?

James Kerti: Given the track record of the series over the last half-decade, it's hard not to fear the worst when hearing about the game being delayed. A delay this close to release leads to worry in general. This series hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt. Plus, we haven't seen much in the way of information and footage to comfort us. I'm worried.

Matthew Coe: This is a pretty big surprise to me honestly. I had hoped that the game was shaping up to be a surprise and restore some hope for the NBA Live franchise. This is a troubling sign.

While we don't have the particular reasons behind this delay, I think we can draw a couple of logical conclusions. One of them is that EA has seen the backlash of releasing an incomplete NHL 15 and was probably planning a similar strategy for Live, patching in extra modes, etc. I think that the NBA team couldn't risk even more negative press for a brand that is already tarnished so badly. So hopefully EA uses the extra time to work on franchise/dynasty modes and overall polish. NBA Live 15 cant afford a disaster like last year's game.

Robert Kollars: This is not a surprise to me at all as there were some odd signs out there that started to have the game's fan-base question things again.

This doesn't affect my decision to purchase the game, and I have no issue with a company delaying a game to tighten it up before retail release. If EA had a better track record the last 4-5 years with this title, people wouldn't think twice about the delay. Sadly though, the recent problems will be attached on a yearly basis until this title is has hit its groove and is consistently strong.

Dustin Toms: This is more than a delay. EA has to be throwing in the towel if the game is getting pushed back to the end of October. NBA Live 14 was a collosal disaster on next-gen consoles everywhere. If this year's iteration is in need of "more time," then why bother? EA has delayed Live before, which turned out to be a complete cancel. The track record is not good.

With the NBA 2K franchise becoming a top-selling video game, not just a sports game, EA should pull their funds (and Live team) and pool it in with NHL to give them the help they need. If NHL rises up on next-gen with quality franchises such as Madden and FIFA, EA will be just fine.

Leave NBA Live on the shelf. It was a (kind of) good run.

Chris Sanner: NBA Live 15 is not going to be like Live 13 or Elite 11 -- at least I don't think. At this point, EA still plans to release the game, but I'm sure that was the case the last two EA basketball delays as well. Simply put, Live 15 either has to come onto store shelves or the series will be dead. If the game can't ship this year, the series itself needs to be abandoned because there is no path forward.

On the other hand, the extra time will do for Live what a delay could have done for NHL -- it gives the developers a bit of extra time to fine tune the game and get some key elements they know they need to add into it. We don't know the exact condition of Live so it's impossible to judge how much work the title needs at this point. The gameplay videos tend to point to more week being needed.

The problem for Live will be its competitor will almost certainly be higher rated and more highly acclaimed -- and it will have three weeks to convince consumers of that before Live even gets a chance. While live is showing off its improved AI in teaser videos, players will be getting the chance to play NBA 2K15. The commercial success of Live is already going to be a disappointment, if the series is to continue, the critical success of the series has to take a step forward.

NBA Live 15 Videos

Member Comments

# 1 arkhamRejek @ 09/09/14 12:44 PM

At least they know that it is not up to the standards of the users. But seriously they had long enough

# 2 Rockie_Fresh88 @ 09/09/14 12:53 PM

Panic . No show in August. Barely any footage shown. The 3 second clips looked promising but that's it. I don't know what else to make of the game

The delay tells me that the game is not up to standards yet . 3 weeks might polish a few things but what made them choose that over a patch? seriously need to flood us with info and videos over the next couple weeks to even keep interest.

# 3 23 @ 09/09/14 01:06 PM

Dustin has a typo in his section.

I'm wondering honestly if the delay is 3 weeks

How much extra time is it really when they have to still get it certified and printed and shipped by then?

# 4 El_Poopador @ 09/09/14 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23


	Dustin has a typo in his section. I'm wondering honestly if the delay is 3 weeks How much extra time is it really when they have to still get it certified and printed and shipped by then?

I'm guessing the game will already be printed and shipped (or ready to ship), but they're working on a day 1 patch to add what they're working on. Rather than release the game and have it out for a month before the fixes are in, they're holding the release date until the fixes are done so everyone can get them as soon as the game is started up.

At least, I would hope that's the logic behind the delay. But you're right; everything that's going on the disc is pretty much done at this point.

# 5 tsbmolina @ 09/09/14 01:17 PM

RIP NBA Live, you lived off your past legacy far to long as is.

# 6 stillfeelme @ 09/09/14 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Poopador


	I'm guessing the game will already be printed and shipped (or ready to ship), but they're working on a day 1 patch to add what they're working on. Rather than release the game and have it out for a month before the fixes are in, they're holding the release date until the fixes are done so everyone can get them as soon as the game is started up. At least, I would hope that's the logic behind the delay. But you're right; everything that's going on the disc is pretty much done at this point.

I agree and said something similar in the other thread. They didn't get a chance to fix everything that is expected by ship date. This gives them a chance to fix/patch stuff in without bad press that they planned on patching in.

# 7 Junior Moe @ 09/09/14 01:45 PM

I wasn't planning on picking up Live 15. However ,I was looking forward to seeing how far along the franchise has come and maybe giving Live 16 a shot. Now, I'm not sure what to think of this series or whether or not it will even be around long enough to legitimately challenge 2K. I have read that EA is committed to the franchise long term, so we'll see. But this ain't good in my book.

# 8 23 @ 09/09/14 01:46 PM

Let's keep on topic and stop paying stuff that has nothing to do with the topic itself including on other people directly or indirectly

# 9 SageInfinite @ 09/09/14 01:50 PM

I'm never optimistic with Tiburon. If it was another dev sure, more time could only be good, but Tiburon nah.....

# 10 RipCityAndy @ 09/09/14 01:57 PM

The title of this roundtable is confusing. Is anyone actually optimistic by the delay?

# 11 the_future420 @ 09/09/14 01:58 PM

I don't know enough about programming and developing cycles to say whether the 3 weeks will make a difference, but as of now I look at it as a positive. The release date is still before the tip off of the season so we're not missing anything with respect to the actual season, and it could make the game better. I would hope it won't make the game worse. If the game is eventually cancelled, then so be it.

At this point, I was considering purchasing NBA Live 15 before this news and nothing about this delay changes that. If reviews and impressions are positive, I will give it a shot. If not, then I probably won't.

Here's to hoping that the dev team puts out a good game. Its the best outcome for anyone who is a fan of basketball video games.

# 12 stillfeelme @ 09/09/14 02:07 PM

I see no reason to panic. Have we seen this before with Elite 11 and Live 13? Yes we have. They are releasing the game this time.

# 13 HowDareI @ 09/09/14 02:07 PM

It's weird to even see a direction EA is going in with Live as a franchise.

Is it a sim? It's hard to be a sim when the graphics are very far behind 2K and gameplay looks so clunky. Obviously you don't need graphics but if you're going for a realistic kind of game it should look the part too.

I think what EA needs to do is instead of just trying to compete with 2K (which (if they make a good enough game) is good for both sides of the competition) they need to become DIRECT competition.
What I mean is, from what it looks like they're not going to beat 2K in sales or gameplay, so beat them in features and modes.

It's easy to see what guys want in 2K, they wanted more features in association (2K delivered, not LAST year though...Live could have capitalized), crew (still no word on next gen, Live could deliver), Auctions in My Team, Online Leagues, even Connected Career.

Maybe it's not as easy as I make it sound, but Live has chances to come in and deliver things that we want 2K to deliver. Still might not make it a better game, but would give us some features we keep pitching to 2K.

I used to buy both games every year, but since 08 2K has just been the game for me.

# 14 da ThRONe @ 09/09/14 02:11 PM

Giving EA most recent history with Elite/Live I can see why people would see this as a death sentence. To me that couldn't be any farther from the case. All the other times the game looked bad at every stage. This time the game is looking borderline great. The feedback for the most part was awful on Elite 11 and Live 14 again most of the feedback of Live 15 has been positive.

I've said it before I think people over at EA understands the next few launches will make or break the series and are being overly careful with everything.

# 15 Junior Moe @ 09/09/14 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da ThRONe


	Giving EA most recent history with Elite/Live I can see why people would see this as a death sentence. To me that couldn't be any farther from the case. All the other times the game looked bad at every stage. This time the game is looking borderline great. The feedback for the most part was awful on Elite 11 and Live 14 again most of the feedback of Live 15 has been positive. I've said it before I think people over at EA understands the next few launches will make or break the series and are being overly careful with everything.

Live 15 looks better than Live 14, no question. But nowhere near "borderline great", IMO. If the game were borderline great, EA would be itching at the bit to get it in our hands and win some converts; not pushing it back 3 weeks.

# 16 Blue12 @ 09/09/14 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by da ThRONe


	Giving EA most recent history with Elite/Live I can see why people would see this as a death sentence. To me that couldn't be any farther from the case. All the other times the game looked bad at every stage. This time the game is looking borderline great. The feedback for the most part was awful on Elite 11 and Live 14 again most of the feedback of Live 15 has been positive. I've said it before I think people over at EA understands the next few launches will make or break the series and are being overly careful with everything.

The feedback has been positive but all we've seen is a few screenshots and a slow motion trailer. They made 14 look good in slow motion. I will say a majority of the info did indeed give me a reason for optimism, but it all could have been smoke and mirrors as well. I'm hoping for the best.

# 17 Rondee @ 09/09/14 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junior Moe


	Live 15 looks better than Live 14, no question. But nowhere near "borderline great", IMO. If the game were borderline great, EA would be itching at the bit to get it in our hands and win some converts; not pushing it back 3 weeks.

..and "Live 15 looks better than 14... " doesn't say much. it could look 10x better, and it's supposed to, but it still looks horribly fake...

# 18 da ThRONe @ 09/09/14 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue12


	The feedback has been positive but all we've seen is a few screenshots and a slow motion trailer. They made 14 look good in slow motion. I will say a majority of the info did indeed give me a reason for optimism, but it all could have been smoke and mirrors as well. I'm hoping for the best.

I guess it's a matter of opinions. I never thought Live 14 looked good at any point.

# 19 da ThRONe @ 09/09/14 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junior Moe


	Live 15 looks better than Live 14, no question. But nowhere near "borderline great", IMO. If the game were borderline great, EA would be itching at the bit to get it in our hands and win some converts; not pushing it back 3 weeks.

EA is behind the 8ball here Live 15 is following 1 flop and 2 cancellations. I think EA are trying the leave no stone unturned method, and are micromanaging this release.

Again it's all opinion based and the vast majority of things I've seen from facial renders to the latest 5 on 5 vids all look borderline great to me. If someone sees it another way they are entitled to that opinion.

# 20 nick_sr @ 09/09/14 02:45 PM

Blame the community

Soon enough some of you ppl will understand a video game will never replicate real life

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