NBA Live 09 Demo Released, Impressions Here 360 & PS3

[cocobee]

Quote: Originally Posted by Da_Czar

This highlighted something for me though. One of the things I really appreciated with live 08 was the footplanting. I thought one of the battles between the two games would center around this issue. Would live who had no sliding be able to make a game with no sliding and still have smooth animations. On the 2k side if live would have been able to accomplish that it would have made it very very difficult on 2k because there would be no room to say hey guys we slide to keep it smooth. Now since live has introduced sliding to smooth things out that leaves the door open for 2k to tighten up their engine as both games move more towards the middle between footplant and slide. If live ever nails the no slide smooth animations then its just a matter of time before the public can't stomach sliding anymore. I thought they might make that jump this year. The move to the middle and still with lots of jitteryness means it may take a new engine to do both... I don't know. I do enjoy playing the game though. it is better than 08.

Any chance we will see some Live videos from you this year?

[Pared]

Quote: Originally Posted by SageInfinite

Ummm nah. It's better than 08, but when compared to 2k8 they have some adjustments to make. The ball drops straight down on swishes no matter where it's shot from. It's just not realistic enough. On layups and shots closer to the basket the variety is a little better, on jumpers it's terrible.

Yeah, the ball physics are certainly lacking in some areas. It's just something you guys are going to have to deal with this year.

Quote: Originally Posted by Da_Czar

This highlighted something for me though. One of the things I really appreciated with live 08 was the footplanting. I thought one of the battles between the two games would center around this issue. Would live who had no sliding be able to make a game with no sliding and still have smooth animations. On the 2k side if live would have been able to accomplish that it would have made it very very difficult on 2k because there would be no room to say hey guys we slide to keep it smooth. Now since live has introduced sliding to smooth things out that leaves the door open for 2k to tighten up their engine as both games move more towards the middle between footplant and slide. If live ever nails the no slide smooth animations then its just a matter of time before the public can't stomach sliding anymore. I thought they might make that jump this year. The move to the middle and still with lots of jitteryness means it may take a new engine to do both... I don't know. I do enjoy playing the game though. it is better than 08.

I think that just isn't a priority. As many guys bring up the sliding, it's almost as if they bring it up... well, just to bring it up. It's not making or breaking the game. People are still playing it with the "issue."

It's almost as if people are banging on an open door. The door works; it opens... you can get in... but you're still banging on it because you have to turn the handle.

Both games are finding a happy medium this year. I'm sure it will only get better as time goes on. Either way, it doesn't detract from the game IMO, and that's one of the most important things. For me, anyway.

[ehh]

Thanks for the vids, BS, it looks like EA means business this year. Kobe's sig shot is definitely better in the demo than in NBA2K8.

[Da_Czar]

Quote: Originally Posted by cocobee

Any chance we will see some Live videos from you this year?

Definitely. I couldn't do it before because the games(07,08) weren't really good enough and it would have came off totally one sided. I played a LOT of live 08 last year...But they have definitely earned a serious look this year. I plan to go back and forth this year with a game-play review after all the patches for both games.

I'm Very excited by what live is bringing to the table this year !!! With Beluba and such a strong foundation things can only get better for them !

[Bornindamecca]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

Yeah, the ball physics are certainly lacking in some areas. It's just something you guys are going to have to deal with this year. I think that just isn't a priority. As many guys bring up the sliding, it's almost as if they bring it up... well, just to bring it up. It's not making or breaking the game. People are still playing it with the "issue." It's almost as if people are banging on an open door. The door works; it opens... you can get in... but you're still banging on it because you have to turn the handle. Both games are finding a happy medium this year. I'm sure it will only get better as time goes on. Either way, it doesn't detract from the game IMO, and that's one of the most important things. For me, anyway.

That was a terrible analogy, haha, but I agree. The footplanting issue is a bit blown out of proportion post 2k7.

[Pared]

lol I blame that on the lack of coffee this morning.
As busy as it is here at work I'm still sneaking away to post on OS. Life is good, sometimes.

[Da_Czar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pared

Yeah, the ball physics are certainly lacking in some areas. It's just something you guys are going to have to deal with this year. I think that just isn't a priority. As many guys bring up the sliding, it's almost as if they bring it up... well, just to bring it up. It's not making or breaking the game. People are still playing it with the "issue." It's almost as if people are banging on an open door. The door works; it opens... you can get in... but you're still banging on it because you have to turn the handle. Both games are finding a happy medium this year. I'm sure it will only get better as time goes on. Either way, it doesn't detract from the game IMO, and that's one of the most important things. For me, anyway.

I think it could detract in terms of player control. One thing I am suprised by is the fact I haven't heard many people talking about the lack of control so far in the demo. That was one of the big complaints by guys who prefer live when discussing 2k8 was that it was animation heavy. In the demo there are lots of times my ballhandler is auto responding or getting sucked into defensive animations.

So to me it reinforces the idea of convergence. No game seems to be able to break away 2 different engines but the same problems just different ways of dealing with them. I find this very interesting that now that live is becoming much more of a simulation both games and heading in the same direction. More animation, balancing sliding with footplanting etc etc etc.

I still say that they day one of these guys nails down no sliding with great animations it will make the other game virtually unplayable. anyhoo with that said you have spoken with devs and actually played the game so I'm sure you have a better read on it at this point than I do.

I use as a reference the difference between live 08 and 2k8 After playing live for awhile It makes 2k8 seem unseemly. LOL

[Pared]

LOL

There's a way to get there, but it would take some work on the development side. The analog stick is the key. I have a system I've thought out but haven't shared it yet.

The problem, quite honestly, is the user. You're either pushing all the way left, up, down, right... there is no in between, really, when the user is playing the game.

If you could teach the user how to play the game differently... you might get what you're asking for. But as of right now, most games, despite using analog controls, are usually all or nothing in any given direction.