Mike Wang Has Left EA Canada and the NBA Live Development Team

[JohnDoe8865]

Quote: Originally Posted by Pappy Knuckles

Guess I better hold on to Live 10. Who knows what we're gonna get next year.

Yeah man, Live 10 is like a collector's item for me now. I wouldn't trade it for $60. The last sim LIVE ever maybe ...

[ataman5]

Quote: Originally Posted by JohnDoe8865

Yeah man, Live 10 is like a collector's item for me now. I wouldn't trade it for $60. The last sim LIVE ever maybe ...

You better; as i would do. As i've said that Live 10 is a game that could be played after 2-3 years of time; a classy sim game that i couldn't imagine before.

EA is just unbelievable; i've said in another thread before the news that there is no way Wang would be moved not in this world but i guess i forgot what EA is really stand for; money unfortunately and now the honeymoon is over for me with EA and live after i get back to it five years later; i believe i'll wait for another 5 or more to buy a live game again.

And this is even worse for any bball game fan; i hope that 2k would change its engine as it reached its peak and now it's tearing apart no matter who leads them, none of the brilliant ideas Wang have can be realized with that engine.

[BrianFifaFan]

Well, there's that famous saying, "if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, it probably is a duck." This news just really brings me down about the Live programming vision. And I'm starting to agree with CV and those who have said that a lot of DC is going on. Mike Wang went back to the other team in Nov. and they just announced it yesterday? Sounds more like Jon R. let them know that the story was gonna drop today and they had to try and take the upper PR hand. But the article is so condemning of the EA's staff's vision about the future of the Live franchise, there is no spinning it.

So here's an open feedback comment that I hope the Live team really takes to heart. The game was working, even if the sales didn't show it. The controls are perfect in concept, if not polished in execution. The pace and flow of the game and base AI concepts are in the right direction with what feels good for a basketball title. Long story, short, the gameplay is the base foundation of where this game needs to hang it's hat. If you change it, you've totally missed the point.

NBA Live doesn't have the cushion that Fifa enjoyed over PES in the soccer genre, having licenses. There are licenses in both games, so NBA Live can't hide behind authenticity claims. The gameplay is what will be judged the most. And NBA Live has had terrible gameplay for a few years now. Now, there's a compelling arguement that it has surpassed the comp in that realm. It wasn't perfect, but it offered the control scheme and had superior momentum and footplanting tech to the comp. A stable foundation on which to build. If this is changed to be more "fun" or "accessible" you've once again missed the point.

The lead producer is talking about being a Fifa or NHL. Both those game took their lumps while rebuilding and eventually beat both of their competitors at their own game, being more authentic than the other. It wasn't about the traditional EA approach of Smoke and Mirrors with features and presentation. Those games hung their hat on gameplay. And gameplay that was different and controls that, while trying to be accessible, had depth to provide unrivaled gameplay experiences. And over time they took the throne by staying with the vision. If you guys don't try to out-sim 2k and stay the course, you'll lose totally. This is my one "game killer." If you change the controls from what they were, even one bit to be more accessible, I'm out. Not a threat, I'm just one little consumer, but a statement of what, IMO, was the single greatest evolution of the game in recent memory.... Brian

[LingeringRegime]

Quote: Originally Posted by BrianFifaFan

The lead producer is talking about being a Fifa or NHL. Both those game took their lumps while rebuilding and eventually beat both of their competitors at their own game, being more authentic than the other. It wasn't about the traditional EA approach of Smoke and Mirrors with features and presentation. Those games hung their hat on gameplay. And gameplay that was different and controls that, while trying to be accessible, had depth to provide unrivaled gameplay experiences. And over time they took the throne by staying with the vision. If you guys don't try to out-sim 2k and stay the course, you'll lose totally. This is my one "game killer." If you change the controls from what they were, even one bit to be more accessible, I'm out. Not a threat, I'm just one little consumer, but a statement of what, IMO, was the single greatest evolution of the game in recent memory.... Brian

I wonder how many people on EA's board have this mindset? That the people out there want a game that is more arcade than sim? The reason that the FIFA franchise has proved to be successful is that it is very true to real life.

This has to be one of the dumbest business decisions I have seen in recent memory.

I am almost sure that is has to do with Natal.

[econoodle]

Ouch, he tore up EA in that interview.
But, didn't we see this as the case with EA's Live?
Changing gears all the time.
They are all about the dollar and like in anything in life, when u hold the dollar up above all, things go south.

2k started a decade ago as the massive underdog, but with a team of hoops heads with a vision.
The money rolled in as a byproduct of that.
Because of the fantastic gameplay they also became media darlings.
Yes, of course money was a factor to them, but it wasnt the driving force.
Heck they sold NFL 2k5 for 19.99!

EA does not seem to understand this approach.

Yes, I dug Live this year, at least more then previous ps3 versions, but jumped over early season, but there was progress.
I an listen all day about how he was only one guy.
But funny how the game took a positive shift this year WITH that one guy.

All the stuff Mike said about EA in the interview? Its true right?
What makes this year different?
Why will Ea all of a sudden GET IT?

Next year, I cant even sniff it cause i know how this story goes.


Sorry, but I had to bring to 2k up as a comparison, since it applies here. Without mentioning them, my comments would seem incomplete.
Besides, its just a video game.

[ehh]

Pretty sad day as a basketball gamer. I don't care what man is the key or what company makes the best game - this is not good. Live was on track to be something very special and now it's going down the crapper. I can't play the other game any more with the player control, though hopefully with Wang back over there it'll resort to 2K8 type control. There probably isn't going to be a solid alternative to 2K11 now, I'm going to continue to wear out CH2K8.

Hopefully we'll get some news that College Hoops is coming back to offset this.

[Dice]

Just read the articles this morning. Man, this is a big blow to the Live franchise. And after they made huge strides in gameplay this year. With Mike Wang leaving, the 'I don't care attitude' with the College Basketball franchise AND with the disappointing sales of both it looks like EA Basketball is in serious jeopardy next year.

[blues rocker]

it's not looking good for Live - they get Mike Wang and he does amazing things with Live 10, then they decide to "go in a different direction" and scrap all the good stuff that Mike added. what a waste. this just shows how backwards their vision is. it sounds like their strategy is to do the opposite of 2k and try to be "arcade," but that is the reason they've been losing to 2k in previous years - going "more arcade" is only going to make things worse in terms of sales...good luck with that EA, but I want a sim experience and if you aren't going to provide it, I'm going back to 2k.