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

[dickey1331]

Kinda but not like the NFL where only EA can make it.

Quote: Originally Posted by stizz

It's still exclusive ain't it?

[Pared]

Guys - thread isn't about any exclusivity deals. Back on topic please.

[pezone]

I guess I'll be going back to 2k.........it's a shame!

[Crimsontide27]

The reason I think this is a sign of things to come is because its obvious that consumers have been voting with their wallet when it comes to the direction live is going.

At this point, consumer confidence in the EA Live brand name is at an all time low and for good reasons. Its gonna take a lot for EA to regain its customers, but I dont think thats their plan. At this point they have probably alienated enough people that they are trying to re-create the Live brand and get a different consumer group all together to purchase the product. This most likely means getting away from the "sim like" crowd that the people on this board want it to be and going toward the more casual NBA Jam / Hangtime crowd.

[edubbs]

Quote: Originally Posted by blues rocker

My only hope at this point is that Mike Wang can take all of the great dribbling and movement from Live 10 and bring it into 2k11. But, infortunately I don't see that happening because I have a feeling 2k's engine is too old and can't achieve the type of movement that Mike was able to bring to Live 10...guess I'll just have to hope.

I agree.

Live's control is in a league of it's own. It's very unrealistic to think the other game can match the control in the Live series in just one dev. cycle, and after all of these years.

Although, I think it is realistic to think that they can close the gap on the quality of the controls to the point where the subpar control in 2k isn't as big of an issue considering it's other strong points.

[kgisbeast]

I think this effects the live team. Any time you lose someone with Mike Wang's creative ideas it is a loss, but from the sounds of it Live was going a certain direction regardless. What I didn't like about live this year and what frustrates me about EA in general is they are trying to appeal to too many different audiences. You end up with games that are watered down in a way, tryinig to do a lot of things but don't do anything that great. They are trying to sell games. They dumb things down and take out features because it just makes it easier on the casual fan. Instead of doing both sometimes and having that depth, but also making it easy. EA pumps out these games every year and has a certain way they do things. 2k on the other hand tries to make games as realistic as they can, while sometimes sacrificing ease of use. When these games are released every year there are always sacrifices. It goes both ways. I think one of Mike Wangs strengths was making things easy on the user, and attention to detail, but it was kind of like he fit better with 2k because they need him. I think Mike Wang is telling the truth that his goal is to make the most realistic game possible, and the ultimate sim and he is best served at 2k trying to do that.

In a way this could be a positive for Live because their plan may come to fruition with or without him. I don't expect a true sim here though or the most realistic game. EA no matter what game you look at Madden, Fifa as good as they are have this cartoony reality. They are good games that give the impression of realism but they also are arcade games imo. Who's to say Live still can't reach Fifa's level or MAdden's level of popularity? It still can. It just might not be the most realistic game around or have the most depth or attention to detail and realism.

The point is EA is a huge company and will be ok. They are huge because they make good games and are smart at what they do. They walk that middle road and do well at it. It's just a different philosophy. In my opinion guys like Rob Jones went to 2k and guys like Greg Thomas and 2k, sega sports was created in the first place because it was a bunch of people who wanted something more sim and attention to detail then the oldschool madden games. The nfl 2k series was born and the rest is history.

[Teebone21]

Quote: Originally Posted by videobastard

Did ea expect mike to wave a magic wand over night for this series to sell like hot cakes. It was in such bad shape that it was going to need time to heal its wounds. Since the ncca basketball series is done i was hoping that there would of been more resources and help with mike to make nba live 11 a quality game. Well it looks like it will be back to the 2k series for me. I hope mike can incorporate live's dribble system with the 2k series.

no no no no we need our shotstick

[Jukeman]

you'll prolly see Steve Nash dunking next year....

Bulls Vs...

NBA Showdown..

NBA Live 95-2000...



I want my EA Sports back