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

[noshun]

Quote: Originally Posted by Juan Gonzalez

More from Blackflash: "I can tell you for sure that what they're adding to the game is going to really make things exciting. The game is going to be SIM but wait until we start dropping info about the game. It's going to be an exciting year for NBA LIVE and despite the negative flack facing the game right now, the team have something to prove with LIVE 11 and I can assure you that the game is going to be great."

They said this same spew for Live 06...rinse that Live 07... rinse that Live 08... rinse that Live 09... rinse that Live 10.... rinse that now starting for Live 11.
The only thing theyve proven is theyre consistenly inconsistant, and earned consecutive slumping sales 2yrs running.

VVV what 23 said in his comment...

[23]

Quote: Originally Posted by Court_vision

So true man. You got the PR guy saying one thing, PMs saying other things and Beluba coming out in public and dumping all over them. Crazy stuff Anyway, if they want me buying their game in 11...they can release a patch for NCAA first.

lol , well Live 11 = wait and see, info or not

[Behindshadows]

Quote: Originally Posted by Court_vision

Hopefully the guys say "hey, screw you Mike and your 'we can't get it done' insults" and sit there determined to prove him wrong. That interview + all of Rob Jone's quotes should be all the motivation they need. I like 2K and respect their team...but these games are like boxing, you like to see a rivalry and a bit of bad blood

Why do you assume, they have to take shots at Mike. Why can't they just respect his move and move on to their focus on the game.

These guys are adults, and so far they've been the most professional about the move. They haven't countered any of Mike's comments with insults to him. Instead, BlackFlash came out and even said," he respects Mike and considers him a friend". He didn't want to talk the situation overall.

Even Marcus came in and post his feedback without the negative feedback, nor did he take shots at Mike.

Maybe EA's Live Team is just working on the game and not really sitting around thinking of ways to take shots at Mike or 2ksports.

Why do you continue to think these guys are just negative nannies?

[ataman5]

Quote: Originally Posted by Juan Gonzalez

Hey guys I contacted Blackflash about Beluba leaving because EA wanted to go a different direction and expressed my concerns about where the game was headed, and that I would like some conformation. This is what he wrote: "I can assure you that the LIVE team are committed to creating a realistic representation of NBA basketball (of course this being a SIM). While the team will miss Mike, there are a lot of very dedicated dev team members that are working very hard even as I write to you that want to make the best NBA LIVE possible." He then posted this on the EA forums also to respond to the current situation: "When I'm able to begin dropping info about the game you will know what I'm talking about. NBA LIVE 11 WILL be a great game to look forward to. Guy I understand the concern that all of you may have towards next year's title but RELAX. None of you know what's going into next year's title. One thing I can tell all of you for sure is that NBA LIVE 11 is aiming to replicate the NBA experience, which means the game will be a SIM basketball title. When more info comes my way that I can begin to share with all of you then I will be sure to do it. But I will re-iterate to all of you and I can say this because I work alongside the development team, NBA LIVE 11 will be a SIM basketball game." I am really hoping they come through with a great game.

After i've seen imminurbase twit message of his saying lots of gameplay changes, this has definitely no credibility in my eyes.

And i believe what they understand from the term sim is its literal meaning from now on.

I just can't see it through having lots of gameplay changes from live 10 and then having a sim live 11, either my logic is wrong or they must be thinking that we are stupid or what.

[Admiral50]

Expecting EA to respond is laughable.

One of the biggest gaming companies responding to a sulking ex-employee, (who has lost almost all respect from me since saying what he said publicly) who was with the team for what, 12 months?

Come on.

Regardless of how good or bad their games have been, EA know how to market their products so have no need to respond to any such comments, they'll let their game speak for itself in 8 or 9 months time.

And if you guys really are phychic and have already determined that Live 11 is going to be an arcade suck-fest, then EA can scrap their game if it flops. But for now you're all getting a bit carried away.

I think the main reason for that is wrongly placed loyalty in an individual simply because they have been on this forum like 'one of the guys' for so long. It's wrong really.

Just like Live, 2K has also sucked for a number of different years, even since following the NBA Live blue print of Hip-Hop music, an attempt to copy Freestyle control and other things. So if Mike Wang is the God you say he is, how can a game have been so bad on more than one yearly effort?

And on ANOTHER note: there is nothing wrong with changing direction or even starting fresh every once in a while. As much as I've enjoyed 2K and put it light years ahead of Live on a number of efforts, it STILL feels like the 10 year old engine under all the current layers.

Long story short:
- 2K11 will be typical 2K
- Live will still be fine and probably not that different from where 2010 took it
- One dev cannot drastically change the quality of a single game for good or bad
- Mike Wang will never work for another company outside of 2K

[brahmagoul]

Is there really a lot they can change in one year, unless it involves a new engine? The more I think about it, the more I think Wang leaving EA helps 2K's game than hurts Live. 2K made its biggest stride with 2K8, then I guess that's when Wang left. One thing Wang said that stuck with me was how Live's engine allows you to do more. That's encouraging because they were on the right track. I seriously doubt EA will get away from that because if it's one thing it has proved with these games, it's that they don't change too drastically.

I don't expect drastic changes because one man came and left. He had a positive impact and probably made a few co-workers better there. I'd expect big changes in gimmicks, not gameplay. That's typically been EA's M.O. across the board.

[sportyguyfl31]

The most distrubing thing for me, is that this confirms what many of us have thought about EA sports games for years.

They either

1) Do not understand what SIM is.

2) They do not believe that SIM can sell.

For now, Im going to assume that they have at least the sense to realize, that NBA Live 2003-2004 era gameplay is over, and that is not going to be acceptable

[ataman5]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportyguyfl31

The most distrubing thing for me, is that this confirms what many of us have thought about EA sports games for years. They either 1) Do not understand what SIM is. 2) They do not believe that SIM can sell. For now, Im going to assume that they have at least the sense to realize, that NBA Live 2003-2004 era gameplay is over, and that is not going to be acceptable

Or we got older and can't accept the way it was.