EA Changes the Game, Announces NBA Elite 11 (Press Release)

[Jano]

All I want out of either 2K11 or Elite 11 is a game that is free of huge frustations.

Last year Live did have that kind of gameplay I was looking for but it had its own nagging issues I couldn't deal w/. If this new years game can finally deliver a solid fun game of basketball I'll play it.

Damn a franchise mode or online features just give me a solid game of basketball then worry about the rest b/c if I don't want to play it who care about anything else. This new system EA wants to use seems like its finally moving in the direction I've been wanting to see for a long time now.

So I'm optimistic just like I am every year I just hope this year EA or 2K can deliver on a less frustrating game of basketball.

[mrclutch]

Quote: Originally Posted by 23

A one year dev cycle is a one year dev cycle, thats all im saying.

This

[kgisyourfather]

EA needed to do something to create a buzz regarding this game. Mission accomplished? Whether the game itself backs it up is anyones guess right now. Live 10 is a collectors item.

[kgisyourfather]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

All I want out of either 2K11 or Elite 11 is a game that is free of huge frustations. Last year Live did have that kind of gameplay I was looking for but it had its own nagging issues I couldn't deal w/. If this new years game can finally deliver a solid fun game of basketball I'll play it. Damn a franchise mode or online features just give me a solid game of basketball then worry about the rest b/c if I don't want to play it who care about anything else. This new system EA wants to use seems like its finally moving in the direction I've been wanting to see for a long time now. So I'm optimistic just like I am every year I just hope this year EA or 2K can deliver on a less frustrating game of basketball.

I'm on the other side of the fence here. Frustrations are in the eye of the beholder? I'm assumign you mean just a game that plays well. Me personally I want something revolutionary. I've been playing sports games for a long time and the AI in these games gets very predictable. I like what EA is saying. Whether they do this is another story. One of the major issues i have with Madden and Live is the way players and the physics and AI of the game coexist. It's like a rubberband effect. You move one way the AI reacts a certain way that isn't realisitic. If you've ever played Madden or Live and really look at what the AI is doing it's like a rubberband. Each player doesn't react individually. One of my biggest frustrations with live 10 was how when you would drive the lane you'd see that same hanging in the air animation over and over. You could basically also let the cpu just drive the lane and into traffic and they wouldnt gauge what you were doing. the AI would just chuck up shot after shot in traffic. It was very repetitive.

The reality is these developers are finally getting with the program. This rubberband physics and AI needs to go and needs to be replaced with more indivualized physics and AI. The hardware is there for it. It's been there for it. Most of the AI and physics in these games is the same AI and physics we've seen since generations past.

[therizing02]

Is there really any reason to be upset about this announcement? It's a freaking name change people!!! Who cares what they name the game?

Regarding the physics and the new direction of the game, it's about time. The dev team is in the same house as the FIFA and NHL teams. Two of the most successful sports title at EA.

23's claim of the one dev cycle will be spot on. I'm not suspecting big things this year, but that doesn't mean the game will be unplayable and not fun.

FIFA 08 was the first of a three year plan to get the gameplay right. While they added new game play modes, the core focus was to improve the on the field game play. There were no "back of the box" gimmicky features added over the 3 dev cycle.

In the first year of the dev cycle, the player movement and physics were completely overhauled and changed. FIFA 08 was instantly light years better than anything they had ever put out. They stripped a few key things out like tactics, but the new physics model instantly increased the shelf life, playability, and fun factor of the game.

In the second year, the physical play, contact, and jostling for position were completely ripped out and replaced with a new system that was again light years better than before. They added Custom Team Tactics and online team play.

Finally in FIFA 10, the tackling, foul system were retuned for the better, some upgrades to Manager Mode, and retuning and refining other aspects of game play make FIFA 10 the best yet. It's debateable, but I think the slight changes made to FIFA World Cup make that game even better.

NHL probably has a similar time line. I would suspect the same from the NBA Elite title. Just because it seems that they are starting from scratch doesn't mean next year's game will be unplayable. Let's just sit back and be patient.

[ehh]

Quote: Originally Posted by therizing02

Is there really any reason to be upset about this announcement? It's a freaking name change people!!! Who cares what they name the game?

Because the announcement is about alot more than just a change of names?

[therizing02]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

Because the announcement is about alot more than just a change of names?

Fair enough, but I think I clarified my point.

[loadleft]

Quote: Originally Posted by therizing02

Is there really any reason to be upset about this announcement? It's a freaking name change people!!! Who cares what they name the game? Regarding the physics and the new direction of the game, it's about time. The dev team is in the same house as the FIFA and NHL teams. Two of the most successful sports title at EA. 23's claim of the one dev cycle will be spot on. I'm not suspecting big things this year, but that doesn't mean the game will be unplayable and not fun. FIFA 08 was the first of a three year plan to get the gameplay right. While they added new game play modes, the core focus was to improve the on the field game play. There were no "back of the box" gimmicky features added over the 3 dev cycle. In the first year of the dev cycle, the player movement and physics were completely overhauled and changed. FIFA 08 was instantly light years better than anything they had ever put out. They stripped a few key things out like tactics, but the new physics model instantly increased the shelf life, playability, and fun factor of the game. In the second year, the physical play, contact, and jostling for position were completely ripped out and replaced with a new system that was again light years better than before. They added Custom Team Tactics and online team play. Finally in FIFA 10, the tackling, foul system were retuned for the better, some upgrades to Manager Mode, and retuning and refining other aspects of game play make FIFA 10 the best yet. It's debateable, but I think the slight changes made to FIFA World Cup make that game even better. NHL probably has a similar time line. I would suspect the same from the NBA Elite title. Just because it seems that they are starting from scratch doesn't mean next year's game will be unplayable. Let's just sit back and be patient.

If that's what all this means: 2 years of incomplete games and finally a complete one in 3, then the news is worst than I imagined! Let's hope this is not how it plays out either.