NBA Elite 11 Interview with Creative Director David Littman

[Boilerbuzz]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

Actually some of the guys from the other EA dev teams are working on this game. And the engines (ANT, RTP, Real-AI) the devs are using on Elite are a lot better then the ones they have previously used imo.

I'm sure there are. But what does that really mean? Does that means there's a bunch of hockey heads working on a basketball game? That doesn't sound too good. Who's working on NHL? Why disrupt a team that's got it going? I don't know if I buy how much "better" the toolkit is now. ANT has been hyped up since the start of the current console generation. It's not like it generates animations. It just manages the animation blends.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

RTP allowed the game to finally have features 2K's had for years like the ability to go for steals while moving. Or enable the ball to be "live" so contact with the it actually matters. RTP also got rid of canned animations so we can finally do some basic things like block shots off the backboard.

So, are you calling "canned" animation the animations that included the ball? Animations that FORCE the ball into a state that lines up animation and that now, those are gone. If so, I can buy that they are using fewer animations that take control of the ball. That's cool. If that's what RTP gives then that's a significant upgrade to the series.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

It also added in some much needed physicality to the game and it effects the game everywhere from the post to the perimeter. We will finally be able to see a difference between Lebron and CP3 when they are charging down the lane. The ANT technology gets rid of the ball warping on the rebounds.

That's been my interpretation of the work they've been doing and that's all great. No problem here.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

Real-AI will actually cause players use moves they would in real life. This could potentially be the end of Bynum doing euro steps, or Shaq shooting fadeaways.

But wasn't DNA supposed to do all of this already? Does that mean DNA came and went? And, not to compare the GAMES, but why does this sound like VIP? I still have nightmares of the thought of playing Steve O's VIP in NFL2K5... Ugh! VIP is cool because it's more than that. But trying to draw me in with the "playing the celebrity" angle is a no-go. Anyway, I digress.

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

These new engines are adding in some MUCH needed improvements to this basketball series. And its doing it at a much faster rate then they would have using the old engine.

But there is no new engine man. Not really. They've had ANT in the game for a long while now. RTP isn't a physics engine per se. It's a system of methods and procedures that govern interactions between systems. Same with "Real-AI".

Quote: Originally Posted by Jano

So your right it probably doesn't make the games equal but it definitely puts them on the same playing field though. Because now the tech is similar so things you see in one game could be possible in the other.

Just so it's clear, my primary point was that using NHL procedures as a panacea for NBA's ills feels kinda iffy to me. And using the reputation of NHL to hype up Elite feels iffy as well. When it's all said and done, if I'm buying elite because of NHL and Jam, then something smells rotten in Vancouver... It just makes me a bit apprehensive and unfortunately, I haven't seen anything that makes me feel less apprehension. That's all I'm saying. I want to see to full on 5on5 videos. There's no reason why we shouldn't be seeing something.

[Boilerbuzz]

Quote: Originally Posted by tedus

what' wrong ?!! dude!! he already said he finished most part of his work and the rest ones divided to others!!

I responded to his original post. I didn't see the followup and I didn't NEED to see it because he doesn't have to explain anything to anybody. I just expressed the fact that it really shocked me. End of story.

[Jano]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz

But wasn't DNA supposed to do all of this already? Does that mean DNA came and went? And, not to compare the GAMES, but why does this sound like VIP? I still have nightmares of the thought of playing Steve O's VIP in NFL2K5... Ugh! VIP is cool because it's more than that. But trying to draw me in with the "playing the celebrity" angle is a no-go. Anyway, I digress. But there is no new engine man. Not really. They've had ANT in the game for a long while now. RTP isn't a physics engine per se. It's a system of methods and procedures that govern interactions between systems. Same with "Real-AI".

DNA and the Real AI are working at the same time in the game according to the devs. So the system should be pretty dynamic, two of the devs have went in depth on the feature in the real-AI thread.

And the new engines being used here are new to this basketball series, none of this stuff was in Live 10. If they had been using ANT last year I don't remember them ever mentioning it.

And I already know RTP and "real AI" definitely weren't in because none of that was stuff a lot of that stuff wasn't possible last year.

Quote: Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz

I'm sure there are. But what does that really mean? Does that means there's a bunch of hockey heads working on a basketball game? That doesn't sound too good. Who's working on NHL? Why disrupt a team that's got it going? I don't know if I buy how much "better" the toolkit is now. ANT has been hyped up since the start of the current console generation. It's not like it generates animations. It just manages the animation blends.

To clarify the reason why I said the guys from other EA dev teams are working on this game is experience. They have experience with the ANT and Real AI engines so the system wasn't just dumped on the Live 10 team. Its in the hands of some guys that have experience with the stuff also.

And even if ANT is only improving animation blends that was also another area Live 10 needed improvement in. All of these improvements won't sound like much to people that have been playing 2K over Live. But for someone who enjoyed Live 10, like myself, they are some much needed upgrades.

They will bring Elite a lot closer to the level of basketball that has been featured in 2K for years and thats all I've been asking for since Live 07. I want an EA basketball game to finally be able to compete with 2K on all levels of gameplay and it looks like these new engines are going to be able to do just that.

[Live_4real]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz

Just so it's clear, my primary point was that using NHL procedures as a panacea for NBA's ills feels kinda iffy to me. And using the reputation of NHL to hype up Elite feels iffy as well. When it's all said and done, if I'm buying elite because of NHL and Jam, then something smells rotten in Vancouver... It just makes me a bit apprehensive and unfortunately, I haven't seen anything that makes me feel less apprehension. That's all I'm saying. I want to see to full on 5on5 videos. There's no reason why we shouldn't be seeing something.

As a consumer your concerns are valid sir, but let me break it down to you,, based on developers input (correct me if I am wrong)

The ANT, RTP and Real AI, are technologies that existed before Elite 11 development, and no one is trying to hype them saying that they are being used for first time or anything like that

But unfortunately for us B-ball fans, only this year EA decided to put at lives/elite disposal.

And why people say that this game can be especial in the near future if not this year???? Because they seen what NHL and Fight night were able to do

As David Littman said, this development team is a all-star one, and because these technologies are not bran NEW, the experience these guys already have with them, makes me thing that the knowledge about these technologies is wider then in the past

So the major improvement that live 10 needed to do (let´s be fair), can be achieved, even if it takes 3 years, past games had a very very dark future and some people said that Live/Elite was dead

And the NHL comparison that you mention is easy to explain, that is the main goal, that is what EA is targeting, I am talking quality wise, not sales (that I don´t know)

And your consern about the "Hockey dude" and his "Hockey team" developing the game, I recall Mr. Wang when he was a EA worker, he said that EA had guys that had vast knowledge about b-ball on the team, so that isn´t/wasn´t the problem in past years

So if I had to choose, I would choose guys that know how to take full advantage of the physics engine(for example), rather then a b-ball expert, and some these guys will know a lot about b-ball after one entire year working around it, so that is not a problem

Hey, once again, this is pure expeculation, based on facts that they put out about technologies, so take it as it is....

PeAcE

[rEAnimator]

Quote: Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz

No offense man, but this sounds strange to me. I would think you would still be burning the midnight oil until the game was done, done. Again, not implying anything. It just caught me off guard.

I'm probably getting too personal here but yeah, leaving for vacation before the project was done was one of the hardest things I've had to do in my professional career.

I had originally booked my vacation for 2 weeks after we were supposed to be done. As has been mentioned before, we got an extension part way through the project which gave us more time.

I ended up canceling the first week of my vacation so I could work into that extension, but my wife is a teacher and has to go back to work in September. Summer is the only time she gets off.

She had put up with me working weekends and late hours for over 6 months, hardly ever seeing me.

As passionate as we all are about the games we make, a balance has to be struck and out of respect for her I could not work through to the end.

Believe me, I gave it all I had before I left.

Too much information I'm sure, but a good reminder that the people who work on these games are real people with families and lives outside of the job.

We pour our heart and soul into making these games because we love it, but you've got to keep an eye on the big picture as well. Sometimes it's not an easy thing to do.

[Beluba]

Quote: Originally Posted by rEAnimator

I'm probably getting too personal here but yeah, leaving for vacation before the project was done was one of the hardest things I've had to do in my professional career. I had originally booked my vacation for 2 weeks after we were supposed to be done. As has been mentioned before, we got an extension part way through the project which gave us more time. I ended up canceling the first week of my vacation so I could work into that extension, but my wife is a teacher and has to go back to work in September. Summer is the only time she gets off. She had put up with me working weekends and late hours for over 6 months, hardly ever seeing me. As passionate as we all are about the games we make, a balance has to be struck and out of respect for her I could not work through to the end. Believe me, I gave it all I had before I left. Too much information I'm sure, but a good reminder that the people who work on these games are real people with families and lives outside of the job. We pour our heart and soul into making these games because we love it, but you've got to keep an eye on the big picture as well. Sometimes it's not an easy thing to do.

You're right, Geoff. Too personal.

[rEAnimator]

Quote: Originally Posted by Beluba

You're right, Geoff. Too personal.

Good therapy though

[Beluba]

Quote: Originally Posted by rEAnimator

Good therapy though

You know what always helped me... go kick Nate in the shins and tell him to make you some sig shots.