News Post

NBA Live 365 and Dynamic DNA: Four Months Later

09:25 AM - February 13, 2009 by RaychelSnr

When NBA Live 09 was released last fall, there were two major aspects of the game that reviewers could not pass judgment on -- Live 365 and Dynamic DNA.These were two new features that were so dependent on the start of the actual NBA season that it would have been impossible to evaluate them properly until the actual NBA season had a few months under its belt.

Four months after the game's release and a few days before the All-Star festivities, I am happy to report that these features are overwhelming successes in my eyes. Do not just take my word for it either, Live 365 and Dynamic DNA were a smashing success with the OS staff and community alike, winning our coveted Best Roster Update award for 2008.

Why exactly are Live 365 and Dynamic DNA such groundbreaking features? In order to answer that question, I think it is very important to examine the relatively short history of roster updates on consoles.
Read More - NBA Live 365 and Dynamic DNA: Four Months Later

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Member Comments

# 1 Ruffy @ 02/13/09 10:32 AM

Nice read!

I don't have NBA Live but was always curious how this feature turned out.

I still think NBA 2K makes a better basketball game overall but this feature sounds great.

I haven't bought a basketball game in years but features like this makes it very tempting.

# 2 rudyjuly2 @ 02/13/09 12:41 PM

While DNA may be a great thing, it loses a ton of value by only being used in quick games. Most people start a franchise relatively early after buying their game and play franchise exclusively. This feature does almost nothing for us.

Once developers let us merge in roster updates with our franchises, the roster updates won't see their true value. How great would it be in a long season like baseball to be able to update all of your player attributes to mimic what's happening in real life? Until a simple merging of attributes with out franchise rosters happens, this feature will be under utilized imo.

# 3 stephensonmc @ 02/13/09 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudyjuly2


	While DNA may be a great thing, it loses a ton of value by only being used in quick games. Most people start a franchise relatively early after buying their game and play franchise exclusively. This feature does almost nothing for us. Once developers let us merge in roster updates with our franchises, the roster updates won't see their true value. How great would it be in a long season like baseball to be able to update all of your player attributes to mimic what's happening in real life? Until a simple merging of attributes with out franchise rosters happens, this feature will be under utilized imo.

Good points rudy. I just want to point out though that it's not as "simple" as it may appear.

We are looking for more valuable ways to utilize NBA LIVE 365 and recognize that we missed a bit this year with it. BUT, we were new to the tech as well and we have a long partnership that as we discover more things, we'll find out more ways to implement them into our game.

# 4 nolan273 @ 02/13/09 01:51 PM

While the inability to incorporate the updates into franchise mode is a bit of a downer, it still must be said that the DNA feature is an amazing addition to all sports games in general. For those that love the NBA2K series, you must admit that EA has raised the bar. This feature will go a long way toward improving sports games across the board from ALL developers. The archaic weekly updates just aren't going to cut it anymore.

# 5 rudyjuly2 @ 02/13/09 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephensonmc


	Good points rudy. I just want to point out though that it's not as "simple" as it may appear. We are looking for more valuable ways to utilize NBA LIVE 365 and recognize that we missed a bit this year with it. BUT, we were new to the tech as well and we have a long partnership that as we discover more things, we'll find out more ways to implement them into our game.

I know it may not be as simple to just merge the data (even though database merges in software packages like SPSS is very easy) but if you could find a way to merge in the DNA with franchise/season rosters, you would have a monster hit on your hands. We can only hope.

# 6 stephensonmc @ 02/13/09 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudyjuly2


	I know it may not be as simple to just merge the data (even though database merges in software packages like SPSS is very easy) but if you could find a way to merge in the DNA with franchise/season rosters, you would have a monster hit on your hands. We can only hope.

I think you'll enjoy what we're doing in 10.

# 7 rudyjuly2 @ 02/13/09 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephensonmc


	I think you'll enjoy what we're doing in 10.

What a tease! Sounds good.

# 8 23 @ 02/13/09 06:59 PM

The feature is great as the article stated. Guys on here being downers are killing me.

First of all we didnt even know if the feature would work and had staunch reservations against it because it is EA afterall right? I know I did

The first year of a feature like this and you want the entire system to be fully integrated... while I understand, it is also completely unrealistic.

I have to agree with CV here, I dont care what company it is... if you're a sports gamer first instead of a company loyalist, there is no way you lose out on something like this. It truly is the future, and can be a measuring stick standard for what it is.

# 9 tril @ 02/14/09 02:31 AM

I like the idea of dynamic DNA, but the way the author in this article describes the feature kind of makes the game feel scripted.
what good is it if you know Lebron will drop 50 on you at MSG.

I agree with the author about the ability to carry this feature into a Dynasty mode,even during a fantasy drafted association. I think this would make the feature more tactical.

# 10 rudyjuly2 @ 02/14/09 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 23


	The feature is great as the article stated. Guys on here being downers are killing me. First of all we didnt even know if the feature would work and had staunch reservations against it because it is EA afterall right? I know I did The first year of a feature like this and you want the entire system to be fully integrated... while I understand, it is also completely unrealistic. I have to agree with CV here, I dont care what company it is... if you're a sports gamer first instead of a company loyalist, there is no way you lose out on something like this. It truly is the future, and can be a measuring stick standard for what it is.

The feature is really neat but I simply pointed out that it's under utilized when you can't merge them in with franchise data. No sports game has allowed this to date so its the logical next step and would make this feature SO much better.

I don't see how my comment was "killing you". It's simply my honest opinion and I spoke my mind on a message board. Shocking that comments and message boards are used for such things. I guess honesty is being a downer and frowned upon just because you disagree?

# 11 nickelplaydit @ 02/14/09 09:48 AM

can somebady explain the difference btwn the 365 updates and the 2k updates. is it just daily vs. weekly?

im prety happy about how 2k sets up their although it could be a lil quicker ...but im not complaining at all!

# 12 nexdawg @ 02/14/09 10:00 AM

Hey EA I think the whole idea of DNA is going 2 change the sports game world im sick of playing game and the player whatever the sport play different than they do in real life NCAA college football can be the 1 who benefits most from this

# 13 nexdawg @ 02/14/09 10:18 AM

Of all the sports games i've played maybe of all time nba live 09 feel the realest jump shooter shoot,and driver drive the daily update roster isnt as big of a deal 2 me as the dna feature is even with the ability 2 use it during franchise mode 2 have player with an accurate mindset is genius!

# 14 teebee @ 02/14/09 01:44 PM

While cool in concept, adjusting how an entire team plays based on one game doesn't make sense to me. Just because one guy went off the night before has no affect on how the next game will go due to matchups, foul troubles whatever. Maybe Live 365 already does it but i would think weekly attribute tweaks rather than daily makes much more sense to me, i don't wanna see a team keep going to Zaza Pachulia just because he put up a 20-10 night

Again i haven't spent a lot of time if any with this feature so i'm not sure how drastically the attribute changes affect the gameplay but it seems a big extreme to me

# 15 teebee @ 02/14/09 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teebee


	While cool in concept, adjusting how an entire team plays based on one game doesn't make sense to me. Just because one guy went off the night before has no affect on how the next game will go due to matchups, foul troubles whatever. Maybe Live 365 already does it but i would think weekly attribute tweaks rather than daily makes much more sense to me, i don't wanna see a team keep going to Zaza Pachulia just because he put up a 20-10 night Again i haven't spent a lot of time if any with this feature so i'm not sure how drastically the attribute changes affect the gameplay but it seems a big extreme to me

PS. It's not even EA doing the DNA anyways, it's a third party company that provides all the data, EA just provides the computer program (NBA Live) to simulate the logarithms with a byproduct that in this case is a video game

# 16 bkrich83 @ 02/14/09 03:13 PM

Its quite obvious you really don't get what 365 is really doing.

# 17 carnalnirvana @ 02/15/09 11:13 AM

i'll have to second that SCRIPTED comment

its scripted IMO
i could get petty and technical but its a game and that has to be accepted to fully appretiate how good this feature is to the future of sports gaming with that said.

it does not matter if synergy or EA does the DNA its still subjective to someone's opinion of what the stats say and theres are not enough randomness and thats where the scripted nature begins.

LBJ may get 30 shots fine but when i know where 20 of them are coming from ( which side of the court, 10 shots from pick and roll, 10 shots from post up) come on.

if things were this clear those guys at synergy would be good coaches making millions

its not random enough..........there a saying "thats why they play the game" not here we know Big z gets it on the right side by the free throw line he is pulling it 100% of the time

# 18 stephensonmc @ 02/15/09 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnalnirvava


	i'll have to second that SCRIPTED comment its scripted IMO i could get petty and technical but its a game and that has to be accepted to fully appretiate how good this feature is to the future of sports gaming with that said. it does not matter if synergy or EA does the DNA its still subjective to someone's opinion of what the stats say and theres are not enough randomness and thats where the scripted nature begins. LBJ may get 30 shots fine but when i know where 20 of them are coming from ( which side of the court, 10 shots from pick and roll, 10 shots from post up) come on. if things were this clear those guys at synergy would be good coaches making millions its not random enough..........there a saying "thats why they play the game" not here we know Big z gets it on the right side by the free throw line he is pulling it 100% of the time

carnalnirvava,

Instead, the Synergy guys are getting paid by NBA coaches making millions

This was a NBA league service first.

# 19 edubbs @ 02/15/09 05:57 PM

Speaking of scripted and the 'scripted feel' you get while playing.

I have played 3 separate games over the last couple of days against the Grizzlies, Nets, and the Clippers.

And I'm starting to get that 'scripted feel' in regards to the CPU playcalling. There is a pick and roll play from the baseline that the AI calls waaaaay too much for different teams.

In my games against the Nets and Grizzlies, the CPU ran this play the majority of the game.

I think I'm realising that the game really does not utilze team specific plays/playbooks for the majority of the teams in Live 09. I'm starting to see too many of the same sets run by various teams in the game.

Hopefully, all playbooks/playsets will be team specific for Live 10. I know Beluba said he was working on this if I'm not mistaken.

It's essential to get all team's running different sets.

Otherwise the CPU gets waaaay too predictable and the game starts to feel 'scripted' from a playcalling standpoint.

This is an issue that has been prevelant in the 2k series, and I'm hoping that Live doesn't follow that trend.

# 20 Pared @ 02/15/09 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edubbs


	There is a pick and roll play from the baseline that the AI calls waaaaay too much for different teams.

I've said this time and time again. Never called it scripted but rather teams stick to running one specific play over and over if there is an individual who takes many shots. It's almost as if the plays are connected with the players and the play is run to make sure that player mimics his DNA tendency.

Great feature that is rough around the edges and hopefully they smooth those out next year.

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