News Post

Why I'm Done With NBA Basketball This Year: NBA Live 09

11:59 AM - March 24, 2009 by RaychelSnr

For some die-hard basketball fans, choosing between NBA Live and NBA 2K this year was like going to a used-car lot and trying to decide if you wanted a refurbished Pinto or a beat-up Camry.

On the one hand, there is the familiar 2K engine, which has problems that have been compounded over the years because its owners have spent all their money adding frivolous features like a sleek spoiler, custom wheels and a lavish paint job, all while refusing to take the car in for the necessary maintenance on the parts that really matter: the engine, the brakes and the transmission, etc.

In the lot across the street sits an ugly looking Ford Pinto, with a rusting exterior, a broken passenger-side door handle and a non-functional air-conditioning unit. But since it just had its engine and transmission replaced, the Pinto runs well, and unlike the souped-up Camry, it will not leave you kicking it in its chrome-plated tires as it is lying dead on the side of the road with a pile of smoke rising from its engine -- though it may still explode if hit in the wrong spot.

Such is the state of this year�s basketball games: One is in dire need of an interior makeover (2K), while the other (Live) might be all right to use in a pinch but still needs a lot of exterior work before it is ready to become an "every day" type of car.

So, here are the key areas that the Live developers need to work on in the offseason if they want their game to earn a spot in the starting five of the 2010 lineup of sports games.

Read More - Why I'm Done With NBA Basketball This Year: NBA Live 09

Game: NBA Live 09Reader Score: 7/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / PSP / Xbox 360Votes for game: 38 - View All

NBA Live 09 Videos

Member Comments

# 21 Behindshadows @ 03/26/09 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmst30


	Well being a basketball game, having broken rebounding and bad animations is what makes the gameplay bad to me. I'm not trying to hate on the game, there really is a solid core to work with. I just couldn't put up with those two major issues anymore. Plus the analog passing is still inaccurate. So yea, thats all I'm saying. The rebounding and animations keep me from enjoying the game, because to me they are broken.

I have tons of offensive rebounding, just not an many as I should so I don't really see that as an issue. Secondly the so called analog passing. I wouldn't know I use icon passing all the time. I never use analog passing that feature has been broken in Live and 2k's games for years. Especially on a fastbreak when some how they just make sure you pass it to the wrong person to prevent the score.

Either way nothing is so broke in this game that makes it unplayable. And the offensive rebounding isn't broken, people just feel like they aren't getting enough of them compared to the cpu which in honesty they aren't getting many either. And the animations in this game don't make it unplayable, the animations that are there are fine and the game plays good. Maybe it doesn't run as smooth as super fast skating across the court 2k but what is here is very solid and well pace basketball.

# 22 mrclutch @ 03/26/09 11:55 AM

I can't believe I'm saying this....but I agree with Behindshadows.

I can't even imagine why anyone would use analog passing. I think the only reason thye have it in the game is because it's always been there. Icons baby.

On offensive rebounding, I think it's not that far off. If you check the stats in a real game they are few and far between.

I think what really throws the rebounding off is the elevated shooting percentage in the game on the default settings. Fix that and the rebound nnumber will be pretty close.

peace

# 23 thmst30 @ 03/26/09 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behindshadows


	I have tons of offensive rebounding, just not an many as I should so I don't really see that as an issue. Secondly the so called analog passing. I wouldn't know I use icon passing all the time. I never use analog passing that feature has been broken in Live and 2k's games for years. Especially on a fastbreak when some how they just make sure you pass it to the wrong person to prevent the score. Either way nothing is so broke in this game that makes it unplayable. And the offensive rebounding isn't broken, people just feel like they aren't getting enough of them compared to the cpu which in honesty they aren't getting many either. And the animations in this game don't make it unplayable, the animations that are there are fine and the game plays good. Maybe it doesn't run as smooth as super fast skating across the court 2k but what is here is very solid and well pace basketball.

OK, so if the animations and rebounding are fine then why has Mike made those his top two priorities to FIX for NBA Live 10? They are broken, and even he knows it.

# 24 bigsmallwood @ 03/26/09 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behindshadows


	I have tons of offensive rebounding, just not an many as I should so I don't really see that as an issue. Secondly the so called analog passing. I wouldn't know I use icon passing all the time. I never use analog passing that feature has been broken in Live and 2k's games for years. Especially on a fastbreak when some how they just make sure you pass it to the wrong person to prevent the score. Either way nothing is so broke in this game that makes it unplayable. And the offensive rebounding isn't broken, people just feel like they aren't getting enough of them compared to the cpu which in honesty they aren't getting many either. And the animations in this game don't make it unplayable, the animations that are there are fine and the game plays good. Maybe it doesn't run as smooth as super fast skating across the court 2k but what is here is very solid and well pace basketball.

There is LITTLE to nothing wrong with this game. If anybody has ever played a real game of basketball or watched a game of basketball, you know that there are few teams that avg a high number of Offensive Boards. I agree with BehindShadows...this game is NOT unplayable. It is actually the best Live since 06' with freestyle superstar. IMO people are complaining about the wrong things with this game. Other than the players running the baseline and not going out of bounds, I believe the animations are pretty accurate. Of course they could add a few more and maybe change the free-throw system but the game is the BEST option available. And yes I own 2K9 as well, but NBA Live 09 employs strategy. In 2K9 the CPU AI barely calls any real plays outside of trying to back door passes to death. And as a person who has been an avid fan of NBA 2K......NBA Live is back and is the Better game and will probably be Phenomenal next year if they add all the right game features ( ie beef up Be A Pro etc. etc.) and get a few little things right...Live 10 will be the new standard.

# 25 sportyguyfl31 @ 03/26/09 12:18 PM

The biggest mistake I made was trading in live to give 2k another shot.

Now that is a first.

The two brands seem to be flip flopping. Live is gradually becoming more "sim", and 2k is become more and more bling and flash.

# 26 Behindshadows @ 03/26/09 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmst30


	OK, so if the animations and rebounding are fine then why has Mike made those his top two priorities to FIX for NBA Live 10? They are broken, and even he knows it.

Not broken, adding more animations in which every company does every year they add more. And rebounding was an issue in Live 08 now it's accurate in this game. Like another poster said you can fix it with sliders. In which L4D's sliders did indeed fix. So no more issue with that.

Read all the other responses besides mine, this game is great!

# 27 thmst30 @ 03/26/09 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behindshadows


	Not broken, adding more animations in which every company does every year they add more. And rebounding was an issue in Live 08 now it's accurate in this game. Like another poster said you can fix it with sliders. In which L4D's sliders did indeed fix. So no more issue with that. Read all the other responses besides mine, this game is great!

So, I guess Mike Wang doesn't know what he's talking about?
http://sports.espn.go.com/videogames...ory?id=3900151

Quote:

ESPN: What was the one gameplay aspect that frustrated you most about the 09 game that you wanted to fix?

Mike Wang: The first one for me is rebounding. It's just not right. The way guys go and position themselves, it just fundamentally wasn't basketball. With that you get guys jumping over your back, too many offensive rebounds, guys not boxing out properly, users not being able to get to the ball. It was just broken.
The other thing I'll say is that Live in the past struggled with controller response and feel. It felt almost like a turn-based basketball game where you triggered an animation and then you just watched it and you had to make decisions like you were playing chess. But basketball is a fast-paced, twitch and react game. It just needs to be more explosive in general. Live always felt robotic to me, so that's my first priority of what I'm fixing.

Broken rebounding and robotic feel. Lets see, isn't that exactly what I said? However I'm completely wrong though.

# 28 Mizzou23 @ 03/26/09 01:11 PM

I picked this up the other day and I'm really liking it so far. Obviously it isn't a perfect game, but I like what I'm seeing so far. I played as Atlanta against the Mavs, and Dirk went off in the 1st half, but I kept him in check in the 2nd half and managed to get a comfortable win. Horford cleaned up inside with 20 pts and 19 boards. Then I played as Houston against Miami. Battier locked down D-Wade, and he had an awful night shooting and I blew them out of the water.

Obviously a handful of games is a small sample size, but it seems like if you use some real-life strategy, you're going to get real-life results. Animations and other stuff aside, that's what I want to see in a sports game.

# 29 thmst30 @ 03/26/09 01:17 PM

I will admit saying it is unplayable is too harsh. I love the progress they've made, but if those two things can get fixed for next year then DAMN this game will rock.

# 30 jfsolo @ 03/26/09 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmst30


	So, I guess Mike Wang doesn't know what he's talking about? http://sports.espn.go.com/videogames...ory?id=3900151 Broken rebounding and robotic feel. Lets see, isn't that exactly what I said? However I'm completely wrong though.

What's important is that Sean, Mike and company seem to be fully cognizant of the fact that the game still has a long way to go to be considered a good/great game. As long as their expectations and standards are at the highest level, it doesn't matter if some of their customers are already anointing them top dog.

# 31 mrclutch @ 03/26/09 04:40 PM

However I'm completely wrong though.[/quote]

Glad you finally get it.

# 32 thmst30 @ 03/26/09 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrclutch


	However I'm completely wrong though. Glad you finally get it.

Way to just delete the rest of the post. Thankfully the developers agree with me and that's all that matters.

# 33 KG @ 03/26/09 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thmst30


	I hear you. I really tried to enjoy Live this year, but DAMN the animations are horrendous. Everything is so robotic and twitchy. Needs a serious overhaul to get it to the smooth gameplay it needs to be. Plus the inaccurate passing, and horrible rebounding made me give up after a month. I do look forward to 2010 though. If this team puts half the effort forward that the Madden team has, then the game can be pretty solid.

I agree, especially with the "twitchy" comment. This issue is what bothered me the most about NBA Live. Historically their animations have been lacking so I knew to keep my expectations low but I can't deal with the nature of their player movement. Spacing, playcalling, and some graphics are all incredible, by far the best I've seen in a hoops game.

# 34 thmst30 @ 03/26/09 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfsolo


	What's important is that Sean, Mike and company seem to be fully cognizant of the fact that the game still has a long way to go to be considered a good/great game. As long as their expectations and standards are at the highest level, it doesn't matter if some of their customers are already anointing them top dog.

Exactly. People can praise this game all they want, as long as the guys actually working on the game realize that there is work to be done. This game has been out-sold and out-rated by the competition for the last few years for a reason.

# 35 stephensonmc @ 03/26/09 05:34 PM

Guys I assure you, there's absolutely NO question that we get where we are and where we need to be.

# 36 thmst30 @ 03/26/09 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephensonmc


	Guys I assure you, there's absolutely NO question that we get where we are and where we need to be.

I know, I wasn't questioning you guys at all.

Looking forward to some more great NBA Live 10 news down the road.

# 37 jfsolo @ 03/26/09 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephensonmc


	Guys I assure you, there's absolutely NO question that we get where we are and where we need to be.

The D-Team members have been great. You've handled praise and criticism with equanimity. No defensiveness or sense of self-satisfaction. It does give a feeling of being in Bizzaro World when the game makers seem to be much more objective then their fan base.

# 38 sirjam @ 03/27/09 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigsmallwood


	There is LITTLE to nothing wrong with this game. If anybody has ever played a real game of basketball or watched a game of basketball, you know that there are few teams that avg a high number of Offensive Boards. I agree with BehindShadows...this game is NOT unplayable. It is actually the best Live since 06' with freestyle superstar. IMO people are complaining about the wrong things with this game. Other than the players running the baseline and not going out of bounds, I believe the animations are pretty accurate. Of course they could add a few more and maybe change the free-throw system but the game is the BEST option available. And yes I own 2K9 as well, but NBA Live 09 employs strategy. In 2K9 the CPU AI barely calls any real plays outside of trying to back door passes to death. And as a person who has been an avid fan of NBA 2K......NBA Live is back and is the Better game and will probably be Phenomenal next year if they add all the right game features ( ie beef up Be A Pro etc. etc.) and get a few little things right...Live 10 will be the new standard.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

# 39 Pared @ 03/27/09 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfsolo


	As long as their expectations and standards are at the highest level, it doesn't matter if some of their customers are already anointing them top dog.

Fantastic post. Judging by some posts here you'd think they don't need to change anything.

They know what's what and that's all that matters. Otherwise the rebounding would still be terrible next year.

# 40 SageInfinite @ 03/27/09 02:41 PM

NBA Live has a ways to go, but it is my favorite bball game this season. The animations, rebounding, and presentation all need work. It definitely is nowhere near unplayable, and this is coming from a former NBA Live ***** and 2k lover. Now the roles have reversed, lol.

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