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NBA Live 11 News Post

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

  07:11 PM - February 1, 2010 by BrianFifaFan
NBA Live 11 has just taken an incredible blow.

Quote:
"Mike Wang has left EA Canada and the NBA LIVE development team and will be heading back to the United States. I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank Mike for his contributions during the 18 months that he was working on NBA LIVE. His vision and leadership within gameplay on NBA LIVE 10 was part of the reason why that game was critically reviewed as having taken a tremendous leap in quality and at least as good as any other basketball game on the market.

Our goals for NBA LIVE 11 are simple. We want to be one of the best sports games on the market … on par with franchises like NHL, FIFA and Madden. In the coming months, we will show you just how we will do that.

I wish Mike and his family the best of luck.

Sean O’Brien"

Game: NBA Live 11Hype Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 7 - View All
Member Comments
# 21 23 @ 02/01/10 09:01 PM
Right now guys, lets leave 2k sports out of this thread
 
# 22 blackflash83 @ 02/01/10 09:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Court_vision
Flash

I appreciate the response. I work in the "real world" too man, I know you've got to put a positive spin on it. That's your job and I appreciate it.

You jump in here as it's your job to do 'damage control'. Fair enough.

If you guys really do give a crap about the basketball gaming community you might want to read this thread on NCAA freezing and actually respond. I am not alone in saying that we are kind of tired of the whole "hey, we are working on something great" rhetoric. Get out and support your products better man. Don't keep walking away from stuff and then expecting everyone is just going to forget stuff like this below:

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...ing-issue.html
You're absolutely right CV. This isn't about damage control this is just about giving you all an understanding of what's going on. Mike is definitely going to be missed and I have TON of respect for the man and he will be missed by not just me but by the entire development team itself.

I will be here to answer whatever questions I can answer regarding the news. I know I will miss working with Mike and the development team will miss his contributions. The team are still going to be working hard and Mike will do the same on whatever he decides to do.
 
# 23 blackflash83 @ 02/01/10 09:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by 23
backflash...

I hate to say it man, but telling up Mike jumped ship after the changes doesnt exactly make anyone feel any better about the series, new team or not. Its been the exact same for years now.

We've heard this before and it kinda stings this time because the next year thing has been worn too thin. People are at their limits and really, they dont see anything to be excited about. The marketing has practically been labeled nothing but hype now.

Its just a bad feeling overall because the thought of only one game is never a good one but at this point, EA almost owes it to their customers to deliver and so far its been far less than that.
23,

I can't argue with what you just said here as you're completely right. At this point the only thing that the development team can do is give you all a game that is worthy of what you all want. Talk is cheap but I have faith with in this team and everyone wants to see this series get better.
 
# 24 BrianFifaFan @ 02/01/10 09:07 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackflash83
CV,

Two things with your post that I'm going to immediately clarify. First off Marcus wasn't forced off of NBA LIVE. Marcus was offered a great opportunity with another game team and he accepted the offer. Marcus has done a lot for the NBA LIVE team and he's definitely an example I look to regarding being a good community leader. I aspite to do the same good work that Marcus did for the community and I know he's been great with all of you here on OS.

Secondly, your point regarding Mike being let go is NOT true at all. Mike chose to leave EA on his own and go back to the US. This was HIS decision and no one pushed him to leave the company. Mike is an awesome guy to work with and he has a TON of passion for what he does. It was definitely disappointing for me to hear that he was leaving but in the end he had to do what was best for him and for his family. Mike's contributions to NBA LIVE have been huge. You only need to look at where LIVE 10 is compared to where LIVE 09 was. He brought a lot to the team and the team worked well with him.

Although Mike has left EA, a lot of you believe that the NBA LIVE series is done and you all couldn't be further from the truth. While Mike definitely brought a lot of great ideas for NBA LIVE 10, it took a TEAM to get the game to where it is right now. Everyone on the development team was united in the vision that they wanted NBA LIVE to be back among the elite of sports games. LIVE 10 took significant steps towards that goal and NBA LIVE 11 will take even greater strides. We have a great team of people that want to see this game back on top, they're all committed to seeing this game succeed. Although Mike is not on the team anymore that doesn't mean that the game has no hope. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James couldn't win championships by themselves it takes a TEAM to do that.

I understand a lot of you have a great deal of respect for Mike, I feel the same as all of you. Mike is amazing and he does his job better than anyone, however we still have a great team here working on the game and they are committed to giving you a basketball experience you all deserve.
I'm feeling a bit better after this. But. Mike Wang represented cred with the B-Ball gaming community. Cred that the NBA Live brand badly needed. Now, I would be really reassured if the team would go on record, kinda like Ian did with Madden, saying that "sim" is our bread and butter. That we are gonna do the Fifa/NHL ride or die with authenticity. I know you alluded to it. But, graphics and equipment aside, the gameplay was what made this game have a bit of a shine that has sorely been lacking in Live for a long while. Is that going to remain unchanged? If they go back "fun," meaning arcady, they are making a HUGE mistake. Please say it will be left the same and driven more towards "sim" style.....
 
# 25 Benicio10 @ 02/01/10 09:12 PM
Damage Control should be: "NBA Live 10 is a sim again after Mo Williams got injured!"

But on a more serious note ... The only hope this franchise had is now gone, in my opinion, and that of others. In fact, 2K slipped with his absence. I just couldn't get into 2K10.

Basketball gaming needs a Pro Evo Soccer/MLB The Show-like renaissance
 
# 26 blackflash83 @ 02/01/10 09:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianFifaFan
I'm feeling a bit better after this. But. Mike Wang represented cred with the B-Ball gaming community. Cred that the NBA Live brand badly needed. Now, I would be really reassured if the team would go on record, kinda like Ian did with Madden, saying that "sim" is our bread and butter. That we are gonna do the Fifa/NHL ride or die with authenticity. I know you alluded to it. But, graphics and equipment aside, the gameplay was what made this game have a bit of a shine that has sorely been lacking in Live for a long while. Is that going to remain unchanged? If they go back "fun," meaning arcady, they are making a HUGE mistake. Please say it will be left the same and driven more towards "sim" style.....
I can say this to you right now, NBA LIVE are committed to giving you all a SIM basketball experience. This is what the team has been working towards and that's what the goal continues to be.

I know that a lot of you are very disappointed with Mike's departure, but Mike is going on to do bigger and better things and we hope for nothing but the best for him because he deserves it.
 
# 27 Benicio10 @ 02/01/10 09:21 PM
blackflash ... i'll simplify things for you ...

Here's what we want eliminated from Live:

Bad animations, lack of animations, poor physics, poor controls, ratings not mattering & glitches

Your marketing team can keep saying what they want, but the bottomline is that these things continue to plague the series. Get them fixed, and we will come back. It's that simple.
 
# 28 ataman5 @ 02/01/10 09:24 PM
All my feelings and thoughts about this game having a great potential for the following years are just gone and unlikely it would ever comeback.

Appreciate the effort blackflash at least you're here and respond to us but not inspiring at all sorry.

I think Live 10 will be the ''one''and ''only'' game that plays true sim afterall, cause i'm sure as hell that EA will change the direction to an arcade game no matter what team working on the game right now.

Fifa 10 sells super and has made great strides over the two years but it doesn't play ''sim'' afterall. it's great fun though.

So that ended my hopes about live 11.

Hopefully i'll be wrong.
 
# 29 blackflash83 @ 02/01/10 09:25 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benicio10
blackflash ... i'll simplify things for you ...

Here's what we want eliminated from Live:

Bad animations, lack of animations, poor physics, poor controls, ratings not mattering & glitches

Your marketing team can keep saying what they want, but the bottomline is that these things continue to plague the series. Get them fixed, and we will come back. It's that simple.
Everything you say here is fair. The team have been working hard to improve all of those things that you have just pointed out. There is a lot to prove as you have said and the team will do their best do that, that's all I can say at this point.
 
# 30 noshun @ 02/01/10 09:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Court_vision
Again, you can't just say "hey, we are listening / I am here"

And then just ignore what's gone on with your other basketball game. A lot of the consumers are the same people man. You and EA have just completely ignored the freezing issue.

Until you guys fix this...everything is basically just rhetoric.

http://www.operationsports.com/forum...ing-issue.html
BINGO! It's all DC at this point. They probably won't comment on the Frezing thread.. let alone give a patch. Faith is gone there man.

Quote:
we’re very excited to announce what’s going to happening with NBA LIVE 11
The next year mantra strikes again!
 
# 31 edaddy @ 02/01/10 09:34 PM
Maybe just maybe Marcus and Mike are headed to 2K...I dont see any other basketball companies that they could have possibly jumped Ea's ship for...Sony to me isnt worth the risk of leaving EA..so I can guess that 2k is revamping the series..just a guess fellas..hmmm
 
# 32 ataman5 @ 02/01/10 09:39 PM
I have been thinking that ea can only release a good b-ball game in five years circle 2000-2005-10 see, i guess we'll wait for another 5 years.
 
# 33 BrianFifaFan @ 02/01/10 09:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by edaddy
Maybe just maybe Marcus and Mike are headed to 2K...I dont see any other basketball companies that they could have possibly jumped Ea's ship for...Sony to me isnt worth the risk of leaving EA..so I can guess that 2k is revamping the series..just a guess fellas..hmmm
Marcus is still there at EAC, just on another project. Mike is back across the border, in the good ole USA.
 
# 34 therizing02 @ 02/01/10 09:47 PM
FYI...Marcus is the Community Manager for FIFA Online. He was on FIFA 09 as a Community leader, went to Live 10, and is now doing FIFA online.
 
# 35 23 @ 02/01/10 09:58 PM
sleepy... come on man, this is not THAT thread.

start one over there
 
# 36 therizing02 @ 02/01/10 10:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepytercel
Interestingly enough, there is "big NBA news" coming from 2K Sports tomorrow.

Sorry 23, but it is interesting. I mean, what news could 2K have on their NBA series right after this announcement? It only makes sense, but we'll see.
''

Is it confirmed that the news is on the NBA series or is it just a basketball announcement? The dream announcement would be that Mike Wang returns to 2k to work on CHoops 2K11. Didn't EA confirm that they weren't making NCAA Basketball next year? Now THAT would be huge news!
 
# 37 jyoung @ 02/01/10 10:07 PM
RIP to Mike and Marcus.

Your teams helped put the Live series back into contention, even if you don't have the sales to show it.

Best of luck to whoever is stepping in to keep the series moving forward.
 
# 38 noshun @ 02/01/10 10:12 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by wEEman33
RIP to Mike and Marcus.

Your teams helped put the Live series back into contention, even if you don't have the sales to show it.

Best of luck to whoever is stepping in to keep the series moving forward.
They arent dead, whats with the RIP?
 
# 39 BrianFifaFan @ 02/01/10 10:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by therizing02
''

Is it confirmed that the news is on the NBA series or is it just a basketball announcement? The dream announcement would be that Mike Wang returns to 2k to work on CHoops 2K11. Didn't EA confirm that they weren't making NCAA Basketball next year? Now THAT would be huge news!
Just a random musing. My dream scenario would be that EA goes with total ESPN integration, meaning both ESPN telecasts and ESPN on ABC. And then 2k announces they have total TNT and NBATV integration. Then I'd buy both games and play them on the days/nights that the respective networks have that coverage. That's one thing I love about PC gaming, modding can give you all kinds of overlays that really add to the atmosphere and bring the virtual world closer to reality. But it doesn't help with commentary. That you have to have real licenses for. It just ticks me off how the NCAA team had such a great idea in presentation that got lost in such a broken game....
 
# 40 nolan273 @ 02/01/10 10:22 PM
As much as I hate to admit it, I think I'm hearing a very faint death knell beginning for NBA Live... It's sad to imagine Live not being around anymore. Especially after the strides that were made this year. Live was on the path back to respectability... I wonder what happens to the series from this point on.
 


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