NBA Live 11 News Post

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

06:11 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"

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Member Comments

# 101 neegotiator @ 02/03/10 04:42 AM

obviously dev team needs to be held accountable for their product, though obviously with the high turnover rate keep hearing about at EA i doubt the same ppl that developed Lakers vs Celtics stayed on board til NBA Live 10

that being said though i'm a bit pessimistic about this different direction, will be waiting to see what this different direction is before writing Live off. i'm sure there were other people besides Mike Wang who helped push Live 10 in right direction, and hope that they're still on board to push back. i still enjoy Live 10 despite it's quirks so will be disappointed if moving way off course.

# 102 stizz @ 02/03/10 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickey1331


	Its not exclusive. Thats why the Show exists.

Then why doesn't MVP Baseball not exist?

# 103 dickey1331 @ 02/03/10 06:16 AM

It is 3rd party exclusive. Only 2K, Sony, and Microsoft can make baseball games.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stizz


	Then why doesn't MVP Baseball not exist?

# 104 stizz @ 02/03/10 06:31 AM

It's still exclusive ain't it?

# 105 blues rocker @ 02/03/10 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Court_vision


	Played a bit of both games last night...and the controls and movement in LIVE is just so much better. It's not even close. However, LIVE is behind in all other areas by massive amounts. That's where Beluba's leaving is going to kill the series. He's an animations guru and he'd already 'promised' a tonne of new animations for LIVE 11. You can read between the lines pretty easily here...he had a set of things he'd already said he wanted : animations, post game, hard core SIM stuff. He is a hard core SIG guy. He was the one who added most of 2Ks sig stuff. EA's management said "we don't want to go in that direction". Beluba walked. It's a real pity as the game just needed that one more solid season of animations, post game, sig stuff. The controls are so sweet that I find it hard to play 2K at times. It's dissapointing that the rest of the game isn't going to ever catch up. You fellas are kidding yourselves if you think LIVE 11 will be "fine". No way in hell Marcus and Beluba just walk away if it was going in the right direction.

Yep...this is exactly how I see it. It's a real shame, because if EA would've allowed Mike Wang another year to really be in charge of the game and do all the things he wanted, then Live 11 could've been an amazing game...they were so close with Live 10 - the controls and movement were amazing, but it just needed some tweaks (more animations, faster animations, etc), but overall Live 10 had a great foundation and now it appears EA is going to scrap all the great stuff from Live 10 and "go in a different direction." EA is so dumb. They had a great opportunity to make Live 11 be the game that changes peoples' minds about Live...but they blew it. They had a perfect setup - a great lead gameplay guy who knew exactly how to make the series great again, and they ignored him. so dumb.

My only hope at this point is that Mike Wang can take all of the great dribbling and movement from Live 10 and bring it into 2k11. But, unfortunately I don't see that happening because I have a feeling 2k's engine is too old and can't achieve the type of movement that Mike was able to bring to Live 10...guess I'll just have to hope.

# 106 dickey1331 @ 02/03/10 09:24 AM

Kinda but not like the NFL where only EA can make it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stizz


	It's still exclusive ain't it?

# 107 Pared @ 02/03/10 11:12 AM

Guys - thread isn't about any exclusivity deals. Back on topic please.

# 108 pezone @ 02/03/10 11:27 AM

I guess I'll be going back to 2k.........it's a shame!

# 109 Crimsontide27 @ 02/03/10 11:42 AM

The reason I think this is a sign of things to come is because its obvious that consumers have been voting with their wallet when it comes to the direction live is going.

At this point, consumer confidence in the EA Live brand name is at an all time low and for good reasons. Its gonna take a lot for EA to regain its customers, but I dont think thats their plan. At this point they have probably alienated enough people that they are trying to re-create the Live brand and get a different consumer group all together to purchase the product. This most likely means getting away from the "sim like" crowd that the people on this board want it to be and going toward the more casual NBA Jam / Hangtime crowd.

# 110 edubbs @ 02/03/10 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blues rocker


	My only hope at this point is that Mike Wang can take all of the great dribbling and movement from Live 10 and bring it into 2k11. But, infortunately I don't see that happening because I have a feeling 2k's engine is too old and can't achieve the type of movement that Mike was able to bring to Live 10...guess I'll just have to hope.

I agree.

Live's control is in a league of it's own. It's very unrealistic to think the other game can match the control in the Live series in just one dev. cycle, and after all of these years.

Although, I think it is realistic to think that they can close the gap on the quality of the controls to the point where the subpar control in 2k isn't as big of an issue considering it's other strong points.

# 111 Jukeman @ 02/03/10 12:48 PM

you'll prolly see Steve Nash dunking next year....

Bulls Vs...

NBA Showdown..

NBA Live 95-2000...

I want my EA Sports back

# 112 -DaVe- @ 02/03/10 01:48 PM

# 113 RoyalBoyle78 @ 02/03/10 03:18 PM

Mike Better be careful, Take 2 is laying off 400 employees, hope there's no bad blood and they took him back just to dump him.....LOL...I kid, I kid...

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/106/1066211p1.html

# 114 CX1329 @ 02/03/10 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jukeman


	you'll prolly see Steve Nash dunking next year....

WELCOME TO....NBA LIVE!

# 115 Behindshadows @ 02/03/10 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FootballForever


	Mike Better be careful, Take 2 is laying off 400 employees, hope there's no bad blood and they took him back just to dump him.....LOL...I kid, I kid... http://ps3.ign.com/articles/106/1066211p1.html

Article is terrible, it's a rumor! But most companies today are laying off tons of people my company laid off 680 employees in 2 weeks.

But you can tell Take 2 doesn't respect 2ksports even as a division. Almost ever article you read on the company. 2ksports division is never even mentioned as a part of the company. No wonder they are down to two sports titles with VC intact.

No effort or name recognition as even being with the company. And they wonder why their sales numbers slip in certain parts of their sports sections.

R.I.P: APF, ESPN NFL, NHL 2k series, and the beloved College Hoops.

Thanks to Take 2 for killing a great series of games.

Also this thread has turned into a 2k fest and a easy ticket for the fanboys to gloat and boast on EA's situation.

I think Live 11 will still deliver, rather we like it or not, each game since 06 has been better than the other. So I don't see the series declining, just improving. If they want to try new things each year until they find a solution, let them.

But I do agree with one thing. The big wigs pulling the strings are the ones ruining efforts by the developers. They need to go have board meetings and write on chalk boards. And let these developers do their jobs and save this series. Without all the number throwing! When in reality they are the problem, not the developers.

# 116 CX1329 @ 02/03/10 04:28 PM

I know that no matter what happens, I'll always be fond of Live 10. The more I play this game, the more I learn about it, and the more I enjoy it. I'm even about to start a Dynasty, and I'm usually a Quick Game person.

# 117 23 @ 02/03/10 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcxiv


	Its all about dollars. IF it doesnt make them, then it doesnt make sense. EA wanted a quick fix to all their sales problems. It doesnt work that way. The suits only see that as a failure. They dont care why. So, they want to move in a different direction. I will say one thing, there is no way on gods green earth that the suits look at websites like this. They just want to see reports on how the game is doing and they do all their choices based on numbers. 2k struggled with NHL and MLB, but they are letting the new teams do their thing and are cutting them some slack. They knew it was goign to be bad. They are giving them a chance to turn things around. They arent moving in a different direction. Anyways, EA shouldnt have made their press release about this yesterday. It made them look bad and desperate. Which quite frankly is/was. That EA CM dude doesnt even want to step into this anymore. I Dont blame him.

Being that you have a huge bias and a connection with the competition, Its not right that you try to use this opportunity to smash on EA any way you can.

Dont try stirring up anything in here about the company, and quite frankly it gets annoying after awhile seeing you running around the site patting yourself on the back about 2k info and seeing you do this as well.

Im not being a jerk but relax

# 118 Tomba @ 02/03/10 06:15 PM

Bottom Line...NBA Live 10 was very good compared to the last three years of Live games.

Did Wang have THAT much influence over it? Not really because ultimately it STILL played and felt like 07 08 and 09.

I'm just more curious about where exactly this games going as far as direction? If by sim do they mean by the game just having a online following of realistic nba stats like the symmetry thing? meaning that if they strengthen THAt that's what will make a difference? if they trigger animations properly if they add realism to the speed of the game then maybe yes but stats and game engines rarely mix and we see that. gameplay has been wonky until a editor comes along...and it's been like that for two years which Wang was around for...So...that means the influence hasn't been THAT major.

Honestly I do not think anyone influence could have been that major as been stated because it's a team of people deciding.

i know this isn't a improve Live thread but there needs to be one or just maybe good ol' tomba goes and consults them huh?

# 119 Tomba @ 02/03/10 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Behindshadows


	Article is terrible, it's a rumor! But most companies today are laying off tons of people my company laid off 680 employees in 2 weeks. But you can tell Take 2 doesn't respect 2ksports even as a division. Almost ever article you read on the company. 2ksports division is never even mentioned as a part of the company. No wonder they are down to two sports titles with VC intact. No effort or name recognition as even being with the company. And they wonder why their sales numbers slip in certain parts of their sports sections. R.I.P: APF, ESPN NFL, NHL 2k series, and the beloved College Hoops. Thanks to Take 2 for killing a great series of games. Also this thread has turned into a 2k fest and a easy ticket for the fanboys to gloat and boast on EA's situation. I think Live 11 will still deliver, rather we like it or not, each game since 06 has been better than the other. So I don't see the series declining, just improving. If they want to try new things each year until they find a solution, let them. But I do agree with one thing. The big wigs pulling the strings are the ones ruining efforts by the developers. They need to go have board meetings and write on chalk boards. And let these developers do their jobs and save this series. Without all the number throwing! When in reality they are the problem, not the developers.

Chalkboards? lol What Up BS!

NBA Live 11 will deliver just the same way madden 11 will and NCAA football will. it's NHL 11 Fifa 11 and tiger that will not. those series are at their peaks. even with how ancient and archaic Tiger is...

I'm looking forward to MLB 2k10 and NBA 2k11(not because of Wang , evidence of the past two years being even better 2k games)...2k and EA need to loosen their expectations of their sports game sales. Selling 1 million basketball games is like selling 20 million Call of duties...

# 120 WazzuRC @ 02/03/10 07:26 PM

Can we change the title to "Wang Pulls Out of EA Canada."

Sorry, the immature person in me had to say something.

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