NBA 2K11 News Post

NBA 2K11 Lead Gameplay Designer, Mike Wang Interview

06:53 AM - February 2, 2010 by Steve_OS

Operation Sports got a chance to talk with Mike Wang and NBA 2K producer Erick Boenisch about why Mike is returning to the NBA 2K franchise, why he left EA and what this all means for NBA 2K11.

Quote:


	OS: "Did you return to 2K early enough to get involved in the grand scheme of things for NBA 2K11? In other words, are you fully involved with this development process and the "big ideas" that are going into the game this year, or is next year going to be your first "full" year working on the series again?" Mike: "One of the wonderful things about this company, its tools, workflows and processes is that everything is very efficient, and it is just easy to get things done. So yes, everything that I wanted to work on this year has been incorporated into the plan. The interesting thing is, when I first spoke with Rob Jones [gameplay director for NBA 2K] about coming back, many of the things that I wanted to do were already in the works. Rob and I have always seen eye to eye on what makes a great basketball game, so we were able to get back into the groove of things very quickly. It was very refreshing to talk about the state of the current basketball games and start bouncing ideas off of each other again -- just like old times. And with the addition of Zach and Jerson, the College Hoops 2K gameplay producers, I could not have hoped for a stronger gameplay design/production team to work with. Personally, it did take me a couple weeks to get up to speed on all the new tools and features that the guys have been working on the last couple years, but now we are firing on all cylinders, and we are creating a title in NBA 2K11 that I know hoops fans are going to love."

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Member Comments

# 1 JohnDoe8865 @ 02/02/10 07:06 AM

Awesome, reading now.

# 2 RayDog253 @ 02/02/10 07:08 AM

Wow, I still don't know what to think of this whole situation. The Live team really had me sold on their game last year, Beluba included. Now all this happens, I guess we're just gonna have to wait and see how this all pans out.

# 3 bamalam @ 02/02/10 07:57 AM

good to see beluba back at 2k.

does make me wonder how live is going to compete long term, because before beluba, they were not even close to 2k.

live 11 probably will still have some b influence

2k musta improved them programming tools because didnt b state he left basically because the engine, etc was limted, and they were covering game issues with animations. might have been a lot of "business speak"

anyways, him being back will only improve 2k. ea live has messed up big time letting him go.

# 4 tabulaRasa @ 02/02/10 08:05 AM

This sounds really great for 2K.

# 5 rockchisler @ 02/02/10 08:28 AM

Well If its True that the Heads at EA want a different direction then Ok I understand his move, But from My understanding Live is still going to be a sim experience, Maybe something changed between November and February.

# 6 SHAKYR @ 02/02/10 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsu_gb23


	This is pretty huge news for the basketball videogame industry. MIke Wang is the real deal. Look what he did for LIVE 10 in the short time he was there. I actually bought LIVE this year and not 2K for the first time since 2K's inception. I am pretty pumped about what Wang will do for 2K11! It'll be a tight race for sports-game of the year.

It won't be a race at all. It would be like a Hybrid vs. a muscle car.

# 7 ataman5 @ 02/02/10 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHAKYR


	It won't be a race at all. It would be like a Hybrid vs. a muscle car.

Unfortunately.

# 8 STLRams @ 02/02/10 10:24 AM

Wow, 2K11 will be awsome.

# 9 Dantecamp21 @ 02/02/10 10:44 AM

He's still the real deal when it comes to designing bball games and I'm pretty sure 2K11 will rock. I'm concerned about Live 11's future though.

But at the end of the day, at least for me, he has lost some credibility. He took swipes at 2K's lack of tools when he was gone and now he's throwing EA's management under the bus.

# 10 bigsmallwood @ 02/02/10 10:46 AM

Oh Boy! 2K11 just got waaaaay more interesting in what they will be able to offer!

# 11 ODogg @ 02/02/10 10:50 AM

I guess I can cross NBA 11 off my to-purchase list next year now.

# 12 BrianFifaFan @ 02/02/10 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantecamp21


	He's still the real deal when it comes to designing bball games and I'm pretty sure 2K11 will rock. I'm concerned about Live 11's future though. But at the end of the day, at least for me, he has lost some credibility. He took swipes at 2K's lack of tools when he was gone and now he's throwing EA's management under the bus.

Maybe they've got the tools now. Or maybe having been in contact with EA's tech and how they use it, he's got ideas of how VC's stuff can be used more effectively. Now, if you haven't been living totally in the dark, the observations that have been made about EA management and corporate culture are hardly new. They were the first assumptions made over in the other forum when we found out he had left and he just confirmed what was considered the real story on this. His only act of "throwing EA management under the bus" was being honest. He could have dogged the product and the team, but he was actually quite diplomatic.

They just wanted to make a different game, hoping to hit a home run next year. Maybe the NBA Live lead needs to have a pow-wow with Littman and Rutter. Home runs don't get hit often. Building a strong game over many iterations is how every sports title gets built into a legend. NHL,MVP,PES,NBA2K,NFL2k, the list goes on and on. I hate to say it, but Mike knows all of Live's strengths and weaknesses. Programming and tech. He could use that knowledge to help fix the few flaws that remain in the 2k product. It could be a really rough go of it for the EA product next year....

# 13 STLRams @ 02/02/10 11:05 AM

Hopefully he can implement some of the roster update tools and dynamic dna of EA Live into the tendencies, instead of us relying on the 2KInsider.

# 14 Dantecamp21 @ 02/02/10 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianFifaFan


	Maybe they've got the tools now. Or maybe having been in contact with EA's tech and how they use it, he's got ideas of how VC's stuff can be used more effectively. Now, if you haven't been living totally in the dark, the observations that have been made about EA management and corporate culture are hardly new. They were the first assumptions made over in the other forum when we found out he had left and he just confirmed what was considered the real story on this. His only act of "throwing EA management under the bus" was being honest. He could have dogged the product and the team, but he was actually quite diplomatic. They just wanted to make a different game, hoping to hit a home run next year. Maybe the NBA Live lead needs to have a pow-wow with Littman and Rutter. Home runs don't get hit often. Building a strong game over many iterations is how every sports title gets built into a legend. NHL,MVP,PES,NBA2K,NFL2k, the list goes on and on. I hate to say it, but Mike knows all of Live's strengths and weaknesses. Programming and tech. He could use that knowledge to help fix the few flaws that remain in the 2k product. It could be a really rough go of it for the EA product next year....

Haven't been on the dark at all my man, been playing sports game since Lakers vs Celtics on the MSX. And I accept your point of view and can't hide from the truth presented arguments. EA's bad rep hasn't surfaced from nothing.

But I believe that he could have handled both of his exits in a different manner. It's easy to say all the bad things about your former employee and all the good things about your next one.

Again, that's my point of view, no offense to Mike, it's his own business to mind.

# 15 monzel214 @ 02/02/10 12:05 PM

nba live 10 was first game i kept since 95 and now mike wang gone i wont be buying live next yr also that dude who run live dont know what the heck he doing for real

# 16 cheechoo98 @ 02/02/10 12:06 PM

Wow. I never followed the B-Ball game but from the sounds of it. Sure wish they had someone like Mike for their hockey franchise....

# 17 BrianFifaFan @ 02/02/10 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dantecamp21


	Haven't been on the dark at all my man, been playing sports game since Lakers vs Celtics on the MSX. And I accept your point of view and can't hide from the truth presented arguments. EA's bad rep hasn't surfaced from nothing. But I believe that he could have handled both of his exits in a different manner. It's easy to say all the bad things about your former employee and all the good things about your next one. Again, that's my point of view, no offense to Mike, it's his own business to mind.

Fair enough. And please don't take it as if I was dogging you or your opinion. It just kinda frustrates me that, after seeing how NHL and Fifa turned it all aorund and became sworn to a vision of making world-class games and letting the sales be generated by that, Mike is now saying that they are in disarray/confused, yet again. Remember, these award-winning, sales killing franchises are produced on the same exact campus. I'm sympathetic to Mike, if they aren't committed to making a world class basketball sim, and trying to making 2k the loser, what's the point of fighting the war? There's no such thing as interpretations of a sport. There's no arcade or sim. There's a good sports games and a bad sports game. And EA seems to have no idea which is which....

P.S. I've played basketball since Atari. LOL!

# 18 Dantecamp21 @ 02/02/10 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianFifaFan


	Fair enough. And please don't take it as if I was dogging you or your opinion. It just kinda frustrates me that, after seeing how NHL and Fifa turned it all aorund and became sworn to a vision of making world-class games and letting the sales be generated by that, Mike is now saying that they are in disarray/confused, yet again. Remember, these award-winning, sales killing franchises are produced on the same exact campus. I'm sympathetic to Mike, if they aren't committed to making a world class basketball sim, and trying to making 2k the loser, what's the point of fighting the war? There's no such thing as interpretations of a sport. There's no arcade or sim. There's a good sports games and a bad sports game. And EA seems to have no idea which is which.... P.S. I've played basketball since Atari. LOL!

Yeah, it makes me wonder what they're aimming for in this next development cycle as well.

I'm really concerned about the direction that their basketball program is being taken. Peter Moore seems happy with all the buzz NBA Jam is generating, and that should be considered a very disheartening development.

It makes one wonder if Turmell will head up north all the way from Florida to give his input on Live as well.

Live 10 is a solid product with some very positives going for then (playbooks, pace, controls, accessories, etc). Running away from the foundation that Mike built will be a mistake.

# 19 smithdynasty @ 02/02/10 12:46 PM

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! I feel like a Mike Wang groupie now. I bought Live this year (for the first time since 05) and now I'm back on the 2k bangwagon. I strongly believe Live has no chance next year. It's crazy because although Live has gotten way better, it's still not 2k. I hear A LOT of complaints about 2k10 but after playing the demo and store versions, I don't see what the fuss is about (except for the terrible defensive gameplay). If my player mode is the only broken piece of the game, then you have very little to complain about (compared to live).

All in all, I had 5 wishes in life, im pretty sure one of them would be to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make COLLEGE HOOPS 2k11

# 20 eko718 @ 02/02/10 01:43 PM

All I have to say is welcome the hell back Beluba.

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