NBA Elite 11 News Post

NBA Elite 11 Interview with Creative Director David Littman

05:04 PM - August 24, 2010 by RaychelSnr

We recently had a chance to interview David Littman, creative director at EA Canada for NHL Slapshot, NBA Elite and the NHL series. He helped to oversee the re-imagining of the NHL series when the current-generation consoles were released, and he is now filling a similar role for NBA Elite 11. We wanted this interview to focus on the differences between the rebuilds of NHL and Elite, and we also wanted to get a bit deeper into why NBA Elite is going in a different direction this year.

Read More - NBA Elite 11 Interview with Creative Director David Littman

Game: NBA Elite 11Reader Score: 2/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 5 - View All

NBA Elite 11 Videos

Member Comments

# 41 Fiddy @ 08/25/10 11:29 AM

im sorry, i couldn't read that last paragraph without laughing. really? practicing moving your thumb straight up and release? hilarious!!

with that said, the 2k game for me anyway is stale. they make the best b-ball games year in and out but i just need a change. i'll be getting NBA Elite on release.

# 42 NoTiCe_O @ 08/25/10 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddy


	im sorry, i couldn't read that last paragraph without laughing. really? practicing moving your thumb straight up and release? hilarious!! with that said, the 2k game for me anyway is stale. they make the best b-ball games year in and out but i just need a change. i'll be getting NBA Elite on release.

I actually get where he was coming from with that. Because when I used to play street fighter alot I would practice doing the full half scoop cause it was pretty difficult to pull off in the heat of the moment. Not to that degree where I'm drivin and moving my thumbs, but i did give it some air practice lol.

i like this interview because I see where the game is going, its nice to know that they have a 3 year gameplan and they're not going in every year just trying to outdo 2k, they're sticking with their gameplan. I can't wait to try this out because I really feel like after playing the game I will see the difference, and whats so different about Elite.

# 43 mlp111 @ 08/25/10 02:16 PM

enough with these interviews, god read, but its time for some gameplay at least

# 44 da ThRONe @ 08/25/10 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajknows


	I think they are waiting to wow people with their demo. If they were to put alot of vid's out people would just pick them apart... me included. It's probably going to look like live 10 put feel/play like elite 11, which you can't convey trough a vid. So from a pr move it would probably only hurt them more to show a bunch of vid's that can't show their improvement's.

Excellent point. When you read the interview you get the idea that much hasnt changed that can be seen visually.

# 45 rEAnimator @ 08/25/10 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Kid


	I agree. Also, for the Rondo example, if you practice his shot and get good with it, aren't you just doing what Boston fans want Rondo to do? Don't you find it cool to potentially have a direct hand on his shooting progression in a Dynasty? There was a thread about skill vs. ratings gameplay : http://www.operationsports.com/forum...-gameplay.html rEAnimator had a very good post on it: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...post2041362898

Thanks for posting this. I came on here to explain this very point but you beat me to it.

I've seen a few posts in this thread asking for 5v5 videos.

I'm still on vacation, but I swung by the office today to check out the game and see where it's at.

This is pretty much the last week of development on the game, and the guys are working really, really hard to finish things off.

Litty wanted me to tell you guys that you should expect some 5v5 footage next week as things will have calmed down and we'll have time to start posting some footage.

# 46 Jano @ 08/25/10 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rEAnimator


	Thanks for posting this. I came on here to explain this very point but you beat me to it. I've seen a few posts in this thread asking for 5v5 videos. I'm still on vacation, but I swung by the office today to check out the game and see where it's at. This is pretty much the last week of development on the game, and the guys are working really, really hard to finish things off. Litty wanted me to tell you guys that you should expect some 5v5 footage next week as things will have calmed down and we'll have time to start posting some footage.

Good to hear man!

# 47 Ermolli @ 08/25/10 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rEAnimator


	Thanks for posting this. I came on here to explain this very point but you beat me to it. I've seen a few posts in this thread asking for 5v5 videos. I'm still on vacation, but I swung by the office today to check out the game and see where it's at. This is pretty much the last week of development on the game, and the guys are working really, really hard to finish things off. Litty wanted me to tell you guys that you should expect some 5v5 footage next week as things will have calmed down and we'll have time to start posting some footage.

Yes, finally

. Hope you're enjoying yor vacations

# 48 rEAnimator @ 08/25/10 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ermolli


	Yes, finally . Hope you're enjoying yor vacations

I am, thanks.

It's great to finally relax after working such crazy hours. I finally have a tan again

It was pretty awesome to go into the office and see so many little things that had been fixed while I was away. The team is putting everything they have into this, and it shows.

I'm as excited as everyone else for the demo to drop.

Can't wait.

# 49 RayDog253 @ 08/25/10 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rEAnimator


	I am, thanks. It's great to finally relax after working such crazy hours. I finally have a tan again It was pretty awesome to go into the office and see so many little things that had been fixed while I was away. The team is putting everything they have into this, and it shows. I'm as excited as everyone else for the demo to drop. Can't wait.

So, does that mean they're finished with your area of the game or did somebody else just take over? Just curious...

# 50 rEAnimator @ 08/25/10 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayDog253


	So, does that mean they're finished with your area of the game or did somebody else just take over? Just curious...

Most of my stuff was done ( I had fixed a really bad physcis bug on the Saturday before I left), but there was still some bug fixing and tuning that needed to happen while I was away.

So we split my features up amongst 3 other engineers on the team who were familiar with my features, or were working on similar features. They knew they'd be taking over so we had time to discuss details before I left.

I was also available on email in case of an emergency, but it was never needed. Everything worked out well.

# 51 Tha_Kid @ 08/25/10 10:52 PM

Did the footplanting/physics issue ever get ironed out?

# 52 Haval93 @ 08/25/10 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Kid


	Did the footplanting/physics issue ever get ironed out?

^ This...

Probably one of the biggest issues I see coming if they didn't. Here comes a rant, we can have tons of feel for the game but if the looks aren't up to par with the feel of the game then it will kill the game quite a bit. With looks I mean visual flaws such as ball looking light, clipping, foot planting, and so on. I don't expect it to be perfect but to a point where it doesn't kill the game.

# 53 dirtypuppet @ 08/25/10 11:18 PM

Well, seeing as rEAnimator is back on the forum and the games almost finished, I figure I'll put in a request for him to pass on the the EA art team.

Since the Atlanta Hawks changed their uniforms (4 seasons ago) the game has continued to feature 'Harry the Hawk' (mascot) in the old team uniform. Surely it can't be hard to update the textures for this (I even noticed in the NBA JAM videos they've got it wrong).

Now this seems petty, but it has frustrated me for the last few years because I play 90% of my games with the Hawks. I've posted this on here for the last 3 dev cycles of NBA Live and had responses from Dev's in the past and it's never been fixed.

The only reason I'm so adamant about a small change is because How hard can it be? The only reason I can think it's been so long is possibly because of a licensing issue, but I wouldn't have thought so.

Lastly, I sincerely hope that players with Hair Geometry (Robin Lopez, Zaza Pachulia, Andrew Bogut etc.) don't have the same glitch on the PS3 that we had last year. I have to say that was a massive flaw/oversight from the port last year.

Thanks, hope this gets seen.

# 54 Tha_Kid @ 08/25/10 11:38 PM

Not to piggyback on the art post but..

Kwame Brown has a short haircut now. Don't give him braids.

# 55 rEAnimator @ 08/26/10 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tha_Kid


	Did the footplanting/physics issue ever get ironed out?

The worst case of it definitely was. For example, Kobe doing the spin move on Ray Allen (I think) in the last quick clip where Ray Alan slid a lot when he came into contact with Kobe. That has been fixed.

There were also a very, very large number of smaller, targeted fixes that were made to specific animation blends that fixed sliding.

I'm not going to say all the sliding is gone because that would be a lie, but we definitely fixed the glaring problems from the previous videos.

# 56 Boilerbuzz @ 08/26/10 04:07 AM

I have a couple of issues with some of the comments:

1. Bullcrap to the premise people only care about the company making the game instead of the game itself. Sure, some will blindly defend their game of choice, but that loyalty starts with the game.
2. There is NOTHING Elite is doing that is revolutionary. I'm sorry. As a matter of fact, they are taking a VERY simple approach to the game and mechanics. It remains to be seen how it goes.
3. I see a lot of leveraging of the NHL title. Too much. This is not the NHL team doing this game. It's not the Fifa team (a better team than NHL) fixing this game. Because they are on the same campus using the same tools does NOT make the games equal. By that logic, Live should have good five years ago. It's like saying every game should be good because they are all done in C++.

In no way am I saying the game won't be good. Not at all. I just have a problem with the methods folks are using to convince people it's true. Big props to them for acknowledging their mistakes. It's just sad that failure was the catalyst and not their fans. For the record, I don't like the fact that they decided to reset AFTER making so much progress with Live 10.

# 57 Boilerbuzz @ 08/26/10 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rEAnimator


	I'm still on vacation, but I swung by the office today to check out the game and see where it's at. This is pretty much the last week of development on the game, and the guys are working really, really hard to finish things off.

No offense man, but this sounds strange to me. I would think you would still be burning the midnight oil until the game was done, done. Again, not implying anything. It just caught me off guard.

# 58 Jano @ 08/26/10 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz


	3. I see a lot of leveraging of the NHL title. Too much. This is not the NHL team doing this game. It's not the Fifa team (a better team than NHL) fixing this game. Because they are on the same campus using the same tools does NOT make the games equal. By that logic, Live should have good five years ago. It's like saying every game should be good because they are all done in C++.

Actually some of the guys from the other EA dev teams are working on this game. And the engines (ANT, RTP, Real-AI) the devs are using on Elite are a lot better then the ones they have previously used imo.

RTP allowed the game to finally have features 2K's had for years like the ability to go for steals while moving. Or enable the ball to be "live" so contact with the it actually matters. RTP also got rid of canned animations so we can finally do some basic things like block shots off the backboard.

It also added in some much needed physicality to the game and it effects the game everywhere from the post to the perimeter. We will finally be able to see a difference between Lebron and CP3 when they are charging down the lane. The ANT technology gets rid of the ball warping on the rebounds.

Real-AI will actually cause players use moves they would in real life. This could potentially be the end of Bynum doing euro steps, or Shaq shooting fadeaways.

These new engines are adding in some MUCH needed improvements to this basketball series. And its doing it at a much faster rate then they would have using the old engine.

So your right it probably doesn't make the games equal but it definitely puts them on the same playing field though. Because now the tech is similar so things you see in one game could be possible in the other.

# 59 tedus @ 08/26/10 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz


	No offense man, but this sounds strange to me. I would think you would still be burning the midnight oil until the game was done, done. Again, not implying anything. It just caught me off guard.

what' wrong ?!! dude!!

he already said he finished most part of his work and the rest ones divided to others!!

you work all year!! Don't you want to go on a vocation??

BTＷ
appreciate your hard work rEAnimator!!
a question!!

I asked you before!! you said the dev team did not dicussions yet at that time!!

Q:How about the hustle play!! can we control it or not??!!

# 60 B-Ball Life @ 08/26/10 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rEAnimator


	Most of my stuff was done ( I had fixed a really bad physcis bug on the Saturday before I left), but there was still some bug fixing and tuning that needed to happen while I was away. So we split my features up amongst 3 other engineers on the team who were familiar with my features, or were working on similar features. They knew they'd be taking over so we had time to discuss details before I left. I was also available on email in case of an emergency, but it was never needed. Everything worked out well.

Man Am I Excited for this game.

And i Qoute the post because "I Know Where I Wanna Take My Talents"(Lebron Reference) when i graduate college. lol

(Hoping Anyway

)

« Previous 1 234 5 6 Next »

More Links

NBA Elite 11 Interview with Creative Director David Littman