NBA Live 14 News Post

If NBA Live Has a Future, It Has to Look Radically Different

02:53 PM - December 6, 2013 by RaychelSnr

EA Sports had a clear opening opening with NBA Live 14, and they didn’t even realize it.

NBA 2K14 fumbled its launch about as much as 2K Sports could manage, which is to say — there are still some problems, a few of which are quite serious which consumers are facing, but the game is largely quite good.

Connectivity issues, save file issues with MyCAREER, crashes, and some old legacy gameplay issues are hampering the product at this point. A patch has fixed some issues, but many remain it appears.

In all reality, there is a lot you can find wrong with NBA 2K14 if you look hard enough.

And despite the wasted opportunity this year, it's now clear there have been key areas of mismanagement which plague the NBA Live series, and until each is fixed individually, this series has no future.

Read More - If NBA Live Has a Future, It Has to Look Radically Different

Game: NBA Live 14Reader Score: 4/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 17 - View All

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Member Comments

# 1 El_Poopador @ 12/06/13 03:52 PM

is this real? the major gaff the live team made was not including a practice area to learn the controls. but to say the game doesnt resemble basketball is absurd. you get out of the game what you put in. if you try to play it like real basketball then it will play similar to real basketball.

yea it needs a lot of work but this article makes it sound like it does nothing right. i dont want two 2k basketball games. the ball being separate from the players is a huge positive differentiation from 2k as is the ai (a lot of the time. there are definitely some issues that need fixing). what it needs is consistency in direction. they are on the right track with live 14. they need to stay the course and keep moving forward.

# 2 Brian_OS @ 12/06/13 03:57 PM

EA Sports had a clear opening opening with

# 3 23 @ 12/06/13 03:58 PM

Keep defending this game all you want. The facts are they hid it. Its a sub par effort for nex gen The reviews slammed it the fans dont prefer it and looking like it only sold 20k copies on the ps4 globally which cannot be encouraging for a game in the AAA ranks.

Something definitely needs to change and that is showing you its not the right track. Sheesh man

Galaxy Note 2

# 4 El_Poopador @ 12/06/13 04:01 PM

fans dont prefer it because its not pretty and its not what theyre used to. the problem is that no one gives it a chance because of the graphics. the few people on here who have gone back to play it since 2k doesnt work have said its much better than they originally thought.

i dont listen to reviews for sports games because they generally dont play them enough to really understand the game. that goes for any sports game not just this one. i watched igns reviewers play both live and 2k14 and they looked like monkeys playing both.

# 5 23 @ 12/06/13 04:06 PM

I'm not here to argue. .. you can argue against the facts all day. At the end of the day with no results is all an excuse.

Galaxy Note 2

# 6 ether813 @ 12/06/13 04:08 PM

I downloaded the demo on Xbox One, Commentary sounds great, presentation seemed good too...But no tutorial and no sliders to adjust sounds like the dumbest decision i had ever heard. When playing the demo i didnt experience any control response issues, but the look certainly felt like not much had changed from the live version of live that fully released and didnt get canceled, which might have been good back in the day but for Next Gen no... EA would be better of slapping the March madness on the title and adding the NCAA tournament and selling this for $20 bucks in March....I have been begging for Live to step up its game and it just hasnt happened.

# 7 WTF @ 12/06/13 04:24 PM

I've got the full game now, plan on putting some time in with it this weekend if I'm able to.

Some of the things in the demo are actually very pleasing after you really get into it. The fact is though, that there was nowhere to practice the new controls and options. It's not as pick up and play as prior Live titles were, which is not to say it's a bad thing. But when you don't have the ability to sit and play around with it in a practice setting, then you're going to get slammed. It's taken me several days with the demo to find more and more within the game.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the game will take some steps in the right direction over the next few months. I'm seeing some better gameplay with the Synergy Updates in the demo. I'm hopeful that it translates well into the full version as well. Only time will tell.

This is coming from someone who has had a disdain for the way we've been treated by the Live series the past few years (7-8 yrs). I dismissed the demo, and dismissed it pretty quick the first time I've played it. But after 2k broke on my saves, I found myself with no other options. I downloaded the demo again, and the more I played, the more I saw. The more I learned, the more I saw & understood.

I'll clear the air and say this game needs vast improvements. But that's not to say that it can't be done. Graphics and animations are in dire need. Can they patch that large scale of an issue? I don't know, but at the time, I refuse to start another game mode on the other title, put in time with it, only to have it get to a point where I can't continue my save. I don't have that kind of time to waste.

Again, I've been burned in the past by a 3 year plan. I need incremental positive changes through this first year to keep me a believer. Hopefully the voice that I'm trying to give won't be directed towards closed ears.

# 8 NUH_UHHHHHHHHHHH @ 12/06/13 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Poopador


	fans dont prefer it because its not pretty and its not what theyre used to. the problem is that no one gives it a chance because of the graphics. the few people on here who have gone back to play it since 2k doesnt work have said its much better than they originally thought. i dont listen to reviews for sports games because they generally dont play them enough to really understand the game. that goes for any sports game not just this one. i watched igns reviewers play both live and 2k14 and they looked like monkeys playing both.

Poor graphics dont deter people from buying GTA5 and COD. Those two games basically had the same graphics last gen and still continue to dominate in sales. Those games have an addicitve gameplay that keep its gamers coming back over n over.

# 9 cream6 @ 12/06/13 04:54 PM

It's over. EA sucks and if it wasn't for FIFA and NHL they would be doomed. They had 3 years to bring out a decent game but failed to meet low expectations. Thank God I was in my right mind and stayed on current gen with all my 14 games because they are actually good and the console jump wasn't worth it for just graphics. I will probably keep my system for 3 more years. I basically bought my PS3 because of MLB The Show 10 but I'm still play 12 and don't think I will jump to next gen for the show at least not next year.

# 10 Brian_OS @ 12/06/13 05:32 PM

the demo reminded me of Double Dribble.

# 11 blackceasar @ 12/06/13 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Poopador


	fans dont prefer it because its not pretty and its not what theyre used to. the problem is that no one gives it a chance because of the graphics. the few people on here who have gone back to play it since 2k doesnt work have said its much better than they originally thought. i dont listen to reviews for sports games because they generally dont play them enough to really understand the game. that goes for any sports game not just this one. i watched igns reviewers play both live and 2k14 and they looked like monkeys playing both.

Dude you're comparing apples to oranges. GTA has great graphics.. they have a certain STYLE. It's called ART DIRECTION. GTA5 looks the way it does because that was the art direction for the game. Also, they can go down that route because games like GTA 5 are not trying to replicate something in the real world for authenticity sake.

Bringing up COD, just stop. The graphics arent BAD.. they just don't look any different on next gen than from current gen that much.. but its not like it looked AWFUL on current gen to begin with. So you really need to just stop on the COD thing.. this choice of game was a weak choice to make your point.

Now a SPORTS GAME. I mean one that falls in line with major sports where you are REPLICATING things from the real world.. (players, uniforms, animations, etc) then the quality of the game can factor in the graphics and animations. When you put an NBA or NFL logo on your game to sell it.. and one of the draws to people buying your game is because it's got the same players and teams, and etc etc from the real life counterpart, then you legitimately as a company open the door to be judged on just how close you ARE coming to the real thing. LIVE DOES NOT DO THIS, WHICH IS WHY 99% OF PUBS GAVE IT REALLY LOW SCORES.

To make my point even further.. Look at a game like Hot Shots golf. It's always got great reviews and the graphics don't look realisitc at all.. but they DONT HAVE TO because Hot Shots Golf wasn't slapping the PGA TOUR LOGO ON THE COVER WITH A PICTURE OF A REAL GOLFER.

Make sense or was that over your head?

# 12 NoTiCe_O @ 12/06/13 05:47 PM

There are people that actually think the game is good; including the developers.

Live doesn't need to be simplified, rather, people need to stop being lazy and actually learn the game. You see reviewers reviewing the game and giving it terrible scores yet they can't even accomplish the basic dribbling moves, at least learn to play before you trash it.

In my opinion, what NBA Live is doing with the franchise right now is great for competitive gaming. The game is much more skill based than 2k and that alone sets it apart from the competition. The fact that you
actually have to "learn" how to play before becoming successful is great.

Look at the Street fighter crowd. These games are great competitively. Go up against someone who knows what they're doing and you’ll realize you’ve got a lot to learn. Just go on YouTube right now and watch a Street Fighter match where two top players are competing and you'll see what the game is supposed to look like. I've seen the same thing with Live, and If you tuned in on one of Scott O'Gallaghers streams then you should know exactly what I’m talking about.

There’s some free minded people out there that actually take an unbiased look at Live, learn it, and make their own observations (ala Bleacher Report), but for the most part Live was written off before it started for many people.

To me dumbing down the game isn’t necessary at all. I actually hope EA sticks to the script. Build off what they already have knowing there’s a full development cycle ahead of them and a Live game actually released now.

(Mind you, this is all speaking from a competitive gaming viewpoint, not the MyPlayer, or the Franchise guy.)

# 13 The 24th Letter @ 12/06/13 06:18 PM

This game is no Street Fighter....

Trying to pass this game off as some ultra strategic sim that's a graphical upgrade away from being great is just...nonsense....for lack of a better word...

Live has a learning curve, yes...but the great thing about learning something is the payoff once it's accomplished...and i've yet to feel any any of that payoff...BounceTek is still not the experience it was advertised to be IMO..I don't feel the same way I felt when I mastered playing with Balrog...lol

Live has some redeeming qualities...but the best thing we can do is acknowledge those qualities and provide some honest feedback...let's stop the "Lives too deep for some people" stuff...

# 14 WTF @ 12/06/13 06:36 PM

Brian OS has no affiliation with OS. And Phreak50, may want to calm it down a bit. Lol.

Regardless of the outcome, right now, some of us have had our decisions made for us. 24th's daughter broke his 2k disc, and 2k glitches and errors broke my experience. Once you learn the game, it does get better.

I am taking the opportunity that I have, and hopefully going to provide some much needed community feedback to the EA team on what needs to be done.

I'm sure some are thinking "shouldn't they already know what needs fixed? "

In my mind, an outside opinion being constructive in their criticism will go much further than that of those who have slaved away on the project for the past 12 months. I kind of correlate it to mindlessly working on a project for hours. You've spent so much time on it, your mind is relatively numb and don't see it for what it is. Sometimes an outside look can make a world of difference.

Who knows.

# 15 tha_show256 @ 12/06/13 06:50 PM

Chris, great write and I agree 1000% with you. I'm a guy that has been/was playing Live for many years...this franchise has fallen by the waist side big time! This game doesn't constitute a purchase of $60, they should taken the approach of the old 2k football game and released it $19.99, then mybe people would actually consider this game (I would). Now, with that being said, the people trying to defend this game need to stop!! The developer themselves have public ally acknowledged that this game needs major work. The controls are complexed to the most profound gamers. The fact remains EA released a unfinished product and trying to get consumers to buy at $60 a pop and I think that's almost a crime! It doesn't come close to what the NBA looks like to me at all. That's not Sim, and that's what they boosted this game being. Everyone is stiff as can be, everything seems to happen in slow motion, and let's not talk about how everyone the most unstoppable euro/hop step ever (guaranteed bucket)!!!

# 16 yungflo @ 12/06/13 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	Brian OS has no affiliation with OS. And Phreak50, may want to calm it down a bit. Lol. Regardless of the outcome, right now, some of us have had our decisions made for us. 24th's daughter broke his 2k disc, and 2k glitches and errors broke my experience. Once you learn the game, it does get better. I am taking the opportunity that I have, and hopefully going to provide some much needed community feedback to the EA team on what needs to be done. I'm sure some are thinking "shouldn't they already know what needs fixed? " In my mind, an outside opinion being constructive in their criticism will go much further than that of those who have slaved away on the project for the past 12 months. I kind of correlate it to mindlessly working on a project for hours. You've spent so much time on it, your mind is relatively numb and don't see it for what it is. Sometimes an outside look can make a world of difference. Who knows.

Wasn't the community involved before and ea kinda just shrugged them off? I remember the days of reanimator , they use to be much more active here until they got heat for 11. I hope they are active again.

# 17 shutdown10 @ 12/06/13 07:45 PM

Some of of you guys that our defending this effort from EA really need to listen to yourselves. Can you really admit this game is worth $60 dollars after buying and playing it? Thank goodness people are not letting them off the hook this time, so they have to come harder next time or stay ghost.

# 18 TreyIM2 @ 12/06/13 07:45 PM

I keep wondering over and over, like I've said to a few friends since release of the demo, if this is a situation where EA was forced to put out an NBA title to avoid legal action from the NBA or what have u and this was the best they could come up with to avoid it. It's been 4 yrs since the last title hit and I would be pretty sure that this was going against the contract between the two. Maybe this is the final year of it and the NBA won't renew so EA will just try to recoup what they can from possibly having to foece this turd, uhh, game out. Just wondering...

# 19 shutdown10 @ 12/06/13 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreyIM2


	I keep wondering over and over, like I've said to a few friends since release of the demo, if this is a situation where EA was forced to put out an NBA title to avoid legal action from the NBA or what have u and this was the best they could come up with to avoid it. It's been 4 yrs since the last title hit and I would be pretty sure that this was going against the contract between the two. Maybe this is the final year of it and the NBA won't renew so EA will just try to recoup what they can from possibly having to foece this turd, uhh, game out. Just wondering...

You might be on to something with that information.

# 20 PVarck31 @ 12/06/13 08:10 PM

From this point on in this thread, or any other thread, if you like the game, fine. If you hate the game, fine. But enough with the slamming each other for not sharing your opinion.

And if you want to criticize EA that's fine too. Just do it constructively. No "EA" sucks BS.

Thank you.

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