Patch Impressions: More harm than good?

Having played a few more games with the official update (Xbox 360), I have to admit I'm a little puzzled and disappointed. I'm not sure if it's simply a buggy DNA update because the Blazers/Rockets game I played after the patch was released was quite different, but both games I played this evening were riddled with a lot of issues that weren't present in the game as it was out of the box.

Out of the box, the CPU did a much better job running plays and setting up the offense with the occasional issue of a player stalling and overdribbling before putting up a bad shot. As advertised, the patch seems to have addressed this issue by allowing the CPU to better improvise. However, in the games I played this evening that meant the CPU barely ran plays, opting to put up shots after one pass and often taking very ill-advised shots: fadeaway threes from a couple of feet behind the three point line, shots that certain players would rarely take, etc. And disturbingly, some of those shots were dropping, at times more frequently than my layup attempts and wide open shots after passing out of the double team. Again, I'm not sure if it's just the latest DNA update but the CPU seems to be improvising a bit too much.

There seems to be more of an imbalance between the user and CPU as well, more like it was in 09 where the CPU casually tosses up difficult shots and makes them while I clang wide open jumpers and miss layups. The CPU is also getting to the hoop at an alarming rate and it seems impossible to stop them except for a stray block here or there. Compare with how the CPU plays at the other end, picking up block after block and altering shots without getting the foul call. There was some of that pre-patch and let's face it, the CPU has to have some way of keeping up with the creativity of human intelligence but it seems out of balance after the patch. The ball still gets stripped from the user a little too easily on drives while the CPU is able to slice into the lane much easier than before. Combine that with players who rarely dunk throwing down emphatic slams, and playing defense is nowhere near as fun or effective as it was pre-patch.

I should note that I was playing on All-Star before the patch came out and have kept it on All-Star difficulty post-patch as well. The games I played this evening were also Dynamic Season games, so as I said before I can't rule out the possibility that the latest DNA updates are a little messed up (for some reason, the Bulls/Celtics game DNA featured Luol Deng as the starting centre) and it could be confined to that mode, I'll need to give an exhibition game another shot. Still, something doesn't seem quite right because right now it's feeling like quite a different game, the good stuff that was apparent out of the box seems to be gone and that's disappointing. There also appears to be some issues with replays not working, which only occurred in my last two games. Weird.

I really hope a second patch comes out to address some of the issues that seem to be caused by the first patch. I suppose I can clear my cache and decline the update but then that rules out playing online, not to mention the hassle of having to download updates for all the other games again. Still, if the offline experience remains unsatisfactory and isn't patched further, it might be the only option.

In any case, I'll play some more games and see how things go. I'm hoping it is a DNA issue and the more I think about it the stronger that possibility seems, because my previous post-patch games didn't seem to have these issues. Whatever the cause, hopefully it's ironed out by a fixed DNA update or a second official update. On the bright side, the addition of the backdown button is most welcome and the end of game AI does seem a bit better as far as clock management is concerned.


UPDATE: Just saw mention of a second update on Marcus' Twitter, which is promising. Still interested to see if there's a buggy DNA update on top of that but a second fix wouldn't astray regardless.

I know. But when I play my dynasty I kinda like my team and the other CPU to play Run N Gun

It's not all bad, granted; I just needed to blow off a bit of steam as it was a bit of a letdown after enjoying the game so much out of the box. But the update seems to have disrupted some of the good things present in the unpatched release, so hopefully the second update resolves that.

well I got to play the game for 2 days before my free gamefly thing came up (takes 3 days for me to get games, I dont want to pay for that) and I got a lot of the same issues you were describing

one that you wouldnt be able to know, because I was going against the bulls, but Deng brought the ball up the court ~80% of the time in that game while Rose sat on the baseline in what I thought should have been Deng's place. I know that I was playing without DNA updates, but still.

In a way to get some achievements I did a AllStar East vs Kings matchup (also did it to see the Cowboys Arena...man, IMO they did that very lazily) and I ran into a lot of issues with the Kings pulling some BS on the All Stars and actually leading me at the first quarter. I had played a few games before it, all on Superstar Difficulty, so I'd like to think that the learning curve wasnt the problem there. It was just pure Kings getting BS stuff to fall and EA Glitching for their defense.

I also noticed on 3 occasions super slow-mo animations happening in-game. One was a layup by Pierce. And the other two involved Dwight Howard catching an alleyoop pass and coming down with it....just, the animation was reallly really really slowww.

Pretty much, this video I uploaded displays almost exactly my experience with Live 10.

Flash


"Wow, that could/would/should have been really cool....."

I haven't noticed the wrong players bringing the ball up but I'll keep an eye out for that now that you've brought it up. It's a shame because the patched version doesn't represent the good stuff that stood out in the pre-patched game. Word of a second update is encouraging though, so I'll see what happens with that.

That sucks. The patch was a huge list of undertakings. At times I think they should just fix the bugs & glitches (out of bounds, freezes, back down button, online/framerate issues) & let everybody sort stuff out with sliders, especially because the game plays pretty solidly out of the box.

Alright, I've tried to compile a list of the most glaring issues that appear to have occurred as a result of the update:

• Random freezing/lock-ups. I didn't get any lock-ups with the game out of the box but I've run into that problem on occasion following the update. It's definitely not a console issues as I'm not having problems with any other game.
  
  
• Replays seem to be glitched. The game will cut to a replay but everyone will just be frozen in place. This happened on every single replay that was triggered during Dynamic Season play and for most of the replays triggered in Play Now, though a couple did work properly. As a result, the end of quarter highlight reels are usually missing and there's only one or two top replays available to view after the game.
  
  
• The out-of-bounds and backcourt glitches from NBA Live 09 appear to be back. Whereas there were only a few instances of players stepping on the sidelines by default in NBA Live 10, the CPU once again gets away with taking several steps out of bounds when driving baseline or stepping back across halfcourt. Out of bounds calls are definitely on, but sometimes the rule is just ignored for both the user and CPU with players catching the ball out of bounds in the corner without a violation.
  
  
• Enabling rim stuffs was great, but they seem to happen too randomly and on wide open attempts.
  
  
• The fix that allows the CPU to "improvise" offensively (the AI stagnation fixes) is buggy as it often results in the CPU not bothering to set up a play and putting up a rushed shot after one pass in the halfcourt, barely using any shotclock and often putting up a silly fadeaway from way behind the three point line or having a big man attempt a shot outside his range rather than continuing to run a play. It really needs to be toned down, replaced or removed as the previous issue of the play sometimes breaking down and the point guard overdribbling was preferable.
  
  
• Could ultimately be a slider issue, but it seems there's too many interceptions and strips on players driving to the basket, as well as blocks inside. The most frustrating aspect of the blocks issue is that the CPU can get to the hoop very easily and it's difficult to block the shot or even put a body on the shooter, whereas the CPU has little trouble swatting away shots or bumping the user around the hoop.
  
  
• Could have just been a lag issue, but in a couple of online games against Pat I felt like I wasn't in control of my players, especially on some drive attempts where I was moving towards the basket but for some reason, my players were stopping and attempting hooks and fadeaways rather than continuing on to the basket for a dunk or layup.
  
  
• Foul calls are still a bit inconsistent with the CPU getting away with too much contact compared to the user on shooting fouls.
  
  
• Could be just me, but directional passing seems less effective following the update.
  
  
• Alley-oop logic seems a bit off as players will often lob the ball backwards to a player at the three point line when a teammate is standing in perfect position near the hoop. Players seem to miss easy lobs as well, either the pass itself or coming up with a rim stuff or fumbling a layup attempt despite being in good position. Obviously that should happen sometimes, but it seems to happen too frequently and in situations where the players involved should be able to make the finish.
  
  
• Layup percentages aren't too bad but there's still a tendency to miss easy ones that really should go in.

The patch has certainly done some good though and looking through the list of issues addressed by the update, there are definite improvements. However, there are things that desperately needed to be fixed or at least put back the way they were and if we can get anything else from the bug list addressed as well, that would be fantastic.

Anybody else have an issue where they dribble, try to pull up for a 3, but the player continues dribbling inside the arc and pulls up and shoots a really long 2 instead? Drives me nuts.

Another problem: The in-game strategy menu. I try to make substitutions and defensive assignment changes during stoppages in play, but every time there's a cut scene like a replay or in-game highlight package, the menu goes off and I have to start over. And when that happens, I can never get my changes made in time before play resumes.

I haven't noticed the first problem you posted but you're not the first to report the second issue. That one has existed since the initial release though, so it's over in the bug report thread. Hopefully the second update will address the issues caused by the first along with a few more from the initial bug reports.

I have noticed that after the patch a goaltending is still called on some dunk attempts but you don't get the points. That happens with every goaltending I have seen so far. Goaltending call comes, the defense gets the ball but there is no change at the scoreboard.

I've noticed that at times, everything starts to speed up. Only noticed it when I started a Dynasty with the patch (Miami). But I quit my first game in the first quarter, it was just unplayable...

I have noticed that after the patch a goaltending is still called on some dunk attempts but you don't get the points. That happens with every goaltending I have seen so far. Goaltending call comes, the defense gets the ball but there is no change at the scoreboard.

I haven't actually had any goaltending calls on dunks in my recent games so I haven't run into this one yet. Has anyone else experienced it?

Yes, I have been having many troubles since the patch. Like getting stuffed by the rim on wide open dunks!

Andrew: gave the game a good bash last night, and I echo your sentiments.

The two major things that stood out to me were:

1. Ill-advised shot selection that wasn't there in the out-of-box release (eg: Derek Fisher shooting turnaround triples appx 10ft away from the line!)

2. Players taking shots they normally wouldn't (eg: Deng shooting nothing but triples, and making 50% of them I might add).

Strange how those issues have come to light.

I also get the freezes in Dynamic mode.

I really believe it's the CPU "improvising" when it doesn't have to. The initial update has attempted to dress the out-of-the-box issue where the offense would sometimes stall and the CPU would just dribble it out with the point guard before launching a three to beat the shot clock but it now seems to override the playbook and rush up a silly shot when it's got plenty of time to set up the offense.

Yeah, not really happy with the patch. This whole point guard situation is annoying to me. Either he will still sit out top with the ball or he shoots a fade away 3 from the hash mark by mid court. Plus, it almost seemed like teams played like themselves before the patch more, but maybe its just me. It does seem odd that there are so many missed dunks now too. There aren't at least one or two missed dunks a game in real life, yet it seems to happen to me or the computer at least once or twice.

So far I'm a thumbs down on the patch.

By the way, when is the "2nd update" due to come out?

I think mid to late November, but I don't have confirmation of a date yet.

good read.
i am happy with the patch. Now i can have total control of my defense. my enjoyment in a game rooted on D.

In case anyone's wondering, I've sent along the latest bug report list plus the list of issues mentioned in this thread to the Dev Team, hopefully the new issues and some of the other issues that were also in the game pre-update will be addressed.

3 horribles bugs

First is when you try to dunk the ball and the computer try to block your dunker. You score but the refs calls for a goaltending. The computer goes inbound after the 2 points but when you see the scoreboard, your previous basket doesnt COUNT !!!!!
Second bug, today I played against Denver. 1 min left, score 104 apiece, Denver choose to make intentional fouls to let you go to the free throw line. It REALLY doesnt represent REALITY ...
When you call a doubleteam, the computer sometimes shoots from almost halfcourt ... WTF ...

New one juste discover right now

I played Portland against Houston. Fastbreak dunk form Aldridge, two points ... No I score but Ming take the ball, no inbound and the scoreboard doesnt count my basket ... Will I find some new bugs? It looks like there are lots of ....

Hope there gonna be a new patch to fix all that shit !!!

Oddly enough I haven't run into the goaltending bug yet but enough people have been talking about it that I'd agree it's an important issue to address. It's on the list that I've sent through to the Dev Team, so here's hoping.