End of the game AI

[cocobee]

I hope this is fixed, although I won my game--there was still 10 seconds and I had a 2 point lead--the cpu didn't even try to foul me. It kinda ruined a great game.

[Andrew]

I think we can all agree that this is an area that must be addressed.

As long as it's done right though. It would be pretty annoying if you held a 20 point lead with a minute left, and the CPU proceeded to send you to the line every time you touched the ball. Sure, easy way of increasing free throw statistics (could be just m playing style, but I don't get to shoot that many per game) and a means of honing your T-Meter skills, but not much point in fouling when the game is already lost.

[cocobee]

true, but it shouldn't be too hard to put it in--if the lead is 10 or less in the 4th quarter with maybe a minute or a minute an a half to play---the cpu should start fouling. But, if the lead is more than 15 than the cpu should just play it out (but we all know how the cpu comes back with like three 3 pointers in a row )--but good end game logic is a must in the AI department.

i would rather lose on the free three line at the end of the game, then the cpu not fouling me to put me in that position.

I'm suprised no one brought this point out, it's very important.

[Andrew]

I know, it should be easy to implement and it definitely should be implemented. But unfortunately when we humans try to remedy an extreme (say, no fouls to stop the clock at all) we go to the other extreme (say, fouls to stop the clock no matter what the situation).

I'm suprised no one brought this point out, it's very important.

It was mentioned in the Wishlist forum - I think I put in the Wishlist itself - but I guess we all forgot about it when the Live 2004 previews came out.

[cocobee]

I guess we all forgot about it when the Live 2004 previews came out.

true.


Andrew, sorry to get off topic--but you know they say there gonna have "retired" jerseys and what not, I was thinking how cool it would be to be able to have our own jersey retired in dynasty mode.

you know like after playing for 15 years, have your player's jersey retired. That'd be too good to be true though--maybe in Live 2010.

[Andrew]

Yeah, I'm not sure whether the retired jerseys will just be a feature of the arena art, or whether we'll actually be able to retire jerseys (and thus not be able to assign those numbers in Dynasty Mode). Hopefully the retired numbers/names would be stored in a DBF file - it would be necessary to create those old season roster patches.

I think retiring jersey numbers would be cool though - hopefully, it's not just arena detail.

[Colin]

Also about end of game AI, the CPU should send in the benchwarmers when theres a 20 point lead and 2 minutes left. I do, and I'm tired of not being able to get used to them and such because I'm playing against all-stars.

[Andrew]

Yeah, the CPU should extend garbage time when the game is truly lost.

On the subject of rotations and lineups, it would be nice to see the CPU sub more realistically in the All-Star game - giving everyone a fair amount of playing time before choosing the best five when the game gets a little more serious in the fourth quarter.

[sixerfan03]

I hope this is fixed, although I won my game--there was still 10 seconds and I had a 2 point lead--the cpu didn't even try to foul me. It kinda ruined a great game.

Yea, I hate that. The only problem, was once I was fouled when I was up one, and made one out of two FTs. The AI called time, and hit a rediculous 3. Maybe a clutch rating would be good for that.

[MAKAVELI THE DON]

i totally agree!

i play on superstar level on live 2003, and i play tremendous defense, and for the first 3 quarters i always shut down A.I.'s 3point shooting, and I'm up like 12 or 15 points half way through the 4th; then all of a sudden i got 3 guys on a shooter, hands in his face, and they start making every 3point shot at the end of the game, and evaporates my lead!

cheating game... ea had better fix this problem!

[darch]

maybe you know tactics to beat that im putttnin my smaal guys with good handling ,timeout but it istn't a solution ,the cpu double team i try isolation and long pass -bad idea
what is your addvice?

[Nel]

I think it would be great if the crowd and the commentators react to the game. Like in clutch situations where the crowd is in standing ovation for the home team. It sucks when the commentators are late to react in the game like im leading by 30 pts with 2mins left and don poier realizes the game is over only when there's a minute left and saying "Got any cards". I hope they can fix this.

[Andrew]

I like that Don and Bob do acknowledge that the game is over ("There's no 40 point shot in basketball!"), but seconds later, they'll say that the losing team "has to make a stop here". Perhaps in those situations, the last couple of minutes could be filled with reflective comments on the game ("This one was never close", "This is a great/much needed win for this team" etc).

[Icebane]

I hope this is fixed, although I won my game--there was still 10 seconds and I had a 2 point lead--the cpu didn't even try to foul me. It kinda ruined a great game.

What is more annoying that that is that you have a 20 point lead and in the last two minutes of ANY quarter the CPU teams cuts it to like 3... So wrong... Specially when someone like Kenny Anderson hits 85 3 pointers!

[Icebane]

I like that Don and Bob do acknowledge that the game is over ("There's no 40 point shot in basketball!"), but seconds later, they'll say that the losing team "has to make a stop here". Perhaps in those situations, the last couple of minutes could be filled with reflective comments on the game ("This one was never close", "This is a great/much needed win for this team" etc).

Yeah, but at the start of the game if you get like a 5 point lead he says "This is starting to look like a real test for them"

Their comments are just too out of whack... I love when they get excited in the last few minutes though!

[Andrew]

You're always going to get those comments. First rebound of the night for a player, "He comes up with another board!" and so on. My favourite so far: "(Stockton) can hurt you from the line as much as he can with a tomahawk jam!"

[Icebane]

You're always going to get those comments. First rebound of the night for a player, "He comes up with another board!" and so on. My favourite so far: "(Stockton) can hurt you from the line as much as he can with a tomahawk jam!"

Hehe, you gotta be wondering if he means that he's crap at the free throw line or his so distorted in his mind he believes Stockton can dunk...

Yes, some things are a little off, but slide in well when the time is right also...

[Andrew]

Commentary in sports games is always going to be a little off. I thought the commentary in Live 2003 was an improvement over previous Lives, despite instances such as the one I mentioned.

[Icebane]

Yeah, it will always be a little off. But it will get better;)

[Andrew]

Yeah, I too expect there'll be continued improvement. Getting Marv Albert was a good start.

[Icebane]

You guys are so in love with this Mrv Albert guy.. Who is he??? I am an NBA fan, but here in Oz, without Pay TV there is NO NBA info... I didn't even know the Spurs won the Championship until yesterday wehn I seen it on NBA.com

[Andrew]

You've never heard of Marv Albert?

He's been the voice of the NBA (for NBC and now TNT) for over 30 years. He was absent from 1997-2000 after his personal life got in the way of his employment (he was fired after criminal charges were brought against him).

If you've seen any games from the 1996/97 season (which was on free to air TV here in Australia), you'll probably recognise the voice but not the name. If you've seen the famous Jordan move from the 1991 Finals, you'll recognise him as the commentator who says "Oh! A spectacular move!" His famous catchphrase is "Yesssss!" after a particularly impressive (or important) basket.

[Icebane]

I think I know the voice;)
What charges? Drug related? Or something of a more personal nature...
I havn't seen a free to air Game in over 2 years... I think the last one was New jersey vs New York, when Ewing still played for them:)

[Andrew]

I'll say "something of a more personal nature". As a result he did not return to NBC the following season, but has since been given a job with TNT.

[Icebane]

Ahhh. I was going to say Somthing of a more personal nature ina more harsh way, but I decided against it... Do you have MSN or anything Andrew? it would be easier for me seeing as I have 56k and you must have Cable... You out post me by about 15 minutes:p