I wish for the game to become more sim, then arcade.

[TheGreatNobody]

(After a couple weeks of live 2003 on X-box...I find that the arcade game play becomes really cheap really quick...)

Wow, I still cant get over the fact that I asked you guys for a way to string dribble moves together in order to “make the game more real” more than 3 years ago when I was a really big fan of the live series, yet it has taken you up until now when I am only a moderate enjoyer of it for you to finally give it to us. Ironically you’ve purposely rendered the rest of the game as arcade-like as possible with out having the players jumping head and feet above the backboard only to render the rim lifeless via some type of nuclear explosion...

So what I need for you guys to do over the next 3-10 years or so is this...

Clean up the sloppy game play...no more animations of players catching alley oops with out even looking the ball into their hands...no more cross overs that turn the offensive players away from the hoop noticeably more than they turn the defender away from the offender or carry the offender into the back court when he was originally facing the front and should fundamentally be moving towards the rim by then. Simply put, when a cross over or dribble move is executed the offensive player should first automatically be forced to face the rim (have an animation to do so, so it will not look jerky) then adjust the angle after the cross over is executed with out changing the over all direction of the player, but just enough to have a clear driving or shooting lane between him and the hoop (because that is why the move is executed in the first place... )

No more steals by a defensive player who isn’t even looking at the ball (because that‘s just ugly)...a defender guarding a player off the ball should always be watching his defensive match-up or the ball and/or both (not looking out into the cosmos yet some how aware that the ball is coming up behind him for him to snatch it with out looking)...How ever, if at the time the ball is passed and he is watching the ball then his ability to tip the ball away and/or steal it should increase if and only if he is with in 2 body lengths of the intended receiver(2 to just tip, one to steal)...if he is not how ever watching the ball at the moment the ball is passed then his ability to do so would decrease significantly (because the timing needed would not be available), yet if he is watching the intended receiver and that is his defensive match up then his close-in ability to contest an offensive shot or maneuver that might occur after the intended receiver catches the ball is increased slightly or dramatically based on the match-up however temporarily...the percentage should be based on a logic of timing....because player’s close-in ability is often susceptible to pump fakes and jab steps if the right amount of timing is implemented...if it will take more than 3 steps for a player to be inside of one body length of the offensive player then he should be highly susceptible to a shot-fake or maneuver...yet if he will be able to close-in in under 3 steps then his ability to contest will increase...this increase or decrease should not exceed a duration 1.5 seconds (enough time for the offensive player to apply the maneuver, recognize the defensive disposition, and act accordingly. or for the defensive player to close in and be in a position to contest...) this players’ shot blocking and stealing ability should how ever remain the same and only come into affect in regard to the match up situation.

Steve Nash should not block more than one shot if any in a game...but might be able to get a lot of steals if he used the right amount of timing...Shaq should not get a bunch of steals but if he used the proper amount of timing he might be able to exceed his averaged in blocks. If and only if a player is on a* “hot streak” should he be able to get more than his averages in a game (blocks and steal should seldom exceed 80% more than usual), and of would shoot better then 43% from the floor, 70% inside the paint, and 42% from the 3 point line as according to the amount/percentage of minutes that he has played in a game plus/or minus the skill level of this player verses his defensive match up, if and only if the defender is at a contestable distance.

If the defender is a highly defensive player verses a highly offensive player then they should be evenly matched and both players should respectively be able to achieve their season averages against one another...plus or minus any imbalance(s) present in their respective skill levels...every player rating on offense should be significantly yet temporarily increased/decreased under the condition of the closest defender being more or less than two body lengths away.

Meaning that with less than 5 seconds left on the clock be it the shot clock or the game clock, if I shot the ball from beyond the 3 point arch yet not from beyond the half court line with no defender with in 2 body lengths in any direction of the controlled player, then this controlled player’s shot rating should be increased (Ironically) by the difference between him and the shot contesting rating the defender assigned to him, be it plus or minus the difference should always be added, and is not to be below an increase of 10% of the offensive players original clutch-shot rating (12% with more than 5 seconds on the clock)...Meaning, the clutch-shot rating of a player should automatically increase 10% if there is no defender with in reach of him and if the difference between he and his closest defender will not exceed that, if so how ever then the difference and only the difference between he and the defender assigned to him should be added to his individual clutch-shot rating. How ever, If there is a defender with in 2 body lengths of the shooter then the clutch-defense rating should increase under the same logic...

Also a defender that is a good shot blocker like Yao Ming should be able to affect any shot so long as the ball is shot with in distance that should not exceed 2 body lengths during the course of a game. However if that player is not a good face up/on ball defender, again, like Yao Ming he should be highly susceptible to a player skilled at face up offense. Simply put, he’ll ‘fall’ for a cross over, but pump faking him would do you no good because he‘ll block/affect any shot with in his reach.

Bring back the hot and cold streak tracking, and add to that some Player of The Week and/or Month awards, and have the winner of the most awards during the season become the seasons MVP...a point system should be easy to work out for that...

If a player is on a cold streak he should achieve no more than his seasonal average in any statistic during this streak that on average should not last more than a period of 4 games or on week which ever comes first. at the end of his cold streak if he exceeds it by a certain amount... say if he average is 20 points per game, but over the last 4 games he’s only averaged 16 and in one game he scores 26 (a 10 point swing) he should then go on a hot streak exceeding no more than the next week achieving his average plus a decreasing amount from the 10 point swing ending when the player achieves this certain statistic to within a certain percentage (I‘m thinking a 3-5 percent differential) of the week’s/moth’s/season’s average. after that , this player should return to his normal average(s) until the process is repeated...This same logic should be applied to a hot streak. If not after a period equal to 1 week this streak is not broken, then the streak is extended to one month, if not broken after one month the streak is extended to either ‘All Star Weekend’ or the end of the season...which ever comes first. After either or, the streak is automatically broken. Meaning that by no chance will it exceed that point, and the player will achieve his seasons average per-game for the duration of the season...if any case should be so dramatic and a player remains in this slump or hot streak for the rest of the season or until all-stare weekend, this average should not increase and/or decrease beyond or below 20% of his seasonal average. So a 25 point scorer would not average more or less than 5 points per game above his average to finish out the season or the remaining amount of games until the all-star break (which ever comes first)...

Basically, you’ve been using the same rating system since the beginning of the series. Honestly as a result, you’re game play has really not improved much at all since then....this is verifiable by the fact that I would rather play NBA live 99/2000 on Play Station 1 than NBA live 2003 on X-box....So from this point on, you’re whole rating system should change considerably.

There should be player-style specific ratings and sub ratings. In-fact every thing in the player ratings section should be more intricate. Simply put there should be more specific styles to be rated;

Such as a players awareness to cut to the rim when there is no defender either between him and the rim and/or with in 2 body lengths of him individually. Vince Carter and Ricky Davis when on offense should automatically dive to the rim when no one is guarding them in order to catch a lob take a high percentage shot or grab an offensive rebound....not just stand there like a Pat Garrity or Steve Smith should in order to take an uncontested jump shot.

A players ability to guard a dribbler that will slash to the hoop in a one on one match up verses his ability to defend a jump shooter/post up player or what ever should be rated on some sort of scale. Ron Artest should be able to defend the player dribbling the ball much better than a Ben Wallace who wouldn’t be able to do so at all, yet and still Ben Wallace should be much more able to block anything with in his reach...

Much like defensive styles, offensive styles should be implemented as well. However not on a scale, but something more along the lines of the situation the player is in verses his individual playing style.

A slasher like Latrell Sprewel should have a high field goal rating only when he is either moving towards the rim (a leaner a lay up) and/or when the defender is not with in 2 body lengths of him...and a relatively low shooting percentage in any situation otherwise...Where as a jump shooter like Allan Houston should be the exact opposite... he should have a high percentage in shooting from the out side with a defender with in 2 body lengths of him, yet a very low percentage when he is moving towards the hoop and/or is posting up or receiving some kind of contact from the defense...these ratings should all be adjusted as according to the offensive/defensive match up...not assignment, but match up...if any...during the course of the game...by the computer/AI...

They should also all be accurately molded to each player naturally (Creg Claxton may not be very tall, but he can and will catch an alley-oop pass and finish above the rim with a dunk as long as no player is standing between him and the rim). I don’t want the ability to edit existing players, but I need it because you guys constantly get it wrong. Also a players ratings should be automatically adjusted during the course of a game and during the course of the week, month, and season accordingly, depending on the same aforementioned, and following situations by the computer AI. All this should work on a team percentage basis as well...the total amount of shots attempted, rebounds pulled down, blocks and steals should all be worked out over the course of the game, under the logic that the team with the momentum has the prevailing statistics...if the 76ers average 90 points per game while holding their opponents to 85 ppg, and has the momentum in a match up verses the Trail Blazers, then the 76ers’ statistics should be the prevailing statistics and the game should end up meeting the standards that are closer to the 76ers’ stats, like wise if the Trailblazers had the momentum...They should also be implemented with in the team as well. So if a team only averages 70 shot attempts per game and one player takes 30 then the rest of the team should not exceed 40-50 total shot attempts collectively...

all that was to say...that the people who will continue to buy this game that are faithful to it being a sports sim, would rather the averages not only play out over the course of the season, but they also want to play a 12 minute game, and not end up with a score 150 to 100 each time...If I’m playing with Allen Iverson and it’s the forth quarter and he already has 30 points, then he shouldn’t be able to make a shot unless he’s hot and or the are the defense is slacking....and so on and so forth...I’m saying this because this is the way things really are in the NBA...

Also, take Maddens 2003’ franchise mode and features and adopt them all into NBA Live...If you could some how adapt Live to suit the entire (Madden) game engine then you’re set, because the group that works on that series seems to get it. Madden 2003 is the absolute greatest sports sim/game ever. All they need to do from now on is improve the rosters from year to year, but I know that they won’t...next year they’ll improve everything just like they did from last year, leaving the Live series even further behind...all of the off season responsibilities, a rookie camp, an award system and so on and so forth should be done in NBA live as well...I want to negotiate with a free agent’s agent...and let us do away with the stupid points system. Why is it even there any way?

Please add all new and improved animations, character models, graphics and arenas. Because some of your animations are really ugly, like players when sprinting with the ball getting way too close to the floor... and I know you guys have really been using the same player and arena models with minor adjustments (or at least that‘s what it seems like) over and over again for the last 3-4 editions of the series and as a former 3d animation student I’m beginning to feel like my art is being disrespected. Because I get out of college and it’s hard for me to find work in my local area, so I have to become a graphic designer to make ends meet, while your designers (if you still have any) are sitting on their butt’s doing nothing (or at least that‘s what it seems). I hate to sound disrespectful, or like a “player hater” but again like many other people I’ve spent money once more on one of your products out of hope that it would be better than before, only to be disappointed because it could‘ve been...maybe even more so because I know if I was given the time to, I could have done as good of if not a better job than you-all...

a slam dunk contest could be put together using the free style control system with adjustments to include button presses and/or the directional stick or trigger and shoulder buttons while in the air (along with the free-style stick). a 3 point contest has been in the live series before, and can be done again...but only this time useable in franchise and season modes as a part of all star weekend...a rookie challenge shouldn't be too difficult either...just take the top rookies and the top second year players that are not on the all star roster and make them *rookie all stars...

Most importantly...return to trying to put together the ultimate NBA basketball simulation. save the arcade-fast passed-off the wall game play for NBA street...that shouldn't be hard...

I’m not done yet. I could go on and on- about all the fundamental flaws in this game...because I’m a big sports/gaming fan and to me, the only redeeming factor in NBA live 2003 is the freestyle control...

And because I know that none of my suggestions will be used (or even read) until the year 2010, I feel I should let the staff members who work on this game (and web site) know that by then, the NBA live series will have officially become the ugly step child of EA, and will have been reduced to one tiny office in the basement of EA-Canada shared with the janitors closet...and the team will consist of only one person who will also double as the Janitor...and if irony chooses to raise it’s “terrifyingly-beautiful” head once more, then that one man, will probably be me....let us not let that happen.

One more thing before I go...I’m not downing your choice of music (ok maybe I am) but if the only talented people you’re gonna add to the Musical track list are gonna be Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dog then PLEASE!!! Allow for users to import their own personal tracks...I’m begging you!!! I’ve never been able to do this with a game, and I really hate the people you had on Live 2003...I hate them so much I swear, that all you had to do was put some one as remedial as Nelly and the St. Lunatics or Missy Eliot on there and I would have went crazy and hurt some one!!! I’m not saying that they have to go, because I know some one might like them, but I was dying for the ability to skip over Fat Joe and Brandy and listen to The Roots featuring Talib Kweli....so please, I’m begging for you to give me at least the ability to ‘change the station’ and not have to play with out any music what so ever...it’s bad enough that I have to keep reloading user profiles and rosters and so on and so forth with no ability to save a replay...but I also have to keep reloading the settings so I‘m as soon as I turn the game on my ears are being bombarded by crap, and this music is crap...IT’S CRAP!!!

Thanks for reading...

[bishibashiboy]

wow that's one freaking long post..

i think you're asking for too much..but i think one statement that you made is true: they probably won't read (or care about ) anything you wrote until 2010 or later..haha

[TheGreatNobody]

it took my 2 days to write...only about 3 ours to do the math and apply it to logic...but concidering their short comings of the past few years I was simply asking them (the programers in particular) to not be so lazy...I know they'll probably never read it...but I'm a computer animator and I love Video games and my sport to play basket ball....so I had to give it a try...

[Andrew]

Just wondering, when you addressed

the staff members who work on this game (and web site)

if you were referring to the NLSC. The fact is, the NLSC is an unofficial fan website, and has nothing to do with the production of NBA Live, so if anyone tells me a good idea for future NBA Lives, pretty much all I can do is agree and hope EA implements the idea, because I'm not part of the production team. I've got no input or contribution to the creation of NBA Live.

[TheGreatNobody]

I made this post almost 2 years ago!!!

oh my dam....

[TheGreatNobody]

Just wondering, when you addressed

the staff members who work on this game (and web site)

if you were referring to the NLSC. The fact is, the NLSC is an unofficial fan website, and has nothing to do with the production of NBA Live, so if anyone tells me a good idea for future NBA Lives, pretty much all I can do is agree and hope EA implements the idea, because I'm not part of the production team. I've got no input or contribution to the creation of NBA Live.

spoken like a true site administrator.

but I honestly knew that this was a 3rd party site. but at the time I knew that this message might be included in a suggestion letter to EA so.