NLSC Feature: The "perfect" NBA Live 2006

[Andrew]

(From the main site)

As we prepare for another "season" of NBA Live previews, I've compiled a list of the ways I feel NBA Live 2006 could make the progress we're all hoping for. Combining some of my own suggestions with items from the Wishlist, I've endeavoured to describe how this year's instalment could be the "perfect" game for the 2005/2006 NBA season; in other words, the "perfect" NBA Live 2006.

[flixotide]

As I havenø't seen any other articles commending Andrews very inspiring and thought giving article, I just wanted to pass on the praise.

Some tough calls and some precise verdicts are thrown in the basket there, awesome work Andrew!

Cheers, Flix

[Andrew]

Thanks Flix. I'd already created this thread here in NBA Live 2006 General, so I've merged your thread from the Wishlist section into this one.

[hedpetcd]

not sure if this is the right section to post in, but I agree with most of what Andrew posted on the Live 2006 list, however you omitted a large part of the game, which is the online play.(and have yet to get back to me with regards to my email inquiries aways back - dont be afraid to say no)

EA NEEDS to get their "stuff" together, and provide the online ballers with a game that doesn't lag and run cruddy. Even with hi speed cable, dsl, etc, there's still a good bit of lag and/or delay, making the online experience not as enjoyable as it COULD and SHOULD be.

Not to mention, that when you setup a game IP to IP, you're unable to look at the settings the other person has set, if you're the one joining. To go along with that, you cant change defensive matchups in the game while keeping players in their respective offensive positions, cant change defensive or offensive strategy, cant change around the quick plays(unless you go into the game prior against the CPU and change em before playing online) and the list goes on.

Live 2005 did make significant strides in gameplay, however one thing EA should address is the PASSING system. in particular, BRING BACK the fake pass like they used to have in Live 2001, and set the passing system so that you can decide whether to throw a bullet, lob, or touch pass(if Madden can do it, so can Live)

The reason I say this, is that its FAR too easy to sit there on the inbounds, mash on the steal button, and intercept passes before they even get into play. Among the degenerates at EASO, this is their favorite method of ruining online games, as its an easy deuce, and can become quite a trend if abused properly.

Before I go on, let me just say, that I hardly ever get my online balling fix at EASO, because I am fortunate enough to be in some of the great online leagues out there. But I do feel a duty to speak for all the good-natured guys that never find their way out of the muck and shit that is, EASO.

Now, continuing with the topic of EASO, they set their ranking and ratings system based on a SET criteria for online games, which include, games must be played with no fatigue, and skill level on all star.

Personally, I think any online game should be played on Superstar, because thats the ultimate test of skill, but despite that, I dont think EA should force people to play on All Star in order to receive MEANINGLESS points, tokens, rankings and/or ratings boost , or whatever the hell garbage they try to pawn off on the online Live community as a form of entertainment.

So people should be able to set the skill level at their choice, but fatigue? fatigue should ALWAYS be mandatory in a "sanctioned" game I guess you could say. this is NBA Live, NOT NBA Jam.

To go along with this, too many idiots at EASO have discovered how to disconnect or "error" their opponent, resulting in them receiving no penalty for their transgression. EA should be able to address this, Microsoft has done so recently with Halo 2 from what I understand, so it is possible.

anyways.....thats my rant for now, perhaps I'll come up with more. feel free to disagree, agree, whatever you feel.

late

[Andrew]

not sure if this is the right section to post in, but I agree with most of what Andrew posted on the Live 2006 list, however you omitted a large part of the game, which is the online play.(and have yet to get back to me with regards to my email inquiries aways back - dont be afraid to say no)

Thanks Hed - I merged this from the topic you posted in NBA Live 2005 General. Agreed, I did leave out a rather large element of the game but that's mainly due to the fact I don't play NBA Live online. Your ideas for online gaming are certainly well-received.

[hedpetcd]

thx Andrew. your article was truly superb and in-depth. I hope the Live 2006 team at EA gets a chance to read it too!

[[L3]1101]

awsome article Andrew

[Andrew]

Thanks again. I'm guessing you didn't get my email when I originally sent it, so I've sent you a PM re: your inquiry.

[falagar]

Great article Andrew . It also would be good in practice mode that you could practice the free throws.

[Andrew]

Yeah I'd really like that too. That's something that (in theory) should be fairly easy to add. Glad you liked the article.

[Strike Freedom]

If NBA Live 2k6 is too good, then it's difficult for the NBA live staff to think of better things to improve for Live 2k7.
I suppose they made the game near perfect but unwilling to make it perfect for every NBA Live game so the customers will buy them every year.

[Andrew]

Not necessarily, as there are plenty of improvements they can make (especially expanding on Dynasty Mode) that would make NBA Live 06 a fantastic game...leaving aspects such as Owner Mode and other exhibition modes/features as new additions when there isn't much to add to the existing features.

[alexboom]

You wrote an excellent article Andrew, as you were able to clearly sum up everyone's wishes. Too bad EA's developpers are a bit deaf and don't develop the essentials

[OldFoolStyle]

And now on it's tenth consecutive year of being requested to no avail, how about a play editor?. It would make up for a lot of holes in the AI, the current plays are too simplistic and ineffectual, and certain positions are non existaint in current plays.

[T-Comm55]

THE BEST ARTICLE Andrew. Can u imagine if EA read yours and follows it.

[Point Guard U]

hey andrew! i agree for everything you mentiond in the articlehttp://www.nbaliveforums.com/ima ... umbsup.gif
Thumbs Up. but do you think in the season scheduling they should not schedule games on dec. 24 and schedule games on dec. 25 and have match up with a lot of hype like last years miami - lakers game? also i hope you can bring the import roster from march madness or you can put nba player career mode or something like that.

[Point Guard U]

hey andrew! just a follow up, do you think you guys can make players who did not have a impressive season but next season they could have a breakout or something. do you think they can make players like that progress into great stars? like sebastian telfair and shaun livingston, they didn't have fantastic seasons but they have a breakout next year. i predict that they'll have low ratings in live 2006 but i think they be stars in the future given the oppurtunity. thankshttp://www.nbaliveforums.com/imag ... iggrin.gif
Very Happy

[-BHZMAFIA-]

This article really speaks for everyone and I'm glad you wrote it. The things you mentioned would make the perfect NBA Live, but I just have a feeling that EA won't do alot of those things because most of the time, they don't do things we would like for them to do. Sometime they do, but it's very odd the way they can only put a few ideas in there throughout each release. Either way, great article and I hope 95% of the ideas you put in there will be in Live 06

[[L3]1101]

we should all start sending EA eamils or link to andrew's article. I don't know exactly how many people are registered here, but if everyone does it, at least they'll look at the link, or maybe they would start visting this site more often

[Andrew]

Thanks for the comments everyone, it's cool to know a lot of people share the same vision of what NBA Live 06 could/should be.

hey andrew! i agree for everything you mentiond in the articlehttp://www.nbaliveforums.com/ima ... umbsup.gif
Thumbs Up. but do you think in the season scheduling they should not schedule games on dec. 24 and schedule games on dec. 25 and have match up with a lot of hype like last years miami - lakers game? also i hope you can bring the import roster from march madness or you can put nba player career mode or something like that.

That's one of those things that could add a little more realism to Dynasty Mode when generating a random schedule. Importing players from March Madness is nice, but unfortunately many of us can't take advantage of it since MM isn't a worldwide release. Single player career mode is something they could perhaps consider when they need something brand new.

hey andrew! just a follow up, do you think you guys can make players who did not have a impressive season but next season they could have a breakout or something. do you think they can make players like that progress into great stars? like sebastian telfair and shaun livingston, they didn't have fantastic seasons but they have a breakout next year. i predict that they'll have low ratings in live 2006 but i think they be stars in the future given the oppurtunity.

I like that idea, and agree it would make for much more realism. I guess the way that could be achieved would be to give players with the best Destiny attribute stand a chance of improving very quickly. Some variables that would make CPU teams change their starting lineup based on player and team performance or perhaps the decision to start a "youth movement" would help give the younger guys a chance to play more, even if their overall is slightly lower than an established veteran who is on his way down. Easier said than done, but with the right AI and variables it sounds feasible, at least in my head.

This article really speaks for everyone and I'm glad you wrote it. The things you mentioned would make the perfect NBA Live, but I just have a feeling that EA won't do alot of those things because most of the time, they don't do things we would like for them to do. Sometime they do, but it's very odd the way they can only put a few ideas in there throughout each release. Either way, great article and I hope 95% of the ideas you put in there will be in Live 06

Thanks. Time constraints are a factor and the production team has indicated they don't like implementing features that don't functional anywhere near as well as they would like which is for the best. Owner Mode and in particular a single player Career Mode would be a waste of time if they weren't done properly. Tearing down Dynasty Mode and rebuilding it also took some time, I'm sure.

I'm not sure they can do everything I outlined in the article within a year, because in all fairness there's a fair bit to add and get working properly. I personally don't think you could ask for any more than I have in the article for the amount of time they have to develop the game. It really is a best case scenario, if more than a few of those ideas show up in NBA Live 06 I for one will be quite satisfied.

we should all start sending EA eamils or link to andrew's article. I don't know exactly how many people are registered here, but if everyone does it, at least they'll look at the link, or maybe they would start visting this site more often

I know that they do browse the forums from time to time, and I sent the Wishlist off earlier this year - I can confirm that they received it and it made the rounds as usual. I also sent the link to this article as an extension of the Wishlist describing what I (and it seems quite a few others too) feel are the most pressing issues and necessary additions at this point.

[Fresh8]

Good article! Alot of reading but addresses important issues nonetheless... sent it to EAsports yet?

Yeah u have,.. keep it up!

[Metsis]

You wrote an excellent article Andrew, as you were able to clearly sum up everyone's wishes. Too bad EA's developpers are a bit deaf and don't develop the essentials

For marketing purposes they have to do alot of things that otherwise they wouldn't... They have to expand fan base and increase sales each year and the fastest way to do this is and the most effective one is something grand and pleasing to the eye... Alot of the time goes into developing graphics and other forms of superficial elements to attract more players to the game...

The MAN wants his money... And the production team must obey, resistance is futile...

[madison2003]

Live 2006 looks ok, its still looks only mediocre in the gfx dept. im hoping they make up for it with gameplay and such. BTW has anyone seen the video for SEGA NBA 2k6 its just nutz with a capital Z! it's been guaranteed that thats how the 5 on 5 will look also, and if that comes through then i think Live might have to take a year off till PS3 lol.

[colickyboy]

nice article, andrew.

however, the ability to save a game in progress should also be near the top of the list.

[cyanide]

Nice article I especially like how you placed "gameplay" at No. 1