NBA Live 08 Community Conference Call

[BigKaboom2]

I'm just waiting to hear if Live 08 PC will be based on the Xbox 360 version or not. I don't think "Next-Gen" applies anymore, since PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 all have comparable graphics these days. If they release a PS2 and Xbox version, then I give up.

[Andrew]

Since there's still a Current Gen team I'm guessing there'll be a PS2 and Xbox version of NBA Live 08, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's the last.

[TomCat]

Since there's still a Current Gen team I'm guessing there'll be a PS2 and Xbox version of NBA Live 08, though I wouldn't be surprised if it's the last.

oh man, that doesnt sound too good. i will need to save some money for a PS3 now. anyway this year i am going to rent both 2K8 and Live 08 and compare them before i buy one. because i recent years, i have just gone out and bought Live before even knowing how good or bad it is.

but anyway, sucks that current-gen wont be around much longer and i will need to get a PS3 now

[shadowgrin]

NBA Live 08 will abandon the experiment of seperating the dunk and layup buttons, going back to a single contextually based dunk/layup button

Finally, the Live team got their senses back.

Does it mean that the pro-hop button is back?

Hope not. Never used it anyway.

the focus has been on 5-on-5 gameplay this year

Didn't EA do that already with Live 2004?

Brian did mention there were some very cool features in the works

A customizable PDA by changing skins and tones?

While it's good that EA admits the crap that is an unpatched Live 07, I still feel uneasy with what the developers are saying.
It's like the same year after year, they say new features that will be a leap ahead of the previous Live but still end up as crap in some aspects compared to the previous ones.

the Force

I sense the Darkside in this one.
I hope EA reaching out to the Live community isn't in the guise of early damage control for Live 08.

[Andrew]

oh man, that doesnt sound too good. i will need to save some money for a PS3 now. anyway this year i am going to rent both 2K8 and Live 08 and compare them before i buy one. because i recent years, i have just gone out and bought Live before even knowing how good or bad it is.

but anyway, sucks that current-gen wont be around much longer and i will need to get a PS3 now

I could be wrong, after all it's just speculation at this point but given how most developers seem to be hitting the limit on what they can do with the PS2 and Xbox and a few developers have already left the CG consoles behind it seems very likely NBA Live 08 will be the last instalment for those platforms.

[TomCat]

oh man, that doesnt sound too good. i will need to save some money for a PS3 now. anyway this year i am going to rent both 2K8 and Live 08 and compare them before i buy one. because i recent years, i have just gone out and bought Live before even knowing how good or bad it is.

but anyway, sucks that current-gen wont be around much longer and i will need to get a PS3 now

I could be wrong, after all it's just speculation at this point but given how most developers seem to be hitting the limit on what they can do with the PS2 and Xbox and a few developers have already left the CG consoles behind it seems very likely NBA Live 08 will be the last instalment for those platforms.

well i like how they are trying to fix this year's version anyway. it should be better for the current-gen also but probably not as improved as next-gen will be. Anyhow, looking forward to the game, and cant wait for more info about what is going to be in the game. i am going to have to get a next-gen console eventually, so i am pleased that so much work is being put into it anyway

[Lean]

I sense the Darkside in this one.

Yes NBA Live 07 utilized the use of the Force. Hope they remove that. And it's good news to bring back the Dunk/Layup button, last year's scheme was pretty bad.

And if they make a port of the Xbox 360 version to the PC then I'll just... uhh... don't buy the game and just be amazed of its graphics.

Next-gen graphics enable the jerseys to move, though I don't remember seeing long haired players have their hair move as they sprint down court.

[JohnnyLi]

Thanks for the information Andrew, I appreciate it

[ballaman04]

was there any defesvice x factors in hte game?? and do the cpu version graphic look like the xbox 360 ones?

[joejam999]

I like having one button for dunk and another bottom for layup. Why does everyone hate it so much? It seemed like half time if you press the button to late you would miss the layup or hit the bottom of the rim or backboard with it being the same button.

[Andrew]

was there any defesvice x factors in hte game?? and do the cpu version graphic look like the xbox 360 ones?

Nothing was mentioned during the call but then it was a very early preview as there's much that can't be revealed at this time, much to our chagrin as there were a lot of questions we would've have liked to have asked that can't be answered just yet.

I expect the PC version will be Current Gen again this year.

I like having one button for dunk and another bottom for layup. Why does everyone hate it so much? It seemed like half time if you press the button to late you would miss the layup or hit the bottom of the rim or backboard with it being the same button.

I liked the idea of having complete control over whether the player attempts a dunk or a layup but it certainly has its weaknesses, particularly when a player is too far out to make a dunk and throws up that awkward layup and the addition of a dunk button did invite users to turn the game into a dunkfest. I don't think it was a bad experiment but I do like the idea of going back to the dunk/layup button.

[shadowgrin]

You're supposed to hold the button until you reach the top of the jump, or pass if the dunk/layup is improbable.

[Andrew]

Still, the button would be better served as a means of putting up a tear drop if a player is way out of range or not in a good position to attempt a dunk. Going back to a single dunk/layup button frees up the former dunk button again for the Pro Hop/Drop Step move or possibly another action.

[Num33Baller]

Will PC be next gen?

Windows ME/2000/XP will most likely be cerrent gen. Don't bother bitching, computers running these OS's simply don't have the hardware to run 360 games.

A 360 to Vista port would probably be easier than the current PS2 to Windows, but I wouldn't expect one for 08 unless Microsoft puts heavy pressure on EA. Madden for Vista wouldn't suprise me, though. There are also rumours of an official 360 emulator for Vista.

I'm laughing my ass off here. That is utter bullshit.

There are plenty of powerful computers using 2000 and XP.

I know for a fact that I won't be using Vista at least until late 2008 or 2009.

My new PC will be a 64 bit dual or quad core.

I know someone who has XP-64 on a P4 Extreme Edition (64 bit P4), as well as 2000 on a decent AMD.

Why? Because he refuses to use Vista. What with all of the DRM shit, restrictiveness, and it being a plain resource hog, there are pleanty of SERIOUS GAMERS who are not using Vista and won't be for the next few years.

And now that M$ has conceded and is releasing an XP version of DX10, there is no reason for EA not to make a "Next Gen" version for XP/2000 if they make one for Vista.

[el badman]

And now that M$ has conceded and is releasing an XP version of DX10, there is no reason for EA not to make a "Next Gen" version for XP/2000 if they make one for Vista.

Yeah, dream on...
Probably not gonna happen, Microsoft and EA are now pretty much working hand in hand to make Vista what it was announced to be: the OS for gamers. Besides that, I really don't see EA or any other developers make any effort to keep gaming on XP up to Vista's level, we're not in the world where these guys do us any favors...

[Num33Baller]

And now that M$ has conceded and is releasing an XP version of DX10, there is no reason for EA not to make a "Next Gen" version for XP/2000 if they make one for Vista.

Yeah, dream on...
Probably not gonna happen, Microsoft and EA are now pretty much working hand in hand to make Vista what it was announced to be: the OS for gamers. Besides that, I really don't see EA or any other developers make any effort to keep gaming on XP up to Vista's level, we're not in the world where these guys do us any favors...

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=35110

http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/article/1847/

Now why would EAS make two versions of a game for the same platform (PC)? They would need two development teams, one for the "Vista Version" and one for the "XP/2000" version.

The amount of sales for PC NBA Live isn't great anyway, and now you're gonna split it in half by making two versions?


Please. What happened to your common sense?

[el badman]

Now why would EAS make two versions of a game for the same platform (PC)? They would need two development teams, one for the "Vista Version" and one for the "XP/2000" version.

The amount of sales for PC NBA Live isn't great anyway, and now you're gonna split it in half by making two versions?


Please. What happened to your common sense?

You obviously don't know how to read since it's exactly what I'm saying above. You're the one contradicting yourself by first claiming that EA has no reason NOT to develop a next-gen for XP, then saying the opposite...

[Num33Baller]

Now why would EAS make two versions of a game for the same platform (PC)? They would need two development teams, one for the "Vista Version" and one for the "XP/2000" version.

The amount of sales for PC NBA Live isn't great anyway, and now you're gonna split it in half by making two versions?


Please. What happened to your common sense?

You obviously don't know how to read since it's exactly what I'm saying above. You're the one contradicting yourself by first claiming that EA has no reason NOT to develop a next-gen for XP, then saying the opposite...

Youre the one saying they will make two versions.

I'm saying they will make one version, and if theyre smart, it will be Next Gen.

My argument is that there is no way in hell that they will make two versions of a game for one platform.

[el badman]

Youre the one saying they will make two versions.

I'm saying they will make one version, and if theyre smart, it will be Next Gen.

My argument is that there is no way in hell that they will make two versions of a game for one platform.

I precisely said the opposite, that they certainly WON'T make two versions for PC.
Anyway, case closed...

[Num33Baller]

Youre the one saying they will make two versions.

I'm saying they will make one version, and if theyre smart, it will be Next Gen.

My argument is that there is no way in hell that they will make two versions of a game for one platform.

I precisely said the opposite, that they certainly WON'T make two versions for PC.
Anyway, case closed...

Right. So they would make an XP version the one they would go with, since a vast majority of gamers are gonna stick with XP at least until M$ cuts support for it in late 2008.

Plus, Vista can run most XP software, so its not like they have to choose between XP and vista... their choice is "XP and Vista" or "Just Vista."

The correct choice is obvious... but then again it is EA.

[Lean]

Did the videos show a layup-then-pass motion? I was wondering about that, back in 06 only the Playmakers can do such. I think they removed it in 07.

[Andrew]

It wasn't shown in the demonstration, sorry.

[ThaLiveKing]

Thanks. . .I read at the other NBALive site that they are gonna use some of NBA Street's passing methods. Was anyting mentioned that are they gonna use any other ideas from Street in NBA Live, cause Live can really learn a lot from street

[JaoSming]

um, street passing is you press X or A....there really isnt anything special withit except if you push both modifiers and that is passing to yourself


Id rather see a retool of the layup/dunk button. Tap it to do a layup. Hold it for a little longer to dunk. Hold it until your about to dunk to hang on the rim or to do a flashy dunk.

[ThaLiveKing]

This is what I mean. . .regarding passing

Passing concept... Breakout any animation basically known as the leave early answer late. It's branching off how NBA Street was doing (animation to animation).