Report from Vancouver (Updated w/Gameplay Info)

[Jing]

this is hot, you and danet are really providing some sweet stuff

[mdiamond]

So how are the graphics??? Do ALL the players look similar to their real-life counterpart? How about the shoes and retor jerseys? Or did you even get into that?

[Andre]

The freestyle is great. They balanced it even better than last year, and it's not too easy to dominate with the prohop. They said that when they implement something new like this, they make it easy to abuse. That way, the user gets used to using it and can master it easily. In the next version, they can tweak it till it works like it should inr eal life...that way, when the user uses it, they can use it realistically. That's why the freestyle was so effective the first year and the pro-hop in 2004.

Oh no!!! Does this mean that the new freestyle air (tip-ins on offensive rebounds and so on...) will be too easy to abuse this year??

I don't know whether we should believe EA or not....if they really do it intentionally...someone must tell 'em it's just wrong!! We don't need to have a new BUG in the gameplay each year just because they want us to get used to another feature!!!! We can learn it by ourselves in practice mode.

I can't believe EA makes the game intentionally unrealistic. What do you think guys?

[phscyiipfer]

How is the crowd animation? Are they still like cardboard cutted pictures of a crowd or do they already have a sort of a body in them?

Another one hows the referees in the game? do they do hand signals more realistic? does the game have 3 referees and does a referee run on the floor during fastbreaks or when their is a full court press?

[q24kgold]

dude!! until u wrote this i was just going to buy this game now im making sure that i preorder it. and carmelo is on the cover it showed it on ebgames.com.

http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/242787.asp

[Theoretic]

Thanks in advance for answering all of these questions. I only have one. I hope it hasn't already been asked.

Is the turnover glitch still in the game? I'm talking about where you block a shot or deflect a passs out of bounds you're credited with the turnover. It's been in the game for a few years now. Thanks again.

[some guy]

a couple questions:
1. are there new block animations (ie. swatting into the 10th row, tapping to yourself)?
2. i read somewhere that you can strip someone as they're going up for a shot or layup, is that true?
3. what kind of new in-game dunks are there? windmill?
4. new alley-oops? off glass?
5. are there more freestyle dribble moves and do they vary depending on who is using them?

[some guy]

thanks for the info

[madison2003]

Only question i've got that hasnt been answered (that i noticed) was when your double teamed, if you dont pass or shoot will the ball still roll out of bounds and be out on YOU. I've never seen a professional just drop the ball in a double team and it didnt touche no one else......

[SiLk]

we're there actual bounce passes?...because i know in last yrs. version,i would get frustrated,when all i would've had to do was bounce pass,but there wasn't an animation for it,and the player would throw a chest pass,right into the chest of the defenders....

also..i know there wasnt specific jumpshot animation..but i think someone said like 5 or 6 diff. animations in the game..if you got to see them..what did they look like?

[dakingriflemen]

I might have overlooked it but is the dynasty mode multiplayer or not?

[Raptorel]

You remember that in NBA Live 2004, the worst injuries that can happen IN GAMES YOU PLAY are injuries lasting THAT GAME. I once have injured one guy twice in the same game, first he went to the bench for a quarter and then he cames back and injure again, that red-cross sign appearing next to his name. I was hoping he will heal in a longer period as it happens when you simulate the games, but no. He returned the next game. What I'm trying to say is that you never get serious injured players unless you sim the games. And I don't sim any game.

I wonder if in this year's version there will be injuries often and more dramatic.

[Raptorel]

You remember that in NBA Live 2004, the worst injuries that can happen IN GAMES YOU PLAY are injuries lasting THAT GAME. I once have injured one guy twice in the same game, first he went to the bench for a quarter and then he cames back and injure again, that red-cross sign appearing next to his name. I was hoping he will heal in a longer period as it happens when you simulate the games, but no. He returned the next game. What I'm trying to say is that you never get serious injured players unless you sim the games. And I don't sim any game.

I wonder if in this year's version there will be injuries often and more dramatic.

[Alcoholic]

You remember that in NBA Live 2004, the worst injuries that can happen IN GAMES YOU PLAY are injuries lasting THAT GAME. I once have injured one guy twice in the same game, first he went to the bench for a quarter and then he cames back and injure again, that red-cross sign appearing next to his name. I was hoping he will heal in a longer period as it happens when you simulate the games, but no. He returned the next game. What I'm trying to say is that you never get serious injured players unless you sim the games. And I don't sim any game.

I wonder if in this year's version there will be injuries often and more dramatic.

It happens in 2004, it's just VERY VERY RARE to get someone out for future games.

The gameplay seems great! It's nice to see the computer playing smart. I have a question. How hard is it defending? I mean, lets say you're turboing left, then you turbo right, will the player use perfect footing and go the opposite direction, or will he stutter (or possibly fall for worse defenders, LOL)?

[FanOfAll]

Thanks for the writeup and answering all the questoins Shane.

I have a few more. Do players have their own styles? Like Reggie Miller is always running around the court, behind screens to get open. On the other hand, Shaq is always down low, hardly outside, but players like Raef LaFrentz are almost always around the perimeter.

Are there more lose balls? I think it would be more realistic if you're more prone to dribbling off your foot when you're really close to the baseline/sideline.

Are there behind the back passes? Better passes, instead of all those jump passes?

Last question for now , any over-the-back foul calls on rebounds?

[DANet]

DANet told me he'd comment on the post game at some point, so he can answer those questions.

The low post game is similar to that of NBA Live 2004 but I found it harder to back down the defensive player deep into the post. This year EA added a number of new animations for the post players including a sweet shoulder fake by the offensive player on the drop step and a strong defensive stance animation for the defender. Two separate sliders have been added to control the effectiveness of the pro-hop and the drop step moves. The drop step in the post did not always result in my player standing under the basket ready for a dunk...and on a few occasions I got the ball stripped when I tried to drop step in traffic.

The automatic double team into the post was still present in the build that we played...but EA said that they are looking into it. EA has already addressed the problem where the player running to help with the double team somehow gained superhuman speed and was able to recover right away when the ball was passed out of the post. This means you can kick the ball out of the post to the wing and have an open shot or swing the ball around the perimeter and find an open shot...

Cutscenes-What are the cutscenes like? How do players react to fouls or different calls?

You know, I really don't remember many in-game. Eric, Devon? The ones for All-Star were cool, and the pregame were the same shoot-around stuff.

I don't recall seeing any cutscenes besides the pre-game shoot around, player introductions, and where the players walked off the court at half time and the end of the game. They were new but still quite similar to those found in NBA Live 2004.

EDIT: I now remember seeing a cutscene with the slam dunk champion holding the trohpy after the contest..

In addition, there were instant replays during the game which I found were very short and focused. The replays were quick and you almost didn't have enough time to really notice them or hit the button to cancel it...they fit in nicely without disrupting the flow of the game.

[thaKEAF]

Thanks alot for answering my questions Shane.

[Silky Smooth Vlade]

In addition, there were instant replays during the game which I found were very short and focused. The replays were quick and you almost didn't have enough time to really notice them or hit the button to cancel it...they fit in nicely without disrupting the flow of the game.

Awesome, I think that was something we all subconsiously wanted. Oh, and am I the only one that doesn't really care what the crowd looks like?

[thaKEAF]

I don't really care about how the crowd looks but if they improve it, there's no harm.

[q24kgold]

sorry if this has been answered or asked but on the fast break, can u catch a pass and keep running or is it like 2004 where u must stop to catch a pass? i mean i kno the game is only like a bit over 65% done but i was just wondering. and what are the overall ratings like?

[Nick]

yeah, how's the crowd? Is homecourt still meaningless?

NBA Live 2004 already had homecourt advantage. Well atleast it felt that way to me. I definetly found it harder to win at away games.

I don't really care about the crowd... we barely even look at it anyway? we only see it from a distance. If making the crowd realistic means taking things away from the gameplay, then personally i'd prefer to have a cardboard crowd.

[Silky Smooth Vlade]

I don't really care about the crowd... we barely even look at it anyway? we only see it from a distance. If making the crowd realistic means taking things away from the gameplay, then personally i'd prefer to have a cardboard crowd.

LOL, I was actually going to mention cardboard crowds in my post, but thought it was a little harsh. But I agree 100%. IMO the crowd should be the last thing EA should worry about improving.

[Micchy_boy]

not actually the graphics of crowd. i think its more of how game differs from playing at your own crowd and away crowd. the home court advantage should be feel while playing. plus i like to see a different gameplay during regular season and playoff where in playoffs everybody wants to win. its like playing the first game of the season should be way to different when playing game 7 of finals.

[Silky Smooth Vlade]

True. In 2004 they tried to make it too obvious from Season to Playoffs. In my Kings franchise during the season every game the stadium would be damn near empty. Even though Arco has sold out for several seasons in a row in real life.

[Sauru]

players sell out arena's. if i go on the road and i got the leagues mvp on my team you better believe that stadium is gonna be packed. no matter how bad a team is they will come to see the best players play, specially if its a rookie as hyped as lebron. i would like to see this in future lives.