IGN producer blog

[Ruthless Outlaw]

FIBA in NBA Live 08

http://blogs.ign.com/nbalive_08


A detailed look into the FIBA feature in NBA Live 08.

[Fresh8]

including the 2007 version of Team USA’s uniforms that they are wearing for this year’s FIBA World Championship qualifying tournament.

Not to sound harsh but if you're developing a basketball game, the people playing it would expect you to know about what you are talking about... It's the Olympic qualifiying tournament this Summer... the FIBA World Championship qualifiers are gonna be in 2009.

Regardless, sounds like a light addition short term but they can expand on it long term which is exciting. Maybe they will have a bigger focus on it next year due to the Olympics but I wouldn't be too phased by it if they don't because the main focus of the game should stay the NBA.

[Andrew]

Thanks for the heads up, I've posted it in the news giving you credit.

Now I know that some of you may be thinking that overall, the feature may seem a little bit light. The reason for this is because the deal for the FIBA license was not signed until late April of this year. At the time the deal was signed, we contemplated waiting until NBA LIVE 09 to unveil the full feature, but instead we decided to implement a first look feature to give everyone a little taste of what is to come in the future now that we have acquired this license.

That certainly sounds promising as far as including more international teams in future games.

[Fresh8]

Maybe they can incorporate into Dynasty mode a bit more. having international tournaments in the offseason if you get asked to manage/coach a national team or something

[Arcane]

sweeet looking forward to 09 now and playing with the boomers.

[Platinum]

maybe someone could redirect EA to the title of the game?... it says "NBA Live 08" in the box, not "International Basketball Live 08"

i'm all for the FIBA features but if they put their focus on it rather than the NBA then i'll be seriously pissed off

[bigh0rt]

maybe someone could redirect EA to the title of the game?... it says "NBA Live 08" in the box, not "International Basketball Live 08"

i'm all for the FIBA features but if they put their focus on it rather than the NBA then i'll be seriously pissed off

All adding FIBA is doing is adding teams and players. Many NBA players participate in FIBA, and more and more players internationally are entering the NBA ranks, so this is clearly a nice addition to the franchise, especially once it gets a bit meatier. I don't see how it could cause NBA Live to lose any focus we presume they have in the first place.

[617KiD]

N.B.A= NATIONAL basketball association,, if they do it in real life i think it should be in the game..good job EA

[[Q]]

it's a lot better than adding the NBDL into the game like many people have wanted. no one wants to play with scrubs.

[Cornerthree]

maybe someone could redirect EA to the title of the game?... it says "NBA Live 08" in the box, not "International Basketball Live 08"

i'm all for the FIBA features but if they put their focus on it rather than the NBA then i'll be seriously pissed off

EA's NHL series also have international teams..

[Chaoot]

So barring injury, these players should be available on each of their international teams via roster download when the game ships in early October.

So if I understand correctly they will release an updated roster, even before the season? (it says 'download' so i guess it's not a matter of the user putting Bargnani and Kobe on the roster...)
So they might have regular roster updates like with Madden?
There's a first, no? Well very nice if that is the case...

[Ty-Land]

So barring injury, these players should be available on each of their international teams via roster download when the game ships in early October.

So if I understand correctly they will release an updated roster, even before the season? (it says 'download' so i guess it's not a matter of the user putting Bargnani and Kobe on the roster...)
So they might have regular roster updates like with Madden?
There's a first, no? Well very nice if that is the case...

They are probably expecting this community to do these updates for them, just like every other year. That would be the 'download' component fulfilled.

[Andrew]

So if I understand correctly they will release an updated roster, even before the season?

That would seem to be the case.