The best online experience from EA yet
October 3, 2007 by pastapadre
Over the past few months anyone who has followed the site knows I’ve been very vocal about the poor online play that has been presented by EA Sports for years and most recently with the 08 line of games including Madden and NCAA Football. This is an area that has been neglected and dismissed as being unimportant.
In my initial impressions I was very pleased with how the online play for NBA Live 08 had turned out in terms of both options and performance. However I had some concerns that the performance could take a hit once the game was released and more people ventured online. I played a couple games on Tuesday to see how things were holding up.
All of the games were lag free with the smooth frame rate just as it was prerelease. Add to it that the games were flat out fun. From the first time I played online with Shawn from 5w-G it was apparent that the game plays better head-to-head (and he agreed). With the right sliders/adjustments some of the minor frustrations that come from playing the CPU could probably be alleviated, but playing H2H seems to cover up many of those issues naturally. I’ve always leaned towards playing mostly online, and until just recently (beginning with NHL 08) I’ve always been disappointed due to lag issues and lack of options.
Credit goes to the EA Canada team who were proactive and worked hard in this area. Add in a co-op mode next year and make some adjustments to the online leagues and for once the online play of an EA Sports title could not only meet expectations but surpass them.
Pasta, I have some concerns about live tht I hope you can address? The auto defense switch can I turn tht off I hate tht I cant control my own defense it messes up my strategy. Second the dunking still seems a bit much I was playing an online game and my opponent completed about ten alley oops with people in the lane. It kinda seems arcadish at times but tht auto switch on defense is killing me.
I live in Europe and I’m waiting for 5 October to buy the game
and just play
Well, I think it’s still smooth because most people can’t even get on yet. I logged on twice yesterday evening to only see 28 people online - TOTAL. My brother who lives in Florida tried to log on several times so we could play together and he kept getting a message that the EA serves were unavailable. Any ideas as to why that would be? I find it hard to believe that a mere 28 people bought the game yesterday and went online.
buy 2k8. you will be very happy. best basketball game of all time…
and the online play is once again flawless.
Why no coverage on the clearly better NBA game( 2k8)?
I copped 2k8 and my bro got live 08… Biggest f’n difference is 2k8 is sim and Live is run and gun… Played live online also, played good… better than the other EA titles. The game isnt in the same breath as 2k8.
Cae, you no better than to ask that question bro…
WHY ALL ARE YOU 2K BOYS ON HERE DISSING LIVE LET US LIKE, LIVE ITS OK .THIS IS A DISCUSSION ABOUT LIVE ONLINE LIVE IS A GOOD GAME AND FUN TO PLAY
Yes this is a discussion about Live, go to another place to talk about 2k8, an it DEFINETLY NOT THE BEST BASKEtBALL GAME EVER. It has just as many flaws as Live. And UPS finally got here with live for me. I am going to play it now. YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
rented it and must say that it truly is the definition of a ‘mediocre at best’ game. the animations really suck the big one too.
Why is run and gun not sim? So Golden State/ Dallas/ Phoenix aren’t “real” teams. The NBA is full of run and gun basketball. Its cool to have plays and run them but this is a NBA basketball aiming to reflect their vision NBA gameplay, not basketball in its purest form.
FIFA 08 & NHL08 have a great online too !
But for basketball i’m looking forward to 2k8 on 26th october
For some reason when the game loads online nothing happens it just loads. WTF EA hope this just temporarily.
ortiz… how dare you! go to the 2k8 forum buddy! How dare you share your opinion on this game! I do not see what cat see in live… Same soup, just reheated.
THANK YOU D ISAIAH THAT GETS ON MY LAST NERVE WEN 2K FAN BOY COME AND DISS LIVE IN TIS OWN DISSCUSIN Y DONT YALL LIVE HATAZ JUS GO TO SUM 2K SITE AND POST THAT STUFF.WTF IZ UR PROBLEM
IM LOVING LIVE, IT DOES SEEM LIKE IF THE OTHER PERSON YOUR PLAYING HAS A BAD CONNECTION IT WILL TAKE FOREVER TO LOAD. BUT IM LOVING THE GAME ITS JUST HARD TO PLAY TOUGH D GILBERT ARENAS WENT 8-32 WIN I USED HIM EARLIER!!! TRUSKILLZ 23 IS ID IF U WANNA HAVE A FUN CLEAN GAME HOLLA!
So pasta is this the best online sport game that is out right now or in other words is the online play better than nba 2k8’s online play?
Shoeprint,
Hey my old pal. I agree that it would be more balanced to have something up about 2K8 but at least Padre does have a forum.
As far as which game is better I bought both and I have to say they are vastly different. Live is a fun game and has a nice appeal to it. 2K8 on the other hand is not far the occasional basketball gamer. This years versions is deserving of being called a basketball simulator. You aren’t getting over on the AI this time around and thats the biggest difference between the two titles. With live it’s a game i think anyone can just pick up and play ( my first game I lost by 2 against the cpu in dynasty mode) but with 2K8 if you don’t have somewhat of an understanding that basketball isn’t all run and gun you’ll HATE the torture the cpu will put you through. I’ve played several games of 2K8 in association mode and I’m amazed every time I play the game. True the graphics aren’t as polished as Live but they aren’t chopped liver ether and the player models FINALLY resemble right body type for an NBA game (playing with Kevin Durant I was happy to see he was actually skinny)
While live won’t collect any dust on my console 2K8 is CLEARLY the starter!
Yeah I like live to just shoot it up, but I play online alot… I like battles, low scoring games man! Im from the midwest, we play defense and the bullyball style (check Ben Wallace for that…) I agree w/ you, I like both but I perfer 2k8.
And I have to admit, Madden has grown on me more than APF 2k8…
I know, SHOOT ME!
WHEN DO THE ONLINS ROSTERS DROP