NBA Live 09 Online Team Play Improvements
by 
Online Team Play is easily the aspect of the NBA Live 09 that I am most excited about. EA knew it was a big hit not only by the overwhelmingly positive response from gamers last year but also by seeing how online usage quadrupled after being released. Producer Julien Carron even talked with me about the list I published of how the mode could be improved and how a good deal of those suggestions were met.
This year you’ll be able to form “Clubs” which will have their own ranking system. A large group will be able to form a club of up to 50 people. As long as an OTP game is played with at least three club members on the same team it will count into the rankings and record/statistics. In theory there could be multiple games taking place at the same time for a club.
Positional success is tracked and is a way of the Club’s GM to scout potential members and put together good balance. A player gets credit on their performance bar for making good plays related to their position, while making bad plays or allowing their assignment while on defense to score will hurt your rating. At any time the GM can remove a player from club, so performance along with desire to stay in a club will provide incentive for people to play the right way.
Some other details: The camera in OTP is similar to the broadcast camera except that it pulls out to provide a wider view when away from the action. The mode includes menu areas for blogs and trophies. You can set screens this year. There are areas for “Club Tryouts” which are ranked games that can help build up history and stats as well as regular unranked OTP. There are no additional tie-ins to EA Sports World unfortunately.
I’m really excited about the forming of the Pastapadre Club! This will be a better way to really involve the community and I think we could have a club that competes at the highest level.
August 14, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Pasta, I love your website but your dreaming. My squad already runs team play on Live LOL. We’ve beaten everybody on team play this year, but I love the idea and this is going to be great. my squads website is http://www.kingofkingssquad.webs.com Check us out we are the real deal, peace keep the good work coming
August 14, 2008 at 2:50 pm
wow live does it again pasta cant wait to play onlie with the hornets
August 14, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Padre,
The improvements to Online Team Play sound fantastic. I know that you’re definitely looking forward to trying it out and I think that OTP in NBA Live ‘09 will be a huge hit here. Thanks for the news, and I can’t wait to play. I wish October was here already, lol.
August 14, 2008 at 3:03 pm
sounds good
August 14, 2008 at 3:46 pm
sounds awesome i can’t wait
August 14, 2008 at 4:34 pm
I cant wait
August 14, 2008 at 4:41 pm
this is an EA game right? so most likely, their new features will not work right and online will freeze like madden 09.
August 14, 2008 at 4:51 pm
[quote comment="32253"]this is an EA game right? so most likely, their new features will not work right and online will freeze like madden 09.[/quote]
Worked great in 08.
August 14, 2008 at 5:03 pm
This is as big or even bigger than DNA IMO. 2K needs to start releasing some info. They’ve been more silent than usual.
August 14, 2008 at 5:13 pm
good things come 2 does dat wait
if N E 1 hasn’t seen it their is a “TEASER” trailer @ gametrailers of NBA 2K9
August 14, 2008 at 5:21 pm
One thing I was paying attention to was the player facial graphics, and I’m starting to believe those screen shots from earlier were misleading. Gasol definitely looks better than 2K8, but still…nowhere near the impression that 2K tried to give us earlier. Pasta, any news on the Dynasty mode on Live?
August 14, 2008 at 5:23 pm
[quote comment="32260"]One thing I was paying attention to was the player facial graphics, and I’m starting to believe those screen shots from earlier were misleading. Gasol definitely looks better than 2K8, but still…nowhere near the impression that 2K tried to give us earlier.
Pasta, any news on the Dynasty mode on Live?[/quote]
Sorry but I wasn’t in on the dynasty mode presentation. I don’t think they did a whole lot there though.
August 14, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Hey, Pasta really quick, did they finally make it possible to boot players out of the game with a vote system or the party leaders control? And can the captain of the the team finally call substitutions on the go without having to pause the game? Thanks!
August 14, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Thanks Pasta. Well if OTP works out the way you described it I might be more involved with that anyway.
August 14, 2008 at 5:54 pm
dey NEVER showed a GASOL screen shot eut R YOU talkin bout
2nd after da way he CHOKED & cost KOBE his ring _____ if they makin look like himself dat _____ softer than lil wayne leather
August 14, 2008 at 6:45 pm
The graphics made it appear that there was going to be a fast improvement, better than Lives; however as evident by the game play graphics and closeups it’s not. Once again, 2K uses an artist rendition, that’s the point I’m making. Gasol looks better than he did in 2K8, but yeah..very misleading.
August 14, 2008 at 6:51 pm
I bet you when we see KG & the others shown in those screens when this game releases dey will look just as good as those thumb nails
that’s 1 thing I give 2K credit 4 wit dem it’s more than just “HYPE”
August 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm
[quote comment="32263"]Hey, Pasta really quick, did they finally make it possible to boot players out of the game with a vote system or the party leaders control? And can the captain of the the team finally call substitutions on the go without having to pause the game? Thanks![/quote]
Good questions. I’ll see if I can find out about the subs, I didn’t think to ask about that. But as to booting players I believe they’re just letting club leaders decide who is in/out of the clubs, but that there won’t be a way to kick people from inside a game. I’ll try and verify.
August 14, 2008 at 7:47 pm
pasta doesent this sound like NHL 09 except you can not make your own players isnt it bassicly the same thig?
August 14, 2008 at 9:22 pm
4 NEW vids @ ign of NBA LIVE 09
August 14, 2008 at 9:48 pm
[quote comment="32274"]pasta doesent this sound like NHL 09 except you can not make your own players isnt it bassicly the same thig?[/quote]
For the most part I think so. When I got to go over this I didn’t know the details of what NHL had. So I’m not sure what differences, if any, there are other than not having the MMO side of it.
August 15, 2008 at 12:37 am
PASTA you know i WANT IN ON THE PS3 club
August 15, 2008 at 2:19 am
Seriously, who cares?
Nba 2k9 new teaser is on http://www.2ksports.com
August 15, 2008 at 5:53 am
Seriously, who cares about another TEASER from 2k.
August 15, 2008 at 6:30 am
reignman YOU MAD late I been posted dat
I got bricks if YOu NEED dat kind of weight & I been YUNG FLY & FLASHY JD kinda LATE
August 15, 2008 at 8:37 am
I don’t know guys….. Live is shaping up to be the game to play, I guess we’ll have to keep waiting to see what 2k does.
This just may be the return of the king though!
August 15, 2008 at 8:53 am
NEVER
August 15, 2008 at 9:40 am
IGN has an article out as well: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/898/898922p1.html Pasta you didnt mention team blogs!
August 15, 2008 at 9:48 am
JG, return of the king? I like this. Live was king last time in way back 2001, without a pretender. It would be a real ressurection.
Do not be sentimental, what I see in the new live gameplay videos, EA is making the game more difficult, more scripted playcallings, more aspects of the game to take care of, but it is pointless and funless, if it is still easy to score versus the mindless AI.
On the first video, Camby stepped 4 before that ugly hook shot…
When Kobe is making the free throws, he looks like Artest…
In the last one, Gasol in action, the player just simply walk thru the staging…
August 15, 2008 at 10:35 am
Kobe did look kind of beefed up right? He’s usually more slender. There isn’t anything pretty about Camby’s offensive game other than his 15 jump shot.
August 15, 2008 at 10:41 am
Looking at the Kobe Free Throw video. I noticed the jerseys being more realistic, I liked that. One thing I notice that is disturbing is when Mobley gets beat off Kobe’s first step. If you look at the video notice how Mobley reacts. I hope Live concentrates on this next year. No one jogs backwards. They turn, and try to get back to their defender.
August 15, 2008 at 10:44 am
Ugggg and what is Camby doing on that Kobe free throw video? I hope they really use the DNA feature for the defensive end next year too. Camby should be at the free throw line, when would he ever go out that high? What’s up with him skating all over the top of the key?
August 15, 2008 at 10:48 am
On the Gasol in Action video, I liked his put bank dunk, but I didn’t like Kobe stepping out of bounds.
August 15, 2008 at 10:49 am
Did Camby just walk through the goal post as if it didn’t exist? on the Gasol in Action video? I hope to god this is fixed.
August 15, 2008 at 10:53 am
In the “Fadeaway shot” video I noticed Camby not even attempting to go after the possible rebound, instead he stays up high, because he’s worried about Gasol being on the 3 point line? ugggggg…..and Bynum just standing there, not fighting for the rebound? I know the producers for live said that they actually wanted to put that in the game this year, but still had too many bugs, so I guess thats going to be addressed for Live 2010.
August 15, 2008 at 11:09 am
[quote comment="32271"]The graphics made it appear that there was going to be a fast improvement, better than Lives; however as evident by the game play graphics and closeups it’s not. Once again, 2K uses an artist rendition, that’s the point I’m making. Gasol looks better than he did in 2K8, but yeah..very misleading.[/quote]
Live’s graphics have more of a cartoony look to them as do most EA titles. It all depends on what your preference is.
August 15, 2008 at 11:12 am
[quote comment="32366"]In the “Fadeaway shot” video I noticed Camby not even attempting to go after the possible rebound, instead he stays up high, because he’s worried about Gasol being on the 3 point line? ugggggg…..and Bynum just standing there, not fighting for the rebound? I know the producers for live said that they actually wanted to put that in the game this year, but still had too many bugs, so I guess thats going to be addressed for Live 2010.[/quote]
Yea Live is still years away from catching 2K’s gameplay. I still notice some of the same issues. I’m not even gonna bother with Live this year. Maybe next year.
August 15, 2008 at 11:36 am
Even if these videos are from an early beta, EA should NOT release them with full of bugs. Cut them out simply, 2k fanboys shall love to cling on them.
My opinion about DNA:
DNA is simply an enchanced AI, 10 years ago games had the same AI, for example in Live 98 the AI made the same decisions, layup or dunk, hook shot or jump shot, it was up to the gameplay code, just like today, not much has been changed, EA just needs “marketing labels” to increase “virtually” the value of the game in people’s head. Dear God, its like 1st semester in a PR Uni.
Something about the gameplay:
After a few games playcalling is getting boring. A game has to have its own flow and fluidity, the gameplay mechanism should create some variety and diversity again and again, and the situation changes. And thats part of the game, where 2k is lightyears ahead EA.
August 15, 2008 at 11:57 am
DNA is simply an enhanced AI? Didn’t know the world “simply” and “enhanced AI” could be used in the same sentence. DNA is very innovative, fresh, and there is nothing simple about it. We are talking about an infinite amount of hours being dedicated to this technology that’s being integrated in the game and not some just a rating number assigned by the development team in which they guess the player will perform.
Play calling has been boring in the past, because the playbooks weren’t team specific. For the first time I’ll be able to run the triangle with the Lakers.
I wouldn’t say 2K is light years ahead, because that game has just as many flaws as Live. Watching Big Z do cross overs makes me laugh every time.
Anyway, I’ve been reading about the NBA Live Rewind feature, and from what I’m seeing, you can go back 4 years to key games and play them again. Pasta, is there any truth to this?
August 15, 2008 at 1:23 pm
[quote comment="32298"]Seriously, who cares about another TEASER from 2k.[/quote]
I care!
August 15, 2008 at 1:39 pm
[quote comment="32292"]Seriously, who cares?
Nba 2k9 new teaser is on http://www.2ksports.com/quote
This looks like crap.
August 15, 2008 at 2:48 pm
like I told ya’ll already LIVE ain’t ______ wit DA KING 2K9 I swear ya’ll hard headed why you gotta taste sumthin 2 KNO it’s NO FRILLS
August 15, 2008 at 5:17 pm
IGN has a hands on preview of 2K9
August 15, 2008 at 5:41 pm
simply WOW there 5 on 5 on-line team play sounds CRAZY!!! pullin dudes jersey when you get beat & ISH
pushing of 2 get open ala REGGIE “KNICK KILLER” MILLER
oh lord dey dunn found dey SWAG
August 15, 2008 at 9:42 pm
so what’s the link to the 2k9 preview?
August 16, 2008 at 2:34 am
The fanboyism begins. sdot, 2K has been full of flaws, please stop speaking as if the game is perfect or I’ll have to put you on blast again and own you. If you’re honestly getting excited about pulling on jersey’s or pushing a player to create more room for yourself…..then you really are a 2K fan boy, because that game is heavily flawed and has many areas it NEEDS to improve on before it can be considered a great game instead of the better basketball game.
August 16, 2008 at 10:22 am
fam are YOu serious put me on BLAST
i’m laughin at dis clown like HA HA HA
fam say what YOU want cuz YOU pussy & WON’T take it past words so it’s wut eva i’m NOT goin 2 go back & forth wit YOU (PAUSE) cuz i’m a dude & dats a FEMALE trait now like I previously said when eva YOu ready 2 CUT all dat feminine ISH
YOU can see me face 2 face & settle dis on sum GROWN MAN ISH
arguin over da phone or on-line is a move STRICTLY reserved 4 WOMEN, KIDZ & HOMOS
now which 1 are YOU
August 16, 2008 at 2:40 pm
sdot,
why try to call somebody out when you’re on here acting like a 13 year old bitch. shut the PHUCK up dude with all that old ass ebonic “ISH”!!
now go do your chores like your momma told you…. BOY!
August 19, 2008 at 8:08 am
Sounds like he has no life
August 20, 2008 at 9:19 am
pasta, love the site. good news on the new OTP.
if you want a good OTP game, hit me up on ps3. I got more than a full squad on some nights and could use the competition. And with 09 coming out…with 50 person clubs to fill…this could get veryyy interesting.
You still a “secondary” type player or have you gone “superstar” yet?
good site dude. keep up the good work.