NBA Live 09 Online Play Producer Blog
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Heading up the online portion of the NBA Live series is Julien Carron. He has posted a new producer blog detailing just about everything to do with online play in Live 09. Everything from their online philosophy down to the specific details of what they’ve done for this year is discussed.
The blog includes screenshots and walk throughs of Online Team Play, standard head-to-head games, online leagues, the new Player HUB, and the EA Locker. This is a pretty in-depth look at what to expect in the upcoming release. One lingering question I have that I may not be able to get an answer to right away regards substitutions in OTP. Last year to do them it required pausing which interrupted the flow of the games.
August 22, 2008 at 10:10 am
They seem to be using the same league method that Madden 09 is using, and they are using the same shallow reasoning as to why they went with this concept. What is odd is why EA feels like they have this huge responsibility in making sure they don’t structure scheduling around time limits. You don’t have to. Let the league participants do that. Simply create the ability to edit key aspects of the league…scheduling, members, resetting games. I have the feeling it was too difficult for them to accomplish, thus this importance of “flexible scheduling” excuse is being used.
Everyone who truly wants to participate in online leagues understands that priority is proper scheduling and keeping of stats. If you can’t present that in your game’s league system, all you are offering is an inflated vs mode.
August 22, 2008 at 10:43 am
Hey Pasta, just wanted to say that I apprciate you taking note of my substitutions question, and thanks for adding it the main description of this post.
August 22, 2008 at 10:44 am
I think people overestimate the popularity of leagues. They aren’t used by that many, and the majority of them end due to inactivity. Yeah there are some great leagues out there but they tend to be run by commissioners who need the flexibility and tools that don’t come with the built in leagues.
So the flex scheduling and some of the ideas behind EA’s “leagues” makes sense to me, but there should be the option for the more rigid structures too. I can’t imagine many Madden EA leagues will complete even with them trying to make them more inviting. What they’re doing is trying to cater them to the people who won’t finish a league regardless, especially if they’re not doing well. So EA should have a structure that is good for those who are organized enough to have leagues that complete too.
In comparison you saw Live 08’s online play activity quadruple with the introduction of OTP. There is a lot more potential there for a wide ranging group to take advantage of. So it doesn’t surprise me to see them focusing there.
August 22, 2008 at 10:45 am
Yep Billy the question is in, but Julien Carron is out of the office and he’s the guy that would know the answer. As soon as I hear back I’ll pass word along.
August 22, 2008 at 10:54 am
Pasta, when you meet women, do you make them call you “Pasta Padre” or “Pasta Daddy” ?
August 22, 2008 at 10:58 am
Nice job getting a shoutout from Julien, Pasta.
August 22, 2008 at 11:49 am
Yes!
August 22, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I agree, Pasta. I think though that since those who are going to complete leagues will be those who appreciate the entirety of what a league should be, that should be their approach.
On the OTP stuff, I agree completely. For the first time in several years, I’m considering Live over 2K. I do not trust that 2K will deliver on the OTP without major issues.
August 22, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I cant wait
August 22, 2008 at 3:02 pm
If anything EA should be the one I wouldn’t trust with their online, given their recent issues with Madden and to a lesser extent, NCAA 09.
2k has consistently had better online in their sports titles than EA. Although live is looking to be good this year for once.
August 22, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I’d differentiate between Tiburon and EA Canada though. Last year EAC had great online performance. OTP ran really well, and they state they’ve improved on that.
August 22, 2008 at 4:00 pm
I’m really looking forward to NBA Live this year.
August 22, 2008 at 4:17 pm
The last basketball game I purchased and actually finished a season was NBA Live 97 on the PlayStation. This is the year I get back into the pro game.
Also, I hope there will be more news upcoming for NCAA College Basketball. I thoroughly enjoyed MM 2007 and was letdown big time by MM 2008….
August 22, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Clivo, I can’t see how you can say, 2K’s online performance is better than that of EA’s. 2K has been doing leagues for several years now and they still have issues with fatigue, inline connectivity and lag.
While NCAA has had some issues, I think what they have accomplished with the Online Dynasty is excellent.
August 22, 2008 at 5:09 pm
2k9 is going to suck
August 22, 2008 at 5:14 pm
and here comes the 2k troops…
August 22, 2008 at 6:16 pm
keep ur dynamic DNA this game is whack… 2k9 all dayy
August 22, 2008 at 6:20 pm
i like the practice arena i would chill in there the whole time and shoot around but the real game is goan come up short once again because 2k didn’t even show us gameplay videos yet and the live vids are nothing special, i think that the videos of iggy and pierce are better than anything live showed thats my opinion
August 22, 2008 at 6:21 pm
whens this demo coming out anybody know exact date?????
August 22, 2008 at 7:22 pm
[quote comment="33183"]whens this demo coming out anybody know exact date?????[/quote]
No specific date yet, early to mid Sept.
August 23, 2008 at 9:39 am
I haven’t picked up Madden this year because I’ve really enjoyed NCAA and the online dynasty feature. The Madden league feature seems like a cheap attempt to replicate the online dynasty for NCAA. My favorite aspect of the online dynasty is the ability to play user vs. cpu and user vs. user games in the same season and string continuous seasons together.
Does anyone know whether either NBA game (Live or 2K) will have an online league similar to NCAA online dynasty? For example, with 2 or 3 users they can play an 82 game schedule with a single team, make player transactions and use features like an off-season draft.
To me, that is the truest sense of an online league.
August 23, 2008 at 10:09 am
this game seems really well developed this year, hopefully they can come strong this time
2k also seems strong, we wont really know which one is better until the demos come out in september
August 23, 2008 at 12:05 pm
[quote comment="33218"]this game seems really well developed this year, hopefully they can come strong this time
2k also seems strong, we wont really know which one is better until the demos come out in september[/quote]
Correction..The features seem really well developed but that doesn’t mean the gameplay is well developed. Anyone who wants to play a true basketball sim won’t have to wait unti the demos come out. 2K’s already got that locked down. Now if you’re someone who plays sports games just for features then Live’s the game for you. I personally prefer gameplay over gimicky features any day. Don’t get me wrong, Live does look improved this year & it might warrant a rental from me, but let’s not act like we have to wait and see which game will have the better gameplay. Any true basketball player already knows the answer to that.
August 23, 2008 at 12:30 pm
2k9 is going to be better period. EA just has bunch of geeks that has never step foot on any sports fies let alone been to any live game. thats why madden sucks and live gonna suck.
August 23, 2008 at 12:39 pm
[quote comment="33227"]2k9 is going to be better period. EA just has bunch of geeks that has never step foot on any sports fies let alone been to any live game. thats why madden sucks and live gonna suck.[/quote]
wow great analysis thanks. people like this is why i have grown to dislike 2k. maybe they should get some people whove been to a baseball game at 2k?
August 23, 2008 at 1:54 pm
2k9 is going to be garbage
August 23, 2008 at 2:04 pm
god lord can we stop the whole fanboy crap, I’m not a fanboy of either companys, but i do hate how 2k guys act like all 2k sports games are all good.
August 25, 2008 at 9:08 am
Hey Pasta, are you going to post the question about the subs, or just reply to it in this topic?
August 27, 2008 at 12:30 pm
all 2k sport games may NOT be da best but NBA 2k9 & NFL 2K5 are the BEST RESPECTIVELY
accept it
October 6, 2008 at 8:10 am
do you know if nba live will have the same online dynasty feature that ncaa football 09 does. I hope it does cause that league thing is garbage if you dont have alot of people… the online dynasty in ncaa football 09 rocks and all ea sports games should use that same feature. ..