NBA Live 09: Bulls @ Heat
by 
This is the first full game I played of NBA Live 09. As such you’ll notice how much I struggle especially on the offensive end. It isn’t until the third quarter of the second game I played that I started to get into a flow offensively. You’ll witness that in the next set of videos which will be Warriors @ Clippers and then especially in the one after that which is Thunder @ Hornets where it all started to come together for me.
I suspect that most people will find there is a curve to learning how to play this year. You can’t just run around to get open shots but you have to run plays or use features such as the Pick and Roll Control…and those take some time to get a feel for. Once you get comfortable with it though it is pretty satisfying. It feels like you really have to earn it every single possession.
With XBL down today I spent time concentrating on putting together videos to go up today and tomorrow. Once XBL returns I’ll be able to upload some screenshots and highlight clips many of which were taken from previous requests. I’m really enjoying the replay editing function for highlights. As far as impressions go I will be saving most of them for an article in the next few days.
The game is played on All-Star difficulty with everything else set at default including using the broadcast camera. Continue on to watch the game as broken down into four segments.
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September 29, 2008 at 5:25 pm
wutz good wit a nuggets vid
if ur NOT 1st ur LAST
September 29, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I wanna see if dey updated Jr wit all his tattoos
September 29, 2008 at 5:34 pm
nice vid gameplay looks smooth…… i cant wait until this game hits shelves
September 29, 2008 at 5:37 pm
heck yeah bulls
September 29, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Nice cant wait to play with my Hawks.
September 29, 2008 at 5:43 pm
cAN U EDIT PLAYERS THIS YEAR
September 29, 2008 at 5:54 pm
WHERE IS DERRICK ROSE, the reason people requested this video was becuase they wanted to see rose and beasley. COM’N PASTA
September 29, 2008 at 5:58 pm
When does XBL come back up?
September 29, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Yes, I want to know this as well. Can you edit players.
September 29, 2008 at 6:03 pm
WOOHOO!!!!
thanks pasta
September 29, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Ah, I didn’t even think about Rose. Sorry he didn’t make it in, subs are light in five minute quarter games.
September 29, 2008 at 6:08 pm
seriously whee da fuk is beasley and rose
September 29, 2008 at 6:12 pm
yayyyyyyyyyyy Bulls and Heat woooo hooooooooooooo
(u can put up chi and miami again, cuza rose and B-easy this time u can play @ the UC)
September 29, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Is EVERYBODY a pure shooter? 99% of made shots are all net. Whether it’s In traffic, to beat the shot clock, or off balance, it doesn’t matter……….ALL NET!! Even layups. Lol. Ridiculous. I happen to like live too, but my hype has gone down a bit. I hear the crowd going wild, but everyone is sitting down. There’s something wrong with that picture.
September 29, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Live doesnt have those two starting come on now..
September 29, 2008 at 6:34 pm
I’m sorry but I’m trying to give myself a reason to like this game & I can’t. Not fluid enough for me & the animations look off.
September 29, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Yea i wont b buying this game, i thought about it but the players still look stiff 2 me, and they still look cartoonish. Seems like all the movements are slow.
September 29, 2008 at 6:40 pm
can u put some fiba teams like Puerto RICO vs USA??
September 29, 2008 at 6:42 pm
ROCKETS VID PLEASE!!!!
September 29, 2008 at 6:55 pm
[quote comment="38951"]I’m sorry but I’m trying to give myself a reason to like this game & I can’t. Not fluid enough for me & the animations look off.[/quote]
I feel the same way but I dont think I can do it. I might rent it..
September 29, 2008 at 6:57 pm
hey pasta,are they releasing a NBA2k9 demo?
September 29, 2008 at 6:58 pm
i like nba lives control setup and all but i dunno what game to get this year
September 29, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Wait until the Thunder/Hornets vid because I feel a lot better about that one. This game was somewhat messy since I was still getting accustomed to playing it as I went.
But yeah I do have several issues with it. Fluidity is one, especially after playing the NBA 09 The Inside demo which, while not a great basketball game, felt really good to play. Responsiveness is another especially in that it takes a second for a player to go for a shot block or put their arms up when on defense.
Those things being said I’m still finding it fun especially cause you have to work to score on offense and that is a rewarding feeling when you succeed.
September 29, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Im right there with ya dues legend. Im as die hard hawks fan as youll see and can not wait for this season! Joe is going to be a beast again!
September 29, 2008 at 7:04 pm
@ PASTA can you play as all 30 teams in season mode or are you limited 2 a couple
I don’t like playin through an entire season as just (or a handful of teams) 1 team
SN: I agree wit U bout NBA 09 i’ve seen sum nice animations regardin lay-ups / shots & blocks
September 29, 2008 at 7:05 pm
The atmosphere seems really dull. How hard is it for EA to add an assistant coach on the bench? Not that it’s that big of a deal but that would really add to the realism. EA doesn’t seem to understand that little things do make a big difference in realism & those goes for all of their sports games (except for NHL & FIFA, ironically 2 of the most unpopular sports in America). It’s time for EA to scrap this graphics engine for a new one. These graphics do look cartoony. When I watch this game from a far, I don’t get the feeling that I’m watching a real NBA game. I feel like I’m watching a cartoon. When I watch 2K from a far, sometimes I can’t tell if I’m watching a real game on TV or not. Live just needs to admit defeat and start over. I can’t see Live ever catching 2K using this same engine every year. But I guess as long as they continue fool people with their gimics & continue to sell every year, then what incentive do they have to change.
September 29, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I actually have found the atmosphere to be a positive thing so far. It doesn’t really come across in this game, but in the Thunder/Hornets one the crowd really gets into it in the 4th quarter. Despite that I’ve found situations where the crowd doesn’t react like I think they should, for instance hitting a three at home and getting polite applause.
September 29, 2008 at 7:17 pm
pasta when well you get 2k9?
September 29, 2008 at 7:26 pm
I’m thinking I may do a Rookies vs Sophomores game next. That way we can get Rose involved along with other rookies people want to see. Probably wouldn’t be getting that up until Wednesday though. Each full game from playing it to getting it posted up is about a 5 hour process. I’m still working on game two right now.
I haven’t had time to dig into things like how many teams can be controlled yet, sorry. If that isn’t answered somewhere else I’ll try to get to it within the next few days.
2K9? I won’t have it early. I’ll be picking it up on the 7th.
September 29, 2008 at 7:33 pm
[quote comment="38966"]I’m thinking I may do a Rookies vs Sophomores game next. That way we can get Rose involved along with other rookies people want to see. Probably wouldn’t be getting that up until Wednesday though. Each full game from playing it to getting it posted up is about a 5 hour process. I’m still working on game two right now.
I haven’t had time to dig into things like how many teams can be controlled yet, sorry. If that isn’t answered somewhere else I’ll try to get to it within the next few days.
2K9? I won’t have it early. I’ll be picking it up on the 7th.[/quote]
Thanks for everything, cant wait to see my Thunder sounds like its a good game u played.
September 29, 2008 at 7:39 pm
thx 4 tryin 2 answer my ? Pasta
2 me da BIGGEST problem wit Live is dat even though dey sed dey started from da ground up wen dey 1st went Nex Gen
it seems like sum where along da way dey reverted back
cuz if any1 looks @ GTRAILERS review 4 Live 06 U will see playa Body Types look much betta dan dey do now
I hav Live 98 still 2 dis day & Live 09 still resembles live 98 sum may think datz a GOOD thing but I DON’T from den 2 now is 11yrs dey should look worlds apart but dey DON’T itz prettier now Graphically but it seems 2 hav da same General look
September 29, 2008 at 7:40 pm
nice i like the sophmore vs rookie game, and pasta please do sum nice shots with rose cuz i wanna see if he can do the moves that i saw in 2k9 (bulls vs thunder)
September 29, 2008 at 7:48 pm
[quote comment="38972"]nice i like the sophmore vs rookie game, and pasta please do sum nice shots with rose cuz i wanna see if he can do the moves that i saw in 2k9 (bulls vs thunder)[/quote]
I can answer that question for you about Rose, he wont do those moves u saw in NBA2k.
September 29, 2008 at 7:51 pm
in the last minute derrick rose is in the game and so is chalmers
September 29, 2008 at 7:52 pm
can u edit the players this year
September 29, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Fluid i guess yall like hoop games that play like hockey lol
September 29, 2008 at 7:57 pm
@ mar I was told dat U could dis yr mayB pasta can post a SHORT vid of him doin so
September 29, 2008 at 7:59 pm
pasta if you had to choose between live 09 and 2k9 what game would you pick?
September 29, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Hey Pasta, I know this is totally off topic, but what’s the latest you heard concerning the Madden 09 DLC? Has it been submitted to MS and Sony? Will it be released? I’d love to have more plaer/CPU sliders so we can the passing games under control (super high completion %s) and get to use an accelerated clock. Thanks.
September 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Madden DLC…no word on this. I have the feeling it isn’t going to come but I guess its still possible.
September 29, 2008 at 8:13 pm
another off topic…any info on when some info will be released on mlb games…it seems like it should be a long ways away..but really its only 5 months til release…thanks pasta
September 29, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Last year it was early December by the time any MLB game info came, and that was just the cover athletes. The Show put out more in December but 2K held off until January.
September 29, 2008 at 8:33 pm
do you know if the game has made any improvements to the all star weekend because you didnt mention it alot
September 29, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Thanks PP, hope your feeling is wrong though
September 29, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Overall, which is the better game for a novice basketball video game player? I’m a diehard NCAA and Madden player but now that we have the Thunder in town, I’m thinking of picking up one of the games.
Thoughts?
September 29, 2008 at 8:55 pm
@ jheb i’d say LIVE
2K is MORE 4 people dat really kno da sport
Live any1 can pic up & play & score
September 29, 2008 at 8:56 pm
JHEP, NBA Live was always aimed more at arcade/casual gamers. NBA 2k was always aimed at sim. I really dont know why people constantly try to compare the two. Its like apples and oranges. But I say since you are a new comer, you should try Live first then get NBA 2k when you are ready for sim play.
September 29, 2008 at 9:04 pm
[quote comment="38989"]Overall, which is the better game for a novice basketball video game player? I’m a diehard NCAA and Madden player but now that we have the Thunder in town, I’m thinking of picking up one of the games.
Thoughts?[/quote]
Im in OKC too!! Get nba2k u wont regret it, I promise. Our Thunder is in the game out of the box also..
September 29, 2008 at 9:08 pm
A pasta,,,play with the fiba team (pick the USA team)
i wanna c how the courts look
N hurry up n posted it
September 29, 2008 at 9:10 pm
[quote comment="38990"]disgusting that is the word that I would use to describe Live compared to NBA 2k9. This game is terrible I swear o well have fun with this game.[/quote]
screw you 2k9 sucks
NBA LIVE THE KING OF BASKETBALL