Next EA NBA Sim game coming....Fall 2012

[JaoSming]

Wow, in the press release of NBA Jam: On Fire Edition came this little blurb.

EA SPORTS has also announced that it will launch its next NBA simulation title in fall 2012.

“As planned, our next NBA simulation title is in development at our Tiburon Studio in Orlando,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “We have top talent on the game, and we’re giving the new development team time to deliver a superior experience. We’re making great strides and looking forward to launching a new game next year."

[shadowgrin]

Hey, at least EA learned a lesson not to rush games whose engine has just been completely overhauled.

[JaoSming]

Yep.

It seems like they are counting on people getting sick of 2k after having 2 years straight of only 1 game and are going to try and woo us with an alternative game in 2012. After 3 years of development (2 years with Tiburon) if this game doesn't compete with 2k then something is wrong. Hopefully they deliver this time.

[puttincomputers]

Augh! you beat me to the scoop. lol

[Andrew]

There's a fair amount of risk here as the brand has taken huge hits the last few years, especially with the cancellation of NBA Elite 11, but I have to admit I'm still looking for the silver lining and with all the time they'll have to develop the next game, hopefully the results will be pleasing. As Jon said, two straight years without an alternative to NBA 2K for people who aren't completely satisfied with it or have preferred NBA Live's controls or whatever might help create a demand and anticipation for a new EA sim-oriented basketball title and allow them to burst back onto the scene. I'm certainly hoping that happens, I believe two strong titles is much better for everyone (including the developers).

With an NBA lockout looming, it might not be such a bad idea either. Whatever NBA 2K12 might bring to the table in terms of its gameplay and features - and don't get me wrong, I expect it'll be impressive in that regard - its appeal might greatly be affected if the season (or part thereof) is lost due to a lockout. If NBA Live 99 is anything to go by, we'll basically be replaying the 2010/2011 season in an updated game, or any previous seasons we care to create patches for.

In any case, it's nice to get an update on the status of the series. Seems we've got plenty of time to collect signatures for our PC Petition and work on our Wishlist materials.

[JaoSming]

We might want to get that wishlist in earlier rather than later though because someone with "insider knowledge" on OS said they only started development in November and they are basically rebuilding from the ground up (again).

PC Petition could probably wait to get submitted.

[Andrew]

True, I'm not talking months in that regard. But a couple more weeks polishing it and preparing some supplementary materials probably isn't going to be as late as I feared we were going to be.

[Patr1ck]

I read through it quickly and first thought the Jam game was the simulation. Nice of Peter Moore to give them time to create a game. Now, if they had done that this time last year, we would have a game coming out in 6 months. Also, I can assume that NBA Elite is now officially NBA delete, as they call it the "next sim."

Shall we be thorough with those contact emails?

Edit -

https://jobs.ea.com/search/view.do?id=a ... 000rhlLAAQ

[Andrew]

Good point, it does sound as though they're dropping the NBA Elite moniker, which may mean a return to NBA Live or something else entirely. Given their partnership with ESPN, it might be part of the branding.

[benji]

They must have a shitload of trust in Tiburon (not sure why) to grant them two years in which they don't participate in the market. Especially after 2K11 selling hand over fist for months and months.

I'd love to know what kind of deal 2K has with Jordan and co.

Then you factor in how VC can just spend a year on more Jordan and legend crap, plus my player and spit out something that'll still sell during the lockout.

[The X]

I'll take a look at demo but if there's a lockout, I'll probably just skip all NBA games this season.

[JaoSming]

I have this weird feeling that 2k is going to go ape shit with retro stuff this year with the possible lockout. Like retro years instead of retro teams.

[Andrew]

That wouldn't be a bad plan if they did. Even if they have to round out the roster with generics, the ability to edit names like the college games (or tools like REDitor for the PC version) will provide us with a way around that.

[JaoSming]

At least the console versions (and PC version) of 2k11 could have those generics replaced by proper CAPs

[puttincomputers]

I would not be surprised if 2K would release a pre lockout patch for 2k11 and hold off on a major release as well.

[Rugshtyne]

I would not be surprised if 2K would release a pre lockout patch for 2k11 and hold off on a major release as well.

Well, they started NBA 2K12 producer contest and I saw the logo of 2K12.

Yeah, it can be just a prototype, but anyway.

[JaoSming]

there is no way 2k is going to give up a release with no competition (aside from a downloadable NBA Jam)

the general (OS) concern is if they will "Madden" it and just do a few tweaks with a roster update

my concern is they may make too many changes and rely on patches to fix a throughly broken release game

[Patr1ck]

2k12 should be entering its alpha stage of development right around now. I'm confident that 2k12 will be released as scheduled. Especially with ea not releasing a game this year. I predict record sales this year.

[[Q]]

Good point, it does sound as though they're dropping the NBA Elite moniker, which may mean a return to NBA Live or something else entirely. Given their partnership with ESPN, it might be part of the branding.

i wouldnt mind dropping "Elite" although EA might not favor a return to the "Live" name that many associate with a bad game, so maybe they do "NBA on ESPN" or it would be a cool thing to do a "vs." game like "Durant vs. Rose" or 20th anniversary of "Bulls vs. Lakers"

[Patr1ck]

Going back to the vs format would be awesome! Awesome idea.

[ThaLiveKing]

YAY another year of NBA 2k lol . .. I can't be mad, I'd rather have a good game coming from EA instead of the usual half-assed product!! If they have a plan in place which I'm sure they do, I hope its something mind blowing. They can't just release a game and say we're back. They gotta come hard and correct.

[shadowgrin]

gotta come hard and correct.

That's what she said!

[ThaLiveKing]

LOL

[Andrew]

i wouldnt mind dropping "Elite" although EA might not favor a return to the "Live" name that many associate with a bad game, so maybe they do "NBA on ESPN" or it would be a cool thing to do a "vs." game like "Durant vs. Rose" or 20th anniversary of "Bulls vs. Lakers"

Bringing back the "Versus" brand could certainly work too. I think it's more likely they'd go with "NBA on ESPN" or something along those lines. I still wouldn't mind seeing a return to Live though.

[JaoSming]

While a call back to Live or the vs age of EA games would be cool, I think they'll just takeover Sony's old (maybe) name and go with NBA 13 like their NHL series.