New Player/Difficulty.. Qs

[Batman]

Hi again,

For some background info about the Live games I've played: I had NBA Live 2001 for the PC for a while, and played a few seasons with playoffs and was eventually able to win almost every time i wanted to. My playing style (with the 76ers each time) was turnover-forcing, stealing, and just tough post defense using the face-up button. Offensively: some 3-pt shooting and a lot of fast break, and a few foul shots and broken plays in between.

Playing my first exhibition game on 2003 was sobering. I was the 76ers playing the Memphis Grizzlies on Superstar mode. I only use the default switch mode and user shot control; basically I use most of the defaults. Although my gamepad is new and I'm not completely used to it (Wingman Rumblepad w/ cord) I saw quite a bit of difference in the way this game operates compared to 2001. I was blown off the court by 50 or more points. Against... the grizzles.

For starters, 3-pt shooting seems much more difficult than it was in 2001. While I was stubborn thinking I could drain 'em when the 3-pt defense was good half the time, I think at least 1 out of 15 treys (if not more) should drop in, especially when using decent shooters. I was like 5% for the game. What gives?

Overall, rebounding seems less automatic. I would have 4s and 5s in the post that ran away as soon as the shot went up. This is not Sixers ball. In 2001, I usually did not have to switch players to position for the ball. Is there some feature/option/strategy I'm missing?

Free throws are way tough. This FT meter is 2x the speed of 2001's Superstar mode. And this even for excellent ft shooters like Van Horn.

Steals are much less frequent even when using guys like Iverson and Snow and tapping the button 10x a second.

The computer's offense is deadly esp. in fast break, where you get triple give and go's and alley-oops. My center is too slow to get back. And half court is almost as tough. As soon as an opposing player gets in the post, the shot is in UNLESS you get a block, which is harder because I'm used to facing-up players. Now it seems the face-up action locks your player to the ground for an extra half-second.

What good is freestyle? It's tough for me because of my poor handling of complex manuevers. I can use the "hands up" on defense, but how effective is it? Both cross-overs and steals seem tougher with freestyle.

So I'll take any comments or insight on my initial problems, short of playing in Starter mode for an "adjustment" period. If I could ace superstar before, I can do it again. And BTW, I never get the rumble-feedback on my Wingman. I use d-pad for movement so that means switching mode off; could that be the reason? anyway thanx a bunch!

[Andrew]

For starters, 3-pt shooting seems much more difficult than it was in 2001. While I was stubborn thinking I could drain 'em when the 3-pt defense was good half the time, I think at least 1 out of 15 treys (if not more) should drop in, especially when using decent shooters. I was like 5% for the game. What gives?

In Live 2003, it's a little more difficult to make three pointers at a high percentage. However, the CPU tends to attempt and make a lot of them.

Overall, rebounding seems less automatic. I would have 4s and 5s in the post that ran away as soon as the shot went up. This is not Sixers ball. In 2001, I usually did not have to switch players to position for the ball. Is there some feature/option/strategy I'm missing?

That's a common problem with the fast breaks. You're usually left to bring the ball up with your power forward or centre if you don't outlet the ball fast enough. Your point guard will come back to half court to help out, but by then the opportunity for a fastbreak is usually gone.

Free throws are way tough. This FT meter is 2x the speed of 2001's Superstar mode. And this even for excellent ft shooters like Van Horn.

One thing I've noticed with free throws in NBA Live 2003 is that you really have to get them right. Previous Lives would allow more latitude if one of the balls was a little off-centre of the T-Meter. You really can't afford to make even a slight error when shooting free throws.

Steals are much less frequent even when using guys like Iverson and Snow and tapping the button 10x a second

Using Freestyle control to steal is much more effective, since you can control which hand you use to knock the ball away.

The computer's offense is deadly esp. in fast break, where you get triple give and go's and alley-oops. My center is too slow to get back. And half court is almost as tough. As soon as an opposing player gets in the post, the shot is in UNLESS you get a block, which is harder because I'm used to facing-up players. Now it seems the face-up action locks your player to the ground for an extra half-second.

It's virtually impossible to stop a player once he gets into the paint. Sometimes you can force guards to miss layups if you're controlling your centre and you put a hand in their face.

What good is freestyle? It's tough for me because of my poor handling of complex manuevers. I can use the "hands up" on defense, but how effective is it? Both cross-overs and steals seem tougher with freestyle.

Crossovers are easier with Freestyle in my opinion, since you have full control over the move you wish to execute. I always use Freestyle when trying for a steal, so I can't really comment on how easy it is to use the button instead. Raising your hands does work, but you have to be there early, else it won't make a difference.

And BTW, I never get the rumble-feedback on my Wingman. I use d-pad for movement so that means switching mode off; could that be the reason?

If I remember correctly, rumble feedback isn't supported by NBA Live 2003 for any PC gamepad that has that feature.

[Batman]

Andrew,

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate insight as long as its honest and respectful.

But I am about to give up on the notion of trying to play Live anymore, at all. Thats because of the landslide losses i'm suffering to the dirt of the league in exhibition mode. I'm stubborn, so superstar or nothing. You never see a Live player brag about his abilities in All-star mode.

I will still try to get a win against Denver and Cleveland without losing by 40 points but whoever said the CPU in this game is fair.. is lying. If the computer gets the ball in the paint, attempting to steal the held ball OR the dribble gets you a dunk in your face. But if the HUMAN player gets the ball in the paint, about 50% of the time the ball is stolen during the time you look for a high percentage shot. Which is unfair because taking a quick shot gets you blocked, and taking more than 1 pump fake gets your ball stolen, and passes are harder there as well.

Then you use an excellent rebounding team like the 76ers and none of your guys go for a single offensive rebound unless the ball falls on their head. I consider control of a team like being a God above, you can help your players go the distance but you shouldn't have to force them to do what's second nature... LIKE GOING FOR A BLOODY O-BOARD.

The icing on the cake? Everyone passes slower, which is a hindrance if you like to fast break. Apparently players like Iverson can't even break his defender's ankles lest he loses the ball right after the "highly recommended" freestyle move comes to fruition. Damn, man.

What else should I try other than a lower difficulty level? I'm running out of ideas here. When good teams turn bad and bad teams become good, there's just something amiss in hoop land. Comments?

[Andrew]

The only options I can really suggest are to keep working at it, or try going back to All-Star. NBA Live 2003 is very different from previous Lives, and I've found that Superstar difficulty in Live 2003 isn't like Superstar difficulty in NBA Live 2001 or even NBA Live 2002. It's difficult to adjust to the more rapid gameplay - even All-Star difficulty can be challenging until you adjust to Live 2003's style of play.

Free throws are virtually impossible in Superstar - I'm sure it's possible to master them, but it takes some time.

Again, there's not much you can do except go back a difficulty and adjust to Live 2003's gameplay, then move back up to Superstar. It's not a matter of skill or experience - Live 2003 is so different from the previous games in the series, so you need to familiarise yourself with the way it plays.

[Nel]

Do you use tweaked roster? If not you'll definitely have a hard time winning.

[Andrew]

A tweaked roster will cause problems in Franchise Mode though. Even with a tweaked roster, there's a certain amount of adjustments that need to be made when playing NBA Live 2003 the first few times. For example, if you used to play a fairly slow, grind-it-out style of basketball in previous Lives, you'll have to adopt a quicker style of play in NBA Live 2003.

If you attempt to control the scores so that they are more realistic, you will also leave yourself open to being blown out. More than any other NBA Live, you have to play Live 2003's game, not the other way around.

[Batman]

If what you say is true, if starting at All-star and moving up is a usual learning-curve thing in '03, then back me up.. did you start playing live 2003 at a level other than Superstar to learn the style? I hate thinking that I'm "dumb" or slower than other people when I can't adapt.

About tweaking rosters: i only go by defaults so no, i would not do that unless it was a CPU approved trade in the season or some other similar thing.

How many guys do you think would need to start at a lesser difficulty level to learn the "right way to play" in 2003? In my case the last Live game I played was 2001 for the PC, and I played that game so much that I guess the "style" was embedded.. so playing a different bball game would be like breaking a bad habit.

[Andrew]

Going back a difficulty doesn't make you any less skilled. I used to play on Superstar difficulty in Live 2002 without any problems, but I had to go back to Starter/All-Star while adjusting to Live 2003's style of play.

There's no shame in it and it doesn't make you less intelligent or less skilled. Live 2003 is very different to Live 2001, hence you have to adjust, same as pretty much everyone else.

[Nel]

practice, practice and lots of patience.

[Batman]

Judging by much more success i've had in All-star mode, it seems the best offense for the human player in 2003 is quick, fleeting action and the fast break.

One thing i'm thinking about though is the gamepad. I'm using the wingman rumblepad (with the cord) and the buttons aren't half as big and "finger friendly" as the ones on the microsoft sidewinder which used to be my favorite pad. however i don't think there's any sidewinder that has dual analog... so other than the thrustmaster (I'm only looking for a 6-button dual analog pad) what other options are there?

i know that the wingman rumblepad cordless is a better pad but i like d-pad for movement and read one place that the d-pad isn't so good on the cordless wingman. anyone who uses this pad.. can you tell me if the d-pad works fine or not?? what are my options given the criteria i gave, cuz the corded one i use already makes a funny click sound when i tap the x-button, which i press constantly for a steal. breakdown after 4 days of use??? my sidewinder only broke down after 4 YEARS of use.

well please gimme some insight thanx!!!!

[Colin]

I had the sidewinder as well, two actually, one for me one for a friend, and now the shoot button (A for me) is worn down so that it takes 5 seconds to work on the one I mainly used for 5 years. It's built like a tank (yet hard to hit/ ice cube and eazy-e come running shit gangsta gangsta, NWA)

About the wingman cordless, which I bought for the sole purpose of freestyle, is quite good. Anybody who said that the d-pad isn't good (I use it for movement too, freakin' analog ) is smoking crack. Apologies to anyone here who did. It's a great pad, complete with 6 buttons, 2 analogs, 1 d-pad, and L and R's 1 and 2. One more thing, the d-pad only works with the mode light red, green won't work for some reason.