Freestyle SuperStar Ability "charge time"?

[Shoot1stAskL8R]

I've got the GameCube and PC versions (using a gamepad) and noticed they both had this "issue." Much like the Turbo button (where after you hold it, you still have to wait a split-second before your character icon starts to rev up) the FSS button requires a half-second or so of "warm up" time... but while you're charging the ability, your player can only move! He can't shoot, he can't pass (because all the buttons are tied to that FSS ability).

For example, a steal leads to a fast break opportunity; I lob the ball down court to Andre Iguodala and I want to see a high-flying FSS dunk from the free-throw line. I hold down the FSS trigger just as I reach the paint, I press Shoot... and Andre continues to run?? Now if I didn't hold the FSS button and just did a regular dunk, that would have worked.

Another example: Rondo drives to the basket, but quickly kicks out to Allen. I hold down the FSS trigger and smash the Shoot button... and Allen's just standing there?? If I didn't hold the FSS button, Allen would have just tried a regular shot instantly.

I'm getting pestered outside, so Nelson throws a bullet to Howard under the basket. I hold down the FSS button and repeatedly jam on Dunk hoping to see Howard power through his defender... only he's still standing there, one second away from getting whistled for a turnover. If I didn't bother with using the FSS, Dwight would've... well, he would've tried a lay-up due to the AI/slider settings.

This isn't a stuck-key issue; with non-FSS players, I can hold the FSS-button down and continue to do actions. Is this what's supposed to happen? (While this may be a cause to abandon the FSS altogether, I'm a sucker for those instant-replays.)

[Andrew]

That's bizarre, I've never experienced any "charge time" with Freestyle Superstars. Because they are canned animations to a certain extent (they can be interrupted by shot adjustments) they may not always blend particularly well, which is why in some situations players might need to take an extra step or two before the animation triggers properly. Once again though, I can't say I've ever really had that issue with FSS moves.

with non-FSS players, I can hold the FSS-button down and continue to do actions. Is this what's supposed to happen? (While this may be a cause to abandon the FSS altogether, I'm a sucker for those instant-replays.)

The FSS trigger has no effect on players that do not have a moveset, so basically the game is ignoring the FSS trigger input there. That's what's supposed to happen.

[Shoot1stAskL8R]

Thanks for the reply.

Because (FSS) are canned animations to a certain extent (they can be interrupted by shot adjustments) they may not always blend particularly well, which is why in some situations players might need to take an extra step or two before the animation triggers properly. Once again though, I can't say I've ever really had that issue with FSS moves.

Hm. That is weird, especially in catch-and-shoot scenarios. (Which I find annoying as I have an open look, I would have been better off setting the players feet and taking the shot instead of waiting for the defender to catch up and going for a contested FSS quick-release.)

The FSS trigger has no effect on players that do not have a moveset, so basically the game is ignoring the FSS trigger input there.

Oh yes. I was just citing that to eliminate the key-jam/sticky-key issue. On most keyboards, certain clusters of keys can't be held down; they cause a key-lock. The effect I was getting was similar; I hold down the FSS and my FSS players would not respond to any other button press other than movement and Turbo.

Like the example earlier, my Superstar received a half-court heave and has more than enough space to make a flying dunk. I pour on the Turbo, hold the FSS trigger, and tap Dunk when he reaches the foul-line. Instead of performing a FSS dunk, or a regular dunk, he just continues to run. This could have been a sign that running in that direction while holding down Turbo and FSS might have caused the Dunk/Pass/Shoot/Hop buttons to lock (despite the fact I was using a controller), the non-FSS players were making fast-break dunks and lay-ups just fine with the FSS-trigger being held down.

[Andrew]

Fair enough. I've honestly never experienced anything like that (certainly not to any significantly noticeably extent at any rate) and I am still playing NBA Live 06 on PC with a gamepad but the only reason I can think of - aside from any issues with the input device - would be the timing of canned animations.