Quick Impressions (A follow-up to Community Day report)

[Andrew]

Since I've got my copy of the game now, I thought I'd offer a few follow up impressions to what I wrote in my Community Day recap/report before I go ahead and do a full review of the game, which I intend to do soon (probably this weekend). At this point it's hard to offer any new insight since everything's pretty much already been said but I haven't been able to really comment on the finished game until now, so here goes.

Before I go on, I would like to comment on a couple of issues since as everyone is probably aware that my Community Day recap was so positive. I was not encouraged or paid by EA to write a positive review. I was not asked or paid to cover anything up or promote the game. What I posted were my honest opinions based on my observations and hands-on experience at the event. Believe me, when I got home from Canada and wrote up my report I too was hoping the finished product would be as good as it seemed at the Community Day. I'm just as disappointed as everyone else to find the game has these problems, perhaps even moreso because I was so impressed at the event and I didn't notice those bugs. I'll get to that a bit later on.

So I've had a chance to play the finished version of NBA Live 07 and like I said earlier, there isn't much I can say that hasn't been said already. We're all aware of the issues with the game, discussed them at length and taken action in the form of contacting EA Sports about the bugs and submitting a petition along with it so I won't list them or get into them again now, though I'll probably cover them in my full review.

I did notice the things that impressed me and I liked at the Community Day such as the on-ball scenarios, teams taking more time to set up a play and the improved collisions. I still believe improvements have been made this year but they are overshadowed by all the bugs which I don't need to tell everyone severely affects the enjoyment level to say the least.

I do think that if these issues are resolved in a patch that the game would be at least playable, probably even enjoyable for a lot of people. Certainly on par with NBA Live 06 if not at least a little better. The game wouldn't be perfect but I know I could definitely play a Dynasty and enjoy the game this year if a patch is released to address at least the major problems. Without a fix...well, as you know I'm traditionally a big supporter of the NBA Live series but I don't know if I could play a Dynasty with NBA Live 07 since the bugs would drain the fun out of it. The experience would just be too frustrating.

So that's my quick pre-review synopsis of the game. In a nutshell, I think the game will be playable and enjoyable (for me at least) if a fix is released but if not, I probably won't have much to do with NBA Live 07.

I'm sure that opens up a few questions which I'll try to answer as best I can.

So does that mean no roster patch this year?

Honestly, I haven't decided yet. Obviously if a bug fix is released I'll be more inclined to do the roster updates because a) I'll be into the game and have more enthusiasm for it and b) People will be more likely to play the game, thus there's a call for the roster updates.

Does that mean you'll go back to updating NBA Live 06?

No, sorry. I'm more likely to not play but still update an unpatched version of NBA Live 07 than go back to NBA Live 06 at this point.

So what happened at the Community Day? How come no one spotted the bugs?

That really is hard to answer because the bugs do seem so blatantly obvious right out of the box but the truth is, no one noticed them. We definitely would have mentioned them, both to the producers on the day and in our reports.

As I've mentioned a couple of times we didn't get as much hands-on time as originally intended. The cynical point of view of course is that it was done by design but I don't believe that to be the case. The presentations were detailed and questions/comments during the presentations made them take a little longer. We didn't get a chance to play a full game all the way through and probably had around 45 minutes to an hour to go through the game making notes on everything from gameplay to Dynasty - what's been fixed, what's been added - as well as taking some shots of the game.

On top of that, we had to cover the PSP, Xbox/PS2 and Xbox 360 versions so there was a lot to cram in. With so much to take in about the gameplay the substitution bug obviously didn't stand out especially since we were all playing short quarters. Additionally, not all possible gameplay scenarios can be played out in such a short time playing the game thus we didn't catch them. I wish we had.

Are you going to do a review?

I'll review the game out of the box and if a patch is released I'll be reviewing the patched version as well. Believe me, I'm really hoping I'll be writing a second review.

So that's about it. If you have any other questions I'll try to answer them as best I can. Let's hope our petition will be useful (and successful) in the development of a fix that will salvage a game that I still feel would be more than decent if not for all the bugs.

[Jugs]

What did you first think of the new menu style in dynasty mode? It's quite similar to 2k's, And it's really hard to navigate. Especially going to the Team Staff's menu, too many clicks just to get a scouting report about Jeffrey Harper.

[Andrew]

I like the look of the menus this year but the altered layout is definitely something to get used to. I haven't quite made up my mind, I kind of like it in some ways but at the same time it's a bit awkward. I don't know if that's just because I haven't gotten used to it yet. With some things there's less back and forth but as you said some menus take too many clicks to get from A to B.

[fred.cad]

45 minutes is just not enough to test a game... 4 hours should be the norm at least. After 45 minutes, huge bugs like PG Primacy can still be not visible.

For example, if they impose you to choose New York Knicks, you will find it ok that Marbury takes an absurd amount of shots... I mean the game could very well already have all the bugs when you tested it but they just find a way to make it not visible....

Asking questions to them is completely useless because they're trinyg to sell the product so in a way, it's just words...you can't take it for granted...

Anyway, Andrew , nobody can serioulsy reproach you anything about that, you made what you have to do....(and by the way, my account number is <removed by Donatello, don't post your bank account information on the internet, you retard> on Western Union Bank, we can split the money EA gives it to you )

[fred.cad]

of course it was not my bank account !!!!!! don't you have any sense of humour ???????

you ***** (censured by myself)

[Buckley]

Well nice to see that you got the game. Its too bad things like bugs didnt stand out in August.

[ignatu]

It's easy to spot elements that make this game better than 06. With a few bugs fixed, it becomes a good game.

I don't think Andrew or anyone purposely glossed over problems. But this situation should be a lesson for people who go to and report on community days in the future.

1. Don't take it on a word that features are present. If they aren't in the version being shown, then ask where they are.

2. Report on the version played, including bugs and missing features. When something is fixed, then report it is fixed.

This question is still open. At community day, did EA mention signature shots would be in "current gen" (on the PC side, code word for more powerful platform) version?

[kaat2g]

Andrew, you wrote in your review of the Community Day that the version you played had player introductions when playing exhibition games. I'm so apalled to say that it is not so on the PS2 platform. Instead, during exhibition games, it only shows warm-ups during pre-game and players greeting others. I believe the version you played at the Community Day is quite different from what we are playing now. In fact, I'm forced to believe that I'm playing an older build of the game. Do you know what might have gone wrong?

[Andrew]

This question is still open. At community day, did EA mention signature shots would be in "current gen" (on the PC side, code word for more powerful platform) version?

I'm sure it was mentioned though it's possible I misheard or misunderstood what was said. Different shooting forms have been in the game for the three point shootout since NBA Live 2005 so perhaps they were referring to that.

Andrew, you wrote in your review of the Community Day that the version you played had player introductions when playing exhibition games. I'm so apalled to say that it is not so on the PS2 platform. Instead, during exhibition games, it only shows warm-ups during pre-game and players greeting others. I believe the version you played at the Community Day is quite different from what we are playing now. In fact, I'm forced to believe that I'm playing an older build of the game. Do you know what might have gone wrong?

That's the introduction I was referring to in my recap.

[Oosh]

Andrew, do you have NBA 2K7 and if not will you be getting it?

[kaat2g]

That's the introduction I was referring to in my recap.

Oh I see. I thought you were referring to real player introductions.

[Donatello]

of course it was not my bank account !!!!!! don't you have any sense of humour ???????

you ***** (censured by myself)

Gee, next time I won't try to help someone when I think they might be someone who doesn't know any better sending out their personal information for anyone to see.

[MLG33]

Hey, I know you'll make a review, but please, be honest.
Do not turn into a Counter-Live member.

There is good il NBA live 07, I'm sure.
All bugs can be fixed by the community. (it was reported that some have already been fixed (CPU subs and fatique using NBA LIVE 06 files. the square during replays...)
Don't give up !!!!

We need you... Especialy in the hard times.

We need roster patches, new faces, sliders thread...

Only you can make it.
Do it for us.

"Never give up" (MJ)... He said that for reason.

"Keep the Faith" (SP)...

[BIG GREEN]

None of us are "counter-live members"...any company that puts out shitty games will be rebuked by the gamers. If EA makes a proper game like VC did..then we will support and buy it. It's as simple as that.

[BadWolf]

you should review the game as is from the box
not the modded version

[Raptorel]

The thing is, the bugs are there, but they aren't that ... "dangerous". I know I know... they are annoying but still, I like the gameplay very much and I think, overall, is the best NBA Live in recent years if not ever.

For example, I managed to stop the point guard shooting that much by setting double teams for him in the defensive matchups in the playbook. I know that's not the way it should be but still. The substitutions things is the greatest issue along with the PG shooting 50 shots per game (actually, around 20 in a 8 minute quarter game) and the SG getting open looks after the ball is inbounds (with the CPU SG coming to defend your PG instead of the CPU PG coming to defend your PG - so your SG is a free man to shoot).

I guess you all know these obvious bugs, but the game is still playable. They should release a patch and when they do, NBA Live 07 will really worth the money.

So what I am trying to say is just support the patching effort and stop complaining like the world came to an end. NBA Live 07 sound like a lot of promise and if they release the patch and it resolves at least the main issues, I think a lot of people will be very happy with the game.

[Jackal]

They should release a patch and when they do, NBA Live 07 will really worth the money.

I'm still not convinced, you don't have to set plays to double team the opponents PG in 2K7 and if I'm not mistaken, it's cheaper than Live. Doesn't that seem more "worth the money"?

Justifying a flawed game by saying it's better than it was before is quite sad.

[Raptorel]

Well I'm not saying that, I'm just saying that if you want you can do SOMETHING about certain bugs. Sure, the bugs shouldn't be there in the first place but still. Also you can double team any player using the double team callplay...

[Andrew]

Andrew, do you have NBA 2K7 and if not will you be getting it?

I don't have it, I don't know if I'll get it yet.

Hey, I know you'll make a review, but please, be honest.
Do not turn into a Counter-Live member.

I intend to be honest. As I said, I can see the things that impressed me at the Community Day.

There is good il NBA live 07, I'm sure.
All bugs can be fixed by the community. (it was reported that some have already been fixed (CPU subs and fatique using NBA LIVE 06 files. the square during replays...)
Don't give up !!!!

Those bugs have not been fixed. They cannot be fixed by anyone in the Community. The fix that was posted is a cosmetic update only; it does not correct the actual gameplay fault.

We need you... Especialy in the hard times.

We need roster patches, new faces, sliders thread...

Only you can make it.
Do it for us.

Sorry, but I can't promise anything at this point.

you should review the game as is from the box
not the modded version

As I said, I plan on reviewing it out of the box and then if/when a patch is released, doing a follow up review to see how it stands up with the major issues resolved.

So what I am trying to say is just support the patching effort and stop complaining like the world came to an end. NBA Live 07 sound like a lot of promise and if they release the patch and it resolves at least the main issues, I think a lot of people will be very happy with the game.

I can't speak for everyone but I'll enjoy the game if those issues are resolved. It's not going to be perfect but as I said, it'll be at the very least slightly better than NBA Live 06 if we get a fix.

[Oosh]

Andrew, do you have NBA 2K7 and if not will you be getting it?

I don't have it, I don't know if I'll get it yet.

Do you have a console? If so which one(s)?

[koberulz]

he has a PS2. yeah, i'm stalking him.

[Andrew]

koberulz is correct, I've got a PS2 though I mostly play Live on the PC.

[Matt]

i just found out that my sis has an untouched PS2...might get 2k7, but with the release of this EA patch, hopefully i wont have to

[BIG GREEN]

i just found out that my sis has an untouched PS2...

Thats NOT where i thought your post was heading.

[shadowgrin]

^

(so I spammed)