NBA Live 18

[Andrew]

They do have signature animations, but the amount pales in comparison to NBA 2K. I agree that it does contribute significantly to the authenticity and aesthetic appeal.

[StyxTx]

Funny. All the games I've played and I never noticed shot animations, or shoes, or clothes, or jewelry, or ..........

[Andrew]

I wouldn't put signature moves and animations in the same category as player clothes and jewellery.

[StyxTx]

I wouldn't put signature moves and animations in the same category as player clothes and jewellery.

I threw those in there because those are the most common complaints, by so many people, about what needs to be improved.

[Andrew]

Either way, signature moves and animations are all part of authenticity, so it's not an unreasonable expectation.

[Crunky]

It's the stiff animations that kill the gameplay I know they want to add the feeling of weight to the players but it's simply overdone where it feels like where controlling an 18Wheeler Truck.

[Dee4Three]

It's the stiff animations that kill the gameplay I know they want to add the feeling of weight to the players but it's simply overdone where it feels like where controlling an 18Wheeler Truck.

Yes, it's the stiff, herky jerky robotic animations that truly kill the gameplay.

[StyxTx]

It's the stiff animations that kill the gameplay I know they want to add the feeling of weight to the players but it's simply overdone where it feels like where controlling an 18Wheeler Truck.

I definitely agree. I will go to play 2k after playing a game or two of The Show, and the 2k animations tend to cause me to quit the game in a matter of minutes. The comparison between the animations in the two games is like night and day. And before anyone says baseball animations are easier to do, 2k's baseball game was awful with the animations also, herky jerky and whatnot.

Of course, 2k's baseball game is dead now but that's what real good competition did to it. Now, if we can just get real good competition to 2k's basketball game....

[[Q]]

But it's always been a question of Live's quick responsive animations vs 2K's long pretty animations that you get stuck in. One isn't better than the other but you need a good balance between the two

[Andrew]

Responsiveness has also been a problem with NBA Live since the reboot with NBA Live 14. The game needs to look and feel better.

[[Q]]

True, I meant more historically than currently. responsiveness wasn't too bad in 15 but it got worse and was a reason why I didn't get 16. I remember the spin move loading screen and attempting it but could never find the exact time where you would need to input that half circle. Could never get it doing random stick waggling either.

[Andrew]

Absolutely. Actually, the funny thing is, back in the PS2 era I'd say NBA Live had better looking animations as well. There were some weird dunk and layup animations in the PS2 era NBA 2K games that don't hold up as well as some of NBA Live's animations from the same generation, and weird rim interactions. Weirdly, NBA Live's rim interactions are still a bit better than NBA 2K's as far as players gripping them on dunks, and when something looks good in NBA Live it does look quite good. Of course, there's a lot that currently does not look good, and the stuff that looks bad tends to look really bad.

[Pdub]

Somebody posted years ago about a theory they had regarding why NBA Live characters appeared stiff and robotic. They said it was due to the amount of motion capture balls on the performers back. They showed that 2K had 5 or 6 and covered the left and right part of the back and shoulder blades. NBA Live only had 3 or 4 motion capture balls going up the spine, iirc.

When you look at Live gameplay, focus on the player's torso. Doesn't it seem to remain straight most of the time? Could that be the reason Live animations appear stiff or robotic?

[Andrew]

Definitely an interesting theory, I hadn't noticed that in various behind the scenes features. Seems plausible.

[Dee4Three]

After watching the 4 part series with the NBA 2K crew, I wonder where the EA Sports Live people are? I know the obvious, they are working on the game, but maybe a more personalized approach? Maybe a LIVE panel?

[Andrew]

Perhaps it's something they'll look to do in the future, once the game is in better standing with the fanbase.

[Dee4Three]

Perhaps it's something they'll look to do in the future, once the game is in better standing with the fanbase.

That would help it be in better standing... it would prove they are listening to us..

[Andrew]

Possibly. I could also see a lot of people saying "talk is cheap", though. After all, not everyone received the chat with the 2K guys warmly, and their games have been more successful.

[Dee4Three]

True.

[Andrew]

I think EA are going to be careful with promotion and things like that, at least until they can get a game out that's well-received and they've won back a bigger portion of the userbase. They probably realise that at this point they need to show, not tell, and that gamers are going to be less interested in hearing from them unless it's delivering good news about a game. That being said, I could see it being something they'd be open to down the road, if all goes well.

[mp3]

I'd actually like it if EA didn't over hype this years game because it only leads to disappointing results.

Just tell us what the game modes are, confirm roster management, upload screenshots and then just release the game.

The real people who can judge the game for what it is will be silenced so don't overhype just release and let the people judge for themselves

[Andrew]

I'd like them to go into detail with developer blogs, so we know some of the specifics, but other than that I agree. The game needs to speak for itself, to some extent at any rate.

[StyxTx]

I'd actually like it if EA didn't over hype this years game because it only leads to disappointing results.

Just tell us what the game modes are, confirm roster management, upload screenshots and then just release the game.

The real people who can judge the game for what it is will be silenced so don't overhype just release and let the people judge for themselves

This is an excellent point. The way game companies hype the games, they are setting users up for a letdown. Almost always. I'd prefer them to just tell us what's in the game, as you say, and tell us what is new without talking like it's the 2nd coming of Christ.

[StyxTx]

Possibly. I could also see a lot of people saying "talk is cheap", though. After all, not everyone received the chat with the 2K guys warmly, and their games have been more successful.

Could be cuz the 2k people took the coward way out and wouldn't talk about what people want them to talk about. I guess they didn't have any logical reasons for the stuff they've done to the game.

But yes, talk is cheap.

People can say anything but putting words into action is much harder. I never pay attention to what people say, IRL. I watch what they do.

[Pdub]

So, tickets to EA Play are free, and all you have to do is register.

https://www.ea.com/en-us/news/ea-play-2 ... -available

[Andrew]

Nice. As I said before, if anyone's planning on going and would be willing to give us a report, let me know!

[Pdub]

I wonder if there is some sort of presentation. There are 4 "events" between the 3 days each being 4 hours long, with the exception of Monday being 5 hours. You only get to choose one, so I chose the first day. That way I'll get an early look.

[Andrew]

Awesome.

[[Q]]

I wonder if there is some sort of presentation. There are 4 "events" between the 3 days each being 4 hours long, with the exception of Monday being 5 hours. You only get to choose one, so I chose the first day. That way I'll get an early look.

Saturday? My first thought was Sunday but I work a lot of Sundays so Saturday night be better for me

[Pdub]

Yeah, Saturday is when I'm going.

[Dee4Three]

I really wish I could go....

UGH

[[Q]]

Yeah, Saturday is when I'm going.

Did you get a 12pm spot? All that was left was 4pm for me

[Pdub]

Yeah, Saturday is when I'm going.

Did you get a 12pm spot? All that was left was 4pm for me

I thought the 12pm was on Sunday, but yeah I selected the 4pm Saturday spot. I wonder how the traffic will be.

[[Q]]

Cool. See ya there. Shouldn't be too bad on a weekend. Might be a bit busier around the Palladium. I went to a wrestling show there last year

[Pdub]

A couple of years ago I almost went to a Dave Chappelle comedy show there. Low and behold one of the nights turned into a Netflix special.

[[Q]]

Those Netflix shows had their moments, but they weren't AMAZING. You didn't miss out. I saw him in Irvine like 5 years ago and my god he was awful.

We need to one on one in Live 18!

[Crunky]

This is gameplay footage of NBA Live 18 gameplay from January 2016, of course the graphics of the end product will look totally different. But you could tell this is early NBA Live 18 footage by the physics of Jae Crowders hair swaying and the emphatic block that was absent in NBA Live 16. On top of all of that you have smoother animations and different animations from previous iterations. Remember this is a build from January 2016 so it's not the final product.

Here's the video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxamL_1bbOU

[mp3]

In some parts the game looks a bit like 2k but you also see bits of Live 16 showing through too, I wouldn't be surprised if this is a legit video of an early build of the game

[zzcoolj21]

I really hope that's not real. I can't get myself to pay $60 for a game with the same reused animations in this horrible engine.



Edit: that is 1000% Live 16 gameplay. That clip around 50 seconds in confirms it.

[mp3]

Watched it again, what did you see at 0.50?

[[Q]]

I wouldn't doubt that this is live 16 footage. I mean unless if this dude is actually working on the game or something

[zzcoolj21]

From os

Watched it again, what did you see at 0.50?

I've used that step back so many times the animation is engraved in my brain.

I wouldn't doubt that this is live 16 footage. I mean unless if this dude is actually working on the game or something

Yea I'd imagine we'd see debug script on the screen if this was a work in progress build.

Another thing is the replay suite is the exact same as 15-16. I hate these youtubers.

[Andrew]

Glad to hear a couple of you guys got tickets.

[mp3]

Is there any way we could find out what devs would be there in advance and maybe book some sit down time with our nlsc reps to talk about the game?

[Andrew]

I could make some inquiries.

[ThaLiveKing]

I haven't made any announcements on my social media accounts, but EA invited me to EA Play, and I accepted. I'm definitely going to be in the teeth of EA Play this year.

[Andrew]

Awesome, congrats!

[[Q]]

I haven't made any announcements on my social media accounts, but EA invited me to EA Play, and I accepted. I'm definitely going to be in the teeth of EA Play this year.

Which day/time? Or all of them?

Glad to hear a couple of you guys got tickets.

Now we could use some shirts!

[ThaLiveKing]

I haven't made any announcements on my social media accounts, but EA invited me to EA Play, and I accepted. I'm definitely going to be in the teeth of EA Play this year.

Which day/time? Or all of them?

Glad to hear a couple of you guys got tickets.

Now we could use some shirts!

I'm going to be there all weekend. Not sure what the sched is going to look like, but I'll definitely be there. I'm shocked I'm getting a second chance at all this, I'm still soaking it in, found out on Friday about the invite.

[ThaLiveKing]

I really hope that's not real. I can't get myself to pay $60 for a game with the same reused animations in this horrible engine.

[ Image ]

Edit: that is 1000% Live 16 gameplay. That clip around 50 seconds in confirms it.

LOL these Youtubers are trolling for views, its hilarious.