NBA Live 11 renamed to NBA Elite 11

[JaoSming]

http://www.pastapadre.com/2010/05/26/nb ... -nba-elite


image from NBA Live's Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pi ... 1749955626

The first indications that the NBA Live franchise was in the midst of going through a transformation of sorts began making their way out in early February. Talk of the series going in a different direction came from departing team members which EA Sports did little to deny. Now the first signs of big change are being to be discovered, and prior to E3 where it is likely that at least some of the vision for the game will be laid out.

The NBA Live name is no more. This year’s NBA title from EA Sports will be called NBA Elite 11. According to OXM (via drules2) the game will be heavy on analog controls with Skate and Fight Night the two titles garnering comparisons in that regard. I’m hoping to get some additional details soon.

More analog?


so much for trying to get back to the series' roots, seems more like an F it, Live is dead (which arguably it is) lets start something new.

My guess is dribbling on the right stick and then holding the right trigger will change it to the 2k shot stick and continue using the left stick as that freestyle passing stuff.


....just weird to think that NBA Live is actually officially dead....

[Patr1ck]

Once I heard of "NBA '11" I knew they were calling it something else. I actually love the idea. It took them long enough to finally implement the right stick by 2003. There is so much potential for variation using the analog sticks along with modifiers or not.

Remember all the moves we could perform in Live 06 PC/Xbox/PS2 version with the right analog? That was pretty much the pinnacle of the freestyle on the right stick, not counting when they
utilized it for superstar moves in 07 because they took away many of the 06 freestyle moves when they did that. As long as there are a huge bulk of animations and proper collision animations that match players' momentum unlike most of the previous Live games, I think it will be really fun. They will have to go way beyond the basic post moves that both Live and 2K have.

One thing I wonder, though. Will they still continue with dynamic dna and live 365 with "Elite"? IIRC, they said they would be doing it for 3 years.

[Sauru]

damn controls are getting too complicated for me now. i am gonna go back to the NES

[shadowgrin]

So, when will Andrew rename the NLSC?

[Patr1ck]

Crap, hadn't even thought of that.

NESC? Hmm, not a series yet.

NEGC?

The site formerly known as NLSC?

NLSC will stay. He'll just name it NBA 'Lite Series center.

We can just scrap it and start over fresh.

[shadowgrin]

EA should have put NBA JAM at the fore front of their basketball gaming strategy this year releasing the classic across all platforms. Once released on PS3 and XBOX 360, I guarantee NBA JAM outsells Live 10', by a LARGE margin. If EA corporate had any sense they would have clearly seen the benefit in that this move would have allowed them an extra year for the development of what is ultimately going to be a new NBA title and a realistic opportunity to really go back to the drawing board and do something cool and different with NBA Live/Elite.

Instead, I fear NBA Elite is destined to simply be a retread of NBA Live sprinkled with a bit of NBA Street, held together with scotch tape and toothpicks. I mean, what else could be reasonably expected from EA in 1 year? From any development team really, especially when your competition is the unstoppable juggernaut that is 2k and an in house rebirth of basketball gamings God Father, NBA Jam.

Good points.

[JaoSming]

give this community 1 month of time with the PC NBA Live's and we fixed em up pretty nice. If we had their tools, heh, who knows.


Pasta usually gets a bit too opinionated for my likings, but he is right there.

[rise]

Oh well, any hope of a good NBA Live since 2003 is screwed. NBA Elite just sounds like they though Live was too stupid to continue making games so they decided to rename it. Not happy.

[Andrew]

So, when will Andrew rename the NLSC?

That was one of the first things that occurred to me when I saw the news. In all seriousness, probably no time soon. We're already branching out into covering other games while keeping the old name so I don't think there's any immediate need to change it - especially when most of the series still goes by the NBA Live name - but it's something we'd probably still consider moving forward.

As for the change, I have mixed feelings about the name. If they want to go off in a new direction or get rid of the stigma that has come to be associated with NBA Live then renaming the franchise isn't necessarily a bad move. So long as the game itself delivers, it doesn't matter what it's called and who's on the cover. It could be packaged in a plain box and awkwardly titled EA Sports Basketball Game for the 2011 NBA Season, so long as the experience is what we want I don't mind.

That of course brings us to the news of the new controls. I admit I'm kind of balking at the idea of using the analog sticks for everything (presumably with appropriate modifiers) as I feel that's a waste of the face buttons and an unnecessary change. However, didn't the NHL series revamp their controls to make greater use of the right stick a few years back? Two different sports, sure, but it seems fans of the series have acclimatised. If it's implemented well then it might be a worthwhile evolution. If the focus is still on making a realistic basketball game, Dynasty Mode is deep and the controls are effective, then I can get on board with it.

Having said that, neither change would have been the first thing I asked for this year, but let's see where it goes.

[JaoSming]

yea NHL 07 did that and was pretty good. Backbreaker is almost all on the analogs/triggers and Madden is making an analog push as well.

[Andrew]

Perhaps then, "Elite" is the name of the approach and not the game itself? In either case, hopefully the analog approach works out as it has in other games.

It's also worth noting that EA Sports still has an on-going partnership with Synergy and Dynamic DNA is going to be back this year, so I doubt they're abandoning reality in favour of a more arcade-like title...especially now that they have the NBA Jam franchise to fill that void.

[benji]

Well that's...interesting.

[atlwarrior]

Nba Elite hmm... even though this may not be the intention it sounds like the name of an arcade game. Idk maybe its just me.

[Old School Fool]

What a shitload of fuck.

[Arcane]

I'm a little meh about the name change but I will give it a chance. I didn't like the name change from Nintendo Revolution to Wii which I still don't like it in ways.

[J@3]

Andrew I'm sure you're thrilled at the isomotion clone-job that appears to be happening to NBA Halo Alien 11.

[Andrew]

I'll see how it plays out. Having spent a bit of time with NBA 2K9 and NBA 2K10 I'm not as down on it as I used to be - especially the shot stick - but it sounds like dribbling is still going to be on the right stick which I do like so I'll wait and see. Mixed feelings right now, but I won't make a decision until we find out more and I've had a chance to try it out.

[Andrew]

Worth noting that the EA Sports Online Pass website now references NBA Live 11, so "Elite" may be referring to the control system rather than the game. Guess EA will offer confirmation in the near future (I have made some inquiries, as soon as I hear anything I can post I certainly will).

[thaKEAF]

Worth noting that the EA Sports Online Pass website now references NBA Live 11, so "Elite" may be referring to the control system rather than the game. Guess EA will offer confirmation in the near future (I have made some inquiries, as soon as I hear anything I can post I certainly will).

[atlwarrior]

So whats going to happen wih quickstrike since shooting is on the right analog stick now?

[George7]

That's interesting.NBA Elite...
I got used to NBA live and it's kind of weird to me.
But i'll get used to and i won't play it either way cause i down't own a console.Except ,not only with the name ,EA will change their tactics against PC users

[Patr1ck]

So whats going to happen wih quickstrike since shooting is on the right analog stick now?

Right analog is also dribbling controls.

Simplification and authenticity are another driving focus of Elite 11's controls. If the left stick is your body, then the right stick serves as your hands an the ball

[Andrew]

Worth noting that the EA Sports Online Pass website now references NBA Live 11, so "Elite" may be referring to the control system rather than the game. Guess EA will offer confirmation in the near future (I have made some inquiries, as soon as I hear anything I can post I certainly will).

I see, thanks for posting a scan. I've noticed EA has been posting more and more "What is Elite?" messages on their various Facebook pages, so I guess an official announcement is forthcoming too.

[Donatello]

Crazy news. I'm so sentimental

[Andrew]

Agreed, right now it sounds a little awkward but the important thing is that the game itself delivers. Given the new direction they're taking and the stigma that's associated with the NBA Live franchise, it might be for the best.

Also appears that we'll be getting a better Practice Mode to accompany the new controls, with on-screen guides to help us with timing and the like. Good stuff.