http://kotaku.com/5650545/death-visits- ... -nba-elite
some quotes
As a metaphor for withering criticism, the kind hardcore gamers dispense every day, "crucified" is an especially apt word covering both the substance of and response to a fan-made video the day after the game's demo arrived. Instead of showcasing the revolutionary, fluid movement and controls EA Sports strove for, the film devolved into blunder-filled sports vaudeville.
Boston's computer-controlled Jermaine O'Neal, standing all alone at the high post, takes one step and clangs a back-to-the-basket finger roll, a shot completely out of place for the situation. The Lakers' Pau Gasol then fails to inbounds the ball, to the frustrated sounds of buttons clacking - possibly because the pass command was moved to the trigger this year. It's never been used there before. The Celtics then quickly score on the Lakers - who have only four players in this end of the court.
That's because of The Glitch: L.A.'s Andrew Bynum at the jump circle in a T-pose, arms spread wide, standing there, says the narrator, "like Jesus in the middle of the court."
EA Sports pressed ahead, signaling its overhaul with the game's name change announced on June 2. The same day, NBA 2K revealed that Michael Jordan, basketball's greatest ever superstar, would appear exclusively on its cover and in a special game mode dedicated to his career. It would be the first time he appeared in a game since the early 1990s. The palpable enthusiasm for Jordan dwarfed anything for Elite.
Live 2004 anyone? anyone?
"Every day we see the game delayed, we're one day closer to next year's release, and they will ultimately begin to cannibalize sales," Pachter said. "Also, the longer the delay drags on into the NBA season, the lower the interest level in a new game. This is just a gut call, but I'd say if they can't get a game out by January, they'll cancel, since NBA interest tends to peak when the NFL season ends."
But Jason Argent, 2K Sports' vice president for marketing, said that competition been valuable for their product, and they never expected to see it vaporize before both games hit the shelves.
"We've counted on market pressure and competition when we make our game," Argent said. "It never dawned on us that we'd be in this position."
It's likely that NBA 2K11 will get nothing but uncontested shots through the end of the year, if not for the next 12 months. EA Sports canceled its college basketball title earlier this year, in part blaming the November release date required by the NCAA as a sales killer. If a college game coming out a month after the professional edition is fundamentally impaired, how can a pro game trailing by a month or more be in any better position?
Further, NCAA Basketball 10 had no direct competitor, unlike NBA Elite. "Once somebody switches over to NBA 2K, they are less likely to switch back, and EA risks losing them forever," Pachter noted.
Add to all this Moore's declaration that NBA Live 10 will have full roster update support, for free, through the coming NBA season, and nearly all signs point to the death of NBA Elite 11. Monday's announcement means we could see the first failure to launch a fully licensed sports title in 14 years. The last time that happened was EA Sports' Madden NFL ‘96, which was supposed to be the first football title for the PlayStation.
What about NBA Live 07 on the PS3?
It's a long read but interesting.
