Both Demos Released - Post Impressions Here!

[nba_baller]

Downloaded the demo about an hour ago and haven't been able to get away since. It is a great demo, and the full game will probably be better. The Pick and Roll is awesome, the free-throw mechanics are fine (for me), the practice arena is , the gameplay and animations are great, I felt/saw no lagging like 08, didn't find any bugs (I think ). I didn't get frustrated (I did when I played 2K8, loved it for a while but then got sick of it). I must admit, I'm excited for October 9th.

[eastsidaz]

does any of yall have problems with blocks???

[Kbryant8]

Downloaded the demo about an hour ago and haven't been able to get away since. It is a great demo, and the full game will probably be better. The Pick and Roll is awesome, the free-throw mechanics are fine (for me), the practice arena is , the gameplay and animations are great, I felt/saw no lagging like 08, didn't find any bugs (I think ). I didn't get frustrated (I did when I played 2K8, loved it for a while but then got sick of it). I must admit, I'm excited for October 9th.

october 7th

[hova-]

So I thought I give the live demo a shot although I am a 2k player since I have a ps3. I definitely have to say I dont like it. The graphics are good when it comes to close looks like cuts after fouls or freethrows. But the ingame graphic from the broadcast angle looks really ugly. The bodies are just looking akward imho. The gameplay itself is okay, but I have to say (maybe just because Im so much used to it) the 2k controls (shotstick, isomotion) seem better to handle to me. The faces are looking a bit better than in 2k8 but the arenas dont do so I think.
I think 2k still is the better game for me, more simulation and more "matured".
The DNA feature seems nice and the same thing goes for the roster updates on a daily basis but both features cannot be proven in a demo.

Im 95% sure that I stay with 2k.

[Clue?]

What's the best camera angle for you guys when in game? I mean broadcast is ok but you never get to see most inside stuff like rebounding, posting up etc.

[nba_baller]

october 7th

I'm in Australia.

[wjoeyu]

I have been a Live fan for a while now (00-05, 08), but I have to admit that 2k's gameplay is a lot more fluid. However, I feel that there is less control in 2k (post moves, dribbling, etc.), and I believe that the R3 is more useful for handling instead of the shotstick. I think that 2k's fluidity is achieved at the expense of certain aspects of player control. I would like to try out 2k's shot changing using the shotstick this year, and in turn, NBA Live should bring back the ability to change the shot in mid air circa 04 or 05 (can't remember which one it was). But Live is showing progress for the past 2 years now, and if they get the offensive and defensive AIs smarter and more fine tuned in addition to improving some of the physics (which they improved a lot this year with blocks), Live will surpass 2k (finally).

[planbzimp]

press box to me is the best angle to play in. you get a better view of player movement for both teams

[philipj1224]

how do u set up a brand new psn account? i couldnt find it???

[Patr1ck]

does any of yall have problems with blocks???

Yes, the general consensus is that they take too long to get into the arm swinging animation. I have gotten plenty of blocks by anticipating a shot. You can also just jack the blocking sliders up.

[philipj1224]

i hear that u can download the demo if set up a european account.

how do u set up a new psn account though?? i tried and i cant find it. i already have an account. can i make another one? and how??

[nba_baller]

Create a new "user", go to "PlayStation Network" and it should say "Sign up for PLAYSTATION®Network".

[wjoeyu]

Big glitch FYI. When you hold the jab step in triple threat position and then do a pump fake, the player moves his pivot foot. Not only is this not called for a travel, but more importantly, it allows you to get closer and closer to the rim on each successive pump without dribbling.

[ps3owner]

i hear that u can download the demo if set up a european account.

how do u set up a new psn account though?? i tried and i cant find it. i already have an account. can i make another one? and how??

just create another user on your ps3 and select sign on to the psn network. just follow the instructions and make sure you come up with an address in europe after you're done doing that. you can download the nba live 09 on the psn store.

[SHAFT23]

ysterday i saw the best play i have seen since i have been playing the demo.......gasol had a break away with KG on his back and with 2 seconds left I had Gasol and he went in with the signature dunk he does where he grabs the ball in one hand and holds it up to dunk it in quickly......then KG came up on top of him and from the back he swatted the ball out of his hands and the buzzer went off.

that shit looked really realistic.

[nba_baller]

Okay, played the demo for a bit again. 2 significant plays I saw:

1. Was playing as Lakers. Garnett sets a screen for Ray Allen deep in the corner at the three-point line. Allen hesitates (using the quick strike ankle breaker thing) right like he is to the elbow (this is on superstar), but then crosses the other way to the baseline (leaving Bryant, controlled by me, and Gasol getting caught up by Garnett's screen), drives to the basket and goes up and under, around Bynum. I was like . It looked sort of like Tony Parker crossing Steve Nash (starts at 0:27 until 0:43):
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBYW44kUpwo[/youtube]

2. Garnett on the break, 1-1 against Gasol. He goes up for a dunk, but Gasol is already in "charge" position so Garnett collides with Gasol, and as he is falling, he throws up the shot and it goes in. No call either side. Again, I was like .

[dyeggoo]

I've played it on X360 and I must say, that blocks are way too easy to make, some heads are just ridiculous.

And one time Bynum did this under the basket reverse kobe-esque layup in heavy traffic wich is impossible to do especially by a 7-footer

[ps3owner]

i liked the steals.

[Jing]

Finally, its on the PS3 for normal US accounts

[ps3owner]

its out now. ill download it again. hehehe.

[volsey]

EA's presentation is always just so amazing. I love how the music sounds when your in the practice gym, with all the echoing, like your actually listening to music in a gym. And immediately when you bring up the menu it sounds like its just a stereo again.
Like honestly who cares about a little stupid feature like that? Those little things go a long way to buying a game for some people. And I can totally understand why people buy EA games.
Live doesn't look too bad this year. But tbh I could care less about some of their big features like that DNA thing.

[Andrew]

I'm still surprised that so many people are negative about NBA Live 365/DNA. In the past, there have been complaints that the official updates aren't detailed enough and that players exhibit unrealistic tendencies and playing styles and 365/DNA is meant to address those issues (it remains to be seen how successfully, of course), yet people are balking at it.

[nba_baller]

I guess its only important if it's not there.

[Jing]

You can turn 365 off though right? Cause if you're playing a dynasty and whatnot, and one of your star players in real life is struggling, but the dynasty doesn't mirror real life, so you wound't want him shooting like 2-20 from the field and costing you a win in-game.

[joar32]

Just downloaded the Demo on PSN and again its a short demo that consists the 1st half with two minute quarters. You play either the Lakers or the Celtics. The demo at startup will show you the new NBA 365 feature that would mimic the players performance in real life. It does seem that some people do want this feature to be toggled on/off at it would make the Dynasty mode inconsistent (which I agree) however, the demo didn't seem to have this option to turn the feature off. The mode selection screen takes you to the Boston Celtics practice gym where unlike in '08 you're practicing with teammates in the background...although they don't really interact with you there is this collision physics involved when you run into your teammates

Notable impressions in comparison with NBA Live 08 for the PS3:

- Player animations have changed considerably. The change that I like is the on the ball defense where the animation helps you lock down on the ball handler. In 08, this was executed a bit awkwardly as you may run toward the ball handler and miss him totally leaving you running the other way. Also the block animation for me looks better compare to last year which looked like the defender had a ball and chain tied to their legs jumping and landing so quick. In 09 it does looks like the blocker more or less synchronized to the shooter if you time it right.

- I find the quick strike more accessible and practical. With a little practice, you can iso and do one on one with total control on ball handling. Most notably when you are driving towards the hoop where you can change directions and dribbling hand to free yourself from the defender. This feature was a little clumsy for me on '08. I seem to be able to do just one crossover and the animation stops immediately. It also has the ankle breaking quick strike where holding R2 and performing a quick strike, you can execute dribbling moves in stationary position to get the defender of balance after which you can either drive to the hoop or take the open jumper.

- They sort of gave the shooting control back the the player unlike last year where its either a fake or a shot. The release can be timed either quickly or a little late. In the practice area you can see a shooting indicator underneath the player where it shows you the optimum release point when the indicator turns green. There are also new animations with fade aways, leaners and turn around shots where you can also control the release point.

- The control scheme as changed a bit. Alley-oop is executed a bit more cumbersome. Instead of the one button method as with previous Live versions, you now have to hold R1 and and point the right analog stick up. As a trade-off direct passing does not require one to hold the R1 trigger for a 2 precious seconds, now its pretty much instant. It does seem to have a different but permanent direct passing buttons for different players, most notably would be the center designated with the L1 button. The backdown button is toggled using R3 (pressing the right analog stick) its a nice feature for executing posts ups or just plainly protecting the ball. Unlike in '08 wherein you have to bump into the defender to come up with that backdown animation, you can pretty much execute the backdown anywhere in the court with a push of a button.

- Another DNA feature will be the DNA play calling. This is designated with the Triangle button. Depending on the situation, or where the players are currently positioned, pressing this button will give you a play to execute based on the teams "DNA". Its sort of a simplified play calling determined by the AI to suit the current lay out of the offense. You may of course call your play manually by pressing the L1 button which should give you play option on both offense and defense.

- Free throw shooting scheme has changed. Unlike in the two previous Live where you use the analog stick, you now press and hold the shoot button and release at the optimal time to make the shot. There is an indicator on the backboard that will show a red bar being depleted while you are holding the shoot button and when it reaches the green bar, you release and make the shot . Needless to say if you mistime the release, you obviously will miss the freethrow.

-Player graphics actually looked better and more lifelike last year. But I feel the demo in this department is not the end product. I do believe (or want to believe) that the full version will highlight the player features with more realism and lifelike comparisons with the real life players. The arena on the demo features a more diverse crowd but still a mix of the same old people spread across the seats. The cheerleaders and the Celtic Irish mascot are present on the base line together with the photographers making it a nice touch in the scenery.

-Marv Albert and Steve Kerr are back on the broadcast booth. To me they seem to be saying the same thing as in the previous Live..so again, I'll turn the commentator volume down this year....

Overall, it really is hard to judge the game in a comprehensive manner since its a limited feature demo. I still will get this version since I did find improvements over last years'.