The State of the Association

[duckfever8]

NBA 2K11 is miles ahead of NBA Elite 11. Have you seen the franchise mode in Elite. Same thing it's been for 6 years now. 2K updates it every year with something big. Plus better gameplay. Elite 11 has the edge in presentation Ill give you that.

[DGMikeBarker]

I think companies should go for gold. Try to make a game with real-time physics, looks like a real basketball game, and have the sim factor of a basketball, all with great responsiveness. You may have to live with a few disappointment, but it will payoff at the end.

[Dazraz]

I think you sum up the problem that the gaming industry has perfectly in your final sentence. Making a game fun whilst maintaining realism.

I think the problem often stems from the type of sport that is being simulated. Ice Hockey & soccer are relatively fast paced & physical sports whereby the developer as more flexibility in blurring the line between reality & fantasy. Sports such as baseball & football, however, are much slower & exacting in nature & thus more open to scrutiny from critics.

As for basketball, although certainly a fast pace sport, it still however has a very rigid structure that is difficult for developers to modify without degrading the simulation aspect of the game. Add to this the fact that fans of basketball videogames are amongst the most passionate & the task for the developer is made that much harder. This is why games such as NBA Jam exist. The rule book can be thrown out of the window & a no holds barred extreme variation of the sport can be created.

Ideally all games would be released with both a arcade style or strict simulation playing option. This has been done before but what tends to happen is that you end up with a game that does neither job that well. Until developers find a way of incorporating both gaming styles within one package successfully there will always be a part of the market that the game fails to attract.

I personally look for a game that is as realistic as possible. I have no interest in games such as NBA Jam. That said I do understand that there are people out there who want a more straight forward pick up & play experience.

[Fngb3]

I feel like I've been stating the obvious a lot today but, Mr. Bartlett makes a very important point near the bottom. These teams are trying to take human beings doing some of the smoothest, most athletic things human beings can do, and get people the ability to replicate that WITH LIKE 10 BUTTONS. I'm blown away by 2K this year. It's hard to say that because I'm not sure heaping praise on these guys is the best way for me to get the best basketball game they can make NEXT year. But credit where credit is due. I think they've done an amazing job, based on the demo. Many thanks

[JWiLL02]

Quote: Originally Posted by duckfever8

Elite 11 has the edge in presentation Ill give you that.

In what way?

Maybe it's just me, but slapping ESPN on things doesn't add whole lot. The commentary is pretty decent, but at the same time it's frustrating how much they've neutered JVG. Maybe it was the league saying he couldn't be his usual self, and not EA, but the point stands. I'm not sure how much "BANG!" and "Mama there goes that man" I can handle, I have a feeling it will get old pretty quick.

I'll take 2K's "broadcast" feel over what Elite offers. The improved broadcast cam and camera cuts have looked fantastic even in a 4 minute demo.

The post game highlights from the release party footage looked amazing as well.

[Dazraz]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fngb3

I feel like I've been stating the obvious a lot today but, Mr. Bartlett makes a very important point near the bottom. These teams are trying to take human beings doing some of the smoothest, most athletic things human beings can do, and get people the ability to replicate that WITH LIKE 10 BUTTONS. I'm blown away by 2K this year. It's hard to say that because I'm not sure heaping praise on these guys is the best way for me to get the best basketball game they can make NEXT year. But credit where credit is due. I think they've done an amazing job, based on the demo. Many thanks

Absolutely. 2K have done a tremendous job this year.

[Rocboyz101]

Just weird, this may be the first year where I can't think of one thing the other game has over 2k..It was jumpshooting and playcalling last year but this yr..idk.

[Airmaxpenny1]

Great read. Playing games like fifa make me yearn for basketball titles that give me an authentic simulation. NBA2k has always been close in giving me that responsiveness but I think this year will be a year to remember.

[airaron32]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocboyz101

Just weird, this may be the first year where I can't think of one thing the other game has over 2k..It was jumpshooting and playcalling last year but this yr..idk.

Exactly. The physics didn't work out so well eithet.

[jordankobewade7]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocboyz101

Just weird, this may be the first year where I can't think of one thing the other game has over 2k..It was jumpshooting and playcalling last year but this yr..idk.

Live10 did not have better jumpshooting than 2k10....all the jumpshots in live had the releases on the way down,most of them anyway. The players barely get off the ground when they shoot either. Not to mention hardly any sig shots?and guess what that lead to?a bunch of players getting stuck with that default shot,and on that one they don't even jump so it gets blocked all the time...

yea,playcalling was better for sure,but jumpshooting?nice try sneaking that one into ur post

Ps,another really irritating thing is that players never dive out of bounds on live 10 they just run out,which idky but it really irritate because diving let's you reach farther faster,and a better representation of hustle,so it bothered me it was left out...anywho,2k is off the chain this year,all they needed was improved dribbling and more of the same focus on association,they've def done that so this willprove to be the best yet...

Especially because 2kshare will fill in all the holes when it comes to missing teams/players like the 93 suns