NBA Elite 11 Demo impressions

[toonarmy]

AJ hits the nail on the head as far as I am concerned. Why on earth revamp the NBA game when EA was actually starting to put out at least some decent hoops games? The demo for Elite is atrocious. I won't go through the laundry list of issues since many have already been covered, but unless they overhauled a whole lot of stuff between the demo and final release then the game is not going to cut the mustard. EA might have been smart to call this package NBA Jam w/ NBA Elite as the free add-on game, as opposed to the other way around.

[Danimal]

Based on the # of reported post at OS, this demo seems like an EA haters wet dream

Before anyone gets on me, see my post about hating pro basketball, haven't tried either demo.

[Teal]

Again, I liked the demo. But then again, I don't pick video games apart that much. If I enjoy it, I couldn't give a damn less if anyone else didn't.

[toonarmy]

Again, I liked the demo. But then again, I don't pick video games apart that much. If I enjoy it, I couldn't give a damn less if anyone else didn't.

That's the way I felt about the EA college basketball game last year. I actually liked it, and I think I might have been among a group of about 10 total people on the planet who felt that way.

[Teal]

Again, I liked the demo. But then again, I don't pick video games apart that much. If I enjoy it, I couldn't give a damn less if anyone else didn't.

That's the way I felt about the EA college basketball game last year. I actually liked it, and I think I might have been among a group of about 10 total people on the planet who felt that way.

Make that 11...I really liked it as well.

[ScoopBrady]

I liked the EA college game last year too. I also liked Live. I don't completely dislike this demo but it does seem to have taken a step back from Live 10. The new controls show a lot of promise moving forward though.

[GTHobbes]

Not that this game needed another black eye, but pasta padre is reporting that hook shots are unstoppable (at least in the demo), and has the videos to prove it:

http://www.pastapadre.com/2010/09/25/nb ... ot-exploit

[AJColossal]

Not really related, but I was thinking that if there would ever be a game that I would fully embrace this kind of "starting from scratch" re-imagining, it would be the series least likely to do it -- Madden.

[bkrich83]

Game has been delayed.

http://www.easports.com/blogs/itsintheg ... e-holidays

No biggie for me, as I wasn't going to buy it anyway. But FYI.

[dbdynsty25]

I guess that's a good thing. Apparently they listened to all the complaints and didn't want to release it to the masses with all the complaints in the forums. Good choice I suppose. Give it a month or two and then release it. Or a year.

[GTHobbes]

I don't remember this ever happening before, where a game got shelved a week before release. If games go gold and the manufacturing process starts a month before release, I guess that means EA is going to be stuck with a bunch of unsellable copies. Very interesting.

[Danimal]

I don't remember this ever happening before, where a game got shelved a week before release. If games go gold and the manufacturing process starts a month before release, I guess that means EA is going to be stuck with a bunch of unsellable copies. Very interesting.

You don't remember Front Page Sports Football 99?

That game was released and then recalled, you could send it back for a refund (I kept it as a collectors item). It is possible they made this decision before mastering the gold copy but with the timing it is unlikely.

At least they will support Live 10 with a complete roster update and Dynamic DNA for free which I didn't see coming, I assumed they would charge. Now if they would just patch NCAA Basketball so it doesn't freeze on the 360 I would be a happy boy.

[Rodster]

So does it appear EA is walking away from the basketball videogame business?

[MizzouRah]

This really blows my mind.. especially with a console game.

[dbdynsty25]

So does it appear EA is walking away from the basketball videogame business?

I doubt it. They just realized that people didn't like the game in its current state. Its best to just scrap it for a year and come back when they get their s*** together.

[GTHobbes]

Does make ya wonder if Tiburon's football division had competition these past 6 years, whether they'd ever have taken a year off to regroup and reboot the series the way it deserves to be.

[dbdynsty25]

Does make ya wonder if Tiburon's football division had competition these past 6 years, whether they'd ever have taken a year off to regroup and reboot the series the way it deserves to be.

Nope...I don't wonder but it doesn't surprise me at all that you would AGAIN bring up your beef with Madden in another thread. Right on time.

[JackB1]

OK, I tried the demo and I don't see what all the complaining is about? EA is trying something DIFFERENT and I applaud them for doing so. The 2K series hasn't changed in over 5 years and this year's demo feels just like every other one. The new controls take A LOT of getting used to, but they do make the experience more interactive. Everyone here is saying that they don't like this demo, but nobody is giving any specifics as too what's wrong with the game? I love the fact that it now takes user skill to make shots, but they need to combine that somewhat with player stats. If I take a 3 pointer with Shaq and I time it perfectly, it still shouldn't go in most of the time. I like the shooting mechanic, but they should have went with pulling back on the stick and releasing (like 2K). It just feels more natural than pushing forward for shooting.

I just think everyone needs to give themselves time to adjust to the new controls and THEN decide if they like it. Just disliking something because it's different doesn't make sense. I understand people like to rip EA, but I think this is a step in the right direction. You guys always have the 2K series if you want the same old, same old for hoops. Why not let another
game company take virtual hoops in another direction? Sure there will be growing pains for a year or 2, but in the long run it may prove worthwhile. Personally speaking, I am very pleased that EA decided to do something different this year. Whether or not this year's full game will be playable enough remains to be seen, but I like what they are trying.

[Aristo]

Again, I liked the demo. But then again, I don't pick video games apart that much. If I enjoy it, I couldn't give a damn less if anyone else didn't.

That's the way I felt about the EA college basketball game last year. I actually liked it, and I think I might have been among a group of about 10 total people on the planet who felt that way.

While I pretty much feel the same as you guys about not really caring who else likes a game I am playing, it is at least interesting to note that the two games you mention won't be out this fall because not enough people liked them. It's not a big deal, because I have plenty of other games to play.

I know OS is trying to improve its image, but it is still the NeoGAF of sports games. Turdballs show up there for no other reason than to stir it up and hate on games. And they seem to have more of an effect on games and their patches than the more reasonable fans of the various series. It's too bad, because OS does have some decent content, and there is a good community buried under the excrement.

While I'd love to see them ban 3 times as many people as they do, that probably isn't the profitable business model those guys are looking for.

[bkrich83]

Does make ya wonder if Tiburon's football division had competition these past 6 years, whether they'd ever have taken a year off to regroup and reboot the series the way it deserves to be.

Nope...I don't wonder but it doesn't surprise me at all that you would AGAIN bring up your beef with Madden in another thread. Right on time.

You had to know it it was coming. And he did not disappoint.

[greggsand]

the bynum-jesus video must have had quite the effect:

http://kotaku.com/5650545/death-visits- ... -nba-elite

[GTHobbes]

the bynum-jesus video must have had quite the effect:

http://kotaku.com/5650545/death-visits- ... -nba-elite

Thanks for posting this -- I like the end:

"The last time that happened was EA Sports' Madden NFL ‘96, which was supposed to be the first football title for the PlayStation. Its release was progressively delayed until it was aborted, a late switch from rendering sprites to three-dimensional objects often blamed. EA Sports then handed the project to Tiburon, a studio it later acquired, and which has handled Madden ever since.
And the studio that lost Madden after that fateful year? It was, proving that what goes around comes around, Visual Concepts."

[Teal]

All I know is that NBA Jam should be an XBLA game, and should not exceed 1200 MS points, or whatever the equivalent is on PSN. I won't pay 60, 50, 40, 30 bucks for something that was just supposed to be an add on to a full priced game. And neither will anyone else with a brain.

[EZSnappin]

I'd give 'em $40 if they throw in all the content they were keeping for the Wii game. Otherwise, I think they'd clean up at $15 for just the bare-bones version they had planned for the Xbox/PS3.

[Brando70]

This really blows my mind.. especially with a console game.

I agree. Very rare for this to happen with a console sports game and shocking considering some of the turds that have been dumped on the market in the past. FPS 99 was recalled literally because it was unplayable -- it wouldn't run properly. This is the only time I can recall where a game might get canned because it sucks.

It's a shame considering Live had made a lot of progress the last couple of years. Another blow to having choice in the hobby.