NBA Elite '11 - Megathread - Formerly NBA Live - Cancelled!

[BlueCali]

NBA Elite 11 for PS3: New Controls and NBA Jam Confirmed

Hey guys, I’m Yaw (pronounced as “yao” like Yao Ming) and I’m the NBA Community Manager from Electronic Arts Canada. I work alongside the EA SPORTS: NBA ELITE and NBA JAM development teams. We have exciting news to share with all of you today — three modes of NBA JAM will be included with your purchase of NBA ELITE.

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This year, our team at EA SPORTS wanted to create the ultimate basketball experience for PS3 owners. If you’ve been following all the news and updates on NBA ELITE, then the first thing that you’ve seen is the game is no longer called NBA LIVE. So why the name change?

Well, we believe that NBA ELITE will revolutionize the way you think, feel and play basketball video games — forever. The dev team is driving never seen before innovation in the form of a number of features that are radically different than what you have seen in previous NBA games. The first change you will see is in the revised control scheme: Hands-On Control. This year you have full control over everything in the game; from offense to defense. Your shooting is based on skill (not on the dice roll of hitting a button and letting the AI determine your success.) Dribbling is one-to-one movement, you can link moves together seamlessly like; euro-steps, dunk adjusts, spins-moves and so much more.

The second major revolutionary innovation you’re going to see is the inclusion of real physics driving the game. We’re leveraging the physics animation technology that drove NHL, FIFA and even Fight Night into the upper echelons of sports video games and applying it in way that works specifically for basketball.

People that we’ve shared the game with to date have told us that they are impressed (even amazed) at how NBA ELITE is the first game to “play and feel like real basketball.” We feel this comes down to all the little things you are able to see in this year’s game, such as unique ball deflections every time you play the game and various player collisions that make NBA basketball as exciting as it is. Look for more details to come on real physics, killer new modes, and more about our revamped in-game presentation centered around ESPN and their lead commentary team of Breen, Van Gundy, and Jackson.

With all the new additions that have gone into NBA ELITE 11 — we really feel that we’re doing everything to blaze a new path for basketball games — and we want you to play the game to see for yourself. To make NBA ELITE the ultimate basketball experience for you, we will be including three modes of NBA JAM for FREE with NBA ELITE 11. That’s right, not only will you be getting NBA ELITE 11 when you buy the game, but you will also have NBA JAM available as well — so for the price of one game, you’re getting two full NBA experiences. Another important note to share with all of you — the ONLY way you will be able to play NBA JAM for the PS3 is to buy NBA ELITE 11.

With NBA JAM on the PS3, the team is bringing you the classic two-on-two experience that you once knew from the original arcade game but this time with updated teams, and of course all in glorious HD. The controls are very easy to pick up and once you start throwing down monster dunks or begin heating up, it’s going to be hard to put down the controller. The game stays true to the original game but at the same time it offers a brand new take on the classic, with updated graphics and new game-play mechanics.

We’re very excited to be able to share the news with all of you, I know talking with a number of people in the community; everyone has wanted to see NBA JAM on the PS3. I can finally let you all know that your wish has become reality. I’m definitely curious to hear your thoughts about all of this. Be sure to comment below and let us all know what you think of the news.

Pencil mid-to-late September into your calendars for the NBA ELITE downloadable demo on PSN. We really believe that once you play the game for yourselves, you will see the revolutionary change that we’ve been talking about. For more information, join us on Facebook at EA SPORTS NBA.

Screens:

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[BlueCali]

Earlier today the news broke of the NBA Live series being rebranded NBA Elite and with that a drastic shift in the direction of the franchise. Now thanks the OXM preview in its July edition it is revealed that the game will also be introducing real-time physics. In addition to that the heavy reliance on analog sticks will mean both dribbling and shooting are mapped to the right stick.

It was just last week we learned that EA Sports is introducing real-time physics in the NHL series. Both games are developed out of the EA Canada studio. The article basically just went into preliminary information on the real-time physics and right stick controls. Shooting will involve how straight up the right stick is pushed determining the success percentage of each attempt. Leave your thoughts in the comments!

 

[Wreck]

Hmmmmmmmmm I hope this turns out alright

 

[BlueCali]

Hmmmmmmmmm I hope this turns out alright

Physics >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Animation

Animation is why I hate sports games alot. They get stuck in an animation or do the wrong animation.

 

[BlueCali]

Well, maybe the new name will help to invigorate the old ailing franchise.

EA has announced NBA Elite 11 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and it's set to release in October. The previous title of "NBA Live" has been dropped in favor of the title you see here, and EA claims the new installment "will revolutionize the way basketball simulation games are played." This will be thanks to an "all-new technology base, a new control scheme, and a real-time physics system." EA Sports president Peter Moore adds that they're finally going to give b-ball fans the game they've been "begging for." With features like "Hands-On Control" (one-to-one responsiveness of a player's movement and actions on the court), and that new physics system (every player moves independently of another), this one has a chance to shine. We're most interested in that fresh take on the shooting mechanic, though, because it will reflect a player's position on the court and the skill of the user, rather than simply relying on "randomly generated dice rolls." Said the game's Creative Director, David Littman:

"NBA ELITE 11 will give gamers the same skill set that a pro basketball player has at his disposal. This is the first basketball simulation videogame where you are controlling every movement, dribble move, shot, dunk, lay-up, steal and block in real time with one-to-one control. You're no longer going to push a button and watch the computer generate a long animation sequence. It is like being on a basketball court with an amazing set of skills. This is going to change what people have come to expect from a basketball simulation videogame."

In development at EA Canada, NBA Elite 11 could be the basketball game this new generation deserves.

 

[BlueCali]

EA Sports wants to make one thing clear. They are not changing the name on their long running NBA Live Franchise; they are changing the game. NBA Elite will be the new moniker by which future EA NBA Titles will be known. But that isn’t the biggest change happening.

Peter Moore, President of EA Sports had this to say about the change:

“We plan to profoundly evolve the interactive basketball experience in a way that the category has not seen for a decade,” says Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “In NBA ELITE 11, we’ll introduce a gameplay experience that gives fans the control on the court that they have been begging for in a basketball game for years.”

The new “Hands-on Control” scheme will allow for one to one responsiveness on players movements and actions on the court. EA has learned a lot about joystick movements from their highly acclaimed Skate and Fight Night Franchises and by switching to the joystick, it will allow EA to focus on real time actions versus traditional predetermined animations.

EA insists the game will focus on real physics interactions and a new skill based system for shooting. Creative Director, David Littman had this to say about NBA Elite:

“NBA ELITE 11 will give gamers the same skill set that a pro basketball player has at his disposal,” said David Littman, Creative Director, NBA ELITE 11. “This is the first basketball simulation videogame where you are controlling every movement, dribble move, shot, dunk, lay-up, steal and block in real time with one-to-one control. You’re no longer going to push a button and watch the computer generate a long animation sequence. It is like being on a basketball court with an amazing set of skills. This is going to change what people have come to expect from a basketball simulation videogame.”

 

[BlueCali]

ESPN's booth trio of (from left) Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen will be the new voice talent for NBA Elite 11, according to a by-the-way mention at the bottom of an AP story on the broadcast team today.

No other details were given, just that they will appear. That means the five-year run of play-by-play man Marv Albert and analyst (and Phoenix Suns general manager) Steve Kerr has come to an end. Breen, Jackson and Van Gundy are a very well regarded broadcast team, with Breen's call providing a solid underpinning to the informed and occasionally testy banter between Jackson and Van Gundy.

They're so good they may not stick together for much longer - Van Gundy and Jackson are routinely mentioned when coaching vacancies open - so this could be a short engagement. And it could mean EA Sports is implementing ESPN broadcast presentation into this game, following the lead of NCAA Football 11 and NCAA Basketball 10, and is obligated to use their announcer team regardless of how long they might be together.

 

[jefXfree]

NBA Elite 11 Megathread - Includes NBA Jam

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.

Oftentimes a series name change can be attributed to a stigma having been built and the desire to have a fresh start. Maybe the best example of that is when EA went from Triple Play to MVP. We are probably seeing similar thinking implemented here with the company hoping to build a new brand that can either compete with NBA 2K or can find its own base of consumers who want something different. While NBA Live 10 showed great improvement over prior iterations it actually fell in sales from the previous year.

I’m not sure that going the analog direction would be the best idea as one of the most consistent things I’ve liked about NBA Live over the years has been the right stick for dribble moves and having other functions tied to the buttons. It is far too early to pass judgment on the idea until we know its implementation though. The new name sure sounds “arcade-like” or “street-like”. That may not end up being the case, but after posting this news on Twitter I’ve gotten a bunch of similar responses back in reacting to the news. What are your thoughts on NBA Live being renamed NBA Elite and a move towards heavier analog reliance? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

 

[jefXfree]

I'd love to have NBA Jam. Don't care much for NBA Elite.

 

[Horhay]

Trying to persuade those buying NBA2K11 with Michael in the cover to buy this . I'd rather get NBA Jam separately!

 

[Wreck]

Oh ****... hate it son, but BOY DID THEY FIRE BACK! DAY 1!!!!!!!!!

Man, what if 2k11 had an MJ STEELBOOK!

 

[bravesfan102531]

This is starting to look like I might purchase it over 2K11. Although from the looks of the video it seem like they are almost getting too complex for their own good.

 

[Horhay]

Three modes isn't enough to convince me from a full copy of NBA Jam

 

[Wreck]

Three modes isn't enough to convince me from a full copy of NBA Jam

I'm sure the gameplay will be better than 2k's ... I wonder how early we get this compared to the true NBA Jam release.

 

[jefXfree]

A lot of people are having an issue with this version of NBA Jam being "Stripped Down." But it's not really... It's a PSN game, not a disc based game, so naturally there's going to be a bit of a difference... BUT on the PS3 you're getting MP gameplay, unlike (perhaps) the wii.

IDK. I think 3 play modes is enough. I really ONLY want the standard play mode that was on SNES.

 

[mobius387]

If you've been following IGN.com over the last week (and I hope you have), then you know that NBA Jam is coming to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in the form of a one-time free download packaged with NBA Elite 11, EA Sports' simulation basketball title. Recently I got the chance to head up to Vancouver for a day in EA's studio. During my time I was lucky enough to get the first-ever hands-on with NBA Jam on high-definition systems.

It's tough for a downloadable game to get me as excited as I was to get my hands on NBA Jam on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for the very first time. Not to diss the Wii version or anything, but the amount of visual flair that NBA Jam brings was clearly meant for high-def screens once you see it in action. The facial expressions that you'll see when players go for dunks or get stripped of the ball are pretty hilarious and the fact that every team has a different set of players means you'll have plenty to laugh at.

The game I played featured the Lakers against the Celtics. That meant it was Kobe and Pau Gasol for the Lakers and Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo for the Celtics. The guards played as you'd expect, with Kobe having the expected ability of slamming the ball home unless the big guys on the court timed their jump just right. As our direct-feed gameplay clips show, there's the potential for a good amount of blocks in NBA Jam if players continually try to go inside for the dunk.

Don't get me wrong, there were still enough dunks and alley-oops for me to be able to break the backboard (an insanely rewarding experience), but I never felt totally safe from getting blocked and totally embarrassed. That, in turn, only upped the satisfaction I felt when I successfully stuffed one in the face of my opponent.

The gameplay is pretty much identical to what you'll find in the new Wii version of Jam. You can still alter your dunk in mid-air and turn it into a layup, and the ability to break your opponent's ankles with a dribbling move is still very much intact. In fact, there are no gameplay mechanics exclusive to either version. The experience is the same throughout, less the enhanced graphics on the high-def systems.

That's not to say that the feature set is identical. Those playing on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 won't get any of the 91 challenges that Wii players will enjoy. Instead they'll get the more straightforward Play Now and Classic Campaign (a ladder tournament) to go along with online and local multiplayer. Online multiplayer could be a point of contention for those planning to purchase the Wii version as the feature has yet to be confirmed for Nintendo's system.

ps3.ign.com/articles/111/1111026p1.html

Well, that's about all there is to say about NBA Jam on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It's fast, it's seriously fun, and the enhanced visuals really bring out the detail in each player and coach. Now the only thing left to do is feast your eyes on the first three direct-feed clips and wait for NBA Elite 11 to release on October 5. Until then, stay tuned to IGN.com for more.

 

[thunda123]

I'd like NBA Jam but I'm still picking up Michael Jordan 2K11.

 

[Horhay]

I'm sure the gameplay will be better than 2k's ... I wonder how early we get this compared to the true NBA Jam release.

I am sure it will be

 

[dboy99]

i played the demo for this today didn't like it at all.

 

[Wreck]

For NBA LIVE 10 players, we will continue to offer free content and services throughout the 2010-11 season. We will start with a new roster update so you get all the players for the new season, free of charge. We will also provide free Dynamic DNA updates, daily, for the entire season. That’s a full season of basketball with new rosters and updates, free.