Mr.Bottomtooth
07-18-2006, 09:42 AM
I tried to bold only the important things so pardon my French.
-NBA Live 07: First Look
Everything you need to know about the current gen and PSP versions, plus a taste of 360.
by Jon Robinson
July 12, 2006 - Voshon Lenard. If you played NBA Live 06, the three-point threat represented both the good and the bad of the game all in one shooting stroke. Everyone loved the new Superstar abilities the players possessed, but players like Leonard, who aren't really Superstars but had insane ability behind the arc thanks to his special moves, tended to take over the game like they were the second coming of MJ.
This is all about to change in NBA Live 07 (sorry, Voshon). In Live 07 you have three variety of players: regular just happy to be in the league types, stars, and superstars. By changing players like Voshon from a superstar to a star, sure, he'll still have a mean jumper, but he'll also be toned down so he's not knocking down 50 points a game.
But that's not the only change you'll find to Freestyle Superstars. If you have a player like Dwyane Wade or LeBron who has multiple superstar types, you no longer have to settle for just one. You can now change superstar types on the fly with the press of a button, turning LeBron from a High Flyer to a Playmaker to go behind the back to Larry Hughes cutting toward the hoop, then on the next break, switch back to High Flyer to jam it down the throats of any defender in The King's path. This gives gamers the ability to play more like their favorite players, as the elite baller of the league will really stand out with more abilities, and they are all at your fingertips, or in the case of Live 07, your right analog stick. That's right, 2K Sports introduced the Shot Stick in 2K6, and now NBA Live follows suit by putting Freestyle Superstar shots on the stick as well. Tap up to pull off one of the more simple dunks, but rotate the stick like a Street Fighter fireball and you'll see players like Vince Carter pull off a throwdown that will really get the crowd on their feet.
One thing Live missed out on last year, though, was the ability to showcase players who might not be superstars, but came up clutch in key situations. Think about a guy like Robert Horry. If it's not the 4th quarter or the playoffs, he's not doing too much, but put the game on the line, give him the rock in Game 7, and you know the man is going to knock down the game winner. But how do you replicate that in a videogame? EA is introducing a new ability in 07 called The X-Factor. At the beginning of the game, you'll see a picture of one player from each team, the designated X-Factors. If you take a player like Horry and get him in the game, feed him the ball, grab a rebound, knock down an open shot, you'll start to see an X glowing under his feet. You can then wait for the perfect time to trigger Horry, giving him whatever superstar ability is associated with him at the beginning of the game. This ability will last about four minutes of gameplay, and is perfect to setup Big Shot Rob to help win the game with one last three as time expires. X-Factors are usually players coming off the bench, and can even change from game to game depending on the situation or match-up.
In terms of gameplay additions, the biggest change is in the controls. You now have one button to shoot, one for dunks, and one for layups. In past games, whether you dunked or went for a layup was all contextual, but now you will be able to decide for yourself, even changing your mind in mid-air if a big man is about to block your dunk, switching to a layup to attempt to flip the ball over his outstretched arm. Another addition is the ability to throw either bullet or lob passes. Depending how hard you press the pass button, that's how hard you pass the ball. This really comes in handy on fast breaks as you can finally lob the ball over a defender to your streaking guard out in front without fear of it getting picked off by the man chasing him down from behind. You will also see a lot more collisions in the game, making it more difficult, more rewarding to work your way inside for the dunk as defenders will put a body on you out in the perimeter, making it more difficult for you to penetrate, then once you do get in the lane, you're more likely than in seasons past to take blows and head to the line than to simply slam the ball for an easy two. Free throws have also been changed to the right analog stick (similar to the 360 version). There will be about 15 custom free throw animations added as well including Jason Kidd's kiss.
One of the other major new features is the addition of both a momentum meter and a game-intensity meter to every game. If you drive to the hoop and hit a superstar slam, momentum will shift to your team and the next time you try a superstar dunk you'll be rewarded with an even bigger, riskier move. In terms of game intensity, everything from rivalries to time of year to the score will be a factor and the meter will be updated on a minute-by-minute basis. You'll see the intensity grow as the score is tied and the AI players will be more likely to dive on the floor for loose balls or show that extra hustle as the game comes down to the wire. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if there is a blowout, you'll see guys not running back on defense, and you'll need to call timeout to break the momentum and get your guys back on track. You'll also see a lot more variety of player and even bench celebrations based on the intensity and momentum of the game.
Building a Dynasty
One of the most watched and talked about aspects of the NBA season doesn't even take place during the season, and that's the NBA Draft. For some reason, though, nobody has really taken the draft and translated the excitement and second-guessing into a videogame. NBA Live 07 finally attempts to blowout the draft as you even have the option to start your Dynasty with the 2006 draft, starting the draft from scratch and taking the player you think your team should've picked but didn't. But just because this is all in a game doesn't mean you're immune to criticism from the folks at ESPN. Not only will you get an ESPN mock draft to help you out with your evaluations heading into the big event, but ESPN Insider will grade your picks after you make your selections, letting you know if you've got the talent to steal a future star or if you're the second-coming of Isiah Thomas (I don't think the NBA world could stomach a second one, so do your homework).
Team chemistry plays a major role on every team, and it now means everything in Live. Beyond the usual set of coaches and trainers you'll need to hire, you'll also need to find an assistant head coach who is in charge of event scheduling. The game isn't about simulating to your next game as now, off days matter, and you'll have to decide when to practice, when to hold press events, and when to give your guys a day off. Every decision you make will have an impact on everything from chemistry to team happiness. You'll even be able to look at a profile of every player and see what they think of their playing time, the overall talent of their team, the bench order, the stability of the roster, and whether or not they think their team has a chance to win. Before making trades, you can preview how team chemistry might be affected, even finding out if certain members of your team don't get along with a player you're trying to acquire. You can hold press events to make your players feel more important about themselves, but watch out, some players don't like dealing with the media at all and will get pissed if you schedule too many interviews. During road trips, you'll even see a map to show how far you've traveled and your team fatigue.
ESPN Rumor Central has also been added and you can send your assistant coach on missions to research rumors. You might read something like Knicks rumored to sign Kenyon Martin, and before you stop laughing you can send your assistant coach out to make some phone calls and he'll come back to you and tell you about the validity of the rumor. This is one way you can find out if players are unhappy in their current situations, then go after them through trade or try to sign them in the offseason.
Another cool addition is the ability to adjust player rotations for every position before you simulate games. This way, you'll know for sure that the computer is playing the players you want and not just going by ratings so your key rookies can continue to develop using Player Evolution.
PSP
One of the major problems with Live PSP last year was the absence of Dynasty mode. This year, you have a Dynasty you can play and connect to your PS2 version, continuing your season on the road, then picking things back up when you get home. There are a few differences between current gen and PSP, however. First off, you can't redo the draft to start the game. Second, Freestyle Superstars won't be on a tiered system, so guys like Voshon will still be lighting things up from long range. You also won't find the separation of the dunk and layup buttons when you're on your PSP.
What you will find are all of the superstar types, the ability to change superstar abilities on the fly, and the X-Factor. You fly through the air in All-Star Weekend, play mini-games like 2Ball, Handles, and Superstar Challenge (can you score 81 like Kobe), and there will be a number of alternate jerseys, including throwbacks.
One cool addition is the EA Media Center. This will enable you to play your own MP3's rather than listening to EA Trax. You will even be able to have the MP3 playback during mini-games.
Also look for the ESPN integration to get even deeper with Live PSP. When you start the game, you'll see rotating pictures of 10 of the NBA elite, from Wade to LeBron, and you'll be able to unlock special ESPN highlight videos of each of these players to save to your PSP. There will be an online ticker, the ability to track everyone you play against online, and a rematch option for both the 5-on-5 and mini-games so you don't have to leave the game only to challenge the same opponent.
The Future
We've covered current gen and PSP, but what about next gen? EA acknowledges the disaster that was NBA Live 06 on the 360 and promises everything you'd expect from NBA Live finally being added into the game. That's All-Star Weekend (including the slam dunk contest), a more thorough Dynasty mode (deeper than current gen), players who move and react more like their real-life counterparts, and a few surprises EA isn't ready to drop just yet.
Until that news hits, check the papers and get ready for the re-draft. Better do your research or ESPN Insider will be all over you. Then again, you might do so bad there will be a job at the Knicks waiting for you by the time you save your game.
-NBA Live 07: First Look
Everything you need to know about the current gen and PSP versions, plus a taste of 360.
by Jon Robinson
July 12, 2006 - Voshon Lenard. If you played NBA Live 06, the three-point threat represented both the good and the bad of the game all in one shooting stroke. Everyone loved the new Superstar abilities the players possessed, but players like Leonard, who aren't really Superstars but had insane ability behind the arc thanks to his special moves, tended to take over the game like they were the second coming of MJ.
This is all about to change in NBA Live 07 (sorry, Voshon). In Live 07 you have three variety of players: regular just happy to be in the league types, stars, and superstars. By changing players like Voshon from a superstar to a star, sure, he'll still have a mean jumper, but he'll also be toned down so he's not knocking down 50 points a game.
But that's not the only change you'll find to Freestyle Superstars. If you have a player like Dwyane Wade or LeBron who has multiple superstar types, you no longer have to settle for just one. You can now change superstar types on the fly with the press of a button, turning LeBron from a High Flyer to a Playmaker to go behind the back to Larry Hughes cutting toward the hoop, then on the next break, switch back to High Flyer to jam it down the throats of any defender in The King's path. This gives gamers the ability to play more like their favorite players, as the elite baller of the league will really stand out with more abilities, and they are all at your fingertips, or in the case of Live 07, your right analog stick. That's right, 2K Sports introduced the Shot Stick in 2K6, and now NBA Live follows suit by putting Freestyle Superstar shots on the stick as well. Tap up to pull off one of the more simple dunks, but rotate the stick like a Street Fighter fireball and you'll see players like Vince Carter pull off a throwdown that will really get the crowd on their feet.
One thing Live missed out on last year, though, was the ability to showcase players who might not be superstars, but came up clutch in key situations. Think about a guy like Robert Horry. If it's not the 4th quarter or the playoffs, he's not doing too much, but put the game on the line, give him the rock in Game 7, and you know the man is going to knock down the game winner. But how do you replicate that in a videogame? EA is introducing a new ability in 07 called The X-Factor. At the beginning of the game, you'll see a picture of one player from each team, the designated X-Factors. If you take a player like Horry and get him in the game, feed him the ball, grab a rebound, knock down an open shot, you'll start to see an X glowing under his feet. You can then wait for the perfect time to trigger Horry, giving him whatever superstar ability is associated with him at the beginning of the game. This ability will last about four minutes of gameplay, and is perfect to setup Big Shot Rob to help win the game with one last three as time expires. X-Factors are usually players coming off the bench, and can even change from game to game depending on the situation or match-up.
In terms of gameplay additions, the biggest change is in the controls. You now have one button to shoot, one for dunks, and one for layups. In past games, whether you dunked or went for a layup was all contextual, but now you will be able to decide for yourself, even changing your mind in mid-air if a big man is about to block your dunk, switching to a layup to attempt to flip the ball over his outstretched arm. Another addition is the ability to throw either bullet or lob passes. Depending how hard you press the pass button, that's how hard you pass the ball. This really comes in handy on fast breaks as you can finally lob the ball over a defender to your streaking guard out in front without fear of it getting picked off by the man chasing him down from behind. You will also see a lot more collisions in the game, making it more difficult, more rewarding to work your way inside for the dunk as defenders will put a body on you out in the perimeter, making it more difficult for you to penetrate, then once you do get in the lane, you're more likely than in seasons past to take blows and head to the line than to simply slam the ball for an easy two. Free throws have also been changed to the right analog stick (similar to the 360 version). There will be about 15 custom free throw animations added as well including Jason Kidd's kiss.
One of the other major new features is the addition of both a momentum meter and a game-intensity meter to every game. If you drive to the hoop and hit a superstar slam, momentum will shift to your team and the next time you try a superstar dunk you'll be rewarded with an even bigger, riskier move. In terms of game intensity, everything from rivalries to time of year to the score will be a factor and the meter will be updated on a minute-by-minute basis. You'll see the intensity grow as the score is tied and the AI players will be more likely to dive on the floor for loose balls or show that extra hustle as the game comes down to the wire. On the opposite side of the spectrum, if there is a blowout, you'll see guys not running back on defense, and you'll need to call timeout to break the momentum and get your guys back on track. You'll also see a lot more variety of player and even bench celebrations based on the intensity and momentum of the game.
Building a Dynasty
One of the most watched and talked about aspects of the NBA season doesn't even take place during the season, and that's the NBA Draft. For some reason, though, nobody has really taken the draft and translated the excitement and second-guessing into a videogame. NBA Live 07 finally attempts to blowout the draft as you even have the option to start your Dynasty with the 2006 draft, starting the draft from scratch and taking the player you think your team should've picked but didn't. But just because this is all in a game doesn't mean you're immune to criticism from the folks at ESPN. Not only will you get an ESPN mock draft to help you out with your evaluations heading into the big event, but ESPN Insider will grade your picks after you make your selections, letting you know if you've got the talent to steal a future star or if you're the second-coming of Isiah Thomas (I don't think the NBA world could stomach a second one, so do your homework).
Team chemistry plays a major role on every team, and it now means everything in Live. Beyond the usual set of coaches and trainers you'll need to hire, you'll also need to find an assistant head coach who is in charge of event scheduling. The game isn't about simulating to your next game as now, off days matter, and you'll have to decide when to practice, when to hold press events, and when to give your guys a day off. Every decision you make will have an impact on everything from chemistry to team happiness. You'll even be able to look at a profile of every player and see what they think of their playing time, the overall talent of their team, the bench order, the stability of the roster, and whether or not they think their team has a chance to win. Before making trades, you can preview how team chemistry might be affected, even finding out if certain members of your team don't get along with a player you're trying to acquire. You can hold press events to make your players feel more important about themselves, but watch out, some players don't like dealing with the media at all and will get pissed if you schedule too many interviews. During road trips, you'll even see a map to show how far you've traveled and your team fatigue.
ESPN Rumor Central has also been added and you can send your assistant coach on missions to research rumors. You might read something like Knicks rumored to sign Kenyon Martin, and before you stop laughing you can send your assistant coach out to make some phone calls and he'll come back to you and tell you about the validity of the rumor. This is one way you can find out if players are unhappy in their current situations, then go after them through trade or try to sign them in the offseason.
Another cool addition is the ability to adjust player rotations for every position before you simulate games. This way, you'll know for sure that the computer is playing the players you want and not just going by ratings so your key rookies can continue to develop using Player Evolution.
PSP
One of the major problems with Live PSP last year was the absence of Dynasty mode. This year, you have a Dynasty you can play and connect to your PS2 version, continuing your season on the road, then picking things back up when you get home. There are a few differences between current gen and PSP, however. First off, you can't redo the draft to start the game. Second, Freestyle Superstars won't be on a tiered system, so guys like Voshon will still be lighting things up from long range. You also won't find the separation of the dunk and layup buttons when you're on your PSP.
What you will find are all of the superstar types, the ability to change superstar abilities on the fly, and the X-Factor. You fly through the air in All-Star Weekend, play mini-games like 2Ball, Handles, and Superstar Challenge (can you score 81 like Kobe), and there will be a number of alternate jerseys, including throwbacks.
One cool addition is the EA Media Center. This will enable you to play your own MP3's rather than listening to EA Trax. You will even be able to have the MP3 playback during mini-games.
Also look for the ESPN integration to get even deeper with Live PSP. When you start the game, you'll see rotating pictures of 10 of the NBA elite, from Wade to LeBron, and you'll be able to unlock special ESPN highlight videos of each of these players to save to your PSP. There will be an online ticker, the ability to track everyone you play against online, and a rematch option for both the 5-on-5 and mini-games so you don't have to leave the game only to challenge the same opponent.
The Future
We've covered current gen and PSP, but what about next gen? EA acknowledges the disaster that was NBA Live 06 on the 360 and promises everything you'd expect from NBA Live finally being added into the game. That's All-Star Weekend (including the slam dunk contest), a more thorough Dynasty mode (deeper than current gen), players who move and react more like their real-life counterparts, and a few surprises EA isn't ready to drop just yet.
Until that news hits, check the papers and get ready for the re-draft. Better do your research or ESPN Insider will be all over you. Then again, you might do so bad there will be a job at the Knicks waiting for you by the time you save your game.