NBA Live 15: Is the Delay a Reason for Panic or Optimism?

Feature Article

Submitted on: 09/09/2014 by

In case you have been living under a rock today, NBA Live 15 has been delayed until October 28. For EA to delay a sports game is pretty unprecedented, especially at this stage in the game. Given the slow trickle of PR releases, and the rumblings we've been hearing, this is a move that likely was made some weeks ago.

There are several things this could mean, it could mean the game isn't finished and may not be by October 28. It could mean the team simply needed a few more weeks to finish the game and it'll actually come out better. It could mean the game will be cancelled, it's not like this hasn't happened before.

So with that, what do you think the delay means for NBA Live 15?

James Kerti: Given the track record of the series over the last half-decade, it's hard not to fear the worst when hearing about the game being delayed. A delay this close to release leads to worry in general. This series hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt. Plus, we haven't seen much in the way of information and footage to comfort us. I'm worried.

Matthew Coe: This is a pretty big surprise to me honestly. I had hoped that the game was shaping up to be a surprise and restore some hope for the NBA Live franchise. This is a troubling sign.

While we don't have the particular reasons behind this delay, I think we can draw a couple of logical conclusions. One of them is that EA has seen the backlash of releasing an incomplete NHL 15 and was probably planning a similar strategy for Live, patching in extra modes, etc. I think that the NBA team couldn't risk even more negative press for a brand that is already tarnished so badly. So hopefully EA uses the extra time to work on franchise/dynasty modes and overall polish. NBA Live 15 cant afford a disaster like last year's game.

Robert Kollars: This is not a surprise to me at all as there were some odd signs out there that started to have the game's fan-base question things again.

This doesn't affect my decision to purchase the game, and I have no issue with a company delaying a game to tighten it up before retail release. If EA had a better track record the last 4-5 years with this title, people wouldn't think twice about the delay. Sadly though, the recent problems will be attached on a yearly basis until this title is has hit its groove and is consistently strong.

Dustin Toms: This is more than a delay. EA has to be throwing in the towel if the game is getting pushed back to the end of October. NBA Live 14 was a collosal disaster on next-gen consoles everywhere. If this year's iteration is in need of "more time," then why bother? EA has delayed Live before, which turned out to be a complete cancel. The track record is not good.

With the NBA 2K franchise becoming a top-selling video game, not just a sports game, EA should pull their funds (and Live team) and pool it in with NHL to give them the help they need. If NHL rises up on next-gen with quality franchises such as Madden and FIFA, EA will be just fine.

Leave NBA Live on the shelf. It was a (kind of) good run.

Chris Sanner: NBA Live 15 is not going to be like Live 13 or Elite 11 -- at least I don't think. At this point, EA still plans to release the game, but I'm sure that was the case the last two EA basketball delays as well. Simply put, Live 15 either has to come onto store shelves or the series will be dead. If the game can't ship this year, the series itself needs to be abandoned because there is no path forward.

On the other hand, the extra time will do for Live what a delay could have done for NHL -- it gives the developers a bit of extra time to fine tune the game and get some key elements they know they need to add into it. We don't know the exact condition of Live so it's impossible to judge how much work the title needs at this point. The gameplay videos tend to point to more week being needed.

The problem for Live will be its competitor will almost certainly be higher rated and more highly acclaimed -- and it will have three weeks to convince consumers of that before Live even gets a chance. While live is showing off its improved AI in teaser videos, players will be getting the chance to play NBA 2K15. The commercial success of Live is already going to be a disappointment, if the series is to continue, the critical success of the series has to take a step forward.

NBA Live 15 Videos

Member Comments

# 81 shutdown10 @ 09/12/14 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	they certainly lost focus after Wang left. Were like chickens with heads cut off after wang left. IF 15 fails, they need a new crew, simple as that.

I'm kinda shocked that you would have a post like this, because you consistently have optimistic posts about Live. I guess you understand that this is a pivotal year for them to be well received. I hope they do because I hate to see people lose their jobs when they are not put in position to succeed. I just think the Big-Wigs are not investing in them enough, and are not providing them the proper resources or personnel to really get this series off the ground.

# 82 magicman32 @ 09/12/14 11:15 PM

The delay is puzzling IMO. There must be something major wrong with the game for them to break their initially commitment to bring it out on the 7th. I'm expecting the following to be fixed...

-The hop step spam

-Traveling to actually be called when it happens. (from the short clip George Hill showed me it wasn't)

-Stepping out of bounds should be called.

-The euro step. (It can't even describe Live's version of the euro step. It's that terrible).

-Players letting rebounds hit the floor.

-Improved post play and post animations.

# 83 Sundown @ 09/13/14 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	Remember everyone, keep this in mind, some of the greateset games in the world had mega delays. Zelda, Uncharted, Alan Wake, Red Dead Redemption, you name it. Delays can be good!

NBA Elite 11, NBA Elite 12, NBA Elite 13, NBA Live 14.

Delays can be bad.

# 84 CaseIH @ 09/13/14 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	they certainly lost focus after Wang left. Were like chickens with heads cut off after wang left. IF 15 fails, they need a new crew, simple as that.

Yeah it seemed like the 1 yr Wang was there the game looked like it might finally be coming around, even though it wasnt a good game especially compared to the competition that year, it did show some promise. Then he left and it all went to hell.

Personally I would love to see it succeed and be competitive with NBA2k, cause imo competition is always a good thing when it comes to sports game's, and there is deifnitely enough room in the market for 2 solid basketball games to succeed.

EA is definitley running on fumes with their basketball game after all the years of failures.

Nothing wrong with delaying a game to get it right, problem is EA dont have any good will left with people after all the poor products they have put out along with all the times they have shafted its customers over the years.

# 85 GisherJohn24 @ 09/13/14 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shutdown10


	I'm kinda shocked that you would have a post like this, because you consistently have optimistic posts about Live. I guess you understand that this is a pivotal year for them to be well received. I hope they do because I hate to see people lose their jobs when they are not put in position to succeed. I just think the Big-Wigs are not investing in them enough, and are not providing them the proper resources or personnel to really get this series off the ground.

Well I wanted 14 to be so great it was hard for me to accept how truly poor it was. I also agree completely it's a big wig problem. Not a dev problem. They need more help and need to spend money on a big crew. But we know ea loves to cut corners to save a buck. Look how they gutted NHL NEXT gen this year? What they didn't think anyone would notice? Lol

# 86 GisherJohn24 @ 09/13/14 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundown


	NBA Elite 11, NBA Elite 12, NBA Elite 13, NBA Live 14. Delays can be bad.

I'm optimistic for at least decency

# 87 Rules @ 09/13/14 09:59 AM

Here is my guess to why there may be a possible delay:

NHL 15 was released with most of the previous features / game modes missing. They are taking a beating by not only the consumers but also by the press. NBA Live 15 probably had planned to do the same thing. I am guessing they decided to go back and probably add in at least a season mode that NHL 15 unfortunately did not include. I might be far off but then again it is a possibility for the delay.

# 88 El_Poopador @ 09/13/14 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	they certainly lost focus after Wang left. Were like chickens with heads cut off after wang left. IF 15 fails, they need a new crew, simple as that.

This is why they're in the position they're in now, though. Every year after Live 10, they've had a new team, trying to take the series in a different direction. If the direction of the game changes every year, it will never be any good.

Everyone talks about the three year plan, but I've never seen one executed for the full three years. I'd like to see what game looks like after year three, to see if they can pull off what they started out to do. Changing teams is not the way to do that.

# 89 da ThRONe @ 09/13/14 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rules


	Here is my guess to why there may be a possible delay: NHL 15 was released with most of the previous features / game modes missing. They are taking a beating by not only the consumers but also by the press. NBA Live 15 probably had planned to do the same thing. I am guessing they decided to go back and probably add in at least a season mode that NHL 15 unfortunately did not include. I might be far off but then again it is a possibility for the delay.

The modes were already confirmed to be in Live 15. Now what they might be doing is adding more content to those modes as it was expected to be very similar to last year modes.

# 90 youvalss @ 09/13/14 02:32 PM

It's sad to say this, but I just hope they manage to put together a good/very good game before this generation is done. Because history shows, that next generation we're back to where we started again.

I hope some day they manage to break out of this circle...

# 91 loosey101 @ 09/13/14 03:01 PM

The game hasn't even released yet, so check it out when it drops and maybe you end up liking this iteration of it. Like I've said many times, there is no way this game can be worse than 14 so I already know I'll enjoy it. Plus we know it def looks better as well. Not saying I think the game will be perfect, just that I'm reserving judgement until I get my hand on the sticks.

# 92 youvalss @ 09/13/14 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loosey101


	The game hasn't even released yet, so check it out when it drops and maybe you end up liking this iteration of it. Like I've said many times, there is no way this game can be worse than 14 so I already know I'll enjoy it. Plus we know it def looks better as well. Not saying I think the game will be perfect, just that I'm reserving judgement until I get my hand on the sticks.

I agree with the bolded part. No reason the believe it won't get better. How much better...well, that's where it gets tricky.

# 93 KyotoCarl @ 09/15/14 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	Remember everyone, keep this in mind, some of the greateset games in the world had mega delays. Zelda, Uncharted, Alan Wake, Red Dead Redemption, you name it. Delays can be good!

Those are all titles that were in development for multiple years. Live is a game that has a one year dev cycle and should come out in time.

# 94 GisherJohn24 @ 09/15/14 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyotoCarl


	Those are all titles that were in development for multiple years. Live is a game that has a one year dev cycle and should come out in time.

I assume this is the engine 14 used so it's been a good 2.5 years or so for total development time for next gen Live

# 95 KyotoCarl @ 09/15/14 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	I assume this is the engine 14 used so it's been a good 2.5 years or so for total development time for next gen Live

Even bigger reason why the changed release date could be a sign of concern.

# 96 WTF @ 09/15/14 03:23 PM

It's not a cause of concern. I understand with the series cancellations in the past, why guys are "weary", but this is not a reason for concern. It's actually a positive to fix these items prior to release. For all we know, it could be minor aesthetic things to enhance all of our experiences collectively.

As much as it stinks for everyone not to be able to get their hands on it 3 weeks earlier, like we all anticipated, but it's no cause for concern.

The game will come out, and you can judge upon it's release if you want it or not. There is gameplay coming, there are podcasts and blogs coming. You'll see plenty before release to base your decision on. Pushing it back a few weeks to give "you", the buyer, a better, more complete product is not a bad thing.

# 97 Hengist @ 09/15/14 04:42 PM

How anyone can be optimistic about this is baffling. How anyone can even STILL want to play Live after all the massive advancements 2k has made from 2k11 onward is make it even MORE baffling. Why are they still even trying at this point? Is it an issue of irrational "pride" ? They are so far behind 2k in nearly EVERY facet of EVERYTHING. They say competition drives innovation, well, frankly 2k hasn't really needed Live as a competitor to usher it forward...........and still doesn't.

# 98 WTF @ 09/15/14 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88SiegHeil88


	How anyone can be optimistic about this is baffling. How anyone can even STILL want to play Live after all the massive advancements 2k has made from 2k11 onward is make it even MORE baffling. Why are they still even trying at this point? Is it an issue of irrational "pride" ? They are so far behind 2k in nearly EVERY facet of EVERYTHING. They say competition drives innovation, well, frankly 2k hasn't really needed Live as a competitor to usher it forward...........and still doesn't.

Awesome, so you have your game of choice, I'm truly happy for you. However, for others, myself included, there are several facets of 2k that have not made "massive advancements" since 2k11. In fact, quite a bit of what Next Gen 2k14 was, was a regression to many.

While its great that you enjoy it, respect that others don't, and others look for a viable alternative that suits the style that they're looking for.

I'm someone who wants 2 good basketball games. I'll buy both games. I'll try to play both games. I'll stick with the 1 that feels best to me. If you want to just buy 1 game on namesake alone, or because it better suits your wants and needs, then that's great. To come on a separate forum to belittle others opinions and attempt to dissuade anyone instead of holding tight for your game isn't needed.

# 99 da ThRONe @ 09/15/14 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	It's not a cause of concern. I understand with the series cancellations in the past, why guys are "weary", but this is not a reason for concern. It's actually a positive to fix these items prior to release. For all we know, it could be minor aesthetic things to enhance all of our experiences collectively. As much as it stinks for everyone not to be able to get their hands on it 3 weeks earlier, like we all anticipated, but it's no cause for concern. The game will come out, and you can judge upon it's release if you want it or not. There is gameplay coming, there are podcasts and blogs coming. You'll see plenty before release to base your decision on. Pushing it back a few weeks to give "you", the buyer, a better, more complete product is not a bad thing.

I'd much rather wait 3 weeks for a more polished game than get one and either have to wait for a patch or even worse never have it addressed.

On a side note I know last gen games had a limit on the number of patches developers could release. Does the same hold true for the nexgen systems?

# 100 GisherJohn24 @ 09/15/14 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	Awesome, so you have your game of choice, I'm truly happy for you. However, for others, myself included, there are several facets of 2k that have not made "massive advancements" since 2k11. In fact, quite a bit of what Next Gen 2k14 was, was a regression to many. While its great that you enjoy it, respect that others don't, and others look for a viable alternative that suits the style that they're looking for. I'm someone who wants 2 good basketball games. I'll buy both games. I'll try to play both games. I'll stick with the 1 that feels best to me. If you want to just buy 1 game on namesake alone, or because it better suits your wants and needs, then that's great. To come on a separate forum to belittle others opinions and attempt to dissuade anyone instead of holding tight for your game isn't needed.

Yup. Far as I'm concerned 2k11 is the one I still prefer. Live 10 right up there too

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