Interesting read. EA claims that September 25 was an incorrect date and they were never planning on releasing gameplay footage then. Still makes you wonder though since everything has been so silent since then.
I'm a firm believer that competition is good in everything. It pushes all involved to be at their best or to clearly be defined as inferior. If EA Sports' NBA Live series is going to regain its place as a virtual hardcourt juggernaut, or at least a legitimate threat to the NBA 2K series, the next two-to-three weeks of marketing and exposure are critical.
The NBA Live series was once the end-all-be-all of console basketball games, but near the year 2000, when the NBA 2K series debut, Live began to lose its grip. Fast forward to 2013, the franchise hasn't produced a version since NBA Live 10 and NBA 2K is undisputed king of the cyber hardwood.
Constant delays and cancellations, as noted by Andrew Goldfarb of IGN, have made a return to prominence more and more difficult. These issues dogged NBA Live's return to current-gen consoles, but it seems some of the same issues may be following the series in the next generation.
On Sept. 25, NBA Live was scheduled to have full five-on-five gameplay footage for the public. The reveal was cancelled and subsequently removed from the NBA.com website, per Steve Noah of Operation Sports.
Looks like the NBA website removed the NBA Live 14 trailer release dates. http://t.co/gFkSI1LkLw One was scheduled today. (HT @MrClutch514)
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) September 25, 2013
On NBA.com, the dates for the second and third trailer simply say: "October" now. As of now, all we've seen is the trailer below featuring cover athlete Kyrie Irving...
Presenting the Official #NBALIVE14 First Look Gameplay Trailer: http://t.co/9FosNQw6Vj #NothingButNext
— EA SPORTS NBA (@EASPORTSNBA) September 18, 2013
...and this screen shot featuring Irving and Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard.
As we promised, here’s the first gameplay screen for #NBALIVE14: pic.twitter.com/DvLc1SInIj
— EA SPORTS NBA (@EASPORTSNBA) September 16, 2013
Update by Brian Mazique, Oct. 3 at 1:15 p.m. ET
Per a conversation with Michael Yaeger of EA Sports, the dates that were initially posted by NBA.com weren't correct. Per Yaeger, Sept. 25 was never a planned date to release media.
---End of Update---
Despite the fact that NBA 2K has a hold on the top spot and 2K Sports just released another stellar effort with the current-gen version of NBA 2K14, I'll still give NBA Live 14 a chance.
Ultimately, like any other gamer, I just want to play the best game. NBA 2K14 is attempting to further increase their momentum into the next generation of consoles.
On Monday, 2K Sports dropped a 43-second TV spot that featured some in-game gameplay from cinematic camera angles—but gameplay nonetheless. NBA Live 14 fans and folks interested in the subject are still waiting on NBA Live 14 to shows its face.
The less gamers have seen NBA Live 14, the less likely they will be to choose it over NBA 2K14. There are still diehard Live fans who will simply wait on the series to hopefully make its triumphant return. That represents a little more than a cult following, and obviously, EA Sports wants more than that.
With just over a month before the launch of the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, NBA Live needs to make a significant impact on gamers when extended gameplay footage is seen. If the reception is lukewarm, the series could be in serious peril yet again.
Not even diehard NBA 2K fans should want that. Remember, competition helps us all.
The NBA Live series was once the end-all-be-all of console basketball games, but near the year 2000, when the NBA 2K series debut, Live began to lose its grip. Fast forward to 2013, the franchise hasn't produced a version since NBA Live 10 and NBA 2K is undisputed king of the cyber hardwood.
Constant delays and cancellations, as noted by Andrew Goldfarb of IGN, have made a return to prominence more and more difficult. These issues dogged NBA Live's return to current-gen consoles, but it seems some of the same issues may be following the series in the next generation.
On Sept. 25, NBA Live was scheduled to have full five-on-five gameplay footage for the public. The reveal was cancelled and subsequently removed from the NBA.com website, per Steve Noah of Operation Sports.
Looks like the NBA website removed the NBA Live 14 trailer release dates. http://t.co/gFkSI1LkLw One was scheduled today. (HT @MrClutch514)
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) September 25, 2013
On NBA.com, the dates for the second and third trailer simply say: "October" now. As of now, all we've seen is the trailer below featuring cover athlete Kyrie Irving...
Presenting the Official #NBALIVE14 First Look Gameplay Trailer: http://t.co/9FosNQw6Vj #NothingButNext
— EA SPORTS NBA (@EASPORTSNBA) September 18, 2013
...and this screen shot featuring Irving and Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard.
As we promised, here’s the first gameplay screen for #NBALIVE14: pic.twitter.com/DvLc1SInIj
— EA SPORTS NBA (@EASPORTSNBA) September 16, 2013
Update by Brian Mazique, Oct. 3 at 1:15 p.m. ET
Per a conversation with Michael Yaeger of EA Sports, the dates that were initially posted by NBA.com weren't correct. Per Yaeger, Sept. 25 was never a planned date to release media.
---End of Update---
Despite the fact that NBA 2K has a hold on the top spot and 2K Sports just released another stellar effort with the current-gen version of NBA 2K14, I'll still give NBA Live 14 a chance.
Ultimately, like any other gamer, I just want to play the best game. NBA 2K14 is attempting to further increase their momentum into the next generation of consoles.
On Monday, 2K Sports dropped a 43-second TV spot that featured some in-game gameplay from cinematic camera angles—but gameplay nonetheless. NBA Live 14 fans and folks interested in the subject are still waiting on NBA Live 14 to shows its face.
The less gamers have seen NBA Live 14, the less likely they will be to choose it over NBA 2K14. There are still diehard Live fans who will simply wait on the series to hopefully make its triumphant return. That represents a little more than a cult following, and obviously, EA Sports wants more than that.
With just over a month before the launch of the Playstation 4 and Xbox One, NBA Live needs to make a significant impact on gamers when extended gameplay footage is seen. If the reception is lukewarm, the series could be in serious peril yet again.
Not even diehard NBA 2K fans should want that. Remember, competition helps us all.
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