What We Know About NBA Live 15

With less than two months to release, NBA Live 15 has yet to officially reveal game information (or even a cover athlete) through official channels. However, this past week featured Executive Producer Sean O'Brien disclosing some game info via interviews with EGM and Game Informer. Game Informer also published an article with '20 Things We Know About NBA Live 15.'

As noted in the Amazon synopsis for the game, NBA Live 15 is "doubling down on visuals and ... gameplay improvements."

In terms of features the game will feature some logic and simulation changes to Dynasty and Rising Star modes, but will not include EASBL as the team works to improve the core experience before investing in online team play. Ultimate Team will add an Auction House, which should aid in user-to-user interactivity with the mode. Continue on to see the Game Informer article of 20 Things We Know About NBA Live 15 as well as links to the O'Brien interviews.


- Game Informer: Candid Conversation with NBA Live EP Sean O'Brien

- EGM Now: Developer Chat with NBA Live 15 Executive Producer Sean O’Brien

- Game Informer's Matt Bertz has put together a list of 20 things we know about NBA Live 15, most of which preclude any official announcements or blogs from EA SPORTS.

Presentation

• EA Tiburon invested in a different scanning technology for NBA Live 15 to drastically improve the player models. This change addresses every single asset in the game, from faces, hair, bodies, and skin to clothing, footwear, and accessories.
• Facial performances looks much more believable in the brief demo we saw. Players’ eyes track the basketball, and they react with emotion after making big plays.
• The commentary team of Mike Breen and Jeff Van Gundy returns. Given last year’s wooden performances, this year EA’s focus is on getting more banter injected in the proceedings. The two are spending more time recording side by side, and like NBA 2K, that dialogue between the two can be interrupted when something significant happens on the court.
• Jalen Rose returns as the master of ceremonies as well. EA plans to continue to deliver live commentary updates with Rose throughout the year to recognize league happenings and call out users who have made remarkable accomplishments within the game.

Gameplay

• The developers have completely overhauled the passing game and added more control back from Live 10, which to many was the last decent basketball effort from EA.
• To make dribbling moves, you simply need to flick the right analog stick right or left, not unlike the old freestyle controls.
• Short adjustment steps on defense should allow you to keep better positioning on defense. EA hopes you can stay in front of ball handlers using just the left analog stick.
• Defense is more active, with jostles and dribble bumps.
• EA is placing a big emphasis on transitional animations to make the action look more believable. This obviously includes getting rid of instances where players take shots with their backs to the basket, a particularly egregious animation foul that occurred last year.
• To cut down on clipping animations in the paint, EA has added physics to any player taking or contesting a shot. Now when players collide, the position of their forearms and hands are taken into account throughout the shot attempt.
• Taking a page from the seldom-heralded NCAA Basketball 10, Live 15 introduces new quick-action strategies that send a makeshift offense into motion at the tap of a button.
• EA is also integrating some play-calling icons into the game to give you better visual clues on how a play is supposed to develop. You can turn these on or off in the settings.

Game Modes

• EA says Live Seasons and Big Moments proved to be popular with gamers last year, so expect more of the same in Live 15.
• Given the popularity of Ultimate Team, Live Seasons, and Rising Star, by default Dynasty is becoming less prominent in the development cycle. That said, the team is determined to fix the sim engine so it creates better results with the right teams winning and more believable player movement through trades and free agency.
• EA has not altered the trade mechanics to let you include future draft picks.
• Much like FIFA and Madden have done in recent years, NBA Live 15 has a new on-boarding process that can teach new players the basic controls or educate returning players on how to use advanced controls through both minigames and five-on-five scrimmages.
• Fans of the EASBL will have to wait another year before the mode returns. EA wants to wait until the head-to-head online competitions, general gameplay, and visuals are up to par before investing in online team play.
• Ultimate Team is receiving an auction house this year, but no standalone app on mobile phones or tablets.
• Don’t expect Rising Star to follow in the footsteps of NBA 2K’s MyCareer mode. EA has no plans to integrate cutscenes into the mode. For Live 15, the developers are focusing on improving the performance tracking.
• EA Tiburon plans to launch a free trial on both Xbox One and PlayStation 4 so people can experience the game before buying.