As EA SPORTS NBA Live has worked hard on re-building NBA LIVE the last few years, the top question and community request has been "Where is LIVE Run? When will we get Online Team Play?" Well, that request has been met with LIVE Pro-Am in NBA Live 16.
LIVE Pro-Am consists of two different online modes: Summer Circuit and the much-anticipated return of LIVE Run. Both modes consist of 5-on-5 action as teams aim to reach 21 points first using traditional two- and three-point goals.
In Summer Circuit, 1-5 users play on the same team as they work through five challenges on each of the real-life venues to unlock rewards such as gear and equipment. Some of the real-life venues users can play in include Rucker Park, Jordan Terminal 23, and Venice Beach. Each venue has an overall difficulty level with the five challenges also increasing in difficulty as you progress. Each game features a set of three objectives with one always being to win the game that will unlock the next challenge. Opponents in this mode consist of NBA players and some fictional teammates to deliver on the Pro-Am title. Success in this mode will require communication and teamwork.
Arguably the most popular feature in franchise history, LIVE Run returns allowing 2-10 players to square off in 5-on-5 action with their created player. The venues will be randomly selected, allowing users to see the great-looking courts added to the game.
In both modes, there is the possibility of CPU-controlled teammates. In our experience at the community events, the CPU players were competent but not over-powered. While there was uneasiness at first hearing of CPU-controlled players in the mix, they can/should be used by players to do things human players may be hesitant to do - set screens, crash the boards and rebound, etc. Knowing how to utilize your CPU teammates can be important in getting open and scoring on a pivotal possession.
Both LIVE RUN and Summer Circuit will require users to play according to their created player strengths (key skill), communicate, and develop/execute a strategy. The #RiseTogether hash-tag stresses how important it is that players work as a team. For one to achieve success, it will have to be accomplished together as a team.
Leaderboards and stat tracking for LIVE Pro-Am will allow users to monitor their success and compete against friends and fellow members of the NBA LIVE community.
Using the GamefaceHD app, users can scan their face in a matter of seconds and have a scarily accurate likeness in the game. To help make each user unique, the game features a bevy of clothing and apparel options as well as a large selection of tattoo choices from Randy Harris, arguably the top tattoo artist to NBA stars. As users complete LIVE Pro-Am and Rising Star games they are rewarded Skill Points and Reward Points to improve the skill and look of their player, respectively. This technology and methodology help to make each player unique - and with the inability to buy Skill or Reward Points with real-life currency, everything must be earned on the court; there are no shortcuts. If you want to get better, you need to earn it on the court.
As attendees played Summer Circuit and Live Run at the June and July NBA LIVE 16 community events, games would start out with some struggles as we devised a gameplan and understood player strengths - not just our teammates, but also our own. As we progressed through LIVE Pro-Am, a gameplan would emerge to focus on player key skills. For example, my created player was a shooting off-guard so I worked to set screens and pop open for long jumpers courtesy the point guard play of Andrew from NLSC. When the defense stopped that, we would look for YouTuber QJB's dominant big man in the post or looking for Ticoistocory or FLIGHT on the wings, slashing in. Playing as a great teammate is important in the game as it is in real life, so play wisely to get a high Teammate Grade.
On average it took approximately 7-12 minutes per LIVE Pro-Am game, allowing the group to play countless games. The competitive and fast-paced nature of the game led to us staying late in the studio several nights to keep playing, even squeezing in extra games in the minutes before the shuttle bus would arrive.
Losses seemingly almost always resulted in our team wanting to try immediately again as we worked on a new strategy and gameplan. A victory (especially against a tough human or CPU squad) typically resulted in cheering and applause among teammates.
LIVE Pro-Am is the mode that many NBA LIVE fans have been asking for since the return of the franchise with NBA LIVE 14. I look forward to playing the mode again in September with the community at-large and plan on sharing more tips for success at that time.
Please post any questions or comments you may have here or reach me on Twitter at @cdj80. Thanks for reading!
cdj is an EA SPORTS Game Changer and has attended community events for NBA Live 15 and NBA Live 16.
Additional links to community hands-on impressions will be added as available.
Andrew's (NLSC) LIVE Pro-Am Hands-On Impressions (An excerpt)
I’ve mentioned several times in my Friday Five articles, and in episodes of the NLSC Podcast, that I’m not a big online gamer. Not just when it comes to sports games: I’m usually just drawn to the single player experience, or local multiplayer with friends if we’re talking about fighting games. Therefore, in theory, while I’d naturally have an appreciation for these modes, I shouldn’t be too hyped about them.
However, this is where I have to give Summer Circuit and LIVE Run a ringing endorsement. While I’ll always love Dynasty Mode, I can see myself playing these modes in NBA Live 16, and having a lot of fun with them. As someone who traditionally hasn’t been all that into online modes – I’ve had some fun with them at times, but never been too keen on them – I’m not sure that there’s any higher praise I can offer than saying that these are modes that actually have me interested in playing online, and looking forward to doing so.
Again, I’m a fan of having separate in-game currencies for the ratings upgrades and player gear, as well as avoiding an ugly scenario where players can max out their player straight away by spending real money. The ratings and height/weight caps for different positions should keep things balanced, and cut down on cheese. I also like the integration with Rising Star, since your player can be levelled up across both modes, and the boosted ratings carry over if you start one mode after levelling up in the other. All in all, EA has taken a good approach with Pro-Am, and its Rising Star component.
Of course, a big reason that Pro-Am is so fun and appealing is because enhancements have been made to the gameplay in NBA Live 16.
Click here to read Andrew's full LIVE Pro-Am Hands-on impressions article.
QJB's Experience Playing Live Run & Summer Circuit:
FLIGHT's Experience Playing Pro-Am:
AzureEffect:
TicoisTocory's NBA Live 16 PRO-AM Impressions
Kspadetheprospect's Hands On Experience & Biggest Concern
Post-Game Podcast (Corey Andress & Marc Price) [iTunes - Libsyn]
Episode 20: Our hosts give their detailed impressions of @EASPORTSNBA's 'Pro-Am' mode & more! http://t.co/cm9y5LdIA8 pic.twitter.com/J1yRJbLJK0
— Post-Game Podcast (@PostGamePodcast) August 14, 2015
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