Why Was NBA Live 17 Cancelled? A Deep Dive into EA’s Basketball Gamble
The direct answer: NBA Live 17 was cancelled primarily because EA wanted to dedicate more development time and resources to building a significantly improved product for the following year, which became NBA Live 18. The decision was a strategic move to avoid releasing a subpar game and potentially damaging the franchise’s long-term prospects. EA essentially took a year off to regroup, reassess, and rebuild the game from the ground up, hoping to finally deliver a basketball simulation that could compete effectively with the dominant NBA 2K series.
The State of NBA Live Before the Cancellation
Before diving deeper, it’s essential to understand the context surrounding NBA Live prior to the NBA Live 17 cancellation. For years, the NBA Live franchise had struggled to maintain relevance in the basketball gaming market. Plagued by inconsistent gameplay, lackluster graphics, and a lack of innovative features, NBA Live consistently fell short of expectations. The shadow of the NBA 2K juggernaut loomed large, presenting an almost insurmountable challenge.
EA recognized this issue and attempted various approaches to revitalize the franchise. They rebooted the series with NBA Elite 11, which was so poorly received that it was ultimately shelved. They rebranded again with NBA Live 14, coinciding with the launch of the new console generation, but this also failed to make a significant impact. Subsequent iterations like NBA Live 15 and NBA Live 16 showed incremental improvements, but they still weren’t enough to sway players from the established dominance of NBA 2K.
Therefore, cancelling NBA Live 17 wasn’t necessarily a sign of failure, but rather a calculated risk. EA decided that releasing another mediocre game would be more damaging than taking a temporary step back to focus on long-term quality.
The Decision-Making Process
The decision to cancel NBA Live 17 likely involved careful consideration and analysis from various stakeholders within EA Sports. Factors that probably played a key role include:
- Market Analysis: Understanding the market landscape and recognizing the dominance of NBA 2K was crucial. EA needed to acknowledge that competing effectively would require a significantly superior product.
- Internal Assessments: The development team likely conducted internal assessments of the game’s progress and identified areas where it fell short. Honest appraisals of gameplay mechanics, graphics, and overall polish would have been essential.
- Resource Allocation: EA had to consider the resources required to develop a truly competitive basketball game. Perhaps the resources allocated to NBA Live 17 were insufficient to achieve the desired level of quality.
- Brand Reputation: Continuing to release subpar games could further damage the NBA Live brand, making it even more difficult to attract players in the future.
By weighing these factors, EA ultimately determined that cancelling NBA Live 17 and investing in a more ambitious NBA Live 18 was the best course of action.
The Promises of NBA Live 18
When NBA Live 18 was finally released, it came with a host of promises and improvements. EA touted enhanced gameplay mechanics, improved graphics, and a greater focus on player customization and progression. The game introduced “The One”, a new career mode that allowed players to create a unique basketball journey across both street and professional settings.
While NBA Live 18 did represent a step forward for the franchise, it still struggled to gain significant traction against NBA 2K. The gameplay, while improved, still felt somewhat clunky compared to its rival. Graphics, while visually appealing, lacked the level of detail and realism found in NBA 2K. And despite the promising “The One” career mode, it didn’t quite capture the imagination of the gaming community in the same way that NBA 2K’s offerings did.
The Ultimate Demise of NBA Live
Despite the efforts to revive the franchise, NBA Live ultimately failed to compete effectively with NBA 2K. Further iterations, including NBA Live 19 and the ultimately cancelled NBA Live 20 and NBA Live 21, demonstrated that EA was unable to close the gap in terms of gameplay, graphics, and overall appeal. The team canceled NBA Live 20 due to the transition to the next generation of consoles, and NBA Live 21 was cancelled for similar reasons, effectively signalling the end of the line for the franchise, at least for now.
The story of NBA Live serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of competing in a market dominated by a well-established and high-quality product. It also highlights the importance of making difficult decisions, such as cancelling a game, in order to protect a brand’s long-term reputation.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about NBA Live and its cancellation:
1. Why was NBA Live discontinued after NBA Live 19?
NBA Live 20 was canceled because EA chose to focus on developing a next-generation basketball game, which never materialized. NBA Live 21 was also canned for similar reasons, and the series has remained dormant since then.
2. Was Michael Jordan ever in NBA Live?
Officially, Michael Jordan wasn’t directly included in most NBA Live games due to licensing issues related to his individual agreements. He was often represented by a “Roster Player” or a generic character. However, he did appear in older iterations of the series.
3. Is NBA 2K definitively better than NBA Live?
Generally, NBA 2K is considered superior to NBA Live by most gamers and critics. NBA 2K typically features better graphics, more realistic gameplay, and a wider range of features and game modes.
4. What were some of the main criticisms of NBA Live games?
Common criticisms included clunky gameplay, inferior graphics compared to NBA 2K, a lack of innovation, and a failure to capture the authentic feel of NBA basketball.
5. Did EA ever try to reboot the NBA Live franchise?
Yes, EA attempted to reboot the franchise with NBA Elite 11, which was ultimately shelved due to its poor quality. They also rebranded with NBA Live 14 for the new console generation, but this also failed to revitalize the series.
6. What was “The One” in NBA Live 18?
“The One” was NBA Live 18‘s career mode, allowing players to create a customized basketball journey, competing in streetball tournaments and the NBA.
7. Why did the NBA ban certain shoes worn by Michael Jordan?
The NBA banned the Nike Air Ship worn by Michael Jordan due to their color scheme violating the league’s uniform policies. This ban led to significant marketing opportunities for Nike.
8. How did Nike benefit from the NBA banning Jordan’s shoes?
Nike embraced the ban as a marketing tool, creating the “Banned” campaign that generated significant buzz and sales for the Air Jordan line.
9. What was the NBA’s “51% white shoe rule”?
The NBA had a rule requiring shoes to be predominantly white, but this rule was gradually relaxed and eventually eliminated in 2018, allowing players to wear more expressive sneaker designs.
10. Why did the NBA ban ninja-style headbands?
The NBA banned ninja-style headbands due to safety concerns and inconsistencies in length and size.
11. How much did the first Air Jordans cost?
The first Air Jordans, the Air Jordan I, were priced at $65 upon their release in 1985.
12. Why was Michael Jordan fined for wearing his jersey number?
Michael Jordan was fined for wearing his 23 jersey when he returned from retirement because the league hadn’t approved the change in numbers, incurring a $25,000 fine.
13. Who developed NBA Live 19?
NBA Live 19 was developed by EA Tiburon and published by EA Sports.
14. What are some alternatives to NBA Live Mobile?
Alternatives to NBA Live Mobile include NBA Top Shot, NBA All-World, and allBall.
15. What is the cheapest way to watch NBA games online?
Sling TV is one of the more affordable streaming services for watching NBA games.
This analysis paints a complete picture of the NBA Live 17 cancellation and the franchise’s subsequent struggles. While the series may be gone for now, its history provides valuable lessons about the competitive nature of the video game industry.