Joel caught up with Senior Producer C.J. Connoy about living the life of an NBA star, brand new Showtime Gameplay and the whole host of new features in NBA '06.
Hi can you first tell us your name and title and your involvement with the development of NBA '06 for the PS2?
C.J. Connoy. Sr. Producer on the NBA '06 development team.
What is NBA '06 all about and what sort of improvements have you made to your basketball series?
We created a brand new 5-on-5 NBA simulation based on a new AI system (player and team specific scenarios), a new animation system (tandem, multi-player animations based on attributes), and new graphics system (Character Fidelity Engine).
Also we have an all-new mode called "The Life." In this mode, you'll be able to go behind the scenes and live the real life of an up-and-coming NBA star. You'll get to experience the Draft in NYC all the way to The Finals and walk in the shoes of an NBA rookie phenomenon.
A key element we've included is something called Showtime Gameplay. They key to being a successful player in The Life is to balance teamwork with entertainment and take over an arena while keeping your teammates involved. Showtime gameplay challenges you with the control to balance highlight gameplay and poster dunks with team play.
Of course we have new NBA Mini-Games. There are over a dozen challenging mini- games and drills available including single player, head to head, and online. Various mini-games include "Own the Court", "Claim the Post", "Downtown", 1-on-1, 3-on-3, 21, and many more.
We have heard storylines are going to be an important part of the gameplay experience. Can you explain how that is going to work in the game?
Basically, your player's storyline is to experience life behind the scenes as an up-and-coming NBA star. You experience everything from Draft night to The Finals. You go against NBA superstars and full season play featuring mini-games, drills, and clutch-time scenarios. You interact with your agent, teammates, coaches, family, and rivals - on and off the court. Experience injuries, trades, press conferences, endorsements, and all that big time NBA star pressure. This is a first in any NBA game.
Sounds great. And how is training your character going to work in the game and how much training is going to be involved as you play through the game?
From the very beginning of the "The Life," your player starts earning attribute points as your learn to play the game through drills, mini-games, training camp, etc. The drills are there to help you learn the fundamentals as you move through your story. Training is done in the pre-draft workouts, in training camp with the team that drafts you, and during the season. Your player is able to earn attributes all the way up through Game 7 of The Finals. Attributes affect your speed, basketball skills, special moves, shooting ratings, etc.
Speaking of shooting, how is it being executed in the game?
NBA '06 features a brand new hold-and-release shooting system that gives the player a visual representation (real time graphic) of a shooter's shooting attribute.
No longer will your opponent be able to say, "That should've gone in!" The numbers don't lie.
NBA '06 features a "halo" graphic over the ball that communicates the colors red, yellow, and green. Shooting is based on range to basket, shooter's speed, shooter's particular animation (degree of difficulty), shooter's strong/weak shooting hand, and defender presence (and their relationship/angle(s) to the shooter). Of course, defenders can always try to block a shot attempt no matter how pure the release.
What sort of gameplay features will separate this game from the rest of the NBA games out there?
We believe it will be NBA '06's Showtime Gameplay - A game within a game. It's about perfecting the balance in creating your highlight reel, making everyone around you better, or both. Your play is tracked and immediately affects your teammates' in-game player attributes (offensive and defensive). For example, if you are selfish and take too many consecutive shots with one player, your teammates will naturally feel 'left out' and their defensive energy and shooting attributes will drop. The opposite is also true, as consecutive assists will make your team better.
Meanwhile, if you successfully complete Showtime passes like no-looks and alley-oops, your own speed and endurance attributes will increase putting you in the zone and making you a step quicker than everyone else. Just like in the real NBA.
There is a risk/reward system built into Showtime gameplay: going for the more difficult moves (no-looks and alley oops) earns Showtime points which translates into increased attribute points for the individual and team. However, it can take away those same attribute points - very quickly if you're not careful.
Is the game going to include any online play and if so what sort of things can we expect to see?
NBA '06 features a complete online feature set including player matching, rankings, voice and text chat, email, tournaments, and forums.
How long will the career mode last, and what can we expect in terms of replay value?
The Life focuses on the roller coaster ride, on and off the court, of a magical NBA season. Your team. Your story. Walk in a rookie's shoes and go behind the scenes in the real NBA. It is a game play driven mode where the only way to advance is to keep beating the game. You play through all the various experiences from the pre-draft workouts, training camp, summer league, personal training sessions, full season play, playoffs, and The Finals. There are over 200 scenes, 60+ crunch time scenarios, more than a dozen mini-game and drills, full season and playoffs, and fully realized character and story development.
You can beat the game by listening to your coach and playing kind of conservative. However, there is a lot more available if you want it. You can also beat the game using Showtime style to unlock endorsements, a special ending sequence for that type of player. This is a balance between getting all your team goals completed (from coach) and your Showtime goals (from your agent). It's up to you how you play it. With all the game content packed into the "The Life" it's being estimated at about 20-30 hours of total game play the first time through.
If you beat the game, your "Life" player is unlocked as a free agent in the core game and you're able to go back and replay all of the games, drills, and scenarios to reach 100% completion. If someone is able to beat "The Life" 100% they should give me a call!
Just out of curiosity which team do you choose as your team of choice?
I am most definitely a Lakers fan.
Is there any chance of seeing this game will also be hitting the PS3?
SCEA's NBA franchise will support both the PS2 and PSP. Our main focus is to get NBA '06 completed for the PS2. The Life is something unique and innovative that we're hoping to carry on to future platforms.
When can we expect NBA '06 to hit store shelves?
October 2005.
