Software:NBA Live 2000

From HandWiki
Short description: 1999 basketball video game
NBA Live 2000
NBA Live 2000
PlayStation cover art featuring San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan and the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan (top right)
Developer(s)Playstation/Windows: EA Canada
Nintendo 64: NuFX
Publisher(s)EA Sports
SeriesNBA Live
EngineVirtual Stadium
Platform(s)Windows, PlayStation, Nintendo 64
ReleaseWindows, Nintendo 64
  • NA: October 29, 1999[1]
  • EU: 1999 (PC)
  • EU: December 1999 (N64)
PlayStation
Genre(s)Sports (Basketball)
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer

NBA Live 2000 is the 2000 installment of the NBA Live video game series. The cover features Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. The game was developed by EA Sports and released in 1999. Don Poier is the play-by-play announcer with Reggie Theus on color commentary. The game features Michael Jordan in his first official appearance in the series. The PC version of the game introduced EA's "Face in the Game" feature, allowing players to use custom facial photographs on created players. It was also the final NBA Live game released for Nintendo 64. NBA Live 2000 is followed by NBA Live 2001. A cancelled Game Boy Color version was in development by Handheld Games for THQ, but it was scrapped during testing.

Features

  • Take on Legendary NBA Players: All-Star teams from each of five past decades. Play with the Legends 1-on-1 or 5-on-5.
  • Play with Michael Jordan: Go 1-on-1 in a street court duel or play him on a Legends team.
  • Enhanced Player Animations: New in-game speech; hear on-court player reactions. High fives, knuckle touches and more.
  • Deeper Franchise Mode: Full NBA draft and total team management.
  • Face in the game: Download your, or any face onto a player model and play with the pros. Create a whole team of you and your friends.

Notes

  • NBA Live 2000 was the first game to include legendary players, including Michael Jordan who made his first (official) appearance in the series.
  • The PC and PlayStation version of NBA Live 2000 supported Dolby Digital audio compression technologies
  • One-on-One Mode made its debut in the game.
  • The game saw the debut of Face in the Game which gave players the opportunity to import a photo to be used as a cyberface for a created player.
  • The first (and last) game to feature the team of Don Poier and Reggie Theus on commentary.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
N64PCPS
CGWN/A5/5 stars[9]N/A
EGM9/10[10]N/A8.5/10[11][lower-alpha 1]
Game Informer8.25/10[12]N/A8.5/10[13]
GameFanN/AN/A(J.B.) 89%[14]
88%[15][lower-alpha 2]
GameRevolutionN/AN/AC+[16]
GameSpot7.4/10[17]8.1/10[18]8.2/10[19]
GameSpyN/A90%[20]N/A
IGN7.1/10[21]9.2/10[22]8.8/10[23]
Next GenerationN/AN/A4/5 stars[24]
Nintendo Power7.9/10[25]N/AN/A
OPM (US)N/AN/A4.5/5 stars[26]
PC Gamer (US)N/A90%[28]N/A
Aggregate score
GameRankings80%[3]88%[4]85%[5]

The game received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to video game review aggregator GameRankings.[3][4][5] Rob Smolka of NextGen said of the PlayStation version, "This is as good as a basketball game gets on the PlayStation."[24] In Japan, where the same console version was ported and published by Electronic Arts Square on February 24, 2000, Famitsu gave it a score of 27 out of 40.[29]

Brett Alan Weiss of AllGame gave the PlayStation version four-and-a-half stars out of five, calling it "the most complete and most fun basketball game to ever grace the PlayStation."[30] However, Anthony Baize of the same website gave the Nintendo 64 version three-and-a-half stars out of five, saying, "NBA Live 2000 is probably the best basketball simulation to hit the N64 in the late 1990s. If you like hard-driving basketball action, then NBA Live 2000 is a game you want in your collection."[31] William Abner of Computer Games Strategy Plus gave the same PC version four stars out of five, saying, "NBA Live 2000 is a fun basketball game even with the quirks. If you are a fan of the NBA Live series then Live 2000 is a must buy."[32] Martin Kitts of N64 Magazine gave the N64 version 65%, saying, "Dedicated Michael Jordan fans will lap it up but NBA Live 2000 isn't the basketball game for the rest of us."[33]

The Rookie of GamePro said of the N64 version, "While its not the most perfect hoops game in the world, it still offers the gameplay goods to satisfy any fan of the sport."[34][lower-alpha 3] iBot said of the same console version, "Most of the innovations are good [...] but the graphical weaknesses and the useless Arcade mode make NBA Live 2000 seem like there's room at the top for another hoops title to take the crown on Nintendo 64."[35][lower-alpha 4] Andrew S. Bub said of the PC version, "All the new modes, the improved graphics, and the fantastic gameplay make NBA Live 2000 worth the extra cash."[36][lower-alpha 5] Uncle Dust stated in one review, "With all of the players and then some, terrific control, very solid graphics, and tight game play, NBA Live 2000 for the PlayStation is at the top of its division, much better than Template:I N64 counterpart and solid competition for any hoops title on any system."[37][lower-alpha 6] The Enforcer said that the same console version "continues the series' tradition of excellence, giving games all they could want in a basketball title with its stellar graphics, fast frame rate, and ungodly roster of all-time greats."[38][lower-alpha 7]

Computer Games Strategy Plus,[39] Computer Gaming World,[40] and PC Gamer US[41] nominated the PC version for their 1999 "Sports Game of the Year" (CGSP, CGW) and "Best Sports Game" (PCGUS) awards, all of which ultimately went to High Heat Baseball 2000. The staff of CGSP called it "Trash-talking hoops action of the finest blend. What it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in its Airness--as in Jordan";[39] and PCGUS' staff wrote, "the on-court play is the best in the business thanks to a major improvement of the computer AI, and the franchise mode is as much fun as the actual gameplay."[41] It was also nominated for CNET Gamecenter's "Best Sports Game" award, which lost to NHL 2000;[42] and for the "Sports Game of the Year" award at GameSpot's Best & Worst of 1999 Awards, which went to High Heat Baseball 2000.[43]

Said PC version alone sold 73,101 units by April 2000.[44]

Notes

  1. In Electronic Gaming Monthly's review of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 8.5/10, two gave it each a score of 9/10, and another gave it 7.5/10.
  2. In GameFan's viewpoint of the PlayStation version, one critic gave it 89, and the other 87.
  3. GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and overall fun factor, and two 3.5/5 scores for sound and control in one review.
  4. GamePro gave the Nintendo 64 version 3.5/5 for graphics, two 4/5 scores for sound and overall fun factor, and 3/5 for control in another review.
  5. GamePro gave the PC version 5/5 for graphics, 3/5 for sound, 4/5 for control, and 4.5/5 for overall fun factor.
  6. GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and sound, and two 5/5 scores for control and overall fun factor in one review.
  7. GamePro gave the PlayStation version two 4.5/5 scores for graphics and control, 4/5 for sound, and 5/5 for overall fun factor in another review.

References

  1. Abner, William (October 29, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 in stores". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/023/183/nbal2000.html. 
  2. Kennedy, Sam (November 16, 1999). "PlayStation NBA Live 2000 Ships [date mislabeled as "April 27, 2000""]. Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-nba-live-2000-ships/1100-2446906/. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "NBA Live 2000 for Nintendo 64". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/n64/198077-nba-live-2000/index.html. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "NBA Live 2000 for PC". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/192939-nba-live-2000/index.html. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 "NBA Live 2000 for PlayStation". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/ps/198078-nba-live-2000/index.html. 
  6. Ham, Tom (December 21, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (N64)". CNET. http://gamecenter.com/Consoles/Nintendo/Nbalive2000/. 
  7. Schuytema, Paul (November 30, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (PC)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3465,00.html. 
  8. Hamilton, Lew (December 17, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (PS)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Consoles/Sony/Nbalive2000/. 
  9. Jones, Eric (February 2000). "Air Apparent (NBA Live 2000 Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (187): 134. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_187.pdf. Retrieved October 9, 2023. 
  10. "NBA Live 2000 (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (125): 270. December 1999. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-1734-270.jpg. Retrieved February 11, 2021. 
  11. Leahy, Dan; Ricciardi, John; Hager, Dean; Zuniga, Todd (January 2000). "NBA Live 2000 (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Ziff Davis) (126): 231. https://archive.org/details/electronicgamingmonthlyvol126january2000600dpi/Electronic%20Gaming%20Monthly%20Vol.%20126%20%5BJanuary%202000%5D/page/n227/mode/2up. Retrieved February 12, 2021. 
  12. "NBA Live 2000 (N64)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (80). December 1999. 
  13. McNamara, Andy; Anderson, Paul; Reiner, Andrew (January 2000). "NBA Live 2000 (PS)". Game Informer (FuncoLand) (81). http://gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4334. Retrieved April 28, 2015. 
  14. Boor, Jay "Doctor J" (December 7, 1999). "REVIEW for NBA Live 2000 (PS)". Shinno Media. http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1411&t=r. 
  15. Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Ngo, George "Eggo" (January 2000). "NBA Live 2000 (PS)". GameFan (Shinno Media) 8 (1): 89. https://archive.org/details/Gamefan_Vol_8_Issue_01/page/n89/mode/2up. Retrieved February 11, 2021. 
  16. Dr. Moo (December 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review (PS)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/39380-nba-live-2000-review. 
  17. MacDonald, Ryan (November 18, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review (N64)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-live-2000-review/1900-2544893/. 
  18. Chin, Elliott (November 23, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review (PC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-live-2000-review/1900-2543768/. 
  19. MacDonald, Ryan (November 22, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review (PS)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/nba-live-2000-review/1900-2548593/. 
  20. Accardo, Sal (November 15, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (PC)". IDG Entertainment. http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/nba2k_a.shtm. 
  21. Boulding, Aaron (November 19, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (N64)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/11/20/nba-live-2000-5. 
  22. Saltzman, Marc (December 8, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/09/nba-live-2000-2. 
  23. Zydrko, David (December 6, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 (PS)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/07/nba-live-2000-3. 
  24. 24.0 24.1 Smolka, Rob (February 2000). "NBA Live 2000 (PS)". NextGen (Imagine Media) (62): 96. https://archive.org/details/NextGen62Feb2000/page/n97/mode/2up. Retrieved February 11, 2021. 
  25. "NBA Live 2000". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 127: 156. December 1999. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-369-156.jpg. Retrieved October 9, 2023. 
  26. "NBA Live 2000". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine (Ziff Davis) 3 (4). January 2000. 
  27. PCA staff (January 2000). "NBA Live 2000". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (17): 91. https://archive.org/details/PCXL17Jan2000/page/n89/mode/2up. Retrieved February 11, 2021. 
  28. Smolka, Rob (February 2000). "NBA Live 2000". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 7 (2). http://www.pcgamer.com/archives/2005/07/nba_live_2000.html. Retrieved April 28, 2015. 
  29. "NBAライブ2000 [PS"] (in ja). Famitsu (Enterbrain). https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=19057&redirect=no. Retrieved October 9, 2023. 
  30. Weiss, Brett Alan. "NBA Live 2000 (PS) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20396&tab=review. 
  31. Baize, Anthony. "NBA Live 2000 (N64) - Review". All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=19934&tab=review. 
  32. Abner, William (November 13, 1999). "NBA Live 2000". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/059/nbalive2k_review.html. 
  33. Kitts, Martin (February 2000). "NBA Live 2000". N64 Magazine (Future Publishing) (38): 69. https://www.nintendo64ever.com/scans/mags/Scan-Magazine-519-69.jpg. Retrieved October 9, 2023. 
  34. The Rookie (December 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Lights Up the N64". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (135): 216. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_135_December_1999_U/page/n209/mode/2up. Retrieved February 11, 2021. 
  35. iBot (November 16, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review for N64 on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://gamepro.com/nintendo/n64/games/reviews/3112.shtml. Retrieved June 8, 2021. 
  36. Bub, Andrew S. (November 24, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/3313.shtml. Retrieved April 28, 2015. 
  37. Uncle Dust (November 18, 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/3183.shtml. Retrieved June 8, 2021. 
  38. The Enforcer (December 1999). "NBA Live 2000 Sets the Net on Fire". GamePro (IDG Entertainment) (135): 208. https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_135_December_1999_U/page/n201/mode/2up. Retrieved February 11, 2021. 
  39. 39.0 39.1 CGSP staff (March 6, 2000). "The Computer Games Awards (Sports Game of the Year)". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://cdmag.com/articles/026/150/sports_racing.html#sports. 
  40. CGW staff (March 2000). "The 2000 Premier Awards (Sports Game of the Year)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (188): 80. https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_188.pdf. Retrieved October 9, 2023. 
  41. 41.0 41.1 PC Gamer staff (March 2000). "The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards (Best Sports Game)". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 7 (3): 54. 
  42. Gamecenter staff (January 21, 2000). "The Gamecenter Awards for 1999! (Sports)". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards99/ss02u.html. 
  43. GameSpot staff (2000). "The Best & Worst of 1999 Awards (Sports Game of the Year, Nominees)". Ziff Davis. http://www.gamespot.com/features/1999/p3_08.html. 
  44. PC Gamer staff (April 2000). "PC Gamer Editors' Choice Winners: Does Quality Matter?". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 7 (4): 33. 

External links