Producer C.J. Connoy conducts a tour of NBA ‘06
By Michael Lafferty

“NBA ‘06 features real life team- and player-based situations”

It’s showtime! Time to strut your stuff, rook – to show the rest of the NBA what you can do and to turn the world on its heels, take control and elevate from the ranks of newcomers to superstar status.

This is the life – NBA Life: Vol. 1, to be exact. It’s all part of the show and part of NBA ’06. But this title is not just about taking a rookie through the deals and on-court steals, scoring and assists, this is a game that plays out on many levels. The new “Showtime Gameplay” system challenges players to maintain the balance of teamwork, skill and entertainment. The NBA Life: Volume 1 takes players behind the scenes, from draft night to training game to upgrade skills. The game also works in concert with EyeToy, and players can go online for competition.

But let’s cut to the source and get the inside scoop on the title. For that, GameZone turned to SCEA and game producer C.J. Connoy.

Question: The game will feature a new aspect to the NBA gaming genre, which is NBA Life Vol. 1. Explain a little about why you felt the game should take this direction. How hard was it to thoroughly integrate customized characters into the scripted moments of that story thread?

C.J.: “In NBA ‘06, we set out to create something new and unique to NBA games on the PlayStation 2. We wanted to go behind the scenes to experience the life of a rookie point guard in the real NBA – on and off the court. What is it like to interact with teammates, coaches, your agent, your mom, and even your realtor? What does it feel like for a young player in the pre-draft workouts, on the team plane, or in your GM’s office? This is what players will experience in our new ‘NBA Life: Vol. 1’ mode.

“The NBA ‘06 team put a great deal of energy into making sure an NBA Life-created player was in the actual story scenes and gameplay. That includes your player living and breathing in a fully realized role in all aspects of your story. It makes the gameplay experience that much more personal.”

Q: NBA Life touches on key moments during the rookie year. How many moments will that entail? Will players actually get to play a full game? Will coaching decisions factor into it - as in sitting down the player to rest him?

C.J.: “In NBA ‘06, you compete through NBA Life season play. You must advance through more than a dozen unique drills and mini games, over 60 crunch-time scenarios, and full season/playoff games. This includes pre-draft workouts, summer league, training camp, season and playoff games, and The Finals – a nice combination of on and off court challenges. Expect to see about 30+ hours of game play total.

“Your coach and agent have a strong influence over your rookie experience. Both give you goals to work for and accomplish. Mission-based gameplay puts the player in control of how to attack those goals. You can listen to your coach and play fundamental basketball only, but you’d be ignoring your agent’s wishes for flashier, showtime gameplay where endorsements kick in. The best players in NBA ’06 will learn how to balance the two sides.”

Q: Once the 'Life' season begins, how much customization will gamers have? How much control over the progress of their toon?

C.J.: “In NBA ‘06, players control the look of their character, attributes gained, items unlocked, and bonus scenes/game play within the story. Progress is based on mission-based game play. It will be up to each player to determine which goals are necessary and which are considered bonus goals. 

Q: Will NBA '06 feature online support? If so, will players be able to link up with similarly skilled players or will it be luck of the match-up? Are there plans for tourneys?

C.J.: “NBA ‘06 does feature full online support. Based on actual performance, you receive a ranking so people can tell what level you are. Once you’re a highly ranked player you need to compete against other stars to continue to grow. Simply going online to knock out new guys won’t get it done. Tournaments, chat, e-mail, roster updates, narrowband, broadband and headset are among the many online features that are standard issue.”

Q:  Has the fundamental core control mechanics of the game changed in any way? What has been the biggest improvement in this year's iteration from previous releases?

C.J.: “NBA ‘06 has all-new animation and AI systems featuring realistic player interactions and real-life team situations. My favorite part of this year’s game is how the players interact so nicely together when doing things like setting a screen, taking a charge, attacking the basket, rebounding, or even basic things like putting a hand in the shooter’s face. These animations were planned, designed, motion captured, and implemented together to fit hand in glove.”

Q:  You are creating a game which will be coming out on the heels of an NBA season that has just completed. How do you deal with the short time frame for contract changes, roster changes and the like to make sure that your game, at the time of release, is up to date? 

C.J.: “The core players on a given NBA team are relatively set by late summer, so NBA ‘06 will definitely have the latest and greatest rosters. We take pride in getting every single player on the right team and in the correct position. If there is a trade or late free agent signing after we lock down code, however, the online roster updates take care of that.”  

Q:  Phil Jackson has signed on to return to the Lakers as their coach. When you create a game, does the person who is coaching the team factor in to team tendencies or skill levels?

C.J.: “NBA ‘06 features real life team- and player-based situations. Our designers use a special toolset and review tons of NBA video to create team, formation, and player situations based on attributes and game states. These are dynamic, so if you went in and traded Kobe off the Lakers then the team would attempt to run their offense through Lamar Odom or a combination of Caron Butler and other supporting players.”  

Q: What are your favorite elements of NBA '06?

C.J.: “NBA core simulation – A new 5-on-5 game with all the standard features and options we’ve come to expect in a fully licensed NBA title.

“The Life: Volume 1 – Create your character and play through that magical roller coaster ride NBA rookie season – behind the scenes on and off the court.

“Unique game experiences – More than a dozen mini-games and drills. 60+ crunch time scenarios. Earn attributes through evolutionary mission-based game play.

“Contest system – The new AI and animation in NBA ‘06 features realistic player interactions and real life team situations.”

Q: Who wins the NBA title next year, or based on all the numbers and stats you put into the game, who should win it? :)

C.J.: “The great thing about the NBA's seven game playoff setup is that, based purely on stats and attributes, the correct teams almost always advance into the later rounds. Being that the Spurs keep their coach and core team together they appear to be the early favorite to win next year's Finals.”

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