I've yet to play a mobile game that is even a shadow of it's console self. So I don't have high hopes for NBA Live 07, or at least the mobile version of the game.

It's going to feature Marv Albert doing play-by-play, a season mode, hundreds of animations and no chance of interesting me.

Sadist mobile gamers should hit the jump. Brian Crecente

BUS, TRAIN OR PLANE, SPORTS FANS ARE ALWAYS
COURTSIDE WITH EA'S NBA LIVE 07 FOR MOBILE PHONES

LOS ANGELES, Calif., - November 15, 2006 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the availability of NBA LIVE 07 for mobile, allowing basketball fans to shoot and score on the go. In its 13th year, EA's NBA LIVE franchise has been a slam dunk with fans and is one of the top selling basketball franchises. NBA LIVE 07 for mobile will feature all 30 NBA teams, over 400 real NBA players, five on five action and textured courts and logos. NBA LIVE 07 is available now on major wireless carriers throughout North America.

"EA Mobile is thrilled to work with the NBA to bring NBA LIVE 07 to the mobile handsets of basketball fans across the country," said Travis Boatman, vice president of worldwide mobile studios for EA Mobile. "With hallmark sports franchises like NBA LIVE, EA Mobile ensures no sports fanatic is ever far from the action."

Legendary sportscaster Marv Albert offers courtside calls in layered audio, providing expert insight and play-by-play commentary. Basketball fans can tip off against rival teams in season mode where hundreds of animations bring to life every court movement, and deliver realistic player movements for shooting, rebounding, and spectacular dunks. Innovative features, designed specifically for mobile gameplay, allow gamers to zoom in on the action, slowing down the action to enable precision passing on the mobile screen. Advanced graphics, sound effects and device vibrations add to the game's realism.

For detailed information on NBA LIVE 07 availability, visit www.eamobile.com.

But once you get into the game it runs silky smooth. I didn't notice any stutters, hang-ups or graphic glitches. The high-res, sweaty graphics are slick and smooth and lead to a bit of fun gameplay, but in the end I'm not sure if a basketball game is the best title on which to push the graphics envelope

The gameplay is solid, but nothing remarkable. People who have played with the franchise, or any basketball video game should be able to pick-up the game and get into the rhythm of things pretty quickly.

For the most part the controls are fairly straightforward. The game does incorporate a handful of uses of the Sixaxis motion sensing, but these don't seem to respond very well, which is strange sense every other game that uses them does quite well.

In the end I gave up trying to title, shake, and jar the controller back-and-forth and side-to-side in lieu of just using the thumbstick to execute the same moves

I found with NBA 07, much like with the 360's launch sport's titles, that the only thing next-gen about the game was the graphics. Which is fine, but you'd think that developers could find better uses for all that horsepower besides making people look really wet.

If you're a basketball fan or a sports fan, this will probably satisfy your itch nicely, otherwise I'd give it a pass. Brian Crecente

This briefish video shows you what the controller menu looks like and what you can do with the Playstation button on it. It also lets you see what the loadtime is for NBA 07. Brian Crecente

NBA 07
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Brian Crecente

Graphics so.. very... tiny. I saw this one in person, though I didn't play it. From what I saw, I'd say it's maybe a half-step forward from current 360 BB games. Of course, do we really need to have high-def sweat? At some point I just don't care about higher res. Brian Crecente