Xbox Live sucks (or maybe I’m just being a bitter, sore loser)
Kobe Bryant (photo. Chris Sembrot)I hate Kobe Bryant a little bit more this morning.
OK, scratch that: I don’t hate Kobe, I hate the guy who I played on Xbox Live yesterday who put on the Greatest Cherry-Picking Show on Earth — starring Kobe Bryant — and had me more frustrated with a video game than I’ve been since I was five years old I was was physically moving the Nintendo controller, not understanding why Super Mario wouldn’t do what I wanted him to. (Did I accidentally plant the seeds for the Wii back in ‘87?)
I’m new to this whole Xbox Live thing. As in, after months of pestering from friends, I just got signed onto it yesterday at my apartment. Naturally, the first game I popped in was College Hoops 2K8, which I think I’m pretty good at, seeing as my current season with Georgetown has me dropping multiple 50-point games with Roy Hibbert and a couple 40-spots with DaJuan Summers (or the unnamed fictional GU players who just happen to look and play exactly like Roy and DaJuan, whose names are already implanted into the game separately, only it’s definitely not them because if it was, that would mean you’d have to pay them. Anyway…) For my first Xbox Live experience, my opponent picked Kansas (way to go out there on a limb, dude), I picked UCLA (had to match fire with fire), and we had a good, competitive game that I lost in the final minutes (which I’ll blame on my fiancee for calling me and distracting me with dinner plans during a crucial juncture in the second half). The person I played against had some “tricks” that I wasn’t used to from always playing against the computer, but I adjusted and got back in the game.
After that, I switched to NBA 2K8, and ultimate frustration was right around the corner. My first few games weren’t bad: my Sonics lost to the Hawks, understandable because Seattle is the worst team on the game; my Bulls beat the Warriors; and my Magic crushed the Heat. (I had no idea how much more satisfying it is to get a W when playing online as opposed to playing the CPU.) Then I lost a heart-breaker, with me being T-Mac and the Rockets and dropping a nail-biter to TWO people (didn’t know you could do that) who controlled LeBron and the Cavs. Like, literally, one of them controlled LeBron and the other one controlled the rest of the Cavs. This duo used more of the “tricks” I saw in the Kansas/UCLA game — a bunch of harassing inbound and backcourt traps, mainly — but nothing awful.
The epic losing streak (Mavs, Pistons, Spurs, Bobcats) really started at the hands of the Lakers, against four different people who played four equally irritating styles. Two of the Lakers-users basically took every shot with Kobe, with varying strategy; one being the cherry-picking fest that I was unable to stop even when I tried to think outside the box, pick the ‘Cats and stick Gerald Wallace on Kobe like glue. I only blame myself for losing these games, and maybe I’m just not as good as I thought on video games, and maybe it’s just all about winning however you can, but I feel like some kind of unwritten agreement was broken that we were gonna at least try to play something resembling a “real” basketball game.
Long story short, it was not a fun experience for an Xbox Live rookie. For the online gaming vets out there, is this always how it’s gonna be? Did I just come across a bad batch of “cheesers” on my first day? Do I just need to figure out these little tricks of the trade and get my 2K weight up? I’m a competitive person — as evidenced by me staying up embarrassingly late last night just because I refused to go to bed on a loss — and I’m not gonna roll over and stop playing, but I would like to think there are some people out there like me who aren’t just interested in putting on video game dunk contests or seeing if they can hit 81 with Kobe.
(And no, I’m not letting anyone know my gamertag until I get better.)
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Michorizo says:
Austin
Please work with your crew in finding out when I am going to receive my Barkley Jersey from the Summer Giveaway contests…it has been a while.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
G says:
I smell you. Some of the people on xbox live are ridiculous. Some seriously need the jaws of life to get Kobes nuts out of their mouths. But have faith its not like that all the time. There are some of us who like to play a somewhat realistic type game. Were the ones that will pick the bobcats and still put in work. Or the ones who will pick the Cavs and then drop 30 with Delonte (I said SOMEWHAT realistic) while Lebron just does all the dishing. Try and stick to headset games, theyre usually better and at least you can let dude know when hes being a puss. Unfortunately its prob some 12 year old kid somewhere.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Sam I Am says:
LOL man we’ve all been there
People be cheating and that’s just a fact
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
justice says:
user name is yungroyalty anybody can get it, i call plays and the whole 9, the better u get the better competitors u will come across on hall of fame that bs doesnt fly. 2k9 is gonna be sick can’t wait till tuesday.
when do i get my marbury mag
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
YOUNGFED says:
The only way you’re gonna get better Austin is by playing other people. Invite friends over start tournaments cause the CPU ain’t gonna cut it. That was probably me by the way giving you 81 w/K-Hova
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
fallinup says:
Playing the CPU then jumping on Live is a big jump. It’ll take you a little bit to figure all the little cheats that the others know. And I swear, some of these cats spend waaaaaay too much time on Live.
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
kg fan says:
i feel the same way, did you know steve nash is automatic from the 3 point line in that game? and amare is pretty unstoppable as well. if you play the suns just expect a lot of pull up 3’s from nash
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:50 pm
J Tok says:
haha same stuff happened to me, I was the Knicks and he was kobe… just kobe… he cherry picked the whole time, but I figured out how to stop him and just kept droppin three bombs with crawford and marbury, (you know its a video game if theyre hittin) I started to beat him in the third quarter, this A$$ turns his box off cause he was a sore loser that I was winning, and I didn’t even get the win!
you’ll find those kids that all they do is suck. But once you get the hang of it and you start winning. its a good feeling
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Hoveys Home says:
Nah, thats just those lame ass people that dont understand the game of basketball and do cheap ass stuff to win. You’ll find a lot of good, fair players on XBox and when you do, thats when you get addicted to online play
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:06 pm
Skeez says:
Austin, I feel you. I used to think I was nice at 2K8 till I hopped on Xbox Live. Dont worry you’ll get it, ppl just be cheatin sometimes.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Big Sia says:
I think you’re just soft
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:26 pm
JDig89 says:
dudes… Basketball games aren’t very realistic to begin with. which i’m not hating, cause it’s a tough sport to turn into a video game. but it’s easy to do cheap shit and win. plus the gameplay on some games is just stupid. i got NBA Live 08, and i’ll have games where Big Z goes for 35 17 and 8 for Cavs against me. Meanwhile I’m the Hornets and Tyson Chandler and D-West can’t seem to match Big Z on the boards. So that alone annoys me enough. But yeah people are cheap. Some kids put Lebron or Kobe at the point and just pass it in real quick after you score and it’s over they run past everyone and just hammer at the other end. but that’s my rant. i’m glad someone else finally spoke up about how ANNOYING the gameplay gets.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm
RENO says:
It’s just like anything in life. Some people will do anything to win…. Best advice i can give you is to learn all the little tricks so that way you’ll be ready for those SCRUBS that like to cheat.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
K Dizzle says:
Austin,
it was probably just Vince lightin you up as Kobe so he could see what it was like to give effort for a full 48.
Sorry, playa. Had to get that in lol
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Austin Burton says:
But even then, it was only 20 minutes (five-minute quarters). BTW, I didn’t give up 81.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
POINTFWD13 says:
the above is my gamertag
I play nba live religiously (and fifa)
I dont think there is anything worse than getting some good comp, getting into the 4th locked in a tight battle, then you pull away and they quit. that sh*t is just plain annoying meng
I’ll be online all night tuesday.
holla if you want to play a real game - no bs, no cheating, no quitting, just ball with any team except celtics and lakers. gotta choose the lower teams to make it more real. work for your wins people!
ONE
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
loganlight says:
D) All of the above.
You really have to know about some of those tactics that the lame-o gamer uses, if for no other reason, because you do have to combat them from time to time. But like everyone else has said, you got get your weight up when it comes to playing with real people.
When I first got on Live I called up my boy across town and we hooked up a match. I got the Live feeling, but we both knew that we were playing a “real” game. Nothing can prepare you to play against people than playing against people.
Don’t throw in the towel just yet - you’ll be ok.
PS - my first game had me handling the Raptors with the Rich and Creamy Nuggets. Dude got so mad that Iverson was dropping OPEN 3s that he went turbo on the pause button. It took an extra 15 minutes to finish that game. I was crushed thinking that everyone would be like that…
LL
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:40 pm
it aint easy being green says:
i feel ya. im an nba live player but its all the same. there are ways to stop the cheese depending on who your opponent picks, but i know, its madd frustrating
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Ian says:
jdigg
is right
basketball games arent all that realistic to play online
baseball and golf are the two best sports game for online play but i had to quit playin the show 08 online because of cheaters that disconnect or freeze the game and somehow got the win
now austin if u can find a group of decent players and stick to playin with them not random idiots u will enjoy the online gaming thing
do you have a ps3?
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Ian — No, just the Xbox 360.
Does anyone play football online? I have College Football 09 but haven’t run it on Xbox Live yet.
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Ross says:
How fast is your internet connection?
Are you hosting these games? Did you feel any lag, like you were being “Standby”ed?
I’m an Xbox Live nerd myself. All of those could be reasons as well. Those are my excuses every time I lose. I only play Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, and GTA4 on Live though.
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
2 Easy says:
ah AUstin ur stories are always good. Lol Im sure thats wat caused Wii cause we’ve ALL been there. THe worst was when they finally made racing games and u would fully lean ur whole body, ah great now I feel old and Im definately a young man. I havent experienced live online that much cause I dont own an Xbox i normally use my boys but wenever u play anything online there seems to be some likkle youts who kno all the codes and can whoop the designers of the games ass. Just grit ur teeth and bear it man and start findin upstandin citizens to play
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
miamiVIS3 says:
@AB u gotta drop ur gamer tag so we can add you my tag is miamiVIS3 but you gotta watch out for people in College Football 09 who use Florida and play Percy Harvin at QB
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
QuEsT??? says:
i always play full court D and i cherry pick allll dayyyyy and im proud of it, i only shoot 3 pointers and dunks and i could still win agaisnt anyone, im currently on a 4 year win streak agaisnt everyone i know, im planning to by a ps3 so anyone who wants to challenge me can… on another subject, i mildly spained my wrist yesterday, and today i have a big game, should i play?? ive never sprained my wrist b4.
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Ian says:
quest
when u get your ps3 add me “plizken” socom oct 14 hell yeahhhhhhh
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Big Shot BOB says:
The worst cheap move I hate on hate on NBa Live is when they start changing up there linups to where Kobe at the 1 and someone like Lamar Odom at the 2. Defenitely a gay move. But since everyone is throwing out gamer tags. I’m “Peesnuts” on the PS3 and will give anybody the business when Live 09 comes out.
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Homeless J says:
Austin - it should make you feel a lot better to put it in the perspective that you were making dinner plans with your girlfriend while being beaten at a video game by what was almost certainly a 12-year-old with acne and braces who was spitting all over his screen in prepubescant glee as he broke you down with the moves he has mastered during the times when he hasn’t been furiously masturbating or doing math homework.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:23 pm
JC says:
Basketball against MOST cats online gets boring — very repetitive. Playing your buds at the crib is better for the sports because, hell its your boys…
Sadly in my opinion online football is worse. In my experiences they just blitz every down, so you end up calling the same play over and over…
You got a xbox360, go cop yourself halo 3 and get it poppin. think 007 back in the N64 days, but times 1000.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Luigi says:
AB.
2k8 u gotta know what the glitches are online when u have the ball on offense.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Tha Boddy says:
Hey Austin add my gamertag Tha Boddy and we can play in 2k8…I’ll show you what being a rookie is all about
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Ian says:
jc
u got the 1000 number right comparing halo to 007 but its /1000 not times my man
007 best console 1st person shooter ever
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Smitty313 says:
When I play 2k8 if I pick the Cavs or Lakers, Lebron and Kobe are going for Wilt numbers. FGA are going to be in the 35 to 50 range.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
giacomo says:
you know what im feelin’ dime?
when NBA 2k9 comes out we need an all-dimemag writers and readers tournament! that will settle a lot of arguments, and since it will only have just come out it will be a level playing field!
ps im on NBA 2k8 most nights hit me up, any of you, gbms12
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
JC says:
Ian
I say 1000 times because of the interaction and variety of competition. unless you have essentially an unlimited amount of friends to bring to the n64 (and a GIANT tv), you cant beat a war with a bunch of diffent folks online.
But lets be clear — gotta give respect to the OG classic 007. heck I play 007 to this day…
Its like giving love to old school nintendo. the new technology is superior, but the old school is all that too…
October 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 am
Willis says:
Easiest way to stop Kobe on that game is set whoever is defending him to sag off. He seriously misses everything after you do that. Oh, and let him leak out. I scored 67 points with Kevin Martin on a guy who was doing that so he dropped on me.
Seriously, though try the sag off thing.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:16 am
Ian says:
jc
i was kidding bro if u like halo and think its the best its cool
i dont really like halo i think its a bad game
but then again im not a fps fan i just liked 007 alot.
u said new tec is superior sure but the oldschool games are better imo. 2d oldschool games are the best (megaman castlevania mario metroid) todays are way too easy and just focus on graphics. i own all three consoles and the only one i use is the wii (virtual console and party games when my gf is here) my ps3 rarely turn it on for sports and the xbox well i dont even think it works. i get more out of a snes today because of gameplay.
currently playin megaman 9
October 3rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
ldawg23 says:
I to have played this guy who uses KB24 to cherry pick the game away….Sorry ass BASTARD… i also just played this “GEM” who pause’s after every made basket so you cant push the ball up court, gamer tag is “Rich Mahogany”….People who cant play find little ways to cheat…Ive played a few of the posters on here, others have dodged me…I just like to play …best of 3…come find me …LDAWG3323
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Commuto.com says:
What you need to do is join a NBA 2K league. There are quite a few out there with really good, honest players. No cheese. Everyone follows real NBA rules and plays the game properly. If you can get at least a dozen or so players who you know play well in your friends list then you won’t have to play any of these cherry picking kids ever again.
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
James F. Carter says:
That’s the only problem with video games. It’s not about finding out who the best basketball player is, or the most honest. It’s about who’s the best at NBA 2K or NBA Live. Many hoops purists will essentially try to play the right way, and many hardcore gamers will exploit a lot of the tricks and shortcuts in order to get the W. I don’t fault those cats for doing it. The bottom line is, 9 times outta 10 those kinds of players wont stand a chance against the better players online. So when I play against someone who’s using those tactics, I just remind myself that I simply need to step my game up.
As it has been said before on this board, going from CPU games to XBox Live games steepens the learning curve sharply. When 2K9 comes out, go straight online and play other people like 15 games or so. Then, play the CPU on the hardest difficulty level. You’ll be laughing at the CPU.
Don’t get mad at the cherry-pickers or the Kobe lovers. They can be beaten. Badly. If they try to jam the pause button, disconnect or use glitches to end the game, then and only then at that point you know you’re dealing with a world class douchebag. I’ve played against cheesers who take their lumps, and others who quit if they get down by more than 8 points at any time. Although I may have to go see about NCAA football for that Percy Harvin QB thing…
Gamertag : Platinum Frames (dunno if i’m getting Live or 2K next week, but leaning towards 2K)
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Commuto.com says:
James, always 2K, never Live. I know Live always looks good before it’s about to come out, but once it does, it always disappoints.
It’s a shame really, as 2K is great, but they need some major changes as well as that series is getting stale.