How to play

Starting the game
First, highlight the "NBA LIVE 08" icon in the game menu on your phone. Once the game is highlighted, press the "OK" button to start the game. After the splash screens, NBA LIVE 08 main menu will appear.

Game Objectives
NBA LIVE 08 is a sports simulation game based on the National Basketball Association (NBA) where the user plays as any of the 30 teams in the NBA. The user can play a quick game with selected teams, play through a season, or take their team to the NBA Finals in Playoffs mode.

Game Modes:

Quick Play - Will allow the user to jump directly into play from the introductory or main menu screen. If a previous game is saved, Quick Play allows the user to continue play from any previous saved game modes. You can continue play from (Exhibition, Season, and Playoff Modes) with Quick Play.

Season - Season mode allows you to play through an adjustable length season with the goal of qualifying for the playoffs. Season games can also be simulated using Auto-Play. For NBA LIVE 08, the user is able to play a longer Season with more games ranging from 10, 20 or 40 games.

Playoffs - Playoff mode allows you to skip the season and jump directly into the playoffs.

Main Menu

• Quick Play: Starts a new or saved game by allowing the user to jump directly into play.
• Season: Allows the user to choose their team and settings and start a season.
• Playoffs: Allows the user to choose their team and settings and start a playoff.
• Options: Options to set sound, game, and other special settings.
• Help: Tutorials on the following areas of the game: Game Modes, Controls, and Rules.
• About: Customer support information and Legal Information.
• Exit: The selection will exit the game and return the user to the phoneŐs menu.

MOVEMENT
Up-Left = 1
Up = D-Up/2
Up-Right = 3
Left = D-Left/4
Right = D-Right/6
Down-Left = 7
Down = D-Down/8
Down-Right = 9
Spin Move = 0 (offense only)
OFFENSE
Pass = tap Ok or 5 to activate Court Vision Passing (CVP) icon display above player heads
Shoot = press and hold OK or 5
Court Vision/ Pass Icon Select = Right Soft Key or *
Call For a Pick/Screen = #
DEFENSE
Switch Player = *
Steal/Block = Ok or 5
SHOOTING
Press and hold, then release the OK or 5 key to shoot the ball. To dunk the ball, press OK or 5 and drive to the basket. User should release the OK or 5 key at the top of the shooter?s jump to make more successful shots.
PASSING
After activating Court Vision Passing (CVP), tap the OK or 5 key to pass to the single highlighted player closest to the ball. You can also press the * key or right soft key to activate CVP passing icons. When pass icons are displayed, press the directional pad in the corresponding direction to pass to that player. The color indicates how open the player is (green = open, red = covered, yellow = semi-covered).
DRIBBLING
Dribbling is automatic. Use the d-pad or keys to control the direction of the player with the ball.
DEFENSE
Press the 5 key or OK button to jump, block, or steal (context sensitive). Press the * key to switch defensive players.

Please Note: User can activate defensive Court Vision Switching by pressing the (*) while playing defense. Defensive CVP allows the user to highlight and switch to any player on court.

Tips and Hints

• Do not hold the ball too long on offense or there's a chance it will be stolen.
• Make sure you have a clear path to the basket when dunking the ball to avoid charging.
• Avoid shooting low percentage long three-pointers.
• Watch the game clock to take last second shots.
• When shooting, release the shot button (OK/5 key) at the top of the shooter's jump for the best shot results.
• Release the shot button (OK/5 key) when the shot meter is displaying yellow or green. Releasing within the green area will guarantee about 90% success chance of making your shot.
• The best player on any team is represented by a star icon for players with 90 or above ratings. Some teams have one or more star players.
• Close up auto instant replays are executed after most dunks shot are made by the user.
• Shooting the ball with less than 3 seconds on the game clock will reduce game speed significantly to dramatize the action on the final shot.
• Shooting while in running motion will allow the shooter to execute a lunging shot.
• When passing from out of bounds, you can pass to a specific player by pressing the right soft key to activate CVP passing. This technique is useful for passing down court for the final shot.
• The shot meter speed will vary based on the shooter's attribute and distance from basket. As a result, the closer you are to the basket; the slower the shot meter will animate from bottom to top.
• The ball handler icons color represents when to attempt a shot. The icons colors are: Red = will miss shot, Yellow = might make or miss the shot, and Green = best time to attempt a shot. Watch the icon color underneath the ball handler to determine the best time to shoot.

FAQ

What's the quickest way to get right into the game?

Simply press 'OK' on any of the splash screens when starting the application once the text 'Press OK to Play Now' is displayed. This will launch the user directly into a game.

What other game modes are there?

NBA LIVE 08 includes Play Now, Season, and Playoffs modes. Play Now allows a player to select teams and jump right into a game. Season play lets the user select a team and take them through a shortened NBA season. If the player is successful enough during the regular season, they may continue into the Playoffs and work to win the NBA Finals. The player can also elect to choose a team and jump straight into the Playoffs by selecting the Playoff mode from the main menu.

Can I play as any team I want?

NBA LIVE 08 includes all 30 NBA teams with full rosters for each team. So you can play with any of your favorite NBA superstars.

Can I track my stats during Season mode?

Season mode keeps track of a variety of stats for teams as well as individual players. You can see which players and teams lead the league in 8 different statistical categories.

Can I simulate games to progress though a Season more quickly?

Yes. NBA LIVE 08 allows the user to 'Auto Play' games in both Season and Playoff modes. While this will allow you to progress more quickly, it also increases your chances of losing the game, so use the feature wisely.

Are there different difficulty settings in the game?

Yes. NBA LIVE 08 has the option of playing on Easy, Medium, or Hard difficulty settings. This affects the way your opponent plays, as well as the fouls and penalties that are enforced.

Can I substitute players during the game?

Yes. NBA LIVE 08 allows substitutions per NBA rules. So players can be brought into the game anytime there is a dead ball situation. This allows you to change personnel for better match-ups, sit a player in foul trouble, or bring in your favorite player off the bench.

What can I do to get open for a shot on offense?

When controlling the ball on offense, the player has a few options for how to get away from a defender. One option is to perform a spin move. This can be done by pressing the 0 key and trying to go around the defender. Another option is to call for a pick by pressing the # key. This will cause a teammate to come over and attempt to set a pick on the defender, allowing for the player to create separation from the defender. And when all else fails, you can always pass to another player.

How can I improve my passing?

There are a few ways to pass the ball in NBA LIVE 08. The simplest way to pass is merely to press the pass key (5 or OK) to activate Court Vision Passing or CVP. After CVP is activated, simply press OK/5 key and the ball will be passed to the teammate that has a colored circle under them. The circles under the highlighted teammates indicate how open the player is, with green being wide open and red being covered by the defender. For more choices in passing the ball, the player can utilize the Court Vision feature. This is done by pressing the * key while in possession of the ball on offense. Each teammate will be represented by a directional arrow (up, down, left, right), which will be colored red, yellow, or green to represent how open the players are. Pressing the corresponding direction will pass to that specific player.

How can I play a rematch game in NBA LIVE 08?

At the end of the player of the game award screen, the rematch menu is displayed for the user to elect these options: STATS, REMATCH, and EXIT. Highlight rematch and press 'OK/5' key to jump directly into play from the tip off. Rematch is designed to allow the user to start a new game from the tip off without accessing the front end screens.

Is instant replay available?

Yes. Instant replay is available in the options menu. From in game, press the CLR key to access the option menu and you will see the instant replay option. Press 'OK/5' key to access instant replay. NBA LIVE 08 also features in game auto instant replays. These auto replays are automatically play after slam dunks, lay ups and three point shots.

How do I substitute players?

To manually substitute players, the user must pause the game after a time-out or when the clock stops. Press the CLR key to access the option menu for the substitution option. Inside the substitution option, the user can substitute players by pressing the 'OK' key to initiate substitution(s).

Please Note: Auto substitution(s) can happen during these scenarios: ball out of bounds, general clock stops, and at the end of each quarter.