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Update On Our Server Move

NLSC Logo

As many of you will have no doubt noticed by now, the NLSC Forum and Downloads section has been inactive for most of the past 24 hours. This is because we’re in the process of moving to our new server, and the Forum has been deactivated so that we don’t lose any data in the process.

Unfortunately, the process is taking a little longer than we anticipated. However, we are making progress, and hopefully it won’t take too much longer. Our apologies for the inconvenience, as we were hoping that there wouldn’t be this long of an interruption. The Forum and Downloads section will have to remain deactivated for the moment, as it’s important that we don’t lose anything or mess anything up during the move.

While the main site should be working, we’ve been informed that some people are being redirected to the deactivated Forum. We’re not sure what’s causing that issue, but it should be resolved as soon as the move is completed. If you’re still running into any problems after the move is completed, please let us know, and we’ll look into it. We’re hoping that the move will end up going as smoothly as possible, but if we miss something in our double-checking, by all means give us a heads up.

If you’d like to keep up to date with the status of the server move, or get in touch with us, connect with the NLSC on Facebook and Twitter. With any luck, everything will be back to normal and back up and running very soon. Thank you all again for your patience and understanding!

File Additions for NBA 2K13

NBA 2K13 Cover Art

Today’s lone file addition for NBA 2K13 PC is the latest version of PatTheHead’s retro season roster pack. The new release features 51 BAA, NBA, NBL, and ABA seasons, and includes Draft Classes from 1947 through 1985. Check it out at the link below!

PatTheHead
1946/47 to 1984/85 ABA + NBA Seasons (Updated to v3.8)

NBA 2K16 PC 80% Off on Steam

NBA 2K16: LeBron James

The annual Steam Summer Sale is underway, and basketball gamers can already reap the benefits. If you haven’t yet picked up the PC version of NBA 2K16, now is a good time to do so, as it is available at an 80% discount until July 5th.

If you’d like to pick up the Michael Jordan edition of NBA 2K16, it is also still available at an 82% discount. The Michael Jordan edition includes a rookie Jordan card for MyTEAM, in-game Jordan content for your MyPLAYER, and 30,000 VC.

The PC version of NBA 2K16 is not as moddable as previous editions of NBA 2K, but our modding community has made several in-roads since the game’s release last September. In terms of gameplay, features, and so forth, it is identical to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game. The official patches also seem to have addressed performance issues for most PC gamers, as well as fixed keyboard support and a couple of other PC-specific problems.

You can check out more impressions and information on NBA 2K16 PC in this section of the NLSC Forum. If you pick up the game, be sure to check out our Downloads section as well as the Releases & Previews board, and feel free to share your impressions of the game as well.

The Friday Five: 5 Strange Basketball Gaming Habits

The Friday Five

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Friday Five! The Friday Five is a feature that I post every Friday in which I give my thoughts on a topic that’s related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games, as well as the real NBA, and other areas of interest to our community. The feature is presented as either a list of five items, or in the form of a Top 5 countdown.

As I’ve said many times before, we take our basketball gaming seriously around these parts. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but as with any gaming community, it can lead to some attitudes that aren’t very constructive or open-minded. There are many strong opinions in the basketball gaming community, but the most important thing at the end of the day is that we’re enjoying playing these games that we’re so passionate about. We shouldn’t get caught up telling each other how to have fun, or lecture each other about the supposed “correct” way to play. There are many different ways to enjoy NBA Live and NBA 2K, after all.

At the same time, there are some strange habits and attitudes in the basketball gaming community. Again, everyone is entitled to their opinion and preferences, but some habits are puzzling, and certain attitudes myopic. In this week’s Friday Five, I’m taking a look at a range of basketball gaming habits that are peculiar for one reason or another. I’m not saying they’re all wrong, but some are definitely a little odd. Without any further ado, let’s tip things off!

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #164

NLSC Podcast Logo

Episode #164 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! This week, Arcane, Kenny, and I discuss the epic conclusion of the 2016 NBA Finals, some NBA Live 17 and NBA 2K17 tidbits, and our latest sessions in 2K Pro-Am.

On this week’s show…

  • We tip off the show with some housekeeping matters, specifically our forthcoming server move, and our appeal to help us cover the hosting costs moving forward.
  • The season finale of NBA 2KTV revealed a few interesting tidbits about NBA 2K17, from changes to Locker Codes to the development of a face scanning app for mobile devices.
  • We recap some Tweets of interest from the official NBA Live Twitter regarding NBA Live 17, and the possibility of future roster updates for NBA Live 16.
  • There are rumours that NBA Live 17 will feature a story-driven career mode. We consider the possibility, and reflect once again on NBA 2K16’s MyCAREER mode, now that we’ve all finished the first season.
  • What are the advantages of basketball gaming on the PC versus playing on consoles, and vice versa?
  • Our Week in Basketball Gaming featured several more games of 2K Pro-Am, a couple of which were really, really satisfying.
  • The 2016 NBA Finals are in the books, as LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers pulled off the unlikely comeback. Once again, we discuss LeBron’s legacy.
  • Ahead of the 2016 NBA Draft, we discuss a couple of big trades that have been announced. A eulogy for Derrick Rose’s Chicago Bulls career is included.
  • We wrap up Episode #164 of the NLSC Podcast with this week’s Trivia Time! Can you get the answers before Arcane and Kenny?

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Important Announcement About Our Future; Help Support Us!

NLSC Logo

I have an important announcement about the future of the NLSC. Our current host will be closing their hosting services as of July 7th, so we’ve been making preparations to move to a new home before that happens. I’m pleased to say that we have made the necessary arrangements, and will be moving to a new server in the near future. There will be some downtime while this happens, but everything will be moving across. I’ll try to keep everyone informed as best as possible, via the NLSC Facebook and Twitter accounts.

To keep doing what we’re doing – specifically, providing a Downloads section with upload facilities – the NLSC requires dedicated hosting. Until now, we have received such hosting in exchange for advertising space, which has been a very generous offer to say the least. Unfortunately, there aren’t any deals like that on the table these days, so we are now paying for our own hosting.

Because dedicated hosting is more expensive, and we have been a non-profit website for close to twenty years now, after much thought and consideration, I’ve decided to ask the community for assistance with our hosting costs. At present, we’re looking to raise at least $100 USD per month, which would allow us to cover hosting costs, and put some money towards things like giveaways and content creation.

Let me stress before I go any further: we will not be charging for content! We can’t legally charge for mods (so we certainly won’t be), download and upload facilities will still be free, registration for the Forum will be free, and all our articles and other content will be free. We will not be providing premium content behind a paywall, or making any other sweeping changes. We just need some help paying the bills, because our modding community requires some facilities that we just can’t offer if we’re on cheaper, shared hosting.

Basically, if we can get twenty people donating at least $5 USD per month, we’ll be able to cover our expenses. As I said, should the community’s generosity extend beyond that, I have plans to use those funds for things like monthly giveaways, and new content.

If you’re willing and able to support us, you can do so through Patreon or GoFundMe. I understand the controversy in making an appeal like this, but I do not want to see us go off the air, or lose important features such as our Downloads section and its upload facilities.

On behalf of the NLSC Team, I thank you for your consideration, any contributions you are willing and able to make, and your continued support of everything we do here. Once again, I will try to keep everyone informed about the impending move, which hopefully shouldn’t cause too much of an interruption. I realise that some of you may have some further questions that need concise answers, so please see below for more information. Also, a huge thanks to our current host for all the support, and essentially saving us some eight years ago when we needed to find a new home.

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Wayback Wednesday: I Cannot Believe My Starting Five

Kevin Garnett dunks in NBA Live 2001

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content.

The current NLSC Forum has been open since November 2002, archiving almost all of the discussion that’s taken place in this community for just about as long as we’ve had a message board. It’s seen its fair share of memorable and amusing threads, including users who believe modders owe them releases, unorthodox story threads, and one-sided conversations. It would also be remiss of me if I didn’t mention this thread, which gave our community a meme that is proudly displayed in the Joel Anthony Arena, home court of the NLSC Greatness in 2K Pro-Am.

However, for those of you who have been around the NLSC since the early days, you’ll remember that we used to have another Forum. It was closed when we elected to switch to different message board software, but I’m confident that it lives on in the fond memories of our longest tenured veterans. It was a smaller group of regulars who came together on those old boards, had a lot of fun discussions, and basically established our community of NLSC Forum denizens.

For those veterans, when it comes to memorable discussions, one thread probably stands out above all others: “I Cannot Believe My Starting Five”. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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File Additions for NBA 2K14

NBA 2K14 Cover Art

Today’s new file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include a new NCAA basketball, and a couple of WNBA player faces. Check them out at the links below!

Cameron
March Madness Elite Basketball V2

TGsoGood
Lindsay Whalen Face
Seimone Augustus 2011 Face

Monday Tip-Off: Basketball Gaming in the Offseason

LeBron James dribbles the basketball in NBA 2K16

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Start your week here at the NLSC with a feature that’s dedicated to opinions, commentary, and other fun stuff related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games.

The 2016 NBA season is in the books, as the Cleveland Cavaliers made history by coming back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors, putting a damper on the Warriors’ own historical campaign. For basketball fans – or at least, those of us who are mostly interested in the NBA – so begins the wait until next season, with the Draft, Summer League, and potential offseason movement breaking up the monotony along the way. With the Olympic Games being held this year, we’ll also get to watch another international basketball tournament.

For those of us who are also basketball gamers, we have a few things to look forward to as well. It will be some time before we hear anything about NBA Live 17, and we likely won’t hear much about NBA 2K17 for at least a couple of months yet, but nevertheless, we have a new game coming out in September. Until then, we obviously have several years’ worth of games at our disposal, which can help us get our basketball fix while we wait for the new releases, and the 2017 NBA season.

So, what does the offseason look like when it comes to basketball gaming, and what are some of my own plans?

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File Additions for NBA 2K14

NBA 2K14 Cover Art

Today’s file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include face updates for John Wall and Dennis Rodman, and the latest version of Medevenx’s 2016 season roster update. Check them all out at the links below!

UNTAMEDBEAST
John Wall Face

RICH72601
Dennis Rodman Face (Lakers Version)

Medevenx
Med’s NBA Roster Appdata Files (updated to v3.9e)

NBA 2K17 Features Previewed On NBA 2KTV Season 2 Finale

NBA 2K17 Logo

In addition to handing out this year’s “Hey Guys” awards, the Season 2 finale of NBA 2KTV has given us a sneak peak at some of the features we can expect to see in NBA 2K17. In addition to running down the three different pre-order bundles, the episode also details a couple of noteworthy tidbits.

It appears as though Locker Codes in NBA 2K17 will be timed, rather than limited to a set number of users. This is certainly good news, and addresses a problem that I’ve previously commented on in-depth. In short, it should allow more users – especially those outside of North America – to have a decent chance at claiming Locker Codes. Of course, the quality of the rewards remains to be seen.

Similarly, MyTEAM will feature timed free agent cards, giving gamers more of an opportunity to play with some of their favourite players for at least a couple of games. It’s essentially the same concept as the short term player cards in NBA Live 16’s Ultimate Team, which can come in handy when your team needs a boost in a tough challenge. The developers have also been working on signature animations, and have added full control over get back animations, using the right stick.

Perhaps most exciting is the less-than-subtle hint that NBA 2K17 will be supported by a companion app that allows users to scan their faces into the game, again similar to what NBA Live 16 has done. As someone who’s struggled to get the face scan to work using the PlayStation 4 camera, but found the NBA Live 16 app to be very effective and user-friendly, this certainly comes as very good news.

Your thoughts? Have your say in the comments below, and feel free to join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum. If you’d like to watch the Season 2 Finale of NBA 2KTV, you can find it embedded below, or here on NBA 2K’s YouTube channel. Be sure to watch it in-game if you’d like to snag some VC and other rewards.

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The Friday Five: 5 Issues with MyCAREER/Pro-Am’s Grading Logic

The Friday Five

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Friday Five! The Friday Five is a feature that I post every Friday in which I give my thoughts on a topic that’s related to NBA Live, NBA 2K, and other basketball video games, as well as the real NBA, and other areas of interest to our community. The feature is presented as either a list of five items, or in the form of a Top 5 countdown.

I’m on a real 2K Pro-Am kick lately, as I’ve really been enjoying getting together with Arcane, Kenny, and other members of our community to play a few games each week. However, while we do have a lot of fun at the Joel Anthony Arena – whenever we’re lucky enough to play there – we also have our fair share of frustrating moments. As I mentioned in Monday Tip-Off, some of our problems are self-inflicted, but there are a few issues that I would say do stem from gameplay imbalance and quirky logic. Obviously, these problems also affect the MyCAREER experience as well.

Apart from the story-driven approach, issues with the grading logic are one of my biggest complaints when it comes to MyCAREER (and now Pro-Am as well). Having recently gone back and played a few games of my memorable MyCAREER in NBA 2K13, I was frustrated to realise that I’m still experiencing some of the same problems in NBA 2K16. In order to enhance the MyCAREER and Pro-Am experience in NBA 2K17, I believe that the following five issues need to be addressed.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #163

NLSC Podcast Logo

Episode #163 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! The 2016 NBA Finals are nearing their end, and we’re still at least a few weeks away from getting much in the way of detailed NBA 2K17 news, but Arcane, Kenny, and I still have some fun topics to talk about this week.

On this week’s show…

  • Following on from last week, we react to the rest of Team 2K being revealed. Do we think it will result in any additional in-game content?
  • If any new classic teams are added to NBA 2K17, what are some of the teams we’d like to see included?
  • Would we like to see the ability to select different courts – such as classic and alternate courts – in addition to selecting jerseys before gameplay?
  • In our Week in Basketball Gaming: the challenges of having a 5’7″ power forward in 2K Pro-Am, a couple of enjoyable games, and our future plans.
  • Moving on to the real NBA, we recap and discuss the latest action from the NBA Finals, and make our predictions for the rest of the series.
  • We also discuss LeBron James’ legacy. Are fans and sportswriters being too hard on The King, and selling his career short?
  • In a very cool decision, ESPN and TNT have come to an agreement which will allow Craig Sager to work the sidelines for Game 6 of the Finals.
  • Episode #163 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with the second instalment of our new segment, Trivia Time! Will Arcane and Kenny break their tie this week?

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

File Additions for NBA 2K14

NBA 2K14 Cover Art

Today we have a couple of new file additions for NBA 2K14 PC: a new face for Draymond Green, and an updated pack of NBA Finals courts, spanning 1989 to 2014. Download them both at the links below!

RamBu
Draymond Green Face

Dwadeflash03
NBA Finals Courts (1989-2014) (Updated to v2.0)

Wayback Wednesday: NBA Live Halftime Shows

Midwest Division Halftime Video in NBA Live 99

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content.

As basketball video games have continued to harness the power of improving gaming technology, we’ve expected more and more of them. While most of our desires have been centred on gameplay and game modes, presentation is an area that a lot of basketball gamers have wanted to see enhancements in over the years. While slick presentation will only briefly mask gameplay and game mode deficiencies, it’s nevertheless important in terms of creating atmosphere, and adding those extra touches of reality that we tend to enjoy so much.

In the past few years, basketball video games have come to include very detailed and realistic TV-style presentation. Whether it’s NBA Live 16’s NBA on ESPN segments hosted by Jalen Rose, or NBA 2K16’s pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows featuring digital versions of Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith, we’ve come to expect great production values that mimic a real NBA broadcast. Back in the day, of course, breaks in the action were spiced up in a far more modest manner.

Today, we’re talking about the halftime shows that appeared in the early versions of NBA Live. Without any further ado, let’s take a look back…way back…

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