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NLSC Podcast – Episode #162

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Episode #162 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! It’s been a quiet week for basketball video game news, but Arcane, Kenny, and I do have a couple of tidbits to talk about, as well as our latest experiences in 2K Pro-Am, and the 2016 NBA Finals. Also, a new segment makes its debut!

On this week’s show…

  • We tip off the show with another discussion on the lack of updates for NBA Live 16 through the end of the regular season and Playoffs, and what we’d like to see EA do during the offseason in the lead up to NBA Live 17.
  • 2K Sports are unveiling Team 2K, their talent lineup for NBA 2K17 which includes cover player Paul George. We speculate on the silhouettes in the teaser image.
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming, we reflect on last week’s 2K Pro-Am session, where we discovered that contrary to what Homer Simpson once said, there are actually sweeter and more satisfying things than winning by default.
  • Turning our attention to the 2016 NBA Finals, we reflect on the first two games, and make our predictions for the rest of the series. Sorry, Cleveland Cavaliers fans.
  • As it stands right now, who is the Finals MVP? What does it mean for Stephen Curry’s legacy – and the Michael Jordan comparisons – if he doesn’t have a big series?
  • With the season winding down, we tally our final scores for Bold Predictions. We’re hoping to do better next year.
  • Episode #162 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with a brand new segment: Trivia Time! Andrew is the quizmaster, as Arcane and Kenny square off in answering three trivia questions. This week, the questions cover NBA Live and NBA Jam.

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.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #160

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Episode #160 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join, Arcane, Kenny, and I as we recap some recent NBA Live and NBA 2K news, answer a handful of mailbag questions, and react to the latest results from the 2016 NBA Playoffs.

On this week’s show…

  • NBA Live 16 has been added to The Vault for EA Access members. Xbox One users will also be able to play NBA 2K16 for free this weekend.
  • Patch V6 has been released for the PC version of NBA 2K16, and not everyone is happy about it. We personally have no complaints.
  • A couple of tidbits about NBA 2K17 were revealed over the past week, specifically some of the talent who are mo-capping dunks for this year’s game from Visual Concepts.
  • Do we think footplanting is too exaggerated in NBA 2K16? What are our thoughts on “body blocks/steals”?
  • Will NBA 2K17 expand upon the features in MyLEAGUE Online?
  • We discuss some features that have gone missing from basketball games over the years, and out of a list of three, we pick which one we’d like to see return.
  • Similarly, we’re presented with a choice of three old basketball games to remake: NBA Fastbreak ’98, NBA In the Zone 2, and ESPN NBA 2K5. Which would we each choose?
  • How do we choose a team for franchise modes when we want a change from controlling our favourite NBA team?
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: Dusting off an old favourite, reviewing a very old game, and more 2K Pro-Am action.
  • Moving on to the 2016 NBA Playoffs, we talk about the Conference Finals, and share a few thoughts on Draymond Green’s controversial kick.
  • We wrap up Episode #160 of the NLSC Podcast with this week’s round of Bold Predictions.

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.

NBA Live 16 Now Available in The Vault

Derrick Rose with the layup in NBA Live 16

NBA Live 16 is now available in The Vault, a library of games that is available to Xbox One users who have an EA Access subscription. If you’re on Xbox One and you have an active EA Access subscription, now is your chance to check out NBA Live 16 if you haven’t already.

For those who are unaware, EA Access is a subscription service that costs $4.99 US per month, and includes early access to games, an instant game collection as new titles are added to its library (“The Vault”), and a 10% discount on digital purchases from EA, including full games, pre-orders, and downloadable content.

There is no equivalent program for PlayStation 4 users, as EA Access is a partnership between EA and Microsoft, but the NBA Live 16 demo is still available to download from the PlayStation Store. It includes access to LIVE Pro-Am, and allows you to level your player up to an 80 Overall, which carries over to the full game if you decide to pick it up.

If you do use EA Access to give NBA Live 16 a try, we of course invite you to share your impressions and join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum! We’d also welcome your contributions to the NBA Live 17 Wishlist, which you can find in this thread.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #159

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Join Arcane, Kenny, and I for Episode #159 of the NLSC Podcast! Tune in for this week’s discussion on future content and title updates for NBA Live 16 and NBA 2K16, tales of our latest exploits on the virtual hardwood, thoughts on the 2016 NBA Playoffs, and a mailbag question that really made us think outside the box.

On this week’s show…

  • We tip things off with an update on the latest NBA Live 16 roster patches, and Patch #6 for the PC version of NBA 2K16.
  • With NBA Live 17 being delayed until early 2017, do we expect post-release support and content updates to be extended for NBA Live 16?
  • In response to one of the most creative topic suggestions we’ve received, we compare the Golden State Warriors in NBA Live 16/NBA 2K16 to the Chicago Bulls in NBA Live 96. Yes, really!
  • Our Week in Basketball Gaming includes triumph and tragedy in 2K Pro-Am, Dynasty and MyLEAGUE plans, and some further reflections on the future of the NBA Live series.
  • Moving on to our NBA discussion, we ponder the futures of Chris Bosh and Tim Duncan.
  • The 2016 Conference Finals are upon us. Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals hasn’t made us fans of a certain Warriors player.
  • It’s time for another NBA Fashion Critique, as the Philadelphia 76ers get a jersey sponsor for the 2018 season, and the Utah Jazz unveil their new branding.
  • We give a couple of thoughts on some recent coaching changes, including one that really seemed to come out of left field.
  • As is the norm, Episode #159 of the NLSC Podcast ends with another round of Bold Predictions.

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.

Monday Tip-Off: When Awesome Presentation Isn’t So Great

Shot Chart with ESPN Presentation in NBA Live 16

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.

There are a lot of ways that you can see just how much basketball video games have improved over the years. You can compare screenshots, and gameplay footage. You can read retrospectives and reviews, comparing and contrasting their critique. Best of all, you can get some firsthand impressions by playing an old favourite from many years ago; it won’t be long before you notice some outdated tech that’s come a long way since then. Not every basketball video game is better in every single way than all of the titles that came before it, but the further back you look, the more progress you will see.

Another method of seeing just how far basketball video games have come is to glance back at our old Wishlists. We have Wishlists dating back to 1997, when the community was awaiting the release of NBA Live 98. Take a look back at those articles in our content portals, and you’ll see that a lot of the things that we were asking for have since become a reality. Multi-season franchise modes, online leagues, historical teams, single player career modes, full TV-style presentation…a lot of our wishes have made their way into NBA Live and NBA 2K over the years.

When it comes to in-depth broadcast presentation, however, you may have to be careful what you wish for. Sometimes, awesome presentation isn’t so great.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #158

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Despite a couple of connection issues this week, Arcane, Kenny and I are coming at you with Episode #158 of the NLSC Podcast! In this week’s show, we give our thoughts on EA’s major announcement regarding NBA Live 17, recap our recent efforts on the virtual hardwood, discuss the 2016 NBA Playoffs, and more.

On this week’s show…

  • As the 2016 season draws nearer to its end, NBA Live 16’s rosters are finally close to being 100% accurate. We quickly recap the May 5th update.
  • Speaking of rosters, NBA 2K16 will be receiving a special update in which Stephen Curry will be rated 99 overall.
  • The big news this week is the announcement that NBA Live 17 won’t be out until 2017, while a new NBA Live Mobile game will be released later this year. We give our in-depth thoughts on the situation, and the future of the NBA Live series.
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming, we all team-up for some games of 2K Pro-Am, representing the NLSC in the Joel Anthony Arena. Also, we discuss some possible plans for Dynasty Mode and/or MyLEAGUE.
  • Moving from the virtual hardwood to the real NBA, we recap the latest action from the 2016 NBA Playoffs, and revisit a few of our previous predictions.
  • Stephen Curry has repeated as MVP, in a unanimous decision. Elsewhere, R.C. Buford has won his second Executive of the Year award. We also discuss some recent comments by Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
  • We wrap up Episode #158 of the NLSC Podcast with this week’s Bold Predictions, and a noteworthy accomplishment by Udonis Haslem.

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.

Monday Tip-Off: Why Basketball Games Need Custom Rosters

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.

In last week’s Monday Tip-Off, I talked about why basketball video games need to have robust game modes. As I explained in the article, having a variety of deep, engaging modes goes a long way in making a basketball video game feel complete, and fully featured. Combined with satisfying gameplay, appealing bonus content, and a bevy of customisation options, the end result is a well-rounded, quality release. In other words, the kind of basketball video game that we all want to see and play.

One of the customisation options that every basketball game absolutely must have is roster editing. When NBA Live and NBA 2K launched on the current generation of consoles, both games were missing the comprehensive roster editing tools that were available in previous releases. NBA 2K14 had some basic roster editing functionality, while the ability to customise rosters was completely absent in NBA Live 14. NBA 2K has since brought back roster editing, but unfortunately, it’s yet to return in NBA Live.

Moving forward, it’s absolutely essential that both games offer roster editing and that the functionality continues to expand and improve. Let’s take a look at why this is such a vital feature in basketball video games.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #157

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Three Aussies get together once again to discuss basketball and basketball video games; it’s Episode #157 of the NLSC Podcast! This week, Arcane, Kenny and I chat about the latest NBA 2K16 patch, a couple of recent articles that caught our attention, the latest action from the 2016 NBA Playoffs, and more.

On this week’s show…

  • Patch #6 has been released for NBA 2K16, addressing some gameplay exploits. Predictably, not everyone is happy, but we have no complaints about eliminating cheese.
  • Speaking of official patches, we discuss the unfortunate issue of title updates occasionally doing more harm than good in NBA Live and NBA 2K.
  • Are advertising and freemium-like content becoming a problem in basketball video games?
  • We touch on a recent article which offered some unorthodox suggestions for NBA Live 17.
  • Steam is making some changes to their review system, which we’re generally in favour of.
  • In our Week in Basketball Gaming, we reflect on some recent games of 2K Pro-Am, and make a few comparisons to Live Pro-Am.
  • The 2016 NBA Playoffs roll on, and we’re starting to get into them a little more. We recap the latest results, and note some recent updates on the health of Stephen Curry and Chris Bosh.
  • It’s still a ways off, but we look ahead to a couple of potential offseason moves, as well as the first Basketball Without Borders camp that will be held in Australia.
  • The NBA appears to have clarified the restrictions that will be placed on jersey advertisments. Unfortunately, there will still be ads on jerseys in the future.
  • We react to the newly revealed Detroit Pistons logo, which continues the trend of paying homage to the past.
  • Episode #157 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with some LeBron James trivia, and this week’s Bold Predictions.

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.

The Friday Five: 5 Ways to End a Basketball Gaming Rut

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 mentioned a few times in recent episodes of the NLSC Podcast, I’ve been finding myself in a bit of a basketball gaming rut as of late. As much as I like NBA Live 16 and NBA 2K16 for what each title brings to the table, I haven’t been spending as much time with them as I’d like. This is partly due to the fact that I’ve been playing older versions of NBA Live to create content for our 20th Anniversary of NBA Live features, but on top of that, I’ve also found myself a little unsure of what I actually want to do with the most recent releases from EA Sports and Visual Concepts.

First world problems, I know. In any event, I’ve been thinking of what I can do to get out of this rut, and spend some more quality time with the latest basketball games. I’m sure that I’m not the only one who experiences occasional lulls in my basketball gaming habits, so I thought that I’d discuss the topic openly in this week’s Friday Five, and perhaps start a conversation that will help anyone else who feels like they’re in a bit of basketball gaming rut. With that said, here are five suggestions to tip things off.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #156

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Episode #156 of the NLSC Podcast is out now, so tune in for your weekly dose of basketball and basketball video game chatter! It’s a three man booth once again as Arcane, Kenny, and I discuss our past week in basketball gaming, the 2016 NBA Playoffs, and more.

On this week’s show…

  • We’ll be holding a big NBA Live giveaway soon, including copies of NBA Live 16 for PS4 and X1, and retro NBA Live games for PC. Stay tuned for more details, and check out our Facebook and Twitter for a teaser!
  • Rocket League’s Hoops add-on has arrived. It’s a bit tricky, but definitely fun.
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: Tips for getting into MyTEAM, new MyLEAGUE games, and NBA Jam for the PlayStation 2, and more.
  • With the 2016 NBA Playoffs underway, are we inclined to start any new seasons in NBA Live or NBA 2K?
  • Turning our attention to some other gaming news, the Nintendo NX has been announced for March 2017. We discuss whether we’ll be inclined to get Nintendo’s next console when it comes out.
  • We run down the past week of action in the 2016 NBA Playoffs, which has seen injuries to major players, and a couple of teams on the cusp of upsets.
  • In other news, the Los Angeles Lakers have permission to interview Luke Walton, and the Sacramento Kings have updated their logos for the first time since 1994.
  • We wrap up Episode #156 of the NLSC Podcast with this week’s Bold Predictions. Last week, we got two out of three. Can we go three for three this time around?

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.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #155

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Episode #155 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane, Kenny, and I as we overcome a couple of annoying technical issues to discuss some issues facing PC basketball gaming, the quality of content updates for NBA Live, the first week of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, and more.

On this week’s show…

  • We open Episode #155 with a look at some of the challenges that face PC basketball gaming. Of course, we’d still like to see NBA Live return to the PC, and a more modder-friendly NBA 2K.
  • For some reason, NBA 2K16 on Steam has been tagged as a “Psychological Horror” title. Go figure.
  • Is it currently too much of a grind to level up players in NBA Live and NBA 2K?
  • There hasn’t been much in the way of gear, shoe, and accessory updates in LIVE Pro-Am. Do we expect the content updates to improve in NBA Live 17?
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: Ultimate Team, MyTEAM, MyCAREER, and one annoying crash.
  • Week 1 of the 2016 NBA Playoffs is in the books, and we have to admit, we’re not as excited for the postseason as we’d like to be.
  • Tom Thibodeau has joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as their new coach and president. Also, a fantastic old school photo of him has emerged.
  • The first NBA award winners for 2016 have been announced. No arguments so far.
  • We manage to mention the NBL, but only because it looks like Anthony Bennett is headed Down Under.
  • This week’s Bold Predictions feature a very bold prediction indeed.
  • We wrap up Episode #155 with a chilling tale of deception. And by chilling, we actually mean kind of amusing.

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.

Details on the April 15th Roster Update for NBA Live 16

NBA Live 16: Kobe Bryant

The final roster update of the 2016 regular season has come through for NBA Live 16. It remains to be seen whether the roster updates will continue during the 2016 NBA Playoffs, but in any event, here are the top five players in NBA Live 16 as of now:

  1. Stephen Curry (97 Overall, +1)
  2. Kawhi Leonard (95 Overall, No Change)
  3. LeBron James (94 Overall, +2)
  4. Russell Westbrook (93 Overall, No Change)
  5. Chris Paul (93 Overall, +1)

DeMarcus Cousins, Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Damian Lillard sit right behind the top five, as all are rated 92 overall. Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond are both rated 91 overall, while John Wall and Draymond Green are 90 overall, for a total of thirteen players rated 90+ overall in the latest update.

Recent player movement and subsequent jersey number changes are also accounted for, as well as gear and accessory updates for 44 players. For a full breakdown of the changes in the latest NBA Live 16 roster, be sure to check out this spreadsheet.

As always, feel free to post any thoughts on the latest roster update in the comments section below, as well as this thread in the NBA Live 16 section of the NLSC Forum.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #154

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Welcome to Episode #154 of the NLSC Podcast! Arcane and I certainly have a bit to talk about this week with the end of the 2016 regular season, the Playoffs looming, and both Kobe Bryant and the Golden State Warriors making history. Also, some very early news about the NBA 2K17 cover and pre-order bonuses.

On this week’s show…

  • 2K have announced that Kobe Bryant will appear on the cover of a special Legend Edition of NBA 2K17. Have they also hinted at another possible cover player for this year?
  • We discuss a reel of NBA Live 16 player faces that a graphic designer posted on YouTube.
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: Arcane’s MyPLAYER gets onto 2K TV in MyCAREER, while Andrew wonders what to play next.
  • Kobe Bryant has gone out in style, scoring 60 points in his final game. We reflect a little on the Black Mamba’s legendary career.
  • The Golden State Warriors become the first team to win 73 games, beating the Chicago Bulls’ twenty year old record. We congratulate them, but grumble a little about some vocal (and hypocritical) fanboys.
  • With the 2016 regular season in the books, we look ahead to the Playoffs and make our first round predictions.
  • Speaking of which, we end Episode #154 of the NLSC Podcast with this week’s Bold Predictions. After getting our picks right last week, can we both get a streak going as we head into the postseason?

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.

NBA Live 16 April 8th Roster Update Details

NBA Live 16: Kawhi Leonard

A new roster update has come through for NBA Live 16, featuring updated lineups and adjusted player ratings. Eleven recent transactions have been accounted for, and four new players have been added to the game: Alan Williams, Andrew Goudelock, Axel Toupane, and Sean Kilpatrick.

The top five players in NBA Live 16 as of the latest roster are as follows:

  1. Stephen Curry (96 Overall)
  2. Kawhi Leonard (95 Overall)
  3. DeMarcus Cousins (94 Overall)
  4. Russell Westbrook (93 Overall)
  5. LeBron James (92 Overall)

At present, there are still thirteen players in the roster that are rated 90+ overall. J.J. Barea was the most improved player in the latest update, with the Western Conference Player of the Week’s performance over the past ten games leading to a two point jump to 79 overall.

The April 8th roster also includes seventeen gear and accessory updates. For a full overview of the latest NBA Live 16 roster, check out this spreadsheet. If you’ve got any thoughts or feedback on the roster, post them in the comments section below, or join in the discussion in this thread in the Forum.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #153

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Episode #153 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I are your hosts this week, as Kenny was unavailable to join us, but hopefully we’ll have him back on the show soon. In the meantime, we have a variety of topics to talk about this week, including what we’ve been playing, recent content updates for NBA Live 16 and NBA 2K17, and the latest news and results as the 2016 NBA season winds down.

On this week’s show…

  • A new roster came through for NBA Live 16 last week. We recap some of the recent ratings changes, including the top five players in the game as of the latest roster.
  • After a breakdown of some forthcoming Throwback Thursday content in NBA 2K16’s MyTEAM, we give some more thoughts on the mode, and compare it to NBA Live 16’s Ultimate Team.
  • Do we expect face scanning to be available in NBA Live 17?
  • Following on from this week’s Monday Tip-Off column, we discuss whether or not basketball video games should have downloadable content, outside of the regular roster/art updates.
  • If you’re looking for a new basketball game to try out, Dr B has released a beta version of his Slam Dunk Contest game exclusively at the NLSC.
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: More retro gaming, and a few games of MyCAREER.
  • Moving on to this week’s NBA discussion, Sam Hinkie appears to have grown weary of the Process, as he’s stepping down from the Philadelphia 76ers’ front office.
  • Jerry Sloan has announced that he has Parkinson’s Disease. We wish him good health, and all the best.
  • As the 2016 NBA season draws to a close, so too does Kobe Bryant’s career. We offer up some further thoughts on the Black Mamba’s farewell tour, as his final game looms.
  • Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson, and Yao Ming are heading to Springfield, but at least one former player doesn’t believe Yao is a deserving Hall of Famer.
  • Tim Duncan is now the third player to amass 1000 career wins in the regular season.
  • The Golden State Warriors need four straight wins to top 72-10. As comparisons continue, a recent article about Michael Jordan has one of us a tad riled up.
  • Episode #153 of the NLSC Podcast ends with this week’s Bold Predictions, featuring predictions that are lofty enough to truly justify the reverb effect.

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.