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NBA Live 18

NBA Live 18 & NBA 2K18 Released Today

NBA Live 18 Demo: James Harden

The wait is over! The preview season is officially done, and a new season of basketball gaming has begun, with the official release of NBA Live 18 and the Early Tip-Off Weekend pre-order release of NBA 2K18. As I mentioned in yesterday’s bulletin, our modding community is already gearing up to do some great things with the PC version of NBA 2K18, and we’ll also be looking to create other fun original content based around both games.

Whether you’re playing NBA Live 18, NBA 2K18, or both games, I invite everyone to join us for what will hopefully be a fun season of basketball gaming over the next twelve months. In the wake of both games being released, I’d just like to spotlight a couple of key discussion topics in the NLSC Forum:

NBA Live 18

NBA 2K18

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve added new sections for NBA 2K18 to our Downloads database, so if you want to get a head start on modding, there’s already a place to upload your work. Once again, I hope that our community makes good use of our upload facilities this year.

Speaking of making good use of our facilities, I’m also hoping to see lots of great discussion about NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 in the Forum. Whether it’s mods, impressions, sliders, gameplay tips and advice, tales about the mode you’re playing, reactions to the in-game stories, or anything else about the games, don’t be shy. Join in the conversation today!

Rest assured that plenty of great mods and engaging original content are in the pipeline, so be sure to keep it locked to the NLSC throughout the 2018 basketball gaming season!

NLSC Podcast – Episode #221

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Episode #221 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We’re in the final countdown to the release of this year’s games from EA Sports and 2K Sports, and Arcane and I have plenty to talk about with a big update to the NBA Live 18 Demo, as well as the release of The Prelude to NBA 2K18.

On this week’s show…

  • The NBA Live 18 Demo has received another update. On top of making some further gameplay tweaks, it also added updated rosters, and two additional teams to Play Now: the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets.
  • EA Access subscribers on Xbox One are currently enjoying a ten hour trial of the full version of NBA Live 18. Their streams and impressions suggest further improvement over the demo, which is great news.
  • A Game Informer article provided us with a few details on this year’s MyCAREER story ahead of the release of The Prelude, and some further information about The Neighborhood.
  • In the wake of a somewhat flat trailer, The Prelude has been released, along with the MyNBA2K18 companion app. We tip off our impressions with a few thoughts on face scanning.
  • We’re not impressed by the lack of customisation options, nor the decision to put more content behind a VC paywall. It’s a continuation of a disheartening trend that began in NBA 2K17.
  • The story in this year’s MyCAREER mode leaves something to be desired. Although we like the general idea of being able to pick our team, the plot, acting, and characters are rather corny, with one character in particular being a bit uncomfortable.
  • Although the brevity of The Prelude was disappointing, the gameplay was a highlight, and demonstrates some pleasing improvements that have us looking forward to the full version of NBA 2K18.
  • We wrap up Episode #221 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which featured NLSC THRILLHO’s final 2K Pro-Am game for NBA 2K17, and the acquisition of a long-coveted MyPARK trophy.

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 Teams to Rebuild in Franchise Modes This Year

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. This week’s Five is a list of teams that you might consider trying to rebuild in this year’s franchise modes.

Last week, I discussed some of the most appealing options in terms of teams to use in this year’s franchise modes. This week, I’m looking at some of the more challenging options, in the form of teams that are currently rebuilding. Admittedly a couple of the teams that I mentioned last week are in rebuilding phases themselves, but they also happen to have a bit more talent on their rosters, including players with definite superstar potential. The teams I’m focusing on this time around generally aren’t quite as talented, but still present some interesting scenarios for franchise gamers.

Assuming control of a rebuilding team in a franchise mode can be an unusual experience. Depending on your skill on the sticks, lottery-bound teams can greatly overachieve, even pulling off unlikely championship victories in year one. Of course, you’ll certainly have your work cut out for you, and the rosters of teams who are bottoming out or trying to claw their way back to respectability aren’t always fun to play with. At the same time, the challenge they present can be an enjoyable change of pace. With that in mind, let’s take a look at five teams that you can try to rebuild in the franchise modes of NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18.

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NBA Live 18 Available Now On EA Access

NBA Live 18 Demo: James Harden

While PlayStation 4 users are stuck with the NBA Live 18 demo for the next week, Xbox One users can now get hold of a trial version of the full game through EA Access. If you have an EA Access subscription, you can try out the full version of NBA Live 18 for ten hours, as well as get a 10% discount off the digital version if you decide to buy it.

You can find the trial here in the Xbox Live store. For anyone who is unfamiliar with EA Access, it’s EA’s subscription service that is exclusive to Xbox One. For US $4.99 per month or $29.99 per year, you can try upcoming games, get discounts on digital purchases including in-game content, and access The Vault, which features an expanding library of EA games. More information can be found here.

With Xbox One users already getting their hands on the full version of NBA Live 18, we’re seeing some gameplay streams and impressions being posted. DBOYGAMEZ had a lengthy stream earlier today, which you can check out below, or catch here on his YouTube channel.

Whether you’re checking out the game through EA Access or watching some streams, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. As always, I also invite you to join in the discussion taking place here in the NBA Live 18 section of the NLSC Forum.

NBA Live 18 Demo Roster Updated; Rockets & Celtics Added

NBA Live 18 Demo: James Harden

EA Sports continues to push through updates for the NBA Live 18 demo. The latest patch adds the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics for use in Play Now, bringing the total number of NBA teams in the demo to four. The rosters have also been updated, with Isaiah Thomas now on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Kyrie Irving on the Celtics. The update should come through automatically as long as your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One is connected to the Internet. If you encounter any issues, try restarting your console.

The latest update also includes new faces for certain players. Notably, Derrick Rose has a new hairstyle, as he now sports short braids. Check out a screenshot of Rose with his new hairstyle below, along with a few screens of Irving and Thomas in their new jerseys, and a handful of other players. For more NBA Live 18 pre-release screenshots, be sure to check out our gallery.

There are no additional patch notes at this time, but if any are released, we’ll be sure to post them. EA has been tinkering with the gameplay in the NBA Live 18 demo based on the feedback they’ve received so far, so the “minor bug fixes” listed in the update history on PlayStation 4 probably do include a few more tweaks. As always, feel free to share your impressions in the comments section below, as well as in this topic in our NBA Live 18 Forum.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #220

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Episode #220 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I have plenty to talk about following a big week of NBA 2K18 news, as well as the release of a new patch for the NBA Live 18 demo. The question is, as always, now that the show has been recorded, will any further news break over the weekend?

On this week’s show…

  • Patch 1.05 has been pushed through for the NBA Live 18 demo, and this time, we have a few patch notes. Once again, we take the opportunity to offer some further impressions of the demo, and encourage everyone to keep the feedback coming.
  • Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will be joining NBA 2K18’s broadcasting team as special guest commentators. Unfortunately for KG, the game is only rated E10+.
  • The latest NBA 2K18 developer blogs by Scott O’Gallagher and Da_Czar have delivered a lot of promising news about improvements to AI, playcalling, and gameplay in general.
  • NBA 2K18 will see the debut of The Neighborhood, a new online open world experience that encompasses MyCAREER, 2K Pro-Am, and MyPARK (now called The Playground). It’s very cool, but we do have a few questions and concerns.
  • There will be 189 MyPLAYER Archetypes this year, with primary and secondary archetypes and hybrid styles. Excellent news, in our opinion.
  • A list of Achievements for The Prelude has been leaked, hinting at this year’s story. Mild spoiler warning!
  • We wrap up Episode #220 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which included a couple of really fun sessions of 2K Pro-Am as our season in NBA 2K17 continues to draw to a close.

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 Teams To Use in Franchise Modes This Year

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. This week’s Five is a list of five teams that are appealing prospects to play with in this year’s franchise modes.

We’re just a couple of weeks away from the release of NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18! Although I anticipate spending time with modes like MyCAREER, The One, 2K Pro-Am, MyTEAM, and Ultimate Team, I’m also looking forward to returning to my roots as a franchise gamer. Given its incredible depth, MyLEAGUE will likely be my mode of choice, but I’m still undecided as to which team I’ll use. My beloved Chicago Bulls are naturally always an option, but with the team entering a rebuilding phase, they’re not exactly the most appealing squad. I can’t help but think back to my attempts to play Franchise Mode with the Ron Mercer-led Bulls in NBA Live 2001!

MyLEAGUE does offer the flexibility of controlling multiple teams, switching control of teams, and of course, creating a brand new expansion team. However, I must admit that I’d personally prefer to take control of one franchise, and a real NBA team at that. I can’t rule out trying to make things work with the Bulls, but there are quite a few interesting possibilities heading into the 2018 season. If you’re looking for a team that can be competitive out of the gate, but also provide options in terms of wheeling and dealing, here are five teams that you may want to consider using in the franchise modes of NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18.

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Patch Notes for NBA Live 18 Demo Update 1.05

NBA Live 18 Demo: Warriors vs. Cavaliers

As we noted in Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast a couple of weeks ago, the NBA Live 18 demo has been receiving a few official patches since its release. A new update (1.05) has just come through on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It should come through automatically as long as you have an active Internet connection, but if you encounter any issues, try restarting your console. Xbox One users may also want to try this workaround.

There hasn’t been a lot of information about the updates so far, and the Update History on PS4 simply lists the generic “minor bug fixes” note. However, NBA Live 18 Game Designer ProjectLeet has Tweeted out some comprehensive patch notes for the latest update, which are as follows:

  • Live Run unlocked.
  • Numerous gameplay changes, which include…
    • Big men will no longer be able to perform high tier dribble moves.
    • Contested layup percentage has been tuned.
    • Big men won’t perform as many athletic reverse layups.
    • Increased Game Speed to 80.
    • Interception tuning. Fewer interceptions when players aren’t facing the ball.
    • Alley-oop frequency tuning.
    • Hard screens are less frequent.
    • Celebration tuning.
    • Box out tuning.
    • Reduced the frequency of interior shot blocking based on matchups. Slight reduction overall.
    • Various Gameplay bug fixes.
    • Improved loose ball reaction times.

The dev team at EA Tiburon certainly seem to be taking feedback on the NBA Live 18 demo quite seriously. As such, if you have any impressions that you’d like to share, feel free to post them in the comments section below, as well as in this topic. Remember, the more detailed our constructive feedback about the NBA Live 18 demo, the more adjustments that can be made to the full version via a day one patch. We’ll do our best to compile feedback and pass it along to the developers accordingly.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #219

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Episode #219 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Kenny returns to the show this week, joining Arcane and I in a discussion of all the latest topics of interest to our community, including further NBA Live 18 demo impressions, the new historical content in NBA 2K18, and the Kyrie Irving trade.

On this week’s show…

  • We tip off the show with some further impressions of the NBA Live 18 demo. The game has also been receiving some support in IGN’s Player’s Choice Awards.
  • Arcane is running a Madden 18 giveaway for PlayStation 4. Entries close August 31st, so get them in ASAP!
  • All of the new classic teams in NBA 2K18 have been revealed, including an additional seventeenth squad. The full lineups for the All-Time Teams have also been posted. We share a few opinions on the new historical content.
  • With Kyrie Irving being traded to the Boston Celtics, it seems that a new cover for NBA 2K18 will be issued at some point.
  • An upcoming Facebook event will provide us with details on MyCAREER in NBA 2K18. We speculate on this year’s story, based on the event name and hashtag.
  • Our Week in Basketball Gaming included 2K Pro-Am cheese – surprise, surprise – and MyLEAGUE success.
  • Backing up a little, we talk about the Kyrie Irving trade in more depth. Did the Cavs make a steal in the deal?
  • We wrap up Episode #219 of the NLSC Podcast by picking our Ultimate Australian 3-on-3 squads.

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 #218

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Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! With the preview season well and truly underway, Arcane and I have plenty of things to talk about this week, including the NBA Live 18 pre-order bonuses, the latest trailers and developer blogs for NBA 2K18, and some news that (of course) broke shortly after we finished recording Episode #217.

On this week’s show…

  • Since its release, the NBA Live 18 demo has been receiving some patches, so it would appear that the experience will continue to be tweaked based on user feedback. Hopefully, this will also bode well for the inevitable Day One patch.
  • The One Edition of NBA Live 18 has been confirmed, and it includes a couple of in-game pre-order bonuses, as well as a 33% discount from participating retailers.
  • 2K Sports dropped the “Get Shook” trailer, along with a developer blog describing the improvements to gameplay in NBA 2K18. It sounds like the team has been focusing on the right things this year.
  • A trailer and developer blog for MyTEAM in NBA 2K18 has also been released. The trailer itself was a little cringe-worthy, but overall the news is good there too.
  • All-Time Teams and sixteen new Classic Teams will be added in NBA 2K18. We share our thoughts on the new classic teams that have been revealed so far.
  • We wrap up Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which has seen our 2K Pro-Am season for NBA 2K17 approach its final few sessions, and more grinding for cards in NBA Playgrounds. We also look ahead to our future weeks of basketball gaming.

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.

Pre-Order Bonuses for NBA Live 18: The One Edition

NBA Live 18 Pre-Order Bonuses

EA Sports has revealed the pre-order bonuses for “The One Edition” of NBA Live 18. It’s quite likely that this is the “Deluxe” edition of the game that was previously revealed by Amazon UK. As seen in a promotional graphic shared by the official NBA Live Twitter account, pre-order customers will receive:

  • A 33% discount (at participating retailers).
  • A James Harden gear crate, including shoes, tops, accessories, and his celebration animation.
  • A Gold James Harden Ultimate Team card, usable for ten games.

Considering the aforementioned Amazon UK listing and cross-checking with the Australian PlayStation Store, it would seem that this deal is indeed available outside of North America, so international pre-order customers will be able to take advantage of the offer, at least digitally.

If you’d like to try NBA Live 18 before you buy or pre-order it, a reminder that the demo was released last week. A new patch for the demo has also come through on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. There are no patch notes at this time, and checking the Update History on PS4, only the generic “minor bug fixes” note is listed.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, as well as join in the discussion that’s taking place in our NBA Live 18 Forum! If you’ve got any impressions of the demo that you’d like to share, be sure to post them in this topic.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #217

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Episode #217 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we provide our impressions of the NBA Live 18 Demo and Companion App, share our thoughts on some other NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 news items from the past week, and talk about our recent activities on the virtual hardwood.

On this week’s show…

  • Shortly after we finished recording last week’s NLSC Podcast, the Companion App for NBA Live 18 was released. How does it compare to the NBA Live 16 app, and how did our face scans turn out?
  • The NBA Live 18 Demo is out now. In one of our longest segments to date, we provide some in-depth initial impressions of our first hands-on look at this year’s game from EA Sports.
  • NBA Live 18 is now available to pre-order, with a 33% discount on offer. There also appears to be a Deluxe edition of the game, though no further details are available at this time.
  • Wrapping up the NBA Live 18 news, the full soundtrack has been released. Notably, some big names have contributed tracks this year.
  • The second Developer Diary for NBA 2K18 provided us with a look at the gameplay, as well as an insight into the aesthetic improvements in this year’s game. We also have some hands-on impressions from the community, more screenshots, and mention of amiibo compatibility.
  • We’ll be getting another edition of The Prelude before the release of NBA 2K18, but it’s reportedly different to last year’s demo. Naturally, that news invites speculation.
  • Episode #217 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which included a troubleshooting fail (albeit with a happy ending), a brewing rivalry for NLSC THRILLHO, and an elusive PlayStation Trophy.

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 18 Cover Player is James Harden; Demo Out Today

James Harden in NBA Live 18

The speculation is over! Houston Rockets All-Star guard James Harden has been officially announced as the cover player for NBA Live 18. Originally, the news was inadvertently leaked in a since-deleted video by YouTuber iMav3riq, but we now have official confirmation. Harden was previously one of four different cover players for NBA 2K16, along with Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and Michael Jordan (Special Edition only). Check out the cover art below!

Notably, Harden was among the players who appeared in the first reveal screenshots, as well as the early gameplay trailers for NBA Live 18. While this obviously seems like a strong hint in retrospect, it’s also worth noting that a couple of screenshots of DeMar DeRozan were also released at the same time, despite him being signed to appear on the Canadian cover of NBA 2K18.

EA Sports has released a trailer to coincide with the official announcement. As you would expect, it focuses on James Harden himself, playing in both The League and The Streets. Check it out below, or catch it here on YouTube if you can’t see the embedded video.

The NBA Live 18 demo is also out today. Depending on your timezone – or indeed, the timezone of the account you’re currently using – it’s already available to download. The game’s release date has been confirmed for September 15th, which sees it going head to head with NBA 2K18’s Early Tip-Off Weekend. EA Sports are also offering a 33% discount for pre-orders. No further word on the Deluxe edition as yet.

We’ll have demo impressions and further thoughts to share in this week’s NLSC Podcast, but in the meantime, what’s your take on the choice of James Harden for NBA Live 18’s cover? Are you trying out the demo? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum. You can also share your impressions of the demo in this topic.

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NBA Live 18 Soundtrack Revealed; Listen on Spotify

NBA Live 18 Soundtrack

EA Sports has officially announced the NBA Live 18 soundtrack. The track list for this year’s game includes artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Nas, Kid Cudi, and Machine Gun Kelly. Changing things up from the “underground” vibe of the past few games, this year’s soundtrack features a combination of big names and up-and-coming artists.

Check out the full track list below. If you’d like to preview the NBA Live 18 soundtrack, you can tune in on Spotify. Note that only thirteen songs are available at this time, but the full version of the soundtrack will be available to listen to on Spotify on August 11th, to coincide with the release of the demo.

I’ve added the track list to the NBA Live Soundtracks page in our Wiki. As always, I invite the community to help out in keeping our Wiki up to date with the latest information, especially with the preview season for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 starting to kick into high gear.

Once again, check out the soundtrack below, and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments. You can also join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum.

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NBA Live 18 Deluxe Edition; Face Scanning Tutorial

NBA Live 18: LeBron James

As noted by The Gaming Tailgate, the Amazon UK listing for NBA Live 18 seems to have revealed that there will be both a standard and deluxe edition of the game. There isn’t any further information at this time, but given the higher price tag, it’s likely that it will include some in-game bonuses, such as Ultimate Team packs.

The listings also mention September 15th as the release date. If accurate, this would see the game come out the same day as NBA 2K18’s Early Tip-Off Weekend pre-order edition. The street date for NBA 2K18 is September 19th, though some retailers have been known to break those dates, either deliberately or accidentally.

Assuming this isn’t an error, it would mark the first time that there has been a special edition of NBA Live. Visual Concepts has produced special editions of the past few NBA 2K releases, which have been given “Legend Edition” branding in NBA 2K17 and NBA 2K18.

Speaking of The Gaming Tailgate, cdj has put together a quick video tutorial demonstrating how to scan your face using the new companion app. Watch it below, or check it out here on TGT’s YouTube channel.

You’ll be able to complete your face scan with a hairstyle, facial hair, and other features, in the full version and in the NBA Live 18 demo. The demo is slated for release August 11th, so it won’t be long before we get some hands-on time with NBA Live 18. As mentioned in last week’s Podcast, we might be looking to do some streams of the demo over the weekend.

What do you think will be in the Deluxe Edition of NBA Live 18? Have you managed to scan your face for the demo yet? Have your say in the comments section below, and as always, we encourage everyone to join in the discussion taking place in the NBA Live 18 section of the NLSC Forum.