Menu

Wayback Wednesday: Somersault Dunks in NBA Jam TE

Wayback Wednesday: Somersault Dunks in NBA Jam TE

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the somersault dunks in NBA Jam Tournament Edition.

One of the joys of hitting the virtual hardwood is discovering all the moves that you can pull off, and the variety of animations on offer. It’s something that we can take for granted now that hoops titles boast thousands of animations and an array of signature styles. Back when games were far more limited in what they could feasibly include, it was a thrill to discover new moves that we didn’t expect to see. Dunks were of course the premiere highlight, and we all have slams that we’re partial to in our favourite basketball video games.

There are many spectacular slams that I enjoy seeing thrown down by the players I’m controlling, but when it comes to NBA Jam Tournament Edition, I’m particularly fond of the somersault dunks. As a 90s kid who loved basketball and video games, they represented the pinnacle of highlights in a title that was all about over-the-top high-flying dunks. Even when I go back and play NBA Jam TE today, I’m excited whenever I see a player going into a somersault as they leap into the air. I’m sure I’m not alone in appreciating the soaring somersault dunks of NBA Jam TE, so let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

NBA 2K23 Patch 6.0 Out Now

NBA 2K23 Patch 6.0 Out Now

Patch 6.0 is now available for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One versions of NBA 2K23, with the PC patch coming soon. As always, it should download automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

The patch prepares the game for Season 6 in MyCAREER and MyTEAM, which will be tipping off this Friday. It includes some cosmetic updates such as the Knicks’ Willis Reed tribute stripe, and a correction on the Lakers’ alternate uniform. There are also a handful of player likeness updates, as well as some technical and gameplay fixes.

At the time of posting, only the patch notes for Next Gen have been made available. You can find them below, as well as here in our Wiki. Once the Current Gen/PC patch notes are posted, I’ll add them to this post and the update history page. In the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts on Patch 6.0 for NBA 2K23 in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum.

UPDATE: The Current Gen patch notes have been posted on the official NBA 2K Discord, and have been added below and in our Wiki accordingly.

UPDATE #2: PC received Patch 6.0 last Friday, April 7th.

Read More »

NBA 2K19 Mod Releases: Assorted Updates

NBA 2K19 Cover Art

We’ve got some interesting new mod releases for NBA 2K19 today, including a Neighborhood court, a hack to access and modify game rules, and a mod that adds the Teammate Grade from MyCAREER to Blacktop. Check them all out at the links below!

Botytec
Neighborhood Court
Game Rules
Teammate Grade in Blacktop

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

Monday Tip-Off: Finishing The Drive for Five

Monday Tip-Off: Finishing The Drive for Five

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with a recap of my Drive for Five in Year 5 of my NBA 2K14 MyCAREER.

At this point, my NBA 2K14 MyCAREER is well beyond being just a kick. It’s become one of my all-time favourite basketball gaming experiences, and a staple of my rotation on the virtual hardwood. Even though I enjoyed NBA 2K23 far more than NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K22, it couldn’t replace NBA 2K14 for PlayStation 4 as the star of my lineup. And honestly, why should it? While I do consider NBA 2K23 to be the strongest release in the last few years, if I’m enjoying an older title even more, there’s no reason to put it aside just because it isn’t the latest game.

Year 5 proved to be another captivating journey. As I’ve said before, I’ve greatly enjoyed how each season in this NBA 2K14 MyCAREER has ended up telling its own story, even if they’ve ultimately culminated with a similar ending. To that point, though every season has ended with my player celebrating a championship, the road to that destination veered off into different routes that were all fun to travel. While the numbers may suggest otherwise, the Drive for Five actually stands as one of the most challenging seasons so far in my NBA 2K14 MyCAREER. It demonstrates the value of playing through multiple seasons, and experiencing an ongoing alternate reality.

Read More »

NLSC Podcast #471: Talking NBA Jam: Legends On Fire Edition With johnz1

NLSC Podcast Logo

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #471 of the NLSC Podcast!

This week, we’re joined by johnz1, creator of the NBA Jam: Legends On Fire Edition mod for NBA Jam: On Fire Edition PS3! John provides insights into the creation of this fantastic mod, and also shares stories of his history with modding, including projects for NBA Street Vol. 2 and Tecmo Super Bowl. We also chat about the philosophy behind ratings in the NBA Jam series, his discovery of hidden assets for Michael Jordan in the 2010 reboot of NBA Jam, and his origins as a basketball gamer. John also teases a future modding project for NBA Jam: On Fire Edition that should be out soon, and answers some rapid fire questions about legendary NBA players.

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week: April 1st, 2023

NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week

Get ready for more fantastic highlights from the basketball gaming community in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week, curated by Dee4Three! New and old games alike are featured in this celebration of spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood. To submit your clips, post them in this topic, or hit up Dee on Twitter.

Obviously, a lot of sites love to run joke articles and other such gags for April Fool’s Day, so you’d be forgiven for thinking something might be screwy with this week’s NLSC Top 10 Plays. I can promise you that isn’t the case; not because we don’t like fun, but because we don’t want to take any attention away from the awesome highlights that the community continues to send in! There’s a little bit of everything from six different titles this week, including a great two-way play from our NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament, jaw-dropping dunks, and cold-blooded play in the clutch. Don’t be a fool! Tip off your weekend of basketball gaming with another spectacular Top 10!

What was your favourite highlight this week? Sound off in the comments below, and once again, get in on the fun by sending us your best plays! Remember, as long as it’s a basketball game, it’s eligible for the countdown. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

The Friday Five: 5 Players Who Only Appeared on Certain Teams in Games (Part 10)

The Friday Five: 5 Players Who Only Appeared on Certain Teams in Games (Part 10)

Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is Part 10 in an ongoing series looking at players who only appeared on certain teams in video games.

When I posted my first list of players who only appeared on certain teams in games – or “phantom stints”, as I really should’ve called it – I didn’t realise that it would turn into a series with ten parts and counting! I thought I’d discovered some rather unique examples while dusting off games for Wayback Wednesday features and my own retro gaming sessions, but the names kept on coming. Once I reached the seventh instalment, I believed that I’d covered all of the examples who were noteworthy names. David L quickly proved me wrong, though!

As such, this series continues, and there are some more examples that I’ll be getting to beyond today’s feature. Once again, these phantom stints occur for the same basic reason: a player’s tenure with a team is more or less on paper only since they never officially tally a minute in real life, but because the stint is represented in at least one video game, it can actually play out on the virtual hardwood. Whether it’s due to leaving soon after a transaction that’s included in the default rosters or an official update, an injury lasting their entire tenure, or a trade or signing that was nullified, a number of players end up only appearing on certain teams in basketball video games.

Read More »

NBA 2K14 Mod Releases: Retro Jerseys & Injury Script

NBA 2K14 Cover Art

Today’s mod releases for NBA 2K14 include throwback Charlotte Bobcats jerseys, and an updated injury script for the 2023 season. Download them at the links below!

Pep
2008/2009 Charlotte Bobcats Uniforms

Mackubex
Apply 2022-23 NBA Season Injuries SCRIPT (Updated to v2.0)

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

Wayback Wednesday: No Portrait Available

Wayback Wednesday: No Portrait Available

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at the “No Portrait Available” placeholders that are a staple of old basketball video games.

Beyond obvious examples such as dated graphics, fewer modes, and less bonus content, there are some hallmarks that immediately identify basketball video games as old school. They are the approaches and design choices that modern games eschew, either because they’re no longer necessary, or newer technology facilitates preferable solutions. These days, you’d never see a Free Agents Pool that’s limited to the same number of players as a regular team. No active players will be represented by Roster Players, since the entire league is covered by the current licensing agreement.

That brings us to another staple of old games that we no longer see: a generic portrait for players who are missing a proper one. If you’ve been playing basketball games for a long time, these players with no available portrait will be part of the nostalgia that you feel for old favourites, whether it’s the approach in general or some more specific examples. Don’t believe me? Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

NLSC Podcast #470: Quality Time on the Virtual Hardwood

NLSC Podcast Logo

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #470 of the NLSC Podcast!

Which basketball video games rank among our most-played all-time? This week, we join the community in reminiscing about the various titles that we’ve racked up the most hours in over the years. We’re also able to talk about the NBA Jam: Legends On Fire Edition mod at last, and it’s no surprise that the community shares our enthusiasm for it! johnz1 will also be joining us to talk about the mod next week, so stay tuned. The Elite 8 of our NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament is in the books, so we reflect on the action thus far, and look ahead to the Final Four. We also pay tribute to the late, great Willis Reed.

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

Monday Tip-Off: Is It Me, Or The Games?

Monday Tip-Off: Is It Me, Or The Games?

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some reflections on whether some of my complaints about basketball video games are on me, or the games themselves.

I’ve been playing basketball video games since the 90s, becoming a part of the online community – then largely centred on NBA Live – towards the end of the decade. As you may or may not know, I started out with my own NBA Live fansite – the NBA Live Domain – not long after I discovered the NLSC and modding, and decided to get involved with the scene. I took over the NLSC in August of 2001, a couple of months before turning 17. At times it’s somewhat overwhelming to reflect on the passage of time, but it has indeed been more than two decades since I started this journey!

What does this mean? Well, I’m sure that some people would have unflattering things to say about me still being a content creator for basketball video games in my thirties, but we needn’t concern ourselves with mean-spirited remarks from small minds with an axe to grind. With that being said, it is true that after all these years and all the different games I’ve played, I am now in the upper end of the demographic. As an Elder Millennial, I’m in a weird place where I’m simultaneously a terrible young person and a bitter old head, depending on your generation relative to mine. I may be a little of both, and so sometimes I wonder where the problem lies when I have gripes.

Read More »

NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament Elite 8 Results

NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament Elite 8 Results

The real 2023 NCAA Tournament will shortly have its Final Four, but we’re already there on the virtual hardwood! After tipping off a couple of weeks ago, the Elite 8 has concluded in our NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament, which is being hosted by Dee and powered by Parsec.

Unfortunately, as we noted on last week’s NLSC Podcast, the quality of my connection forced me to withdraw from our NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament. However, sevin0seven was fortunately willing and able to take my place, and so the tournament progressed without any further interruptions.

Dee has been streaming all of the games on his YouTube channel, and then putting together highlight reels for the NLSC’s channel. I’ve posted them all below, along with the updated brackets. The Final Four will be tipping off soon, so stay tuned for more action!

A big thanks to everyone who is participating in the tournament, and tuning in to watch the games and highlights! Once again, the winner of the tournament will receive a $20 Steam gift card. For more information on how to connect and play games using Parsec, check out this tutorial that Dee put together. Feel free to share your thoughts on the tournament in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum, or on our Discord. Also be sure to hit us up with any suggestions of other games you’d like to see us run tournaments with in the future!

Read More »

NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week: March 25th, 2023

NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week

Get ready for more fantastic highlights from the basketball gaming community in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week, curated by Dee4Three! New and old games alike are featured in this celebration of spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood. To submit your clips, post them in this topic, or hit up Dee on Twitter.

As this year’s March Madness rolls on, brackets being busted all around, it only makes sense that we have some more virtual collegiate highlights! You’ll find spectacular moments from our NCAA Basketball 10 Tournament, as well as Coach K College Basketball. Elsewhere, johnz1 provided a gamewinner from NBA Jam: On Fire Edition (on top of a legendary mod for the game earlier this week). Those highlights, along with seven other exciting ones, make up another great NLSC Top 10 Plays! Six different basketball video games are represented this week, once again spotlighting the variety that our community enjoys so much.

What was your favourite highlight this week? Sound off in the comments below, and once again, get in on the fun by sending us your best plays! Remember, as long as it’s a basketball game, it’s eligible for the countdown. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

The Friday Five: 5 Details That Made NBA Live 10 Special

The Friday Five: 5 Details That Made NBA Live 10 Special

Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five details that made NBA Live 10 a special game.

As you may recall, in 2021 I went on a major retro gaming kick with NBA Live 10! It’s a game that I played with some enthusiasm when it was new, but I did end up putting it aside when the second patch introduced some annoying issues. However, after revisiting NBA Live 10 through Parsec sessions with Dee, as well as playing solo on my Xbox 360, I found that I had a much greater appreciation for it. In addition to following up on my 25th Anniversary of NBA Live retrospective with further thoughts, I also used the game to create a variety of Wayback Wednesday features.

I’ve put NBA Live 10 on the backburner to bring other classics into the rotation, but I still hold it in extremely high regard. Of course, there’s a bittersweet aspect to it. NBA Live 10 was the last game in the series to be widely regarded as a great release, and as such, it’s difficult to revisit it without wondering what might’ve been if not for the ill-fated attempt to reinvent the wheel in NBA Elite 11. Great gameplay and solid modes are responsible for NBA Live 10’s reputation among long-time basketball gamers, but what makes it a candidate for the best game in the NBA Live series is the attention it paid to the little details. These five details in particular made NBA Live 10 special.

Read More »

NBA 2K23 Mod Releases: Rosters & Rules Menu

NBA 2K23 Cover Art

Today’s NBA 2K23 mod release include an assortment of rosters, and a mod to access game rules settings. Download them all at the links below!

pinoy21
NBA 2K23 City Jersey Pack 4

KINGJMASE
2K23 ESL STREETBALL MOD

RedLite2K
NBA 2K11 Definitive Edition Mod for NBA 2K23

TGsoGood
2K23 Game Rules Menu Mod

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.