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Our friends over at Operation Sports have posted another exclusive NBA 2K18 developer blog, this time from the one and only Da_Czar. Following on from Scott O’Gallagher’s blog, Da_Czar discusses offensive tendencies, AI execution, and player motion in this year’s game. Once again, it’s difficult to summarise such an in-depth blog and do it justice, but here are some of the key points:
- Playcalling and substitutions have been moved from the right stick back to the buttons. Left on the D-Pad will bring up the Dynamic Play Menu, where you can toggle through different sets and make your selection by pressing the appropriate button. Right on the D-Pad will bring up gameplan items, which you can also cycle through and then select using the face buttons. Up on the D-Pad calls a Smart Play, while Down on the D-Pad brings up the on-the-fly substitution menu.
- NBA 2K18 will feature situational tendencies, so that players make realistic decisions based on where they get the ball and the current situation, including the quality of defender that they’re facing. Elite scorers will break plays if they believe they have an opportunity to score against their current match-up.
- Several improvements have been made to the way AI players execute offensively, such as spotting up or cutting to the basket in transition, as well as their awareness of mismatches, numbers advantages, and defender positioning.
- The new motion engine improves player movement, allowing seamless changes in direction and avoiding a feeling of getting stuck in animations.
- There will be a noticeable difference in tempo between teams, according to real life data.
Be sure to check out the blog over on OS for the full scoop, as well as several screenshots and video clips that demonstrate what Da_Czar is talking about. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, as well as join in the discussion in our NBA 2K18 Forum.