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Wayback Wednesday: When The Lights Are Brightest in NBA 2K20

Wayback Wednesday: When The Lights Are Brightest in NBA 2K20

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 MyCAREER story in NBA 2K20, titled “When The Lights Are Brightest”.

Following NBA 2K18’s ridiculous MyCAREER tale starring a prospect who quit basketball to be a DJ, finally makes it to the NBA following a streetball tournament, and is flanked by his annoying best friend/roommate B-Fresh, NBA 2K19 featured a much better written story. “The Way Back” not only boasted impressive production values from a cinematic standpoint, but also attempted to spice up the journey with mini-games and other interactive elements. It wasn’t perfect, but it stood out as one of the better MyCAREER stories, and a tough act to follow.

To that end, Visual Concepts collaborated with Maverick Carter and LeBron James on the story for NBA 2K20’s MyCAREER, “When The Lights Are Brightest”. Indeed, Carter, LeBron, and their production company, Springhill Entertainment, are credited on the cover as executive producers for MyCAREER. The story has been shelved for good following the shutdown of the NBA 2K20 servers, since MyCAREER is no longer playable. With that being said, what was the story, was it any good, and are we missing out since we’re now unable to revisit it? Let’s take a look back…way back…

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Wayback Wednesday: 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16

Wayback Wednesday: 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16

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 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16, as well as how the mode has changed since then.

There was a time when I was very reluctant to play online. Technically that refers to the present day as well, as I no longer find the scene appealing in NBA 2K. To that point though, for a while I was far more enthusiastic about online play. I’d dabbled with it in the past, but was generally content to play franchise modes, or stick to the NBA side of MyCAREER. However, when Kenny invited Arcane and I to play 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16 along with community members The X, Valor, and zzcoolj21, we were hooked. NLSC THRILLHO was born!

Although some improvements were made to 2K Pro-Am following its introduction in NBA 2K16, I’d still say that the original incarnation of the mode is one of the best. The novelty of it being a fresh new experience certainly contributes to my nostalgia for it, but many of the changes to MyCAREER and the online scene since then have taken it in a disappointing direction. Once again though, that first version of 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16 was a blast, and that also carried over into NBA 2K17. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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The Friday Five: 5 Best Additions to NBA MyCAREER

The Friday Five: 5 Best Additions to NBA MyCAREER

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 the five best additions to NBA MyCAREER.

These days, it’s not fashionable to play NBA MyCAREER. It’s usually seen as a means to an end; a way of familiarising yourself with the mechanics, and grinding for VC and Badge XP to level up your player in preparation for the online scene. This is unfortunate, as MyCAREER once provided an extremely enjoyable alternative to franchise play, placing gamers in the shoes of an aspiring NBA player. Sure, the story-driven approach has been hit and miss, but some of the better tales were well-told, with impressive production values and fun mini-games.

Those aspects are still there as of NBA 2K23, though there’s been a detrimental shift in focus. The downfall began last generation, and swiftly progressed following the introduction of The Neighborhood and later The City. Still, NBA MyCAREER does remain a fairly robust mode; at least until the servers are shut down and it disappears forever! Reflecting on the history of NBA MyCAREER and the days when it was more than just a legacy mode that most use as a stepping stone to the online scene, there have been some great additions that benefitted the traditional career experience. Having played the mode extensively over the years, I’m picking these as the five best.

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Wayback Wednesday: The All-Time Teams in NBA 2K

Wayback Wednesday: The All-Time Teams in NBA 2K

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 introduction of the All-Time Teams in NBA 2K.

In many respects, NBA 2K18 was a turning point for the series. MyCAREER added The Neighborhood, a concept that has since evolved into The City. While it wowed gamers when it was unveiled, it’s unfortunately taken the mode in a direction that has less and less relevance to basketball. It also introduced a new motion system that in the opinion of many NBA 2K gamers – and I’m among them – is inferior to games that came before it. Paying for haircuts, a MyPLAYER character who gave up basketball to be a DJ, B-Fresh…in short, NBA 2K18 isn’t one of the series’ strongest releases!

At the same time, it unveiled a welcome addition to the series’ complement of retro content: the All-Time Teams. It’s all too easy to dismiss the All-Time Teams as one of the weaker ideas for bonus squads in NBA 2K, merely combining already-licensed historical players with current stars. As a concept, it’s nothing we haven’t already done with roster mods, going right back to the early days of NBA Live on PC. However, All-Time Teams are an important expansion of the retro content in NBA 2K, even if they aren’t as exciting as specific classic teams. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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NLSC Podcast #455: Our Definitive Review & Ranking of NBA 2K23

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #455 of the NLSC Podcast!

NBA 2K23 has been out for three months, and the game in its current state is likely what we’re going to have for the rest of its life cycle. As such, this week we’re going in-depth with our definitive review and ranking of NBA 2K23! What are its biggest pros and cons? Where does it rank among the all-time best games in the NBA 2K series? What needs to change in NBA 2K24, and how optimistic are we about the game’s direction? From gameplay to depth and accuracy, to microtransactions and fairness to the gamer, it’s a comprehensive breakdown! We also quiz the community on NBA Live 2003 dunk ratings in this week’s mailbag.

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!

NBA 2K21 Server Shutdown Reminder

NBA 2K21 Server Shutdown Reminder

The official NBA 2K Twitter recently posted a reminder about the NBA 2K21 server shutdown, which is scheduled for December 31st, 2022. This is in line with the promised duration for online support, which was extended to 27 months back in 2014 after the NBA 2K14 server shutdown led to much controversy.

To state the obvious, all online play and functionality will be unavailable following the NBA 2K21 server shutdown. This includes MyTEAM and MyCAREER, as an offline version of the latter mode hasn’t been available since NBA 2K19. Roster sharing will not be possible (at least on console), and official roster updates will not be redownloaded if the game is reinstalled. All unused Virtual Currency and MT will be lost, with no option to transfer the remaining balance to NBA 2K22 or NBA 2K23.

Additionally, 2K have confirmed that NBA 2K21 will be pulled from digital storefronts following the server shutdown. In the past, older titles have sometimes remained available to buy for up to a few years later. Infamously, the special editions of NBA 2K18 were still being sold as of December 2020, despite their bonuses requiring online support that had long since concluded. Since then, 2K has been quicker to pull games that are no longer supported. To that end, if you’re a collector/completionist and don’t own NBA 2K21 yet, you’ll have until January 1st 2023 to add it to your library of basketball video games.

As always, anyone who already owns NBA 2K21 on PC or console will still be able to download it again and continue to play offline modes beyond the server shutdown. Nevertheless, I’d recommend wrapping up any unfinished business ASAP, as well as downloading any custom rosters before the servers go offline. Feel free to suggest any rosters for your fellow gamers to check out while there’s still time, either in the comments below or here in our NBA 2K21 Forum.

Monday Tip-Off: I Still Can’t Put NBA 2K14 MyCAREER Aside

Monday Tip-Off: I Still Can't Put NBA 2K14 MyCAREER Aside

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 how it’s been impossible to put NBA 2K14 MyCAREER aside for very long.

We’re approaching the tenth anniversary of NBA 2K14’s release. Not only was the PC version one of the most well-received and heavily-modded games in our community, but the PlayStation 4/Xbox One version was one of the most impressive launch titles in basketball gaming history. Of course, NBA 2K14 hasn’t been a frequent part of my rotation for the last ten years. As I’ve discussed in several articles and on the NLSC Podcast, sourness towards the brand and some iffy first impressions turned me off the game for years. Revisiting it on a whim in 2021 completely changed my mind!

Despite my burnout on MyCAREER, revisiting an earlier iteration of the mode in NBA 2K14 reminded me of why I was drawn to the career experience in the first place. When NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K22 failed to hold my attention, playing through multiple seasons in NBA 2K14 MyCAREER became a staple of my gaming habits for over a year. I put the game aside when NBA 2K23 came out, wanting to give the new release my full attention and a fair chance. Although I’ve enjoyed NBA 2K23 far more than its immediate predecessors and it remains in my rotation, so does NBA 2K14. Even if I’m not playing it every day, it isn’t long before I fire it up again.

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NLSC Podcast #454: Retro Sessions & 2K’s Return to Form

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #454 of the NLSC Podcast!

As promised last week, we revisited NBA Live 2005, and were reminded of what a great game it was (and still is)! NBA Live 2002, NBA 2K14, and NBA Street Homecourt have also been in the rotation as of late, and they’ve inspired some of our recent YouTube content. We also follow up on last week’s discussion of NBA 2K17 being the last truly great release in the 2K series with our thoughts on whether NBA 2K23 is a return to form, and thus the best game since then. In this week’s mailbag, we’re quizzing the community on the Top 5 players in the original NBA 2K. Not to go all clickbait, but at least one name will definitely surprise you!

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 Podcast #453: Was NBA 2K17 The Last Great NBA 2K?

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #453 of the NLSC Podcast!

Is NBA 2K17 still the last great release in the series? The question has come up again, so we take another look back at one of our all-time favourite games. We also revisited NCAA Basketball 10 with an extremely fun co-op game over Parsec. Once again, we wonder might have been if EA Sports hadn’t dropped the ball with their sim basketball titles after 2009, and consider the possibility that they return to the space with a college title instead. We also reminisce about going to the arcade, and open up the mailbag to quiz the community on Overall Ratings in NBA Live 2005. In the process, we discover some interesting facts and figures!

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!

The Friday Five: 5 Played-Out Aspects of MyCAREER Stories

The Friday Five: 5 Played-Out Aspects of MyCAREER Stories

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 aspects of MyCAREER stories that are played-out at this point.

Honestly, I admire the ambition and creativity in some of the MyCAREER stories over the years. I can’t say that it’s prevented me from spending many enjoyable hours with the mode, and indeed, when I finally played through NBA 2K14’s tale, I had to admit that I’d been somewhat unfair towards it. However, there’s also a reason that I’ve been critical of MyCAREER featuring a cinematic narrative. Some of the tales have negatively impacted the gameplay experience, while others have just featured really bad writing and acting. Sometimes, the mode has been afflicted by both.

It’s a shame, as even when MyCAREER stories have fallen flat, it’s clear that a lot of effort has gone into them. Some prominent names have been involved with them, from filmmakers like Spike Lee to actors like Michael B Jordan. It wouldn’t be accurate to say that no one has any fond memories of MyCAREER stories, but they do tend to draw a considerable amount of scorn, especially in recent years. It’s not surprising of course, as many aspects of MyCAREER stories have become played-out over time, whether its tropes they employ, or their effects on gameplay. Either way, these five played-out aspects of MyCAREER stories have worn out their welcome.

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NLSC THRILLHO Rides Again!

NLSC THRILLHO Rides Again!

As I’ve mentioned in articles and on the NLSC Podcast, traditionally I wasn’t ever a big online or competitive gamer. I mostly played franchise and later career modes, or co-operatively with my cousin. However, after Kenny invited Arcane and I to play 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16, I was hooked. This led to the creation of our squad – NLSC THRILLHO – in NBA 2K17.

We had an amazing year, playing over 500 games together. However, disappointment with NBA 2K18 and changes to the format of team Pro-Am in NBA 2K19 combined to put an end to that experience. It hasn’t been until NBA 2K23 that enough of us are playing the latest game and have put the necessary work into our MyPLAYERs to be able to play together online again. We’ve already had a number of sessions of 3v3 Pro-Am, and they’ve produced some fun moments and enjoyable games. I’ve put together a highlight reel from some of our early wins, as NLSC THRILLHO rides again!

Once again, Dee4Three has been spearheading our efforts to create more video content, and I’m looking to get more involved in it as well. To that end, be sure to check out and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more basketball gaming highlights! We’ve also got some other features planned, so stay tuned.

Monday Tip-Off: Comparing VC to In-Universe Salaries…Again

Monday Tip-Off: Comparing VC to In-Universe Salaries...Again

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 by returning to a topic that I’ve covered before: the in-universe value of VC, when compared to MyCAREER salaries.

It’s been three years since I’ve broached what was once an annual topic: comparing VC earnings to in-universe salaries. The reason for that, quite simply, is that I didn’t play much of NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K22. After playing through four years of college in NBA 2K21’s The Long Shadow, I didn’t touch the game much after that. I wasn’t a fan of NBA 2K22, so I wasn’t able to get far enough into MyCAREER to have an NBA salary. However, on top of enjoying NBA 2K23 far more, this year’s mode gets us into the league much quicker, giving us access to all of the necessary figures.

In case you’re not sure what I’m getting at here, I’m comparing the VC earnings that are your MyPLAYER’s base salary to its reported amount in dollars, as per the listing in your player card. Obviously, the issues with VC are readily apparent when you compare your VC salary with the prices of items and upgrades, not to mention the real world cost if you pay to skip the grind. However, looking at the in-universe value of VC really drives home how ridiculous the prices are, while hitting back at the shills who try to use “paying for things is realistic” as some kind of gotcha in defense of 2K’s greed. With that being said, let’s compare VC to in-universe salaries…again.

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The Friday Five: 5 Reasons The City & Neighborhood Suck

The Friday Five: 5 Reasons The City & Neighborhood Suck

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 provides five reasons why The City and The Neighborhood in NBA 2K’s MyCAREER quite frankly suck.

I realise that bluntly stating that The City and The Neighborhood suck isn’t exactly constructive criticism, and provocative to the point of almost being clickbait. With that being said, am I wrong? When The Neighborhood was announced for NBA 2K18, I remember it being met with considerable enthusiasm. I also recall feeling more cynical about the idea, and although I wasn’t alone in that regard, 2K had enough goodwill at the time for people to shout down any criticism as hating. Not to be smug or anything, but five years later, we supposed “haters” were proven right.

That’s not to say that everyone now hates The Neighborhood in Current Gen, or The City in Next Gen. Several gamers bemoaned NBA 2K20’s recycling of NBA 2K19’s Neighborhood, as if it were the biggest issue with MyCAREER and the online scene. However, many more gamers have come to see the problems with MyCAREER attempting to have an open world, and are growing fed up with its impact on online and offline play alike. It may sound like hyperbole to say that they’re the absolute worst additions to NBA 2K’s career and connected experiences, but as these five criticisms outline, The City and Neighborhood have had a major negative impact.

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Wayback Wednesday: The Eco-Motion Engine

Wayback Wednesday: The Eco-Motion Engine

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 NBA 2K’s Eco-Motion Engine.

Over the years, we’ve become more aware of – and concerned with – the technology under the hood of video games. The announcement that a game will be running on a specific engine may excite gamers, or disappoint them. Sometimes, we assume too much here. After all, the same engines have powered good games and bad games alike. Time, resources, and design choices that harness the power of the engine, are paramount. In-house solutions can also offer an advantage over widely-used engines such as Unreal, since they’re custom-built for a title or series.

Perhaps the most famous basketball game engine is Eco-Motion. It debuted in the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version of NBA 2K14, facilitating a landmark release in basketball gaming. Many basketball gamers remember it fondly, and are wistful that it was replaced by tech that many say hasn’t felt nearly as good. What was it all about? Let’s take a look back…way back…

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NLSC Podcast #444: Further NBA 2K23 Impressions & Gatekeeping Nonsense

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #444 of the NLSC Podcast!

After a full week with NBA 2K23, what are our thoughts on both versions of the game? We’ve got further impressions to share – both positive and negative – about gameplay, MyNBA Eras, and MyTEAM. One of us headed to The Rec to check out the state of the online scene, and in what may come as a surprising development, we could be seeing the return of NLSC THRILLHO! The addition of Semi-Pro difficulty leads to a discussion of preferred settings, and their impact on first impressions. We also reflect on the interesting use of Legends in NBA ShootOut 2004, and respond to a particularly nasty and condescending Tweet about playing video games as an adult. In this week’s mailbag, our listeners share their thoughts on NBA 2K23 so far.

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!