NLSC Your source for basketball video games.

Episode #263 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! With no connection issues this week – well, fewer connection issues, anyway – Kenny and I are back on the air to provide our initial impressions of NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19. We also discuss the latest trailer and news for NBA 2K Playgrounds 2.

On this week’s show…

• We tip off this week’s show with our thoughts on NBA Live 19, covering everything from gameplay and game modes to face scanning and commentary. There are definitely positives, though naturally we do have a few criticisms, too.
• IGN awarded NBA Live 19 a score of 7.9, their best score for an NBA Live title this generation. We discuss the significance of the score, the progress NBA Live has made, and the direction the game is heading in.
• NBA 2K19 has been described as the game we should’ve received last year. We discuss whether that’s a fair assessment, and offer up our own impressions. Suffice to say we have our gripes, but there are also aspects of the game we really like. We even have some nice things to say about the MyCAREER story!
• We wrap up Episode #263 of the NLSC Podcast with our thoughts on the latest NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 trailer, and some news about the forthcoming release.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:33:23 — 64.2MB)

Subscribe: Android | RSS

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

We have another new update for NBA Live 2005 PC from Kelly_E today. Today’s file addition is a jersey update pack for the Atlanta Hawks, including their Icon, Association, and Statement uniforms. Download it at the link below!

Kelly_E
Atlanta Hawks Nike Jersey Pack

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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

If you’re still modding NBA 2K18 PC, then you’ll want to check out today’s file addition. trevorjpt33 has updated gregkwaste’s Importer/Exporter script for Blender, which anyone working with model files should find very useful. Download it at the link below!

trevorjpt33 (original by gregkwaste)
2K18 Blender Importer/Exporter

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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

It seems the NBA Live development team aren’t messing around when it comes to title updates this year! Less than 24 hours after the release of Patch 1.04, Patch 1.05 is now available. It should come through automatically as long as your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One is connected to the Internet. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console, or checking for the update manually.

A full list of patch notes has been posted over on the official NBA Live Reddit. The latest update includes some further gameplay fixes and tuning, adds more stat tracking to the online leaderboards, and fixes an issue with edited rosters within Franchise mode.

Please see below for the full patch notes. You can also find an update history for NBA Live 19 here in our Wiki. As always, feel free to share your impressions in the comments section, as well as join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum.

Read More »

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 another double countdown, this time featuring the Top 5 Positives and Top 5 Negatives in NBA 2K19.

My full reviews for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 will be out shortly, but before then, I wanted to offer up some more of my initial impressions of this year’s games. This time I’m talking about the latest offering from Visual Concepts, NBA 2K19. After really enjoying NBA 2K17, I was quite disappointed with NBA 2K18. It wasn’t just the unapologetically greedy approach to microtransactions and the brutal grind, either. I just didn’t enjoy the gameplay experience, and thus shelved NBA 2K18 much earlier than previous games, firing it up only to get screenshots for articles.

In a nutshell, I felt that NBA 2K18 was a surprising regression for the NBA 2K series, uncharacteristically stumbling off course. Is NBA 2K19 heading back in the right direction? In some respects, yes, but there are some key areas of concern, and design choices that I’m disappointed in. The team at Visual Concepts clearly did learn a few lessons from last year’s game however, and took gamer feedback to heart. With that in mind, NBA 2K19 is – as quite a few people have put it – the game that we should’ve received last year. At the same time, it’s not entirely the game that I was hoping for this year. Let’s take a look at the Top 5 Positives and Negatives, at least as I see them.

Read More »

Patch 1.04 has come through for NBA Live 19. It’s a title update, so it will be downloaded via your console’s dashboard, providing you have an active Internet connection. If it doesn’t start downloading automatically, try restarting your console, or manually checking for the update. An in-game update featuring new rosters, updated contracts, and new gear in the store has also come through, and will download automatically when you fire up NBA Live 19.

The development team has provided full patch notes for the new title update. In addition to addressing issues with switching and positioning on defense, the speed of the ball on passes, player velocity, and a bug with shooting fouls, it updates some of the rules for Court Battles, adds new player faces and a ton of new commentary, and changes the ICON upgrade visuals. A few bugs and issues with online matchmaking and leaderboards are also addressed, and sweat effects have been tuned.

Please see below for the full patch notes. You can also find an update history for NBA Live 19 here in our Wiki. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, as well as here in our NBA Live 19 Forum.

Read More »

We already have over 60 mods and tools in the NBA 2K19 section of our Downloads database; thank you to everyone who has shared their work so far! The latest releases include updated faces, jerseys, rosters, and more. Download them all at the links below!

R4zoR
Tracy McGrady Orlando Magic Face

TwisT
Nike Arm Sleeves
Crowd Update – Atlantic Division

AC209
NBA 2K19 Cyberface Look Up Tool

pinoy21
Utah Jazz Jersey (pinoy21)

Torogi
John Wall Face
Jason Tatum Face
2003-04 Kobe Bryant Face
Russell Westbrook Face
Kawhi Leonard Face

Sitew33
Dennis Schroeder Hair Update
Gerald Green Braids

raven
LeBron James Face

Shuajota
Ultra Realistic Global Chensisi V3 Vitaminized (All in One)
Limnono Trainer (English Version)
Limnono Trainer (Español)
Shuajota’s Realistic Roster (Updated to v1.4)

Limnono
Limnono Trainer (NBA 2K19 Xiugaiqi) (Updated to v3.0)

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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. This week, I’m taking a look back at the slow motion dunks in older versions of NBA Live.

It’s interesting to look back at the features and mechanics that were featured in old basketball video games. There’s a reason that many of them ended up being dropped over the years – especially as the sim titles aimed to be more and more realistic – but there’s still a lot of nostalgia in them. When I think back to games like NBA Live 95 and NBA Live 96, one of my fondest memories is of throwing down big dunks and having my player point at his opponent, or pumping his arm in triumph, as he runs back on defense.

In fact, I’d say that a lot of older basketball gamers remember that aspect of dunking in the early NBA Live games. A feature that made those dunks even more exciting – much as they could be with the animations of the time – was the option for slow motion dunks. It’s an outdated concept now, particularly in the era of online play, but in its day it was pretty cool. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

Following the release of the “Ball Without Limits” trailer, additional details on NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 have been revealed. Brian Mazique has rounded up that information, and posted it over on Forbes. As mentioned in our previous bulletin, the game will be released October 16th for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch, but here are some other key points of interest:

• The game will cost $29.99 USD.
• Julius Erving, Kevin Garnett, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jayson Tatum are the cover players.
• More than 300 players will be available at launch, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
• An additional 200 players will be added post-launch.
• Ten new playgrounds have been added, among them Washington D.C., St. Louis, Seoul, and Australia. New courts will also be added post-launch.
• Single player, local multiplayer, and online play are all supported.
• Playgrounds Championship is a worldwide ranked league with solo and co-op ladders. Season is the equivalent offline mode.
• Four player online co-op, Three-Point Shootouts, and co-op games against the AI are also available.
• There are more than 100 signature moves, including Michael Jordan’s free throw line dunk and George Gervin’s finger roll.
• NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 features an expanded soundtrack, with artists such as Run The Jewels, Oddisee and DJ Premier.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts on how NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is shaping up in the comments section below. You can also join in the conversation here in the NLSC Forum.

We haven’t heard much of anything about NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 since the announcement back in July that it had joined the 2K Family. That’s now changed as a new trailer for the game titled “Ball Without Limits” has dropped today, spotlighting some of the key features of the game.

The trailer showcases gameplay from both regular and cinematic angles, while also highlighting features such as a revamped Three-Point Shootout, and the new Season and Championship modes. It also boasts new players, and confirms that Michael Jordan will be available in the game. A pack opening also shows a coin reward, seemingly confirming some sort of in-game currency (and somewhat bleakly, the prospect of microtransactions).

Check out the trailer below, or watch it here on YouTube.

We also have confirmation of a new release date for the game, as it will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on October 16th. What’s your take on NBA 2K Playgrounds 2? Will you be giving it a chance come October? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum!

Modding for NBA 2K14 PC has been a little slow the past couple of weeks, but Pep recently uploaded a new pack of Nike practice uniforms. Download this new release at the link below!

Pep
NBA Nike Practice Uniforms

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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

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. This week, I’m tipping things off with a look at the plots and characters that keep appearing in MyCAREER stories.

Writing about Jackson Ellis for Wayback Wednesday got me thinking about recurring characters and call backs in MyCAREER stories. While I’d like to see MyCAREER move away from the story-driven approach, or at least evolve into a fresher, more dynamic experience, I do find that I can still have fun with the concept. Whether it’s suggesting new scenarios or coming up with a handful of off-the-wall theories and alternative interpretations, the subject doesn’t have to be something I only grumble about over and over again.

Some of the MyCAREER stories have definitely turned out better than others, both in terms of their narrative and the way in which they affected the gameplay experience. From a gameplay perspective, each story is self-contained. Nothing that we do with our individual MyPLAYERs will carry over to the next game, at which point league history – all stats, awards, and championships – reverts back to reality. However, there are references to previous stories, recurring characters, and even a few subplots with NPCs. Just for fun, let’s try to piece together some kind of canon for MyCAREER’s stories. We’ll call it the MyCAREER Cinematic Universe.

Read More »

Let’s tip off a new week here at the NLSC with the latest mods for NBA 2K19 PC! Today’s new and updated releases include jerseys, crowds, and more. Please see below for all the download links.

pinoy21
Memphis Grizzlies Jersey (pinoy21)
Charlotte Hornets Jersey (pinoy21)

Shuajota
Shuajota’s Modded Files

TwisT
Crowd Update – Central Division
Crowd Update – Pacific Division (Updated to v2.0)

trevorjpt33 (original by gregkwaste)
2K19 Blender Importer/Exporter

Sitew33
Markelle Fultz Face (Dreads) (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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

While a lot of PC gamers have already moved on to NBA 2K19, there is still interest in updating last year’s game. Today’s lone file addition for NBA 2K18 PC is the latest version of Torogi’s roster update. Download it at the link below!

Torogi
No Injuries Rosters (with new Retro Teams) 9/11/18 (Updated to v1.7)

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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

Here are a few more NBA 2K19 PC mods to spice up your game this weekend! The latest file additions include a new body model for Luka Doncic, a face update for Rudy Fernandez, and a referee update pack. Check them all out at the links below!

Gideon Prime
Luka Doncic Custom Body Model (Longer Arms)

Shuajota
Rudy Fernandez Face

sticky-fingers
New Referees

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 File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.