NLSC Your source for basketball video games.

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 presence of the Charlotte Bobcats in NBA Live 2004.

The Charlotte Bobcats are no more. Well, the team is still around, but they are now of course the new version of the Charlotte Hornets, following the purchase of the name after New Orleans became the Pelicans. It’s probably safe to say that most NBA fans, both in North Carolina and elsewhere, were happy to see the familiar branding return. The Bobcats name was often criticised, with many fans feeling that it was a poor fit for an NBA team. With the team set to celebrate its 30th Anniversary this year, it’s great to have the Hornets back in the league.

Of course, the Charlotte Bobcats era remains a part of the club’s history, too. While the official lineage of the Hornets and Pelicans has been retconned to consider the Hornets inactive from 2002 to 2004 and the Pelicans to be an expansion team that joined the league in 2002, in reality the resurrected Hornets are the league’s newest team in terms of their operations, becoming the 30th franchise as the Bobcats in 2004. They would actually make their video game debut a year earlier however, as they were included in NBA Live 2004. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

On the heels of the comeback release, HAWK23 and company have completed another new update for the Ultimate Base Roster for NBA 2K14! Here are some of the key changes in V41:

• Added Ult Base Roster V41 Roster (current rosters as of 7/17/18)
• Added UBR V41 Assoc July 17 Roster (current rosters as of 7/17/18 best in Association mode)
• Updated all transactions/signings through July 17th
• Added realistic contracts to the current rosters through July 17th – courtesy vinicius
• Added updated version of 2019 Roster V1 (mirror image of the UBR V41 Assoc file)
• Added Version 2 of the 2018 Roster

New logos, jerseys, and faces have also been added. You can check out a complete overview of the key features of V41 here. Download the latest version of the Ultimate Base Roster for NBA 2K14 PC here, and be sure to check out the release topic here in the Forum for further information and previews.

It seems that 2K Sports will be releasing First Look screenshots for NBA 2K19 throughout the week, featuring members of Team 2K. The latest screenshot features Jayson Tatum, who had a standout rookie season with the Boston Celtics in 2018.

As with the previous screenshot featuring 20th Anniversary Edition cover player LeBron James, the latest screen also reveals Jayson Tatum’s Overall Rating. It seems Tatum will be rated 87 Overall in the default roster of NBA 2K19, up from the 82 Overall he was rated in the final official roster for NBA 2K18.

Check out the full screenshot below. As always, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section, as well as join in the official screenshot discussion taking place here in the NLSC Forum. Once again, it looks like we’ll be getting screenshots of the Team 2K members throughout the week, so stay tuned for more previews of prominent players and their initial Overall Ratings!

Read More »

2K Sports have revealed the second official NBA 2K19 screenshot via the game’s official Twitter. After providing us with a glimpse of Standard Edition cover player Giannis Antetokounmpo in the first official screenshot, the latest screen features LeBron James, cover player for the 20th Anniversary Edition.

In addition to showing LeBron in his new Los Angeles Lakers garb, the screenshot also reveals him as a member of Team 2K, and his Overall Rating of 98. This would assuredly make him the highest rated active player in NBA 2K19. In NBA 2K18, the All-Time Cavaliers and All-Time Heat versions of LeBron were rated 99 Overall, while the active version on the Cavs was rated 97.

Check out the screenshot of LeBron James below, and feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts on how the game is looking so far. You can also join in the discussion of all the official screenshots in this topic in the NLSC Forum.

Read More »

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 some further thoughts on NBA Playgrounds 2, and how the game appears to be self-destructing before it’s even released.

Back in May, I wrote an article discussing the opportunity that NBA Playgrounds 2 had to become the definitive arcade basketball game of the current generation. In the immediate wake of the game’s indefinite postponement, such a suggestion still felt somewhat plausible. As the weeks and months have passed, however, it’s starting to feel laughable. We haven’t heard a single thing since the game was postponed, and despite vague promises in the game’s official Facebook group, there’s little to back up the idea that “good things come to those who wait”.

Right now, Saber Interactive is insisting that the game isn’t cancelled, and that the release was pushed back for positive reasons. While that may ultimately turn out to be true, their silence is not inspiring confidence. Gamers are starting to feel sceptical and cynical, rather than anticipating an announcement that’s still “coming soon”. While the game may indeed come out, it’s going to have a tough time living up to the hype and expectations set by its mysterious delay. Even if it turns out to be an improvement on the first NBA Playgrounds and a solid game, the opportunity to become the arcade basketball game of this generation may have slipped through Saber’s fingers.

Read More »

In the mood to dust off NBA 2K11 PC in the near future? I hope so; I’m currently working on a roster update for the game! In the meantime however, other people in the community are making updates for this beloved game, with DaCrispy releasing some new team logos, NBA 2K19 branding, and a G-League arena update, and JuicyShaqMeat adding 2019 Nuggets jerseys. Check out all of the latest NBA 2K11 mods at the links below!

DaCrispy
NBA 2K19 Logo Update
NBA 2018-19 Team Logo Update
G-League Arena Update

JuicyShaqMeat
2018-19 Denver Nugggets Jerseys

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.

Since we tipped off the week with some new file additions for NBA 2K18 PC, why not the weekend as well? We have a bunch of new files today including a handful of player faces from Rockmonts, and a heap of retro jerseys from PeacemanNOT. Check them out at the links below!

Rockmonts
Andray Blatche Face
Zaza Pachulia Face
Jordan Bell Face (2018 Finals)

PeacemanNOT
2002-2003 Mavericks Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1992-1993 Hornets Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1996-1997 Bucks Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1996-1997 Grizzlies Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1996-1997 Pistons Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1996-1997 Sixers Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1996-1997 Suns Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1996-1997 Timberwolves Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1997-1998 Raptors Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
1999-2000 Rockets Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2003-2004 Lakers Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2003-2004 Pistons Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2003-2004 Timberwolves Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2004-2005 Spurs Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2004-2005 Suns Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2005-2006 Grizzlies Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2005-2006 Heat Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2006-2007 Cavaliers Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2006-2007 Warriors Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2007-2008 Celtics Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2007-2008 Hornets Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2007-2008 Nuggets Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2007-2008 Rockets Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2010-2011 Bulls Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2010-2011 Mavericks Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2011-2012 Knicks Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2011-2012 Thunder Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2012-2013 Grizzlies Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2012-2013 Heat Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2013-2014 Pacers Jerseys – PeacemanNOT
2015-2016 Warriors Jerseys – PeacemanNOT

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.

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 ways that basketball video games are less fun these days.

Basketball video games have improved in leaps and bounds over the past couple of decades, but it hasn’t always been a smooth journey. There have been missteps along the way, and moving forward, there’s obviously still room for improvement in both NBA Live and NBA 2K. Despite that, it’s fair to say that in many ways, basketball games are better than they’ve ever been, providing extremely fun experiences thanks to the factors I discussed in last week’s Friday Five. At the same time, there are a few aspects of today’s games that make them less fun than their predecessors.

It’s difficult to say that without sounding like a grumpy old man being held hostage by his own nostalgia, but it’s true. While design concepts and technology have come a long way, there are certain trends – some specific to basketball games, others common to video gaming in general – that make us yearn for the good old days. In some cases, the good old days aren’t even that long ago, with some of these issues infiltrating our favourite basketball games within the past few years. It’s not that basketball games aren’t fun anymore, or necessarily worse than the titles that came before them, but the particular elements I’m about to discuss have come to affect our enjoyment.

Read More »

The latest file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include player faces, a 2018 season roster update and real Draft Class, and a court pack. Check them all out at the links below!

Blang
Luka Dončić Face

Jumpman2K
Brad Wanamaker Face

Mackubex
Mackubex 2017-2018 NBA Season Roster
Mackubex 2017 NBA Draft Class

Sastre Matulin
Philippine Arena Court Pack (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.

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 Cool Facts in NBA Live 97.

Old basketball video games often have some interesting little features that we don’t find in more recent releases. While we can often feel nostalgic for these features, there’s usually a good reason why they don’t appear in newer games. Some of them are outdated concepts that no longer have a use today. Similarly, others are simply rendered obsolete by advances in technology, or may now take on a very different form. Nevertheless, we tend to remember those quirky old features with the same fondness as the gameplay experience itself, as well as the players of the era.

That is definitely the case with Cool Facts in NBA Live 97. Exclusive to the PC and PlayStation versions of NBA Live 97, Cool Facts were bonus content that taught us a little more about all of the players that we were playing with on the virtual hardwood. A lot of long-time NBA Live players probably remember the feature as a fun exercise while browsing through the rosters, so let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

The latest file additions for NBA 2K17 PC include a new portraits pack, and some fantastic face updates converted from NBA 2K18. Check out all of the new releases at the links below!

Worthy man
Various Portraits Pack

Dee4Three
2K18 to 2K17 Conversion Cyberface Pack
2K18 to 2K17 Conversion Cyberface Pack 2
2K18 to 2K17 Conversion Cyberface Pack 3

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 preview of some modding projects that I’m looking to work on during the offseason.

I’ve been creating content for basketball video games since 1997, and needless to say, a few things have changed since then. The games have come a long way, and I have different responsibilities and interests within the hobby. Over the years, I’ve become less involved with modding. As I’ve discussed in previous articles, that’s mainly due to a combination of burnout, and having to ration my free time accordingly. Not as many people are playing the old games that I have more experience editing, and there’s a lot to learn in terms of modding NBA 2K, so I’ve felt less motivated.

However, having enjoyed the hobby for many years, it’s hard to resist the lure of making updates for games; especially old favourites. While I don’t want to set any dates or make any concrete promises, I am looking at getting involved with some bigger projects during this offseason. I’ve been tinkering here and there and mulling the possibility of getting more involved in modding again for a couple of years now, and the recent release of the new version of the Ultimate Base Roster has provided me with some added inspiration to dust off those modding tools. I’m also inclined to try out some new things. Here’s what I’m looking at working on in the coming weeks.

Read More »

We’re tipping off another week here at the NLSC with the latest file additions for NBA 2K18 PC! Today’s new releases include player and coach faces, court updates, custom menu art, and fixed jerseys for the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers. Download them all at the links below.

Torogi
Jerami Grant Face

Rockmonts
Steve Kerr Coach Face

Team Rakker 2K MODS
Allen Iverson Menu Art (2K18-2K19)
Philadelphia 76ers Fictional Court
Summer League Court and Stadium
Studio Interview Logo (2K18 to 2K19)

PeacemanNOT
2003-2004 Lakers Jerseys – PeacemanNOT

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.

Episode #256 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we chat about the past week in basketball gaming and NBA news. Topics include the latest NBA Live 19 previews, the NBA 2K19 cover reveals, allegations and speculation about 2K’s business practice, and big offseason moves.

On this week’s show…

• A brief trailer and a few screenshots spotlighting Quai 54 in NBA Live 19 have been released. In our opinion, the venue and the game are both looking very nice.
• Rookies are getting their faces scanned for NBA Live 19 during the NBA Summer League. This leads to a discussion of the development cycle, and the increasingly early release dates for NBA Live and NBA 2K.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo has been officially revealed as the cover player for the Standard Edition of NBA 2K19. Ben Simmons, meanwhile, will grace the first ever Australian cover.
• A recent video discusses an allegedly since-deleted Reddit post, purported to contain damning leaks from an ex-2K employee regarding the company’s business practices. While the claims are unconfirmed and the video quite possibly unsubstantiated clickbait, the alleged explanations for certain design choices are eerily plausible.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming featured a few more challenges in Ultimate Team and new additions to the squad, as well as a couple of modding developments including a potential roster update for NBA 2K11 PC.
• We wrap up Episode #256 of the NLSC Podcast with a discussion of the latest NBA offseason news. LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins, and Tony Parker surprised us with their decisions, while Carmelo Anthony remains one of the biggest names left on the market.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:31:50 — 63.1MB)

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.

EA Sports has posted a new trailer spotlighting Quai 54 in NBA Live 19. Although brief, it does a good job showing off the Paris-based court, and spotlights some of the further improvements to animations. Check it out below, along with some screenshots of the court and various player shoes.

As revealed by the official NBA Live Instagram and other sources including the Houston Rockets’ Twitter, EA also has a presence at the NBA Summer League where they are scanning the faces of the new rookies. While face scanning isn’t mandatory, most players do sit for scans at some point. In recent years, NBA Live has also received new face scans during the season via the official roster updates.

For those who are unaware, NBA Live 19 is currently available to pre-order at a 33% discount through NBA Live 18. Xbox One users with an EA Access subscription can get an even larger discount, picking up the game at a cost of $36 USD. Pre-order bonuses include several in-game items related to cover player Joel Embiid.

Once again, check out the latest preview media spotlighting Quai 54 below. What are your thoughts on NBA Live 19 so far? Have your say in the comments section below, and feel free to join in the discussion in the Forum!

Read More »