Episode #404 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this weekly podcast that’s all about basketball gaming.

After an intense battle, the Semi-Finals of the NLSC NBA Live 10 Tournament are over, and the Finals match-up has been set. Once again, we note the importance of competing until the final buzzer. Following on from last week’s revisiting of NBA Live 96 PC, we played NBA Live 97 PC over Parsec, and basked in the radical 90s goodness of its presentation. We also played NBA Live 16, and tested a work-in-progress mod for NBA 2K16. Meanwhile, the latest patch for NBA 2K22 Next Gen has cut down on cheese, and some gamers aren’t happy. Conversely, we’re all for it, and push back on the suggestion that the game shouldn’t be realistic. We also reflect on the importance of shot timing mechanics.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 48:19 — 33.6MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS

Join in the conversation in the comments below, or here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future shows. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

It’s time to enjoy some virtual hardwood highlights in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week! This is a weekly feature curated by Derek (aka Dee4Three) spotlighting the best plays from the basketball gaming community, which includes a few of our own memorable clips from time to time. Submit your clips in the Forum, or hit up Derek on Twitter!

December is upon us, and ’tis the season to make memories on the virtual hardwood! As this week’s NLSC Top 10 Plays demonstrates, you don’t need to be playing Season 3 in NBA 2K22’s MyTEAM in order to celebrate clutch moments. On top of the usual assortment of nifty moves and emphatic dunks, the latest countdown features some impressive gamewinning buzzer beaters. It’s clear that in addition to a love of soaring to the rim and throwing it down, our community has ice water in their veins when the game is on the line.

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 spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood or blacktop. All basketball games are welcome, new and old! Also, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

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 examines the five worst parts of modern basketball gaming.

Over the past few weeks in The Friday Five, I’ve covered the best and worst parts of retro basketball gaming, as well as the pros of playing modern games. This week, it’s all about the cons of the latter. Once again, I must stress that despite my advocacy and enthusiasm for retro basketball gaming, I do spend a lot of time with recent games as well, including the latest release every year (albeit with some exceptions). There are many great reasons to play the newest NBA 2K, just as there were for NBA Live back in its heyday. I covered those reasons last week, and I stand by them.

However, it’s not all fun and games with modern basketball gaming, and the worst parts can leave you yearning to return to an old favourite. That’s certainly something you can do, and again, I’m all for that. However, it’s important that we speak out with fair criticism, and it benefits us to make constructive suggestions as to how the next game can improve. To do that though, we must acknowledge that there are issues with modern basketball gaming, and that new isn’t always better in every way imaginable. Obviously basketball games have come a long way, drastically improving upon their predecessors in many respects, but they’ve also fallen short in other areas of concern.

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Patch 1.8 has come through for both the Current Gen and Next Gen versions of NBA 2K22. As always, it should download automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting, or checking for updates manually.

The new patch includes player and coach likeness updates, bug and stability fixes across a variety of game modes, and prepares both versions of NBA 2K22 for Season 3 in MyTEAM and MyCAREER. It also includes some gameplay tweaks, notably slowing down lateral dribble launches and adding a shot penalty to combat zigzag cheese. Needless to say, not all online gamers are happy about that change!

Speaking of Season 3: Iced Out, it will bring Winter decorations to The City and The Neighborhood, and challenges based around legendary clutch performances in MyTEAM. There will be free gifts on Current Gen and Next Gen, as well as several Winter and Holiday-themed events. The Next Gen version will also receive two new modes: Rooftops in MyCAREER, and Clutch Time in MyTEAM. More details can be found in the Season 3 Courtside Report.

You can find the full notes for Patch 1.8 below, as well as in our Current Gen and Next Gen update history for NBA 2K22. Feel free to add your thoughts and impressions in the comments, as well as join in the discussion in the respective pinned topics in the NBA 2K22 section of the Forum!

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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, it’s a highlight reel from my re-creation of my NBA Live 06 PC Dynasty with the Chicago Bulls on Xbox 360.

My Chicago Bulls Dynasty in NBA Live 06 PC remains one of my all-time favourite experiences, in one of my all-time favourite basketball video games. This year, I’ve come to appreciate the Xbox 360 version of NBA Live 06 as well, though the game is of course lacking Dynasty mode. Nevertheless, the Xbox 360 version has recently been my retro kick. Just for fun, I re-created the roster from Year 1 of my PC Dynasty on Xbox 360. I ended up playing a game against the San Antonio Spurs, the team that I defeated in that first season to clinch the Bulls’ seventh championship. As I recorded some highlights from the game, you can join me as I take a look back…way back…

As always, I’m never sure how long a retro kick will last. Between this re-creation, the 2006 All-Star Game, and some other games that I’ve played in the Xbox 360 version of NBA Live 06 however, I’ve really enjoyed revisiting it. Although its lack of depth made for a shaky start to the seventh generation, it’s frankly an underrated game that deserves more credit for its gameplay and graphical advancements. Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed the highlights. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more video content!

The latest file additions for NBA 2K22 PC include dornas, faces, shoes, and more from Shuajota and TGsoGood. Download all of today’s NBA 2K22 file additions at the links below!

Shuajota
Dorna Pack for 30 NBA Teams
Philadelphia 76ers Realistic Dornas
Washington Wizards Realistic Dornas
Milwaukee Bucks Realistic Dornas
San Antonio Spurs Realistic Dornas
Santi Aldama Face
Dallas Mavericks Realistic Dornas
Chicago Bulls Realistic Dornas

TGsoGood
Brody B Good – 2K DNA Universe Fictional Face
Nike SJ.1 Shuajota Fictional Community Signature Kicks (Mix ‘n’ Match Colorway)
Camera Cheat Engine Table
Shirtless Themed Jersey

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 some thoughts on how MyCAREER is essentially an NBA speedrun.

When I recall my virtual achievements in MyCAREER, it’s not to brag. First of all, it’s a basketball video game. While we do take basketball gaming fairly seriously around these parts, in the grand scheme of things, I wouldn’t count what I’ve done on the virtual hardwood as achieving important life goals. Furthermore, while I’ll never invalidate the single player experience, it’s easier to master a predictable AI than it is to be successful in competitive multiplayer. I’m also far from the only person to put up ridiculous numbers in MyCAREER, and win several virtual NBA championships.

On top of that, a new game comes out every year. Some of my best performances in the NBA side of MyCAREER aren’t unique to a single game in the series, let alone compared to gamers everywhere. If there is anything that I can take pride in when it comes to the MyCAREER experience – and I’m sure many others can say the same – it’s efficiency in milestones and levelling up. The tasks required to qualify for the Hall of Fame in MyCAREER are not difficult to perform on the sticks, but doing so within the span of a year does require successful employment of specific strategies. To that point, MyCAREER is essentially a speedrun of an NBA career by design.

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Episode #403 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this weekly podcast that’s all about basketball gaming.

The second game of our Semi-Finals series in the NLSC NBA Live 10 Tournament was marred by some technical issues, but we had much better luck with other games during a Parsec session. We recap one of the wildest games of NBA Jam Tournament Edition that we’ve ever played, using a fantastic 2014 season roster mod. Another highlight came when we revisited the PC version of NBA Live 96, and couldn’t help gushing about the presentation. Double Dribble also got a run (CORNER THREE!), though it did show its age. In this week’s mailbag, we discuss the arguments for and against paid mods, and how to avoid burnout when working on big modding projects.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:29:24 — 61.8MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS

Join in the conversation in the comments below, or here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future shows. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

It’s time to enjoy some virtual hardwood highlights in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week! This is a weekly feature curated by Derek (aka Dee4Three) spotlighting the best plays from the basketball gaming community, which includes a few of our own memorable clips from time to time. Submit your clips in the Forum, or hit up Derek on Twitter!

One of my all-time favourite games – NBA Live 96 PC – makes its first appearance in this week’s NLSC Top 10 Plays. You’ll hear more about that in this week’s episode of the NLSC Podcast, but as always, I’m clearly not the only person that’s having a ton of fun with basketball video games. From fearsome facials in NBA 2K22 and backboard shattering dunks in NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, to showcasing mods for old favourites and clutch shooting in NBA Live 18, the community has produced another assortment of entertaining plays.

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 spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood or blacktop. All basketball games are welcome, new and old! Also, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

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 examines the five best parts of modern basketball gaming.

Since I’ve taken a look at the best and worst parts of retro basketball gaming, it’s only fair that I reflect on the pros and cons of their modern equivalents. As I’ve said, while I do have a passion for retro basketball gaming and will always advocate for it, I’m also a fan of the modern games and spend a lot of time with them. New isn’t always better, but by the same token, old isn’t unsurpassable. Not everything holds up well, and basketball video games have come a long way in the decades that I’ve been playing them. And yes, saying that does make me feel very old.

Not so old that I can’t enjoy modern basketball gaming, however! Indeed, even if certain aspects aren’t completely to my taste, I can still appreciate them and see their appeal to other gamers; particularly gamers younger than me. It’s very easy to get caught up in what we don’t like about modern basketball gaming, and to that point, there are many valid criticisms that we can make. I will be getting to them in next week’s article, but for now, let’s focus on the best parts of modern basketball gaming. These are the five that spring to mind for me, and I’m sure you’ll agree that they represent evolution in the genre, and incentive to check out the new game each year.

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A new version (V2.9.3) of agent_michael_scarn’s Current & Legendary Edition Mod is now available for the GameCube version of NBA Street Vol. 2! Following on from the previous release, this update includes some new City jerseys. The specific changes in V2.9.3 are as follows:

• Updated Clippers Away Jerseys to City version
• Updated Wizards Away Jersey to City Version
• Updated Spurs Home Jerseys to City Version
• Updated LaMelo Balls Away Jersey to City Edition
• Updated Minnesota Away Jersey to City Version
• Updated Milwaukee Bucks Jerseys to City version for Giannis, Middleton and Holiday

You can pick up NBA Street Vol. 2 Current & Legendary Edition here in our Downloads database! For more information on how to install it, as well as previews, further support, or if you just want to say thanks, check out this topic in the Forum.

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 twenty NBA players that have made no official appearances in video games.

I have an ongoing series of Friday Five articles documenting players who appeared in more video games than real NBA contests. While a handful of those players did tally playing time in at least one NBA game while sometimes appearing in multiple titles, several of them only saw action on the virtual hardwood after being cut in real life while the game was still in production. This article is basically the opposite of that series, instead focusing on players that did make it to the NBA, but due to the timing of their stints, never made it into a video game’s official rosters.

I’d originally planned this as a counterpart series of Friday Five articles, but I’ve instead opted for a single article listing twenty noteworthy examples. To that point, I’ve tried to select players who had interesting stories, and/or multiple opportunities to make official appearances in video games. I’ve also focused on games from NBA Live 96 onwards, as those titles have included more comprehensive lineups thanks to inactive rosters and official updates. Official roster updates have also made this a far less likely phenomenon as the years have gone by. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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The latest file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include an ESPN scoreboard, presentation fix, RED MC scripts, and an updated custom soundtrack mod. Check them all out at the links below!

bongo88
ESPN 75th Scoreboard (Association Automatic Weekday)
2K Presentation Enhancements (Annoyances Removed)

Mackubex
Set Default Scoreboard Logos SCRIPT by Mackubex
Apply 2021-22 NBA Season Injuries SCRIPT by Mackubex

collectedechoes
Collectedechoes’s NBA Jams (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.

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 reflections on the addictiveness of grinding in modes such as MyCAREER and MyTEAM.

Much has been written about the predatory mechanics found in NBA 2K, and many other Triple-A video games over the past generation. On several occasions, I’ve joined the chorus of people who have criticised the practice. There have been many articles and videos that have discussed how recurrent revenue mechanics prey on those who struggle with impulse control and addictive personalities. That remains a huge issue, and I still condemn those mechanics. Regardless, even if you opt for a “No Money Spent” approach, you can still find yourself getting hooked.

I’ve at long last properly begun a MyNBA game in NBA 2K22, marking an overdue return to franchise gaming. If you know how long I’ve been talking about wanting to do that due to feeling burned out on MyCAREER, you can appreciate how big of a deal that is for me! I feel energised having returned to my roots as a franchise gamer, in no small part due to revisiting MyGM in NBA 2K14. However, I’ve been thinking about why it took so long, and why I continued to spend time with MyCAREER and its connected modes, with a detour to MyTEAM in NBA 2K21. I’ve realised that even if you resist the pressure of microtransactions, there’s addictiveness in the grinding.

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Episode #402 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this weekly podcast that’s all about basketball gaming.

NBA Live 19 still has an active online scene, but sadly it displays similar toxicity to NBA 2K’s community. We dissect the issue of poor online sportsmanship, and lack of competitiveness in what is supposedly a competitive environment. While we’re in the mood for callouts, we also respond to some recent comments that were unnecessarily snarky. On a brighter note, our second attempt at a co-op game in NBA Live 06 for Xbox 360 over Parsec has us pumped to dive into a Season. Elsewhere, Take Two’s attitude towards Grand Theft Auto modders has us wondering if we should be worried about our own modding community, especially with 2K understandably cracking down on MyCAREER hackers. In this week’s mailbag, we’re reflecting on games that we wish we could’ve personally modded, or downloaded mods for.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:20:41 — 55.8MB)

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS

Join in the conversation in the comments below, or here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future shows. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.