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 history of the Ultimate Base Roster, through an interview with HAWK23 himself.

The Ultimate Base Roster, also known as UBR, began as a roster update for NBA 2K12 that also expanded upon the game’s historical content. Over time, it grew into a comprehensive modding project that not only kept NBA 2K12 up to date, but allowed basketball gamers to step back into the past with multiple complete season mods and other fun content. The project would later be adapted for NBA 2K14, a release that has received an update just today. Gamers have been enjoying UBR for years now, and it’s even encouraged long-time console users to pick up the PC versions.

Want to know more about the history of the mod, and what it’s been like to maintain it for all these years? Check out my interview with UBR creator HAWK23, as we take a look back…way back…

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Following the release of V43 last month, V44 of the Ultimate Base Roster for NBA 2K14 is out now! Key features of the latest release from HAWK23 include:

• Added “Ult Base Roster V44 Roster” (current rosters as of 1/1/19)
• Added “UBR V44 Association Roster” (current rosters as of 1/1/19)
• Added NEW “UBR V44 Assoc Cap Roster” (current rosters as of 1/1/19) with adjusted salary contracts proportionate to the cap in the game
• Updated all transactions/signings through January 1, 2019
• Player uniform numbers updated (all players checked)
• Tweaked some retro roster mistakes found in the 1970’s Mods
• Fixed how Asian player’s names appear in the game (on back of jersey) throughout all season mods
• Fixed issue with the Toronto Raptor’s head coach’s cyberface
• Added ~50+ new portraits for current NBA players that were previously missing

You can download the latest version of the Ultimate Base Roster for NBA 2K14 PC here! Be sure to check out the release topic here in the Forum for further information and previews.

A new year of basketball gaming is upon us! Tip things off with the latest file additions for NBA 2K19 PC, which include a court update for the Indiana Pacers, and a few player faces. Download them all at the links below!

Manni Live
Indiana Pacers Bankerslife Fieldhouse 4K

MonkeymanJSV
Cam Reddish Face (Updated to v2.0)
Quentin Grimes Face (Updated to v2.0)
Tre Jones Face (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.

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 back at the year that was 2018 in the NLSC community and basketball gaming.

For the last few years, I’ve used the Friday Five for an annual Year in Review column. With New Year’s Eve 2018 falling on a Monday, I decided to post a regular feature last Friday, and instead tip off a new week by wrapping up the outgoing year. It’s a little quirky I know, and not as well-timed as being able to tip-off a brand new annum on a Monday as January 1st 2018 allowed me to do, but that’s the way the calendar works. The first new NLSC feature of 2019 will therefore be this week’s Wayback Wednesday, and I think you’re really going to enjoy it!

Before we get there, however, we need to put a bow on 2018. Overall, I feel it was another solid year for the NLSC, our community, and basketball gaming in general. There’s room for improvement – both in the games that we play, and what we do here in our community – and I’m looking forward to championing those efforts as much as I can in 2019. It will be imperative that we continue to provide feedback to the folks developing basketball video games, support each other in our modding efforts, and avoid some of the toxicity that inevitably seeps into gaming communities. I do think we did an admirable job in 2018 however, so let’s reminisce.

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Today’s file additions for NBA 2K13 PC include an update for U R Basketball 2K13 (rosters accurate as of December 28th), and the latest version of PatTheHead’s retro roster pack. Check out both mods at the links below!

PatTheHead
1946/47 to 1984/85 ABA + NBA Seasons (Updated to v5.0)

skoadam
2K13 U R Basketball V62 [35 Complete Seasons Mods] + Accurate 18-19 Roster/Rotations [ALL Transactions 28th December 2018] (Updated)

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.

Before 2018 wraps up, let’s get caught up on some NBA 2K14 file additions! The latest releases include an update to U R Basketball (rosters accurate as of December 28th), a new beta version of a College Hoops mod, player faces, and 2019 season jersey updates. Check them all out at the links below!

Pep
Nike NBA Earned Uniforms 18/19
NBA Nike 2018/2019 Sponsors Update (Updated to v2.0)

BBTxJoKer
Zion Williamson Face
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Collin Sexton Face
Trae Young Face
Markelle Fultz Face
Rudy Gobert Face
Mitchell Robinson Face

Blang
Talen Horton-Tucker Face

IceCr
Gilbert Arenas Face

nick15
College Hoops 2K19 (Updated to Beta v2.0)

skoadam
2K14 U R Basketball V62 [35 Complete Seasons Mods] + Accurate 18-19 Roster/Rotations [ALL Transactions 28th December 2018] (Updated)

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.

I’m a few days late in posting this, but Vlad delivered the NBA 2K modding community some fantastic news for Christmas. For the first time in quite a while, new versions of RED MC and REDitor II have been released. The new versions contain a couple of minor bug fixes, but the biggest development is that all functionality is now available for free!

We still have quite a few people modding and playing the older NBA 2K games on PC, and these new releases will undoubtedly be a boost for that contingent of our community. For those who are unaware, the tools are comprehensive roster editors and modding utilities, used in the creation of projects such as the Ultimate Base Roster and U R Basketball. REDitor II is compatible with NBA 2K10, NBA 2K11, and NBA 2K12, while RED MC is used with NBA 2K13 and NBA 2K14.

Pick them up in these sections of our Downloads database:

• NBA 2K14
• NBA 2K13
• NBA 2K12
• NBA 2K11
• NBA 2K10

A huge thanks to Vlad for his hard work over the years, and for now making these tools freely available for everyone. For modding tutorials and resources, please check out the appropriate sections in the NLSC Forum.

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 lists five ways that the CPU will mess with us in basketball video games.

As we all know, multiplayer gaming has its ups and downs. Whether it’s the pain of getting less than ideal teammates online, the frustration of encountering cheesers who spam exploits, or dealing with that one friend who takes things too far messing with you while you’re sitting on the same couch, there are times when you’d prefer to be enjoying single player gameplay. Of course, the single player/offline experience isn’t immune to such chicanery, as games will pull some dirty tricks in order to prevent you from beating them. CPU opponents in basketball games are no different.

To some extent, this is a necessary evil. As far as basketball games have come, they still have limitations. Gameplay is now more realistic with CPU opponents that are bolstered by AI that is smarter, but it still can’t match the creativity and cleverness of a human brain. Tilting a few aspects of the game in the CPU’s favour and including comeback mechanics allows it to be competitive and challenging, though can feel like artificial difficulty. There are also moments that are more benign and don’t necessarily stand in the way of winning, but nevertheless feel like the CPU is messing with us. Here are five examples of the CPU thumbing its nose at us on the virtual hardwood.

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It’s the holidays; I shouldn’t be writing a negative or critical article. As we wind down 2018, I wanted to focus on having fun with basketball video games, reflect on the year that was, and then get back to critique and heavier topics in the New Year. Sadly, we have a controversy on our hands. In case you missed the drama, a Locker Code for a Pink Diamond LeBron James got out into the wild on Christmas Day. Naturally, a lot of MyTEAM gamers were quick to snap it up, bolstering their collection with a card that most of us probably wouldn’t ever get our hands on otherwise. It was, if you’ll excuse my tongue-in-cheek usage of a clichéd phrase, a Christmas miracle.

And then, 2K went Ebenezer Scrooge on MyTEAM gamers. After the code had been in the wild for several hours, its reward changed to a LeBron James Free Agent card. The worst was yet to come however, as gamers discovered that the original card had been removed from their collection entirely. Some logged on to discover it was gone, while the more unlucky gamers had it stripped from their lineup as they were using it, resulting in wins counting as losses and other rewards going missing. It would seem that the Pink Diamond wasn’t meant to be released, but its removal has led to another PR blunder for 2K Sports, when they could’ve spread some Christmas cheer.

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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, I’m taking a look back at my memorable NBA Live 2004 Dynasty game.

In a Wayback Wednesday feature a month ago, I reminisced about my NBA Live 06 Dynasty with the Chicago Bulls. It was one of my all-time favourite experiences on the virtual hardwood, and at the time, I enjoyed documenting it in the Stories section of our Forum. It wasn’t my first story topic however, nor was it my only memorable Dynasty game. A couple of years earlier, I’d taken control of the Bulls in NBA Live 2004, playing through a season of ups and downs on route to what was an unlikely championship to say the least.

What was originally meant to just be a first look at the newly renamed and revamped Dynasty mode would turn into an experience that had me hooked for several months. Although I’d been a fan of the franchise concept since it was introduced back in NBA Live 2000, I would suggest my NBA Live 2004 Dynasty is what really solidified my appreciation for the mode. Join me as I take a look back…way back…

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Merry Christmas and Season’s Greetings, basketball gamers! If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, then skoadam and slimm44 have you covered with an updated version of U R Basketball for both NBA 2K13 and NBA 2K14 PC. Key features of the revised V62 are as follows:

• Trades updated through 24th December
• Updated rotations/minutes
• New 2019 Association and Season files
• New jerseys from Pepis

NBA 2K14 gamers can download U R Basketball here, and find the mod’s release topic here. If you’re playing NBA 2K13, download that version of URB here, and check out its release topic here. Make sure that you download the correct version for the game that you’re playing, as roster files are not compatible between the two titles.

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 few thoughts on what I’ll be doing on the virtual hardwood these holidays.

With 2018 rapidly drawing to a close and Christmas Eve upon us, I’m in the mood to kick back with some gaming on the virtual hardwood…and maybe the virtual blacktop as well. While I’ll be spending time with family, going away with friends over New Year’s, and of course preparing future content for the NLSC, I’m looking forward to just relaxing with one of my favourite hobbies. With no less than four current hoops games out at the moment, the holidays make the process of juggling several titles a little bit easier.

Being that it is one of my favourite hobbies, basketball gaming is something that I’ve come to associate with the holidays. The school holidays were a time when my cousin and I would run franchise games in NBA Live 2000, replay the 1995 season in NBA Live 95, and defeat and play with every team in NBA Jam Tournament Edition. These days, I don’t have as long of a break and do have a few more responsibilities to get back to, but I’ll still have time to hit the virtual hardwood. The question is: what will I focus on playing as I wind down 2018? These are my current basketball gaming plans for the next week or so.

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As you may or may not already know, online support for NBA 2K17 is ending on December 31st, 2018. Once the servers are shut down, we’ll no longer have access to shared rosters and Draft Classes, MyLEAGUE Online, MyTEAM, Play Now Online, or any other online components. Virtual Currency purchases will also be unavailable, though MyCAREER will still be playable using an offline currency and more limited functionality.

Given that the NBA 2K17 server shutdown will be taking place within a week or so, it would be a wise idea to download any and all community content as soon as possible. To that end, if you have any recommendations for rosters, Draft Classes, or other shared content for NBA 2K17, feel free to post them in the comments section below, or in this topic in the NLSC Forum.

Following the controversy when the NBA 2K14 servers were shut down, 2K Sports extended support for all of their titles to 27 months. This has ensured that every NBA 2K game will receive online support for two full seasons, plus an additional three months. Barring a further change in policy, online support for NBA 2K18 will cease on December 31st, 2019.

As we haven’t posted a new episode of the NLSC Podcast since December 9th and will be taking a further break over the holiday season, I wanted to post a bulletin letting our listeners know that the show will return in 2019. We should be back on the air with Episode #269 either the first or second week or January. I’ll be sure to post a further bulletin closer to the date.

It’s been a bit of a rough year for the NLSC Podcast, compared to our other original content. We’ve ended up missing far more weeks than we’d like, due to a combination of scheduling issues, illness, technical problems, and burnout. That last issue in particular is one that we’re hoping to address moving forward, not only by taking a break over the holidays, but also in potentially changing our approach to the show.

2019 will mark the eighth year of the NLSC Podcast. We’ve made a few changes to the format and our approach over the years, but we’d like to make sure that we’re keeping things fresh and putting out an entertaining product. To that end, we’re interested in feedback from our listeners, specifically:

• Ideal show length.
• Ideal release day.
• Whether you like multiple topics/segments, or would prefer us to focus on just one or two topics.
• Whether or not you like the news and reactions segments as-is, or would prefer a quick recap with select focus on the most important topics (or no news at all).
• Your interest in content regarding our modding community.
• Your interest in other segments and potential new segments (Our Week in Basketball gaming, Mailbag/Q&A, Fact of the Week, games with the hosts, tips and tricks, etc).
• Whether you like the NBA discussion or would prefer us to just stick to video games.
• Any other feedback you have about the NLSC Podcast.

We greatly appreciate any input moving forward! Feel free to leave your feedback in the comments section below, as well as here in the NLSC Forum.

A huge thanks for your support of the NLSC Podcast throughout 2018. We’re looking forward to coming back with a refreshed (and possibly revamped) podcast about basketball video games and our community in 2019!

Today’s file additions for NBA 2K19 PC include player faces, custom rosters, and a pack of court updates for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Check them all out at the links below!

Torogi
Jonas Valanciunas Face & Model
D.J. Augustin Face
RKJ No Injuries Roster (With New Retro Teams) (Updated to v1.8)

MJ23LB
Minnesota Timberwolves Courts 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.