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 five basketball games, other than the infamous NBA Elite 11, that were cancelled.

If we’re talking about cancelled basketball games, then NBA Elite 11 is obviously one that springs immediately to mind. I’m sure that everyone knows that story, but the short version is that the demo was poorly received and widely mocked due to both gameplay issues and the infamous “Jesus Bynum” T-pose bug. This led to the full version being pulled five days before release so that it could receive further polish, with the delay eventually becoming cancellation. It’s a disaster that’s set the NBA Live series back years, and while it’s a significant event, it’s also a very familiar tale.

To that end, I thought it’d be more interesting to talk about some cancelled games in a list that doesn’t include the obvious example of NBA Elite 11. That’s not to say that these games are obscure and their stories unknown, but at least a couple of them aren’t talked about all that much. Please note that I’m also excluding the recent examples of NBA Live 17/The Drive to NBA Live, NBA Live 20, and NBA Live 21, as they were either never really officially announced, or there isn’t much to say except EA decided that they weren’t fit to launch. I’d like to think that there are some interesting stories with these other cancelled games though, so let’s take a look!

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After the official Twitter account dropped a not-too-subtle hint yesterday, the current gen trailer for NBA 2K21 has been released. In addition to giving us a glimpse at the gameplay from cinematic angles – along with a clip showing off the new shot meter – it also teases some interesting details.

It appears as though this year’s MyCAREER story will once include a college portion, as a player can be glimpsed wearing a Florida Gators jersey. Previous leaks have hinted at college teams being playable in NBA 2K21, though the full extent of their presence is obviously yet to be confirmed. The Neighborhood appears to have been revamped, based on a quick glimpse and a sign mentioning “2K Beach”. Players from around the world are also spotlighted, possibly hinting at some related content.

Check out the trailer below, courtesy of TGsoGood.

With the game less than a month away from release, we should be getting some concrete details very soon. In the meantime, what are your thoughts on the NBA 2K21 Current Gen trailer? What do you make of the hints that it appears to have dropped? Have your say in the comments below, and join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum!

Some of you may recall the updates for the GameCube version of NBA Street Vol. 2 that were released some years back. Building upon those modding projects, agent_michael_scarn has just released a new update for the game titled “NBA Street Vol. 2 Legendary Edition”.

The mod is definitely worthy of Barney Stinson’s favourite catchphrase, as this comprehensive update for a beloved classic is indeed legen…wait for it…dary! It features 2020 season rosters updated as of the NBA Bubble restart, along with legendary players for each squad. All team logos and jerseys have also been updated for the current season, and player ratings are based on NBA 2K20 attributes wherever possible. A few elements from the older mods also remain.

You can pick up NBA Street Vol. 2 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. You can also go back and check out some of the older updates by JaoSming, johnz1, and Mazzochi, which can be found in the Other Basketball Games section of our Downloads database. Check out a complete roster listing for the mod here.

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 way Vince Carter was booed in NBA Live 10.

In last week’s Friday Five, I mentioned that in NBA Live 10, Vince Carter would be booed by the virtual Toronto crowd whenever he played there as an opponent. As I needed a screenshot of Vince in NBA Live 10 for the article, I fired up the game and my Elgato capture device, and got to work. After deciding to go the extra step and record some footage of the phenomenon, I grew curious. Is that detail still a thing if he gets traded to another team? What happens if he’s back in Toronto? It seemed like a good idea for a video feature, so let’s take a look back…way back…

I hope that satisfied your curiosity as it did mine! I enjoy making the occasional video for Wayback Wednesday and other weekly features, as well as providing updates on my modding projects, so it was nice to whip up another one this week. Be sure to subscribe to the NLSC’s YouTube channel for more videos moving forward!

Today’s selection of file additions for NBA 2K20 PC includes faces, fictional courts, and the latest NBA Bubble court updates. Check them all out at the links below!

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.

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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 decline of MyCAREER offline, and its effect on the career experience in NBA 2K.

MyCAREER has been my main mode of choice since I was drawn to it back in NBA 2K13. As I’ve mentioned on many occasions, I’ve felt a desire to return to my roots as a franchise gamer – especially given the depth currently on offer in MyLEAGUE – and have also spent time with MyTEAM, as well as Ultimate Team in NBA Live over the past generation. However, MyCAREER has been difficult to quit, particularly as I’ve grown to appreciate the online scene through 2K Pro-Am. The connected experience offers several benefits, but it’s also contributed to the decline of MyCAREER offline.

I was originally going to cover this in a Friday Five article which would’ve been titled “5 Ways Offline MyCAREER Is Worse”, but I decided that the list format wouldn’t do the issue justice. One of the major reasons for my change of heart and mind is that I stumbled across this Reddit post from about five months back, outlining the way that MyCAREER offline has been downgraded over the years. It was well-researched, and I must credit it here as a source of information for the specific changes I’ve noted. Its title was apt, too. It’s a matter that doesn’t receive nearly enough attention, and I’d like to rectify that by covering it today, while also considering some possible solutions.

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Episode #334 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

With the Current Gen version of NBA 2K21 a little over a month away, we’re anticipating the floodgates opening on the preview season. For now, we have news on this year’s soundtrack, as well as a few tidbits about gameplay and MyTEAM. We break down what we know so far, including Mike Wang’s interesting comments about making the game as enjoyable as possible. Given the recent sentiments in the community – as well as a few remarks from NBA players – it seems like the right idea! Elsewhere, now that we know there won’t be an NBA Live 21, we once again discuss the future of the NBA Live series. Are we keeping our fingers crossed for next year? Also, we talk about when basketball games get cartoonish, and how that can be a welcome change of pace.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:52:16 — 77.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you’d like to hear us discuss in future episodes. 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.

The current gen version of NBA 2K21 is a little over a month away from launch, which means the trickle of information about the upcoming game should soon become a steady stream. Earlier this week the game’s soundtrack was unveiled, and now thanks to NBA 2KTV, we have some tidbits on gameplay and MyTEAM.

Agent 00 had the opportunity to interview Mike Wang in the latest episode of NBA 2KTV, and Beluba had some interesting things to say. He stressed that one of the main goals this year is to ensure that the game is enjoyable, striking the right balance between realism and fun. Beluba cited canned turnovers on cherry-picking passes as an example of something they wanted to fix.

He also mentioned that movement will feel very different on Next Gen, and confirmed that different studios are working on the Current Gen and Next Gen versions. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X version will also reportedly have everything that the Current Gen version does, “but so much more”, indicating it’ll be deeper than NBA 2K14 on PS4 and X1. There will also be more WNBA content this year.

As for MyTEAM, Evolution cards will return in NBA 2K21, with more control over how we evolve them. MyTEAM Unlimited will also return, with “new ways to compete”. We’ll also be playing for “championship rings”, the in-game context of which is yet to be explained. As previously confirmed, progression in Current Gen MyTEAM will carry over to Next Gen.

More information and previews of NBA 2K21 should be right around the corner, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out Agent’s interview in the latest NBA 2KTV episode. We’ll share our thoughts in this week’s NLSC Podcast, but for now, have your say in the comments below, and join in the discussion here in the Forum. Thanks to yyy2k from the official NBA 2K subreddit for compiling these tidbits!

For some time now, it’s been taken as a foregone conclusion that there won’t be an NBA Live 21. In case anyone was still holding out hope, the latest financial report from EA, as well as the list of upcoming releases on their website, has made that official.

In October last year, the official NBA Live Twitter account confirmed the decision to skip NBA Live 20. At the time, the post seemed to indicate plans to return in 2020 with the launch of the next generation of consoles. Technically, NBA Live 21 was never officially announced, but whether or not it counts as another cancellation is arguably just splitting hairs. The point is that no basketball game is coming from EA Sports this year.

The silence from the official NBA Live social media accounts – aside from a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant earlier this year – had many people speculating that this would be the case. While there is no word either way on the future of the series at this point, there isn’t much to get excited about right now if you’re a PC or console gamer. NBA Live Mobile is still available, and is being updated with the NBA’s restart.

As for our part, we’ll continue to collect feedback and send it to the developers as long as the series hasn’t been canned for good. We’ll also post any news as it becomes available. In the meantime, I’ve condensed the NBA Live 21 section into the NBA Live 19 section of our Forum, and updated our Wiki accordingly. Feel free to join in the discussion here, as well as in the comments below. We’ll be discussing the situation in Episode #334 of the NLSC Podcast, coming out shortly. Our 25th Anniversary of NBA Live celebrations will also continue, so stay tuned for that content.

Today’s file additions for NBA Live 96 feature an updated version of K Dub’s Hardwood Classics mod for the SEGA Genesis version. Pick it up at the link below!

K Dub
NBA Live 96 HWC (Sega Genesis) (Updated to Rev F)

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 five things that the developers of basketball video games found themselves in trouble over.

Something that a lot of basketball gamers don’t seem to understand is that when it comes to licensed titles, developers are under certain restrictions that are imposed by the licenser. Most people understand that certain former players can’t be included because they haven’t granted the use of their likeness, though you’ll get the occasional person who’ll angrily claim that EA Sports or Visual Concepts have “forgotten” about those historical players. The NBA also isn’t really big on modding because of the way it skirts such licensing, which is why we don’t have any official modding tools.

There are plenty of other examples of these restrictions, such as an inability to include unsportsmanlike technical fouls, or fights beyond a bit of post-whistle shoving that’s out of our control. Bottom line, if it’s in NBA Live or NBA 2K, then the NBA itself has given it the green light…usually. There are occasions where developers have tried to sneak something into the games, and subsequently upset the NBA or another license holder in the process. These incidents have usually resulted in a reprimand, but on a couple of occasions, lawsuits have been involved. Here are five things that basketball game developers did that landed them in trouble, if only temporarily.

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File additions for NBA Live 08 have understandably dwindled in recent years, but we do have a couple of new releases today. devotedtoyah has uploaded a new custom AIACT file with edited animations, and Big Homie has released a new version of the 2KTV (HD) mod. Check them both out at the links below!

devotedtoyah
AIACT Dunk Changes

Big Homie
2KTV (HD)

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 some examples of familiar faces returning to familiar places, and the games where we see those stints.

In an ongoing Wayback Wednesday series, I’ve been taking a look back at familiar faces in strange places; in other words, well-known players and their stints with teams that are less talked about and usually weird to see, and the video games where those stints were represented. This week, I’m inverting the idea and taking a look back at familiar faces back in familiar places; in other words, well-known players who made a return to a team they’re most closely associated with, after leaving to play elsewhere in the NBA.

On the surface, this may not seem as interesting as seeing familiar faces in strange places. However, these return stints are interesting in their own right, as they have their own stories. Some of them were brief and essentially retirement tours, while others lasted longer and saw more success. Oddly enough, it can also feel strange to see a player back in an old uniform after we get used to seeing them in a new one. As I like to say, basketball games act as interactive almanacs for these stints of note, so let’s use them to take a look back…way back…

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Today’s file additions for NBA 2K20 PC include the latest NBA Bubble court updates, current, retro, and future prospect faces, ESPN scoreboards, and more. Download all of today’s new and updated NBA 2K20 file additions at the links below!

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.

Read More »

As July draws to a close, another trickle of news begins with the reveal of the NBA 2K21 soundtrack. Current Gen cover player Damian Lillard, under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A., has provided two of the 52 songs that will be featured in the game when it releases on September 4th, 2020.

Other artists featured on the NBA 2K21 soundtrack include Stormzy, Roddy Ricch and The Strokes. The late Juice WRLD and Pop Smoke will also be featured, along with Lil Tijay, J Has, CHIKA, and Little Simz. Mainstays such as Meek Mill and Travis Scott also return. As was the case with NBA 2K20, more songs will be added post-launch. Those new songs will apparently span the genres of hip-hop, R&B, electronic, pop, and rock.

The Next Gen version of NBA 2K21 will reportedly feature 202 songs at launch. Even more songs will be added after launch, the same as with the Current Gen version. The Next Gen version will feature Zion Williamson on the cover, and is a launch title for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, slated for release this holiday season.

You can listen to the entire soundtrack here on Spotify. What are your thoughts on this year’s selection of music? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum!