Basketball Classics

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m reflecting on the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies being in the NBA – and video games – for 30 years.

It’s funny how even though the Toronto Raptors and Memphis Grizzlies have been in the NBA for 30 years now, a part of me still thinks of them as “new” teams. After all, the Charlotte Bobcats came along in 2004. Of course, now that they’re the Hornets again and have reclaimed their history from 1988 to 2002, the New Orleans Pelicans have retroactively become the league’s newest team. Furthermore, 1996 was the year I became a hardcore hoop head. As such, the Raptors and Grizzlies were in the league when my interest in basketball really took off.

However, I was a casual fan before then, so I was aware that they were new. My first basketball video game – NBA Jam Tournament Edition – is set before they entered the league, and thus doesn’t include them. It wasn’t until I picked up NBA Live 96 that I played a game that featured the two expansion teams. As the youngest clubs during the early days of my fandom, they continued to feel new for years afterwards. All this is to say that it’s now been 30 years since the Raptors and Grizzlies were newcomers to the league and video games! Let’s take a look back…way back…

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #625 of the NLSC Podcast!

Namo Gamo – now partnered with the newly-revived Acclaim – has announced Super Basketball Classics, a follow-up to the original Basketball Classics that was released back in 2019. Whereas the first game paid tribute to the 8-bit era of hoops, the new game will be a throwback to the 16-bit era of basketball gaming. Among other enhancements, the game also will star the Harlem Globetrotters. This week, we share our thoughts on what we know about Super Basketball Classics so far, and also make some suggestions regarding what we’d like to see in terms of gameplay, modes, and features. Suffice it to say, we’re keen to see what Josh and Dave have cooked up with this sequel to a fantastic release.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 43:57 — 30.5MB)

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To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

When we’ve talked to Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo in the past, they’ve mentioned the goal of bringing Basketball Classics to console in addition to Steam. That dream has been realised, as the game is now available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch!

The console version of Basketball Classics remains priced at $9.99 USD, making it well worth picking up if you love retro-style games with modern design sensibilities. Additionally, the PC version is currently on sale at a 65% discount, which is a great bargain. It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the game – and not just because I’m an unlockable player in it – so I highly recommend snagging it on your platform of choice.

As previously announced, Namo Gamo’s partnership with the revived Acclaim has also led to an upcoming sequel. For those who missed the announcement, Super Basketball Classics will feature revamped gameplay, new modes, and of course, the World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters. The release date is as yet unknown, but we’re looking forward to more details, and will definitely be covering it upon release.

You can check out the console launch trailer below. Congratulations to Josh and Dave once again for all of their well-earned success with Basketball Classics, as well as the forthcoming sequel! While we may be lacking Triple-A options in the basketball gaming space these days, indie developers are leading the charge to provide alternatives. If you’ve grown weary of NBA 2K and you’d like something new on top of revisiting old favourites, I’d strongly suggest keeping an eye on the indie scene as more and more developers are stepping onto the virtual hardwood.

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We’re big fans of the original Basketball Classics here at the NLSC, and the way that it combines old school gameplay with modern design principles. We’ve had the pleasure of chatting to Josh and Dave on multiple episodes of the NLSC Podcast, and we’re honoured to have our NLSC THRILLHO 2K Pro-Am squad featured in the game as an unlockable team. To that point, it’s extremely exciting to see the announcement of a sequel: Super Basketball Classics!

Super Basketball Classics will feature fully rotoscoped player animations, new gameplay, and a new soundtrack, all in 16-bit style. Not only that, but the game will star the Harlem Globetrotters as the iconic team celebrates its 100th anniversary. Appropriately, we can expect to pull off all sorts of crazy alley-oops, trick shots, and other moves, as both a nod to the Globetrotters’ unique brand of basketball and classic arcade hoops video games. The game will also include Exhibition, Season, and Tournament modes, as well as both co-op and head-to-head play.

No release date has been given as yet, but Super Basketball Classics will be available for both PC and consoles, and it can already be wishlisted here on Steam. A reveal trailer spotlighting the Globetrotters has also been released, and you can check it out below.

We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on further developments, and are looking forward to the game. Congratulations to Josh and Dave on the sequel, and for Namo Gamo’s partnership with the newly-revived Acclaim and the World-Famous Harlem Globetrotters!

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The Steam Sports Fest is currently offering some excellent deals for PC sports gamers. One game that I’d recommend picking up during the sale is Basketball Classics, developed by our friends Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo. It’s currently 65% off until December 15th at 10 AM EST, and that price is an absolute steal.

For those who are unfamiliar with Basketball Classics, it’s a love letter to 8-bit era hoops video games such as Double Dribble. However, it’s been updated with some modern mechanics such as playcalling and a shot meter, as well as a season mode and roster editing. There’s also a story mode that unlocks some bonus teams, one of which is a squad made up of NLSC THRILLHO members complete with our logo on the court. And yes, after all this time I still get a kick out of being an official unlockable character in a video game!

You can find Basketball Classics here in the Steam store. We also had the pleasure of chatting with Josh and Dave in Episodes #262, #306, #342, and #343 of the NLSC Podcast. Tune in to those shows to learn more about the development of the game, as well as hear their stories about the basketball games they played growing up and thoughts on the genre in general. Additionally, back in September Namo Gamo announced their partnership with the revived Acclaim, which will see Basketball Classics land on consoles at some point in the near future. Stay tuned for more details on that, and congratulations to Josh and Dave once again on both the partnership and continued success of the game!

This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at Dennis Rodman and his changing hair colour on the virtual hardwood.

For decades now, it’s been common to see NBA players with prominent tattoos. Other players have made fashion statements through their hairstyles, sometimes bleaching or colouring their locks in some way. Jeremy Sochan is an example of both, sporting ink and adopting some very colourful looks during his three year NBA career. To that point though, Sochan brings to mind another power forward that once played for the Spurs, wore #10, and was infamous for his numerous tattoos and ever-changing hair colour. I am of course referring to Dennis Rodman!

The Worm’s unique style and unapologetic self-expression at times overshadowed his brilliance on the court, but there was no denying his popularity in the 90s; especially after he was traded to the Chicago Bulls and became an integral part of their second threepeat. Naturally, Rodman’s counterpart on the virtual hardwood was expected to capture this look, which was indeed achieved through unique textures and models. Quite impressively however, several old games also went so far as to give Dennis Rodman changing hair colour as well. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on how basketball video games – particularly NBA 2K – have come to lack heart and soul.

Long-time listeners of the NLSC Podcast have no doubt heard Dee and me lamenting the lack of heart and soul in modern basketball video games, compared to many of our old favourites. Judging by some of the responses we’ve received, and other comments that I’ve seen in our Forum, our Discord, and on social media, we’re not alone in that regard. Of course, it’s impossible to express such opinions without being accused of wearing nostalgia goggles. “You just miss your childhood, and the way those games used to make you feel. It’s not the games that changed; you just got old and jaded!”

Ad hominem arguments from wannabe psychoanalysts aside, there is a sliver of truth here. Recapturing the magic of youth and our first forays into a hobby is like trying to put the proverbial toothpaste back into the tube. To once again reference an astute observation that “Yahtzee” Croshaw made about nostalgia, we can’t truly go back to being twelve years old; an age where we were old enough to appreciate our hobbies, but still young enough to not yet be cynical about them. Of course, we have to look at the reasons why basketball video games inspire cynicism on top of valid criticism. There are undoubtedly aspects of their design nowadays that lack heart and soul.

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Episode #372 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.

Roster editing has come to Basketball Classics, and we’re very impressed with what Josh and Dave have managed to implement. Meanwhile, the latest patch for NBA 2K21 Next Gen is slightly less exciting, but nevertheless contains a couple of important fixes. Taking a suggestion from Twitter, this week’s main discussion concerns the difference between sports gaming and competitive gaming, and the effects that the latter has had on the NBA 2K series. We talk about how gameplay and the online scene in NBA 2K could improve, and how NBA Live could capitalise on the situation. In this week’s mailbag, we reflect on Acclaim’s NBA Jam games, and the quality of sequels.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:36:51 — 66.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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.

Basketball Classics 2.0 is now available on Steam! If you already own Namo Gamo’s fantastic retro-style hoops game, the update should come through automatically. If it doesn’t, try restarting your Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

The latest update adds long-awaited roster editing functionality. In addition to modifying existing player names, appearances, and attributes, the roster editor allows us to create brand new teams and players from scratch. A variety of player faces are available, with customisable hair and facial hair, accessories, and tattoos. Up to three custom rosters can be saved alongside the default roster, and custom rosters can be used in the game’s Season mode.

Josh and Dave discussed their plans for roster editing during their most recent appearance on the NLSC Podcast. You can listen to that in-depth chat with them in Episodes #342 and #343, during which we brainstormed some roster editing ideas. As for Basketball Classics 2.0, if you don’t already own it, I highly recommend picking it up on Steam. It’s currently $9.99 US, and well worth the price if you’re a basketball gamer with an appreciation for retro-inspired titles.

I’m a bit late in posting this, but Basketball Classics v1.2.2 is now available! If you own the game, then the update will (and probably already has) come through automatically. As usual, if you ever encounter any issues with automatic updates on Steam, try restarting your client.

The latest version of the game includes 2020 season rosters, which are available for both Season and Quick Play. A number of fixes have also been implemented, based on gamer feedback.

In the bulletin, Dave and Josh mention that there’s been lots of activity behind the scenes with Basketball Classics. A new major release is in the pipeline but isn’t quite ready yet, which is why the guys have pushed through this minor update to address some issues in the meantime. However, we can expect roster editing tools in a future release.

Basketball Classics v1.2.2 is available to purchase here on Steam. We’ve had Dave and Josh on the NLSC Podcast three times before, most recently for a two-part chat back in October last year. If you haven’t caught those episodes yet, be sure to tune in for insights into Basketball Classics, as well as a great discussion on the hallmarks of good and bad basketball video games.

Episode #343 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

Part 2 of our latest chat with Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo continues our conversation about the traits of good and bad basketball games, and how they factored into the development of Basketball Classics. We also talk about the one game that we’d want to be stuck on a desert island with, which Donkey Kong Country title is objectively the best, and how to handle custom ratings in basketball video games. There’s also one last tidbit about future features in Basketball Classics, and possibly a few more nods to a certain Simpsons-themed platformer.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:31:53 — 63.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | 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.

Episode #342 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

In Part 1 of a two-part episode, we welcome Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo back to the show! The guys share some news on the exciting features that are in the works for Basketball Classics, including something that should pique the interest of our modding community. After that, we get into our main discussion topic: the hallmarks of good and bad games, and what makes a hoops title a classic or a dud. We talk about the traits that are common to good and bad basketball games alike, and Josh and Dave describe how those examples inspired and guided them in the development of Basketball Classics. The conversation also turns to collecting, and other classic video games that shaped our tastes.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:40:35 — 69.1MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | 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.

Basketball Classics v1.2.1 is now available on Steam! If you already own the game, the update will come through automatically as long as Steam is online and you’ve got an active Internet connection. If it doesn’t, try restarting your Steam client.

The new version is a maintenance release, addressing the following issues:

• Fixes issue where AI opponents can call a timeout at end of quarter that resumes the game incorrectly – such as when you’re viewing the scoreboard stats at halftime ugh 🙂
• Fixes issue with AI calling more timeouts than they should be allowed to call
• Fixes issue preventing the Marksman achievement from being granted (thanks marshcave)
• Fixes endgame credits after completing Story Mode +
• Various other minor things

It also looks like Josh and Dave have some big news for Basketball Classics in the pipeline, so stay tuned! In the meantime, if you don’t own the game, you can pick it up here. For more insights into the development of Basketball Classics and other fun retro basketball gaming talk, be sure to check out our interviews with Josh and Dave in Episodes #262 and #306 of the NLSC Podcast! Also feel free to share your thoughts on Basketball Classics v1.2.1 in the comments below, as well as here in the Forum.

Basketball Classics v1.2.0 is now available on Steam. If you already own the game, the update will come through automatically as long as you have an active Internet connection. Should you encounter any difficulties, try restarting your Steam client.

The latest update adds pump fakes, which as in most games are performed by tapping the Shoot button. Quarter breaks have also been spiced up with new events, and difficulty settings have been added to Story mode.

Please see below for the expanded release notes for Basketball Classics v1.2.0. Be sure to check out our previous interviews with Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo, in Episode #262 and Episode #306 of the NLSC Podcast!

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Basketball Classics v1.1.0 is now available on Steam! If you already own the game, the update will come through automatically. If it doesn’t, try restarting your Steam client.

The new version includes a variety of AI fixes and enhancements, as well as tuned difficulty and the addition of standings in Season mode. The full patch notes are as follows:

• CPU play calling – this is a big one. The CPU now calls and enacts plays, making single-player matches much more interesting with the varied offensive strategies you’ll have to defend against. Also works well as a training tool to teach new players how to use the different plays and when they might be effective.
• CPU timeouts – cpu teams now have the wits to call timeouts appropriately, freezing the clock and moving them downcourt as they attempt to pull off clutch wins.
• AI improvements – ranging from learning when to call timeouts and/or plays to being smarter about steal attempts, more accurately chasing the ball handler when attempting a steal, etc.
• Increased difficulty – along with AI improvements and enhanced cpu abilities come difficulty enhancements that allow for longer replayability, especially at higher difficulty settings. Find techniques to beat the harder teams. Looking for a serious challenge? Season Mode on Legend is your jam.
• Balancing – formula tweaks across the board to ensure things happen when you expect them to happen, nothing feels cheap, things just feel right. Feel, feel, feel.
• Season standings – as requested by several users. Want to see how your team stacks up against the competition at any point in a season? Go into the League Leaders and change the VIEW selector to STANDINGS.

Feel free to share your thoughts on Basketball Classics v1.1.0 in the comments below, or here in the Forum. For more insights into the creation of the game, check out our interview with Josh and Dave in Episode #306 of the NLSC Podcast!