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NLSC Podcast – Episode #206

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Episode #206 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We’re a little late this week due to some technical difficulties, but everything has been sorted out, so Arcane and I are coming at you with our thoughts on the latest news in basketball gaming, some tales from our basketball gaming experiences over the past week, and a few thoughts on the forthcoming 2017 NBA Finals.

On this week’s show…

  • We’ve received our first proper glimpse at NBA Live 18, including a bunch of screenshots and some cinematic gameplay clips. We reflect on some of the community’s reactions, and provide our own take.
  • The PC versions of NBA 2K14 and NBA 2K15 are no longer available on Steam, which is potentially bad news for completionists and retro basketball gamers.
  • NBA Playgrounds has received a big patch on PC and PlayStation 4, containing several tweaks and additions demonstrating that Saber Interactive are paying close attention to gamer feedback.
  • Our Week in Basketball Gaming includes a long-awaited cutscene in MyCAREER, and another decent session of 2K Pro-Am.
  • We wrap up Episode #206 of the NLSC Podcast with some NBA talk. Topics include LeBron James’ new milestone, predictions for the 2017 NBA Finals, and Chris Bosh’s future.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

First NBA Live 18 Screenshots & Videos Revealed

NBA Live 18: LeBron James

It would seem that we’re not going to have to wait until EA Play 2017 to get our first proper look at NBA Live 18. While there’s obviously still a lot yet to learn about the game, we’ve got our first glimpse of what it will look like, by way of the first official screenshots and some gameplay videos posted by prominent YouTubers.

The first NBA Live 18 screenshots feature LeBron James, James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook, and they all seem to be pretty on-point. A lot of advertising for NBA Live at EA Play features Westbrook, so for what it’s worth, it seems there’s a good chance that he’ll be the cover player once again. If so, it would be the first time in the history of the NBA Live series that a cover player is repeated.

Gameplay clips are from cinematic angles, but they do obviously show the players in motion and the new animations that the team has been working on. There’s also some behind the scenes footage from the recent EA Sports event that produced the previously posted off-screen screenshot.

Check out all of the screenshots and videos below after the jump; more will be added as they’re released. I’ve also gone ahead and launched an NBA Live 18 section in the NLSC Forum, so head on over there to join in the discussion, in addition to sharing your thoughts in the comments below. A couple of people in our community will be heading to EA Play 2017 in June, so be sure to post any questions you’d like them to ask, or things you’d like them to look out for, over in this thread. More NBA Live 18 news should be coming soon and we’ll be doing our best to keep on top of it, so stay tuned!

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NBA Live 18 Off-Screen Screenshot featuring LeBron James

Off-Screen Screenshot of LeBron James in NBA Live 18

A new off-screen screenshot of NBA Live 18 has given us our first proper peek at the game. Taken by Chris Denker at an EA Sports event this past weekend, it features LeBron James in the foreground, with Avery Bradley a little out of focus in the background.

NBA Live 18 was shown to a select few gamers at the event, so depending on the nature of any Non-Disclosure Agreements that were signed, we might start hearing a few tidbits and impressions of the game very soon. As previously noted, NBA Live 18 will be playable at EA Play 2017, so at this point, it seems that news is right around the corner.

Being that it is an off-screen screenshot, it’s obviously not the best quality, but the detail on LeBron James is certainy noticeable. Click the thumbnail below for a closer look:

Off-Screen Screenshot of LeBron James in NBA Live 18

ThaLiveKing has posted a solid breakdown of the screenshot here in our Forum, comparing it to a screenshot of LeBron James in NBA Live 16. Feel free to join in the discussion there, as well as share your impressions in the comments section below. With the preview season just about ready to tip off, we’ll certainly be looking to stay on top of all the NBA Live 18 news and set up a few interviews with the development team, so stay tuned.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #203

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Episode #203 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Kenny and I are your hosts this week, and our conversation covers the latest NBA Playgrounds news, Beluba’s plans for NBA 2K’s shooting mechanics, NBA Live 18’s direction, and the latest from the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

On this week’s show…

  • NBA Playgrounds has a confirmed release date of May 9th. Polygon’s preview provided us with some new info on the game, and we’re still very much looking forward to it.
  • Mike Wang (aka Beluba) posted an insight into his plans for shooting mechanics in future NBA 2K games, specifically his desire to wean gamers off automatic makes on Green releases. We give our thoughts on the matter.
  • Following on from this week’s Monday Tip-Off article, we discuss whether it would be a good idea for NBA Live 18 to take a more traditional approach, in order to capitalise on the dissatisfaction some gamers have with certain aspects of NBA 2K’s direction.
  • Our Week in Basketball Gaming includes a head-to-head showdown in MyTEAM, expanding collections, and a refreshingly enjoyable run in both 2K Pro-Am and MyPARK.
  • The 2017 NBA Playoffs roll on into the second round. LeBron reaches a milestone, prompting thoughts from the (alleged) resident bitter insecure hater. Also, Paul Pierce’s retirement, Tony Parker’s injury, Isaiah Thomas’ big night, and some predictions.
  • We wrap up Episode #203 of the NLSC Podcast with some quick thoughts on the new BIG3 league, which recently completed its draft.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Monday Tip-Off: Should NBA Live 18 Be More Traditional?

Derrick Rose on the New York Knicks in NBA Live 16

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 the best direction for NBA Live 18.

EA Sports has their work cut out for them when it comes to NBA Live 18. The series hasn’t been the dominant brand in sim-oriented basketball games for more than a decade now, with cancellations and subpar releases combining to erode the trust of the fanbase. At the same time, it’s also shown potential and promise, and judging by some of the whispers from gamers who have been involved in recent playtesting sessions, there’s cause for optimism. NBA Live 18 obviously has a lot to prove, and as I’ve said many times before, it needs to be a well-rounded product. Improved gameplay is paramount, but deeper modes and roster customisation are also vital.

I think most of us agree on that, and we all have our own specific suggestions as to what we’d like to see out of future NBA Live releases. My first seven Friday Five articles of 2017 were dedicated to discussing ideas for this year’s game and beyond, and it’s been a recurring topic in the Forum and on the NLSC Podcast. For EA Sports to make a dent in Visual Concepts’ share of the market, their next game needs to be a quality release with an appealing hook, such as an All-Star Weekend mode. However, their overall approach and direction is also important, and that’s something that I’ve been thinking about lately.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #201

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Episode #201 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Kenny and I as we speculate on NBA Live 18, react to a couple of leaks, and talk about the first few games of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. And as always, we discuss Our Week in Basketball Gaming!

On this week’s show…

  • We highly recommend checking out Operation Sports’ interview with the NBA 2K team, for an insight into the development of the games, what it’s like to work in the industry, and how to give the best constructive feedback. And to see JaoSming and Leftos, of course.
  • A couple of off-screen photos of NBA Live 18 have emerged. There’s not much to be gleaned from such blurry images, but there are a couple of points of interest worth talking about.
  • Do we think the cover player for NBA Live 18 will be revealed before EA Play?
  • Will (and should) EA Sports begin promoting NBA Live 18 during the Playoffs, or perhaps the NBA Finals?
  • Our Week in Basketball Gaming has included some experimenting with “Start Today” in MyLEAGUE, a failed attempt at a second MyCAREER, and an expanding MyTEAM collection. A few ideas for future games are also discussed.
  • We wrap up Episode #201 of the NLSC Podcast with some discussion of the first few games of the 2017 NBA Playoffs, which has seen a couple of surprising results.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #199

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Episode #199 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane, Kenny, and I as we get together to talk about some recent NBA Live 18 news, reflect on our past in week in basketball gaming, and react to a huge performance by Devin Booker.

On this week’s show…

  • NBA Live 18 will be on display and playable at EA Play 2017. Are we optimistic, and what kind of details are we expecting to come out of the event?
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: a return to 2K Pro-Am and MyPARK in NBA 2K17 yields unexpectedly enjoyable results. Also, strange player movement in MyCAREER, MyTEAM challenges, and a new MyLEAGUE game.
  • An itch to mod an old favourite has resulted in the release of an updated 1996 season roster for NBA Live 2004.
  • The Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker turned heads and set records when he scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics. We react to the performance, and some of the things that have been said about it.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

NLSC Podcast – Episode #198

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Episode #198 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Kenny and I as we reflect on NBA 2K17 six months in, catch up on what we’ve been playing recently, and discuss a couple of topics related to the real NBA.

On this week’s show…

  • NBA 2K17 has been out for around six months now. After many, many hours playing it, what are our favourite and least favourite aspects of the game?
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: 2K Pro-Am and MyPARK have lost their appeal for us. On the bright side, we’ve been having more fun with MyLEAGUE, MyTEAM, and MyCAREER.
  • The practice of resting players in nationally televised games has prompted some harsh remarks from all-time greats. We offer up our thoughts on the matter, and some of the backlash.
  • Larry Sanders has returned to the NBA. Will he be able to pick up where he left off a couple of years ago?

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

NBA Live 18 To Be Featured At EA Play 2017

Current Washington Wizards jerseys, as seen on John Wall in NBA Live 16

As many of you may be aware, Electronic Arts has withdrawn from E3 in favour of hosting their own event, EA Play. Open to the public, EA Play provides gamers with an opportunity to get an early look at forthcoming releases, both in person at the event and through previews released online. The lineup for this year’s event has been announced, and NBA Live 18 is listed as one of the games that will be on display and playable.

This obviously confirms a couple of details. First of all, EA Sports are indeed intending to proceed with the NBA Live series following the cancellation of the first quarter release (the rumoured demo titled The Drive to NBA Live). Second, the game will be called NBA Live 18, retaining the familiar title format. It also suggests confidence in the game on EA’s part, given that it will be playable at the event.

There’ll probably still be much to learn about NBA Live 18 coming out of EA Play 2017, which will be held from June 10th-12th, but hopefully the game impresses, and good news is in the pipeline. As I’ve mentioned before, we’ll be doing our best to set up some developer interviews, and bring you details on the game as they emerge. If you’re interested in attending EA Play yourself, tickets will be going on sale on April 20th, 2017.

The Friday Five: 5 Miscellaneous Suggestions for NBA Live

The Friday Five

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.

I originally planned for last week’s Five to be the final instalment in my current series of articles discussing what I’d like to see in future NBA Live games, beginning with NBA Live 18 later this year. However, there are a few more ideas that I wanted to put out there, as they didn’t quite fit into any of the previous areas that I was focusing upon. While it’s crucial that core elements of the gameplay and existing game modes are fixed and enhanced, and that features such as roster editing return, there are a couple of other ideas that I believe would help make future NBA Live games even better.

These are the ideas that cater to specific needs and preferences, and contribute towards making NBA Live a deep and well-rounded game. Again, getting the gameplay right, enhancing the existing game modes, and implementing roster editing are all improvements that are absolutely vital, but once progress has been made on those fronts, it’s important that NBA Live innovates and expands upon its content, as the series once did so well. There are certainly more than five things that can be suggested here, but these are the ideas that either appeal the most to me, or I believe will have the biggest impact.

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The Friday Five: 5 Suggestions for Ultimate Team in NBA Live

The Friday Five

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.

We’re coming to the end of my series of Friday Five articles on the key improvements and additions I’d like to see in NBA Live 18 and beyond. Having covered gameplay, Dynasty, Rising Star, LIVE Pro-Am, and roster editing, it’s now time to talk about Ultimate Team. Ultimate Team has been a fairly solid mode since it was introduced to the series in NBA Live 14, and reasonably popular. There’s definitely still room for improvement though, and since the card collecting/team building modes are such a big part of sports games these days, I do have a few suggestions on how it can improve.

Before I begin, I want to give an honourable mention to pack odds. Fair odds and value are always an important issue when it comes to the team building modes, and although Ultimate Team’s packs aren’t too unfair, they could stand to be a little better. Whether it’s the packs bought from the store, or reward packs that are earned by completing a challenge, I’d like to see some guaranteed rare cards, especially when Legends are up for grabs. With that being said, here’s my list of five suggestions that I believe would enhance Ultimate Team in future NBA Live games.

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The Friday Five: 5 Suggestions for Rising Star in NBA Live

The Friday Five

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.

So, we now know that the next NBA Live game – presumably titled NBA Live 18 – will be released later this year, and is intended to be a fully-featured title. While there is understandably some disappointment and scepticism within the NBA Live community at the moment, there is also an opportunity for the development team to go all out in enhancing game modes, and adding features such as roster customisation. As I’ve outlined in recent editions of The Friday Five, those are some very important and overdue improvements that are vital to NBA Live getting to where it needs to be.

I’ve already covered Dynasty and LIVE Pro-Am, but there’s much work to be done with Rising Star as well. Career modes are extremely popular these days, therefore it’s crucial that Rising Star is brought up to speed, and given the depth that will make it a more engaging and enjoyable experience. From the action on the court to the features that make a career mode more immersive, there are a couple of key enhancements that Rising Star should receive in forthcoming NBA Live titles. This week, I’m discussing five of them.

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NLSC Podcast – Episode #193

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Episode #193 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We’re back after taking last week off due to Australia Day, and we have some interesting topics to discuss, including the future of NBA Live, a new patch for NBA 2K17, All-Star Weekend 2017, and more.

On this week’s show…

  • It appears as though The Drive to NBA Live has been cancelled, and EA Sports will instead be focusing on developing a fully featured NBA Live 18, coming in the Fall. We give our thoughts on the situation.
  • A new patch has come through for NBA 2K17, addressing a few key problems gamers have been having. Aside from that, have we noticed any remarkable differences?
  • In Our Week in Basketball Gaming: an update on our MyCAREER games, including some All-Star Weekend disappointment, and the latest highs and lows of NLSC THRILLHO in 2K Pro-Am.
  • The 2017 All-Stars have been announced. Unfortunately for Zaza Pachulia, the league stepped in and squashed his All-Star hopes.
  • Dysfunction and drama are the common themes in the NBA right now, from the Chicago Bulls’ struggles to a war of words between LeBron James and Charles Barkley.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Next NBA Live Game Coming in the Fall

NBA Live 16: Kawhi Leonard

While we’re still waiting for detailed information regarding the future of the NBA Live series, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson has revealed during an investor call that the next game will be coming in the Fall, and not early 2017 as originally planned. While it previously appeared as though EA Sports would release some sort of preview or demo of the next game this quarter, it seems they will instead be going full steam ahead on the next game, which will presumably be titled NBA Live 18.

Acknowledging the series’ troubled history over the past decade or so, Wilson also noted great optimism about the next NBA Live title, explaining that having seen and experienced the game as it is now, the feeling was that it was a lot of fun, and that the better approach would be to “double down” and “launch it as a full beat later this year”. This lends further credibility to the rumours that “The Drive to NBA Live” would have been a stripped down release, essentially previewing the next game.

It would seem that while EA Sports does feel good about the product as it stands today, they have decided that it will be more successful if it launches as a fully featured title in the traditional release window. While another cancellation, a lack of information or previews, and the series’ shaky history in recent times are definitely cause for scepticism amongst basketball gamers, I would suggest that there is merit to that line of thinking. With the last few NBA Live releases lacking depth in their modes, it’s essential that the next game not only features vastly improved gameplay, but is also a robust and well-rounded experience.

Hopefully, it won’t be too long before specific details emerge about the future of the series, and some of the things that have been worked on. We’ll be sure to post any information as it becomes available, as well as do our best to set up some interviews with the developers as soon as possible. In the meantime, feel free to have your say in the comments section below, as well as in this thread in the Forum.

The Friday Five: 5 Suggestions for LIVE Pro-Am in NBA Live

The Friday Five

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.

As you may know from previous articles and the NLSC Podcast, I’ve become a big fan of 2K Pro-Am in NBA 2K16 and NBA 2K17. I was originally sceptical of 2K’s approach, and after playing LIVE Pro-Am at an NBA Live 16 community event, I figured that its quicker games would be more fun. However, I’ve come to like the 2K Pro-Am concept a lot more, and find myself wishing that LIVE Pro-Am could find a way to cater to those tastes as well. There are definitely aspects of 2K Pro-Am that NBA Live could stand to borrow, while implementing them in its own style.

Of course, I don’t want to see LIVE Pro-Am simply become a clone of 2K Pro-Am. While I think there are features it should look to borrow, it has its own concepts that are worth building upon. It has the potential to cater to fans of the 2K Pro-Am approach, while also offering a different experience with its own appeal. In fact, by combining a few concepts that we’ve seen in both games so far, NBA Live could potentially end up with the deeper and more varied Pro-Am mode. Here are five suggestions that I believe would help achieve that.

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