NLSC Podcast

Episode #282 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! This week, Arcane and I are discussing the story-driven approach to MyCAREER that was introduced back in NBA 2K14.

After a quick round-up of the news, including an upcoming NBA Street event in NBA Live 19 and the latest patch for NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, we dive into this week’s main topic: MyCAREER stories. We begin with our overall impressions of the story-driven approach to MyCAREER over the past six games, and then move on to discuss each game’s story in detail. Along the way, we identify what we’ve liked and disliked the most about each tale and MyCAREER stories in general, and suggest ways that the approach could improve as a new generation looms.

Tune in below!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:59:33 — 82.2MB)

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What are your thoughts on MyCAREER stories? 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.

Episode #281 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! This week, Arcane and I are discussing the matter of trusting the process as far as NBA Live is concerned.

The discussion tips off with reflections on how the once-dominant brand in sim basketball games fell on hard times, from the shaky transition to the sixth generation consoles with NBA Live 06, to the disaster that was NBA Elite 11. We consider missed opportunities as far as rebooting the series by going back and building upon NBA Live 10, and note the difficulties that occurred with the cancellation of NBA Elite 11 and NBA Live 13, before the eventual comeback with NBA Live 14. From there, we discuss how the series has fared during its continued comeback, touching on all of the positives and negatives along the way. After going into detail about what we want to see out of the series moving forward, we wrap up with our hopes and expectations for NBA Live 20.

Tune in below!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:36:29 — 66.3MB)

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What are your thoughts on NBA Live’s comeback, and what must happen with NBA Live 20? 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.

Episode #280 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Dare I say it, this week’s episode is ON FIRE, as I had an opportunity to chat with the legendary voice of NBA Jam himself, Tim Kitzrow! It was a lot of fun talking to Tim, who was very generous with his time and stories. Be sure to follow Tim on Twitter, and hit up Who Said What Now to order your own custom audio messages from the Baron of Boomshakalaka!

The voice of NBA Jam, Tim Kitzrow, joins the NLSC Podcast this week for an extended interview. Tim provides an insight into how he went from classically trained actor and improv artist with The Second City in Chicago, to being the voice of one of basketball gaming’s most iconic series. From the origins of the word Boomshakalaka and fascinating tidbits about NBA Jam and other games Tim has worked on, to Tim’s recent projects and a bunch of other fun stories, this week’s show is a must-listen for all NBA Jam enthusiasts!

Tune in below!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:16:27 — 52.6MB)

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I hope you enjoyed my interview with Tim Kitzrow! Sound off with your thoughts on the NBA Jam series 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.

Episode #279 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I are your hosts this week, and we’re debuting a revamped format. As I previously noted, we’re looking to focus on one main discussion topic per episode, following a brief round-up of any news and community announcements. We’re hoping that this will also allow us to conduct more interviews, and produce other special features.

We’re tipping off the revamped NLSC Podcast with a quick recap of Patch 1.23 for NBA Live 19 and Patch 1.09 for NBA 2K19, before getting into this week’s topic: the problems with 2K Pro-Am, and how we’d fix them. 2K Pro-Am is a mode that we’ve played a lot these past few years, and frequently talked about on the show. We’ve had a lot of fun with it, but we’ve also endured several frustrating sessions, due in large part to changes that have not always been for the better. After identifying the most pressing issues with 2K Pro-Am, we suggest a few possible solutions that we’d like to see implemented in NBA 2K20 and beyond.

Tune in below!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:13:38 — 50.6MB)

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What are your thoughts on 2K Pro-Am, and how would you improve it? 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.

Episode #278 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join me for a look back at the updates that came through for NBA Live 19, NBA 2K19, and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 this week, as well as a couple of other basketball gaming topics.

On this week’s show…

• New rosters have come through for NBA Live 19, featuring further lineup, gear, and ratings updates. We also have some clarification on the situation with Kawhi Leonard’s shoes.
• In celebration of LeBron James passing Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list, we have another shot at a Pink Diamond LeBron in NBA 2K19’s MyTEAM. March Madness packs have also been added, while the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers are featured in the latest throwback packs.
• The latest patch for NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 has added new content including players, vanity items, and a Safe Schools for Alex Playground, as well as a new Court Editor. Unfortunately, the approach to the Court Editor doesn’t match the goodwill of their charitable endeavours.
• Experiments with MyCAREER have yielded some interesting information about the popular mode. More to come in next week’s Monday Tip-Off!
• Episode #278 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with a listener question regarding celebrity teams, and the likelihood of celebrities being featured in future versions of NBA Live and NBA 2K.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 18:49 — 13.0MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #277 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Kenny and I for your weekly dose of basketball gaming discussion, including the latest content updates for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19, the second annual March Modness, and what we’ve been doing on the virtual hardwood.

On this week’s show…

• New rosters have come through for NBA Live 19, along with a new Creator Challenge LIVE Event featuring Cream E Biggums. His custom model leads to a discussion on expanding the variety of body types in NBA Live 20 and beyond.
• LeBron James 20th Anniversary packs are now available in NBA 2K19’s MyTEAM. Neither of us have scored a Pink Diamond LeBron, but fortunately Locker Codes have been helping to beef up our squads.
• The second annual March Modness has tipped off! In addition to celebrating modding and hopefully giving away a game to a talented modder, some NLSC releases are still in the pipeline. A brief status report is included, along with some reflections on the differences between modding rosters for NBA Live and NBA 2K.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included an impromptu session in the Jordan Rec Center, and more grinding in the second year of our respective MyCAREER games. Does the Hall of Fame await?

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 51:23 — 35.4MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #276 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and myself as we discuss the latest patch for NBA Live 19, reports that the WNBA will be featured in NBA 2K20, and the 2019 All-Star Weekend in Charlotte.

On this week’s show…

• Patch 1.21 has come through for NBA Live 19. In addition to ending the Double XP event, it includes updated All-Star warm-ups, new gear, and fixes for a couple of other issues.
• Our Wishlists for NBA Live 20 and NBA 2K20 have been submitted, and gratefully received by our contacts at EA Sports and Visual Concepts. Thanks to everyone who contributed!
• It’s looking like the WNBA will be featured in NBA 2K20. We speculate on what kind of presence it will have, and whether it will end up being a missed opportunity for NBA Live in terms of fleshing out its WNBA content.
• We dedicate the rest of Episode #276 of the NLSC Podcast to our thoughts on all the highs and lows from the 2019 All-Star Weekend. We try our best not to sound like cranky old men, with varying degrees of success.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:12:49 — 50.1MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #275 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! I’m flying solo again this week, so join me as I monologue – hopefully not in too much of a monotone! – about the past week in basketball gaming news. It’s a much shorter episode than usual, but we should hopefully be back to our regular show next week.

On this week’s show…

• Patch 1.20 has come through for NBA Live 19. A new All-Star Edition of the game has also been released, though owners of The One Edition can pick up the bonus content if they fire up the game by March 22nd.
• Should NBA Live 19 be the last The One Edition of the game? Well, at the very least, we should hope that it’s not the last NBA Edition!
• NBA 2K19 MyTEAM gamers were struck by misfortune when trying to redeem Locker Codes given out during the MyTEAM Unlimited Tournament, as the servers overloaded. 2K’s response once again left something to be desired.
• Episode #275 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with some news about 2K TV, specifically the return of LD2K to the company as the show’s new host.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 16:51 — 11.6MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #274 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! It’s been a busy week in basketball gaming with multiple patches and content updates, while things have also been interesting in the real NBA thanks to the trade deadline. Along with what we’ve been doing on the virtual hardwood, it’s given Kenny and I plenty to talk about.

On this week’s show…

• NBA Live 19 received a substantial title and content update this week. Getting a trade deadline roster update in time for the weekend was a pleasant surprise, but the addition of in-game injuries came as even better news. It leads us to reflect on some changes that were patched into NBA Live 10 all those years ago.
• Following up on Patch 1.08 for NBA 2K19, there have indeed been some improvements in terms of cutting down on body steals. Will the changes stick for NBA 2K20, though?
• With NBA 2K trying to strike a balance between its sim roots, competitive online play, and occasional demands for less realism, has the series become a victim of its own success due to the influx of more casual basketball gamers?
• NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 has received new content, just in time for the All-Star Weekend (and Valentine’s Day). We share a few more opinions on the game, and also discuss the removal of the first NBA Playgrounds game from the Steam Store.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included progress into Season 2 of MyCAREER, an online session for the NLSC crew, LIVE Events swag, and MyTEAM Domination. It also included a bit of modding, with further updates to a work-in-progress roster update for NBA 2K11.
• We wrap up Episode #274 of the NLSC Podcast with this week’s NBA discussion. Topics include the flurry of movement at the trade deadline, and a look ahead to the 2019 All-Star Weekend in Charlotte.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:53:57 — 78.3MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #273 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane returns to the booth this week as we catch up on the latest title updates for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19, spotlight some recent mod releases, discuss the 2019 NBA All-Star selections, and react to the Kristaps Porzingas trade.

On this week’s show…

• The latest patch for NBA Live 19 has added several new courts to 3v3 LIVE Run. While we’re still hoping to see more attention paid to other modes in the future, they’re definitely worthwhile additions. On top of that, a very worthy member of the community has been featured in a LIVE Event.
• NBA 2K19 also received a new patch this week. It contains some promising gameplay tweaks, and some welcome bug fixes. We’ll have further impressions in the near future.
• We provide a quick round-up of some recent mod releases, including a 1992 Season Mod for NBA 2K19 PC, a College Hoops 2K mod for NBA 2K11, and the latest versions of U R Basketball for NBA 2K13 and NBA 2K14.
• Moving on to some NBA discussion, the 2019 All-Stars have been revealed. We give our thoughts on this year’s selections, as well as the special additions of Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki.
• We wrap up Episode #273 of the NLSC Podcast with our thoughts on Kristaps Porzingas being traded to the Mavericks, which certainly caught a lot of fans off-guard (ourselves included). We also speculate on the likelihood that Anthony Davis will be moved by the deadline.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:11:14 — 49.0MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #272 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Both Arcane and Kenny are unavailable to co-host this week, so I’ve given a solo show another try. As a result, it’s a shorter episode, but I still manage to catch up on some recent news, offer up some opinions, and share what I’ve been doing on the virtual hardwood.

On this week’s show…

• A content update has come through for NBA Live 19, featuring current rosters and new items in The One Store. Although the updates are welcome, there is growing unrest within the community, who generally want to see more focus on NBA content.
• Our modding community continues to pump out some excellent work. It’s difficult not to get inspired to contribute, and to that end, a few projects are still in the works.
• Cleanprincegaming posted an excellent retrospective on the rise and fall of the NBA Street series. It highlights an unfortunate shift in EA Sports’ business model, and a lack of creativity in the current market.
• Has 2K ruined Team Pro-Am? Despite the launch of the NBA 2K League, the changes to Pro-Am in recent games seem counterproductive to generating interest in it, or the mode in general.
• Episode #272 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with some recent stories from the virtual hardwood, including a frustrating bug in the NBA Finals in NBA 2K19’s MyCAREER.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 23:58 — 16.5MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #271 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and myself as we discuss the new deal between Take Two and the NBA, the importance of Franchise and Ultimate Team in NBA Live, an unfortunate turn of events following the NBA 2K17 server shutdown, and 2019 All-Star voting.

On this week’s show…

• Take Two has renewed their licensing agreement with the NBA for $1.1 billion over seven years. What impact might the new figure have on the future of basketball gaming?
• A recent survey regarding favourite modes over on the official NBA Live Reddit omitted Franchise and Ultimate Team. It isn’t encouraging, but it strengthens our resolve to have an impact with our Wishlists.
• The NBA 2K17 server shutdown has had an unexpected result: MyLEAGUE games that used community-made assets for expansion teams have now been locked. We discuss the problems with online content in offline modes, especially when it comes to dusting off old favourites.
• Turning our attention to some NBA news, there are some interesting results in the latest All-Star voting returns. Are sentimental votes a bad thing, and are we looking forward to this year’s midseason classic?

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:17:35 — 53.4MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #270 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and myself as we catch up on a couple of news items from the past week, and discuss our top wishes for NBA Live 20 and NBA 2K20 as Wishlist season officially gets underway.

On this week’s show…

• NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 continue to receive content updates, including new rosters, player items, and challenges. We discuss the games’ efforts to remain fresh and evergreen.
• We’ve officially tipped off Wishlist season for NBA Live 20 and NBA 2K20! Once again, we stress the importance of constructive feedback, and having our say.
• What are our top wishes for NBA Live 20? What are the most important areas to focus on if the game is to take the next step?
• Likewise, what are our top wishes for NBA 2K20? NBA 2K is the brand leader, but how can it continue to get better?
• If you could ask the executive producers of NBA Live and NBA 2K any three questions, what would they be? We’ll list ours on next week’s NLSC Podcast, but first we want to hear from our listeners!

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:36:27 — 66.3MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #269 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane, Kenny, and I are back on the air following our holiday hiatus, and we’ve got some news to catch up on. We’ve also been hitting the virtual hardwood during our time off, and have some stories to share about what we’ve been playing.

On this week’s show…

• Patches 1.16 and 1.17 came through for NBA Live 19 after we went on break. We give our thoughts on the latest content, gameplay tuning, and other adjustments and fixes.
• NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 also received a title update in time for Christmas. Patch 1.04 added new players and other content, but is it enough to get us hooked on the game?
• Visual Concepts are advertising a temporary position for a production assistant. The role will be focused on MyCAREER, which leads us to speculate on the mode in NBA 2K20.
• Controversy erupted on Christmas Day when a Locker Code for a Pink Diamond LeBron James card in MyTEAM was leaked, and the card later removed. We discuss 2K’s handling of the situation, and the subsequent show of goodwill.
• Vlad delivered the NBA 2K modding community a Christmas present in the form of new versions of RED MC and REDitor II. The comprehensive tools are now completely free!
• Arcane floats an idea for a community project that should appeal to anyone with aspirations of developing their own basketball video game.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming – or rather, Our Holidays in Basketball Gaming – included milestones in MyCAREER, good pulls in MyTEAM, and a suspected troll in the Jordan Rec Center. Also, the NLSC squad finally got to play team Pro-Am, but ran into disappointment that went beyond the scoreline.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:33:00 — 63.9MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Episode #268 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! This week, Kenny and I have new content and title updates for NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 to discuss, some NBA news to catch up on, and as always, some stories about what we’ve been doing on the virtual hardwood.

On this week’s show…

• The December 4th content update for NBA Live 19 features some worthwhile fixes and additions. However, we’re still left wanting a little more out of the game.
• Patch 1.07 for NBA 2K19 likewise provides a few welcome fixes and new content. It also includes a gameplay adjustment that should cut down on some online cheese.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming saw some fantastic performances, a determined grind for more VC, and a few less-than-stellar random online teammates (except for one).
• We wrap up Episode #268 of the NLSC Podcast with the usual NBA discussion. This week’s topics include recent trades and signings, parity in the West, and the continuation of an unofficial Melo Watch segment.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:26:20 — 59.4MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.