NBA 2K14

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NBA 2K14
Nba2k14box.jpg
NBA 2K14 cover art.
Developer(s) Visual Concepts
Publisher(s) 2K Sports
Series NBA 2K
Platform(s) PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Windows
Release date(s) PC, 360, PS3
October 1st 2013
PS4
November 15th 2013
X1
November 22nd 2013
System requirements Minimum:
  • Windows XP/Vista/7/8
  • 2.4 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent (2.8 Ghz for Vista/Win 7/Win 8)
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 8 GB free hard drive space
  • 128 MB DirectX 9.0c compatible video card with Shader Model 3.0 support (Radeon HD 2400 or greater; NVIDIA 6800 GT or greater)
  • 8x or faster DVD-ROM Drive
  • Sound card with DirectX 9.0c compatible driver
  • Keyboard or dual analog gamepad

NBA 2K14 is an NBA basketball video game by 2K Sports. It is the fifteenth installment in the NBA 2K series, released on October 1st 2013 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. The PlayStation 4 version was released on November 15th 2013, while the Xbox One version was released on November 22nd, 2013. It is the direct sequel to NBA 2K13 and was followed by NBA 2K15. The cover player is LeBron James.

Development & Features

NBA 2K14 is a sim-oriented basketball video game, retaining popular features such as Association Mode and MyCAREER (formerly branded My Player). It features a revamped control system, combining the Shot Stick and Isomotion controls utilised in previous games into the new Pro Stick. It also features various gameplay improvements and additional content, including over 3000 new animations and "significant upgrades in nearly every aspect of the game". In addition to updating the controls, attention has been paid to the feel and responsiveness of the game, with crisper movement on defense. Six new Signature Skills have also been added in NBA 2K14, while Virtual Currency returns for the console versions of the game. On August 13th, the list of achievements for the Xbox 360 version was revealed, providing mild spoilers for some new and returning features. The official features list for the Current Gen version of NBA 2K14 was subsequently revealed on August 14th.

In a fiscal report published by Take-Two in May 2013, NBA 2K14 was listed among the upcoming titles with a release date of October 1st. At the time, the list of platforms for the game was TBA, with strong hints that the game would be released for the next generation of consoles upon their launch. NBA 2K14 was confirmed for the PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on June 6th, 2013.

In January 2013, a Tweet by Nice Kicks (a Texas-based shoe store and online source of sneaker news) mentioned a meeting with 2K Sports and encouraged fans to prepare for "something major" in NBA 2K14, hinting at a partnership regarding the shoes in the game. In February, 2K's Community Manager Ronnie 2K posted a Tweet mentioning meetings with Nike and Gatorade regarding their involvement with the game.

The next-gen version of the game was revealed on June 10th 2013, in a trailer that featured cover player LeBron James talking to his virtual self before in-game footage was shown. The first current-gen screenshots were released on July 1st, 2013. At the same time, a partnership between 2K Sports and Euroleague was announced, along with the reveal that 14 Euroleague teams (Alba Berlin, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow, EA7 Emporio Armani Milano, Montepaschi Siena, Fenerbahçe Ülker Istanbul, Anadolu Efes Istanbul, Olympiacos Piraeus, Panathinaikos Athens, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, Zalgiris Kaunas, Unicaja Málaga and Laboral Kutxa Vitoria) would be featured in the game. At the time, 2K declined to comment on historical teams, but assured fans that no historical teams had been removed to make way for the Euroleague squads. On August 19th, producer Erick Boenisch confirmed in a post in the Operation Sports forums that classic teams would indeed be returning in NBA 2K14.

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of NBA 2K14 utilise a new game engine - Eco-Motion - which was designed for the new generation. As the name implies, it gives players emotions and allows them to respond to the flow of the game, adversely affecting them during cold streaks, and boosting their confidence during hot streaks. It also allows for a greater variety in animations, ensuring that no two animations (such as dunks or landing after a jumpshot) are exactly alike. The PS4 and X1 versions of NBA 2K14 saw the debut of MyGM, a new franchise mode that is RPG-based and utilises Virtual Currency.

On July 23rd 2013, it was revealed that 2K would be holding another Community Team-Up event. The event took place on August 2nd 2013, with seven members of the basketball video game community getting an opportunity to visit the Visual Concepts studios and spend some hands-on time with NBA 2K14.

On August 6th, it was revealed via the official 2K Sports Twitter that NBA 2K14 would feature a new blocking system. The return of blocked dunks was also specifically mentioned, addressing a common complaint in NBA 2K13.

Beginning August 10th, 2K Sports teased an upcoming NBA 2K14 announcement using the mysterious hashtag #3R335 and a similar sequence of numbers, 35 3335. The immediate speculation was that the teasers referred to the return of Crew mode. These predictions proved accurate as 2K Sports officially announced the return of Crew on August 14th (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 only), along with an official features list for the current gen game.

The official trailer for the current gen version of NBA 2K14 was released on August 28th. The first TV spot for the next gen version of NBA 2K14 was released on September 30th, one day before the release of the current gen version. Customers who pre-ordered the game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 received additional content for LeBron: Path to Greatness, a mode centred around cover player LeBron James. The mode was not featured in the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of NBA 2K14.

Cover Player

On June 6th 2013 during Game of the NBA Finals, LeBron James was revealed as the cover player for NBA 2K14. At the same time, 2K Sports announced a "King James Pre-Order Pack" for fans who pre-ordered the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 versions of the game. The pack included bonus content for LeBron: Path to Greatness, LeBron James unlocked in Blacktop mode, LeBron's Signature Skill and 10,000 Virtual Currency points.

Soundtrack

NBA 2K14 cover player LeBron James revealed on July 10th 2013 that he had been given the opportunity to select the soundtrack for the game, inviting fans to help him select a few final songs to round out the tracklist. The full soundtrack was revealed and made available to listen to through Spotify on July 26th.

Reception

NBA 2K14 was popular with basketball gamers, and received positive reviews from critics. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were considered mostly successful launch titles for the new generation of consoles, holding Metacritic scores of 85 and 86 respectively. The PlayStation 3 version holds a Metacritic score of 84, while the Xbox 360 version has a score of 87. The game received praise for its graphics, animations, and gameplay, as well as the depth of MyGM (PS4 and X1) and MyCAREER. However, the presence of Virtual Currency in MyGM was criticised, especially as certain basic functions were behind VC paywalls. The new cutscene-heavy story-driven approach to MyCAREER also received a mixed response. Overall, however, NBA 2K14 was very well received.

Server Shutdown Controversy

On March 31st 2015, 2K Sports announced the shutdown of the NBA 2K14 servers. Despite their insistence that MyCAREER games and other server-based saves in the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions would be converted to offline saves, gamers found themselves locked out of their saved games. Initial responses from 2K Support referring to the saves as "retired" while stating "all good things must come to an end" were met with derision and hostility from basketball gamers. In response, 2K reactivated the NBA 2K14 servers on April 7th, while also announcing a change in policy to extend online support for all their titles from 18 to 27 months.

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