NBA Playgrounds
| NBA Playgrounds | |
|---|---|
 NBA Playgrounds Title Screen | |
| Developer(s) | Saber Interactive |
| Publisher(s) | Saber Interactive |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows |
| Release date(s) | May 9th 2017 |
| System requirements | Minimum:
Recommended:
|
NBA Playgrounds is an NBA-licensed arcade basketball video game by Saber Interactive. It was released May 9th 2017 as a digitally distributed title for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Windows, at a price of $19.99 USD. It is set to be followed by a sequel published by 2K Sports, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, in Fall 2018.
Development & Features[edit]
NBA Playgrounds features exaggerated arcade-style gameplay, including over 300 high-flying dunks and other enhanced abilities. Stylistically, it is a hybrid of NBA Jam and NBA Street, featuring the bigger heads and two-on-two gameplay of Jam, and the blacktop setting and tournament structure of Street. A mixture of current and former NBA players take part in tournaments staged across the globe, in both online and offline play.
In contrast to previous arcade basketball titles, the shot clock is set at 12 seconds, for faster paced gameplay. Perfect releases on shots result in additional points on top of the regular two and three-point field goals. Other boosts can be earned via the Lottery Pick Wheel, which comes into play when a user has filled the Lottery meter through scoring baskets. Boosts include hot spots that provide point multipliers, as well as debuffs to the opponent such as halving their shot clock. However, the meter is decreased by knocking opponents to the ground, so while the traditional arcade-oriented "playground rules" are in effect, users are rewarded for playing clean.
Winning games earns card packs that unlock current and former players. XP is earned through gameplay to upgrade players with new moves, and several signature moves are represented in the game. Drawing a duplicate card from a pack also grants an immediate 100 XP boost to the player in your collection. NBA Playgrounds does not feature any microtransactions, however the president of Saber Interactive, Matthew Karch, confirmed in an interview with Polygon that it would be possible to add them, should there be the demand.
At launch, the game supported four player local multiplayer, and two player head-to-head play online. Support for four player online multiplayer is set to be added via an update. Saber Interactive also has plans to add a dunk contest and three-point shootout in further updates.
Roster[edit]
Each team features at least three players, in addition to retired Legends. The following current and former NBA players were confirmed in the initial roster reveal:
- Aaron Gordon
- Al Horford
- Al Jefferson
- Alex English
- Allen Iverson
- Alonzo Mourning
- Andre Drummond
- Andrew Wiggins
- Anfernee Hardaway
- Anthony Davis
- Ben McLemore
- Ben Simmons
- Bill Laimbeer
- Bill Russell
- Bill Walton
- Billy Cunningham
- Blake Griffin
- Bradley Beal
- Brandon Ingram
- Brook Lopez
- Buddy Hield
- CJ McCollum
- Carmelo Anthony
- Chandler Parsons
- Chauncey Billups
- Chris Bosh
- Chris Mullin
- Chris Paul
- Chris Webber
- Clyde Drexler
- Damian Lillard
- Danilo Gallinari
- Danny Ainge
- David Robinson
- DeAndre Jordan
- DeMar DeRozan
- DeMarcus Cousins
- DeMarre Carroll
- Dell Curry
- Derrick Rose
- Dikembe Mutombo
- Dirk Nowitzki
- Dominique Wilkins
- Dragan Bender
- Draymond Green
- Dwight Howard
- Dwyane Wade
- Elfrid Payton
- Emmanuel Mudiay
- Enes Kanter
- Eric Bledsoe
- Evan Turner
- Frank Kaminsky
- George Gervin
- George Hill
- George Mikan
- Goran Dragic
- Gordon Hayward
- Grant Hill
- Greg Monroe
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Harrison Barnes
- Hassan Whiteside
- Ian Mahinmi
- Jabari Parker
- Jahlil Okafor
- Jakob Poeltl
- Jamal Crawford
- Jamal Murray
- James Harden
- James Worthy
- Jason Kidd
- Jaylen Brown
- Jeff Teague
- Jeremy Lin
- Jimmy Butler
- Joel Embiid
- John Stockton
- John Wall
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Jordan Clarkson
- Jrue Holiday
- Karl Anthony Towns
- Karl Malone
- Kawhi Leonard
- Kevin Durant
- Kevin Johnson
- Kevin Love
- Kris Dunn
- Kris Humphries
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Kyle Lowry
- Kyrie Irving
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- Larry Johnson
- LeBron James
- Luis Scola
- Luol Deng
- Magic Johnson
- Marc Gasol
- Marcus Morris
- Marcus Smart
- Marquese Chriss
- Mason Plumlee
- Matt Barnes
- Maurice Cheeks
- Michael Beasley
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
- Mike Conley Jr.
- Mitch Richmond
- Monta Ellis
- Nenê
- Nerlens Noel
- Nicolas Batum
- Nikola Jokic
- Nikola Vucevic
- Oscar Robertson
- Otto Porter Jr.
- Patrick Beverley
- Patrick Ewing
- Pau Gasol
- Paul George
- Paul Millsap
- Paul Westphal
- Rajon Rondo
- Ray Allen
- Reggie Jackson
- Ricky Rubio
- Robert Parish
- Roy Hibbert
- Rudy Gay
- Rudy Gobert
- Russell Westbrook
- Scottie Pippen
- Shaquille O’Neal
- Shawn Kemp
- Shawn Marion
- Spud Webb
- Stephen Curry
- Steven Adams
- Thon Maker
- Tim Hardaway
- Trey Burke
- Ty Lawson
- Tyreke Evans
- Victor Oladipo
- Vince Carter
- Walt Frazier
- Willis Reed
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Zach LaVine
- Zach Randolph
Additional players were added post-release. Certain players cannot appear, as Saber Interactive has not secured their likeness rights.
Links[edit]
