Difference between revisions of "NLSC Podcast Episodes (2021)"

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Browsing the Marketplace on Xbox Series X reveals that NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is still available, and it’s definitely still worth getting. Conversely, there’s no getting our hands on NBA Live 20, but according to its recently discovered ESRB rating, it was set to come out on PC. We commiserate about what might’ve been, but consider what it may mean for the series’ eventual return. Also in the news this week is the status of Start Today in NBA 2K21. The situation is understandable, but the lack of transparency is frustrating as usual. Dusting off NBA Live 16 also leads us to reminisce about one of the better NBA Live games from the past generation. In this week’s mailbag, we answer questions about Ronnie 2K and the community, and what we’ve been playing in NBA 2K21.
 
Browsing the Marketplace on Xbox Series X reveals that NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is still available, and it’s definitely still worth getting. Conversely, there’s no getting our hands on NBA Live 20, but according to its recently discovered ESRB rating, it was set to come out on PC. We commiserate about what might’ve been, but consider what it may mean for the series’ eventual return. Also in the news this week is the status of Start Today in NBA 2K21. The situation is understandable, but the lack of transparency is frustrating as usual. Dusting off NBA Live 16 also leads us to reminisce about one of the better NBA Live games from the past generation. In this week’s mailbag, we answer questions about Ronnie 2K and the community, and what we’ve been playing in NBA 2K21.
 
|January 17th, 2021
 
|January 17th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-359-like-something-out-of-a-video-game/ Episode #359: Like Something Out Of A Video Game!]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
The announcement of Giannis Antetokounmpo as the new face of NBA Live Mobile has piqued our interest in the success of the game. As it turns out, it's performing even better than we realised. This leads us to reflect on how it's kept the NBA Live brand alive, and what this means for a future console/PC release. The fifteenth anniversary of Kobe Bryant's historic 81-point game inspires us to not only look back at the achievement, but its impact on the virtual hardwood. We discuss the idea of such performances being described as "something out of a video game", and the difficulty in replicating those feats. The need for a new challenge mode also comes up. In the mailbag this week, we're talking about NBA Live's turning point, and a fantasy scenario involving an upcoming retro roster mod for NBA 2K11.
 +
|January 24th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-360-an-nba-live-revolution/ Episode #360: An NBA Live Revolution?]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
There continues to be a surge of interest in NBA Live 19, with several gamers picking it up again. This raises the issue of NBA 2K fatigue, and the other reasons - including accessibility, simplicity, and lack of predatory mechanics and toxicity - that gamers are eschewing the more up to date NBA 2K21 Next Gen. We once again note that the door is wide open for NBA Live. In our mailbag this week, we're talking about purchasing digital NBA moments, and various obstacles that modders face. Are we likely to invest in digital NBA collectibles, and are Visual Concepts deliberately making modding more difficult?
 +
|January 31st, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-361-taking-them-to-school/ Episode #361: Taking Them To School]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
Recent experiences in MyLEAGUE lead us to reflect on the meaning of "sim" and how it can be fun to bend reality, especially in fantasy scenarios. Some new additions have also been made to the collection. However, the big news this week is the return of EA Sports' college football series, and what that might mean for both NBA Live and the March Madness/NCAA Basketball series. We discuss our history with college basketball titles and interest in future releases, as well as the pushback on interest in (and the need for) NBA Live's return. In this week's mailbag, we talk about the possibility of a standalone G League mode, and what it would take to instigate real change with NBA 2K.
 +
|February 7th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-362-putting-the-ball-in-the-basket/ Episode #362: Putting the Ball in the Basket]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
A bevy of retro season roster mods are being produced at the moment, which we're excited to see. The fact that there are a couple of 2005 season mods out or in the works reminds us that time is marching on, and our nostalgia is getting old! We also have some advice for getting big projects done and released. Meanwhile, NBA 2K21 Current Gen and Next Gen have both received new patches, so we briefly discuss some of the changes. This week's main discussion is a deep dive into shooting mechanics: the history and evolution, the best and worst concepts, and everything in between. In the latest mailbag, we discuss the forthcoming Space Jam sequel, and consider another What If scenario.
 +
|February 14th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-363-worth-a-second-look/ Episode #363: Worth A Second Look]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
After dusting off the Xbox 360 version of NBA Live 06 prompted a surprising change of heart for one of us, this week's episode discusses revisiting old games and seeing them in a new light. We consider the factors that influence changes in our opinions of previous games, and offer up some personal examples of games that we now view differently. We also tackle the phenomenon of games that were once heavily criticised subsequently being held up as benchmarks. In the mailbag this week, we react to a suggestion that would result in more goodwill for NBA 2K's recurrent revenue mechanics.
 +
|February 21st, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-364-10-games-to-last-a-year/ Episode #364: 10 Games To Last A Year]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
After replaying Slam City with Scottie Pippen recently, we vow to dedicate a whole show to it...after we can defeat Fingers, the first opponent. With March Modness 2021 right around the corner, we look ahead to another celebration of modding, and some of our own projects. Seeing as how it's a slow news week, we're playing a game: the ten games we'd choose for a year in isolation, specifically five basketball and five non-basketball games. Which titles make our lists, especially once we start changing up the game with some new rules? In the mailbag this week, we're talking about the Arcade1Up NBA Jam machine, and the current state of NBA 2K's graphics.
 +
|February 28th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-365-time-to-get-creative/ Episode #365: Time To Get Creative]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
Deep Create-a-Player features are a must, and it's tough not to get wistful when we see them in other sports titles. Some of the features in MLB The Show give us ideas for what we'd like to see in NBA Live and NBA 2K's creation tools. The pain of losing functionality when servers are shut down leads us to discuss the possibility of a subscription model for basketball games. In the news this week, Ultimate Rivals: The Court has been announced. We're intrigued, and looking forward to an NBA Jam-like game with Tim Kitzrow on the call. Time with The W also has us nostalgic for an era when microtransactions weren't everything. In the mailbag this week, we answer a question about the necessary focus in order for NBA Live to make a triumphant return, and Frankenstein our ideal game, picking and choosing elements from a number of existing basketball titles.
 +
|March 7th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-366-a-lifetime-on-the-virtual-hardwood/ Episode #366: A Lifetime On The Virtual Hardwood]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
A recent modding disaster inspires us to reflect on some of our past follies, and the need to adopt good modding practices. In particular, we note the appeal of a fresh start, and how it distracts us from what's already on the workbench. Our main discussion topic this week is something we've been thinking about for a while: the stigma against older basketball gamers, and adult gamers in general. We discuss the issue of age-appropriate hobbies, the benefits of gaming regardless of age, and how long we see ourselves hitting the virtual hardwood. In this week's mailbag, we're talking about putting the fun back into the sim titles, and an interesting scenario regarding the three-point line.
 +
|March 14th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-367-courting-controversy/ Episode #367: Courting Controversy]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
The surprising quality of Garfield Kart (of all things) leads us to consider how to make a good rip-off, and where so many NBA Jam clones have come up short. However, our main topic this week is controversial and unpopular basketball gaming opinions. We share a few of our own potentially divisive takes, and react to the fantastic responses we received on Twitter when we invited our followers to share theirs. As it turns out, some opinions may be more popular than some people think! Additionally, we touch on how people are discouraged from sharing unpopular opinions - or just opinions in general - particularly valid criticism. In this week's mailbag, we return to the question of when releases should and likely will end for Current Gen.
 +
|March 21st, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-368-you-say-ancient-we-say-classic/ Episode #368: You Say Ancient, We Say Classic]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
Picking up some extra copies of NBA 2K12 has revealed some interesting details, but we're still searching for answers about a possible limited edition cover. Meanwhile, comments on a recent YouTube video underscore how NBA 2K21 Next Gen wasn't the leap that many gamers were hoping for. Speaking of NBA 2K's future, we discuss Visual Concepts' recent acquisition of HookBang, and what it means for the series. We also have some thoughts on remarks from Sony's Jim Ryan regarding backwards compatibility, and his dismissal of classic games as unplayable. In this week's mailbag, we're building our own arcade basketball game based on one of three classic titles, and recalling our experiences with Sony's NBA series.
 +
|March 28th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-369-do-you-want-to-make-a-mod-man/ Episode #369: Do You Want To Make A Mod, Man?]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
An annoying issue in MLB The Show 20 leads us to reflect on some of the flaws in our all-time favourite basketball games. We conclude that there isn't a title that we wouldn't change something in; content, a mechanic, or a noteworthy bug that needed fixing. Also, March Modness may be over, but we've still got modding on our minds. For anyone looking to get into the hobby, we offer up some advice, and discuss the various possibilities. In this week's mailbag, we're throwing it back to NBA Live 2001, and discussing the benefits of the User vs. User experience.
 +
|April 4th, 2021
 +
 +
|- valign="top"
 +
|[https://www.nba-live.com/nlsc-podcast-370-myteam-card-tricks/ Episode #370: MyTEAM Card Tricks]
 +
|Andrew & Dee4Three
 +
|
 +
After last week's show, we were inspired to spend some more time with NBA Live 2001, and have a few more thoughts to share. A couple of options from the game also bring to mind suggestions for additional roster management functions and MyNBA settings. Our main discussion this week focuses on MyTEAM, specifically issues with overpowered cards. We note how it encourages NBA 2K's pushy recurrent revenue mechanics, waters down the gameplay with an homogenised experience, and misrepresents NBA history. Notably, the issues also extend beyond MyTEAM into MyCAREER. In this week's mailbag, we're talking about Blacktop, as well as the idea of trash talking mechanics.
 +
|April 11th, 2021
  
 
|}
 
|}

Revision as of 02:04, 12 April 2021

This is an episode guide for the NLSC Podcast, featuring all episodes released during 2021.

Episode Guide

Episode Hosts Synopsis Release Date
Episode #356: State of NBA 2K Addressed Andrew & Dee4Three

Before we get rolling, we touch on the subject of virtual hardwood photography, and offer up some tips to get the best angles. After that, we get right into our main topic: the current state of NBA 2K, and our latest thoughts on NBA 2K21. How is the latest game - and the series as a whole - looking as we enter the new year, with a new generation? What are our concerns for the future, and what responsibility does have the community have in providing 2K with constructive feedback? In this week's mailbag, we're talking about NBA 2K13 on Wii U, and what - if anything - EA Sports should take from NBA Live 19.

January 3rd, 2021
Episode #357: Interview with Andy Hull Andrew & Dee4Three

Special Guest: Andy Hull

This week we're interviewing Andy Hull, the creator of Dunk Lords and programmer on Spelunky! Andy talks about his background in programming and breaking into the industry, which included a stint making wooden toys. He also provides us with several insights into the development of Dunk Lords, which began life as a prototype called Buckets of Blood. We also talk about NBA Jam and Andy's other video gaming influences, how working on Spelunky helped him to go on to create his own game, and ask a few listener questions that were sent in for this week's special edition of the mailbag.

January 10th, 2021
Episode #358: What Could’ve Been, And May Yet Be Andrew & Dee4Three

Browsing the Marketplace on Xbox Series X reveals that NBA Jam: On Fire Edition is still available, and it’s definitely still worth getting. Conversely, there’s no getting our hands on NBA Live 20, but according to its recently discovered ESRB rating, it was set to come out on PC. We commiserate about what might’ve been, but consider what it may mean for the series’ eventual return. Also in the news this week is the status of Start Today in NBA 2K21. The situation is understandable, but the lack of transparency is frustrating as usual. Dusting off NBA Live 16 also leads us to reminisce about one of the better NBA Live games from the past generation. In this week’s mailbag, we answer questions about Ronnie 2K and the community, and what we’ve been playing in NBA 2K21.

January 17th, 2021
Episode #359: Like Something Out Of A Video Game! Andrew & Dee4Three

The announcement of Giannis Antetokounmpo as the new face of NBA Live Mobile has piqued our interest in the success of the game. As it turns out, it's performing even better than we realised. This leads us to reflect on how it's kept the NBA Live brand alive, and what this means for a future console/PC release. The fifteenth anniversary of Kobe Bryant's historic 81-point game inspires us to not only look back at the achievement, but its impact on the virtual hardwood. We discuss the idea of such performances being described as "something out of a video game", and the difficulty in replicating those feats. The need for a new challenge mode also comes up. In the mailbag this week, we're talking about NBA Live's turning point, and a fantasy scenario involving an upcoming retro roster mod for NBA 2K11.

January 24th, 2021
Episode #360: An NBA Live Revolution? Andrew & Dee4Three

There continues to be a surge of interest in NBA Live 19, with several gamers picking it up again. This raises the issue of NBA 2K fatigue, and the other reasons - including accessibility, simplicity, and lack of predatory mechanics and toxicity - that gamers are eschewing the more up to date NBA 2K21 Next Gen. We once again note that the door is wide open for NBA Live. In our mailbag this week, we're talking about purchasing digital NBA moments, and various obstacles that modders face. Are we likely to invest in digital NBA collectibles, and are Visual Concepts deliberately making modding more difficult?

January 31st, 2021
Episode #361: Taking Them To School Andrew & Dee4Three

Recent experiences in MyLEAGUE lead us to reflect on the meaning of "sim" and how it can be fun to bend reality, especially in fantasy scenarios. Some new additions have also been made to the collection. However, the big news this week is the return of EA Sports' college football series, and what that might mean for both NBA Live and the March Madness/NCAA Basketball series. We discuss our history with college basketball titles and interest in future releases, as well as the pushback on interest in (and the need for) NBA Live's return. In this week's mailbag, we talk about the possibility of a standalone G League mode, and what it would take to instigate real change with NBA 2K.

February 7th, 2021
Episode #362: Putting the Ball in the Basket Andrew & Dee4Three

A bevy of retro season roster mods are being produced at the moment, which we're excited to see. The fact that there are a couple of 2005 season mods out or in the works reminds us that time is marching on, and our nostalgia is getting old! We also have some advice for getting big projects done and released. Meanwhile, NBA 2K21 Current Gen and Next Gen have both received new patches, so we briefly discuss some of the changes. This week's main discussion is a deep dive into shooting mechanics: the history and evolution, the best and worst concepts, and everything in between. In the latest mailbag, we discuss the forthcoming Space Jam sequel, and consider another What If scenario.

February 14th, 2021
Episode #363: Worth A Second Look Andrew & Dee4Three

After dusting off the Xbox 360 version of NBA Live 06 prompted a surprising change of heart for one of us, this week's episode discusses revisiting old games and seeing them in a new light. We consider the factors that influence changes in our opinions of previous games, and offer up some personal examples of games that we now view differently. We also tackle the phenomenon of games that were once heavily criticised subsequently being held up as benchmarks. In the mailbag this week, we react to a suggestion that would result in more goodwill for NBA 2K's recurrent revenue mechanics.

February 21st, 2021
Episode #364: 10 Games To Last A Year Andrew & Dee4Three

After replaying Slam City with Scottie Pippen recently, we vow to dedicate a whole show to it...after we can defeat Fingers, the first opponent. With March Modness 2021 right around the corner, we look ahead to another celebration of modding, and some of our own projects. Seeing as how it's a slow news week, we're playing a game: the ten games we'd choose for a year in isolation, specifically five basketball and five non-basketball games. Which titles make our lists, especially once we start changing up the game with some new rules? In the mailbag this week, we're talking about the Arcade1Up NBA Jam machine, and the current state of NBA 2K's graphics.

February 28th, 2021
Episode #365: Time To Get Creative Andrew & Dee4Three

Deep Create-a-Player features are a must, and it's tough not to get wistful when we see them in other sports titles. Some of the features in MLB The Show give us ideas for what we'd like to see in NBA Live and NBA 2K's creation tools. The pain of losing functionality when servers are shut down leads us to discuss the possibility of a subscription model for basketball games. In the news this week, Ultimate Rivals: The Court has been announced. We're intrigued, and looking forward to an NBA Jam-like game with Tim Kitzrow on the call. Time with The W also has us nostalgic for an era when microtransactions weren't everything. In the mailbag this week, we answer a question about the necessary focus in order for NBA Live to make a triumphant return, and Frankenstein our ideal game, picking and choosing elements from a number of existing basketball titles.

March 7th, 2021
Episode #366: A Lifetime On The Virtual Hardwood Andrew & Dee4Three

A recent modding disaster inspires us to reflect on some of our past follies, and the need to adopt good modding practices. In particular, we note the appeal of a fresh start, and how it distracts us from what's already on the workbench. Our main discussion topic this week is something we've been thinking about for a while: the stigma against older basketball gamers, and adult gamers in general. We discuss the issue of age-appropriate hobbies, the benefits of gaming regardless of age, and how long we see ourselves hitting the virtual hardwood. In this week's mailbag, we're talking about putting the fun back into the sim titles, and an interesting scenario regarding the three-point line.

March 14th, 2021
Episode #367: Courting Controversy Andrew & Dee4Three

The surprising quality of Garfield Kart (of all things) leads us to consider how to make a good rip-off, and where so many NBA Jam clones have come up short. However, our main topic this week is controversial and unpopular basketball gaming opinions. We share a few of our own potentially divisive takes, and react to the fantastic responses we received on Twitter when we invited our followers to share theirs. As it turns out, some opinions may be more popular than some people think! Additionally, we touch on how people are discouraged from sharing unpopular opinions - or just opinions in general - particularly valid criticism. In this week's mailbag, we return to the question of when releases should and likely will end for Current Gen.

March 21st, 2021
Episode #368: You Say Ancient, We Say Classic Andrew & Dee4Three

Picking up some extra copies of NBA 2K12 has revealed some interesting details, but we're still searching for answers about a possible limited edition cover. Meanwhile, comments on a recent YouTube video underscore how NBA 2K21 Next Gen wasn't the leap that many gamers were hoping for. Speaking of NBA 2K's future, we discuss Visual Concepts' recent acquisition of HookBang, and what it means for the series. We also have some thoughts on remarks from Sony's Jim Ryan regarding backwards compatibility, and his dismissal of classic games as unplayable. In this week's mailbag, we're building our own arcade basketball game based on one of three classic titles, and recalling our experiences with Sony's NBA series.

March 28th, 2021
Episode #369: Do You Want To Make A Mod, Man? Andrew & Dee4Three

An annoying issue in MLB The Show 20 leads us to reflect on some of the flaws in our all-time favourite basketball games. We conclude that there isn't a title that we wouldn't change something in; content, a mechanic, or a noteworthy bug that needed fixing. Also, March Modness may be over, but we've still got modding on our minds. For anyone looking to get into the hobby, we offer up some advice, and discuss the various possibilities. In this week's mailbag, we're throwing it back to NBA Live 2001, and discussing the benefits of the User vs. User experience.

April 4th, 2021
Episode #370: MyTEAM Card Tricks Andrew & Dee4Three

After last week's show, we were inspired to spend some more time with NBA Live 2001, and have a few more thoughts to share. A couple of options from the game also bring to mind suggestions for additional roster management functions and MyNBA settings. Our main discussion this week focuses on MyTEAM, specifically issues with overpowered cards. We note how it encourages NBA 2K's pushy recurrent revenue mechanics, waters down the gameplay with an homogenised experience, and misrepresents NBA history. Notably, the issues also extend beyond MyTEAM into MyCAREER. In this week's mailbag, we're talking about Blacktop, as well as the idea of trash talking mechanics.

April 11th, 2021

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