NLSC Your source for basketball video games.

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 some thoughts on the importance of fixing MyREP, not just in terms of its rewards system, but also allowing it to carry over year-to-year.

Keeping an annually-released basketball game fresh in a way that satisfies its toughest critics – the hardcore hoops gamers – is easier said than done. Take a ranking and rewards system such as MyREP, for example. If it’s the same year after year, we’re prone to complain about it being too stale and familiar. If it changes, there’s bound to be a lot of people who preferred the old system, as well as those that were open to a change, but aren’t feeling the new approach. There’s also the issue of having to start over from scratch every year; a common complaint in general these days.

I want to talk about both of those issues related to MyREP: its use as both a reward and matchmaking system, and the concept of being able to carry over rep from the previous game. It’s something I’d like to see NBA 2K get right as we enter a new generation with online basketball gaming as popular as it’s ever been, yet also in rough shape. Because of its effects on features and the online experience, it’s more than a cosmetic badge. We have good reason to give a damn about a bad MyREP system. Yes, that is a reference to “Bad Reputation” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, and indeed, I’m keeping the musical motif going as I wax lyrical about this matter.

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Episode #330 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

The three cover players and their editions of NBA 2K21 have been revealed, and it turns out our predictions were pretty good! We react to the choices, and some of the community’s opinions on them. We’ve also discovered that the Next Gen version will have cross-platform VC and MyTEAM progression, but more controversially, a $10 price increase. Breaking down the pre-order bonuses also suggests that the approach to microtransactions and grinding won’t be much different this year. With confirmation that NBA 2K21 PC is a Current Gen port, we weigh up the pros and cons, and what it means for our modding community. Elsewhere, reactions to Madden 21’s Franchise mode have made us wonder about the future of franchise gaming in basketball titles. Finally, we’re noticing some new waves of nostalgia among younger and older hoops gamers alike.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 2:28:17 — 101.9MB)

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What’s your take on this week’s conversation? 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.

Attention is naturally turning towards NBA 2K21, but as you can see from today’s file additions for NBA 2K20, our modding community is still creating great updates for the current game. The latest NBA 2K20 file additions include current, retro, and future prospect player faces, fictional courts and jerseys, scoreboards, and more. Check them all out at the links below!

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

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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. This week’s Five is a list of five more outdated details in basketball games.

Developers tend to do a great job of updating basketball video games for the season they’re set in. As I noted in my previous Friday Five covering this topic, they have the benefit of being sent updated artwork from the NBA, so they’re able to account for branding changes that aren’t yet officially announced. To that end, apart from missing transactions that occur after the cut-off date, and the absence of rookies and other players who haven’t signed in time, most games don’t have too many outdated details. These days, official updates are also far more comprehensive.

With that being said, sometimes games end up shipping with a variety of outdated details. Perhaps a change was announced too late for it to be included, and in the case of older games especially, it may not be something that can be patched. Oversights happen, and inaccuracies can be caused by strange circumstances. I’ve come up with another five examples, which I’m sharing with you all today. Please note that once again, I’m avoiding the obvious examples related to cut-off dates or the old practice of releasing games with a previous season’s roster, and only noting things that were or became outdated details when a game was new and current. Let’s begin with…

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The final NBA 2K21 covers have been revealed! As expected, the third edition of the game is the Legend Edition, which this year is named the “Mamba Forever” edition after its cover player, the late Kobe Bryant. Additionally, the Current Gen and Next Gen versions of the Mamba Forever edition of NBA 2K21 will each have their own cover art, which you can check out below.

NBA 2K21 is now available to pre-order for all platforms. The Current Gen version, which refers to the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia releases, will be out on September 4th (and not October, as previously reported). The Next Gen version will be a launch title for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X this holiday season. See below for details on the pre-order bonuses.

As reported by Operation Sports, the Mamba Forever edition of NBA 2K21 will also grant dual access to the Standard Edition on the other generation at no additional contest. This means that if you opt for the Mamba Forever edition on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you’ll get a copy of the Standard Edition on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X as well (and vice versa).

OS has also revealed that there will be cross-platform progression for MyTEAM, and your VC wallet will also be shared between Current and Next Gen. This comes as excellent news for anyone concerned about having to start over from scratch, or simply having to buy the game again for that matter, once the PS5 and XSX are released.

Once again, check out the cover art for the Mamba Forever edition below, along with the pre-order bonuses and reveal trailer. Got any thoughts? Feel free to share them in the comments, as well as join in the discussion taking place here in the NLSC Forum!

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Download the 2KTV project, a custom roster project by Big Homie, in today’s file additions for NBA Live 08! Please see below for the download link.

Big Homie
2KTV (HD)

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

Following on from the Current Gen reveal, Zion Williamson has now officially been unveiled as the cover player for NBA 2K21 Next Gen. Zion was widely expected to be one of the cover players for NBA 2K21 after featuring in the game’s announcement trailer at the PlayStation 5 event in June.

With Damian Lillard and Zion Williamson revealed as the Current Gen and Next Gen cover players, we’re just left with the unveiling of the Legend Edition cover. As I mentioned in the previous bulletin, Kobe Bryant has been a popular pick and sentimental preference for a lot of gamers. With his recent retirement, Vince Carter is also a name that’s been thrown around, and one that we mentioned among our picks in Episode #329 of the NLSC Podcast.

Speaking of Current and Next Gen, it appears as though the PC will remain a Current Gen port this year. Although this is a drawback in many ways, it also means that our modding tools will probably still be suitable for another year. It also means the PC version should be released in October, the same time as on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. No dates for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions have been announced as yet, but it’s safe to say NBA 2K21 will be a launch title for both consoles. Current Gen pre-orders begin July 2nd.

What are your thoughts on Zion Williamson being the Next Gen cover player? Have your say in the comments below, and join in the discussion here in the Forum! You can check out the full cover art below, along with the reveal trailer.

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This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! In this feature, we dig into the archives, look back at the history of basketball gaming, and indulge in some nostalgia. Check in every Wednesday for retrospectives and other features on older versions of NBA Live, NBA 2K, and old school basketball video games in general. You’ll also find old NLSC editorials re-published with added commentary, and other flashback content. This week, I’m going back to NBA Live 2001 to play with the “unbelievable” starting five that was posted in our original Forum many years ago.

There aren’t too many members of our original Forum who are still active, so the legacy and impact of the infamous “I Cannot Believe My Starting Five” thread may not resonate with a lot of people in our community today. I’ve covered it in-depth in a previous Wayback Wednesday retrospective, and mentioned it as one of the most bizarre moments in the history of our Forum, but the short version is as follows. A member by the name of A.L. made a post describing a lineup they’d put together in NBA Live 2001’s Franchise mode, which included Kevin Garnett at point guard.

A.L.’s insistence that point guard was KG’s “natural position” unfortunately derailed an interesting discussion about fantasy draft and trade logic, as well as experimenting with a fun idea for an unorthodox lineup, before it even began. The thread quickly turned into a catch-all for jokes and general banter, and became the first thread in the old Forum to surpass one thousand posts. However, as much fun as it was to take part in, it’s extremely unfortunate that A.L. felt unwelcome due to the way his post was received. Furthermore, it’s a creative idea that’s at least worth messing around with, so that’s what I’m going to do at long last. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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The first cover player for NBA 2K21 has been revealed! Damian Lillard has been announced as the cover player for the Current Gen version of the game. Dame has previously graced the cover of NBA Live 15, as well as the Chinese exclusive NBA 2K Online 2. He is the seventh player to appear on the covers of both NBA Live and NBA 2K.

Pre-orders for the Current Gen version of the game will begin July 2nd, and the game is slated for release in October. As of this post, no details about pre-order bonuses has been released, but that information will likely be coming soon. We can assume that they will be quite similar to last year’s bonuses, except with Damian Lillard-themed content.

With one cover reveal down, we have two to go over the next couple of days. As per ESPN, the next two covers will be for the Next Gen and Legend editions of the game. Zion Williamson has been a popular prediction after being featured in the announcement trailer, while a lot of gamers are picking Kobe Bryant for the Legend Edition.

Check out the cover art below, as well as a reveal trailer! What are your thoughts on 2K choosing Dame for the Current Gen release? Who are your picks for the Next Gen and Legend Edition covers? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion here in the Forum.

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We’ve got another release from SimonLee in today’s file additions for NBA 2K16. This mod removes the menu transitions, speeding up navigation. Check it out at the link below!

SimonLee
Remove Main Menu Transitions

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

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 recap of my experiences playing as a big man in The Rec, after years of assuming the role of a playmaking point guard.

I documented my experiences trying out a big man build that was similar to the way I played in my local league as a teenager many years ago, in a previous article that I titled MyPLAYER in the Middle. As I noted in that feature, playing as a big man after years of MyCAREER games as a point guard felt very strange and quite frustrating at times. It was, as you would expect, a major adjustment with such a drastic change in role, to say nothing of going back to being a 60 Overall after maxing out my point guard build at 99.9 Overall. At the same time, it was an interesting experience.

Of course, playing online is a whole different brand of virtual basketball, and I was curious to see how it compared to my experiences as a point guard. I’ve often heard that it’s easier to get games in The Rec as a big man, as they tend to be in higher demand due to a majority of gamers opting for point guard and wing builds. Having played several Rec games with guard-heavy squads, and sometimes struggling to get games because of people quitting to avoid that scenario, I was hopeful that that would hold true for my alternate build. As far as the quality of the on-court experience was concerned…well, I figured The Rec would always be The Rec, but it was worth a try.

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Episode #329 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

With the impending NBA 2K21 cover reveal over the course of three days, we speculate on possible players and editions, as well what other details may be announced. We also reflect on how it feels to move on to a new game after being hooked on its predecessor. Talking about vibe and atmosphere leads us to reminisce about some of our favourite soundtracks, and unusual song choices. Meanwhile, future rookies have been added to MyTEAM packs. It’s a first and a cool idea, but their ratings inspire another discussion of the state and general direction of both NBA Live and NBA 2K. Finally, Vince Carter’s retirement has marked the end of the last vestige of the NBA in the 90s. We celebrate his lengthy career, and share some trivia regarding longevity records in basketball gaming.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 2:30:28 — 103.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS

What’s your take on this week’s conversation? 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.

The latest file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include current and retro player faces, and updated retro jerseys for the Seattle SuperSonics. Check them out at the links below!

Taco2k
Ricky Rubio Face
Frank Kaminsky Face

IceCr
Chris Mullin Face
John Stockton Face

Pep
1995 Seattle SuperSonics Uniforms (Updated to v2.0)

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to our Downloads database! If you need help uploading files, be sure to check out this video tutorial. For more information about downloads, the modding community, and File Additions bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

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. This week’s Five is a list of five funny moments in the commentary of various basketball games.

Commentary is an important part of presentation in basketball video games (and most sports games, for that matter). When it’s done well, it adds to a feeling of authenticity, helping to create the illusion that you’re watching a real game. It’s an area of sports video games that has greatly improved over the years, with more lines of dialogue, better reaction logic, and other enhancements thanks to improved technology. At the same time, it can still get rather repetitive after a while, and so there are many gamers who prefer to play basketball games with the commentary turned off.

There’s nothing wrong with that, and in fact, switching off commentary actually adds a certain amount of realism and immersion in career modes, where you obviously wouldn’t be able to hear the commentators while on the court. However, if you do turn off the commentary, you can miss out on some funny moments. From witty lines and Easter eggs to the occasional mistake left in by accident, there are some very amusing gems. I can’t recall anything quite as hilariously bad and sloppy as the outtakes that were left in the DLC for WWE 2K17, but the virtual hardwood has still provided us with some funny moments from the people calling the action.

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The official NBA 2K TikTok account – yes, that’s now a thing – has announced that there will be three NBA 2K21 cover reveals taking place next week on June 30th, July 1st, and July 2nd. This suggests that there will be three editions of the game, and possibly three different cover players.

Since the announcement trailer has dropped, there’s been a lot of speculation that Zion Williamson will appear on the NBA 2K21 cover. Many gamers have also suggested that the late Kobe Bryant will appear on the Legend Edition cover, which seems like a solid guess given the circumstances.

There have been hints of other news coming through next week as well. My guess is that we’ll also learn some of the pre-order bonuses and possibly be able to pre-order the game as soon as next week, though there’s a chance we might receive some more substantial details. I’ll be sure to post any information as soon as I can.

In the meantime, feel free to speculate on the NBA 2K21 cover players in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion taking place here in the NLSC Forum! Once again, if you’d like to help keep our Wiki resources on NBA 2K21 updated throughout the preview season, you can find the article for the game here.