NLSC Your source for basketball video games.

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 breakdown of five decisions that have to be made when making retro season mods.

When I discovered the NLSC in August 1997 via an Altavista search – yes, before Googling was a thing! – I was enthralled by modding, or patching as it was called back then. As I’ve said before, the ability to give my created Michael Jordan actual bio data and edit the jersey numbers of original players was honestly mind-blowing. Like a lot of gamers, I’d tried to keep the rosters of my favourite game up to date, but the editors that our founders made opened up the possibility of creating detailed roster modifications and then sharing them with other people. I was hooked.

As the current roster update for NBA Live 96 also featured retro season rosters, I discovered that concept at the same time, and it likewise drew me in. I went on to create several current roster updates over the years, as well as a few retro season mods. With official updates handling the current rosters – quibbles with their quality aside – big retro projects are more in vogue these days. We’re seeing some fantastic retro rosters for recent NBA 2K titles, and I love it! Speaking from experience, there are a few decisions that you have to make when you’re preparing to make retro season mods, in order to have the best chance of success. Today, I’m outlining five of them.

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We’ve got some more 2021 season courts and jerseys in today’s file additions for NBA 2K17 PC. Check them out at the links below, and be sure to give the PROJ-ReBorn mod a look!

SiC2KK
NBA 2K17 NIKE CITY JERSEY & COURT 8-TEAM PACK I (2K21 CONVERT)
NBA 2K17 NIKE CITY JERSEY & COURT 8-TEAM PACK II (2K21 CONVERT)

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.

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 exploring the reasons why we like to go wayback, and revisit old favourites and other retro basketball games.

I’ve decided to do something a little different this week. Rather than a retrospective of a game or specific feature from an old title, I’m discussing the reasons why gamers like myself enjoy revisiting basketball games from yesteryear; indeed, why I go so far as to produce a weekly feature about the past. Nostalgia is far from unpopular, but in recent years, it also feels like there’s been a significant backlash against it. It’s likely a sign of a generational gap, and while younger gamers may not feel the need to go wayback as some of us older gamers do, I believe it’s something that comes with age.

On top of that, the passage of time leads to titles becoming nostalgic and historically significant, and that’s an interesting process. As we evaluate the best way to move forward, it’s also beneficial to look back at the past. To that end, let’s take a look at why we like going wayback…and in some cases, really way back…

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Today’s file additions for NBA 2K14 PC are a couple of custom global files, featuring new aesthetics. Check them out at the links below!

Ibano
Infinity Psychedelic Global
Ibano Global Infinity

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 some comparisons of my basketball gaming habits to my video gaming habits in general, and considering how they reflect one another.

In many ways, basketball gaming is notably unique compared to other genres of gaming. For example, in a basketball game, you participate in the sport of basketball. In other genres – outside of mini-games – you don’t. I know that these are the thought-provoking insights that you all come to the NLSC and read my articles for! In all seriousness, basketball gaming naturally involves different expectations, activities, and habits compared to other video game genres. One generally approaches sports titles with different ideas and methods than, say, an RPG or First Person Shooter.

And yet, some gaming habits cross the boundaries of genre, and habits in general are difficult to break. To put it another way, we each have our own gaming philosophies that influence how we play all our favourite games. I’ve stuck with a certain type of MyPLAYER build for years for the same reasons many of my Fallout playthroughs ended up being remarkably similar. That’s just one example of how my basketball gaming habits resemble the way that I play other games that I enjoy, even when those games have very little to do with the virtual hardwood. It hardly gets in the way of my enjoyment, but it does make it difficult to change things up when I feel so inclined.

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Episode #378 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this weekly podcast that’s all about basketball gaming.

Having sorted out our issues with Parsec, we’ve enjoyed a full week of basketball gaming. From epic clashes with video game legends in NBA Live 10 to co-op play in NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, we’ve had a lot of fun on the virtual hardwood and blacktop this week! Spotlighting recent modding developments leads to us discussing various ideas for retro rosters, as well as philosophies for rating players. We also react to the recent leaks regarding the cover players for the standard and Legend editions of NBA 2K22. In this week’s mailbag, we’re looking back at the NBA 2K21 Next Gen trailer, and discussing some interesting issues with licensing and likeness rights.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:27:53 — 60.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Join in the conversation in the comments below, or here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future shows. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

It’s time to enjoy some virtual hardwood highlights in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week! This is a weekly feature curated by Derek (aka Dee4Three) spotlighting the best plays from the basketball gaming community, which includes a few of our own memorable clips from time to time. Submit your clips in the Forum, or hit up Derek on Twitter!

As we’ve discussed on the NLSC Podcast, basketball gaming highlights are more than just modern graphics and animations. This week’s NLSC Top 10 Plays emphasises that by featuring some memorable moments from older titles, in addition to NBA 2K21 and other recent releases. Whatever hoops title you’re playing, we want to spotlight your slick moves, big dunks, amazing buzzer beaters, unbelievable shots, and impressive defensive stops.

What was your favourite highlight this week? Sound off in the comments below, and once again, get in on the fun by sending us your spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood or blacktop. All basketball games are welcome, new and old! Also, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

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 confessions that I must make in regards to basketball gaming.

Today, I’m opening up the floor to basketball gaming confessions. What do I mean by that? Well, I think it’s fair to say that when it comes to the virtual hardwood, we’ve all made some mistakes, have some surprising or unpopular opinions that contradict our usual stance on basketball gaming topics, and have done things that are hypocritical. Hey, we’re complicated beings, and none of us are perfect! We don’t like to admit it because we don’t enjoy looking foolish, even when it comes to something as low stakes as a recreational activity like basketball video games.

So you know what? Let’s remove that stigma and share some stories! I’ll readily tip things off with five basketball gaming confessions of my own. There’s nothing sinister here; nothing particularly scandalous. From finding enjoyment in aspects that I’ve criticised to being a sore loser on the virtual hardwood, I’m willing to put my hand up and admit to blunders, regrets, and guilty pleasures. Some of these confessions may be surprising, while others will probably make sense. There’s also something I can chalk up as research and a learning experience, while another is a reminder to always pay attention when shopping on eBay. With that being said, let the admissions begin!

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Today’s file additions for NBA 2K17 feature updates to the PROJ-ReBorn mod by SiC2KK et al, which brings the game up to date as of the 2021 season. Pick them all up at the links below!

SiC2KK
NBA 2K17 “ReBORN-ReSHADE”
NBA 2K17 “PROJ-GAMEDATA” (2K21 INDICATOR)
NBA 2K17 NIKE JERSEY HOME & AWAY PACK (2K21 CONVERT)
NBA 2K17 NIKE ALTERNATE JERSEY PACK (2K21 CONVERT)
NBA 2K17 NIKE EARNED JERSEY PACK (2K21 CONVERT)
NBA 2K17 “PROJ-ReBorn” UPDATED ROSTER 2020-2021 (Updated to v5.0)

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.

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 sharing some screenshots of players in NBA Live 10 that are still active as of 2021, in their current teams’ jerseys.

Since NBA Live 10 has been my retro jam as of late, and I’ve already engaged in the fun exercise of taking some screenshots of 2010 players in their rookie season retro jerseys, this week I’m going in the other direction. Working on current roster updates for NBA 2K11 has emphasised how many players from around 2010 are no longer in the league, and combing through the rosters of NBA Live 10 yields further examples. With only 50 slots for created players, there’s no way that you could make a detailed current roster update for NBA Live 10 on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.

While NBA Live 10 will turn twelve years old in a few months, players these days tend to enjoy longer careers. Many players who were quite young in NBA Live 10 are still active today, and not all of them are over the hill! Almost all of them are now playing for different teams, but a couple of them are wearing familiar uniforms, albeit newer designs. To that end, I thought it’d be fun to make a few edits to the NBA Live 10 rosters, placing players who are still active as of 2021 on their new teams. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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The latest file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include updated 2021 season jerseys. Check them out at the links below!

Pep
NBA Nike 2020/2021 Jersey Updates (Updated)
NBA Nike City Uniforms 20/21 (Updated)
NBA Nike Earned Uniforms 20/21

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 by looking into the problematic economics of MyTEAM.

Although I’ve spent a lot of time with MyCAREER over the past generation, I’ve also dabbled with MyTEAM. After making MyTEAM my mode of choice in NBA 2K21, I’ve had more firsthand experience with its troubling economics. For once, I’m not talking about microtransactions and Virtual Currency. While there is pushiness to the recurrent revenue mechanics in MyTEAM and I remain critical of those practices, I’ve covered that issue in previous articles. Besides, I can attest to the viability of sticking to a “No Money Spent” philosophy, and still greatly enjoying MyTEAM.

Ironically, the more pressing issue with MyTEAM’s economics concerns MT: an in-game currency that can’t be purchased (at least, not from 2K). It does tie into issues with VC to a certain extent – they’re ultimately part of the same economy, after all – but even if you eliminate microtransactions from the discussion, there are still some major problems with MT. These issues affect everything from budgeting for packs and contracts, to the Auction House and the handling of pulling cards you already own. Some of these issues are unfortunately by design, but I believe that 2K should address problems affecting the mode’s economics, as soon as in NBA 2K22.

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Episode #377 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this weekly podcast that’s all about basketball gaming.

We tip things off by paying tribute to the late Mark Eaton. Reflecting on the first two weeks of the revitalised NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week, we note that NBA-oriented gaming highlights are rarer these days. This leads to a discussion on the decline in popularity of NBA-oriented modes, in favour of online team play. We note that current attitudes towards the NBA and changing demographics among gamers play a huge role here. Meanwhile, things haven’t been as rosy with NBA Live 10 and Parsec this past week, but we’re not giving up our retro kick just yet. In this week’s mailbag, we’re talking about NBA Live possibly using the Frostbite engine, and looking back at NBA Courtside 2002.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:27:02 — 59.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Join in the conversation in the comments below, or here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future shows. For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

It’s time to enjoy some virtual hardwood highlights in the NLSC Top 10 Plays of the Week! This is a weekly feature curated by Derek (aka Dee4Three) spotlighting the best plays from the basketball gaming community, which includes a few of our own memorable clips from time to time. Submit your clips in the Forum, or hit up Derek on Twitter!

As always, you can expect to see some big dunks, crafty plays, nifty passes, and other fun highlights in this week’s countdown. However, you’ll also see some mods being spotlighted, and some fun ideas for exhibition games. On top of that, you’ll see a variety of games being featured, including a couple of old favourites. Remember, it doesn’t need to be the latest NBA 2K to qualify; if it’s a great moment on the virtual hardwood, we want to showcase it in our Top 10 Plays!

What was your favourite highlight this week? Sound off in the comments below, and once again, get in on the fun by sending us your spectacular moments on the virtual hardwood or blacktop. All basketball games are welcome, new and old! Also, be sure to subscribe to us on YouTube for more basketball gaming videos.

Today’s assortment of file additions for NBA 2K21 PC includes a portrait update from our own Dee4Three, three faces by Shuajota, and an updated scoreboard pack from Karinge. Download them all at the links below!

Dee4Three
Desmond Mason Sonics Portrait

Shuajota
Gabriel Deck Face
Moses Brown Face
Elijah Bryant Face

Karinge
ESPN & FOX 2021 Scoreboard (Updated to v10.5)

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.