Tag Archives: Badges

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on the dichotomy of shooting mechanics in modern basketball video games.

Over the decades, developers of basketball video games have strived to make their controls and gameplay mechanics deeper and more skill-based. This has of course resulted in hits and misses throughout the years, as some ideas have proven to be better – and more fun – than others. The successful ideas have become staples of the genre, persisting even as other elements of the games are revamped. To that end, just as modern basketball games aren’t about to eschew right stick dribbling controls, it’s difficult to see them shying away from shooting mechanics based on Green Releases.

Once again, there’s a reason that both of those concepts have prevailed as staples of NBA 2K, as well as the last two NBA Live games. Modern dribbling controls offer precision that wasn’t possible by simply tapping a crossover or spin move button, while today’s shooting mechanics avoid the somewhat contrived ambiguity of RNG; well, for the most part, anyway. At the same time, this skill-based approach definitely isn’t perfect either. There’s undoubtedly merit in rewarding gamers for precise timing with a 100% chance of success, but it can be punishingly challenging, not to mention unbalanced and unrealistic. And so, there’s a dichotomy to these shooting mechanics.

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Following on from the insight into presentation, the latest Courtside Report for NBA 2K26 previews the MyPLAYER Builder in this year’s game. It seems that one of the goals with the MyPLAYER Builder in NBA 2K26 was to make it easier to create viable builds.

To that point, some of the key additions include an Animation Glossary listing details on attribute and height requirements, as well as options such as Build via Badges that lock in the minimum attributes that are required for your desired Badges. Templates, a Scouting Report, and the ability to preview body types suggest a more informative approach.

There are also new archetype names that better emphasise a build’s strengths, a new maximum height of 7’4″, and the ability to unlock a Custom Takeover. Badge Perks, Rebirth, and Cap Breakers all return from NBA 2K25.

I’ve summarised the NBA 2K26 MyPLAYER Builder blog below, but with so much information to digest, I’d certainly still recommend giving it a read. As always, feel free to share any thoughts in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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This is Wayback Wednesday, your midweek blast from the past! From retrospectives of basketball games and their interesting features, to republished articles and looking at NBA history through the lens of the virtual hardwood, Wednesdays at the NLSC are for going back in time. This week, I’m taking a look back at MyCAREER in NBA 2K15, and the experimental approach that it took.

After going back and finally playing through that first cinematic MyCAREER story in NBA 2K14 – and getting completely hooked on it – that left NBA 2K15 as the only eighth gen game whose tale I hadn’t completed. There are a couple of reasons for that. In 2014, I still hadn’t warmed up to the idea of a narrative-driven MyCAREER mode, and unfortunately, the NBA 2K15 MyPLAYER isn’t the most likeable protagonist to take control of! I was also trying to give NBA Live 15 a fair chance to impress, and actually ended up playing a lot of Ultimate Team that year.

However, you don’t produce a feature like Wayback Wednesday unless you’re willing to give games a second chance, and dive into the history of the virtual hardwood! To that end, I have gone back and finally properly played through MyCAREER in NBA 2K15. It does have its issues, in terms of both the story and the general experience, and some of my initial impressions were on the mark. At the same time, there is an enjoyable experience there, and the approach that it took was definitely an interesting experiment. Let’s take a look back…way back…

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on the importance of balance in basketball video games, and what balance really entails.

Balance is undoubtedly one of the most important attributes a basketball game can have. In fact, it’s an essential ingredient in most action-oriented video games. Of course, like “skill gap“, the term is prone to being reduced to a buzzword. Gamers say they want balance and developer blogs will talk about the upcoming game having much better balance, but what does that truly mean? Even if we can define it, is it something that can actually be achieved, or is it just a pseudo-intellectual way of saying that we like the gameplay of a certain title, and that it works for us personally?

I brought up “skill gap” deliberately, as a lot of mechanics that strive to achieve that concept do run into issues with balance. Whether they’re tuned to cater to the most elite gamers (or at least, the elitist gamers), or they’re too powerful and easy to abuse, some mechanics are too unbalanced to work. To that point, no gameplay mechanic exists in a vacuum, and must mesh well with other mechanics in order to have the right balance for an enjoyable – and for that matter, truly competitive – experience on the sticks. Before we sneer at someone to “get good” and declare that their criticism is merely a “skill issue”, we must look at whether or not a game is actually balanced.

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With NBA 2K25 dropping next week, the latest Courtside Report provides an insight into what to expect from The City. For anyone who is unaware, The City is the open world hub of MyCAREER that was introduced in NBA 2K21 New Gen, expanding on the concept of The Neighborhood.

As someone who has been critical of The City in the past, it does appear that NBA 2K25 has made a couple of improvements based on gamer feedback. As previously mentioned in the MyCAREER Courtside Report, MyCOURT is making a welcome return. The City has also been condensed, with fewer buildings that serve no purpose.

The connected modes also feature ranked and unranked areas, with overhauled aesthetics. Classic parks will return as part of Seasonal events, and there are new stomping grounds for the Rise and Elite park affiliations. A squad finder has been added, the Streetball sidequest returns, and the Rep system is also back.

That’s just a brief overview, as I’ve summarised the key points from the NBA 2K25 Courtside Report on The City below. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, and jump into the discussion here in the Forum!

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This week’s Courtside Report provides an insight into MyTEAM in NBA 2K25. There are definitely some significant changes in the mode this year, including the return of a feature that was greatly missed in NBA 2K24.

That feature is of course the Auction House, which was replaced by the Player Market last year. It’s back in NBA 2K25 however, with some enhancements to make it more user-friendly. There will also be some verification checks in place, to make sure that it isn’t being abused. 2K are warning that there will be a zero-tolerance policy in effect here.

Other key additions and improvements to NBA 2K25 MyTEAM include Breakout City and Triple Threat Park. The former is a new board-based single player mode, while the latter remasters Rivet City from NBA 2K16 to bring a park atmosphere to MyTEAM’s online modes. There will also be weekly events, and new ways to earn rewards with the MyTEAM Rep system.

Again, there’s a ton of detail in the NBA 2K25 MyTEAM Courtside Report – especially compared to the more modest preview of The W – so as always, I’d recommend giving it a read. However, I’ve also summarised the key information below, if you’d like a quick overview. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, and join in the discussion here our NBA 2K25 Forum!

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #541 of the NLSC Podcast!

The latest NBA 2K25 Courtside Report has delivered the details on MyCAREER and MyPLAYER in this year’s game. While some of the news is definitely promising on paper, we still have our doubts. Indeed, the lengthy grind and pushy recurrent revenue mechanics remain an elephant in the room that far too many content creators and influencers don’t want to acknowledge, and sometimes even actively downplay. Nevertheless, we join the community in reacting to the latest NBA 2K25 previews. We also asked the community what they’d pay for a home port of NBA Superstars, and recap some of the excellent retro pickups that a couple of our fellow gamers have recently scored.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:05:01 — 45.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

As promised when the roadmap for the NBA 2K25 preview season was revealed, the latest Courtside Report is all about MyCAREER and MyPLAYER. Much of the blog discusses the MyPLAYER Builder system, Takeovers, Badges, and so forth, but there are also some interesting insights into this year’s story and other aspects of MyCAREER.

One of the key points about the NBA side of MyCAREER in NBA 2K25 is that it’s centred around the concept of building an all-time great dynasty. MP’s backstory is told in flashback, which means that the story portion of MyCAREER is optional and can also be played at any time. However, completing it unlocks rewards and a boost to progression, so it’s at least worth considering.

MyCOURT is also returning, and Season XP can be earned in NBA games, meaning that you don’t have to play online to earn rewards. Takeovers and Badges have been revamped, and more information will be made available in the MyPLAYER Builder.

It’s a lengthy read compared to the gameplay blog, but it’s definitely worth checking out if you’re a keen MyCAREER gamer. With that being said, I have summarised the key information from the MyCAREER Courtside Report, which you can check out below. Feel free to share your impressions in the comments, and join in the discussion here in the Forum.

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on the padding and politics involved with player ratings.

Although the discussion has seemingly turned to MyPLAYER builds and figuring out the meta, I’d suggest that real player ratings will always be a point of interest. They’re still vital in accurately representing the players’ abilities and skill levels, and if you play franchise modes or with retro teams, you’ll notice mistakes and inconsistencies. There’s also still an interest in which players are top-rated in key categories such as dunking and three-point shooting, as well as where everyone ranks with their Overall Ratings. Again, it may not be as much of a focus now, but there’s still a discussion.

To that point, it’s clear that personal opinions and politics do play a role in both our view of the ratings, as well as how they’re assigned in the first place. Lest I sound like a grumpy old head grumbling about modern games, let’s make it clear that this has been going on for many, many years! Indeed, I’d suggest that as long as basketball video games have had visible ratings – and in some cases, where there have been some sneaky hidden mechanics – player abilities have been subject to padding and politics. There are times when it’s been fairly benign or even enhanced the experience, but it can certainly be problematic and damaging when it leads to widespread inaccuracies.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #512 of the NLSC Podcast!

It’s Wishlist season once again, so this week, we join the community in listing our top three gameplay wishes for NBA 2K25! Not surprisingly, many of us have similar thoughts on what we want to see out of this year’s game. Following our recent sessions with them, we also discuss NBA ShootOut (aka Total NBA ’96) and Sony’s NBA 08, and compare them to their contemporaries. We’ve also got an injury update to share, and spend some time reflecting on past-their-prime players still having something left in the tank in real life, as well as being fun to play with in video games; especially when they’re familiar faces in unfamiliar places.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:41:02 — 69.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #510 of the NLSC Podcast!

Are the NBA 2K League competitors actually the best NBA 2K gamers in the world? Both we and the community have some thoughts on that, as well as a ridiculous comparison to real NBA players. Meanwhile, a session with Street Hoops by Black Ops Entertainment has revealed it to be a hidden gem, as we had an absolute blast with it! We also discuss the importance of the unwritten rules of sportsmanship in basketball, and thanks to the NBA Live 2001 Legends, reflect on the real and virtual accomplishments of Keith Van Horn. Finally, since we shared our basketball gaming resolutions last week, this week we open up the mailbag to find out what the community has planned for 2024.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:16:01 — 52.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

Patch 1.4 (aka the big Season 2 Patch that has been promised) is out now for the New Gen version of NBA 2K24. It should come through automatically as long as your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S is online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console, or checking for updates manually.

In addition to preparing NBA 2K24 for Season 2 in MyCAREER and MyTEAM, Patch 1.4 includes a variety of fixes based on gamer feedback since launch. This includes adjusting progression, addressing latency issues (allegedly), and resolving a number of bugs throughout modes and gameplay. Several player likenesses have also been updated, along with jerseys and courts.

Full notes for Patch 1.4 can be found below, as well as in the NBA 2K24 New Gen update history over in our Wiki. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum!

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The latest Courtside Report for NBA 2K24 provides an insight into the MyPLAYER Builder and Badges in this year’s game. There have been some notable changes in both areas in NBA 2K24 Next Gen, revamping the way that MyPLAYERs are created for online and offline play alike. Changes to Badges are also applicable to MyTEAM.

There will be 24 new Badges this year while a few others have been removed, for a total of 77. Badges have also been split into four tiers, with each Badge having its own attribute requirements to be unlocked. This year, Badge levels will be determined by how frequently they’re used. Badges that are used often will trend towards the level that matches your play, while seldom-used Badges will trend downwards, though won’t drop below Bronze. Badge Perks will also provide boosts to progression.

In addition to completely customised builds, this year’s MyPLAYER will also provide templates based on NBA players for gamers who’d prefer a quick start. The naming system has also been improved so that builds are described more accurately, and there’s apparently been more focus on preventing meta builds that are OP.

I’ve summarised the information from the NBA 2K24 MyPLAYER Builder & Badges Courtside Report below, but as always, I recommend reading the original article for the full scoop. Dee and I will be discussing the latest NBA 2K24 news on the next NLSC Podcast, but in the meantime, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum!

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #465 of the NLSC Podcast!

Another NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us, but sadly, the event has basically lost its lustre for us. Call us grumpy old heads if you must, but we miss genuine competition in the midseason classic! On a brighter note, we had a blast partaking in All-Star activities in NBA Live 08 – including creating a 1988 dunk contest video, and enjoying a wild three-point shootout that went to a tiebreaker – as well as revisiting NBA 2K13 to play some Blacktop. As promised on last week’s show, we’re taking a deep dive into the most annoying mechanics in the history of basketball gaming, with our listeners also sharing their biggest frustrations on the virtual hardwood.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:55:56 — 80.0MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

To get involved with the mailbag or to provide any feedback on the show, hit us up in the comments, reach out on social media, or post here in the NLSC Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki. You can also find the show on our YouTube channel, along with the rest of our video content. As always, thanks for tuning in, and go get buckets!

We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with a few thoughts on the importance of the net in basketball video games.

Yes, that’s right. An entire article about virtual basketball equipment: the net. Of course, the net is a vital part of basketball. Practically speaking, it serves two main purposes. It indicates that the ball has indeed passed through the hoop, and also slows its descent so that it’s easier to catch. As anyone who’s ever played on an outdoor rim without a net can attest, you’ll certainly notice a difference when it’s not around to fulfil these functions! And of course, there’s the swish – the act and sound of hitting nothing but net – representing supreme accuracy when shooting.

Whether nylon, polyester, or the steel chains often used on the blacktop, this is what the net brings to basketball. As such, any virtual representation of basketball needs to do its nets justice. In the grand scheme of things, there are more important aspects that determine whether or not a basketball video game is fun and overall well-made. Still, like inaccuracies on a jersey or a quirky transitional animation, it’s something that knowledgeable hoops gamers will recognise. If there are issues with the nets, such as shape, length, physics, and so on, you can be sure that they’ll be noticed! It may seem nitpicky, but not when you consider their importance and the satisfaction they bring.

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