Tag Archives: Demo

It seems that a few people already have their hands on the full version of NBA 2K19, but for most of us, we’ve still got a short wait. The 20th Anniversary Edition will be out on September 7th while the Standard Edition drops next week on the 11th, but in the meantime, we’ve been able to get a taste of this year’s game from Visual Concepts via NBA 2K19 The Prelude. I’ve already shared some impressions of The Prelude in Episode #261 of the NLSC Podcast, but for those who prefer text to audio content, I thought that I’d offer a write-up as I did for the NBA Live 19 demo.

As in previous years, the latest version of The Prelude is exclusive to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It offers a chance for us to make a head start on MyCAREER by creating a player and playing through the preliminary stages of the mode, as well as sample some 5v5 gameplay through a ten minute game in 2KU. To that end, it’s a very brief glimpse of what’s on offer in NBA 2K19, but it’s enough to give us some insight into what to expect in terms of MyPLAYER Archetypes, the tone of the story, and the gameplay in general. Read on for my impressions!

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Episode #261 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I for a discussion of the latest news heading into the final stretch before the release of NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19, including our impressions of NBA 2K19 The Prelude.

• The official NBA Live website has released some snippets about Ultimate Team in NBA Live 19. It seems as though packs will feature a lot more transparency this year.
• Xbox One Gamers have been getting their hands on a trial of the full version of NBA Live 19 via EA Access. We discuss some of the details and impressions that have been shared with the community.
• Once again, we reiterate our desire to see more focus on NBA content in NBA Live moving forward, and our hopes for the future in that regard.
• NBA 2K19 The Prelude is out, along with the MyNBA2K19 app. We give our impressions on this year’s sneak peek of NBA 2K19, from face scanning to the MyCAREER story and gameplay.
• We react to the NBA 2K19 Neighborhood trailer, as well as other info on NBA 2K19’s iteration of the MyCAREER game world/hub.
• Episode #261 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with our thoughts on Manu Ginobili’s retirement, and his impressive NBA career.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:35:22 — 65.6MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

As we mentioned in this week’s episode, our heartfelt condolences go out to the families of Elijah Clayton and Taylor Robertson, and all those affected by the tragic shooting at a Madden event in Jacksonville, Florida last week. If you would like to contribute to the Jacksonville Tribute Fund that EA has helped spearhead, please see here for more information.

A patch has come through for the NBA Live 19 demo. As yet there are no patch notes explaining what’s been addressed in the update, but presumably it includes minor fixes and tweaks. It may also accommodate some of the new content that’s being pushed through in regards to LIVE Events. We’ll be sure to post any details if and when they become available.

In the meantime, the official website has provided a few snippets on Ultimate Team. This year’s LUT will present us with information about pack probability, allowing us to make informed decisions about pack odds and whether a particular pack is worth investing in. This includes displaying the chances of drawing items of a certain rating or higher, and grouping players in OVR bands with differing probabilities of pulling players from each band. In short, it seems as though they’re aiming for more transparency.

Finally, with the introduction of One Court creation, EA Sports are looking to spotlight the best community designs in a weekly feature. You can check out the Week 1 courts here.

As always, feel free to discuss the latest developments in the comments below, as well as in the NBA Live 19 section of the NLSC Forum. Be sure to check out the NBA Live 19 demo if you haven’t already, and give my impressions a read here. With the game’s release right around the corner we’ll continue to have plenty of coverage, so stay tuned!

For Xbox One gamers who’d like a closer look at NBA Live 19 than the demo provides, the trial of the full version is now available through EA Access. Pick it up through your console, or start downloading it through this link.

In case you’re unfamiliar with EA Access, it’s a subscription service exclusive to Xbox One that allows gamers to get an early look at upcoming games, as well as a 10% discount on digital games and other content from EA. It also includes access to The Vault, which contains a library of EA games that can be played at any time. More information on the service can be found here.

Whether you’re trying out the demo or the full version, be sure to join in the conversation taking place in our NBA Live 19 Forum!

Although I’ve given my impressions of the NBA Live 19 demo in Episode #260 of the NLSC Podcast, I wanted to provide a write-up as I know not everyone enjoys audio content. With all of my other original features and the podcast providing a platform to share my opinions, I’ve neglected to provide comprehensive reviews and impressions in written format in recent years. That’s something I’d like to change, starting with NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19!

That begins with the NBA Live 19 demo, which was released last week. I spent a lot of time with it over the weekend, experiencing everything it had to offer. As with the NBA Live 18 demo, it’s quite a comprehensive look at the upcoming game, providing us with a decent idea of what to expect this year. Overall, I came away with a positive impression of the forthcoming release from EA Sports. There are definitely areas that still have ample room for improvement – this year and next – but it does feel like NBA Live 19 has taken further steps in the right direction.

I’ve broken my impressions of the NBA Live 19 demo down into three categories: positives, negatives, and thoughts as I look ahead to the release of the full version. Let’s tip things off with the positives!

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Episode #260 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we recap a busy week in basketball gaming news and previews, which included the release of the NBA Live 19 demo. We have our detailed impressions to share with the community, as well as our thoughts on everything that we learned about NBA Live 19 and NBA 2K19 over the past seven days.

On this week’s show…

• We have our first hands-on experience with NBA Live 19 following the release of the game’s demo! In our impressions, we break down what we liked and disliked, as well as what’s improved and what still needs improvement.
• Trailers and developer blogs have given us an insight into what to expect from the extended experience in The One. It’s not the traditional experience we’re still wanting the game to provide, but the additions do look and sound good.
• The NBA Live 19 soundtrack has been revealed. We’ve given it a listen, and have a couple of thoughts to share.
• Judging by the NBA 2K19 MyCAREER trailer, this year’s story is going to be a lot better. The ability to skip cutscenes and The Prelude is appealing too, though we still have some concerns.
• Private matchmaking has been added to Pro-Am in NBA 2K19. We absolutely approve, even if we are a little burned out on the mode.
• A few snippets about gameplay are being released ahead of the developer blogs, and they do sound quite promising.
• We wrap up Episode #260 of the NLSC Podcast with our reactions to the impact of Belgian law on MyTEAM, and wonder whether we’ll continue to see changes worldwide.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:32:31 — 63.6MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Got a mailbag question or topic suggestion for the next show? Sound off in the comments section below, or join in the discussion here in the Forum! For more information on the NLSC Podcast including episode guides, check out this page in our Wiki.

Following some initial issues at Sony’s end, the NBA Live 19 demo is now available on both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One! You should be able to find it by browsing the store on each platform, or you can try using these direct links:

• PlayStation 4
• Xbox One

As previously noted, the demo allows us to play through The Rise in The One, as well as LIVE Events. Scrimmages and drills are also available, and faces can be scanned in using the companion app. Franchise, Ultimate Team, Court Battles, and LIVE Run are not available, but the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Lynx, and Los Angeles Sparks are available in NBA and WNBA Play Now.

We’ll be sure to share our impressions of the NBA Live 19 demo in due course, but in the meantime, feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section below, as well as join in the discussion here in the NBA Live 19 section of the NLSC Forum.

We’re just a few days away from the release of the NBA Live 19 demo, which will be hitting the PlayStation Store and Xbox Live Marketplace on August 24th. As per developer Cornell Gunter, the demo launches at midnight, so there’ll be no need to create an international account to skip the wait.

Although the NBA Live 19 demo will obviously be far more restricted compared to the full version of NBA Live 19, it will offer a substantial glimpse at the game. We’ll be able to play through The Rise, take part in LIVE Events, customise our court and The One player, run through drills and scrimmages, and play 1v1. Play Now will also be available, with NBA Play Now featuring the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, and WNBA Play Now featuring the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx.

Other modes of play, such as Franchise and Ultimate Team, will not be available. It remains to be seen whether the NBA Live 19 demo will receive updates and additional content as was the case last year, but we’ll be sure to keep everyone posted of any such developments. In the meantime, check out the full breakdown below, courtesy of the EA Support website.

Are you looking forward to the NBA Live 19 demo? What are your thoughts on how the game is shaping up this year? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion here in the NBA Live 19 section of the NLSC Forum.

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With the trailer giving us our first glimpse of NBA Live 19 in action, we also have some initial details about the game. The official website has posted several informative articles, and media outlets such as SBNation and The Undefeated are also providing an insight into what’s new.

There’s a lot to digest from the articles, and I encourage you to read them in full, but I’ll summarise them as best I can. This year, we’ll be able to build a squad of current and former NBA players, while competing for rank and rewards. The One has been revamped with a new progression system, with Icon abilities based on real players past and present. This works independently of the Playstyles, Traits, and so forth, which are still in effect. A new story has also been implemented this year.

On top of that, The One has gone global in NBA Live 19, with The Streets World Tour. This involves playing on courts from around the world, and recruiting players for your squad. A new narrative system has been added to The League, for those who prefer the NBA side of things. There are also more hairstyles, tattoos, and other player creation elements.

Gameplay has also been a focus this year. Real Player Motion technology has been implemented to improve player movement and animations. This includes a lot of signature player animations compared to recent years. Right stick dribbling remains, but has been enhanced. There are new triple-threat moves, and one-on-one play has been improved at both ends, including playing off-ball. New AI also focuses on bringing more realism and dynamic play to NBA Live 19.

Finally, there will be a demo again this year. We’ll be able to download it on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on August 24th, ahead of the September 7th release.

The official NBA Live website has also provided us with a handful of screenshots, and a preliminary features list. Be sure to check them out below. What are your thoughts on what we’ve learned about NBA Live 19 so far? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion taking place in the newly opened NBA Live 19 section of the NLSC Forum!

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Episode #221 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! We’re in the final countdown to the release of this year’s games from EA Sports and 2K Sports, and Arcane and I have plenty to talk about with a big update to the NBA Live 18 Demo, as well as the release of The Prelude to NBA 2K18.

On this week’s show…

• The NBA Live 18 Demo has received another update. On top of making some further gameplay tweaks, it also added updated rosters, and two additional teams to Play Now: the Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets.
• EA Access subscribers on Xbox One are currently enjoying a ten hour trial of the full version of NBA Live 18. Their streams and impressions suggest further improvement over the demo, which is great news.
• A Game Informer article provided us with a few details on this year’s MyCAREER story ahead of the release of The Prelude, and some further information about The Neighborhood.
• In the wake of a somewhat flat trailer, The Prelude has been released, along with the MyNBA2K18 companion app. We tip off our impressions with a few thoughts on face scanning.
• We’re not impressed by the lack of customisation options, nor the decision to put more content behind a VC paywall. It’s a continuation of a disheartening trend that began in NBA 2K17.
• The story in this year’s MyCAREER mode leaves something to be desired. Although we like the general idea of being able to pick our team, the plot, acting, and characters are rather corny, with one character in particular being a bit uncomfortable.
• Although the brevity of The Prelude was disappointing, the gameplay was a highlight, and demonstrates some pleasing improvements that have us looking forward to the full version of NBA 2K18.
• We wrap up Episode #221 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which featured NLSC THRILLHO’s final 2K Pro-Am game for NBA 2K17, and the acquisition of a long-coveted MyPARK trophy.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:50:16 — 75.8MB)

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Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

EA Sports continues to push through updates for the NBA Live 18 demo. The latest patch adds the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics for use in Play Now, bringing the total number of NBA teams in the demo to four. The rosters have also been updated, with Isaiah Thomas now on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Kyrie Irving on the Celtics. The update should come through automatically as long as your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One is connected to the Internet. If you encounter any issues, try restarting your console.

The latest update also includes new faces for certain players. Notably, Derrick Rose has a new hairstyle, as he now sports short braids. Check out a screenshot of Rose with his new hairstyle below, along with a few screens of Irving and Thomas in their new jerseys, and a handful of other players. For more NBA Live 18 pre-release screenshots, be sure to check out our gallery.

There are no additional patch notes at this time, but if any are released, we’ll be sure to post them. EA has been tinkering with the gameplay in the NBA Live 18 demo based on the feedback they’ve received so far, so the “minor bug fixes” listed in the update history on PlayStation 4 probably do include a few more tweaks. As always, feel free to share your impressions in the comments section below, as well as in this topic in our NBA Live 18 Forum.

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Episode #220 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Arcane and I have plenty to talk about following a big week of NBA 2K18 news, as well as the release of a new patch for the NBA Live 18 demo. The question is, as always, now that the show has been recorded, will any further news break over the weekend?

On this week’s show…

• Patch 1.05 has been pushed through for the NBA Live 18 demo, and this time, we have a few patch notes. Once again, we take the opportunity to offer some further impressions of the demo, and encourage everyone to keep the feedback coming.
• Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett will be joining NBA 2K18’s broadcasting team as special guest commentators. Unfortunately for KG, the game is only rated E10+.
• The latest NBA 2K18 developer blogs by Scott O’Gallagher and Da_Czar have delivered a lot of promising news about improvements to AI, playcalling, and gameplay in general.
• NBA 2K18 will see the debut of The Neighborhood, a new online open world experience that encompasses MyCAREER, 2K Pro-Am, and MyPARK (now called The Playground). It’s very cool, but we do have a few questions and concerns.
• There will be 189 MyPLAYER Archetypes this year, with primary and secondary archetypes and hybrid styles. Excellent news, in our opinion.
• A list of Achievements for The Prelude has been leaked, hinting at this year’s story. Mild spoiler warning!
• We wrap up Episode #220 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which included a couple of really fun sessions of 2K Pro-Am as our season in NBA 2K17 continues to draw to a close.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:21:58 — 56.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

As we noted in Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast a couple of weeks ago, the NBA Live 18 demo has been receiving a few official patches since its release. A new update (1.05) has just come through on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It should come through automatically as long as you have an active Internet connection, but if you encounter any issues, try restarting your console. Xbox One users may also want to try this workaround.

There hasn’t been a lot of information about the updates so far, and the Update History on PS4 simply lists the generic “minor bug fixes” note. However, NBA Live 18 Game Designer ProjectLeet has Tweeted out some comprehensive patch notes for the latest update, which are as follows:

• Live Run unlocked.
• Numerous gameplay changes, which include…
  • Big men will no longer be able to perform high tier dribble moves.
  • Contested layup percentage has been tuned.
  • Big men won’t perform as many athletic reverse layups.
  • Increased Game Speed to 80.
  • Interception tuning. Fewer interceptions when players aren’t facing the ball.
  • Alley-oop frequency tuning.
  • Hard screens are less frequent.
  • Celebration tuning.
  • Box out tuning.
  • Reduced the frequency of interior shot blocking based on matchups. Slight reduction overall.
  • Various Gameplay bug fixes.
  • Improved loose ball reaction times.

The dev team at EA Tiburon certainly seem to be taking feedback on the NBA Live 18 demo quite seriously. As such, if you have any impressions that you’d like to share, feel free to post them in the comments section below, as well as in this topic. Remember, the more detailed our constructive feedback about the NBA Live 18 demo, the more adjustments that can be made to the full version via a day one patch. We’ll do our best to compile feedback and pass it along to the developers accordingly.

Episode #219 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Kenny returns to the show this week, joining Arcane and I in a discussion of all the latest topics of interest to our community, including further NBA Live 18 demo impressions, the new historical content in NBA 2K18, and the Kyrie Irving trade.

On this week’s show…

• We tip off the show with some further impressions of the NBA Live 18 demo. The game has also been receiving some support in IGN’s Player’s Choice Awards.
• Arcane is running a Madden 18 giveaway for PlayStation 4. Entries close August 31st, so get them in ASAP!
• All of the new classic teams in NBA 2K18 have been revealed, including an additional seventeenth squad. The full lineups for the All-Time Teams have also been posted. We share a few opinions on the new historical content.
• With Kyrie Irving being traded to the Boston Celtics, it seems that a new cover for NBA 2K18 will be issued at some point.
• An upcoming Facebook event will provide us with details on MyCAREER in NBA 2K18. We speculate on this year’s story, based on the event name and hashtag.
• Our Week in Basketball Gaming included 2K Pro-Am cheese – surprise, surprise – and MyLEAGUE success.
• Backing up a little, we talk about the Kyrie Irving trade in more depth. Did the Cavs make a steal in the deal?
• We wrap up Episode #219 of the NLSC Podcast by picking our Ultimate Australian 3-on-3 squads.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:44:26 — 71.8MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.

Episode #217 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Join Arcane and I as we provide our impressions of the NBA Live 18 Demo and Companion App, share our thoughts on some other NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 news items from the past week, and talk about our recent activities on the virtual hardwood.

On this week’s show…

• Shortly after we finished recording last week’s NLSC Podcast, the Companion App for NBA Live 18 was released. How does it compare to the NBA Live 16 app, and how did our face scans turn out?
• The NBA Live 18 Demo is out now. In one of our longest segments to date, we provide some in-depth initial impressions of our first hands-on look at this year’s game from EA Sports.
• NBA Live 18 is now available to pre-order, with a 33% discount on offer. There also appears to be a Deluxe edition of the game, though no further details are available at this time.
• Wrapping up the NBA Live 18 news, the full soundtrack has been released. Notably, some big names have contributed tracks this year.
• The second Developer Diary for NBA 2K18 provided us with a look at the gameplay, as well as an insight into the aesthetic improvements in this year’s game. We also have some hands-on impressions from the community, more screenshots, and mention of amiibo compatibility.
• We’ll be getting another edition of The Prelude before the release of NBA 2K18, but it’s reportedly different to last year’s demo. Naturally, that news invites speculation.
• Episode #217 of the NLSC Podcast wraps up with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which included a troubleshooting fail (albeit with a happy ending), a brewing rivalry for NLSC THRILLHO, and an elusive PlayStation Trophy.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:45:32 — 72.5MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

Have some thoughts on the latest episode? Sound off in the comments below, or here in the Forum. Also, if there’s a topic you’d like us to discuss on the next episode of the NLSC Podcast, feel free to hit us up in this thread.