Tag Archives: Modding

Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five modding projects that I unfortunately had to abandon before they were finished.

When I was reading Felicia Day’s first book several years ago, she offered up the advice to never throw away anything you’ve written. By all means start over or try to re-work what you’ve drafted, but don’t just delete the original file. After all, you may want to return to it as a starting point, or at least salvage a part of it. I’ve kept that in mind when writing articles since then. Whether it’s keeping the first draft while I take another run at a topic, or saving what I’ve written when I remove an example from a Friday Five list so that it can potentially be used elsewhere, I’m hesitant to scrap work.

The same goes for modding projects. Even an abandoned roster potentially has some data or art assets that can be recycled in another mod, so there’s value in holding onto both. Furthermore, while projects can hit a brick wall, there’s always a chance that you can persevere, perhaps by changing direction or scaling down the project. With that being said, there comes a time where you need to cut your losses rather than falling victim to the sunk cost fallacy. I’ve certainly done that with a few modding projects over the years! It’s never a good feeling, but it’s far wiser than wasting time on an ultimately doomed idea. Here are five of my modding projects that fell through.

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In addition to new mod releases, we’re always looking to track down and preserve older mods and modding tools alike. To that end, Looyh’s fantastic NBA 2K20 Tools has been re-uploaded to our Downloads database for safekeeping. If you need it, you can find it at the link below!

Looyh
NBA 2K20 Tools

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 Mod Releases 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! 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 frank thoughts on the issue of having an obsession with mods.

Mods have been a huge part of what we do here at the NLSC since we were founded way back in 1996, so it’s no surprise that there’s an obsession with them. For the most part, it’s just enthusiasm, and for good reason. Mods have allowed the community to add missing content, enhance the existing content, unofficially fix bugs and other problems, and even convert games into something that was never intended. We’ll always support the modding community however we can, and acknowledge all of the hard work that goes into mods, past, present, and future.

However, there are times when our enthusiasm for mods – our obsession with them – isn’t healthy, or beneficial to basketball gaming. Making them the focus of the games we play to the exclusion of other factors and topics impacts our ability to enjoy and critique titles. It also stifles or at least derails any conversations that aren’t concerned with modding. Again, modding is and always will be a staple of our community, and I have no desire to discourage that. That’s not what this is about. It’s about recognising that an obsession with mods leads to a one-track mindset that devalues vanilla games, and often turns modding into a crutch for enjoying our time on the virtual hardwood.

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Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five basketball video games that I wish we could mod.

It’s important that we don’t dismiss modding ideas too readily, such as the possibility of tinkering with specific games. We wouldn’t have all of the amazing projects that our community has created if we gave up too easily! At the same time, we do need to be realistic. If nothing else, it’s fine to acknowledge that something isn’t possible by any means that we currently know of, and that figuring out how to mod a particular game is proving to be exceptionally difficult. Some ideas are pipe dreams, and it’s far less likely that we’ll be able to mod certain games.

Of course, as unlikely as it may be, we can still dream! Whether it’s a great game that could be made even better with mods, or a mediocre release that might be a bit more fun with some custom content, there are titles that I wish we could mess around with. Indeed, there’s a part of me holding out hope that someone might develop ways to mod the games that I’ll be discussing here today; especially the ones that are all-time favourites. Considering what johnz1 has done with the PlayStation 3 version of NBA Jam: On Fire Edition, we shouldn’t completely rule out mods for a couple of these games. For now though, I wish we could mod these games more in-depth, or at all.

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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 reminiscing about my experiences updating NBA Live 96 PC before discovering the NLSC, and subsequent entry into modding.

There are a few reasons why NBA Live 96 PC remains one of my all-time favourite basketball video games after almost three decades. It was the newest NBA Live as I was really getting into basketball, set in the memorable 1996 season. Along with the PC version of NBA Jam Tournament Edition, it’s one of the very first basketball video games that I owned; indeed, I still have my original copies of both titles! It was also the game that ultimately led me to discover the NLSC when I finally had access to the internet, and thus was my introduction to modding, then called patching.

Of course, even before I learned about the modding/patching scene, I’d developed an interest in updating NBA Live 96 PC. I’d suggest that whenever a basketball game has roster editing functionality, at some point most of us get the idea to update it. Whether it’s making moves from the current year, or updating it for a new season, there’s an interest in playing a game we like with the latest rosters. There was only so much that we could change in NBA Live 96 PC’s rosters within the game itself though, which is what made modding such an exciting discovery! 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 reflections on whether to create 1996, 1997, or 1998 season rosters, as I consider future modding projects.

As I’ve said before, in order to stand the best chance of completing any major roster projects that I attempt moving forward, I need to pick an idea that I’m invested in, for a game that I want to play. When it comes to the games that I’d most like to play and mod, NBA Live 06 PC is definitely one of the frontrunners. As far as roster projects, I’d prefer something nostalgic over a current season update. This includes an Ultimate Jordan roster, various classic team rosters, and if I can assemble the appropriate assets and viable placeholders, at least one complete retro season mod.

To that end, I have a few seasons in mind. My work with NBA 2K6 for Xbox 360 has demonstrated how 2006 season games can be effectively rolled back a few years, and such projects can be made even better on PC with all of the modding capabilities. I’ll always be drawn to the idea of bringing the 90s into a 21st century favourite though, but that raises the question of which year. Being a 90s kid and Chicago Bulls fan, the 1996, 1997, and 1998 seasons are all prime candidates when mulling the possibilities for retro rosters. However, even if I were to create all of them for NBA Live 06 PC or another game, I’d still need to pick one to start with. So: 1996, 1997, or 1998 rosters?

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March, already? That’s right, and it means we’re tipping off the eighth annual March Modness! For those who are unfamiliar with the event, throughout the month of March, we make it a point to celebrate our modding community. We support modding all year around of course, but March Modness is a time to reflect on the hobby, and really get into it with enthusiasm and creativity.

As usual, the event includes a giveaway. If you upload a mod for any basketball video game to our Downloads section during March 2025, and include “March Modness” in the description, you’re automatically in the draw to win a copy of NBA 2K26 PC later this year (full terms and conditions can be found below).

I’ll also be covering topics related to modding in Monday Tip-Off, Wayback Wednesday, and The Friday Five. I’d suggest that it’s quite likely that Dee and I will be discussing mods on the NLSC Podcast, too! As always, I have preliminary plans to get involved with some modding myself, and will hopefully have a few releases to share throughout the month.

I’m looking forward to a fun celebration of modding this March, and more great releases from our talented community. Thanks as always to everyone who contributes to our Downloads section, and supports the modding community here at the NLSC! We really do appreciate people freely sharing their work, and enhancing the gaming experience for their fellow virtual hoop heads.

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Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five comments that annoy content creators.

Oh, a topic like this always feels risky! It’s impossible not to sound arrogant or ungrateful, blaming the audience instead of looking inwards. Indeed, that’s the kind of attitude that I’ve readily pushed back against when developers have tried to lay blame at the feet of gamers, rather than acknowledge issues in their titles. When it comes to encouraging engagement, there are many ways that content creators can err, from subpar work to how they speak of and to their readers, viewers, and listeners. If you put creative work out into the world, you’re going to run the gamut of responses to it.

Mind you, just as some content creators have a disgracefully disdainful view of their audience – particularly anyone who dares question their opinions – people jumping in the comments can forget that there’s a human being behind what they consume (well, unless it’s AI-generated, but that’s a gripe for another time). While it’s great to receive comments and know that your work is being seen and appreciated, there are definitely some discouraging responses and needlessly unpleasant interactions. You might say that that’s just the risk we take with any creative endeavour, but if I can be frank here today, there are some comments that content creators like me would prefer not to see.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #567 of the NLSC Podcast!

At the suggestion of one of our listeners, this week we’re breaking out the proverbial crystal ball to gaze into the future, and discuss what we think NBA 2K – and video games in general, for that matter – will be like in five years. This includes our expectations for innovations in gameplay, graphics, and modes, as well as fairness to gamers and the possibility that NBA 2K will finally have competition again at some point, be it NBA Live or another title. We also touch on the idea that consoles will be replaced by a Netflix-like streaming service for games, VR, and some other predictions regarding the future of gaming.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 36:46 — 25.6MB)

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!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #565 of the NLSC Podcast!

How many hours per week are we currently spending on the virtual hardwood, and which modes are keeping us hooked? This week, we join the community in crunching the numbers, and sharing our preferred ways to play. Needless to say, we also make a point of encouraging everyone to stick to the activities and style of play that is the most fun for them! We also poll our fellow basketball gamers and hardcore hoop heads on their picks for the era in NBA history that was the deepest in terms of talent, as well as which one boasted the biggest array of stars. While it may sound contradictory, they aren’t necessarily one and the same in everyone’s eyes!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:09:20 — 48.0MB)

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!

From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #564 of the NLSC Podcast!

Which NBA players are the best of the best when it comes to dunking, shooting, shot blocking, stealing the ball, and going one-on-one, both in real life and on the virtual hardwood? This week, we join the community in sharing our picks in each of those categories. We also recap a fun session using a work-in-progress Kobe Era roster for NBA 2K25 PC, in which we took on the Seattle Supersonics with the Golden State Warriors. Naturally, we also reflect on those squads, and the massive trade that took place between them in 2003! Finally, we discuss some of the aspects of basketball that video games still struggle to implement correctly, or accurately portray.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:06:04 — 45.7MB)

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!

NBA 2K25 has presented a few challenges to the modding community, but so far, it hasn’t stopped us from tinkering with the game! That’s thanks to the efforts of people like Looyh and the talented modders who have been readily sharing advice and resources in the Forum, but there’s also another NBA 2K25 tool that I’ve neglected to mention, namely Sync2K.

Created by doublesync, Sync2K is a mod suite that’s been developed to aid with roster editing and simulation league management. This includes the ability to quickly modify player attributes in real time, as well as apply changes to rosters being used by sim leagues. V1.1.1 of Sync2K has recently been released, providing support for the latest patch for NBA 2K25.

Check out the release and support topic here in the Forum to download the latest version, and keep up to date with future developments. doublesync has also provided a video overview of the mod suite, which you can watch below. Thanks again to doublesync for providing this tool free of charge, and to all of the modders and toolmakers who are freely sharing their fantastic work with the community! A reminder that our Downloads section offers free hosting for files up to 150 MB, and is open to anyone who has an active Forum account. For more information on contributing to the Downloads section, please see this tutorial.

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Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five things that I should’ve done while making rosters for various games.

Although my modding output has dwindled to sporadic releases over the past decade or so, there was a time when I was extremely active. Current rosters were my bread and butter, and as I’ve recalled in a couple of Wayback Wednesday features, I also created 1996 season mods for NBA Live 2001 and NBA Live 2004. Burnout put an end to my days as a prolific roster modder around 2013, but I did genuinely enjoy the creative satisfaction of modding for many years before that. As such, the lure has always lingered, and I’ve never wanted to completely shut the door on a return.

Indeed, I have released a couple of rosters for NBA Live and NBA 2K games since then. However, I’ve also had a couple of ill-fated attempts at updating NBA 2K11 for the current season, an idea that sadly fell through despite my best intentions. When I reflect upon my burnout, stepping away from roster modding, and my attempts to get back into the hobby, I can identify the mistakes I made, and what I should’ve done instead. From philosophical and strategic approaches to technical procedures, there are definitely things I should’ve done differently, and will certainly strive to do so with any roster projects moving forward. Here are five of the most important ones.

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Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five reasons to mod old games.

I remember a conversation with a long-time member of the community many years ago, when we were reflecting on the earliest NBA Live games fading into obscurity. This was around the turn of the millennium, and modding for titles earlier than NBA Live 99 was definitely slowing down and going out of vogue. With that being said, I did release a 2001 season update for NBA Live 96 PC, which at the time was meant to be a farewell to an old favourite. Little did either of us know that retro gaming would one day see a number of old releases find their way back into people’s rotations!

Granted, it’s not for everyone, but I’ll always advocate for retro gaming, basketball or otherwise. Moreover, I’ll also encourage anyone to mod old games if they’re inclined to do so. I can understand if some gamers balk at that idea. While there are people that turn their nose up at the suggestion of playing anything other than the latest release, they can at least see the nostalgic appeal of quickly throwing on a classic game. A modding project can take a lot of time and effort though, and mods for an old title may not seem worth all that trouble. I understand that point of view, but I strongly disagree! In that spirit, here are five reasons why it’s a great idea to mod old games.

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From courtside of the virtual hardwood, it’s Episode #561 of the NLSC Podcast!

With the 2024 holiday season drawing to a close and a new year almost upon us, this week we’re joining the community in sharing the basketball and basketball gaming gifts that we gave and received for Christmas, as well as listing some of our resolutions for both real hoops and the virtual hardwood in 2025. We also recap a couple of co-op games with the PC versions of two titles released some twenty years apart: NBA Live 95 and NBA 2K15. In addition to reflecting on two very different but nevertheless enjoyable sessions, we discuss how great of a sim game NBA Live 95 was for its time, and the ruthless AI that makes NBA 2K15 suitably challenging.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 55:24 — 38.4MB)

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!