Tag Archives: Music

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 as I experience a reunion with 2002.

The song changes from “Without Me” by Eminem to Junkie XL’s remix of Elvis Presley’s “A Little Less Conversation”. Speaking of remixes, Scooter’s take on “The Logical Song” by Supertramp is also on the playlist, along with “By the Way” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. There’s even some Avril Lavigne, among other chart toppers. And speaking of music, that NBA Live 2003 soundtrack is incredible! It’s one of the games that I’m playing, along with its immediate predecessors, NBA Live 2001 and NBA Live 2002. Even NBA Live 99 PC gets the occasional spin. The year is…2022.

Needless to say, I’m experiencing those things a little differently than the first time around. Those hits that were charting in 2002 are on a Spotify playlist, rather than CD or radio (or, more honestly, acquired via LimeWire or Kazaa). Those games are being played thanks to fixes that allow them to run on modern hardware far better than what I had at the time. Thanks to emulation, I can even run NBA Live 2002 on my PC if I’m getting screenshots, or if it’s more convenient than firing up my PlayStation 2. In more ways than one, I’m having a reunion with 2002. Despite what you may think, this isn’t a cry for help from a Grumpy Elder Millennial who’s edging closer to forty.

Read More »

In addition to dropping the MyCAREER trailer and announcing the Dreamer Edition cover featuring J. Cole, 2K has also released details on the NBA 2K23 soundtrack. However, this year’s soundtrack reveal is a little different compared to previous games.

Notably, we don’t actually have a full tracklist as yet! 2K has simply revealed that there will be 50+ artists featured in the game at launch, including Drake, Joey Bad***, Mike Dimes, Snow Tha Product, Lil Baby, Jack Harlow, Megan Thee Stallion, and Jackson Wang, just to name a few. Additionally, three new songs will be added to the NBA 2K23 soundtrack every Friday, expanding it throughout the year.

You can follow and listen to the soundtrack here on Spotify. As of writing, there are no tracks on the playlist, but presumably it will start filling up soon. New tracks will also be added as they appear in NBA 2K23 after launch. Please see below for a list of artists that have been confirmed so far.

What are your thoughts on the artists that have been revealed, and the concept of a consistently updated soundtrack? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the NBA 2K23 section of the NLSC Forum!

Read More »

No need to beware the Ides of March, as it brings new mod releases for NBA 2K22! Today’s new mods include custom intro music, a couple of player faces, and updated rosters. Download all of today’s NBA 2K22 mod releases 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 Mod Releases bulletins, please see this FAQ in our Wiki.

Read More »

The latest file additions for NBA 2K14 PC include an ESPN scoreboard, presentation fix, RED MC scripts, and an updated custom soundtrack mod. Check them all out at the links below!

bongo88
ESPN 75th Scoreboard (Association Automatic Weekday)
2K Presentation Enhancements (Annoyances Removed)

Mackubex
Set Default Scoreboard Logos SCRIPT by Mackubex
Apply 2021-22 NBA Season Injuries SCRIPT by Mackubex

collectedechoes
Collectedechoes’s NBA Jams (Updated to v3.0)

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.

Pick up fictional jerseys for the Houston Rockets, and a collection of custom soundtracks, in today’s file additions for NBA 2K14. Please see below for the download links!

Pyromania1983 & iamLillard
Pyromania1983’s Fictional Houston Rockets Uniform Concepts

collectedechoes
Collectedechoes’s NBA Jams

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 taking a look back at what we might consider the signature songs of some classic games (including a few recent classics).

There are many aspects to our nostalgia for video games, some of which don’t have anything to do with the gameplay itself. Music is a strong nostalgic trigger in general, and when it comes to basketball games, hearing a song from its soundtrack will take you back to all the time you spent with it. This includes both the original tracks that were created for very old games, and licensed music that began appearing in titles around the early 2000s. This is particularly true if a title ended up including a remixed version of the song referencing basketball and gaming.

With that in mind, what are some of the signature songs in the games we’ve loved over the years? Sometimes it’s difficult to pick just one, as certain soundtracks have been full of hits and bangers. Nevertheless, I believe it’s possible to pick one stand out track that you instantly remember when you fire up a game again. Alternatively, you’ll think of the game when you hear the song elsewhere. From the golden oldies to some more recent favourites, let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

Episode #343 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Derek (aka Dee4Three) and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

Part 2 of our latest chat with Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo continues our conversation about the traits of good and bad basketball games, and how they factored into the development of Basketball Classics. We also talk about the one game that we’d want to be stuck on a desert island with, which Donkey Kong Country title is objectively the best, and how to handle custom ratings in basketball video games. There’s also one last tidbit about future features in Basketball Classics, and possibly a few more nods to a certain Simpsons-themed platformer.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:31:53 — 63.2MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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 show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

As July draws to a close, another trickle of news begins with the reveal of the NBA 2K21 soundtrack. Current Gen cover player Damian Lillard, under the name Dame D.O.L.L.A., has provided two of the 52 songs that will be featured in the game when it releases on September 4th, 2020.

Other artists featured on the NBA 2K21 soundtrack include Stormzy, Roddy Ricch and The Strokes. The late Juice WRLD and Pop Smoke will also be featured, along with Lil Tijay, J Has, CHIKA, and Little Simz. Mainstays such as Meek Mill and Travis Scott also return. As was the case with NBA 2K20, more songs will be added post-launch. Those new songs will apparently span the genres of hip-hop, R&B, electronic, pop, and rock.

The Next Gen version of NBA 2K21 will reportedly feature 202 songs at launch. Even more songs will be added after launch, the same as with the Current Gen version. The Next Gen version will feature Zion Williamson on the cover, and is a launch title for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, slated for release this holiday season.

You can listen to the entire soundtrack here on Spotify. What are your thoughts on this year’s selection of music? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum!

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.

Read More »

Episode #324 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! Dee4Three and I are your hosts for this week’s show.

NBA 2K20 is available at a discount on various digital platforms, as part of another push to pump up sales numbers for the game. It’s also received a new patch, though it appears to just be a hotfix for an issue with MyTEAM Unlimited. Meanwhile, the renewal of EA Sports’ exclusive deal with the NFL leads us to consider the ramifications if the NBA ever sought a similar arrangement with either EA or Visual Concepts. In our featured discussion this week, we talk about recent additions to our collections, games we’re coveting, pet peeves in older releases, and the appeal of simplicity. We also pay tribute to the late Jerry Sloan, legendary Utah Jazz coach and original star for the Chicago Bulls.

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 2:18:41 — 95.3MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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

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 taking a look back at NBA Hangtime.

One of the benefits of Wayback Wednesday is that eventually, everything becomes “retro” enough to talk about. As it is, I’ve bent the rules slightly with some more recent games from time to time, but generally speaking, I’ve preferred focusing on titles that are several years old. To that end, I’ve tried to cover many of the classics before touching on more recent nostalgia. However, there are several titles from the early days of basketball gaming that I still haven’t covered, but definitely mean to get to. NBA Hangtime is just one of the games that are overdue for a retrospective.

Perhaps it’s only fitting that I’ve yet to cover the game, going on five years of running Wayback Wednesday features. As popular as it was with basketball gamers in its day, it does tend to be overlooked when we discuss the best arcade hoops titles. It was a strong follow-up to NBA Jam Tournament Edition – one of my personal favourites – and a game that I really enjoyed on the Nintendo 64. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

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 taking a look back at some trivia for NBA Live 2000 and NBA Live 10.

Happy New Year, everyone! It’s strange to tip off a year with a retro feature, but it is Wednesday, and on Wednesdays we go way back. Speaking of which, as part of the lead up to the release of NBA Live 18 and NBA Live 19, I posted a couple of articles containing trivia facts about NBA Live 98 and NBA Live 08, and NBA Live 99 and NBA Live 09. I’d intended to do the same thing this year with NBA Live 2000 and NBA Live 10, ahead of the release of NBA Live 20. Of course, NBA Live 20 was ultimately cancelled, so I didn’t get an opportunity to do so back in September.

Looking back, I’m certainly glad I didn’t run it pre-emptively while we waited for that announcement! However, it seems like a waste of a good Wayback Wednesday idea to let it go, and of course, it all ties in to the 25th Anniversary of NBA Live content that we’re doing despite the series going on hiatus once again. With that in mind, here are the trivia facts I would’ve originally shared to celebrate the release of the third NBA Live game with a year ending in zero. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »

Today’s new file addition for NBA Live 2005 is a custom soundtrack by mrjea99. Download it at the link below!

mrjea99
2019 Soundtrack Update

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.

I’m a little behind in posting this, but the NBA 2K20 soundtrack has been revealed. This year’s track list includes artists such as Drake, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Run the Jewels, Meek Mill, Ariana Grande, and the late Nipsey Hussle. It’s available to listen to here on Spotify.

For the first time ever, new songs will be added to the game post-release. Additionally, 2K are teaming up with UnitedMasters to give new artists an opportunity to be featured. Unsigned artists are invited to submit their entries for a chance to be included on the soundtrack.

I’ve added the NBA 2K20 soundtrack (as it currently stands) to our Wiki. You can also check out the full track listing below. Got any thoughts on the soundtrack? Feel free to share them in the comments section, as well as here in the NLSC Forum.

Read More »

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 taking a look back at the NBA Live 2003 soundtrack.

Music is an integral part of video games, no matter the genre. It creates atmosphere, pumps you up to play, and forges a connection with gamers. As such, it’s no surprise that a game’s soundtrack becomes a significant part of our nostalgia, leading us to seek out tracks on YouTube or Spotify, or contributing to the rush we feel when we fire up an old favourite once again. Many games have brought us original scores that have subsequently become iconic, but the inclusion of licensed songs has led to a lot of debates about the best soundtracks in video games.

That debate has naturally produced a variety of answers when it comes to basketball games, but there’s one playlist in particular that a lot of gamers mention: the NBA Live 2003 soundtrack. Many of its tracks have come to be associated with the game, and the album release was certified platinum, a first for a video game score. Let’s take a look back…way back…

Read More »