Tag Archives: NBA 2K18

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 a few thoughts on Metacritic scores, and how they relate to basketball games.

We’re less than three weeks away from the release of NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18. It won’t be long before publications are getting their hands on the finished games, and vying to be the first to post their reviews. The most glowing reviews will be shared by the games’ official social media accounts, while we basketball gamers discuss the merits of each reviewer’s critique. At the end of the day, however, their approval or disapproval of each game will contribute to their respective Metacritic scores. Like all developers, both EA Sports and Visual Concepts will be hoping for the best result possible, as Metacritic scores are the yardstick for successful releases.

Generally speaking, that’s an understandable approach. While there can certainly be a disconnect between the opinions of professional reviewers and the general public, along with sales, Metacritic scores are a reasonable barometer for a game’s success. At the same time, when it comes to basketball games, and sports games in general for that matter, I’d argue that they’re not always accurate or fair. I’m not a huge fan of awarding numerical scores to games of any genre, and as far as basketball games are concerned, the extent to which the importance of Metacritic scores can be overblown is comparable to the overemphasis on overall ratings in the games themselves.

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As reported by The Gaming Tailgate and Operation Sports, the listing for NBA 2K18 on EB Games Australia has leaked a few new details about this year’s game. The information has since been removed from the listing, but a screenshot has preserved the details that were revealed, which are as follows:

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of all the latest topics of interest to our community, including further NBA Live 18 demo impressions, the new historical content in NBA 2K18, and the Kyrie Irving trade.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.

In the wake of the All-Time Teams trailer, the full rosters for all of the new All-Time Squads in NBA 2K18 have been revealed. 2K posted the roster listings over on the game’s official Facebook page, indicating the starters and revealing all of the players’ overall ratings.

As many gamers and a few publications covering NBA 2K18 have noted, there are some glaring omissions. Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller are two of the most noticeable absentees, as it would seem that 2K Sports were still unable to secure their likeness rights. The 1992 Dream Team is reportedly in the game again this year, so presumably Barkley will at least be included on that squad. Other noteworthy absentees include Moses Malone, Rasheed Wallace, Brandon Roy, and Gilbert Arenas. Of course, the new content still gives our modding community a tremendous head start this year.

See below for the full roster listings, and don’t forget to check out the trailer if you haven’t already seen it. What are your thoughts on the All-Time Teams? Have your say in the comments section below, and feel free to join in the discussion here in the NBA 2K18 section of the NLSC Forum.

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A new NBA 2K18 trailer has been released, showcasing the All-Time Teams in this year’s game. In addition to spotlighting various historical players, it also confirms that the All-Time squads will utilise both current and classic jerseys. I would suggest that this is a very good idea, as a lot of the historical players look quite strange wearing the contemporary uniforms.

Interestingly, the trailer doesn’t really spotlight too many of the newly added players, with the exception of Chris Webber, who appears in a few clips. Other featured players include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Julius Erving Kevin Durant, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal (both with the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic), Karl Malone, and Patrick Ewing. At this point, it remains to be seen whether 2K has been able to license longtime holdouts such as Charles Barkley and Reggie Miller, as they would be glaring omissions from their respective teams.

Check out the trailer below, or watch it here on YouTube if you can’t see the embedded video.

I’m guessing that the full lineups for the All-Time squads might be revealed very soon, perhaps along with some more screenshots of the new classic teams. In the meantime, what’s your take on the All-Time Teams trailer? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion taking place here in the NBA 2K18 section of the NLSC Forum.

There’s been a flurry of NBA 2K18 news today, so let’s get caught up on all the latest details!

Easily the biggest story in the NBA this week is the trade that has sent Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and the Brooklyn Nets’ first round pick in 2018. Irving is of course the cover player for NBA 2K18, and in the wake of the deal, the cover art is now oudated. Jason Argent, senior vice president of basketball operations for 2K, released a statement indicating that there will be a version of NBA 2K18 featuring Irving in a Celtics jersey, coming “at a later date”.

After revealing the final two classic teams in this year’s game, it seems that 2K have managed to squeeze in one more. The 2007 Golden State Warriors will be featured in NBA 2K18, suggesting that LD2K’s hint in the 2K TV season finale wasn’t just a red herring. The addition of the ’07 Warriors brings the total number of new classic teams to seventeen; please see below for the full updated list. You can also check out a screenshot of Baron Davis on that memorable underdog squad, along with some other new screens including Kobe Bryant on the All-Time Los Angeles Lakers. Find them below, as well as here in our NBA 2K18 Screenshots gallery.

Finally, during today’s live stream, 2K also announced a global broadcast on the official NBA 2K Facebook page on August 31st. Further details about NBA 2K18 will be revealed during the event, including information on MyCAREER. Notably, the event is titled “Run the Neighborhood”, and a #RunTheNeighborhood hashtag is being promoted. This may offer some clues as to the story in this year’s MyCAREER mode.

As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, as well as join in the discussion taking place in our NBA 2K18 Forum.

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The final two new classic teams in NBA 2K18 have been revealed. Despite what seemed to be a blatant hint at the 2007 Golden State Warriors in the 2K TV season finale, they won’t be included in the game. It also seems that Kenny Anderson’s Tweet was erroneous, as it will be the 2002 New Jersey Nets and not Anderson’s 1993 Nets that are featured in NBA 2K18. They’ll be joined by the 2005 San Antonio Spurs, which means the full list of new classic teams is as follows:

• 1997 Miami Heat
• 1999 New York Knicks
• 2002 Sacramento Kings
• 2002 New Jersey Nets
• 2004 Los Angeles Lakers
• 2005 San Antonio Spurs
• 2006 Memphis Grizzlies
• 2008 New Orleans Hornets
• 2008 Denver Nuggets
• 2011 Chicago Bulls
• 2011 Dallas Mavericks
• 2012 New York Knicks
• 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder
• 2013 Memphis Grizzlies
• 2014 Indiana Pacers
• 2016 Golden State Warriors

Of course, that’s not the only new historical content that will be featured in NBA 2K18. As previously announced, each franchise will have an All-Time squad, comprised of the best players in team history. A screenshot for the All-Time Chicago Bulls has just been released, featuring Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant, Artis Gilmore, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Jimmy Butler, and Jerry Sloan. It also appears that Toni Kukoc is peering over Horace Grant’s shoulder.

You can check out the screenshot below, along with a few other player screenshots that have been posted or Re-Tweeted by the official NBA 2K Twitter account. You’ll also find them over in our Screenshots Gallery. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, as well as join in the discussion in our NBA 2K18 Forum.

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The sixteen new classic teams in NBA 2K18 continue to be revealed two at a time by the official NBA 2K Twitter account. The latest squads to be revealed are the 2008 Denver Nuggets, 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder, 2011 Dallas Mavericks, 2016 Golden State Warriors, 2008 New Orleans Hornets, 2014 Indiana Pacers, 2011 Chicago Bulls, and 2012 New York Knicks. As such, we now know fourteen of the sixteen new classic teams:

• 1997 Miami Heat
• 1999 New York Knicks
• 2002 Sacramento Kings
• 2004 Los Angeles Lakers
• 2006 Memphis Grizzlies
• 2008 New Orleans Hornets
• 2008 Denver Nuggets
• 2011 Chicago Bulls
• 2011 Dallas Mavericks
• 2012 New York Knicks
• 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder
• 2013 Memphis Grizzlies
• 2014 Indiana Pacers
• 2016 Golden State Warriors

As noted in the previous bulletin, it seems that the 1993 New Jersey Nets will be one of the two remaining teams, while the season finale of 2K TV previously hinted that the 2007 Golden State Warriors would be in this year’s game. The final two teams should be confirmed soon, with further details (and presumably preview media) reportedly coming on August 25th.

More player screenshots have also been posted or Re-Tweeted by the official NBA 2K Twitter account, showing off what the players in question will look like in NBA 2K18, and what their ratings will be upon release. Check them all out below, as well as in our NBA 2K18 Screenshots gallery.

Got any thoughts on the classic teams that have been revealed so far, or any of the screenshots? Have your say in the comments section below, and as always, feel free to join in the discussion taking place here in the NLSC Forum.

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Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast is out now! With the preview season well and truly underway, Arcane and I have plenty of things to talk about this week, including the NBA Live 18 pre-order bonuses, the latest trailers and developer blogs for NBA 2K18, and some news that (of course) broke shortly after we finished recording Episode #217.

On this week’s show…

• Since its release, the NBA Live 18 demo has been receiving some patches, so it would appear that the experience will continue to be tweaked based on user feedback. Hopefully, this will also bode well for the inevitable Day One patch.
• The One Edition of NBA Live 18 has been confirmed, and it includes a couple of in-game pre-order bonuses, as well as a 33% discount from participating retailers.
• 2K Sports dropped the “Get Shook” trailer, along with a developer blog describing the improvements to gameplay in NBA 2K18. It sounds like the team has been focusing on the right things this year.
• A trailer and developer blog for MyTEAM in NBA 2K18 has also been released. The trailer itself was a little cringe-worthy, but overall the news is good there too.
• All-Time Teams and sixteen new Classic Teams will be added in NBA 2K18. We share our thoughts on the new classic teams that have been revealed so far.
• We wrap up Episode #218 of the NLSC Podcast with Our Week in Basketball Gaming, which has seen our 2K Pro-Am season for NBA 2K17 approach its final few sessions, and more grinding for cards in NBA Playgrounds. We also look ahead to our future weeks of basketball gaming.

Click Play to listen to the show!

Download or play on your mobile device/tablet: CLICK HERE (Running time: 1:25:44 — 59.0MB)

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.

We’re certainly in the thick of the preview season now, as the information regarding NBA 2K18 keeps on coming. 2K Sports have posted a new MyTEAM trailer, as well as a developer blog outling the additions and improvements in this year’s mode.

Some of the key points include:

• There’s a new mode called “Pack and Playoffs”. It’s essentially a draft mode, in which you open packs and get a new lineup each round. It’s luck of the draw, so sometimes you’ll end up with superstars, while other times you’ll end up with an underdog lineup of role players. The Playoffs consist of four rounds, each being a best of seven series. You can also use VC to hold onto players for the next round.
• Coaches will play a bigger role in NBA 2K18’s MyTEAM. New “system proficiency tech” (which will also be utilised in other modes) determines which of eight systems a team will run, and will have an impact on your MyTEAM’s performance. The idea will be to match suitable players to your coach’s system.
• “Super Max” is a new online mode with a salary cap and season gameplay. At the start of each round, users will need to build the best team possible under the set salary cap, and then compete in full length games.
• New Strategy Cards can be played during timeouts to add temporary boosts to your Points of Emphasis. Coaches also have different gem level cards this year.
• For chiefly offline gamers, Schedule Challenges will let you play through a 30 game schedule for all 30 NBA teams. They will all be available on day one, so no need to unlock them.
• The new All-Time teams have a presence in MyTEAM by way of All-Time Domination.
• The Auction House has been enhanced with real-time postings, reserve bidding, and the ability to sell stacks of items.
• MyTEAM Goals have been added, rewarding gamers for exploring the mode. The Collections menu has also been made easier to browse.
• Other enhancements include more Dynamic Duos, a reference to find a player’s Dynamic Duos partner, Badge replacement, bigger boosts for shoes, and an updated interface.

Be sure to check out the blog for the full scoop and some screenshots, which you can also find below and in our gallery. You can also watch the trailer below, or catch it here on YouTube if you can’t see the embedded video.

Your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below, and feel free to take the discussion to the NBA 2K18 section of the NLSC Forum!

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As I mentioned yesterday, 2K Sports are beginning to reveal some of the new classic teams that will appear in NBA 2K18. A full reveal will be made on or by August 25th, but in the meantime, the 2006 and 2013 Memphis Grizzlies, 2002 Sacramento Kings, and 2004 Los Angeles Lakers are the latest squads to be announced.

As it stands, we know that the following new classic teams will be added in NBA 2K18:

• 1997 Miami Heat
• 1999 New York Knicks
• 2002 Sacramento Kings
• 2004 Los Angeles Lakers
• 2006 Memphis Grizzlies
• 2013 Memphis Grizzlies

The 2002 Kings were previously featured in NBA 2K12, but were subsequently removed when 2K Sports were unable to continue licensing the likeness rights for all of the key players. Funnily enough, the 2004 Lakers, as well as the late 90s Knicks and Heat, are some of the retro teams that I said I wanted to see in future NBA 2K games, so on a personal note, it’s cool to see them being included.

Additionally, while it hasn’t been officially confirmed by 2K Sports yet, former NBA player and one-time All-Star Kenny Anderson mentioned on Twitter that his 1993 New Jersey Nets will also be in NBA 2K18. That squad also notably included Derrick Coleman, and the late Drazen Petrovic.

Once again, a full reveal will be made on or by August 25th, so it won’t be too long before we find out the remaining ten teams. In the meantime, 2K has released a bunch of new player screenshots and ratings. You can check them out below, as well as in our screenshots gallery.

As usual, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion in the NBA 2K18 section of the NLSC Forum.

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It’s always exciting to get a new trailer and see an upcoming game in action, but what we really want to know is, what kind of improvements have actually been made to the gameplay? Fortunately, we don’t have to wait very long for answers in regards to NBA 2K18, as Gameplay Director Mike Wang (aka Beluba) has posted a developer blog detailing the work that has gone into improving this year’s gameplay experience.

As you might expect, it’s a lengthy read, and therefore somewhat difficult to succinctly summarise. However, here are some of the key points:

• The animation and motion engine has been reworked, in order to remove canned moments and a lack of responsiveness. Stick input and attributes govern how players move around the court, so no more getting stuck with an unfavourable animation.
• Shot aiming has been removed this year, with the goal of balancing stick skills and basketball IQ, as well as making sure that a player’s ratings and shooting form are properly factored in. It also sounds as though green releases won’t be as easy or cheesy in NBA 2K18, as they won’t be based solely on release timing.
• The Shot Meter has been positioned beside players for better visibility. Expanded shot feedback informs the user about the quality of their release timing, and how tightly they were covered (Smothered, Heavily Contested, Lightly Contested, Open, or Wide Open).
• There are quicker “load ups” for jumpshot attempts, and some new, explosive hop jumpers. Layup packages have been reworked along the lines of different player styles, such as Euro Specialist, Floater Specialist, Crafty, and so on.
• Weight and strength plays a bigger role in the post game. Multiple moves can also be chained together.
• Tapping or double-tapping the Post Up button will perform triple threat, dribble, and post moves. This is intended as an alternative for users still coming to grips with the Pro Stick moves. There are also more dribbling moves in general.
• Receiver Control will allow users to take control of the pass recipient, to better position them to receive the pass. It’s also possible to choose between a short pass and long skip pass, for more precision.
• Collisions between offensive and defensive players have been improved. There’s more “hip riding” and less “stonewalling”, the logic for ball vulnerability has been enhanced, and foul calls have been revamped. Closeouts are also less cheesy, especially when using Intense D. Attention has also been paid to loose ball situations.

All in all, Beluba describes some very promising improvements to the gameplay in NBA 2K18. Be sure to check out the developer blog for the full details, and share your impressions in the comments section below, as well as here in the Forum.

2K Sports has dropped a new NBA 2K18 Trailer, which is titled “Get Shook”. Featuring the usual gameplay clips from cinematic angles, the trailer is backed by Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones”, which is included on the game’s soundtrack.

As you might expect, “Get Shook” features several big names, some of whom are also members of Team 2K. Featured players include Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, DeMar DeRozan, and many more. The trailer also hypes this year’s version of The Prelude, which will be available September 8th on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Check out the latest NBA 2K18 trailer below, or watch it here on the official NBA 2K YouTube channel if you can’t see the embedded video.

A few more screens have been released recently, including our first look at the Los Angeles Lakers All-Time team. Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, James Worthy, and Pau Gasol have been confirmed for the squad. LeBron James has also been confirmed as being rated 97 Overall in this year’s game, while Dwyane Wade is rated 84 Overall. Check out all of the latest screenshots below for more overall ratings.

This Tweet by the official NBA 2K Twitter account also seems to have confirmed that the 1996-97 Miami Heat and 1998-99 New York Knicks will be among the sixteen new classic teams added in NBA 2K18. A full reveal of all the new retro squads is coming on August 25th.

Do you have any thoughts on the latest NBA 2K18 trailer, or speculation as to which other classic teams will be added this year? Which players do you think will be included on the All-Time teams? Have your say in the comments section below, and join in the discussion taking place here in the NLSC Forum!

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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 an old print ad and trailer for NBA Live 2004.

A few weeks ago, I was using the Wayback Machine at Archive.org to try and find a downloadable version of the official patch for NBA Live 2003. As I mentioned in a recent Friday Five feature, it’s a file that’s no longer available, and I was hoping that I could retrieve it via an archived copy of the game’s official website. Unfortunately I didn’t have any luck in that regard, but I did manage to find some old preview media for NBA Live 2004 and NBA Live 2005. Among them was a print ad featuring cover player Vince Carter, and a gameplay trailer.

NBA Live 2004 is definitely a classic, and I’m sure that long-time members of our community have many fond memories of it. Since we’re also in the thick of the preview seasons for NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18, I thought it’d be fun to take a look back at how games used to be promoted in the lead up to their release. With that in mind, 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! 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 a few thoughts on how my basketball gaming habits have changed over the years.

I’ve been playing basketball games for quite a while now. It’s an interest that began as I was entering my teenage years, intensified in my mid-to-late teens when I created the NBA Live Domain and then subsequently took over running the NLSC, and has since continued into adulthood. Now that I’m in my early thirties, I’m finding that I’m approaching the hobby differently. I’m still passionate about it, but with different priorities and responsibilities, I’ve had to ration my time and make a few adjustments to the way that I play. Of course, there have been gradual changes to my habits ever since the very beginning of my interest in basketball gaming.

The evolution of basketball gaming, as well as my own changing tastes, have both played a role here. Picking up two annual releases rather than just the one is a major factor as well. With NBA Live 18 and NBA 2K18 coming out next month, I’ll once again be faced with the prospect of dividing my time between two current games. Just how much I enjoy those games will also depend on my expectations and tolerance for legacy issues, which have been shaped by all my years of basketball gaming. As I prepare for the next batch of previews, and the new games themselves, I thought that I’d reflect on how my habits have changed over time.

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