I think 2K has done a great job regarding gameplay, although there's still stuff to fix. I totally agree that gameplay comes first and presentation comes second, but as I have faith in 2K that they will make gameplay a priority in next year's game, I've choses to focus on presentation, as I love the sense that I'm watching a game rather than playing one.
I've played all NBA Live games between 95-2008 and just switched over to 2K this year.
In this thread, I'd like to talk about presentation and how to make the game look more like a TV broadcast and how to better improve atmosphere to make it feel natural and more real.
Here are my suggestion, please feel free to comment and add your own suggestions:
Presentation<O
</O
<O</O
2K already does a great job in presentation, but there’s alot of things I’d like to see added to make it feel more like I’m watching a game than playing it.
<O</O<O</O
- Why has starting lineup introductions been omitted the last couple of years? Reinstate them for, at least, the home teams with the option of bypassing them after you get tired of them. (I know you get tired of them after seeing them a couple of times but come playoffs you will want to see them again to get into the mood).<O></O>
<O</O
- It’s great that the announcers recap the previous night’s games but this can be expanded greatly. They could talk about games being played at the same time as the game you’re playing by giving you score updates (e.g., e.g MIA-ORL 15-12 4:54 1st Quarter)<O</O
<O</O
- There’s a lot more that can be added in terms of presentation. I’d like to see stats being presented when players are shooting freethrows. FT% for the season, PPG etc. Even things like what they’ve scored each quarter, in case the player has been cold in the beginning and started heating up, or vice versa. Free throws is a great opportunity to add stat lines like that or have the commentators comment on stats or personal info. Old NBA Live games had these stats in early games, but then removed them, and I’d like to this reimplemented. This would add a lot of the whole TV presentation feel.<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
- Expand on the idea that 2K Sports is presenting the game and that it is a real sports network. I liked when it switched to the halftime TV studio in 2K9, maybe that could be expanded on.<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
- Show stats how players are doing in the playoffs, i.e. playoff averages in PPG, APG and so one. Maybe commentators can comment on how the players average has gone up when compared to the regular season and such.
Also add Finals averages. How much players are averaging during the NBA Finals.<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
- Expand the half-time show to maybe include other stats, make it longer. Have stats or comments regarding other games playing at the same time.
<O</O
<O</O
- Highlights from other games during the night/week. Top 10 plays during the week/month/year
<O</O
<O</O
- More TV realism in general.
- <O</O
<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
Replays<O</O
<O</O
2K is already doing a good job showing not just scoring highlights but also showing people who are rebounding well, making steals and assists. Why not add some stuff to it like great defense? Otherwise, here are a few things I’d like to see:<O></O>
<O</O
- If a played gets fouled, don’t just show the replay if he scores the ball. If someone goes up for a layup, gets bumped and adjusts his shot, but misses it, show this replay too. Even if collision detection isn’t 100%, it would still be fun to see what the player did in order to draw the foul. You don’t have to show this immediately, why not show it between free throws? Would really add to the realism, if a player made a great play but the ball didn’t go in.<O</O
<O</O
- Huge blocks that go into the crowd is something else I’d like to see in replays. A player goes up for a layup but a big man comes from the weak side and blocks the shot into the fifth row; then I’d like to see it again.<O</O
<O</O
- Show replays between free throws. That would feel more natural and give them a better flow in the game. Same goes for during timeouts. Why not show a replay while you are substituting, or, if you make a quick substitution and have 40-50 seconds left on the clock, show a replay there.<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
<O</O
Atmosphere<O</O
<O</O
First and foremost; add playoff atmosphere to the game. Since Live has it this year, I suspect 2K are already looking into it, but I still want to mention it here since this would add a whole new level to the game. Don't just have the same template for upcoming games. Make it feel like the upcoming game 3 of a series is an important event.
Give the sense that the playoffs are truly separated from the rest of the season. Show us what the standings during the series instead of how many games a team has won/lost during the playoffs.
Also make the stadiums have more explosive playoff and finals introductions. Maybe show some highlights on the jumbotron or such (e.g. the Lakers intro during the 2009 NBA Finals).<O</O
<O</O
Scenario: It’s game 2 of the eastern conference finals. A sweeping shot inside the arena, and then, playoff logos and team logos come swooping in showing us the standings in the series. Make it flashy! After that, highlights from game 1 with commentary on top of it of stats from game 1. <O</O
<O</O
How about arenas being half-full at the start of season games and then gradually filling up. You already have people walking the isles. These could probably be expanded. Same thing for the end of games; in blowout, people start leaving early. See people would out of the arena at the end of the game.<O</O
<O</O
More chants and the ability to change music for PC players as well. It’s great feature and I don’t understand why this wasn’t implemented on the PC. <O</O
<O</O
My Player<O</O
<O</O
This is an awesome concept, and I suspect 2K is already working to expand it.<O</O
Here my suggestions:<O</O
<O</O
- Have My Player go through the draft and not just straight into summer league. Us PC players didn't get the chance of playing Combine so we didn't get a chance to root for our player during the draft.
<O</O
- Have My Player play less minutes coming off the bench. I wouldn’t mind just playing 10 out of 48 minutes if my rating is just 55 or something. Makes you really make the most out of your time. <O</O
<O</O
- Let My Player negotiate contracts. Maybe one team is offering me $3 million for one year, another $5 million. Do I choose more money, or do I want to stay with my troupe and build something?<O</O
I've played all NBA Live games between 95-2008 and just switched over to 2K this year.
In this thread, I'd like to talk about presentation and how to make the game look more like a TV broadcast and how to better improve atmosphere to make it feel natural and more real.
Here are my suggestion, please feel free to comment and add your own suggestions:
Presentation<O
</O<O
</O2K already does a great job in presentation, but there’s alot of things I’d like to see added to make it feel more like I’m watching a game than playing it.
<O
</O<O</O- Why has starting lineup introductions been omitted the last couple of years? Reinstate them for, at least, the home teams with the option of bypassing them after you get tired of them. (I know you get tired of them after seeing them a couple of times but come playoffs you will want to see them again to get into the mood).<O
></O><O
</O- It’s great that the announcers recap the previous night’s games but this can be expanded greatly. They could talk about games being played at the same time as the game you’re playing by giving you score updates (e.g., e.g MIA-ORL 15-12 4:54 1st Quarter)<O
</O<O
</O- There’s a lot more that can be added in terms of presentation. I’d like to see stats being presented when players are shooting freethrows. FT% for the season, PPG etc. Even things like what they’ve scored each quarter, in case the player has been cold in the beginning and started heating up, or vice versa. Free throws is a great opportunity to add stat lines like that or have the commentators comment on stats or personal info. Old NBA Live games had these stats in early games, but then removed them, and I’d like to this reimplemented. This would add a lot of the whole TV presentation feel.<O
</O<O
</O<O
</O- Expand on the idea that 2K Sports is presenting the game and that it is a real sports network. I liked when it switched to the halftime TV studio in 2K9, maybe that could be expanded on.<O
</O<O
</O<O
</O- Show stats how players are doing in the playoffs, i.e. playoff averages in PPG, APG and so one. Maybe commentators can comment on how the players average has gone up when compared to the regular season and such.
Also add Finals averages. How much players are averaging during the NBA Finals.<O
</O<O
</O<O
</O- Expand the half-time show to maybe include other stats, make it longer. Have stats or comments regarding other games playing at the same time.
<O
</O<O
</O- Highlights from other games during the night/week. Top 10 plays during the week/month/year
<O
</O<O
</O- More TV realism in general.
- <O
</O<O
</O<O
</O<O
</O<O
</O<O
</OReplays<O
</O<O
</O2K is already doing a good job showing not just scoring highlights but also showing people who are rebounding well, making steals and assists. Why not add some stuff to it like great defense? Otherwise, here are a few things I’d like to see:<O
></O><O
</O- If a played gets fouled, don’t just show the replay if he scores the ball. If someone goes up for a layup, gets bumped and adjusts his shot, but misses it, show this replay too. Even if collision detection isn’t 100%, it would still be fun to see what the player did in order to draw the foul. You don’t have to show this immediately, why not show it between free throws? Would really add to the realism, if a player made a great play but the ball didn’t go in.<O
</O<O
</O- Huge blocks that go into the crowd is something else I’d like to see in replays. A player goes up for a layup but a big man comes from the weak side and blocks the shot into the fifth row; then I’d like to see it again.<O
</O<O
</O- Show replays between free throws. That would feel more natural and give them a better flow in the game. Same goes for during timeouts. Why not show a replay while you are substituting, or, if you make a quick substitution and have 40-50 seconds left on the clock, show a replay there.<O
</O<O
</O<O
</O<O
</OAtmosphere<O
</O<O
</OFirst and foremost; add playoff atmosphere to the game. Since Live has it this year, I suspect 2K are already looking into it, but I still want to mention it here since this would add a whole new level to the game. Don't just have the same template for upcoming games. Make it feel like the upcoming game 3 of a series is an important event.
Give the sense that the playoffs are truly separated from the rest of the season. Show us what the standings during the series instead of how many games a team has won/lost during the playoffs.
Also make the stadiums have more explosive playoff and finals introductions. Maybe show some highlights on the jumbotron or such (e.g. the Lakers intro during the 2009 NBA Finals).<O
</O<O
</OScenario: It’s game 2 of the eastern conference finals. A sweeping shot inside the arena, and then, playoff logos and team logos come swooping in showing us the standings in the series. Make it flashy! After that, highlights from game 1 with commentary on top of it of stats from game 1. <O
</O<O
</OHow about arenas being half-full at the start of season games and then gradually filling up. You already have people walking the isles. These could probably be expanded. Same thing for the end of games; in blowout, people start leaving early. See people would out of the arena at the end of the game.<O
</O<O
</OMore chants and the ability to change music for PC players as well. It’s great feature and I don’t understand why this wasn’t implemented on the PC. <O
</O<O
</OMy Player<O
</O<O
</OThis is an awesome concept, and I suspect 2K is already working to expand it.<O
</OHere my suggestions:<O
</O<O
</O- Have My Player go through the draft and not just straight into summer league. Us PC players didn't get the chance of playing Combine so we didn't get a chance to root for our player during the draft.
<O
</O- Have My Player play less minutes coming off the bench. I wouldn’t mind just playing 10 out of 48 minutes if my rating is just 55 or something. Makes you really make the most out of your time. <O
</O<O
</O- Let My Player negotiate contracts. Maybe one team is offering me $3 million for one year, another $5 million. Do I choose more money, or do I want to stay with my troupe and build something?<O
</O
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