NBA 2k13 Preview
 

I skipped the version last year because I was enjoying 2k11 so much, but there are too many additions to this upcoming version for me to pass on.

1) They've added a real time physics engine.

2) R-Stick dribbling allows for much more control.

3) Improved passing.

A variety of other smaller things that they have just begun to announce such as the "Dream Team" (sans Scottie Pippen who couldn't reach a deal with 2ksports) and the recent Olympic team among other things.

Here are some of the links discussing some of the advancements:

'NBA 2K13' doesn't treat 'accessible' as a dirty word | The Verge

http://www.gameinformer.com/games/nb...-nba-2k13.aspx


Looking forward to October!

A few of my favorite points from the 2nd article:

To better distinguish between the AI point guard performances in the league, Visual Concepts has added awareness differentiations. While a veteran, pass-first point guard like Jason Kidd has a 360-degree view of what’s happening around him, shoot-first point guards or less talented players will have part of the court shaded like a fog of war in strategy games.

• In past games, fans found that it didn't matter how wide the player ratings scale was, because the talented players at a respective position always played the same. To better differentiate between players, Visual Concepts has taken a page out of FIFA and Madden by introducing Signature Skills. Each player can have up to five signature skills, which cover everything from being a spot up shooter or alley-ooper on offense to being a chasedown artist or pick-pocketer on defense.

• Most of the signature skills are individual traits, but some players also have skills that extend to their teammates, which Visual Concepts is calling “team auras.” A floor general will improve the play of everyone else on the court, as will a high-energy defensive specialist.

• Visual Concepts is still locking down the number of skill traits for the game, but right now they are hovering around 28. The developer has not commented on whether or not players will gain or lose signature skills as their career progresses.

You can just trade Pippen from the Bulls legend team to the dream team, so all isn't lost. It's just not licensing his likeness to the '92 dream team for the purpose of the game. Barkley did the opposite, licensing his likeness for the dream team, but not for the game otherwise.

Got 2K12 for cheap for PC and the modding community make the game so fresh it's crazy.

Been following this as well. I traded in 2K12 on my 360, though I did later pick it up for the PC. Looking forward to playing 2K13 in October.

These additions make me glad I have a Kinect:

Like FIFA and Madden, NBA 2K13 takes advantage of the Kinect’s voice recognition software to offer players a new way to interact with the game.

• The Kinect controls work for several basic menu functions, such as calling a timeout, substituting players, changing defenses, or calling plays.

• Most of the commands are conversational and supplemented with AI logic. If you notice Kevin Garnett is tired, simply say “substitute Kevin Garnett” and the AI will chose an appropriate player. If you want to bring a resting star like Kevin Durant off the bench, say “bring in Kevin Durant” and the AI will choose who should sit.

• These conversational commands extend to playcalling as well. Rather than calling out specific plays for players, you can simply say “Run a screen play for Kobe” and the game will automatically choose one of the many screen plays for him. Once the play is activated, the play vision art will appear on screen to guide you though the attack.

Is the dream team a mode? I'd love to play Olympic tournaments

I'm guessing no as it wasn't announced. I think it is just a chance to match-up the dream team vs current olympic team to see which one will triumph in a videogame.

Will continue to be a day 1 pickup for me. Really hoping that among other things they made some improvements to the online assocation mode - matchmaking in 2K12 for that mode was very poorly implemented.

Also skipped 2k12, but this looks like it might be too good to pass up.

I have it for the PC, but I haven't really given it a shot yet. Any suggestions for mods?

I like the Ultimate Base Roster, currently at version 26. It has a lot of teams, players, and other features. The link has the download, as well as pictures and videos about the mod.

Yes. This.

Also, I'd just check that whole site out for all sorts of mods and other things. But you can't go wrong with the UBR. It's so awesome and they release updates everytime something worthwhile happens.

this sets off all sorts of alarm clocks considering that NBA2K allways had trouble with way too many "balls being suspectible to interception".

Considering this has been the single greatest flaw to the series for nearly it´s entire existence i certainly hope that the Passes are more crisp to compensate here ...

I´m curious how the "fog of war" for the players vision works with different camera options. Can easily see it with the 2K cam, but from press box ? It can´t actually only apply to the AI, right ?

I actually read it as only applying to AI.

Fog of war as a user is kinda... awkward.

yeah, reading it again it seems pretty clear it´s only AI. Which would be cool if it works somewhat.

I would kind of like it for the user as well though.
Heck, you could allways make it optional to turn on and off.

I hope Barkley can be put on a regular roster. My favorite NBA player of all time.

I think and hope it will be for both with the option to turn on or off.

My PS3 has been malfunctioning for a while now, to the point where it's unplayable. I've been getting by without it. Until a month from now.

Another preview, this time from Gamescom 2012.

ok, this vid has me excited :




NBA 2K13 Video - Developer Insight #2 - Gameplay: Part 2 - Operation Sports

I played the heck out of 2k12 for the PC. Fully modded its spectacular. Hopefully the 2K series will include football next year for the PC.

Me too. This version looks like it is addressing all of the biggest issues I've had with the last 2 versions.

I've been addicted to the 1997-season mod. It's amazing, practically every single player has a cyberface too.

Scottie Pippen Ends 2K13 Dream Team Holdout - Speakeasy - WSJ

Pippen joins the dream team roster for NBA 2k13.

Dammit, I should not have come into this thread because, as usual, I will have to wait until the NBA season is over to get this game. That's because PC owners won't get any patches until they are all released.

I hope they made some improvements to My Player and aren't just focusing on game play.

Yesterday, all of the signature skills were revealed:

2K Sports Community Update

List looks good. Looking forward to October.

Trying to decide between this one and NHL 13. Fifa is a no brainer for me. I've picked up 2k11 and 12, but haven't played NHL since 10. I wish all these release dates would be staggered a bit more.

Kobe the 4th quarter close, ha!

I know. Too much reliance on his rep.. hasn't been a closer since 2008 at least.

Very interesting... seems like a cool feature that if done poorly, could unbalance the game in interesting ways. If I have faith in any team to pull it off it would be the 2k team so we'll see. Seems like it's well thought out at least.

I think NBA Live did sth like that once and it was spectacularly horrible, kind of the trainwreck of all trainwrecks as far as features go (i have especially vivid memories of guys with that special skill hitting hook shots from 25 feet :D )

I do love that 2K is going all in with this, not just concentrating on spectacular stuff but doing it for role players as well (setting screens, corner 3s)

Another preview up:

http://www.gamesradar.com/nba-2k13-p...tepping-arena/

My favorite part is total sim control. When you sim games you can pick who takes the majority of the shots on your team, what defenses you use, etc. So happy to see these additions to the sim engine when you have to sim games if you want to get through multiple seasons.

Or play DDS:PB3 :D

EXECUTIVELY PRODUCED BY JAYZ

If I was playing as Denver and my Javale McGee threw the ball off the backboard for a dunk, I think I would feel obligated to bench him :D

Developer insight about MyCareer: NBA 2K13 Developer Insight #4 - MyCAREER - YouTube

Video of Ronnie2K and LD2K from 2K playing a full game (5 min qts) of NBA2K13: 2K - FIRST EVER full NBA 2K13 game - Oklahoma City Thunder (Ronnie2K) vs. Miami Heat (LD2k)

i can´t believe that passes still float like that ... And still no real speed differences with big guys guarding guards on the perimeter ...

ugh.

New developer insight released for myTEAM. From comments I've seen, it's like FIFA's Ultimate Team, if you know what that is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYimA-ie790

Overall, I'm looking forward to this year's game. They've made some changes that should play well if they're executed effectively.

The demo is out for the 360 and PS3.

Nice - thanks rjolley. Too bad I'm buried in FIFA. LOL

Nothing up on Steam yet about this yet. Any word from 2k about PC availability since it's only a week away now?

Haven't heard anything about PC except that it's being released.

Just checked the 2k Store, though. It's listed at $29.99.

PC is definitely well down the 2K priority list unfortunately. I think I'm going to go console this time around.

At least they're still putting it out on PC though...

The impressions of the demo on OS are very favorable. They say that the speed differential of guards and bigs is finally fixed. I can't wait to get my hands on the game next week.

Demo'ing it as soon as this Reds game is over. Can't wait.