NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dribbling, Passing & More

[loso_34]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

That finishing with aiming bit is already in the current gen game. I finish a lot better than button users only drawback is if I’m off the mark I miss “bunnies”. Good to see they doubled down on aiming.

[2_headedmonster]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

I love the control that's been added. It's long over due and I'm interested to play with the functionality. Also, I hope the ability to choose arch is for lays ups as well. Too many times I've seen the defender on a drive, but the layup was put low on the glass, and served on a platter for a block.

Dislikes:

- That's not Harden's size up, and as Rockets fan it bothers me that he's been on the cover and they've never gotten his Euros, size up or stepbacks right.

- that off the backboard pass looked unnatural. The animation had a soft, lob look to the pass, but the ball ricocheted off the ( high!) glass with some spice.

- That step back by Booker has the same 'arms too short' look to it

HOPEFULLY THE CHANGES TO PASSING ELIMINATES VEERING PASS RECIPIENTS TO DEFENDERS SO THEY CAN INTERCEPT IT OR GIVING A SLOW, EXAGGERATED PASS ANIMATION TO TO SYNC WITH A STEAL !!! IT PUNISHES SIM-BALL AND REWARDS STEAL SPAMMING. #SKILLGAPLOL

[Mintsa]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

That's what I'm saying man. More complicated than taking a jump shot in real life.

Maybe with practice it will become second nature but I was struggling with aiming in the current gen demo and this seems to have another layer of complexity to it. I'll give it a try but have a feeling I'll go back to simply timing on the sticks as long as it doesn't put me at some kind of disadvantage.

I’ll give it a chance but in all likelyhood I’m going to use original shot stick timing with all meters and green flashes off.

[scottyp180]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

It's nice to have options but these should all be for more difficult shots like runners, floaters, or fadeaways. No good NBA shooter is thinking about his arc/aim/timing on a wide open jumper. That's like the last thing you would want going through your head lol

Forget NBA shooter, I don't think anyone that would consider themselves an experienced basketball player thinks much about shooting. When I go down to a court to shoot around I'm not think this much about my jump shot unless maybe there is wind or I am intentionally practicing bank shots and have to consider angle and aiming to a degree. And even then the thought process is usually quick (well for bank shots. Dealing with wind is a whole nother issue). It's usually a bad thing if a player is putting this much thought into each jump shot.

This was my issue while playing the current gen demo. I could get comfortable in 2KU but once I was in a game almost every shot became a chore. For me it made the game harder and more complicated than it needed to be. I'm all for more control with shooting but it shouldn't make shooting an open jumpshot with a good shooter harder and more complicated than it needs to be.

But like I said I know we will have the option to go back to more traditional mechanics so I don't want to sound overly negative it just seems like a case of trying to fix/improve an area of the game in an unnecessary way, especially when there are other areas of the game in more need of changes.

[Hustle Westbrook]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Yeah, I’m just gonna stick with the button for shooting lol. I appreciate the ambition but they’re turning a 2+2 problem into an entire calculus equation lol.

[jeremym480]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Meter, aim and arc to just take a jump shot.

Seems like a lot to do for an OG player like myself......lol

I feel the same but I'm going to keep an open mind and give it "the old college try".

During the PS3 days, I played was MLB The Show every year. I decided to switch over to MLB 2K12 just for a change of pace. I always used meter pitching in The Show but decided to give Pure Analog Pitching a try and it was the most fun I ever had pitching in a baseball game.

I'm hoping that this will be the same but at least we have the button as an option to fall back on.

[scottyp180]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Yeah, I’m just gonna stick with the button for shooting lol. I appreciate the ambition but they’re turning a 2+2 problem into an entire calculus equation lol.

Not to beat the dead horse but it's like trying to teach someone how to shoot for the first time. You can see them over thinking the process and being worried about their mechanics and how they're shooting, aiming, how much power they need, etc.

I feel like their should be a way to have a level of control of the shots (like controlling bank shots and arc) without making it too complicated. I want to feel like I'm controlling an NBA player, not a random kid at the play ground trying to mimic an NBA player by attempting shots that are too difficult.

[2_headedmonster]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Shooting is a skill, and I'm glad they're attempting to capture it's nuances...

2k can't win.

Change something: you're over complicating things, change it back.

Keep it the same : it's the same game, why should I buy this?

Basketball is basically dribbling, shooting and passing. If they can't change two of the three then they're hands are really tied.

[CujoMatty]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Spoiler

If you've been following the series and blogs long enough it starts to feel like deja vu with some of this stuff: "Better foot planting!", "Better animations and physics, less canned animations!", "more control, better responsiveness" etc. I'm looking forward to the changes and improvements just hope they fix the issues they're suppose to, don't present any new problems, and don't become broken after a patch or two

Normally I feel the same way, pretty much with every sports game lead up tour so I understand the skepticism.

For me though, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt this year because of the new hardware.

At the very least I believe they deserve that for their effort. Madden and Fifa are both basically being recognized as mostly mailing it in for current gen this year and unless they are keeping the world's best secret, nothing but graphical improvements for the first next gen installment. You could say the same for 2k current gen but at least they are going for it and if it goes how it's looking it might, forgiveness will be easy for many.

Given the fact that I would think the smartest business decision probably should have been to really worry about this last version on current gen and start new next year on new gen.(selling to a customer base of around 30-40 million consoles compared to probably 2 million ps5/xbox sold by march) I gotta give them the benefit of the doubt for going for it.

Honestly, and this is just conjecture, it feels like the NBA 2k crew just couldnt wait to get working on a new console and finally being able to do things they couldnt last gen. Say what you will about the parent company but that's the impression I get from the actual developers.

If any of that is at all true then I have great hope that this isnt just going to be broken promises this year.

[Daddy123]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

All the clips together

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_MFwaqpkeJk" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[scottyp180]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Spoiler

Normally I feel the same way, pretty much with every sports game lead up tour so I understand the skepticism.

For me though, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt this year because of the new hardware.

At the very least I believe they deserve that for their effort. Madden and Fifa are both basically being recognized as mostly mailing it in for current gen this year and unless they are keeping the world's best secret, nothing but graphical improvements for the first next gen installment. You could say the same for 2k current gen but at least they are going for it and if it goes how it's looking it might, forgiveness will be easy for many.

Given the fact that I would think the smartest business decision probably should have been to really worry about this last version on current gen and start new next year on new gen.(selling to a customer base of around 30-40 million consoles compared to probably 2 million ps5/xbox sold by march) I gotta give them the benefit of the doubt for going for it.

Honestly, and this is just conjecture, it feels like the NBA 2k crew just couldnt wait to get working on a new console and finally being able to do things they couldnt last gen. Say what you will about the parent company but that's the impression I get from the actual developers.

If any of that is at all true then I have great hope that this isnt just going to be broken promises this year.

I don't disagree and I will give them the benefit of the doubt but I'm not going to let me expectations go wild. I would say I'm more cautiously optimistic than skeptical.

I'm excited either way because I skipped current gen for the next-gen version so I'm happy knowing there was plenty of effort put into the game. I just don't want to assume that because they said they fixed or improved things that it means any problems or issues in those areas are solved and we don't have to worry about them.

[Beluba]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

A random note for the #CleanScreenGang since I couldn't find a place to put it in the blog... we added a setting called "Gameplay Indicators" just for you that you can toggle off and it will hide all UI screen elements, including the player indicator.

[pjt8405]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

@beluba

Will you be able to talk about the Substitution patterns/logic for next-gen? Currently unless you set-up Advanced Rotations, you will often see the AI (CPU) sub in 5 players at once instead of how NBA Coaches normally sub players.

[rudyjuly2]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

I loved the blog. The shooting signature animations sound fantastic. 3 point awareness is a huge improvement too.

My one request for shooting is if I choose to remain a button shooter I would love the 2K20 meter back as an option. It’s contoured to the players and less of an eye sore. I understand the need for a horizontal bar for stick shooting but it’s not necessary for timing only.

[ataman5]

Re: NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Gameplay Blog (Part 1 of 3) - Pro Stick Shooting, Pro Stick Dri

Shooting is a skill, and I'm glad they're attempting to capture it's nuances...

2k can't win.

Change something: you're over complicating things, change it back.

Keep it the same : it's the same game, why should I buy this?

Basketball is basically dribbling, shooting and passing. If they can't change two of the three then they're hands are really tied.

I disagree with you wholeheartedly, sorry no offense but the game of basketball is about movement, time and space, sorry.

What viewers watch may be shooting and passing as the last(end) of all possesions but it's nowhere near close or entitled to those 3 w/o time and space. And both are way off for 2k.

That's why i keep telling for years that 2k needs to get better on footplanting, speed and natural reactions which they never seem to really bother other than shooting and shooting and more shooting with some more gimmicking shooting etc.