The Greatest Wishlist!
Bring back the ability to save during a game
Ability to save replays.
Reduce the amount of automatically adjusted shots ie. make it possible for Shaq to take it up strong and dunk most of the time.
Make further improvements to Freestyle Control ie. do not have players turn around and run in the opposite direction when performing a crossover.
Add more adjusted shots ie. reverse layups, up-and-under moves, etc.
Remove the animation of players staggering after being hit in mid-air, or make it less common so it is easier to recover loose balls and rebounds.
Make it possible to dribble out of double-teams with good ballhandlers.
Improve the rotations/substitution patterns. Perhaps allow them to be edited.
Have a delay before gameplay resumes after a timeout or infraction.
Add the ability to designate substitutions to be made automatically at the next dead ball.
Add the ability for a timeout to be called at the next inbound/as soon as you get the ball.
When a player is blocked, it should register as a missed field goal attempt. Also, when an inbounding pass is intercepted, it should register as a steal.
Do not have players automatically turn their backs when they are being guarded. This makes it difficult to execute freestyle moves off the dribble.
Allow players to perform layups using the shoot button, if they are running towards the basket. Sometimes you may want to execute a layup, but the Dunk/Layup button will force a dunk.
Add the ability to assign players a third position (if applicable).
Take a player's secondary position into account when making substitutions or re-ordering rosters.
Bring back the ability to use the D-Pad for movement in the console versions.
Have CPU players utilise Freestyle moves.
Improve rebounding - allow players to battle on the boards and tip the ball to each other.
Add the ability to set off-the-ball screens, so that you can run your defender through multiple screens.
Bring back the ability to fake a pass.
Add the ability to configure controls to match the PS2 setup when using a Playstation 2 controller with a universal adapter.
Allow the user to make a manual substitution when there is an injury. Also allow the user to select a player to shoot the free throws.
Add a Create-a-Play feature, where you can draw up your own plays.
Bring back the old Press Camera angle, that was present up until NBA Live 2002.
Show players on bench in warmups, injured players in street clothes
Bring back the option of 2D portraits for users with slower PCs
Show players walking to the scorers table, ready to check in
Add the ability to disable cutscenes completely.
Add free throw rituals, such as Jason Kidd's kiss.
Add more realistic cyberfaces.
Customise the User Interface for the PC version. Make it similar to the "classic" style (Live 98-2001).
Animate player jerseys so that they move when the player moves.
Show sweat on players when playing on high detail settings.
Add more unique player introductions
Show player introductions for ALL games (unless turned off or skipped). Introduce both teams.
Get rid of the arcade sound effects when you dunk.
Record a different commentary track for Playoff/All-Star games
Add more arena specific sounds.
Add better first and last name recognition for created players (perhaps a text-to-speech feature?)
Add the ability to designate auto-substitution patterns.
Add the ability to save team strategies so that you do not have to adjust them every game
Allow the player to set team strategies before the game begins. Perhaps add it as an option on the same pre-game screen that allows you to adjust starting lineups, game settings, select jerseys etc.
Add a Layup rating. Players with lower ratings would not be able to perform double-clutch/switch hands/reverse layups.
Bring back the Clutch rating
Make CPU players attempt more mid-range jumpshots.
Make coaches have more of an impact on the game ie. teams with better coaches play better in difficult situations. Could also have an effect on simulated performance.
Add Offensive Goaltending
Realistic scores playing 12 minute quarters
On harder difficulty, have the CPU win due to intelligent plays, not by cheating (unrealitic FG%, you suddenly cannot hit a shot, etc)
Add real player salaries and the real NBA salary cap.
Improve the stats engine so that players have more realistic stats. Also fix the problem where players average fewer points per game after the first season.
Fix a bug with the Player/Rookie of the Month Award, where a player will be listed as averaging 0.0 points per game.
Fix the selection method for the Most Improved Player Award.
Allow selection of more than one team in Dynasty Mode
Improve training camp so that player improvement is more significant.
Allow importing of college players for the offseason draft (not just from March Madness 2004).
Add complete career stats, including career totals showing the teams player has played for, career highs, etc.
Improve the simulation engine so that bench players play realistic minutes and average realistic numbers.
Show other stats in NBA news such as winning/losing streaks.
Give second round draft picks a chance at being good players, and have more steals in the draft. Guys like Nick Van Exel and Cedric Ceballos were/are both good players who were selected in the second round.
Make free agency less random, eg. have team's success/player's role/playing time play more of a part in his decision to re-sign.
Add the ability to trade players at the NBA Draft.
During the offseason, allow more than 15 players on the roster. Users will then have to cut the roster down to 15 players before opening night.
Allow trades that cause a team to have more than 15 players, but force the user or CPU team to waive a player (just like in real life).
Do not automatically sign rookies when they are drafted. Allow users to renounce their rights, trade their rights, or wait a year to sign rookies.
Improve the Scouting Report to include NBA Comparisons, more strengths and weaknesses, playing style, secondary position, etc.
Add 10 day contracts.
Allow players to entertain offers, meaning that if a player refuses to sign, he might change his mind.
Make contract size independant from contract length.
When a highly rated player leaves his team for free agency and no other teams can offer him a large salary, have him re-sign with his current team.
Have rookies develop in weight (or even height if they are drafted out of high school). It would be extremely cool to draft a 6'9" 205 pound high school kid and have him be 6'10" 215 the next year.
Ability to select the length of a Dynasty up to 25 years, or play an unlimited amount of years.
Receive a warning when a player is contemplating retirement.
Better jersey number assignment after drafting a player or making a transaction.
Bring back the multi-team trade option. However, you should be able to specify players going from CPU teams to CPU teams - each team would have to agree to the trade of course.
Bring back the Cancel/Confirm Trade dialog box. It allows the user to see if a trade would be accepted, so they can make a few trade scenarios before eventually deciding to complete a trade.
Similarly, bring back the "(Team) feels this would make them too weak at (position)" dialog box. This allowed you to alter the deal so that the CPU would be more willing to accept the deal. Much better than simply "(Team) is not interested in your offer". Though CPU teams shouldn't always be interested in offers.
Add a Trading Block feature, so both user controlled and CPU teams could shop players/designate players who are available.
Make teams "aware" of a player's value. Make it more difficult to acquire superstar players/key players.
Abililty to hire/fire coaches.
Make the Offseason less linear. The Trade Players, Re-Sign Free Agents and Sign Free Agents should remain available until you start the next season.
Allow players to vote for All-Stars/improve All-Star selection
Add more statistics eg Double-Doubles, Triple-Doubles, Assist-to-Turnover ratio, etc.
Add the ability to manually retire jerseys.
Have players' jersey retired by more than one team/the team he spent most of his career with.
Offer coaching positions to retired players.
Add the ability to offer an extension to a player before his contract expires.
Continue to develop the generated rating system for players. Players with great athleticism also tend to be great dunkers and vice versa. This should be represented in the game.
Generate rookie's numbers in a more realistic fashion. No numbers in the 70s and 80s.
Let the computer take height into account when calculating blocking stats and making draft selections. A 7'4" center with
Excellent potential should ALWAYS be the number one or two pick. Likewise...that player should naturally average more blocks.
Generated rookies should be more athletic.
Add player/team morale and team chemistry.
Remove the possibility of players declining due to training sessions. Their ratings should increase or remain the same.
Allow more editing of player accessories. You should be able to give any player (created or pre-existing) any accessory from shoes to headbands.
Bring back the ability to change player expressions in Create-A-Player
Bring back the ability to change player headshapes in Create-A-Player.
Add more hairstyles and facial hair, all available in various colours.
Ability to choose DUNKPACKs. Perhaps even the ability to edit/create custom DUNKPACKs.
Bring back the Custom Team feature, with the following changes:
Ability to designate custom team as a regular NBA team, All-Star team, or special team. Special team would basically be the old format of custom teams, while the other classifications speak for themselves. Of course, since it's a created team, it would be deleted when the rosters are reset, no matter what the classification.
Ability to specify uniforms worn - custom made ones (selecting colours, etc), individual NBA team jerseys (so you could create All-Star/All-Rookie/All-Sophomore teams), or perhaps some generic ones.
More generic custom team art. Simple "NBA" logos, a basketball going through a hoop, etc. Do not make the team logo automatically show up on the jerseys. This way, you could make a custom East All-Stars team from the 80s that would use the East All-Stars logo, but would have a red or white jersey with the 80s style NBA All-Star logo on it. Basically, just a little more customisation.
Bring back the old "Restore Rosters" feature, where all transactions and created players are wiped. Make it possible to reload the default rosters.
Ability to edit the default All-Star teams (which would save patchmakers a lot of work) . Also have the ability to "Select New All-Stars" when playing an exhibition game with the All-Star teams. These changes, unlike editing the default teams, would only be temporary.
Bring back the ability to disable automatic roster re-ordering.
Find some way to make it possible to implement changes from a roster update into a season that's already started (hey, it doesn't hurt to ask)
Make weight independent of body type
Allow editing/create-a-coach.
Add a better practice mode, eg. ability to practice free throws, 5 on 5 pickup games, etc.
Add more Legends to the Legends Pool and Decade All-Star Teams.
Add Dunk Contest, Three Point Shootout, and Rookie/Sophomore Game
Add more shoes to the NBA Store
Retain ability to choose jerseys, but automatically designate alternate jerseys on Sunday games.
Improve CustomArt so there are no crashes or problems when using the CustomArt feature.
Add a 1-on-1 and 5-on-5 Street Mode
Create highlight reels using saved replays.
Add a full team practice mode.
Add more statistics such as Season Highs, Career Highs, Team Leaders, etc.
Show more fans in the stands when popular teams are playing.
Add the ability for East/West All-Stars to wear original team jerseys.
General/Gameplay/Bugs
Call Flagrant Fouls, but do not have injuries rely on them.
Bring back the ability to save during a game
Add more statistics/a halftime report to be displayed at halftime.
Add real NBA-style boxscores to the post-game stats.
Ability to save replays.
Make it possible to have more than one cyberface for one player, so that he can have multiple hairstyles.
Reduce the amount of automatically adjusted shots ie. make it possible for Shaq to take it up strong and dunk most of the time.
Make further improvements to Freestyle Control ie. do not have players turn around and run in the opposite direction when performing a crossover.
Add more adjusted shots ie. reverse layups, up-and-under moves, etc.
Remove the animation of players staggering after being hit in mid-air, or make it less common so it is easier to recover loose balls and rebounds.
Make it possible to dribble out of double-teams with good ballhandlers.
Improve the rotations/substitution patterns. Perhaps allow them to be edited.
Have a delay before gameplay resumes after a timeout or infraction.
Add more post-up moves.
Add the ability to attempt a tip dunk, tip shot or just jump for a rebound on command, as desired.
Add the ability for two players to get hold of the ball, resulting in a jump-ball.
Bring back the ability to call for a pick without running a Pick-and-Roll play.
Add the ability to designate substitutions to be made automatically at the next dead ball.
Add the ability for a timeout to be called at the next inbound/as soon as you get the ball.
When a player is blocked, it should register as a missed field goal attempt. Also, when an inbounding pass is intercepted, it should register as a steal.
Do not have players automatically turn their backs when they are being guarded. This makes it difficult to execute freestyle moves off the dribble.
Allow players to perform layups using the shoot button, if they are running towards the basket. Sometimes you may want to execute a layup, but the Dunk/Layup button will force a dunk.
Improved defensive matchups. Have the CPU team change its defensive assignments accordingly.
Add the ability to assign players a third position (if applicable).
Take a player's secondary position into account when making substitutions or re-ordering rosters.
Bring back the ability to use the D-Pad for movement in the console versions.
Have CPU players utilise Freestyle moves.
Improve rebounding - allow players to battle on the boards and tip the ball to each other.
Add the ability to set off-the-ball screens, so that you can run your defender through multiple screens.
Allow players to hang on the rim if you hold down the Dunk/Layup button.
Add a pro-hop effectiveness slider. The pro hop makes it too easy to get to the basket and we have no way to control it.
Add Force Feedback support for the PC version.
Bring back the ability to fake a pass.
Add the ability to configure controls to match the PS2 setup when using a Playstation 2 controller with a universal adapter.
Allow the user to make a manual substitution when there is an injury. Also allow the user to select a player to shoot the free throws.
Add a Create-a-Play feature, where you can draw up your own plays.
Presentaton (Video)/Animations
Bring back the old Press Camera angle, that was present up until NBA Live 2002.
Show players on bench in warmups, injured players in street clothes
Bring back the option of 2D portraits for users with slower PCs
Show players walking to the scorers table, ready to check in
Add the ability to disable cutscenes completely.
Add free throw rituals, such as Jason Kidd's kiss.
Add more realistic cyberfaces.
Customise the User Interface for the PC version. Make it similar to the "classic" style (Live 98-2001).
Animate player jerseys so that they move when the player moves.
Show sweat on players when playing on high detail settings.
Add more unique player introductions
Show player introductions for ALL games (unless turned off or skipped). Introduce both teams.
Improve dunking animations - have players clearly grab hold of the rim when they dunk.
Add better 3D crowds.
Add more shooting animations. Make it possible to assign/edit jumpshot style.
Add a lengthy celebration cutscene that will be shown when the user wins the championship. If they are at home, include fireworks and balloons as well as the presentation of both the Larry O'Brien and Finals MVP trophy.
Presentation (Audio)
Get rid of the arcade sound effects when you dunk.
Record a different commentary track for Playoff/All-Star games
Add more arena specific sounds.
Add better first and last name recognition for created players (perhaps a text-to-speech feature?)
Settings & Ratings
Add the ability to designate auto-substitution patterns.
Add the ability to save team strategies so that you do not have to adjust them every game
Allow the player to set team strategies before the game begins. Perhaps add it as an option on the same pre-game screen that allows you to adjust starting lineups, game settings, select jerseys etc.
Add a Layup rating. Players with lower ratings would not be able to perform double-clutch/switch hands/reverse layups.
Bring back the Clutch rating
Player AI
Make CPU players attempt more mid-range jumpshots.
Coaching AI
Make coaches have more of an impact on the game ie. teams with better coaches play better in difficult situations. Could also have an effect on simulated performance.
Realism
Add Offensive Goaltending
Realistic scores playing 12 minute quarters
On harder difficulty, have the CPU win due to intelligent plays, not by cheating (unrealitic FG%, you suddenly cannot hit a shot, etc)
Dynasty/Season Mode
Add real player salaries and the real NBA salary cap.
Improve the stats engine so that players have more realistic stats. Also fix the problem where players average fewer points per game after the first season.
Fix a bug with the Player/Rookie of the Month Award, where a player will be listed as averaging 0.0 points per game.
Fix the selection method for the Most Improved Player Award.
Allow selection of more than one team in Dynasty Mode
Improve training camp so that player improvement is more significant.
Allow importing of college players for the offseason draft (not just from March Madness 2004).
Add complete career stats, including career totals showing the teams player has played for, career highs, etc.
Improve the simulation engine so that bench players play realistic minutes and average realistic numbers.
Show other stats in NBA news such as winning/losing streaks.
Give second round draft picks a chance at being good players, and have more steals in the draft. Guys like Nick Van Exel and Cedric Ceballos were/are both good players who were selected in the second round.
Make free agency less random, eg. have team's success/player's role/playing time play more of a part in his decision to re-sign.
Add the ability to trade players at the NBA Draft.
During the offseason, allow more than 15 players on the roster. Users will then have to cut the roster down to 15 players before opening night.
Allow trades that cause a team to have more than 15 players, but force the user or CPU team to waive a player (just like in real life).
Do not automatically sign rookies when they are drafted. Allow users to renounce their rights, trade their rights, or wait a year to sign rookies.
Improve the Scouting Report to include NBA Comparisons, more strengths and weaknesses, playing style, secondary position, etc.
Add 10 day contracts.
Allow players to entertain offers, meaning that if a player refuses to sign, he might change his mind.
Make contract size independant from contract length.
When a highly rated player leaves his team for free agency and no other teams can offer him a large salary, have him re-sign with his current team.
Have rookies develop in weight (or even height if they are drafted out of high school). It would be extremely cool to draft a 6'9" 205 pound high school kid and have him be 6'10" 215 the next year.
Ability to select the length of a Dynasty up to 25 years, or play an unlimited amount of years.
Ability to un-retire players within the first year of their retirement. Might be a way to correct an early/unexpected retirement, having the option to coax a player into playing one more year.
Receive a warning when a player is contemplating retirement.
Better jersey number assignment after drafting a player or making a transaction.
Bring back the multi-team trade option. However, you should be able to specify players going from CPU teams to CPU teams - each team would have to agree to the trade of course.
Bring back the Cancel/Confirm Trade dialog box. It allows the user to see if a trade would be accepted, so they can make a few trade scenarios before eventually deciding to complete a trade.
Similarly, bring back the "(Team) feels this would make them too weak at (position)" dialog box. This allowed you to alter the deal so that the CPU would be more willing to accept the deal. Much better than simply "(Team) is not interested in your offer". Though CPU teams shouldn't always be interested in offers.
Add a Trading Block feature, so both user controlled and CPU teams could shop players/designate players who are available.
Make teams "aware" of a player's value. Make it more difficult to acquire superstar players/key players.
Abililty to hire/fire coaches.
Make the Offseason less linear. The Trade Players, Re-Sign Free Agents and Sign Free Agents should remain available until you start the next season.
Add complete NBA records.
Add All-NBA Third Team to Offseason Awards.
Allow players to vote for All-Stars/improve All-Star selection
Add more statistics eg Double-Doubles, Triple-Doubles, Assist-to-Turnover ratio, etc.
Add the ability to manually retire jerseys.
Have players' jersey retired by more than one team/the team he spent most of his career with.
Offer coaching positions to retired players.
Add the ability to offer an extension to a player before his contract expires.
Continue to develop the generated rating system for players. Players with great athleticism also tend to be great dunkers and vice versa. This should be represented in the game.
Generate rookie's numbers in a more realistic fashion. No numbers in the 70s and 80s.
Let the computer take height into account when calculating blocking stats and making draft selections. A 7'4" center with
Excellent potential should ALWAYS be the number one or two pick. Likewise...that player should naturally average more blocks.
Generated rookies should be more athletic.
Add player/team morale and team chemistry.
Remove the possibility of players declining due to training sessions. Their ratings should increase or remain the same.
Creating & Editing Players/Roster Management/Roster Patching
Allow more editing of player accessories. You should be able to give any player (created or pre-existing) any accessory from shoes to headbands.
Bring back the ability to change player expressions in Create-A-Player
Bring back the ability to change player headshapes in Create-A-Player.
Add more hairstyles and facial hair, all available in various colours.
Ability to choose DUNKPACKs. Perhaps even the ability to edit/create custom DUNKPACKs.
Bring back the Custom Team feature, with the following changes:
Ability to designate custom team as a regular NBA team, All-Star team, or special team. Special team would basically be the old format of custom teams, while the other classifications speak for themselves. Of course, since it's a created team, it would be deleted when the rosters are reset, no matter what the classification.
Ability to specify uniforms worn - custom made ones (selecting colours, etc), individual NBA team jerseys (so you could create All-Star/All-Rookie/All-Sophomore teams), or perhaps some generic ones.
More generic custom team art. Simple "NBA" logos, a basketball going through a hoop, etc. Do not make the team logo automatically show up on the jerseys. This way, you could make a custom East All-Stars team from the 80s that would use the East All-Stars logo, but would have a red or white jersey with the 80s style NBA All-Star logo on it. Basically, just a little more customisation.
Bring back the old "Restore Rosters" feature, where all transactions and created players are wiped. Make it possible to reload the default rosters.
Ability to edit the default All-Star teams (which would save patchmakers a lot of work) . Also have the ability to "Select New All-Stars" when playing an exhibition game with the All-Star teams. These changes, unlike editing the default teams, would only be temporary.
Bring back the ability to disable automatic roster re-ordering.
Find some way to make it possible to implement changes from a roster update into a season that's already started (hey, it doesn't hurt to ask)
A better generated schedule when selecting more or less than 29 teams in Season/Franchise mode. Have the option of selecting an 82 game season no matter how many teams, as this would be useful for old season roster patches. Also, allow saving of custom season formats, which could be distributed with old season roster patches.
Allow the editing of a player's contract length and size in the Edit Player screen.
Make weight independent of body type
Allow editing/create-a-coach.
Miscellaneous
Add a better practice mode, eg. ability to practice free throws, 5 on 5 pickup games, etc.
Add more Legends to the Legends Pool and Decade All-Star Teams.
Add Dunk Contest, Three Point Shootout, and Rookie/Sophomore Game
Add more shoes to the NBA Store
Retain ability to choose jerseys, but automatically designate alternate jerseys on Sunday games.
Improve CustomArt so there are no crashes or problems when using the CustomArt feature.
Add a 1-on-1 and 5-on-5 Street Mode
Create highlight reels using saved replays.
Add a full team practice mode.
Bring back the ability to sort stats by clicking on the column heading.
Add more statistics such as Season Highs, Career Highs, Team Leaders, etc.
Show more fans in the stands when popular teams are playing.
Decade All-Stars wearing their original team jerseys.
Add the ability for East/West All-Stars to wear original team jerseys.
Bring back Win/Loss records for User Profiles.
Add the ability to simulate quarters.
Award an All-Star MVP trophy.
Bring back the ability to save during a game
Ability to save replays.
Reduce the amount of automatically adjusted shots ie. make it possible for Shaq to take it up strong and dunk most of the time.
Make further improvements to Freestyle Control ie. do not have players turn around and run in the opposite direction when performing a crossover.
Add more adjusted shots ie. reverse layups, up-and-under moves, etc.
Remove the animation of players staggering after being hit in mid-air, or make it less common so it is easier to recover loose balls and rebounds.
Make it possible to dribble out of double-teams with good ballhandlers.
Improve the rotations/substitution patterns. Perhaps allow them to be edited.
Have a delay before gameplay resumes after a timeout or infraction.
Add the ability to designate substitutions to be made automatically at the next dead ball.
Add the ability for a timeout to be called at the next inbound/as soon as you get the ball.
When a player is blocked, it should register as a missed field goal attempt. Also, when an inbounding pass is intercepted, it should register as a steal.
Do not have players automatically turn their backs when they are being guarded. This makes it difficult to execute freestyle moves off the dribble.
Allow players to perform layups using the shoot button, if they are running towards the basket. Sometimes you may want to execute a layup, but the Dunk/Layup button will force a dunk.
Add the ability to assign players a third position (if applicable).
Take a player's secondary position into account when making substitutions or re-ordering rosters.
Bring back the ability to use the D-Pad for movement in the console versions.
Have CPU players utilise Freestyle moves.
Improve rebounding - allow players to battle on the boards and tip the ball to each other.
Add the ability to set off-the-ball screens, so that you can run your defender through multiple screens.
Bring back the ability to fake a pass.
Add the ability to configure controls to match the PS2 setup when using a Playstation 2 controller with a universal adapter.
Allow the user to make a manual substitution when there is an injury. Also allow the user to select a player to shoot the free throws.
Add a Create-a-Play feature, where you can draw up your own plays.
Bring back the old Press Camera angle, that was present up until NBA Live 2002.
Show players on bench in warmups, injured players in street clothes
Bring back the option of 2D portraits for users with slower PCs
Show players walking to the scorers table, ready to check in
Add the ability to disable cutscenes completely.
Add free throw rituals, such as Jason Kidd's kiss.
Add more realistic cyberfaces.
Customise the User Interface for the PC version. Make it similar to the "classic" style (Live 98-2001).
Animate player jerseys so that they move when the player moves.
Show sweat on players when playing on high detail settings.
Add more unique player introductions
Show player introductions for ALL games (unless turned off or skipped). Introduce both teams.
Get rid of the arcade sound effects when you dunk.
Record a different commentary track for Playoff/All-Star games
Add more arena specific sounds.
Add better first and last name recognition for created players (perhaps a text-to-speech feature?)
Add the ability to designate auto-substitution patterns.
Add the ability to save team strategies so that you do not have to adjust them every game
Allow the player to set team strategies before the game begins. Perhaps add it as an option on the same pre-game screen that allows you to adjust starting lineups, game settings, select jerseys etc.
Add a Layup rating. Players with lower ratings would not be able to perform double-clutch/switch hands/reverse layups.
Bring back the Clutch rating
Make CPU players attempt more mid-range jumpshots.
Make coaches have more of an impact on the game ie. teams with better coaches play better in difficult situations. Could also have an effect on simulated performance.
Add Offensive Goaltending
Realistic scores playing 12 minute quarters
On harder difficulty, have the CPU win due to intelligent plays, not by cheating (unrealitic FG%, you suddenly cannot hit a shot, etc)
Add real player salaries and the real NBA salary cap.
Improve the stats engine so that players have more realistic stats. Also fix the problem where players average fewer points per game after the first season.
Fix a bug with the Player/Rookie of the Month Award, where a player will be listed as averaging 0.0 points per game.
Fix the selection method for the Most Improved Player Award.
Allow selection of more than one team in Dynasty Mode
Improve training camp so that player improvement is more significant.
Allow importing of college players for the offseason draft (not just from March Madness 2004).
Add complete career stats, including career totals showing the teams player has played for, career highs, etc.
Improve the simulation engine so that bench players play realistic minutes and average realistic numbers.
Show other stats in NBA news such as winning/losing streaks.
Give second round draft picks a chance at being good players, and have more steals in the draft. Guys like Nick Van Exel and Cedric Ceballos were/are both good players who were selected in the second round.
Make free agency less random, eg. have team's success/player's role/playing time play more of a part in his decision to re-sign.
Add the ability to trade players at the NBA Draft.
During the offseason, allow more than 15 players on the roster. Users will then have to cut the roster down to 15 players before opening night.
Allow trades that cause a team to have more than 15 players, but force the user or CPU team to waive a player (just like in real life).
Do not automatically sign rookies when they are drafted. Allow users to renounce their rights, trade their rights, or wait a year to sign rookies.
Improve the Scouting Report to include NBA Comparisons, more strengths and weaknesses, playing style, secondary position, etc.
Add 10 day contracts.
Allow players to entertain offers, meaning that if a player refuses to sign, he might change his mind.
Make contract size independant from contract length.
When a highly rated player leaves his team for free agency and no other teams can offer him a large salary, have him re-sign with his current team.
Have rookies develop in weight (or even height if they are drafted out of high school). It would be extremely cool to draft a 6'9" 205 pound high school kid and have him be 6'10" 215 the next year.
Ability to select the length of a Dynasty up to 25 years, or play an unlimited amount of years.
Receive a warning when a player is contemplating retirement.
Better jersey number assignment after drafting a player or making a transaction.
Bring back the multi-team trade option. However, you should be able to specify players going from CPU teams to CPU teams - each team would have to agree to the trade of course.
Bring back the Cancel/Confirm Trade dialog box. It allows the user to see if a trade would be accepted, so they can make a few trade scenarios before eventually deciding to complete a trade.
Similarly, bring back the "(Team) feels this would make them too weak at (position)" dialog box. This allowed you to alter the deal so that the CPU would be more willing to accept the deal. Much better than simply "(Team) is not interested in your offer". Though CPU teams shouldn't always be interested in offers.
Add a Trading Block feature, so both user controlled and CPU teams could shop players/designate players who are available.
Make teams "aware" of a player's value. Make it more difficult to acquire superstar players/key players.
Abililty to hire/fire coaches.
Make the Offseason less linear. The Trade Players, Re-Sign Free Agents and Sign Free Agents should remain available until you start the next season.
Allow players to vote for All-Stars/improve All-Star selection
Add more statistics eg Double-Doubles, Triple-Doubles, Assist-to-Turnover ratio, etc.
Add the ability to manually retire jerseys.
Have players' jersey retired by more than one team/the team he spent most of his career with.
Offer coaching positions to retired players.
Add the ability to offer an extension to a player before his contract expires.
Continue to develop the generated rating system for players. Players with great athleticism also tend to be great dunkers and vice versa. This should be represented in the game.
Generate rookie's numbers in a more realistic fashion. No numbers in the 70s and 80s.
Let the computer take height into account when calculating blocking stats and making draft selections. A 7'4" center with
Excellent potential should ALWAYS be the number one or two pick. Likewise...that player should naturally average more blocks.
Generated rookies should be more athletic.
Add player/team morale and team chemistry.
Remove the possibility of players declining due to training sessions. Their ratings should increase or remain the same.
Allow more editing of player accessories. You should be able to give any player (created or pre-existing) any accessory from shoes to headbands.
Bring back the ability to change player expressions in Create-A-Player
Bring back the ability to change player headshapes in Create-A-Player.
Add more hairstyles and facial hair, all available in various colours.
Ability to choose DUNKPACKs. Perhaps even the ability to edit/create custom DUNKPACKs.
Bring back the Custom Team feature, with the following changes:
Ability to designate custom team as a regular NBA team, All-Star team, or special team. Special team would basically be the old format of custom teams, while the other classifications speak for themselves. Of course, since it's a created team, it would be deleted when the rosters are reset, no matter what the classification.
Ability to specify uniforms worn - custom made ones (selecting colours, etc), individual NBA team jerseys (so you could create All-Star/All-Rookie/All-Sophomore teams), or perhaps some generic ones.
More generic custom team art. Simple "NBA" logos, a basketball going through a hoop, etc. Do not make the team logo automatically show up on the jerseys. This way, you could make a custom East All-Stars team from the 80s that would use the East All-Stars logo, but would have a red or white jersey with the 80s style NBA All-Star logo on it. Basically, just a little more customisation.
Bring back the old "Restore Rosters" feature, where all transactions and created players are wiped. Make it possible to reload the default rosters.
Ability to edit the default All-Star teams (which would save patchmakers a lot of work) . Also have the ability to "Select New All-Stars" when playing an exhibition game with the All-Star teams. These changes, unlike editing the default teams, would only be temporary.
Bring back the ability to disable automatic roster re-ordering.
Find some way to make it possible to implement changes from a roster update into a season that's already started (hey, it doesn't hurt to ask)
Make weight independent of body type
Allow editing/create-a-coach.
Add a better practice mode, eg. ability to practice free throws, 5 on 5 pickup games, etc.
Add more Legends to the Legends Pool and Decade All-Star Teams.
Add Dunk Contest, Three Point Shootout, and Rookie/Sophomore Game
Add more shoes to the NBA Store
Retain ability to choose jerseys, but automatically designate alternate jerseys on Sunday games.
Improve CustomArt so there are no crashes or problems when using the CustomArt feature.
Add a 1-on-1 and 5-on-5 Street Mode
Create highlight reels using saved replays.
Add a full team practice mode.
Add more statistics such as Season Highs, Career Highs, Team Leaders, etc.
Show more fans in the stands when popular teams are playing.
Add the ability for East/West All-Stars to wear original team jerseys.
General/Gameplay/Bugs
Call Flagrant Fouls, but do not have injuries rely on them.
Bring back the ability to save during a game
Add more statistics/a halftime report to be displayed at halftime.
Add real NBA-style boxscores to the post-game stats.
Ability to save replays.
Make it possible to have more than one cyberface for one player, so that he can have multiple hairstyles.
Reduce the amount of automatically adjusted shots ie. make it possible for Shaq to take it up strong and dunk most of the time.
Make further improvements to Freestyle Control ie. do not have players turn around and run in the opposite direction when performing a crossover.
Add more adjusted shots ie. reverse layups, up-and-under moves, etc.
Remove the animation of players staggering after being hit in mid-air, or make it less common so it is easier to recover loose balls and rebounds.
Make it possible to dribble out of double-teams with good ballhandlers.
Improve the rotations/substitution patterns. Perhaps allow them to be edited.
Have a delay before gameplay resumes after a timeout or infraction.
Add more post-up moves.
Add the ability to attempt a tip dunk, tip shot or just jump for a rebound on command, as desired.
Add the ability for two players to get hold of the ball, resulting in a jump-ball.
Bring back the ability to call for a pick without running a Pick-and-Roll play.
Add the ability to designate substitutions to be made automatically at the next dead ball.
Add the ability for a timeout to be called at the next inbound/as soon as you get the ball.
When a player is blocked, it should register as a missed field goal attempt. Also, when an inbounding pass is intercepted, it should register as a steal.
Do not have players automatically turn their backs when they are being guarded. This makes it difficult to execute freestyle moves off the dribble.
Allow players to perform layups using the shoot button, if they are running towards the basket. Sometimes you may want to execute a layup, but the Dunk/Layup button will force a dunk.
Improved defensive matchups. Have the CPU team change its defensive assignments accordingly.
Add the ability to assign players a third position (if applicable).
Take a player's secondary position into account when making substitutions or re-ordering rosters.
Bring back the ability to use the D-Pad for movement in the console versions.
Have CPU players utilise Freestyle moves.
Improve rebounding - allow players to battle on the boards and tip the ball to each other.
Add the ability to set off-the-ball screens, so that you can run your defender through multiple screens.
Allow players to hang on the rim if you hold down the Dunk/Layup button.
Add a pro-hop effectiveness slider. The pro hop makes it too easy to get to the basket and we have no way to control it.
Add Force Feedback support for the PC version.
Bring back the ability to fake a pass.
Add the ability to configure controls to match the PS2 setup when using a Playstation 2 controller with a universal adapter.
Allow the user to make a manual substitution when there is an injury. Also allow the user to select a player to shoot the free throws.
Add a Create-a-Play feature, where you can draw up your own plays.
Presentaton (Video)/Animations
Bring back the old Press Camera angle, that was present up until NBA Live 2002.
Show players on bench in warmups, injured players in street clothes
Bring back the option of 2D portraits for users with slower PCs
Show players walking to the scorers table, ready to check in
Add the ability to disable cutscenes completely.
Add free throw rituals, such as Jason Kidd's kiss.
Add more realistic cyberfaces.
Customise the User Interface for the PC version. Make it similar to the "classic" style (Live 98-2001).
Animate player jerseys so that they move when the player moves.
Show sweat on players when playing on high detail settings.
Add more unique player introductions
Show player introductions for ALL games (unless turned off or skipped). Introduce both teams.
Improve dunking animations - have players clearly grab hold of the rim when they dunk.
Add better 3D crowds.
Add more shooting animations. Make it possible to assign/edit jumpshot style.
Add a lengthy celebration cutscene that will be shown when the user wins the championship. If they are at home, include fireworks and balloons as well as the presentation of both the Larry O'Brien and Finals MVP trophy.
Presentation (Audio)
Get rid of the arcade sound effects when you dunk.
Record a different commentary track for Playoff/All-Star games
Add more arena specific sounds.
Add better first and last name recognition for created players (perhaps a text-to-speech feature?)
Settings & Ratings
Add the ability to designate auto-substitution patterns.
Add the ability to save team strategies so that you do not have to adjust them every game
Allow the player to set team strategies before the game begins. Perhaps add it as an option on the same pre-game screen that allows you to adjust starting lineups, game settings, select jerseys etc.
Add a Layup rating. Players with lower ratings would not be able to perform double-clutch/switch hands/reverse layups.
Bring back the Clutch rating
Player AI
Make CPU players attempt more mid-range jumpshots.
Coaching AI
Make coaches have more of an impact on the game ie. teams with better coaches play better in difficult situations. Could also have an effect on simulated performance.
Realism
Add Offensive Goaltending
Realistic scores playing 12 minute quarters
On harder difficulty, have the CPU win due to intelligent plays, not by cheating (unrealitic FG%, you suddenly cannot hit a shot, etc)
Dynasty/Season Mode
Add real player salaries and the real NBA salary cap.
Improve the stats engine so that players have more realistic stats. Also fix the problem where players average fewer points per game after the first season.
Fix a bug with the Player/Rookie of the Month Award, where a player will be listed as averaging 0.0 points per game.
Fix the selection method for the Most Improved Player Award.
Allow selection of more than one team in Dynasty Mode
Improve training camp so that player improvement is more significant.
Allow importing of college players for the offseason draft (not just from March Madness 2004).
Add complete career stats, including career totals showing the teams player has played for, career highs, etc.
Improve the simulation engine so that bench players play realistic minutes and average realistic numbers.
Show other stats in NBA news such as winning/losing streaks.
Give second round draft picks a chance at being good players, and have more steals in the draft. Guys like Nick Van Exel and Cedric Ceballos were/are both good players who were selected in the second round.
Make free agency less random, eg. have team's success/player's role/playing time play more of a part in his decision to re-sign.
Add the ability to trade players at the NBA Draft.
During the offseason, allow more than 15 players on the roster. Users will then have to cut the roster down to 15 players before opening night.
Allow trades that cause a team to have more than 15 players, but force the user or CPU team to waive a player (just like in real life).
Do not automatically sign rookies when they are drafted. Allow users to renounce their rights, trade their rights, or wait a year to sign rookies.
Improve the Scouting Report to include NBA Comparisons, more strengths and weaknesses, playing style, secondary position, etc.
Add 10 day contracts.
Allow players to entertain offers, meaning that if a player refuses to sign, he might change his mind.
Make contract size independant from contract length.
When a highly rated player leaves his team for free agency and no other teams can offer him a large salary, have him re-sign with his current team.
Have rookies develop in weight (or even height if they are drafted out of high school). It would be extremely cool to draft a 6'9" 205 pound high school kid and have him be 6'10" 215 the next year.
Ability to select the length of a Dynasty up to 25 years, or play an unlimited amount of years.
Ability to un-retire players within the first year of their retirement. Might be a way to correct an early/unexpected retirement, having the option to coax a player into playing one more year.
Receive a warning when a player is contemplating retirement.
Better jersey number assignment after drafting a player or making a transaction.
Bring back the multi-team trade option. However, you should be able to specify players going from CPU teams to CPU teams - each team would have to agree to the trade of course.
Bring back the Cancel/Confirm Trade dialog box. It allows the user to see if a trade would be accepted, so they can make a few trade scenarios before eventually deciding to complete a trade.
Similarly, bring back the "(Team) feels this would make them too weak at (position)" dialog box. This allowed you to alter the deal so that the CPU would be more willing to accept the deal. Much better than simply "(Team) is not interested in your offer". Though CPU teams shouldn't always be interested in offers.
Add a Trading Block feature, so both user controlled and CPU teams could shop players/designate players who are available.
Make teams "aware" of a player's value. Make it more difficult to acquire superstar players/key players.
Abililty to hire/fire coaches.
Make the Offseason less linear. The Trade Players, Re-Sign Free Agents and Sign Free Agents should remain available until you start the next season.
Add complete NBA records.
Add All-NBA Third Team to Offseason Awards.
Allow players to vote for All-Stars/improve All-Star selection
Add more statistics eg Double-Doubles, Triple-Doubles, Assist-to-Turnover ratio, etc.
Add the ability to manually retire jerseys.
Have players' jersey retired by more than one team/the team he spent most of his career with.
Offer coaching positions to retired players.
Add the ability to offer an extension to a player before his contract expires.
Continue to develop the generated rating system for players. Players with great athleticism also tend to be great dunkers and vice versa. This should be represented in the game.
Generate rookie's numbers in a more realistic fashion. No numbers in the 70s and 80s.
Let the computer take height into account when calculating blocking stats and making draft selections. A 7'4" center with
Excellent potential should ALWAYS be the number one or two pick. Likewise...that player should naturally average more blocks.
Generated rookies should be more athletic.
Add player/team morale and team chemistry.
Remove the possibility of players declining due to training sessions. Their ratings should increase or remain the same.
Creating & Editing Players/Roster Management/Roster Patching
Allow more editing of player accessories. You should be able to give any player (created or pre-existing) any accessory from shoes to headbands.
Bring back the ability to change player expressions in Create-A-Player
Bring back the ability to change player headshapes in Create-A-Player.
Add more hairstyles and facial hair, all available in various colours.
Ability to choose DUNKPACKs. Perhaps even the ability to edit/create custom DUNKPACKs.
Bring back the Custom Team feature, with the following changes:
Ability to designate custom team as a regular NBA team, All-Star team, or special team. Special team would basically be the old format of custom teams, while the other classifications speak for themselves. Of course, since it's a created team, it would be deleted when the rosters are reset, no matter what the classification.
Ability to specify uniforms worn - custom made ones (selecting colours, etc), individual NBA team jerseys (so you could create All-Star/All-Rookie/All-Sophomore teams), or perhaps some generic ones.
More generic custom team art. Simple "NBA" logos, a basketball going through a hoop, etc. Do not make the team logo automatically show up on the jerseys. This way, you could make a custom East All-Stars team from the 80s that would use the East All-Stars logo, but would have a red or white jersey with the 80s style NBA All-Star logo on it. Basically, just a little more customisation.
Bring back the old "Restore Rosters" feature, where all transactions and created players are wiped. Make it possible to reload the default rosters.
Ability to edit the default All-Star teams (which would save patchmakers a lot of work) . Also have the ability to "Select New All-Stars" when playing an exhibition game with the All-Star teams. These changes, unlike editing the default teams, would only be temporary.
Bring back the ability to disable automatic roster re-ordering.
Find some way to make it possible to implement changes from a roster update into a season that's already started (hey, it doesn't hurt to ask)
A better generated schedule when selecting more or less than 29 teams in Season/Franchise mode. Have the option of selecting an 82 game season no matter how many teams, as this would be useful for old season roster patches. Also, allow saving of custom season formats, which could be distributed with old season roster patches.
Allow the editing of a player's contract length and size in the Edit Player screen.
Make weight independent of body type
Allow editing/create-a-coach.
Miscellaneous
Add a better practice mode, eg. ability to practice free throws, 5 on 5 pickup games, etc.
Add more Legends to the Legends Pool and Decade All-Star Teams.
Add Dunk Contest, Three Point Shootout, and Rookie/Sophomore Game
Add more shoes to the NBA Store
Retain ability to choose jerseys, but automatically designate alternate jerseys on Sunday games.
Improve CustomArt so there are no crashes or problems when using the CustomArt feature.
Add a 1-on-1 and 5-on-5 Street Mode
Create highlight reels using saved replays.
Add a full team practice mode.
Bring back the ability to sort stats by clicking on the column heading.
Add more statistics such as Season Highs, Career Highs, Team Leaders, etc.
Show more fans in the stands when popular teams are playing.
Decade All-Stars wearing their original team jerseys.
Add the ability for East/West All-Stars to wear original team jerseys.
Bring back Win/Loss records for User Profiles.
Add the ability to simulate quarters.
Award an All-Star MVP trophy.
). 
soon. The NBA is a wonderful league that everyon wants to be apart of have the game fufill that experise which means continue the sim trend.
Comment