Allright, from a 2k fan perspective let's do a rewind. Been a 2k fan since dreamcast. Then came long the NBA Inside Drive series(on the XBOX), which added a lot of 2k's gameplay and innovated the game themselves. Inside drive was discontinued and for me it was on to 2k3 and so forth. Now that I got some of my background out the way, let me say this, As I reflect, "Remember when 2k was the overwhelming underdog. I mean EA been doing this since Lakers vs. Celtics. And when they finally got competition they'd always use the moniker, "Best selling franchise" And 2k kept using "number 1 rated." Our 1st impression for the original 2k was like, "man this is pretty sweet" The dreamcast days alltogether made u feel like gaming would never be the same. Ya'll ballaholics certainly remember Inside Drive on the original XBox. Vince Carter's stepback move was slick. Even though everybody had the exact same one. The graphics were the best to date. Paul Peirce was the coverboy for the 2nd one. Great build on the first. Then they got shut down and a few of the gamkemakers came over to 2k.
2k3 was the first one to use ESPN. We would use the right stick for passing and button presses for dribble moves. 2k4 was Iverson's last game as coverboy and the introduction of 24/7 and Isomotion(here comes Tracy Morgan), Isomotion back then used the right stick to dribble ala Live's freestyle.. On a side note, you remember we had more interaction with the developers? "Fastbreak Fridays" ring a bell. Also, remember we used to get demos from sources like XBox magazine. Next was 2k5 and "Fear the Fro Fridays." It was an epic year for 2k's football series. A solid one for the hoops team. Remember fellas, hoops wasn't even 2k's strong suit. They excelled at hoops but they were on the cutting edge in football. Anyways, Ben Wallace was brought along with the no fluff attitude. Pretty good graphics for it's time. Then 2k6 came out for both old and next generations. The player models were pretty good. No more ESPN. Lol at the back cover of the game, "Current Rosters." And you guys complain about getting 1-2 a week updates. Remember we used to get 2-3 roster updates a year. This was also the introduction of the shot stick. How did we do without it.
2k6 was just the tip of the iceberg, cause 2k7 is the torch bearer as the best in the series for its time. Signature shots were introduced along with signature style. 2k was still using the "number 1 rated" on its covers. This for us hoop simheads was what nfl2k5 was for football gamers. Then 2k8 built on the great gameplay of 2k7. This is when they brought in the different body types. Remember that first vid of Eddy Curry and his fat butt. They brought us lock on D. I think most simheads don't like lock on D but if they kept the mechanics the same with defense without the defensive stance(ya'll remember that?) We'd really never play online. Yea, defense was strictly contextual. Anyways, the main problem we had other than the automatic double-team/ steal glitch online was the lack of a game manual. But those of us who been around pretty much knew the "how to's" Then 2k9 came along and while at it's best it is the best in the series, at it's core 2k7 loomed large as to what it was having to live up to. Let me just say this, I remember when it felt like 2k was an underground game and we were the ones having to promote it. We'd have Operation Sports guys like da czar with the night before 2k and Sage the Infinite ripping a couple of verses on the mic.
Now I don't knock them for what (to the untrained eye) would seem like a sell out move. But they just want what most of us sim guys want, and that's a great hoops experience. I want Live to be great, wanted Inside Drive to be great, and most def want 2k to be great. To end, what do u remember about previous iterations and other game influences, i.e. Inside Drive/ Nba Live and so forth that make u super amped yet still filling unfulfilled as a hoops junkie?
2k3 was the first one to use ESPN. We would use the right stick for passing and button presses for dribble moves. 2k4 was Iverson's last game as coverboy and the introduction of 24/7 and Isomotion(here comes Tracy Morgan), Isomotion back then used the right stick to dribble ala Live's freestyle.. On a side note, you remember we had more interaction with the developers? "Fastbreak Fridays" ring a bell. Also, remember we used to get demos from sources like XBox magazine. Next was 2k5 and "Fear the Fro Fridays." It was an epic year for 2k's football series. A solid one for the hoops team. Remember fellas, hoops wasn't even 2k's strong suit. They excelled at hoops but they were on the cutting edge in football. Anyways, Ben Wallace was brought along with the no fluff attitude. Pretty good graphics for it's time. Then 2k6 came out for both old and next generations. The player models were pretty good. No more ESPN. Lol at the back cover of the game, "Current Rosters." And you guys complain about getting 1-2 a week updates. Remember we used to get 2-3 roster updates a year. This was also the introduction of the shot stick. How did we do without it.
2k6 was just the tip of the iceberg, cause 2k7 is the torch bearer as the best in the series for its time. Signature shots were introduced along with signature style. 2k was still using the "number 1 rated" on its covers. This for us hoop simheads was what nfl2k5 was for football gamers. Then 2k8 built on the great gameplay of 2k7. This is when they brought in the different body types. Remember that first vid of Eddy Curry and his fat butt. They brought us lock on D. I think most simheads don't like lock on D but if they kept the mechanics the same with defense without the defensive stance(ya'll remember that?) We'd really never play online. Yea, defense was strictly contextual. Anyways, the main problem we had other than the automatic double-team/ steal glitch online was the lack of a game manual. But those of us who been around pretty much knew the "how to's" Then 2k9 came along and while at it's best it is the best in the series, at it's core 2k7 loomed large as to what it was having to live up to. Let me just say this, I remember when it felt like 2k was an underground game and we were the ones having to promote it. We'd have Operation Sports guys like da czar with the night before 2k and Sage the Infinite ripping a couple of verses on the mic.
Now I don't knock them for what (to the untrained eye) would seem like a sell out move. But they just want what most of us sim guys want, and that's a great hoops experience. I want Live to be great, wanted Inside Drive to be great, and most def want 2k to be great. To end, what do u remember about previous iterations and other game influences, i.e. Inside Drive/ Nba Live and so forth that make u super amped yet still filling unfulfilled as a hoops junkie?
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