NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

[RB10]

Color me unimpressed. Yes, the animations are more smooth than last year. The faces look better. The colors more vibrant. The AI -- in some ways -- more intelligent (they still stand there at the top of the key and dribble even when someone repeatedly tries to steal the ball). The things that 2K evidently does not care about are:

* how important the crowd (appearances, animations, noise) are to the environment of the game
* how important it is for the AI to attempt to run plays instead of doing the same things over and over
* how important it is for your own AI teammates to set picks for you

Those things are still not in the game (early build or not), and I won't be buying this game until I've seen enough legitimately positive reviews beyond "OMG!".

No plays are being run in the demo on AI or your team. I disagree with it, but 2k wants to keep all their plays secretive. It's the nature of the demo. Same with setting picks. Basically, this demo is a chance for you to get the controls down, in the post and dribble, get used to the gameplay and player movements, and get a feel for some of the signature shots and new innovative shots.....It's just the nature of the demo.

2K = HYPE MACHINE

[thevaliantx]

If this is PRO level, I don't even want to see what higher levels are like. The CPU continually seems to have a speed boost in getting back on defense or fastbreak offense. I was Kidd and had about three feet on Big Z. Instead of pulling away from him, Big Z keeps up and eventually stops Kidd.. Yet on the other hand, I have 5 feet with Kidd on Chalmers, and Chalmers passes me by for the layup... My biggest pet peeve for years now. I'm not sure what to think of this. I realize Dallas may not be entirely a fastbreak team, if at all, but these instances where a break should ensue, aren't happening Organically or lively. it seems to be very forced I'll get a "fastbreak" layup but there will be 3 other guys there as it happens.. My CPU teammates rarely seem as eager to turbo back on D as the CPU AI does.. It's kind of the same o'l.

Am I missing something?

No, you're not imagining, or missing, anything. What clearly has happened here, and I think that 2K chose to give us only ONE 2min quarter is proof of it, is that they spent way too much time on working on the Legends mode (or whatever they call it). Gameplay, beyond, small things like making the first couple of rows of fans interactive and taking away the force field along the baseline, was just not touched. Even with a measly two-minute quarter I can see that the AI really isn't all that different. Animations look better, as pretty much everyone will agree to be the case, but the intelligence just isn't there. I have to agree with one of the earlier posters in this thread that maybe a better approach for gamers to take with their hard-earned money is to buy a game every two years. There were just not enough improvements, in arguably the most important section of this game, to warrant a purchase this year. No amount of adding legends to the mix is going to change that face.

[nron]

Re: NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Sorry if this has already been posted...
I just played for the 1st time and in the very first possession, I took a 3 with Caron and he landed funny and went straight down! He was immediately subbed out!
Maybe it was in 2k11, but it never happened to me!
I can't wait for this game!

[The 24th Letter]

Re: NBA 2k12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

how early? dude said in one of the insights he was off to work on 2k13. is it a month old 2months, 2weeks? this just seems like a lame excuse to me. will we see a patch on the release date?

Hes "off to work" on 2k13 because 2k12 is done. These demos are usually not even close to what you get in the final product. (This has also been confirmed by the people who played the game)

I guess your required to disagree with that to live up to your username, but thats how its been the last couple of years.

As much as you want to lead this "people making excuses" crusade, it really makes no sense.....most of the positive changes have come due to the communitys feedback.

[RB10]

No, you're not imagining, or missing, anything. What clearly has happened here, and I think that 2K chose to give us only ONE 2min quarter is proof of it, is that they spent way too much time on working on the Legends mode (or whatever they call it). Gameplay, beyond, small things like making the first couple of rows of fans interactive and taking away the force field along the baseline, was just not touched. Even with a measly two-minute quarter I can see that the AI really isn't all that different. Animations look better, as pretty much everyone will agree to be the case, but the intelligence just isn't there. I have to agree with one of the earlier posters in this thread that maybe a better approach for gamers to take with their hard-earned money is to buy a game every two years. There were just not enough improvements, in arguably the most important section of this game, to warrant a purchase this year. No amount of adding legends to the mix is going to change that face.

Do you work for EA? Is that what I'm sensing here?

[thevaliantx]

No plays are being run in the demo on AI or your team. I disagree with it, but 2k wants to keep all their plays secretive. It's the nature of the demo. Same with setting picks. Basically, this demo is a chance for you to get the controls down, in the post and dribble, get used to the gameplay and player movements, and get a feel for some of the signature shots and new innovative shots.....It's just the nature of the demo.

2K = HYPE MACHINE

Even if the AI technically is not running any plays, it 'plays' no differently than last year's game. The AI just 'stood there' last year, and they do the same thing this year. Dumb decision by 2K to keep their plays secretive, though I find that hardly plausible (not directed at you at all, 24thLetter!). It's like 2K saying "here's the demo of MLB 2K12, but we have chosen to keep all AI players stationary. You will have to take control of each of them in order to track down the grounder you just hit". Sorry, 2K, it looks like your game may be a stinker out of the gate.

[celtics6]

Re: NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

passing issues from last year seem to be fixed although it's still really hard to pass sometimes if you dont have the right angle. The gameplay in general seems rock solid. Again i'm playing on super hard. Another thing i noticed is defenders are much more active. Which is something i've wanted in a basketball game for a while.

Instead of playng that rubberband defense, defenders actually force their will a bit.

Also the pick control in the demo doesn't work to my knowledge?

[ALBERTPULHOZ]

Re: NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

PROS
nice presentation
most of the graphics are good
the little things like kidd calling for the ball to walk up
good comp ai
player shots
post ups

CONS
dribbling
passing
movement in general

Now let me just say this IS a good game ...
However FAR from perfection as a lot of you seem to believe .
The worst parts of this game to me are THE MOST IMPORTANT !
The total lack of being able to stop and go as i please .
In basketball quickness is vital !!
In this game just to move your feet different directions still seems sooo sluggish and even when your done SLIDING you may have to pass to which it might or might NOT go in the direction your throwing it !!!
WTF ?!
How is this game being praised so highly ?
I am not trying to start problems but to me i have way higher expectations even as i realize this is a video game .
Why are the basic movements of basketball feeling so robotic and why is everyone so brainwashed into thinking this OK .
I feel as if i have very little control over this game .
To me 2k has done everything right to this series (including my player,classic teams , assoc , etc ..) besides the basic art of dribbling moving and passing .
Sorry just venting but its frustrating waiting on what i believe could be a GREAT game !

[SmokiDog]

LOVING IT.!!!!

[jaywv30]

With all these runner/fadaways/flip shots Larry Bird is gonna be a BEAST on this game.

[thevaliantx]

Do you work for EA? Is that what I'm sensing here?

No, I do not work for EA (in fact, can't stand them, but that's my opinion.). Regardless of where I do work, my opinion remains the same, whether you agree with it or not. That people here do not like the demo, and can read between the lines that things with the product have just not changed enough to warrant a purchase, has nothing to do with where they 'work'. Please keep your politics to yourself.

[Cynical]

Re: NBA 2k12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

Dude it has been confirmed that this is a early build, people have played the final or close to and this is not even on par with that, so relax no one is making excuses this is fact.

it seems like its always an early build every year. are you telling me the final build isnt ready yet. its a demo, two weeks away from the RD, but you put out an early build, why? can you explain this? so if i love the demo the way it is the actual game will not be like this?

i only hear this when its negative, if its something i like about the game i never hear "its an early build". do you have a reasonable anwser for me?

[tamakin]

Re: NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

Damn 2K hasnt changed the graphics of the crowd or the people behind the scorer's table for like 3 years. The players faces have been updated but overall the graphics havent improved at all it seems. Also, the same PA announcer voice when the opposing teams player scores for like 4 years. Need some updating!!!!!

[mlp111]

Re: NBA 2K12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360, PS3)

has everyone forgot about the control video, it would go great with demo, ronnie never fails, lol

[coolcras7]

Re: NBA 2k12 Demo Available Now, Post Impressions Here (360) Later Today For PS3

it seems like its always an early build every year. are you telling me the final build isnt ready yet. its a demo, two weeks away from the RD, but you put out an early build, why? can you explain this? so if i love the demo the way it is the actual game will not be like this?

i only hear this when its negative, if its something i like about the game i never hear "its an early build". do you have a reasonable anwser for me?

Demos have to be approved by Sony and Microsoft way in advance, that is why they are usually older builds.