NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Off-Ball, AI, Badges, Takeover & Much More

[Steve_OS]

NBA 2K20 gameplay director, Mike Wang (@Beluba), has posted a new NBA 2K20 gameplay blog today,...

Written By: Steve Noah

Click here to view the article.

[Hustle Westbrook]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

And for you simheads, we’re also giving you manual switch controls. Simply hold the Swap Player button or double flick the right stick to call for a switch and manually override your coach’s screen defense strategy.

AI defense is stepping up its game as well. The transition defense module has been re-written and introduces some new options, including “Protect the Perimeter” and “Wall up” (the transition positioning used against elite downhill players.)

These are huge.

Glad to see Transition defense has been finally fixed.

[Peter_OS]

This sounds all nice and all but we need gameplay videos to go with the blog. Come on Mike! 

[El_Poopador]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Everything sounds amazing, but I really wish they would include some video examples to really show off the things he talks about. Guess I'll just have to wait to see things in the demo.

I like the changes to AI shooting; I wonder if there was any work done to make the AI more human-like in other areas, specifically in reaction timing and on-ball defense.

And finally the ability to call for switches manually!

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Called it with the foot planting based on the released trailers .

[Thrustie]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Sounds great - but honestly, it always does. Disappointed they didn’t kill Greens but I didn’t realistically think that would happen. Looking forward to seeing the new changes but mostly just hoping they do a better job of balancing the game play.

[cthurt]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Haven't even finished reading it entirely but players feeling weighted and foot planting being in the game is huge for me never liked the floaty so called smoother feel that was implemented back in 2k18 glad they are going in the direction of a happy medium.

[MarkWilliam]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

This new foot planting etc. sounds like we'll really be able to create space with quick pull ups.

If I'm picturing it right, it will REALLY open up the pull up game. Creating space with a quick dribble and pull up will really add a HUGE element to the one on one game.

Hopefully this is how it translates. Would be fantastic!

[Mikelopedia]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

The sprinting/acceleration styles sounds awesome and much needed, love hearing that holding turbo will be realistically punished.

I dont like the sound of the indicators under the offensive player telling you when to steal the ball and what direction the are going, Id rather just look at the player lol.

The custom series sounds incredible, very excited for that. Im sure there is a ton of offensive AI and playbook related fun Czar cooked up for us. Cant wait to see how the custom series works.

Definitely dont like the sound of the CPU shooting based on timing rather than real %. Its the CPU, how is the timing even quantifiable. Anything to make ratings matter less IMO isnt a good look. Gr33nzzz have already created problems with users, dont need it infecting the AI opponent.

Transition D has been re written every year it seems like and has been 1 step forward 2 steps back. So we'll see if this is the year.

PnR wraps and splits has me hyped, definitely interested to see how dribbling feels. Seems every year we alternate between canned, branchable dribbling sequences to everything being created by input.


Those were my main takeaways, but overall it has me excited. Cant wait to see and feel it in action, and hopefully the demo has enough NBA gameplay to give us a good grasp of these new concepts.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

I wish people would actually give an actual "critique" of the information instead merely saying "It sounds good, but....". I will agree that I wish they would include videos to highlight the new features, so we can see how the developers INTENDED for the new feature to be used. Having said that....

I'm interested in seeing the new defensive mechanics regarding the arrow. Let's be honest...we know that 2K Sports stole the idea from NBA Live, but it will be welcomed feature. Offensive players got the shot meter, and now defense players have "defense" meter of sorts.

The double flick will be useful against screening actions. Before I would icon switch, but this will help keep my thumb on the RS so I'm still in good position to get a hands up for those players who like to shoot immediately after they hit the screen.

[NYJin2011tm]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Need more errant passes to up turnovers that aren't steals.

[El_Tercero]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Great read. Loved the part where he mentioned that...

“your teammates will create intelligent off ball motion without ever having to call a play” (counter for off ballers)

“Savvy strategist can also take advantage of the new play action buttons”

“New team-specific and player-specific adjustments in ACE including: Utah’s defense on Harden in the playoffs, Toronto’s top lock deny scheme against Curry and player-specific takeover awareness”

I like how they emphasized strategy.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[MarkWilliam]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

Definitely dont like the sound of the CPU shooting based on timing rather than real %. Its the CPU, how is the timing even quantifiable. Anything to make ratings matter less IMO isnt a good look. Gr33nzzz have already created problems with users, dont need it infecting the AI opponent.

Yep - 100% on this.... had to think about it and work out why I didnt love the sound of it. Well put sir.

Separately, always going to welcome more signature stuff. Keep stuffing in more signature styles. It never gets old.

[Thrustie]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

I wish people would actually give an actual "critique" of the information instead merely saying "It sounds good, but....". I will agree that I wish they would include videos to highlight the new features, so we can see how the developers INTENDED for the new feature to be used. Having said that....

I'm interested in seeing the new defensive mechanics regarding the arrow. Let's be honest...we know that 2K Sports stole the idea from NBA Live, but it will be welcomed feature. Offensive players got the shot meter, and now defense players have "defense" meter of sorts.

The double flick will be useful against screening actions. Before I would icon switch, but this will help keep my thumb on the RS so I'm still in good position to get a hands up for those players who like to shoot immediately after they hit the screen.

For me, it’s the fact that they’ve made these sorts of pronouncements every year and a lot of them end up being pretty underwhelming. They said chaining together dribbles endlessly would kill your stamina last year but it didn’t really seem to inhibit the dribble gods at all. They’ve said multiple years that the difference between different size/speeds of players would be more prevalent but I’ve yet to see it. Not to say they haven’t made some great additions over the years. I just don’t like getting overly excited or critical of features until I see them in action at this point.

[michaelhawj]

Re: NBA 2K20 Gameplay Blog - Motion Engine Upgrade, Handles, Read & React Defense, Of

wow gameplay improvement is all what i read that making me very excited so hard. i am glad that Mike Wang and his dev team improved better on Defense transition but hopefully ai cpu know how to defend better. i like dribbling style. hopefully they improve charging fouls better.