NBA 2K8 Achievements. Full list of all 50 NBA 2K8 achievements worth 1,000 gamerscore. Achievement View. Sort by Flag Filter All None. 11 Offline Game Mode. NBA Jam Video Games for Sony PlayStation 3, NBA 2K16 Sony PlayStation 3 Video Games, NBA 2K15 Sony PlayStation 3 Video Games, Sony PlayStation 3 NBA Live 10 Video Games, NBA 2K14 Sony PlayStation 3 Video Games with Manual, College Hoops 2K8 Sony PlayStation 3 Video Games, NBA 2K11 PlayStation 2 Video Games, NBA Street Vol. 3 Microsoft Xbox.
Submitted on: Oct 11, 2007 by Clay Shaver
In 1891, at a YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, a physical education teacher was given a task by the administration. The 30-year old Canadian educator was asked to invent a game that had to meet three very specific criteria. One, the game could not take up too much space. Second, it must not be to rough. And finally, it would be played indoors. With inspiration from a game from his childhood, two peach baskets and 13 simple rules (12 of which still exist in some form today), Dr. James Naismith introduced the world to Basketball.
In the 116 years since, basketball has grown from its humble beginnings to become a truly global game. Due in large part to the costs associated with playing basketball versus that of the other major sports, the game has been embraced across the globe and is played on every continent and in nearly every country. While many Americans believe that Baseball--or even American Football--are this country's greatest contribution to the sporting world, it's hard to argue the impact of Dr. Naismith and his peach baskets.
Though the game of basketball has not changed too much from its inception, basketball gaming has evolved and grown tremendously from the days of Atari and other early adaptations. Although considered the #2 sport by many sports gamers, few can argue that basketball gamers are among the most knowledgeable and passionate folks around. They want every detail and nuance on and off the court to mirror what they see in the NBA. Luckily for them, the team at 2K Sports and Visual Concepts, the folks behind the NBA 2K series, seem to understand that passion. And, with the release of NBA 2K8, that team's passion, for the sport and game, clearly shows through.
I've long contended that becoming an NBA player is the most exclusive job in sports. When compared to the other sports, it's hard to argue. The 30 NBA teams are limited to 12 active players (15 if you count the inactive list). That means there are less than 400 spots available in the NBA despite that fact that it draws from a global talent pool. We won't even get into the fact that most teams only really play 8-10 players. Compared to the other major sports, the NBA is certainly an exclusive club. A fact that, I believe, is what lends itself so well to the fans, the gaming industry and is where NBA 2K8 really shines.
Not satisfied with only pouring resources into the elite superstars of the NBA, NBA 2K8 has attempted to recreate the personality of the entire league with startling success. From the way a player shoots his jumpers to his free throw routine, the way he dribbles the rock to how high he pulls up his socks, the level of detail and accuracy in this title is almost overwhelming. And it's not just the Tim Duncan's and Shaq's that are given the full-treatment. What's impressive about NBA 2K8 is that even that 9th man on your bench, in many cases, will come in during garbage time and play with that level of accuracy and detail.
Don't be fooled into thinking that it's only the player models and animations that are used to pull you into the action. The entire experience has been given a signature feel. The NBA arenas are replicated in great detail, creating a unique look and atmosphere during the season. The little things are executed so well that you almost miss them. A great example was a recent game that I was playing in my Pistons Association. While most folks outside of Detroit would not bat an eye at it, I paid close attention between quarters to listen to the PA Announcer. Fully expecting to hear a generic introduction for the dance team like 'Please welcome your Pistons Dancers', I couldn't help but smile when they were introduced correctly as 'Automotion.' As they say, the little things go a long way.
With realistic players playing on realistic courts in realistic environments, you might think that NBA 2K8 has reached the limit of recreating that signature feel. Instead, they take it to yet another level beyond the visual and audible details and realism by taking a huge step forward in accurately recreating a team's playing style both offensively and defensively. The Suns try to go track meet, while the Pistons play that defense heavy half-court game. The Bulls keep to their guard heavy style while still utilizing Deng on the wings. In fact, in three games against the Bulls, I saw them run one total play to Ben Wallace on the offensive end. A huge change from just a few seasons ago when Wallace could be used as a dominant offensive force.
Adding to the realism is the adaptive AI that not only knows their style, but also knows when it's not working. I've never seen a game play as intelligently as I've seen in NBA 2K8. The AI will run a play and react to what you give them. If they are trying to run a curl to the wing and you run through a screen instead of around it and close off the passing lane, instead of staying in that canned play, it's smart enough to back it out and run something else. If you try to run around the screen and the screener's man tries to help in pursuit, the screener will cut to the hoop. Nothing feels scripted or predictable for a change.
Defensively, the AI will not let you exploit weaknesses without changing up their gameplan. In another recent game, I had Elton Brand dominating the Sonics on the low blocks. I fed him time after time, and he exploited the inferior Seattle frontcourt. After scoring 13 straight points, the Sonics started to double Brand in the post before he picked up his 3rd foul on the defensive end and took a seat on the bench. On the next possession, I went to the blocks again and the double-team was off. Good adjustment. Where it gets even more impressive is that when Elton came back to start the 3rd Quarter, the first time I tried to go to him, they immediately brought the help. The AI was smart enough to know that it wasn't my team that was killing them on the blocks, it was Brand. They didn't change their entire philosophy, just how they would guard the one guy. Brilliant.
While I could continue to sing the praises of NBA 2K8 and talk simply about how much I am enjoying the game, it's important to point out that there are some issues with the gameplay. At the default settings with no slider adjustments, I found the game to have too many offensive rebounds and blown layups and not enough fouls. I think collision sensitivity causes a sluggish feel at time and can severely impact the flow of the game. The nice thing is, while it's not always the case in sports games today, the sliders actually do have an impact on the game's performance. With a few tweaks here and there, I was easily able to recreate the NBA style that looks and feels right to me. Your mileage may vary, but it was nice to be able to personalize my experience. It ended up being kind of like my own signature style.
The implementation of the new foot-planting physics also created a mixed bag for me. While I think it squashes a lot of the gliding that plaques many basketball titles, combined with Iso-Motion, it sometimes gives you a feeling that you can not perform the moves that you want to when you want to do them. Again, that's not all bad. Defensively, at first I was bothered by the pseudo-delay in block attempts due to the need to plant. I quickly found that, proper defense versus the old 'chicken with its head cut off' technique seriously changes the response time. It still doesn't feel quite right all the time, and I certainly give the technology points for moving in the right direction, but another year to get the kinks out should really make a difference.
A couple other small glitches appear, including a slight repositioning of players that results from a pump fake and a really horrible implementation of the substitution screen that shows players going in at the wrong positions--despite the fact that they are actually subbed correctly. I did find, however, that the second issue is largely rectified by simply editing the Secondary Position from blank to their correct position in the Edit Player screen. Not necessary, but it seems to work.
Even with those notable issues with the gameplay, it does not take away from the overall experience for me. I still enjoy the gameplay in this game more than any bastketball game that I can remember, including last year's stellar release and, my all-time favorite, Inside Drive 2004. I have to take special time to highlight the new option to run the play. This option actually puts the play, which can be set to be called automatically by the AI; right on the court and you are responsible for following those directions. Running plays in a basketball game is such a foreign concept to so many people that this mode opens up a whole new world to many. I love the fact that the play is out there for you. If you want to run it, do it. If not, you can call your own or just go freestyle. You can also highlight a player on the floor, and by pressing the left bumper choose to tell the player to set a pick or a screen, post up or simply 'get open'. The get open concept is new this year and nicely implemented. I personally don't use it very often, but I give it a try from time to time when a player gets hot.
The only other real head-scratching issue with this game happens outside of the gameplay arena and falls more into presentation. The two man team of Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith sounds great most of the time. I think they've done some things this year that are absolutely top shelf. I had a steal, blind dish and monster dunk happen in a game the other day and Harlan and 'The Jet' actually screamed in unison at the play. Awesome touch! So many games fail to really recreate the feel of both guys actually being in the booth at the same time. However, for all that is good, there is some new audio in NBA 2K8 that was obviously recorded recently because it features information about last season and talks about the coming year. It's easy to pick out because, if you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a different person. Harlan's tracks sound like they were recorded in a box, with a Radio Shack microphone and a box of Kleen-Ex shoved up his nostrils. It's so flawed and unnatural in the flow, that it almost smacks you in the face when it happens, and it's too bad, too, because it's great information.
The visual presentation is rock solid, with great replay variety, exceptional use of cutscenes that flow while you're still in full control of the action, and the information on the screen is plentiful and pretty easy to follow. I do have to complain about the lack of stat overlays. I don't know why games seem to be getting away from them, but we saw it in Madden this year as well. We need them back. Basketball is so nicely suited for them. During free throws. Coming out of timeouts. Between quarters as players are walking back onto the court. There are so many great opportunities to use them; it's the one thing that really feels missing in the presentation.
NBA 2K8 does do a nice job at the end of the game though. Instead of bombarding you with end game info, they actually simply throw the Jordan Player of the Game at you and give you the option to dig deeper. Because the VIP is always recording, you can dive into the Top 3 plays from the game or even a player specific highlight reel for every guy who got minutes. And all of them can be saved and used in the ReelMaker interface for custom highlight packages. It's remarkable how seamless the 'recording' of the games has become in modern sports titles. I look forward to the future of this aspect of the game.
The great presentation and gameplay extends into all available modes of play in NBA 2K8. The Association, this series' version of a franchise mode, returns with some fine-tuned advancements to provide even greater depth to an already solid mode. In addition to balancing your team's chemistry, you'll also be tasked with balancing the personalities on the team. Put too many 'unpredictables' together, and you could be in for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NBA. You'll also need to take care to assign players the correct role on your team. And it's not as simple as simply calling your five best players starters. There are different types of each role and you need to find the role that fits each player on your team.
As we all know, however, talk is cheap. Your words have to match your actions. You can't promise that bench guy minutes and not get him out there. That's why I love the rotation based substitution system. You decide outside of the in-game action the number of minutes each player should be getting and let the AI do the subbing for you. I'm a big fan of the concept and, for the most part, it works pretty well. I don't think it takes into account the game situation enough, though. If I have Lindsey Hunter slotted to get five minutes a game, but it's a nail-biter late in the 4th quarter, I don't want to see Chauncey Billups getting pulled just because of his minutes. I'd like to see future releases use some type of modifiers for the game situation.
The season in the Association runs, pretty much the same as last year, with no notable additions or subtractions. I still love the Pre-Draft workouts and think that they should be implemented into every sports game that has a draft or recruiting period. It's so important in NBA 2K8 with signature styles to get a look and feel of your player ahead of time. If I'm choosing between a couple of Shooting Guards, I want to get my controller behind both of them to see whose jumper feels better in terms of timing. Things like that add so much depth and provide one of the best off-season experiences in sports gaming today.
If you're in the mood for something a little different, you can also take it to the NBA Blacktop for a little more street feel. That is where you'll find what can be described as the mini-games, including the really fun Dunk Contest. What I originally feared was just going to be a throw together little mode, is actually pretty addictive. Players have to execute three parts when performing each dunk that involve both use of the analog sticks and proper timing for the finish. It's not as easy as it sounds and remarkably satisfying when you perform a great dunk. And while physics and controls are great, I was even more impressed with the presentation. They actually recorded great commentary and intros specifically for the dunk contests that go far beyond simple generic rhetoric. A great addition that adds a ton of replay value.
Best in the business online support is back for NBA 2K8 as well. 2K Sports set the bar with online leagues and continues to shine. While there's really nothing groundbreaking this year, it's hard to argue with the formula that works.
Few men will ever be able to say that they were an NBA player. With less than 400 people in the world taking the floor on any given season, it's hard to argue the rare and unique accomplishment that it is to make it to that level. NBA 2K8 does an amazing job of not only replicating the NBA, but of the 400 personalities that fill the league. It's one thing to say a game captures the NBA. It is even more impressive when you can say, 'Wow. The Spurs really played like the Spurs.' We'd be blown away if the NBA's best played like themselves. But where NBA 2K8 takes it to an unmatched level is when Steve Blake, Earl Boykins or Dikembe Mutumbo play like their real world counterpart.
The games not perfect. There are flaws, issues, and annoyances that cannot be ignored. Some of them can be corrected with slider adjustments, others we're left to deal with. For me, none of the 'problems' prevented me from really enjoying this game. With a few minor tweaks, it's the best NBA game that I have ever played. Doesn't excuse the issues that are there, but the issues also won't keep me from playing for months and months to come.
In the 116 years since, basketball has grown from its humble beginnings to become a truly global game. Due in large part to the costs associated with playing basketball versus that of the other major sports, the game has been embraced across the globe and is played on every continent and in nearly every country. While many Americans believe that Baseball--or even American Football--are this country's greatest contribution to the sporting world, it's hard to argue the impact of Dr. Naismith and his peach baskets.
Though the game of basketball has not changed too much from its inception, basketball gaming has evolved and grown tremendously from the days of Atari and other early adaptations. Although considered the #2 sport by many sports gamers, few can argue that basketball gamers are among the most knowledgeable and passionate folks around. They want every detail and nuance on and off the court to mirror what they see in the NBA. Luckily for them, the team at 2K Sports and Visual Concepts, the folks behind the NBA 2K series, seem to understand that passion. And, with the release of NBA 2K8, that team's passion, for the sport and game, clearly shows through.
I've long contended that becoming an NBA player is the most exclusive job in sports. When compared to the other sports, it's hard to argue. The 30 NBA teams are limited to 12 active players (15 if you count the inactive list). That means there are less than 400 spots available in the NBA despite that fact that it draws from a global talent pool. We won't even get into the fact that most teams only really play 8-10 players. Compared to the other major sports, the NBA is certainly an exclusive club. A fact that, I believe, is what lends itself so well to the fans, the gaming industry and is where NBA 2K8 really shines.
Not satisfied with only pouring resources into the elite superstars of the NBA, NBA 2K8 has attempted to recreate the personality of the entire league with startling success. From the way a player shoots his jumpers to his free throw routine, the way he dribbles the rock to how high he pulls up his socks, the level of detail and accuracy in this title is almost overwhelming. And it's not just the Tim Duncan's and Shaq's that are given the full-treatment. What's impressive about NBA 2K8 is that even that 9th man on your bench, in many cases, will come in during garbage time and play with that level of accuracy and detail.
Don't be fooled into thinking that it's only the player models and animations that are used to pull you into the action. The entire experience has been given a signature feel. The NBA arenas are replicated in great detail, creating a unique look and atmosphere during the season. The little things are executed so well that you almost miss them. A great example was a recent game that I was playing in my Pistons Association. While most folks outside of Detroit would not bat an eye at it, I paid close attention between quarters to listen to the PA Announcer. Fully expecting to hear a generic introduction for the dance team like 'Please welcome your Pistons Dancers', I couldn't help but smile when they were introduced correctly as 'Automotion.' As they say, the little things go a long way.
With realistic players playing on realistic courts in realistic environments, you might think that NBA 2K8 has reached the limit of recreating that signature feel. Instead, they take it to yet another level beyond the visual and audible details and realism by taking a huge step forward in accurately recreating a team's playing style both offensively and defensively. The Suns try to go track meet, while the Pistons play that defense heavy half-court game. The Bulls keep to their guard heavy style while still utilizing Deng on the wings. In fact, in three games against the Bulls, I saw them run one total play to Ben Wallace on the offensive end. A huge change from just a few seasons ago when Wallace could be used as a dominant offensive force.
Adding to the realism is the adaptive AI that not only knows their style, but also knows when it's not working. I've never seen a game play as intelligently as I've seen in NBA 2K8. The AI will run a play and react to what you give them. If they are trying to run a curl to the wing and you run through a screen instead of around it and close off the passing lane, instead of staying in that canned play, it's smart enough to back it out and run something else. If you try to run around the screen and the screener's man tries to help in pursuit, the screener will cut to the hoop. Nothing feels scripted or predictable for a change.
Defensively, the AI will not let you exploit weaknesses without changing up their gameplan. In another recent game, I had Elton Brand dominating the Sonics on the low blocks. I fed him time after time, and he exploited the inferior Seattle frontcourt. After scoring 13 straight points, the Sonics started to double Brand in the post before he picked up his 3rd foul on the defensive end and took a seat on the bench. On the next possession, I went to the blocks again and the double-team was off. Good adjustment. Where it gets even more impressive is that when Elton came back to start the 3rd Quarter, the first time I tried to go to him, they immediately brought the help. The AI was smart enough to know that it wasn't my team that was killing them on the blocks, it was Brand. They didn't change their entire philosophy, just how they would guard the one guy. Brilliant.
While I could continue to sing the praises of NBA 2K8 and talk simply about how much I am enjoying the game, it's important to point out that there are some issues with the gameplay. At the default settings with no slider adjustments, I found the game to have too many offensive rebounds and blown layups and not enough fouls. I think collision sensitivity causes a sluggish feel at time and can severely impact the flow of the game. The nice thing is, while it's not always the case in sports games today, the sliders actually do have an impact on the game's performance. With a few tweaks here and there, I was easily able to recreate the NBA style that looks and feels right to me. Your mileage may vary, but it was nice to be able to personalize my experience. It ended up being kind of like my own signature style.
The implementation of the new foot-planting physics also created a mixed bag for me. While I think it squashes a lot of the gliding that plaques many basketball titles, combined with Iso-Motion, it sometimes gives you a feeling that you can not perform the moves that you want to when you want to do them. Again, that's not all bad. Defensively, at first I was bothered by the pseudo-delay in block attempts due to the need to plant. I quickly found that, proper defense versus the old 'chicken with its head cut off' technique seriously changes the response time. It still doesn't feel quite right all the time, and I certainly give the technology points for moving in the right direction, but another year to get the kinks out should really make a difference.
A couple other small glitches appear, including a slight repositioning of players that results from a pump fake and a really horrible implementation of the substitution screen that shows players going in at the wrong positions--despite the fact that they are actually subbed correctly. I did find, however, that the second issue is largely rectified by simply editing the Secondary Position from blank to their correct position in the Edit Player screen. Not necessary, but it seems to work.
Even with those notable issues with the gameplay, it does not take away from the overall experience for me. I still enjoy the gameplay in this game more than any bastketball game that I can remember, including last year's stellar release and, my all-time favorite, Inside Drive 2004. I have to take special time to highlight the new option to run the play. This option actually puts the play, which can be set to be called automatically by the AI; right on the court and you are responsible for following those directions. Running plays in a basketball game is such a foreign concept to so many people that this mode opens up a whole new world to many. I love the fact that the play is out there for you. If you want to run it, do it. If not, you can call your own or just go freestyle. You can also highlight a player on the floor, and by pressing the left bumper choose to tell the player to set a pick or a screen, post up or simply 'get open'. The get open concept is new this year and nicely implemented. I personally don't use it very often, but I give it a try from time to time when a player gets hot.
The only other real head-scratching issue with this game happens outside of the gameplay arena and falls more into presentation. The two man team of Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith sounds great most of the time. I think they've done some things this year that are absolutely top shelf. I had a steal, blind dish and monster dunk happen in a game the other day and Harlan and 'The Jet' actually screamed in unison at the play. Awesome touch! So many games fail to really recreate the feel of both guys actually being in the booth at the same time. However, for all that is good, there is some new audio in NBA 2K8 that was obviously recorded recently because it features information about last season and talks about the coming year. It's easy to pick out because, if you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a different person. Harlan's tracks sound like they were recorded in a box, with a Radio Shack microphone and a box of Kleen-Ex shoved up his nostrils. It's so flawed and unnatural in the flow, that it almost smacks you in the face when it happens, and it's too bad, too, because it's great information.
The visual presentation is rock solid, with great replay variety, exceptional use of cutscenes that flow while you're still in full control of the action, and the information on the screen is plentiful and pretty easy to follow. I do have to complain about the lack of stat overlays. I don't know why games seem to be getting away from them, but we saw it in Madden this year as well. We need them back. Basketball is so nicely suited for them. During free throws. Coming out of timeouts. Between quarters as players are walking back onto the court. There are so many great opportunities to use them; it's the one thing that really feels missing in the presentation.
NBA 2K8 does do a nice job at the end of the game though. Instead of bombarding you with end game info, they actually simply throw the Jordan Player of the Game at you and give you the option to dig deeper. Because the VIP is always recording, you can dive into the Top 3 plays from the game or even a player specific highlight reel for every guy who got minutes. And all of them can be saved and used in the ReelMaker interface for custom highlight packages. It's remarkable how seamless the 'recording' of the games has become in modern sports titles. I look forward to the future of this aspect of the game.
The great presentation and gameplay extends into all available modes of play in NBA 2K8. The Association, this series' version of a franchise mode, returns with some fine-tuned advancements to provide even greater depth to an already solid mode. In addition to balancing your team's chemistry, you'll also be tasked with balancing the personalities on the team. Put too many 'unpredictables' together, and you could be in for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NBA. You'll also need to take care to assign players the correct role on your team. And it's not as simple as simply calling your five best players starters. There are different types of each role and you need to find the role that fits each player on your team.
As we all know, however, talk is cheap. Your words have to match your actions. You can't promise that bench guy minutes and not get him out there. That's why I love the rotation based substitution system. You decide outside of the in-game action the number of minutes each player should be getting and let the AI do the subbing for you. I'm a big fan of the concept and, for the most part, it works pretty well. I don't think it takes into account the game situation enough, though. If I have Lindsey Hunter slotted to get five minutes a game, but it's a nail-biter late in the 4th quarter, I don't want to see Chauncey Billups getting pulled just because of his minutes. I'd like to see future releases use some type of modifiers for the game situation.
The season in the Association runs, pretty much the same as last year, with no notable additions or subtractions. I still love the Pre-Draft workouts and think that they should be implemented into every sports game that has a draft or recruiting period. It's so important in NBA 2K8 with signature styles to get a look and feel of your player ahead of time. If I'm choosing between a couple of Shooting Guards, I want to get my controller behind both of them to see whose jumper feels better in terms of timing. Things like that add so much depth and provide one of the best off-season experiences in sports gaming today.
If you're in the mood for something a little different, you can also take it to the NBA Blacktop for a little more street feel. That is where you'll find what can be described as the mini-games, including the really fun Dunk Contest. What I originally feared was just going to be a throw together little mode, is actually pretty addictive. Players have to execute three parts when performing each dunk that involve both use of the analog sticks and proper timing for the finish. It's not as easy as it sounds and remarkably satisfying when you perform a great dunk. And while physics and controls are great, I was even more impressed with the presentation. They actually recorded great commentary and intros specifically for the dunk contests that go far beyond simple generic rhetoric. A great addition that adds a ton of replay value.
Best in the business online support is back for NBA 2K8 as well. 2K Sports set the bar with online leagues and continues to shine. While there's really nothing groundbreaking this year, it's hard to argue with the formula that works.
Few men will ever be able to say that they were an NBA player. With less than 400 people in the world taking the floor on any given season, it's hard to argue the rare and unique accomplishment that it is to make it to that level. NBA 2K8 does an amazing job of not only replicating the NBA, but of the 400 personalities that fill the league. It's one thing to say a game captures the NBA. It is even more impressive when you can say, 'Wow. The Spurs really played like the Spurs.' We'd be blown away if the NBA's best played like themselves. But where NBA 2K8 takes it to an unmatched level is when Steve Blake, Earl Boykins or Dikembe Mutumbo play like their real world counterpart.
The games not perfect. There are flaws, issues, and annoyances that cannot be ignored. Some of them can be corrected with slider adjustments, others we're left to deal with. For me, none of the 'problems' prevented me from really enjoying this game. With a few minor tweaks, it's the best NBA game that I have ever played. Doesn't excuse the issues that are there, but the issues also won't keep me from playing for months and months to come.
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Nba 2k8 Player Ratings
out of 10
NBA 2K8 Preview
New Page 1
2K Sports paid a visit toWashington D.C. and I got a chance to play an 85% complete version of the NBA 2k8. Let me start by saying that this version is much better than thedemo version we are all currently playing. The player faces are greatly improvedfrom the demo and I thought Lebron looked way more realistic in this version.
Two of the biggest game play features in this year's game, off ball control andthe play diagrams, look fantastic. One of my biggest issues with most basketballgames is that you can't decide who will set a screen on a pick and roll. In mostgames, it's either the center or the power forward. In NBA 2k8, you candecide which one of your four teammates sets a pick or works to get open. When Ifirst heard about this feature I thought it sounded a bit complicated and wasn'tgoing to be user friendly but after playing the game I think it's a greatfeature that adds a new level of enjoyment.
The on-court play diagrams are also a great addition. I think most people arelike me in that they want to call plays but they hate having to memorize all thesteps it takes to run a play correctly; especially with the large number ofplays that are in the game. The on-court play diagrams make it extremely easy torun a play and will allow you to play exactly like your team would in real life.I played with the Wizards and they ran several plays exactly like their realworld counterparts. Some would end with Jamison taking a shot from the elbowwhile others had Arenas running a pick and roll. What's great is that the AIadjusts if you run a play too often. I ran the pick and pop a few times too manyand the Warriors started double teaming Arenas once it looked like I was settingup that play. Even with the double team, I was able to make adjustments swingthe ball around and get open shots with Butler and Stevenson.
Everybody who complained about the commentary can stop now. There is plenty ofnew commentary, including player and team specific commentary in this year'sversion. In the game, I played I heard Kenny Smith and Kevin Harlan talkspecifically about Arenas, Davis, Stephen Jackson and Biedrins. One thing Ipreferred about the competition's game was that the announcers would talk notonly about the stars but about some of the role players. I'm glad to see thatthe NBA2K team listened to the fans and improved on this feature. When I heardthat NBA 2k7 hired Harlan as its play by play announcer, I was excited.That was until I played the game and realized how subdued he sounded in thegame. The good news is that Harlan is his real life self in 2k8. Hegets excited at the right moments and it adds to the presentation.
I only got to the chance to see one arena but the changes to this arena showsthat the 2k8 development team didn't slack off in this aspect of thegame. In the OS review, I made a small complaint about the Verizon Center. Therewas a big space between the stands behind the basket and the rest of the arenaand that space doesn't exist in real life. The arena was perfect except for thatmistake and the 2k team could have easily left the arena the same and 99.9%(everybody but me and RubenDouglas) wouldn't have even noticed. What surprisedme is that the 2k team fixed this mistake and now the Verizon Center is reallyperfect. 2K PR Guru Anthony Chau confirmed that all 30 arenas are authentic.
One issue that I asked Anthony about was changes to the art in the game. Sincethe game usually comes out in September and the NBA season starts in November,there are times when teams will make changes to their court, jerseys or arenasafter the game has shipped. For example, the Houston Rockets are going to debuta new court in a few weeks but it's not in the game because it will be shownafter the game is released. I asked Anthony if it was possible for thedevelopment team to release a patch that adds new courts and changes to thearena after the game is released. He said he thinks it's possible but the reasonan artwork patch is rarely done is that it's more difficult to add artwork via apatch than it is to change code. Also he stated that it's also depends onresources and the size of a development team whether an art patch is feasible.
Here are a few quick thoughts I had while playing the game:
- No custom soundtracks thisyear. He confirmed that it's possible but that he wasn't sure if this featurewas that popular. He stated that very few people complained when they took itout after NBA2k5. If people demand that they put the feature back in, 2k willconsider adding it to future versions.
- Slam Dunk Contest lookslike it will be fun. One issue I had with the competition's version was thatsome of the dunks were cartoonish and too fast. 2K8's version is morerealistic and there are more options including the use of props.
- Player spacing seemedbetter than in the demo but I think some people may think it still needsimprovement. I've always thought that the spacing was fine but I know manydisagree.
- I asked Anthony about howthe public perceived the game. In previous years, the NBA2k series has alwaysbeen seen as the underdog but after a year when it outsold the competition andwas unanimously hailed as the better game, its seems that this has changed.Many people are giving credit to the competition for its improved game andstating that the 2k series feels like 'more of the same' or 'stale.' He statedthat it all comes down to what's the better game. He stated that he still seesNBA2k as an underdog and acknowledged that many people are brand loyal andautomatically purchase Live. He also said that he was concerned that somepeople would purchase Live because of the improvements and that the sales racewould be closer. He continued by saying that he's played the retail version ofLive 08 and its clear that NBA 2k8 is still the better game and thatmost gamers and real NBA players play that game.
- He told me an interestingstory of how the US National Team rented out a theater in Las Vegas during theTournament of Americas and played nothing but NBA2k7 and how many of theplayers are trying to get an early copy of 2K8.
- Finally we discussed footplanting. Anthony wanted to make it clear that he didn't think that footplanting technology was as important of a feature that some people make it. Hestated that the team had to make a choice when it came to foot planting AI andsliding. Either have a game that has zero sliding but very stiff and roboticanimations or on with fluid animations with a little bit of sliding. The 2kteam chose the latter. He ended by saying that the team will continue to tryto minimize sliding in future versions but not at the expense of limitinganimations. From what I saw there is still sliding in the game especially whenyou are using the defensive assist feature but it's not as bad as pastversions of the game.
Clay Shaver DemoImpressions
After spending some timewith the NBA 2K8 demo this week, I can't help but be impressed with thesmall sample we got of this title. While the demo only allows for two fourminutes quarters with no play-by-play, fatigue, play calling or significantfeature set available, it left me spellbound by the little things that have madethis series great and look to take this year's version to the next level. Exercise for people over 50. WithNBA Live set to make a big push this season to reclaim the basketballcrown, the team at 2K and VC has pulled out all the stops to truly replicate theNBA experience.
Let's take a look at our 'Keys to the Game' from the NBA 2K8 demo whichis currently available on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
KEYS TO THE GAME
- Signature Style-- Being an NBA and, specifically, a Detroit Pistons fan, I've seen a lot ofthe Spurs and Cavaliers in the past two seasons – the two playable teams inthe demo. It was mind blowing how many of the little things were there whenplaying with or against these teams. Sure the jumpers and free throw routineslooked great, but you saw the real playing styles in every aspect of the game.Ginobli and Parker both drove the lane and finished with multiple moves thatI've seen a hundred times. I saw Parker's little duck and tuck drive and Manucoming in from the wing and throwing up that reverse while looking back for itover his shoulder. I watched them feed it to Duncan in the post only to seeTimmy wait to draw the double before dumping it off to a curling Mr. Longoriafor the lay-in. Heck, I even watched LeBron chew on his finger nails during aSpurs free throw.
- Smarter AI –This was something that the fans needed to see and, if the demo is anyindication, we're in for an improvement. Not only does the AI seem to finallyreally feed their Superstars, specifically guys like Duncan who can kill youon the block, but, even at the default skill level available in the demo, theAI will exploit people who make bad defensive choices. Basketball is a 5-on-5game. If you run around looking for steals and double teaming all day, you'regonna leave someone open and, unlike in other games and previous versions ofthe 2K series, the game is going to find them. Not only that, they're going tomake the right play. Unguarded players cut to the basket and move without theball better than I've ever seen.
- Presentation –The last year has been less than impressive for sports gamers in the area ofpresentation. While some games have improved, others have taken a huge stepback. While the demo doesn't tell the full story, what they did show wasalready impressive. The post basket and dead ball animations and cutscenesflow pretty seamlessly with the action and I saw at least four differentreplay styles. There's even a slick new substitution animation that some mightmiss in the demo due to the short quarters available.
- 'She has a goodpersonality' – The dev team boasts on their website about 'A WholeNew Look - Every NBA player has been completely redone to improve likenessesand overall graphical quality.' Well, based on the demo, I think they actuallytook a step backwards in the player models. Now the final retail build may beslightly cleaner, but I thought the new models looked too washed up, zombielike and, in many cases, way too skinny. On the flipside, it moves better thanit ever has before and it's loaded with new animations for the little things.Try running into the crowd or take a full speed block attempt while runningtowards the backboard. The resulting animations will show why they are thebest in the business and won't be damaged by a small step back in graphics.
- The Association– This may be the most important battle that NBA 2K8 has to fight andwe've only seen limited information up to this point. While their site ispromoting improvements and new features, this Franchise Mode has left a lot tobe desired year after year and could play a vital role in the battle forbasketball supremacy.
Nba 2k8 Cover
Submitted on: Oct 11, 2007 by Clay Shaver
In 1891, at a YMCA International Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, a physical education teacher was given a task by the administration. The 30-year old Canadian educator was asked to invent a game that had to meet three very specific criteria. One, the game could not take up too much space. Second, it must not be to rough. And finally, it would be played indoors. With inspiration from a game from his childhood, two peach baskets and 13 simple rules (12 of which still exist in some form today), Dr. James Naismith introduced the world to Basketball.
In the 116 years since, basketball has grown from its humble beginnings to become a truly global game. Due in large part to the costs associated with playing basketball versus that of the other major sports, the game has been embraced across the globe and is played on every continent and in nearly every country. While many Americans believe that Baseball--or even American Football--are this country's greatest contribution to the sporting world, it's hard to argue the impact of Dr. Naismith and his peach baskets.
Though the game of basketball has not changed too much from its inception, basketball gaming has evolved and grown tremendously from the days of Atari and other early adaptations. Although considered the #2 sport by many sports gamers, few can argue that basketball gamers are among the most knowledgeable and passionate folks around. They want every detail and nuance on and off the court to mirror what they see in the NBA. Luckily for them, the team at 2K Sports and Visual Concepts, the folks behind the NBA 2K series, seem to understand that passion. And, with the release of NBA 2K8, that team's passion, for the sport and game, clearly shows through.
I've long contended that becoming an NBA player is the most exclusive job in sports. When compared to the other sports, it's hard to argue. The 30 NBA teams are limited to 12 active players (15 if you count the inactive list). That means there are less than 400 spots available in the NBA despite that fact that it draws from a global talent pool. We won't even get into the fact that most teams only really play 8-10 players. Compared to the other major sports, the NBA is certainly an exclusive club. A fact that, I believe, is what lends itself so well to the fans, the gaming industry and is where NBA 2K8 really shines.
Not satisfied with only pouring resources into the elite superstars of the NBA, NBA 2K8 has attempted to recreate the personality of the entire league with startling success. From the way a player shoots his jumpers to his free throw routine, the way he dribbles the rock to how high he pulls up his socks, the level of detail and accuracy in this title is almost overwhelming. And it's not just the Tim Duncan's and Shaq's that are given the full-treatment. What's impressive about NBA 2K8 is that even that 9th man on your bench, in many cases, will come in during garbage time and play with that level of accuracy and detail.
Don't be fooled into thinking that it's only the player models and animations that are used to pull you into the action. The entire experience has been given a signature feel. The NBA arenas are replicated in great detail, creating a unique look and atmosphere during the season. The little things are executed so well that you almost miss them. A great example was a recent game that I was playing in my Pistons Association. While most folks outside of Detroit would not bat an eye at it, I paid close attention between quarters to listen to the PA Announcer. Fully expecting to hear a generic introduction for the dance team like 'Please welcome your Pistons Dancers', I couldn't help but smile when they were introduced correctly as 'Automotion.' As they say, the little things go a long way.
With realistic players playing on realistic courts in realistic environments, you might think that NBA 2K8 has reached the limit of recreating that signature feel. Instead, they take it to yet another level beyond the visual and audible details and realism by taking a huge step forward in accurately recreating a team's playing style both offensively and defensively. The Suns try to go track meet, while the Pistons play that defense heavy half-court game. The Bulls keep to their guard heavy style while still utilizing Deng on the wings. In fact, in three games against the Bulls, I saw them run one total play to Ben Wallace on the offensive end. A huge change from just a few seasons ago when Wallace could be used as a dominant offensive force.
Adding to the realism is the adaptive AI that not only knows their style, but also knows when it's not working. I've never seen a game play as intelligently as I've seen in NBA 2K8. The AI will run a play and react to what you give them. If they are trying to run a curl to the wing and you run through a screen instead of around it and close off the passing lane, instead of staying in that canned play, it's smart enough to back it out and run something else. If you try to run around the screen and the screener's man tries to help in pursuit, the screener will cut to the hoop. Nothing feels scripted or predictable for a change.
Defensively, the AI will not let you exploit weaknesses without changing up their gameplan. In another recent game, I had Elton Brand dominating the Sonics on the low blocks. I fed him time after time, and he exploited the inferior Seattle frontcourt. After scoring 13 straight points, the Sonics started to double Brand in the post before he picked up his 3rd foul on the defensive end and took a seat on the bench. On the next possession, I went to the blocks again and the double-team was off. Good adjustment. Where it gets even more impressive is that when Elton came back to start the 3rd Quarter, the first time I tried to go to him, they immediately brought the help. The AI was smart enough to know that it wasn't my team that was killing them on the blocks, it was Brand. They didn't change their entire philosophy, just how they would guard the one guy. Brilliant.
While I could continue to sing the praises of NBA 2K8 and talk simply about how much I am enjoying the game, it's important to point out that there are some issues with the gameplay. At the default settings with no slider adjustments, I found the game to have too many offensive rebounds and blown layups and not enough fouls. I think collision sensitivity causes a sluggish feel at time and can severely impact the flow of the game. The nice thing is, while it's not always the case in sports games today, the sliders actually do have an impact on the game's performance. With a few tweaks here and there, I was easily able to recreate the NBA style that looks and feels right to me. Your mileage may vary, but it was nice to be able to personalize my experience. It ended up being kind of like my own signature style.
The implementation of the new foot-planting physics also created a mixed bag for me. While I think it squashes a lot of the gliding that plaques many basketball titles, combined with Iso-Motion, it sometimes gives you a feeling that you can not perform the moves that you want to when you want to do them. Again, that's not all bad. Defensively, at first I was bothered by the pseudo-delay in block attempts due to the need to plant. I quickly found that, proper defense versus the old 'chicken with its head cut off' technique seriously changes the response time. It still doesn't feel quite right all the time, and I certainly give the technology points for moving in the right direction, but another year to get the kinks out should really make a difference.
A couple other small glitches appear, including a slight repositioning of players that results from a pump fake and a really horrible implementation of the substitution screen that shows players going in at the wrong positions--despite the fact that they are actually subbed correctly. I did find, however, that the second issue is largely rectified by simply editing the Secondary Position from blank to their correct position in the Edit Player screen. Not necessary, but it seems to work.
Even with those notable issues with the gameplay, it does not take away from the overall experience for me. I still enjoy the gameplay in this game more than any bastketball game that I can remember, including last year's stellar release and, my all-time favorite, Inside Drive 2004. I have to take special time to highlight the new option to run the play. This option actually puts the play, which can be set to be called automatically by the AI; right on the court and you are responsible for following those directions. Running plays in a basketball game is such a foreign concept to so many people that this mode opens up a whole new world to many. I love the fact that the play is out there for you. If you want to run it, do it. If not, you can call your own or just go freestyle. You can also highlight a player on the floor, and by pressing the left bumper choose to tell the player to set a pick or a screen, post up or simply 'get open'. The get open concept is new this year and nicely implemented. I personally don't use it very often, but I give it a try from time to time when a player gets hot.
The only other real head-scratching issue with this game happens outside of the gameplay arena and falls more into presentation. The two man team of Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith sounds great most of the time. I think they've done some things this year that are absolutely top shelf. I had a steal, blind dish and monster dunk happen in a game the other day and Harlan and 'The Jet' actually screamed in unison at the play. Awesome touch! So many games fail to really recreate the feel of both guys actually being in the booth at the same time. However, for all that is good, there is some new audio in NBA 2K8 that was obviously recorded recently because it features information about last season and talks about the coming year. It's easy to pick out because, if you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a different person. Harlan's tracks sound like they were recorded in a box, with a Radio Shack microphone and a box of Kleen-Ex shoved up his nostrils. It's so flawed and unnatural in the flow, that it almost smacks you in the face when it happens, and it's too bad, too, because it's great information.
The visual presentation is rock solid, with great replay variety, exceptional use of cutscenes that flow while you're still in full control of the action, and the information on the screen is plentiful and pretty easy to follow. I do have to complain about the lack of stat overlays. I don't know why games seem to be getting away from them, but we saw it in Madden this year as well. We need them back. Basketball is so nicely suited for them. During free throws. Coming out of timeouts. Between quarters as players are walking back onto the court. There are so many great opportunities to use them; it's the one thing that really feels missing in the presentation.
NBA 2K8 does do a nice job at the end of the game though. Instead of bombarding you with end game info, they actually simply throw the Jordan Player of the Game at you and give you the option to dig deeper. Because the VIP is always recording, you can dive into the Top 3 plays from the game or even a player specific highlight reel for every guy who got minutes. And all of them can be saved and used in the ReelMaker interface for custom highlight packages. It's remarkable how seamless the 'recording' of the games has become in modern sports titles. I look forward to the future of this aspect of the game.
The great presentation and gameplay extends into all available modes of play in NBA 2K8. The Association, this series' version of a franchise mode, returns with some fine-tuned advancements to provide even greater depth to an already solid mode. In addition to balancing your team's chemistry, you'll also be tasked with balancing the personalities on the team. Put too many 'unpredictables' together, and you could be in for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NBA. You'll also need to take care to assign players the correct role on your team. And it's not as simple as simply calling your five best players starters. There are different types of each role and you need to find the role that fits each player on your team.
As we all know, however, talk is cheap. Your words have to match your actions. You can't promise that bench guy minutes and not get him out there. That's why I love the rotation based substitution system. You decide outside of the in-game action the number of minutes each player should be getting and let the AI do the subbing for you. I'm a big fan of the concept and, for the most part, it works pretty well. I don't think it takes into account the game situation enough, though. If I have Lindsey Hunter slotted to get five minutes a game, but it's a nail-biter late in the 4th quarter, I don't want to see Chauncey Billups getting pulled just because of his minutes. I'd like to see future releases use some type of modifiers for the game situation.
The season in the Association runs, pretty much the same as last year, with no notable additions or subtractions. I still love the Pre-Draft workouts and think that they should be implemented into every sports game that has a draft or recruiting period. It's so important in NBA 2K8 with signature styles to get a look and feel of your player ahead of time. If I'm choosing between a couple of Shooting Guards, I want to get my controller behind both of them to see whose jumper feels better in terms of timing. Things like that add so much depth and provide one of the best off-season experiences in sports gaming today.
If you're in the mood for something a little different, you can also take it to the NBA Blacktop for a little more street feel. That is where you'll find what can be described as the mini-games, including the really fun Dunk Contest. What I originally feared was just going to be a throw together little mode, is actually pretty addictive. Players have to execute three parts when performing each dunk that involve both use of the analog sticks and proper timing for the finish. It's not as easy as it sounds and remarkably satisfying when you perform a great dunk. And while physics and controls are great, I was even more impressed with the presentation. They actually recorded great commentary and intros specifically for the dunk contests that go far beyond simple generic rhetoric. A great addition that adds a ton of replay value.
Best in the business online support is back for NBA 2K8 as well. 2K Sports set the bar with online leagues and continues to shine. While there's really nothing groundbreaking this year, it's hard to argue with the formula that works.
Few men will ever be able to say that they were an NBA player. With less than 400 people in the world taking the floor on any given season, it's hard to argue the rare and unique accomplishment that it is to make it to that level. NBA 2K8 does an amazing job of not only replicating the NBA, but of the 400 personalities that fill the league. It's one thing to say a game captures the NBA. It is even more impressive when you can say, 'Wow. The Spurs really played like the Spurs.' We'd be blown away if the NBA's best played like themselves. But where NBA 2K8 takes it to an unmatched level is when Steve Blake, Earl Boykins or Dikembe Mutumbo play like their real world counterpart.
The games not perfect. There are flaws, issues, and annoyances that cannot be ignored. Some of them can be corrected with slider adjustments, others we're left to deal with. For me, none of the 'problems' prevented me from really enjoying this game. With a few minor tweaks, it's the best NBA game that I have ever played. Doesn't excuse the issues that are there, but the issues also won't keep me from playing for months and months to come.
In the 116 years since, basketball has grown from its humble beginnings to become a truly global game. Due in large part to the costs associated with playing basketball versus that of the other major sports, the game has been embraced across the globe and is played on every continent and in nearly every country. While many Americans believe that Baseball--or even American Football--are this country's greatest contribution to the sporting world, it's hard to argue the impact of Dr. Naismith and his peach baskets.
Though the game of basketball has not changed too much from its inception, basketball gaming has evolved and grown tremendously from the days of Atari and other early adaptations. Although considered the #2 sport by many sports gamers, few can argue that basketball gamers are among the most knowledgeable and passionate folks around. They want every detail and nuance on and off the court to mirror what they see in the NBA. Luckily for them, the team at 2K Sports and Visual Concepts, the folks behind the NBA 2K series, seem to understand that passion. And, with the release of NBA 2K8, that team's passion, for the sport and game, clearly shows through.
I've long contended that becoming an NBA player is the most exclusive job in sports. When compared to the other sports, it's hard to argue. The 30 NBA teams are limited to 12 active players (15 if you count the inactive list). That means there are less than 400 spots available in the NBA despite that fact that it draws from a global talent pool. We won't even get into the fact that most teams only really play 8-10 players. Compared to the other major sports, the NBA is certainly an exclusive club. A fact that, I believe, is what lends itself so well to the fans, the gaming industry and is where NBA 2K8 really shines.
Not satisfied with only pouring resources into the elite superstars of the NBA, NBA 2K8 has attempted to recreate the personality of the entire league with startling success. From the way a player shoots his jumpers to his free throw routine, the way he dribbles the rock to how high he pulls up his socks, the level of detail and accuracy in this title is almost overwhelming. And it's not just the Tim Duncan's and Shaq's that are given the full-treatment. What's impressive about NBA 2K8 is that even that 9th man on your bench, in many cases, will come in during garbage time and play with that level of accuracy and detail.
Don't be fooled into thinking that it's only the player models and animations that are used to pull you into the action. The entire experience has been given a signature feel. The NBA arenas are replicated in great detail, creating a unique look and atmosphere during the season. The little things are executed so well that you almost miss them. A great example was a recent game that I was playing in my Pistons Association. While most folks outside of Detroit would not bat an eye at it, I paid close attention between quarters to listen to the PA Announcer. Fully expecting to hear a generic introduction for the dance team like 'Please welcome your Pistons Dancers', I couldn't help but smile when they were introduced correctly as 'Automotion.' As they say, the little things go a long way.
With realistic players playing on realistic courts in realistic environments, you might think that NBA 2K8 has reached the limit of recreating that signature feel. Instead, they take it to yet another level beyond the visual and audible details and realism by taking a huge step forward in accurately recreating a team's playing style both offensively and defensively. The Suns try to go track meet, while the Pistons play that defense heavy half-court game. The Bulls keep to their guard heavy style while still utilizing Deng on the wings. In fact, in three games against the Bulls, I saw them run one total play to Ben Wallace on the offensive end. A huge change from just a few seasons ago when Wallace could be used as a dominant offensive force.
Adding to the realism is the adaptive AI that not only knows their style, but also knows when it's not working. I've never seen a game play as intelligently as I've seen in NBA 2K8. The AI will run a play and react to what you give them. If they are trying to run a curl to the wing and you run through a screen instead of around it and close off the passing lane, instead of staying in that canned play, it's smart enough to back it out and run something else. If you try to run around the screen and the screener's man tries to help in pursuit, the screener will cut to the hoop. Nothing feels scripted or predictable for a change.
Defensively, the AI will not let you exploit weaknesses without changing up their gameplan. In another recent game, I had Elton Brand dominating the Sonics on the low blocks. I fed him time after time, and he exploited the inferior Seattle frontcourt. After scoring 13 straight points, the Sonics started to double Brand in the post before he picked up his 3rd foul on the defensive end and took a seat on the bench. On the next possession, I went to the blocks again and the double-team was off. Good adjustment. Where it gets even more impressive is that when Elton came back to start the 3rd Quarter, the first time I tried to go to him, they immediately brought the help. The AI was smart enough to know that it wasn't my team that was killing them on the blocks, it was Brand. They didn't change their entire philosophy, just how they would guard the one guy. Brilliant.
While I could continue to sing the praises of NBA 2K8 and talk simply about how much I am enjoying the game, it's important to point out that there are some issues with the gameplay. At the default settings with no slider adjustments, I found the game to have too many offensive rebounds and blown layups and not enough fouls. I think collision sensitivity causes a sluggish feel at time and can severely impact the flow of the game. The nice thing is, while it's not always the case in sports games today, the sliders actually do have an impact on the game's performance. With a few tweaks here and there, I was easily able to recreate the NBA style that looks and feels right to me. Your mileage may vary, but it was nice to be able to personalize my experience. It ended up being kind of like my own signature style.
The implementation of the new foot-planting physics also created a mixed bag for me. While I think it squashes a lot of the gliding that plaques many basketball titles, combined with Iso-Motion, it sometimes gives you a feeling that you can not perform the moves that you want to when you want to do them. Again, that's not all bad. Defensively, at first I was bothered by the pseudo-delay in block attempts due to the need to plant. I quickly found that, proper defense versus the old 'chicken with its head cut off' technique seriously changes the response time. It still doesn't feel quite right all the time, and I certainly give the technology points for moving in the right direction, but another year to get the kinks out should really make a difference.
A couple other small glitches appear, including a slight repositioning of players that results from a pump fake and a really horrible implementation of the substitution screen that shows players going in at the wrong positions--despite the fact that they are actually subbed correctly. I did find, however, that the second issue is largely rectified by simply editing the Secondary Position from blank to their correct position in the Edit Player screen. Not necessary, but it seems to work.
Even with those notable issues with the gameplay, it does not take away from the overall experience for me. I still enjoy the gameplay in this game more than any bastketball game that I can remember, including last year's stellar release and, my all-time favorite, Inside Drive 2004. I have to take special time to highlight the new option to run the play. This option actually puts the play, which can be set to be called automatically by the AI; right on the court and you are responsible for following those directions. Running plays in a basketball game is such a foreign concept to so many people that this mode opens up a whole new world to many. I love the fact that the play is out there for you. If you want to run it, do it. If not, you can call your own or just go freestyle. You can also highlight a player on the floor, and by pressing the left bumper choose to tell the player to set a pick or a screen, post up or simply 'get open'. The get open concept is new this year and nicely implemented. I personally don't use it very often, but I give it a try from time to time when a player gets hot.
The only other real head-scratching issue with this game happens outside of the gameplay arena and falls more into presentation. The two man team of Kevin Harlan and Kenny Smith sounds great most of the time. I think they've done some things this year that are absolutely top shelf. I had a steal, blind dish and monster dunk happen in a game the other day and Harlan and 'The Jet' actually screamed in unison at the play. Awesome touch! So many games fail to really recreate the feel of both guys actually being in the booth at the same time. However, for all that is good, there is some new audio in NBA 2K8 that was obviously recorded recently because it features information about last season and talks about the coming year. It's easy to pick out because, if you didn't know any better, you'd think it was a different person. Harlan's tracks sound like they were recorded in a box, with a Radio Shack microphone and a box of Kleen-Ex shoved up his nostrils. It's so flawed and unnatural in the flow, that it almost smacks you in the face when it happens, and it's too bad, too, because it's great information.
The visual presentation is rock solid, with great replay variety, exceptional use of cutscenes that flow while you're still in full control of the action, and the information on the screen is plentiful and pretty easy to follow. I do have to complain about the lack of stat overlays. I don't know why games seem to be getting away from them, but we saw it in Madden this year as well. We need them back. Basketball is so nicely suited for them. During free throws. Coming out of timeouts. Between quarters as players are walking back onto the court. There are so many great opportunities to use them; it's the one thing that really feels missing in the presentation.
NBA 2K8 does do a nice job at the end of the game though. Instead of bombarding you with end game info, they actually simply throw the Jordan Player of the Game at you and give you the option to dig deeper. Because the VIP is always recording, you can dive into the Top 3 plays from the game or even a player specific highlight reel for every guy who got minutes. And all of them can be saved and used in the ReelMaker interface for custom highlight packages. It's remarkable how seamless the 'recording' of the games has become in modern sports titles. I look forward to the future of this aspect of the game.
The great presentation and gameplay extends into all available modes of play in NBA 2K8. The Association, this series' version of a franchise mode, returns with some fine-tuned advancements to provide even greater depth to an already solid mode. In addition to balancing your team's chemistry, you'll also be tasked with balancing the personalities on the team. Put too many 'unpredictables' together, and you could be in for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NBA. You'll also need to take care to assign players the correct role on your team. And it's not as simple as simply calling your five best players starters. There are different types of each role and you need to find the role that fits each player on your team.
As we all know, however, talk is cheap. Your words have to match your actions. You can't promise that bench guy minutes and not get him out there. That's why I love the rotation based substitution system. You decide outside of the in-game action the number of minutes each player should be getting and let the AI do the subbing for you. I'm a big fan of the concept and, for the most part, it works pretty well. I don't think it takes into account the game situation enough, though. If I have Lindsey Hunter slotted to get five minutes a game, but it's a nail-biter late in the 4th quarter, I don't want to see Chauncey Billups getting pulled just because of his minutes. I'd like to see future releases use some type of modifiers for the game situation.
The season in the Association runs, pretty much the same as last year, with no notable additions or subtractions. I still love the Pre-Draft workouts and think that they should be implemented into every sports game that has a draft or recruiting period. It's so important in NBA 2K8 with signature styles to get a look and feel of your player ahead of time. If I'm choosing between a couple of Shooting Guards, I want to get my controller behind both of them to see whose jumper feels better in terms of timing. Things like that add so much depth and provide one of the best off-season experiences in sports gaming today.
If you're in the mood for something a little different, you can also take it to the NBA Blacktop for a little more street feel. That is where you'll find what can be described as the mini-games, including the really fun Dunk Contest. What I originally feared was just going to be a throw together little mode, is actually pretty addictive. Players have to execute three parts when performing each dunk that involve both use of the analog sticks and proper timing for the finish. It's not as easy as it sounds and remarkably satisfying when you perform a great dunk. And while physics and controls are great, I was even more impressed with the presentation. They actually recorded great commentary and intros specifically for the dunk contests that go far beyond simple generic rhetoric. A great addition that adds a ton of replay value.
Best in the business online support is back for NBA 2K8 as well. 2K Sports set the bar with online leagues and continues to shine. While there's really nothing groundbreaking this year, it's hard to argue with the formula that works.
Few men will ever be able to say that they were an NBA player. With less than 400 people in the world taking the floor on any given season, it's hard to argue the rare and unique accomplishment that it is to make it to that level. NBA 2K8 does an amazing job of not only replicating the NBA, but of the 400 personalities that fill the league. It's one thing to say a game captures the NBA. It is even more impressive when you can say, 'Wow. The Spurs really played like the Spurs.' We'd be blown away if the NBA's best played like themselves. But where NBA 2K8 takes it to an unmatched level is when Steve Blake, Earl Boykins or Dikembe Mutumbo play like their real world counterpart.
The games not perfect. There are flaws, issues, and annoyances that cannot be ignored. Some of them can be corrected with slider adjustments, others we're left to deal with. For me, none of the 'problems' prevented me from really enjoying this game. With a few minor tweaks, it's the best NBA game that I have ever played. Doesn't excuse the issues that are there, but the issues also won't keep me from playing for months and months to come.
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Nba 2k8 Player Ratings
out of 10
NBA 2K8 Preview
New Page 12K Sports paid a visit toWashington D.C. and I got a chance to play an 85% complete version of the NBA 2k8. Let me start by saying that this version is much better than thedemo version we are all currently playing. The player faces are greatly improvedfrom the demo and I thought Lebron looked way more realistic in this version.
Two of the biggest game play features in this year's game, off ball control andthe play diagrams, look fantastic. One of my biggest issues with most basketballgames is that you can't decide who will set a screen on a pick and roll. In mostgames, it's either the center or the power forward. In NBA 2k8, you candecide which one of your four teammates sets a pick or works to get open. When Ifirst heard about this feature I thought it sounded a bit complicated and wasn'tgoing to be user friendly but after playing the game I think it's a greatfeature that adds a new level of enjoyment.
The on-court play diagrams are also a great addition. I think most people arelike me in that they want to call plays but they hate having to memorize all thesteps it takes to run a play correctly; especially with the large number ofplays that are in the game. The on-court play diagrams make it extremely easy torun a play and will allow you to play exactly like your team would in real life.I played with the Wizards and they ran several plays exactly like their realworld counterparts. Some would end with Jamison taking a shot from the elbowwhile others had Arenas running a pick and roll. What's great is that the AIadjusts if you run a play too often. I ran the pick and pop a few times too manyand the Warriors started double teaming Arenas once it looked like I was settingup that play. Even with the double team, I was able to make adjustments swingthe ball around and get open shots with Butler and Stevenson.
Everybody who complained about the commentary can stop now. There is plenty ofnew commentary, including player and team specific commentary in this year'sversion. In the game, I played I heard Kenny Smith and Kevin Harlan talkspecifically about Arenas, Davis, Stephen Jackson and Biedrins. One thing Ipreferred about the competition's game was that the announcers would talk notonly about the stars but about some of the role players. I'm glad to see thatthe NBA2K team listened to the fans and improved on this feature. When I heardthat NBA 2k7 hired Harlan as its play by play announcer, I was excited.That was until I played the game and realized how subdued he sounded in thegame. The good news is that Harlan is his real life self in 2k8. Hegets excited at the right moments and it adds to the presentation.
I only got to the chance to see one arena but the changes to this arena showsthat the 2k8 development team didn't slack off in this aspect of thegame. In the OS review, I made a small complaint about the Verizon Center. Therewas a big space between the stands behind the basket and the rest of the arenaand that space doesn't exist in real life. The arena was perfect except for thatmistake and the 2k team could have easily left the arena the same and 99.9%(everybody but me and RubenDouglas) wouldn't have even noticed. What surprisedme is that the 2k team fixed this mistake and now the Verizon Center is reallyperfect. 2K PR Guru Anthony Chau confirmed that all 30 arenas are authentic.
One issue that I asked Anthony about was changes to the art in the game. Sincethe game usually comes out in September and the NBA season starts in November,there are times when teams will make changes to their court, jerseys or arenasafter the game has shipped. For example, the Houston Rockets are going to debuta new court in a few weeks but it's not in the game because it will be shownafter the game is released. I asked Anthony if it was possible for thedevelopment team to release a patch that adds new courts and changes to thearena after the game is released. He said he thinks it's possible but the reasonan artwork patch is rarely done is that it's more difficult to add artwork via apatch than it is to change code. Also he stated that it's also depends onresources and the size of a development team whether an art patch is feasible.
Here are a few quick thoughts I had while playing the game:
- No custom soundtracks thisyear. He confirmed that it's possible but that he wasn't sure if this featurewas that popular. He stated that very few people complained when they took itout after NBA2k5. If people demand that they put the feature back in, 2k willconsider adding it to future versions.
- Slam Dunk Contest lookslike it will be fun. One issue I had with the competition's version was thatsome of the dunks were cartoonish and too fast. 2K8's version is morerealistic and there are more options including the use of props.
- Player spacing seemedbetter than in the demo but I think some people may think it still needsimprovement. I've always thought that the spacing was fine but I know manydisagree.
- I asked Anthony about howthe public perceived the game. In previous years, the NBA2k series has alwaysbeen seen as the underdog but after a year when it outsold the competition andwas unanimously hailed as the better game, its seems that this has changed.Many people are giving credit to the competition for its improved game andstating that the 2k series feels like 'more of the same' or 'stale.' He statedthat it all comes down to what's the better game. He stated that he still seesNBA2k as an underdog and acknowledged that many people are brand loyal andautomatically purchase Live. He also said that he was concerned that somepeople would purchase Live because of the improvements and that the sales racewould be closer. He continued by saying that he's played the retail version ofLive 08 and its clear that NBA 2k8 is still the better game and thatmost gamers and real NBA players play that game.
- He told me an interestingstory of how the US National Team rented out a theater in Las Vegas during theTournament of Americas and played nothing but NBA2k7 and how many of theplayers are trying to get an early copy of 2K8.
- Finally we discussed footplanting. Anthony wanted to make it clear that he didn't think that footplanting technology was as important of a feature that some people make it. Hestated that the team had to make a choice when it came to foot planting AI andsliding. Either have a game that has zero sliding but very stiff and roboticanimations or on with fluid animations with a little bit of sliding. The 2kteam chose the latter. He ended by saying that the team will continue to tryto minimize sliding in future versions but not at the expense of limitinganimations. From what I saw there is still sliding in the game especially whenyou are using the defensive assist feature but it's not as bad as pastversions of the game.
Clay Shaver DemoImpressions
After spending some timewith the NBA 2K8 demo this week, I can't help but be impressed with thesmall sample we got of this title. While the demo only allows for two fourminutes quarters with no play-by-play, fatigue, play calling or significantfeature set available, it left me spellbound by the little things that have madethis series great and look to take this year's version to the next level. Exercise for people over 50. WithNBA Live set to make a big push this season to reclaim the basketballcrown, the team at 2K and VC has pulled out all the stops to truly replicate theNBA experience.
Let's take a look at our 'Keys to the Game' from the NBA 2K8 demo whichis currently available on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
KEYS TO THE GAME
- Signature Style-- Being an NBA and, specifically, a Detroit Pistons fan, I've seen a lot ofthe Spurs and Cavaliers in the past two seasons – the two playable teams inthe demo. It was mind blowing how many of the little things were there whenplaying with or against these teams. Sure the jumpers and free throw routineslooked great, but you saw the real playing styles in every aspect of the game.Ginobli and Parker both drove the lane and finished with multiple moves thatI've seen a hundred times. I saw Parker's little duck and tuck drive and Manucoming in from the wing and throwing up that reverse while looking back for itover his shoulder. I watched them feed it to Duncan in the post only to seeTimmy wait to draw the double before dumping it off to a curling Mr. Longoriafor the lay-in. Heck, I even watched LeBron chew on his finger nails during aSpurs free throw.
- Smarter AI –This was something that the fans needed to see and, if the demo is anyindication, we're in for an improvement. Not only does the AI seem to finallyreally feed their Superstars, specifically guys like Duncan who can kill youon the block, but, even at the default skill level available in the demo, theAI will exploit people who make bad defensive choices. Basketball is a 5-on-5game. If you run around looking for steals and double teaming all day, you'regonna leave someone open and, unlike in other games and previous versions ofthe 2K series, the game is going to find them. Not only that, they're going tomake the right play. Unguarded players cut to the basket and move without theball better than I've ever seen.
- Presentation –The last year has been less than impressive for sports gamers in the area ofpresentation. While some games have improved, others have taken a huge stepback. While the demo doesn't tell the full story, what they did show wasalready impressive. The post basket and dead ball animations and cutscenesflow pretty seamlessly with the action and I saw at least four differentreplay styles. There's even a slick new substitution animation that some mightmiss in the demo due to the short quarters available.
- 'She has a goodpersonality' – The dev team boasts on their website about 'A WholeNew Look - Every NBA player has been completely redone to improve likenessesand overall graphical quality.' Well, based on the demo, I think they actuallytook a step backwards in the player models. Now the final retail build may beslightly cleaner, but I thought the new models looked too washed up, zombielike and, in many cases, way too skinny. On the flipside, it moves better thanit ever has before and it's loaded with new animations for the little things.Try running into the crowd or take a full speed block attempt while runningtowards the backboard. The resulting animations will show why they are thebest in the business and won't be damaged by a small step back in graphics.
- The Association– This may be the most important battle that NBA 2K8 has to fight andwe've only seen limited information up to this point. While their site ispromoting improvements and new features, this Franchise Mode has left a lot tobe desired year after year and could play a vital role in the battle forbasketball supremacy.
Nba 2k8 Cover
PREDICTION
If the demo is any indication, NBA 2K8 should be yet another stepforward for this series. The attention to detail and dedication to a realisticNBA look and feel should keep ballers locked in for another great game.
If the demo is any indication, NBA 2K8 should be yet another stepforward for this series. The attention to detail and dedication to a realisticNBA look and feel should keep ballers locked in for another great game.
