Community Q&A: NBA 2K9

[ChaseB]

So obviously I know this is a death trap, but I feel like at OS, we got to go the extra mile for you psychos since you're so f'ing passionate about your sports video games. So basically what I'm doing is starting threads for the various games I've played over the last week, and this is one of them.

First I'm going back through the E3 questions and answering them in this initial post since I owe it to those folks. But with most of them done, please ask away.

I want to make it clear though that I didn't see Association mode (the 2K folks are going to talk about that at a later date) so no questions about that because I simply won't be able to answer them. Otherwise while I hope most are gameplay or gameplay-related questions (no I don't know how many headbands are in the game etc.) I do at the very least have info on some other stuff outside of gameplay, though I didn't really get to witness all of it first-hand.

Also I only got to play 2 games since the meeting started late/ran late etc. Unfortunate but still it was a great session nonetheless.

So here are the E3 questions I can answer below (I didn't answer the really general ones because it's hard to just talk about what are the improvements for example -- I'll speak more about big improvements in the preview that will come out during next week), and commence asking:

Quote: Originally Posted by retrohelix

Will the AI substitution pattern be fixed? I hate seeing the Spurs put In Bowen at PG, Yet this happens all the time.

Wouldn't be fair to me to say it definitely has, since I'd need to see how it reacts over a set number of games. But I did ask them about it, and they did say the sub system has been reworked, so stuff like that shouldn't happen now.

Quote: Originally Posted by minelevation

1. The play calling system in NBa 2k9 will it be more fluid and faster than Nba 2k8? It took a long time setting up plays. 2. Will there be a practice mode where you can practice plays like nba 2k3 ? 3. Will there be a 2k file sharing system like in college hoops 2k8??

1. I didn't run one play, ha (see below why). However, I did ask Rob Jones about the play-calling system, and he did say it should be easier to get into the called plays now. Also due to the new player tendencies/adaptive AI, if a human player cuts off a play at like the 2nd step, the AI teammates apparently won't just sit around and stare, they'll just go and run a set depending on who has the ball/where the ball is on the court at the time the play ended.

2. I don't remember the NBA 2K3 system at this point, but the practice mode has been overhauled. You can run plays in it now, make subs, have 5-on-5 (I believe), and just in general in functions more like a normal practice mode should. I only saw it as a 5-on-0 session for a minute or two, but I did see that you could tweak how it's set up.

3. Yes. Sliders, full teams, individual players for example can all be shared.

Quote: Originally Posted by Fabric

1. Will the signature repertoire be expanded this year? I'm thinking along the lines of go-to moves, player specific dribble-moves (for players like Allen Iverson, Jamal Crawford, Rafer Alston and the like), more dunk packages, possibly layup packages etc.

1. So I talked with the 2K folks about dribble animations, because I've always said I thought it would be cool if CP3 for example was bouncing around on his two feet after coming off a pick. Basically it seems like while that won't be happening due to difficulties making it look natural or smooth, they definitely went back and focused on bringing in more signature layups, dunks, dribbles, the whole nine yards. How much of that is in there, I can't say yet, but I think it's a safe bet to assume that they love doing signature animations and so they like to do them whenever they can.

Quote: Originally Posted by STLRams

1. How has the floor spacing improved, it would be cluttered alot of times in the paint and when someone was trying to go one on one or post up in 2K8. 2. Has the on the ball defense been improved, and has it been fixed to how it was pre-patch NBA2K8 were you could take defenders off the dribble to the goal.

1. I get the buzz words mixed up, but basically player tendencies and Adaptive AI play into this. So now basically depending on where you are on the floor, certain sets will just occur. So like when I was the Jazz, Boozer would just normally come up and start a pick and roll with Deron (depending on where I was on the court) without me even calling for it. Other times maybe AK would come off a screen for the ball, then look for a cutting Brewer, just naturally (the Jazz only run about 6 plays in real life anyway, there's just like 10000 different variations during each of those 6 sets). Other times I could just naturally notice that there was a clear out for Boozer, so I'd get him the ball in the post and the other 3 players not named Deron would be on the opposite side of the court. Okur would come set the pick and roll sometimes; he would pick and pop more, while Booz rolled for the most part. Essentially I didn't call one set play the whole time just because I wanted to see the new system, and how it was working. I came away mostly impressed, I just want to see how other teams do their sets, and if they really vary from team to team.

2. So I spoke with Rob Jones (I guess he's still the project manager? or maybe he's lead producer, I don't quite remember) but anyway, I told him how I didn't like to play against the AI much because I always felt it was too hard to get around defenders. He definitely seemed to think it would be more fair this year in terms of beating defenders off the dribble, but since I didn't do any AI vs. human games, and considering this game felt rather foreign to me due to all the changes, it would be hard for me to say how that will all break down at this point. Someone will ask about lockdown D at some point in this thread, I'll dig into that more when it's asked since obviously that relates to on ball D.

Quote: Originally Posted by edubbs

1. Have you guys recaptured some of the signature shots that were off in NBA2K8?

1. They've definitely changed Boozer's at the very least. His shot looked more spot on as he took the ball back behind his shoulder/head in a more normal fashion, and now had a quicker shot. Also while I didn't see it, they did say Boozer had his goofy FT animation in the game now. They added more sig shots, sig fts definitely, and obviously did at least the one recapture, so more would follow I would think.

Quote: Originally Posted by J_Posse512

1. How will the current situation with OKC effect the release date of the game (will it be delayed)?

It's not being delayed. Basically (and this goes for Live too) they are going to be the Oklahoma City OKCs, or something like that. The NBA has informed both groups that in general you should probably have these colors in for jerseys etc. but in both games there's just going to be a generic stadium in place for example -- nothing they can really do about it.

Quote: Originally Posted by dragonsruleme

Will there be pull-up jumpers and leaners?

There are more natural leaners now. I didn't see any pump and lean into the defender for a foul moves like a few years ago -- my guess is they probably aren't in since they were just taken out like 2 years ago, for a reason I would think. The pull-ups, I'd say it's too early to tell. I used the Jazz during one game, and Deron seemed to more smoothly go into his jumper when I pulled up, but I would need to see more before saying pull-ups look better etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by retrohelix

Will the AI defend the pick and roll more Intelligently this year? i.e. hedging or trapping the screen roll? Will there be more defensive options? Like fronting the post etc

I did human vs. human games. I will say that there will be hedging this year though, also backing off the PG and picking off that dreaded down the gut lead pass was witnessed during my session, so there is hope. As for the post. I didn't see any fronting during my session, but what's cool is now those guys in the post battle for position. So before you know how basically the offensive big would just go down and get whatever position in the post he wanted? Now basically the defender won't just give him the paint, and let him set up where he pleases always.

Quote: Originally Posted by blingballa333

Have you improved the Create A Player feature? Such as new hairstyles, better body types, and more realistic skin tones and textures? Thanks

Like I said, I didn't dig too into this, but resident OS forum poster/2K employee "SimBaller" -- that's the nice way of saying I forgot his real name somewhere between the 3rd and 5th hour of my red eye flight last night -- said "for the first time I can create someone that looks human looking in 2K9."

Quote: Originally Posted by Kaanyr Vhok

Have any of the CH 2k8 designers moved on to work with NBA 2k9 are you aware of the reasons why most consider CH 2k8 to be such an elite game and where its better than NBA 2k8.

I believe the producers from the CHoops series were moved over to the NBA 2K side of things.

[blingballa333]

Thanks for this, and answering my question. Good to hear that create a player has been improved this year. No my question is

-From your point of view, how much better were the graphics, in motion? Because juding from the recent screenshots, the seemed to improve greatly this year.

[Superman38134]

Hey man, I'm jealous you got to play already.
1)I was wondering if you could explain more about the pre-game analysis I heard about. Like what all does it involve?
2)And do you have any info on the finals celebration that they say has been improved. Is it only for the finals victory, or has anything been done to seperate the playoffs from the regualr season in general?
3)I kno you said you didnt get to see the create-a-player, but did you see or get any word if the create-a-team has been revamped to be decent finally (or maybe removed altogether)?
4)Has anymore signature things been added along the lines of Lebron and KG's pre-game powder thingie by the scores table?

[fileman3]

was deron's jumper same as 2k8?

[Aces15]

Since you did get to play at least a full game, what jumped out at you as the improvements in presentation, like half-time show, post-game show, etc.

[Superman38134]

And i know this is vague, but what was your overall impression of the visuals and gameplay over nba 2k8? Just in general how much more has it advanced (doesn't have to be too in depth)

[johnny-oh]

Question- I recently read about tugging on the opposing players jersey online, was this feature present in single player? If so, did it seem realistic?

[trobinson97]

How is Lock on D? Does it still force the user into certain unavoidable animations?

[ChaseB]

Quote: Originally Posted by blingballa333

Thanks for this, and answering my question. Good to hear that create a player has been improved this year. No my question is -From your point of view, how much better were the graphics, in motion? Because juding from the recent screenshots, the seemed to improve greatly this year.

I think they were greatly improved for sure. It seems like since everything is locked in at 60 fps now, and they really went back and worked on the textures and player faces, that everything was brought together nicely. Also the locomotion of the players and how they're jostling with each other and banging into each other looked nice. In general everything in motion was just smooth, if I had to sum it up in one word.

Quote: Originally Posted by Superman38134

Hey man, I'm jealous you got to play already. 1)I was wondering if you could explain more about the pre-game analysis I heard about. Like what all does it involve? 2)And do you have any info on the finals celebration that they say has been improved. Is it only for the finals victory, or has anything been done to seperate the playoffs from the regualr season in general? 3)I kno you said you didnt get to see the create-a-player, but did you see or get any word if the create-a-team has been revamped to be decent finally (or maybe removed altogether)? 4)Has anymore signature things been added along the lines of Lebron and KG's pre-game powder thingie by the scores table?

1. Well what did you hear? Maybe I can be more helpful from there. The sound was down on the TV for the most part, since I was bouncing questions off all the devs while playing so my brain was doing a lot of things at once and I needed to hear them and all that. Plus since I'm a courteous fellow, I was always trying to make eye contact when there were stoppages etc. so I probably missed some stuff there during the pre-game. The one new thing I saw for sure was when the game was loading up the matchup, they showed real-life Deron Williams highlights since I picked the jazz.

2. Nope, sorry.

3. Na, I mostly heard a little about the CAP, didn't really think this time was the best to dive into CAP/CAT though.

4. I'm not sure, but that would be cool if it was there. You guys have seen things like KG pounding his chest and going wild after the and 1 though, so they definitely tried to add more sig stuff during the gameplay at least.

Quote: Originally Posted by fileman3

was deron's jumper same as 2k8?

It looked similar. The transition seemed to be a bit smoother when I would pull up though, so maybe the lower body motion was worked on a bit. Could have been my imagination though.

[Munkey]

things are sounding nice


will the defender automatically contest a shot by just putting one of his arms up when you dont jump back? (it was in 2k7 but they took it out of 2k8)