NLSC Podcast #594: Early NBA 2K26 Gameplay, Influencers & Iconic Nicknames

after 3 weeks of holidays, I'm late and i have 4 episodes to listen

That'll make one marathon session!

many sessions, you talk a lot guys

Future episodes will also be released on our YouTube channel. I'll also be getting through the backlog and uploading previous episodes, and have started with Episode #280 (our Tim Kitzrow interview).

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Episode #334 will be out in about eight hours or so!

NLSC Podcast #334: NBA 2K21 News & NBA Live Woes

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

With the Current Gen version of NBA 2K21 a little over a month away, we're anticipating the floodgates opening on the preview season. For now, we have news on this year's soundtrack, as well as a few tidbits about gameplay and MyTEAM. We break down what we know so far, including Mike Wang's interesting comments about making the game as enjoyable as possible. Given the recent sentiments in the community - as well as a few remarks from NBA players - it seems like the right idea! Elsewhere, now that we know there won't be an NBA Live 21, we once again discuss the future of the NBA Live series. Are we keeping our fingers crossed for next year? Also, we talk about when basketball games get cartoonish, and how that can be a welcome change of pace.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

Just realised that I somehow incorrectly titled the episode with "NBA 2K1 News", rather than "NBA 2K21 News".

Fixed it up here on the site and re-uploaded the file. As soon as the various podcatching platforms refresh our RSS feed, the fixed title should appear there as well. Of all the things not to proofread! I believe neither Dee or I say NBA 2K1 on the show itself, so we got it right there at least.

NLSC Podcast #335: For a Few Dollars More

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

The NBA 2K21 Current Gen trailer has given us something to really sink our teeth into this week. We share our thoughts on what we saw, and touch on some of the community reactions. A glimpse of the new Shot Meter and recent comments by Beluba also inspire us to once again discuss shooting mechanics. Meanwhile, remarks by 2K's CEO have continued to stir up controversy regarding the Next Gen price increase. We have a few things to say on the matter, along with our subsequent expectations for Next Gen. With the NBA Live 16 servers shutting down, we also encourage everyone to wrap up their business ASAP, and take some time to reflect on the game.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #336: I'm A Surgeon With This Pro Stick

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Before we get to this week's gaming news, we take a moment to reflect on the San Antonio Spurs' 22-year Playoff streak coming to an end. On the subject of change, however, we have our first developer blog for NBA 2K21 Current Gen, previewing this year's gameplay. We break down the changes to the Pro Stick, including the new dribbling and shooting controls, and other details provided by the blog. With a demo coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on August 24th, we also speculate on what it will entail, and discuss the likelihood of a Next Gen demo later this year. We've also got some new retro basketball game purchases to talk about, and once again touch on the modding possibilities for NBA 2K21 PC.

Tune in here!

What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #337: Playing Your Cards Right

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

As the NBA 2K21 demo looms, we've received an insight into MyTEAM with the latest developer blog. Much of this week's show is spent providing a comprehensive breakdown of the blog, which delivered some promising news. We also offer up some final speculation ahead of the demo's release, though we're keeping our expectations low as far as its scope is concerned. With the launch of NBA 2K21 Next Gen happening a couple of months into the Current Gen version's life cycle, we also talk about our plans for the latter. Other topics include Ante-Up, MyTEAM pack odds, the positives and negatives of regulation in the Auction House, and the oldest releases that we could feasibly play regularly again.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #338: NBA 2K21 Demo Impressions

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

The NBA 2K21 Demo is out, and suffice to say, it's drawn some polarising reactions. We've got our own detailed impressions to share, from the scope of the demo to the new dribbling and shooting mechanics. We also discuss oversights when introducing new features, and the responsibility of both the community and developers when it comes to demo feedback. A new trailer has also given us a look at this year's Neighborhood and MyCAREER story, and one of us has a bold declaration about the tale. There's also a new arcade hoops game on Steam, Dunk Lords, that's worth a look.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #339: NBA 2K21 Impressions, NBA Live Hopes

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

NBA 2K21 Current Gen is here! After getting a taste of the game with the demo, we've got further impressions to share after getting our hands on the full version. We're going in-depth on shooting, dribbling, player movement, and other mechanics with comparisons to both NBA 2K20 and the demo, while touching on changes to modes. In our early appraisal of NBA 2K21, we also describe some of the changes and fixes we'd like to see, and note some of the community's reactions. In other news, Scott O'Gallagher and Rob Jones joining EA Sports has us feeling optimistic about NBA Live. We talk about what it could mean for the series, and the importance of listening to the right voices moving forward. Finally, we catch up on some other hoops games we've been playing, including Dunk Lords, PBA Basketball Slam, and the original NBA Playgrounds.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #340: Gamers Just Wanna Have Fun

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Gamers just wanna have fun, but NBA 2K21 has presented a few obstacles in that regard. Issues with the Mamba Forever edition pre-order bonuses have caused PlayStation 4 and Xbox One gamers much grief. The frosty reception to NBA 2K21 has also resulted in record-low Metacritic scores from critic and user reviews alike, and some trolling tags have appeared on the game's Steam store page. We discuss some of the snarkier comments and whether it undermines efforts to provide constructive feedback, as well as the toxicity of elitist thinking. In the wake of the shooting hotfix, we also share further impressions following a full week with NBA 2K21, including our latest thoughts on shooting, player movement, gameplay balance, and other core aspects. We also circle back to last week's news about Scott O'Gallagher and Rob Jones, and consider the impact on the NBA 2K series moving forward.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

It's easy to criticize a game that was obviously a second priority to them. I think the real test is how much better the next gen version will be

At the end of the day though, the Current Gen version is still a full-priced release. There are fair expectations as to the level of quality and competence, and I don't think NBA 2K21 meets them. NBA 2K14 PC was a lower priority too, but it was still a great release in its own right; in some ways, it was better (more fully-featured) than the Next Gen version.

Full price product, and should be evaluated and critiqued as such. The only thing that is easy is discovering the flaws, it's getting killed by user (user reviews) on Steam, Metacritic etc for a reason... and if you go through those critiques it is a combination of gameplay issues, design flaws, server issues, Microtransaction BS, etc. The game has bombed on Steam and Metacritic, and other platforms user review wise since 2K18 as well, so this is no different.

Also, these issues have been piling up since 2K18, and are part of an overall direction that hasn't been received well by a lot of gamers. It deserves the same level of feedback as those past releases received. No excuses, because once again, a lot of these issues were there over the last few years, including 2K20 where a couple devs had to take Twitter breaks to get away from the complaints. This isn't a new thing, we have been down this road before.

Even if it wasn't full price, the feedback is still valuable and should be given on a public forum or directly.

MORE people need to be speaking up about the issues and giving feedback. That is what makes games/companies etc better.

There's definitely a sense of compounded frustration at this point. Its issues are different to those of NBA Live, but it's a similar situation where they've been problems for years, and gamers are getting more fed up. Obviously this is a very unique situation with the pandemic making it more difficult to develop games, and impossible to include an updated roster just yet, but NBA 2K21 still missed the mark as far as baseline quality. Hopefully the new patch changes things somewhat; I'm hearing some promising things, and need to spend some more time with it to see if it addresses some of the things that bug me the most.

NLSC Podcast #341: Patches & Pre-Orders

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

The first big patch has been released for NBA 2K21, though PC gamers are still waiting for it. We run through the patch notes and discuss some other pressing issues that still need to be fixed, including corrupted MyCAREER saves and missing VC payouts. This leads us to once again note the discrepancy between fixing issues that affect 2K's recurrent revenue, and issues that affect the user experience. We're also troubled by continued roster inaccuracies, and shallow reviews that gloss over problems. On a brighter note, PBA Basketball Slam has received an update and looks to be on the right path. We also reflect on some other games currently in our rotation and the fun we've been having with them, as well as our adventures in pre-ordering the Next Gen consoles.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #342: The Making of a Classic (Part 1)

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three
Special Guests: Josh & Dave from Namo Gamo

In Part 1 of a two-part episode, we welcome Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo back to the show! The guys share some news on the exciting features that are in the works for Basketball Classics, including something that should pique the interest of our modding community. After that, we get into our main discussion topic: the hallmarks of good and bad games, and what makes a hoops title a classic or a dud. We talk about the traits that are common to good and bad basketball games alike, and Josh and Dave describe how those examples inspired and guided them in the development of Basketball Classics. The conversation also turns to collecting, and other classic video games that shaped our tastes.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #343: The Making of a Classic (Part 2)

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three
Special Guests: Josh & Dave from Namo Gamo

Part 2 of our latest chat with Josh and Dave from Namo Gamo continues our conversation about the traits of good and bad basketball games, and how they factored into the development of Basketball Classics. We also talk about the one game that we'd want to be stuck on a desert island with, which Donkey Kong Country title is objectively the best, and how to handle custom ratings in basketball video games. There's also one last tidbit about future features in Basketball Classics, and possibly a few more nods to a certain Simpsons-themed platformer.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #344: Looking Forward, Looking Back

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

The Current Gen version of NBA 2K21 has been out for a little over a month, so we share our thoughts on our time with the game so far, as well as the recent patches. We also revisit issues with the official rosters, and sneaky tactics that put pressure on MyTEAM gamers to buy packs. With the release of the first Next Gen gameplay trailer and blog, we have some initial impressions, hopes, and concerns to discuss. Key points include using Current Gen for testing concepts, legacy issues we've spotted, cynicism over familiar promises, and general expectations.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #345: There's Skating Afoot

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

With the release of the second gameplay blog for NBA 2K21 Next Gen, we've got some more details to sink our teeth into. As with the first blog, a lot of the improvements sound good on paper, but we're sceptical. The accompanying videos also seem to be painting a different picture. This leads us to bring up some quotes from developer blogs for NBA 2K18, NBA 2K19, and NBA 2K20, and note some very similar phrasing. To that point, we discuss how and why developer blogs are often taken at face value. We also talk about the lure of going back to mod old favourites, and the factors that encourage us to tinker with previous games rather than the current one.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #346: And Now, A Word From Our Sponsors

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Controversy strikes as an unskippable ad has made its way into NBA 2K21 Current Gen. It isn't the first time this generation, but the backlash has prompted a statement from 2K, one that we find questionable. This prompts us to recall other controversies, and the tendency for some gamers to make excuses for them time after time. We also talk about the logistics of an indie developer making a fully 3D 5v5 basketball title. With the release of the third gameplay blog for NBA 2K21 Next Gen, we have our first look at MyPLAYER builds and AI improvements. Once again, the included clips seem to tell a different story to what's been written in the blog. The changes to builds, Badges, and the Takeover system leads to a discussion of stories and RPG mechanics in MyCAREER. After summing up our thoughts on the gameplay blogs, we dive into a fun topic: the amazing fictional NBA team names in Super Dunk Shot!

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #347: Next Gen Gets The W

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

As the release of NBA 2K21 Next Gen rapidly approaches, we've had our first glimpse of raw gameplay, accompanied by developer commentary. We give our thoughts on what we saw and what we hope to see, and note that there are some things that only hands-on experience will tell us. Full details on the expanded WNBA content have also been revealed, and it sounds like NBA 2K21 Next Gen will be making good use of the WNBA license. We also talk about the Next Gen Kobe Bryant screenshot that was released, as well as the worst basketball games of the 8-bit and 16-bit era.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as suggestions for topics that you'd like to hear us discuss in future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #348: Growing Older All The Time

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

Patch 1.05 is the fourth update for NBA 2K21 Current Gen since it was released, leading us to reflect on the game's post-release support, and a major issue that still hasn't been fixed. In NBA 2K21 Next Gen news, this week we learned about The City in MyCAREER, and the revamped franchise experience in MyNBA. The City brings to mind certain lyrics from Goldfinger's "Superman" as far as our reactions to it, but we like what we hear when it comes to the replacement for MyLEAGUE, MyGM, and MyLEAGUE Online. That leads us to touch upon the impact of former community members now working at Visual Concepts, and some of the troubling attitudes towards them. Finally, the mailbag is back! We answer a couple of questions about the state of NBA Live, and the need for dedicated Community Managers.

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What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.

NLSC Podcast #349: The Quest for a Next Gen Console

Hosts: Andrew & Dee4Three

The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are out, and so is NBA 2K21 Next Gen! Unfortunately neither of us are able to play the game yet, but one of us has had some luck in our quest for a Next Gen console. In the meantime, we discuss the gameplay videos we've seen, impressions from the community, and an aspect of the new MyNBA mode that isn't quite what we were expecting. Circling back to last week's show, we answer a question about there still being room for improvement on this generation. We're also intrigued by EA Sports expanding their portfolio, and what it might mean for college basketball games. In this week's mailbag, we discuss the style of play in the NBA 2K League and its impact on online play, as well as the issue of various historical players being underutilised outside of MyTEAM.

Tune in here!

What's your take on this week's conversation? Sound off with your thoughts right here in the Forum! Additionally, feel free to hit us up with any feedback on the episode, as well as mailbag questions and topic suggestions for future episodes. The show also comes out on our YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe for future episodes and other video content.

Never miss an episode by subscribing to the NLSC Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! You can also find us on Stitcher.