2K9 = frustration!!! This game is driving me nuts

[Leander]

This game is driving me nuts. Am I the only one that is frustrated?

Yes, the game is great and has great graphics but it just doesn't work for me. Is it the game? Is it my gamepad? I am really disappointed now and must let off steam.

Question: will there be a patch?

My problems:

1) This game is really difficult...ok, this is not my problem, actually.

2) bugs in training mode: I play, everything's fine, I choose another player, practice some shots...fine. Choose another player...suddenly the gamepad does not work anymore. I quit to the menu...nothing...then a message by 2K9 that the pad was replugged in. I didn't do anything though.

3) Training mode: sometimes my player will just dribble out of bounds and keep dribbling towards the upper right hand corner. He is stuck there. I have to take a shoot against the backboard (from behind of course). Then control is restored.

4) The cuscenes are so fast that I get dizzy. The rotating cam when I want to look at the boxscores gives me a headache, too. Some stadiums have too much lighting. My eyes, ouch.

5) The menus are horrible! Sometimes, you can scroll with arrows, sometimes not. You cannot switch teams with them for example (boxscores). Sometimes, you can scroll down with your gamepad...and later it does not work anymore...you have to use your keyboard because the gamepad is momenarily inactive. I enter a submenu, go back...and surprise - now I can use my gamepad again. 2K should either use the mouse for all parts of the menus or working gamepad controls...

6) My main flaw: how should I play this game? I have several gamepads but all of them are not precise. Should I reduce the user quickness?

I'm an experienced gamer who has played different kinds of games for 15 years. I know how to use a gamepad but 2K9 is just...well. Maybe a friend of mine should download the demo for his PS3 to see if it is just the PC version with my gamepadS or the game in general.

EXAMPLE A:

(broadcast cam)

I dribble from the left side of the court to the right side...I hold the left stick to the right...suddenly, my player makes some spin move although I did not do anything. Once, my player even made two steps back although I pressed the stick forward...and damn...backcourt violation.

EXAMPLE B:

The CPU dribbled from right to left (broadcast cam)...I want to guard him and run to him. He dribbles a bit upwards and I do so, too. But I can never guard him closely. Even if I move the left stick some millimeters my player runs too far. Movement is so random.
I cannot even walk with one of my gamepads due to a strange deadzone of the stick. It works perfectly for all other games though.

Come on, I do not want to learn how to WALK in a game.

What are your experiences? This game is so frustrating at the moment. All my players just stand around and I cannot move.

How do you move slowly? How do you make little steps? I cannot handle the movement with my pads (I tried different ones). Or is this game meant to be so difficult that you have to press 10 buttons and pull off 10 combos to move from point A to B?

I cannot run along a line...the player sometimes stops and turns, sometimes the court feels like ice...the players always slip away and react way too much.

====================

Another bug:

A timeout was called...and another one...and suddenly, I was in a loop...I had to quit to the pause menu and then it worked again.

REQUEST

Could somebody please upload a video of him moving around the court with one player?

Is it my gamepad that everything's so random and I cannot move precisely? My analog sticks work perfectly but in this game they seem to go from 0 to 100 in two steps.

Or is it the settings?

Or the PC version of the game?

It is annoying that I cannot even move around the court properly.[/b]

[JaoSming]

Question: will there be a patch? probably not

1) play real basketball, pass the ball around, find mismatches or use a good 1v1 player

2) no idea, what controller are you using, I dont have that issue

3) sounds like a dead zone issue with your controller, goto control panel, game controllers, properties for your controller then run the configuration wizard.

4) nothing can do about those, i guess you just have to deal with it

5) i think there are solutions for boxscores, look in the forum.again, sounds like your controller has issues. I have no issues using my controller, mouse, or switching from either or in the menus.

6) slow down, dont expect dunks every trip down, work the ball around and play "sim" basketball, thats how Ive been playing it and its very satisfying when you get a great play.

again, i think its your gamepad that has an issue, which ones have you tried?

====================

Another bug:

sounds like your timeout button was fucking up.

REQUEST

Could somebody please upload a video of him moving around the court with one player? no, this is something that is wrong specifically with your stuff

Is it my gamepad that everything's so random and I cannot move precisely? yes

Or is it the settings? no

Or the PC version of the game? hell no

[Leander]

Thanks. What pad do you use?

[JaoSming]

I was using a wired 360 controller but now I am using a PS3 sixaxis controller. I changed just because I wanted to use the PS3 controller.

[GuCcI08]

so u like tha PS3 controller better? right now using rumblepad 2 but i want to use somethin better.

[Patr1ck]

Rumblepad 2 is what I have, also. It functions properly for the game other than the thumbstick buttons aren't recognized. I think that is a problem with the game, though, because people with other controllers have complained about that. I agree that you have a analog sensitivity problem.

Change teams in the boxscore with one of the trigger buttons. Hopefully you have two on each side of your controller. The menu seems to be dependent on what you use to trigger it. I always use my controller and have no problems, other than not being able to view player cards or save replays due to the thumbstick buttons not being mapped by the game. In that case I have to select the replay mode with the keyboard and then use F2 to save and scroll with the keyboard, use space to select the spot, then I can use my controller to select ok once it's saved and bring up the menu with the right thumbstick to get back in the game.

Reducing the user quickness(and the cpu quickness) is a great idea. It may give you better control over your isomotion moves, while making the player movement a bit smoother overall, however, there is a loss of control over changing directions. Try it at 0 for both user and cpu and see if you like it. If it's too much loss of control, go to 25.

Bottom line, it's time to get a new controller. I'd like to know what controller you re using right now. Hell, try installing the offical drivers for that controller, or try removing those drivers and use windows native ones. Try a different usb port.

[Leander]

Pdub I have different gamepads.

-> Saitek Impact (x2): dual analog, 12 buttons. I can hardly walk.
-> Trust Predator for PC or PS2: dual analog, 12 buttons. A bit better but the other buttons suck
-> Logitech Wingman: no analog sticks
-> some 8 button pad without analog sticks

The sticks work perfectly in Live 2005, 06 etc.
I also play ToCa Race Driver 3 or Dirt with analog acceleration WITHOUT problems.

To be honest, I don't want to buy another controller. I have 5 gamepads that all work well except for this game.

I will test the game on my friend's PS3 or test another controller before I possibly buy a new one.

EDIT Ok guys, I have just recorded a small clip with my digicam. Will upload it asap.

[Leander]

Ok, here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXggEXE_cZ0

INFORMATION:

A) User speed and quickness set to 0 but not much difference

B) In the clip I just tapped the left analog stick left or right as soft as I could.

Tapped left as soft and short as I could...did not hold the stick except for the part when Garnett runs back to the threepoint line.

Towards the end of the clip Garnett is not controlable. How should I walk some steps to one side behind the threepoint line when the slightest tap lets the player walk so far?

Remember that I only tapped left or right. He even turns around! I always tapped with the same technique and softness. Sometimes he made really small steps just to turn around next time...

At the end of the video I also tapped it forward and backward...

Please watch my short clip and test with your gamepad how Garnett moves with it. Please post your results.

It be really cool if you could post a small clip of your test. I would like to know how this game is supposed to be.

[noballer08]

I use the PS2 controller run through an adapter I found on Amazon...works perfectly. And according to that video, it definitely appears to be your gamepad. Also, do you have a turbo button assigned?

Most of your problems with the gameplay can be solved by...well, practice ...and also some slider tweaks. Try the ones that are packaged with Nigu's roster, I use those on Superstar 9 minutes with CPU offensive awareness turned up. Also, learn the plays, you won't be successful without them.

[Leander]

Well, I tested it with my keyboard and the moves are the same...very odd.

[Beatboxer]

Welcome to Isomotion.
NBA 2K9's isomotion system was one of my bad feelings about the game while watching the game's videos. Now i'm playing it, and yes, i can clearly say isomotion system is not responsible.
I often feel i lose control over my players.
The best camera angle to make some isomotion moves seems like the 2K Cam. But it's too boring to play with that cam. Because that way, i can't get the game's broadcasting feeling which is one of the most strong aspects of the game.

[Patr1ck]

It's got a nice learning curve to it. It's a different system, and many people believe it to be broken this year, while others think it is better than ever. When I first tried 2K(2k7), I hated the controls because I couldn't do anything and felt like I had to wait for animations to finish alot. You just get used to it.

My Garnett movements are the same in practice mode after trying what you did. I dont know why you can't move your player sometimes, though, it doesn't happen to me. Guess it's not the controller. Just spend some time in practice mode with a good dribbler to get the hang of isomotion. Run back and forth up the court trying the same move until you get the hang of it. For fun, shoot a full court shot and watch how far off, and I mean way off, it can be.

[Angelo]

How come garnett cant move well in that video? i havent encountered that issue for the past 2 weeks now

[Beatboxer]

I think he is trying to show the walking animation. I mean, why doesn't KG walk along the 3pt line with a side-step animation which already exists in NBA Live.
That's the only thing i can guess right now.

[Leander]

No, I wanted to show that Garnett takes several steps or moves too far or even turns around although I only tapped the stick slightly.

e.g. the player is here:

X

I want to dribble to Y which some feet next to it. Although I only tapped the stick slightly, he dribbled to Z.

XYZ

He dribbled too far. Just watch the video and look how I want to dribble slowly around the line at 00:35. I tapped the stick softly but at 00:39, he even turned around. All I do in this part of the video is to tap the left stick.

[Cloudy]

This is what game developers do to sports games nowadays. The entire string of animation is to create a much more realistic feel to the game. Just check NBA Live, FIFA, or Winning Eleven. It is now impossible to just turn your player at will, they'll have to follow realistic motion physics to turn around, like taking extra steps.

I think you should get a new gamepad and you'll get used to the rest of the game soon.

[Leander]

Ok, just played my first full game with 10 minutes per quarter. Pro difficulty.
The game was fun and I wasn´t that frustrated.

I was the Knicks, hosted the Thunder. The game is really slow. I think I can only get realistic scores with 12 minutes per quarter.

I led the game 40-34 at halftime...but then lost 67-99. The cpu played so much better in the second half.

OKC VS. NYO:

FG%: 53 vs. 42
3P: 2-16 vs. 6/16
Reb: 36-26
Off: 11-2

Problem 1: my players are slower than the cpu players. I cannot get up quickly enough to grab the rebound. One cpu grabs an offrensive board against three of my defenders. Well, the cpu had 11 offensive boards.
When he missed freethrows he grabbed all of them. Why? I cannot even move with my selected player nor jump. I can only box out.

I used automatic substitutions, plays etc.
My cpu teammates never came for a double team. A Thunder player posted up, I tried to defend him, couldn´t do anything but nobody came to help me.

Problem 2: the cpu team either drove to the basket or shot the three. Almost no jumpshots. How can this be fixed? I read somewhere on the internet that many players are annoyed by this driving or shooting from downtown.

THUNDER:

Watson 29 pts, 5 ast, 3 stl but 0-7 3PT
Green 24 pts, 6 rebs
Durant 23 pts, 3 rebs
Petro 8 pts, 16! rebs, 3 blk

KNICKS:

Randolph 12 pts, 8 rebs
Lee 8 pts, 7 rebs
Richardson 11 pts, 3 rebs, 2 ast
Crawford 9 pts, 3 rebs, 2 ast ... many missed shots in the 2nd half
Duhon 8 pts, 5 ast
Robinson 15 pts, 3 ast in 16 minutes

Robinson played only 16 minutes but had a good game. He is fast...he even dunked on some defender...my only dunk in the game.

I used updated rosters with Roberson etc. and Marbury and Curry were inactive.

[Beatboxer]

Problem 1: This appears to be a defensive handicap for user players. Well, it looks like a bug/glitch though. My players have always been reacting slower than my any other CPU opponents since i started to play this game. The most frustrating thing is, my defenders never aniticipate a lead pass from my opponent's passer even though that passer has limited ability. I should also mention no-look passes. Many CPU players send no-look passes to their teammates and my defenders never react fast enough and try to intercept those impossible passes. That's ridiculous. I've never seen that amount of no-look passes in the NBA.

Problem 2: Try lowering mid-range shots and attack the basket tendency sliders. Don't forget to lower a little amount of shot success too, especially close shots. That's the only thing i can guess right now.

[Patr1ck]

Increase the midrange slider and the look for post up players slider and lower the attack the basket slider and the shoots inside slider and long range shooting slider. Change them in 10's and then adjust by 5 and then by single numbers. You may want to increase the triple threat and fallaway slider. They are all relative to each other. I had the fallaway slider higher than all of them and they performed to many fallaways.

I suggest you continue playing at the current game speed setting until you get used to the game, then increase it as you get used to it until you feel it is at a good pace. You can also change the player speed as well as the game speed by pressing the rebound button at the controller select screen. I play at 75 game speed and 75 player speed with 9 minute quarters. It's a little bit faster than what I would call a real life game speed, but I don't like to play 12 minutes. I would play 8, but increasing the speed beyond 75 is overkill for me.

I suggest lowering the help defense strength for the cpu while increasing it for the user. You should also lower the cpu quickness slider.

I rarely get offensive boards unless the cpu does it for me or I already have a man who isn't boxed out. Boxing out is the key to getting rebounds. It's the backdown button, I believe. On free throws, use the small forward. I always get rebounds with him after free throws.

[Leander]

Thanks for your replies.

And how do I rebound after a missed FT shot of the cpu-controlled team?
My selected player (with the circle) never moves. I cannot control him.

[Leander]

OMFG.

Rematch, Thunder @ Knicks. Last time it was 67-99. Now it was 127-80 or something like that.

Damn, I don´t know how to defend. Well, I know...but the PG always drives to the hoop after 3 seconds of possession. Watson had tons of points and Westbrook was the player of the game with over 20 and some assists.
I cannot do anythihng....he drives and I can only watch.

The Thunder shot 68% from the field. I had 42%. LOL

Yeah, 2K9 rules...it is so easy and such.

[Leander]

Played another game vs. the Thunder. This time I chose the Suns. The game was closer than the Knicks game but I still lost by 25 points. It was interesting to see how Steve Nash could double-teamed in the second half only after scoring some points. He finished with 19 points and 5 assists.

Amare Stoudamire had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 steals and 3 assists. Yo man! He blocked four shots in a row, which reminded me of Manute Bol...the scene was quite similar. Shot, block, shot, block, shot, block, shot, block.

Earl Watson scored 20 points and 8 assists...Westbrook scored many points as well...

So long...

[fumanchu]

what i do in defense is stick to man to man...and play the offensive player upfront...they'll have a hard time driving to the hoop...and youll get blocks on the post... at first it was like that for me, 20-30 point computer win...and then i started to play strict defense and i'm winning 80% of my games...

[nicosantos76]

OMFG.

Rematch, Thunder @ Knicks. Last time it was 67-99. Now it was 127-80 or something like that.

Damn, I don´t know how to defend. Well, I know...but the PG always drives to the hoop after 3 seconds of possession. Watson had tons of points and Westbrook was the player of the game with over 20 and some assists.
I cannot do anythihng....he drives and I can only watch.

The Thunder shot 68% from the field. I had 42%. LOL

Yeah, 2K9 rules...it is so easy and such.

68% from the field?? The Thunder??? And you say you know how to defend??

No, man, you don't know how to defend. Some users are complaining about the CPU taking too long to shoot, you say the opposite PG drives to the hoop after 3 seconds of possession. Hello!!!! The computer takes what you give, STAY IN FRONT OF YOUR MAN.

By the way, tweak the sliders, you really need it.

[nicosantos76]

Played another game vs. the Thunder. This time I chose the Suns. The game was closer than the Knicks game but I still lost by 25 points. It was interesting to see how Steve Nash could double-teamed in the second half only after scoring some points. He finished with 19 points and 5 assists.

Amare Stoudamire had 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 blocks, 3 steals and 3 assists. Yo man! He blocked four shots in a row, which reminded me of Manute Bol...the scene was quite similar. Shot, block, shot, block, shot, block, shot, block.

Earl Watson scored 20 points and 8 assists...Westbrook scored many points as well...

So long...

For God's sake, r u gonna cry us a river??

Tweak the sliders!!! Turn blocks to 0 and then tell me if you get 4 on a road. Turn quickness to 0 also. The game has a lot of flaws out of the box (too many blocks, lack of defense, too many shots going in, etc...) there are several good set of sliders, I'm using Playmaker's and I'm having tons of fun and the game plays like a real NBA game.