Will NBA 2k12 Bring it?
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in News, Previews, Reviews
Will NBA 2k12 bring it? That’s the question many are asking these days, as to whether this NBA game will be a smart buy or not. NBA 2k11, with its poster boy as Michael Jordan was made with major advancements compared to the previous favorite, the NBA Live series. The NBA 2K series is currently the favorite of basketball games as there is not much competition. Last year NBA 2k11 was at a standalone of the shelves, so it sold nearly 4 million copies.
EA Sports vs. 2k Sports
Even right now EA Sports is still very below the mark of making a comeback, because there NBA Elite will not even be released until fall 2012. There are a few ideas of how this game will play out so to speak, 2K Sports can either make huge improvements, like they did in the NBA 2K11 game and stun everybody or they can wait until there is some Vidal competition to use what they have under their sleeve. Being the only big NBA game, consumers will buy this game anyway, whether there is big improvements or not, because there is no other option.
Will 2K Sports Wait on Selling a Much Improved Game
If 2K sports does decide to put everything they have into NBA 2K12, then there might be a very wide gap of quality in the 2K games vs. EA sports. There might be so many gaps, that EA sports will have to take years to catch up. By making NBA 2K12 just as good as its previous year, with tons of updates, then they might grab and keep fans even when EA sports decides to come to the table. Even though some fans and consumers will stay by 2K sports side, even when there is another option, not everyone will.
Consumers always want the next best thing, especially in sport games, where being realistic can have a huge impact. EA sports did have a very marketable game, in which was on top of the gaming world with NBA Live, but it did die out in the past few years. Being that EA sports had a good profitable game at one point, there will certainly be a ton of consumers who are looking to check out what EA sports has to bring to the table after being out of the game for a while. Having a big game by 2K sports next year, could be the only way to pull people away from EA Sports and show why they are the top game.
New Features
Well 2K sports did bring it, with NBA 2K12 it takes big to a new level. There is a new NBA’s greatest mode, which fans are very happy about. This feature basically lets you play as all the top notch players and teams of the past. You will find almost every great legend in this game, including the face of the game Michael Jordan. There is also new game play with new Total Shot Stick Control, what this does is give you even more control over your players than in the previous years. They also have a new post-game system that has never been seen before in any NBA game.
Jordan Challenge
NBA 2K12 also brings to the table, the favorite from last year, the Michael Jordan feature. This game allows you to take control of Michael Jordan’s career as you play with him at different ages with different teammates. This feature also allows you to play in the life as Michael Jordan and complete all different challenges along the way.
As you can see, 2K sports do hold the title as far as the most popular and highest quality basketball game. Unless EA Sports finds a way to up their status, it will stay that way.
Could NBA 2K12 Be Even Better than Last Year?
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in News, Reviews
NBA 2K11 was an amazing game, so could 2K Sports keep pushing the envelope with the release of 2K12?
We’re all used to the yearly incremental improvements that get touted as must-have features that beg us to upgrade each time. Whether it’s slightly higher resolution graphics, more lifelike player animations and expressions, or – if we’re lucky – a new game mode, creators of yearly sports franchise games are past masters in getting us to part with our hard-earned cash.
Well, believe it or not, this year 2K Sports has done the near miraculous and produced a version that really does pull out all the stops. Yes, this year’s model is better in almost every respect than last year’s awesome offering! Below are two example that illustrate just how much has improved.
My Player Mode
The idea of getting yourself into the game and rising through the ranks to become an NBA all-time legend should be one of the great draws of this franchise. However, although showing signs of potential since its debut, the My Player mode has usually turned out to be one of the weakest areas of the game. That’s all changed this year.
This time around your player has a much better shot at quickly getting drafted. There’s also only one game before the draft to deal with, and that’s a much more intense, full-on experience. No more boring pick-up games with no crowds on hand to see your feeble efforts. Now you’re in the spotlight, with a full house on hand and a full commentary to boot. You also aren’t necessarily the weakest link on the team, either. Your stats are more on a par with your team-mates, allowing for a much better chance to impress. Ratings have been revised and you’ve now got a much better shot of seeing a decent grade right from the get-go.
The mode is way more fun, too. With the new goals and milestones being set, you’ve always got something new to aim for. Sponsorship deals and press interviews add to the immersion. Can you handle the ultimate challenge of getting into the NBA Hall of Fame?
NBA Greatest Mode
Two words sold many players on last year’s release: Michael Jordan. Getting through the series of challenges to unlock his career mode was high on the priority of most players. What could top playing as the greatest Bulls teams of all time? Well, how about being able to unlock 15 legendary players and the teams they led to glory? Want to play as Bill Russell and his mid-’60′s Celtics? How about Jerry West and the Lakers of the early ’70′s? John Stockton and Karl Malone’s Utah Jazz? Along with other household names like Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Hakeem Olajuwon, all these and more can be unlocked in NBA 2K12.
Getting to play as any of these icons of the game is just plain cool. What makes the experience even better is the thought that’s gone into the presentation of the NBA Greatest mode. Not only do you get the historically accurate teams, but also their arenas and team uniforms are right down to the last detail. Each of the legends also has their own Signature moves, as you’d expect. What you might not expect – and it’ll blow you away when you first see it – is the way the presentation shifts to black and white for the older games of the ’60′s and ’70′s. Whoever came up with that idea needs to be made lead designer of the next installment of the game!
NBA 2K12 Preview – My Player
Posted on 09. Mar, 2012 by in Previews
The “My Player” mode on NBA 2K12 changes the way that most players play the game of basketball on their video game consoles.
Creating a player from scratch, you’re going to dig your way through the NBA starting as a rookie, trying to move your way to the Hall of Fame. Unlike the previous versions of the NBA2K series, this year the My Player mode has drastically changed, making it even better than before.
Creating Your Player – Details is an Understatement
When you boot up the My Player mode, you’re instantly going to be able to customize your player. You’re going to be able to fine-tune your player, giving him the look that you want as well as the movements that you want your player to acquire. You’ll be able to customize your player all the way down to the headband that he wears during a game, making it a very detailed customization compared to previous versions.
Building Your Attributes – It Takes Time
Like most versions, you’re not going to start as a powerhouse player. Instead, you’re going to start off just like any other rookie in the NBA. The difference in the NBA 2K12 version is that attribute points are going to be harder to obtain and are going to cost more money and skill points. Just like the past, you’re going to be able to get these points by completing tasks during your game as well as completing drills throughout your career. As you build your attributes throughout your career, they will get more and more expensive as you build your player from the ground up.
Starting Your Career in the Rookie Game
In the older NBA 2K11 game, one of the biggest complaints was that you had to send your player through three grueling pick-up games that weren’t any fun in the beginning of the series. In this year’s version, they had changed this by simply making you complete one rookie game. During this game, you’ll play a 5-on-5 pick-up game playing against all of the 2011-12 NBA rookies such as Kyrie Irving. During this game, your performance is going to be crucial as this will determine your draft status in the upcoming draft.
Getting Interviewed After the Game
After the rookie game has been performed, they are going to send you to the locker room where you’re going to interview with three random NBA team’s general manager. Each general manager is going to ask a series of questions, and depending upon on how well you answer them, it will increase your chances of getting drafted by that team. If you have no interest in playing with that team, a negative answer will more than likely shoo them away. Positive answers are going to sway them more toward you, increasing your chances of landing on the team. After the three interviews are done, you’ll proceed onto the draft where you’ll get drafted by the team that had interest in you.
Starting Your Season
Once you’re drafted by your team, it’s going to be very similar to last year’s model. You’re going to be able to play your upcoming games, complete drills and even view player stats and more. The only difference this year is that you’re going to be able to skip many of your games throughout the grueling 82 game season. Instead of having to play all 82 games, you can simply play the “key games.” During these key games, you’ll play against rivals and star players that you’re going to play up against. This feature alone makes the season fly by, making it more entertaining.
During your seasons, make sure that you pay attention to your goals as well as your Hall of Fame status. The ultimate goal of the My Player mode is to make it to the Hall of Fame. There are a slew of options that you can play around with and if you want to watch your single play progress from a rookie to a well known player in the NBA, this is a mode to highly consider playing when picking up the game.
