News Post

NBA 2K9 Preview (ESPN Videogames)

01:00 AM - September 16, 2008 by iamemmittsmith

ESPN has posted their preview of NBA 2K9.

Quote:


	"Oh yeah, did I mention the game? Last year, gamers complained about 2K8 being a tad slower than 2K7, so the developers pushed the speed back to 2K7 levels while at the same time adding even more authenticity to the way the players on the court move and react. In previous iterations of the series, there seemed to be a lot of standing around on offense due to the fact that when the user controlled the ball and didn't run the team's play correctly, the game always defaulted to running a quick isolation for the man dribbling. It was basically a robotic response to user stupidity. But these days, even if the gamer doesn't know how to run plays, the CPU teammates finally react intelligently, helping set screens (players like Rasheed will pick and pop), sending the right guy to the post, and running shooters like Ray Allen around picks, giving the game a much more organic feel as the action on the court is no longer scripted."

Game: NBA 2K9Reader Score: 8.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS2 / PS3 / Xbox 360Votes for game: 72 - View All

NBA 2K9 Videos

Member Comments

# 241 23 @ 09/16/08 07:27 PM

They don't suck but I get what you're saying though. They have gotten better as they used to hang off of the player models, and even sit off stiff in the air a little bit before 2k8 but I wouldn't know what it would take for them to fix that.... I see your point though.

# 242 The 24th Letter @ 09/16/08 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDRE_OS


	Calderon looks kinda fat

that 2k8 comeback A.I mustve really pissed you off huh?

# 243 The 24th Letter @ 09/16/08 07:32 PM

Man I have this feeling the demo is coming out tommorow....isnt it exactly 3 weeks until release tomm? just a wishful thought...

Crazy thing is, with my new job ill be able to get my hands on all the MLB games early, which I dont play :-(

# 244 Starrtech @ 09/16/08 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	Yeah, I was sitting there looking at the pics, and the jerseys are what make them look moreso squatty. I'd gladly take a little longer torso's with less jersey movement... if the player models looked more proportionate. The lanky models are what I love about Live's graphics. 2k's skin tones have definitely improved this year though.

Well said, I've always felt the same way about the models.

# 245 DakkoN @ 09/16/08 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The 24th Letter


	Man I have this feeling the demo is coming out tommorow....isnt it exactly 3 weeks until release tomm? just a wishful thought... Crazy thing is, with my new job ill be able to get my hands on all the MLB games early, which I dont play :-(

Demos usually come on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I think Wednesdays are XBLA days.

# 246 Kashanova @ 09/16/08 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDRE_OS


	I like 2K as much as I like Kobe Bryant

I can use that statement for live lol

# 247 23 @ 09/16/08 07:50 PM

I was joking man.. sarcasm

# 248 RoyalBoyle78 @ 09/16/08 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	I love this time of the year... haha. New guys registering... and infractions everywhere. Anyway, the skin tones are definitely improved this year. For some reason, I've always preferred the player models of Live over 2k... seems like 2k's torso's are always short, thus making the models look "squatty". Still the same this year. Regardless, the graphics are looking much improved, as far as textures, and facial likeness. I want to see the game in motion, as that's where true updates will shine. And come on RJ... get your artists to render LBJ's face a tad better... But from broadcast or nosebleed view, I don't guess I"ll be able to tell too much, haha. As long as LBJ plays like LBJ... then I'll hold my peace.

WOW, your killing me will, I've always though 2k had the better players models and player portions, Live player models have always been skinny, to skinny, Live has never got Shaq right as far as body.

# 249 WTF @ 09/16/08 07:57 PM

Frank, we'll just have to agree to disagree, haha. I dont' know... I just prefer the look of Live's player models much more. I like how you can differentiate body types in 2k more than Live, if that makes sense. You have Shaq and Chris Kaman... both of them big men, both have different body types in 2k. Neither look tall enough (thus the squatty comment) but their change in physical bulk are enough to tell them apart easily. Muscle definition probably another thing that 2k does better...

However, overall, I'd prefer to have them a tad too skinny, and have their height right. We're looking at some of the best athletes in the world... height is huge in the NBA... a lot of mismatches are created because of height and physical size. I like how it feels in Live.

Like Dre said, it's probably a lot due to the free flowing fabric... but I'd just honestly prefer that be toned down a little, so they don't look so chubby. Lengthen their torso... and then things would be fine.

# 250 23 @ 09/16/08 08:12 PM

Live's models do look like lanky ball players but they screwed up the lower body for some time now.

It made some of the players heads look big and the legs way too skinny...

# 251 RubenDouglas @ 09/16/08 08:18 PM

its not just the free flowing fabric. the jerseys as a whole seem to be redone, in a terrible new fashion. they all seem overly baggy. combine the excessive free flowingness, jerseys that are now a size too big, and the fact they dont really fit onto the players shoulders, and it can be unplesant look.

just look at my kg avatar. skinny almost skin tight jerseys on the older xbox games. just enough bulkiness.

will it affect my gameplaying or enjoyment? no. does it still matter? yes.. i say rehire the art team, no offense. theyve digressed in areas that should only see progress

# 252 akiracy @ 09/16/08 08:25 PM

1 Hour Ago

Blue-Lightning

******** type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("postmenu_1956403", true);
Super Moderator
Starter

Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 4,279

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrooge
but i been here all summer... just finally decided to register
my post count is irrelevant...
right when this forum was workd up in a frenzy ready to run up in 2k offices and smack ur favorite marketing rep
2k drops some bs screens and basically just repeated all the info we already knew aside chuck hayes and everyone is eating off thier palms again.
half of the ppl were ready to buy live yesterday.
point is i will not be bamboozled!!! give me game footage or give me death

BS screens? The images on ESPN.com are taken straight from replays in-game, with the interface off, and that's it. No photoshop, no nothing. That's in-game... and maybe you remember how smooth 2K's animations are? Well, bump it up for this year. Bump it up a lot.

As for giving you videos... well... let's just say that ESPN's preview is just the tip of the iceberg. And that iceberg starts moving today.

BL
__________________
We're on a mission from God.
- Elwood Blues

Gamertag: BlueLightningTN

# 253 xion_one @ 09/16/08 08:26 PM

Why is Boozer never bald? It just seems like when it comes to appearance, they only change a couple guys... and others always stay the same.

# 254 texbuk84 @ 09/16/08 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WTF


	Screens aren't impressing me.

they impress me and by the way has anyone seen live. its looking good this year

# 255 DakkoN @ 09/16/08 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xion_one


	Why is Boozer never bald? It just seems like when it comes to appearance, they only change a couple guys... and others always stay the same.

Because Booz isn't completely bald? He's always had a bit of a shadow for as long as I can remember.

# 256 Vast @ 09/16/08 08:49 PM

Preview is dope! loving the new ratings, the ability to break team records, the 2k share, the DNA. The new lock on D looks sick, can't wait to be able to shade a player into my help defense. And the fact that your teammates no longer just stand around waiting is as revolutionary as Lives playcalling system.

The Graphics look 4x better than they've ever looked!

But this quote from Rob Jones has me most excited

Quote:


	"This is the most new content we've ever been able to add in one year," Rob Jones, NBA 2K9's lead producer told me as we played a quick game, and as the players run, jump, and chest bump their way down court, you can instantly see the depth of the gameplay being taken to the next level.

# 257 ITSFAVRENOTFARVE @ 09/16/08 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akiracy

1 Hour Ago

Blue-Lightning ******** type="text/javascript"> vbmenu_register("postmenu_1956403", true);
Super Moderator
Starter
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SE Tennessee
Posts: 4,279

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrooge
but i been here all summer... just finally decided to register
my post count is irrelevant...
right when this forum was workd up in a frenzy ready to run up in 2k offices and smack ur favorite marketing rep
2k drops some bs screens and basically just repeated all the info we already knew aside chuck hayes and everyone is eating off thier palms again.
half of the ppl were ready to buy live yesterday.
point is i will not be bamboozled!!! give me game footage or give me death

BS screens? The images on ESPN.com are taken straight from replays in-game, with the interface off, and that's it. No photoshop, no nothing. That's in-game... and maybe you remember how smooth 2K's animations are? Well, bump it up for this year. Bump it up a lot.

As for giving you videos... well... let's just say that ESPN's preview is just the tip of the iceberg. And that iceberg starts moving today.

BL
__________________
We're on a mission from God.
- Elwood Blues

Gamertag: BlueLightningTN

cant wait~!

# 258 J_Posse @ 09/16/08 08:52 PM

Man, the screenshots look pretty good.

Shaq looks nearly as good as last season's facial model. But, what I love is that they've added even more of his tattoes (check out Amare's right arm littered with tattoes).

# 259 DakkoN @ 09/16/08 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sva91


	WOW! I am not trying to bash on Live, but how can anyone think Lives graphics are better. Based on this pic 2k has better lighting,player models(BY FAR), and color palette. I showed two frequent sports gamers this pic and they both glanced at it and thought it was a real game. Very impressed, and I think this pic might be from actual gameplay.

What did what you quoted that ehh said have anything to do with graphics? He said player size and court size.

# 260 jfsolo @ 09/16/08 09:00 PM

You guys can debate the artistic decisions, I will over analyze the possible scenarios of the defensive setting in this pic.

Billups has the "3" ball icon, but only 2 bars from that spot on the floor. Chalmers is playing loose lock on D, which, if I understand correctly, should be very effective in preventing Chauncy from getting all the way to the rim. So if Billups pulls from that spot right there, Mario shouldn't really be able to make an effective challenge on the J based on his current focus on stopping dribble penetration.

It will be interesting to see how the animations support the various defensive settings.

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