Improving CAP for NBA 2K10 - MessenjahMatt's Blog

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MessenjahMatt's Blog

Improving CAP for NBA 2K10

Posted on November 14, 2008 at 03:02 AM.

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Create A Player is an important feature for many people, whether it's creating those who didn't make the final cut, or reliving years past by putting together old school rosters from the 80's and 90's. 2K's system has improved overall from year to year, but there are still glaring issues and room for improvement with each new installment.

2K9 brought us the most realistic looking created players to date. They actually looked like they belonged on the court, without sticking out like a sore thumb. It didn't come without a price though, as certain options were limited and everyone came out looking closely related.

So lets get down to some specifics.

Body Types
For years now we've been given 3 choices - Thin, Normal, Thick. And for years now, Thin has been too small, Normal has been too big, and I don't think Thick has been realistically used... ever. At the very least, we are in desperate need for extra body types in between those 3. While the best solution would be switching it over to a slider based system, where with a few flicks left or right, the user can get it exactly the way they want.

Skin Color
Much like body types, the skin color option could use some more variety. 2K8 used sliders, while 2K9 switched to 6 presets. One things for sure, I don't want to go back to the days of the glowing red faces in 2K8. So I would gladly accept just expanding the presets to 12.

Facial Textures
A big reason CAPs have looked relatively the same in 2K9 is that there is only 1 texture, and all we do is move around the features. Take a page out of Top Spin's book by creating several different skin/facial textures to choose from.

Hair
We've become accustomed to the same hair options every year, and it's time to add some new styles. Noticeably absent for those of us who create legend rosters, are fades; of the high and low top variety. More in between color options are needed here as well, because in some situations brown is too dark and blond is too light. But the biggest addition I would like to see to the hair and facial hair options is transparency (0%-100%). Anything short enough to be painted on, like buzz cuts and natural waves, should be accompanied by a transparency slider to either strengthen or fade the hair. And that brings us to...

Facial Hair
Transparency sliders would help in creating stubble, and light beards; instead of being stuck with the strong thick options of 2K9. This is one area 2K8 had right, you could give the player a lightly shaded beard PLUS the regular beard and mustache options. I would like to see that brought back for 2K10. Facial Hair should also have it's own color option, independent from the hair color.

Eyebrows
Eyebrows were seriously overlooked in 2K9, and that's putting it lightly. A total of ZERO options for eyebrow customization, which left anyone with darker skin looking eyebrow-less. Take another page from Top Spin and add numerous different, unique eyebrow styles. This should also have it's own color option, as well as a transparency slider.

Accessories
Two words, HOME and AWAY. Let us give a player a completely different set of accessories for home than away if we want. Give us the same color options for headbands that we get for armbands. Throw in some goggles, protective masks, compression shorts, and finger tape. Bring back the option to have the old school shorter shorts; to compliment 2K's line of Legends. 1 for today, 1 for the 90's, 1 for the 80's, and 1 for the 70's (this would also effect the jersey's bagginess.)

Tattoos
Tattoos have gone rather unchanged over the years, much like the hair options. The addition of some fresh designs and a "full sleeve" tattoo would be nice. Yet another section that would benefit from a transparency slider.

Sliders
2K8 had the most frustrating sliders ever, when you moved one, a dozen others moved with it. This was thankfully remedied in 2K9, but I would still like to see the sliders numbered. So if your critiquing someone's CAP, you could simply suggest moving the brow height to 59, or the chin width down to 25. Seems like a simple thing to implement, and would help save some time.

So there you have it, a couple improvements that could help 2K10 have the deepest Create A Player seen in a basketball game. Hopefully someone is listening. Did I leave anything out that you would like to see added or changed?

Comments

# 1 TJdaSportsGuy @ Nov 14

I've never been a big user of CAP in sports games...but I've always benefited from the work of others. Anything to make the roster editor's jobs easier, I'm all for. Fantastic blog post!

# 2 SHAKYR @ Nov 14

You feel the same way about 2k basketball's create a player as I do about Fight Night's. You are right though, 2k needs to step thier game up on this feature.

# 3 DC @ Nov 14

PM this to the DEVS so they have no reason to say they didn't see it.

# 4 Shinyhubcaps @ Nov 15

I know you're a X360 guy, but MLB 08 for the PS3 has a great facial hair system. You can change the facial hair color independently of hair and eyebrows. I, for instance, have blond hair but red chin whiskers. MLB 08 makes it possible. They also have layering for up to 7 styles at once, with each style being (I believe) 1 of 6 colors and either "full" or "stubble" stages.

For accessories, NBA Live 2005 had probably 20 headbands, 3 shorts lengths, compression shorts, custom color for about everything, and 180 pairs of shoes including MANY types of generics. That is necessary for NBA 2K10.

# 5 bowdown2shadi @ Nov 16

Nice Matt, we gotta get heard.

@ Shinyhubcaps(wtf? lol jk)
Yo I agree 100%. I still remember my live 05 days, the accessories were sooo damn deep, they had literally every color. I also remember the headband designs, were you have the striped ones and what not. Man, good memories, thanks for bringing back the good times

# 6 B-Wills @ Nov 16

I agree man, I also don't understand why they didn't take all the First and Last names that were in College Hoops 2k8 and put them in 2k9...

# 7 frankman29 @ Dec 18

I totally get where you're coming from man! Pretty much everything you just said i've been hoping will happen for upcoming NBA 2K games!! Is there any way we can be heard?

BTW please reply my youtube message..... =] Youtube Username: timetraveler95

# 8 raidersbball20 @ Dec 24

I totally agree, CAP making is either too complicated and frustrating or not detailed enough. 2k9 has made improvements, but the guys just look weird. Older games were a lot easier to make CAPS because players weren't that detailed in the first place, and there was only about 20 faces.

# 9 Ano @ Jan 2

Give us an ability to enlarge and rotate created player.
Make wider age and hight limitations. Where is player's weight?
For now it's all I'm asking for.

# 10 realjordan @ Jan 28

WHY DO YOU MAKE GREAT VIDEOS BUT CAN CREATE A GOOD JORDAN ALL YOUR CAPS DONT LOOK LIKE HIM ?HE DOES NOT HAVE A POINTY CHIN AND A NOSE LIKE THAT AND ALL YOUR CAPS HAVE THE SAME FACE EVEN YOUR WHITE GUYS.HES NOT SUPPOSE TO LOOK LIKE SHAQ.CHANGE THE NOSE AND CHIN CHIN AT 64 AND NARROWER NOSE CLOSE THE EYES MORE TO.COME ON INSTEND OF CONCENTRATING ON PROMOTIONS AND VIDEOS EMPROVE YOUR CAPS PLEASE.DEND ME A BETTER VERSION OF JORDAN DONT LAUGH AT HIM LIKE THAT.