NBA 2K11 Demo Impressions, "Flick Flick" Controls and How to Run Plays - Steve_OS's Blog

Steve_OS's Blog

NBA 2K11 Demo Impressions, "Flick Flick" Controls and How to Run Plays

Posted on September 15, 2010 at 10:00 AM.

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After playing the demo on both the 360 and PS3, here are my quick impressions, along with a few tips, tricks and a couple of videos found on our NBA 2K forums.

The PS3 demo seems to be brighter, but also seems to be missing some frames, as I don't see it being as smooth as the 360 demo. Other than that, they both seem to play exactly the same, so there is no real need to really dig into the differences at this point.

The controls will take a little more time to master, but I've pulled off some nice moves. For those that don't know, here are some of the moves and how you can pull them off, taken from one of the NBA 2K11 Developer Insights, as well as a video.

Shooting the Ball
As many of you know, shot control is one of the things I�m most passionate about when it comes to my virtual hoops. And I�m proud to say that NBA 2K11 got a huge upgrade in that regard. When we introduced the Shot Stick back in NBA 2K6 it was one of the best innovations of its time. Unfortunately, over the years, the Shot Stick hasn�t seen a whole lot of upgrades. That all changes this year.

The first thing we did was re-map the dunks, as we felt Basic, Flashy, and Power had way too much overlap. Now, the categories are:

Straight = Normal/Signature dunk
Left = Hop/Euro Step dunk
Right = Rim Hang dunk
Away = Spin dunk (in traffic) or Reverse dunk (on a breakaway)
Twirl = 360 in air dunk (for the few guys that can do them)

We�ve also doubled our layup types:

Shot Modifier + Straight = Euro Step or Fake Pass (think Rondo) Layup
Shot Modifier + Left = Hop Step left layup
Shot Modifier + Right = Hop Step right layup
Shot Modifier + Away = Spin layup

The nice thing about the longer gather to finish sequences is that you can branch them prior to takeoff. So let�s say you see a seam in the defense and trigger a hop step layup through the gap. If you beat the first defender with the hop and have open space to finish, just let the rest of the layup play out. But if you see help rotate over to beat up your shot, you can quickly neutral the Shot Stick, and re-issue a new command before the hop step finishes and switch your layup to the other side. It�s a nice tool for the offense and makes attacking the basket more of a twitch game.

Momentum jumpers also got some love. Like last year�s drifters, these play when you�re driving across the basket and are useful for creating space against the onball defender. These shots are also interruptible. So you can trigger the shot animation and neutral out the Shot Stick before your player gets off the ground for a pumpfake. I love doing this against overzealous defenders looking for a highlight block. Hit the brakes and they fly right by:

Shot Stick with momentum = Drifter
Shot Stick away from rim = Stepback jumper
Shot Stick opposite your momentum = Spin jumper (Lebron uses this all the time IRL)

We�ve also given you the ability to perform Kobe�s reverse pivot, Hakeem�s dream shake, Rondo�s ball fake, and various up and under type moves on demand. When you hold the Shot Modifier (LT for 360 and L2 for PS3), flicking the Shot Stick for a pump fake will initiate the first part of the move - the type of move you get is based on the direction you flick your stick and the context of your movement. This gives you a second to read the defense and see if he bites on your fake. Flick and hold the Shot Stick again and you�ll complete the second part of the move. It�s a fun read and react mini-game which allows for some nice highlight moments.

Here is a little tidbit Mike Wang (Beluba) posted in our Forums, on "Flick Flick" moves.

Quote:


	Anyone try the "flick flick" moves yet? They're some of my favorite shots. Hold LT, flick the Shot Stick and let it return to neutral (like a pumpfake), then flick and hold it again before the pumpfake ends. You get different shots depending on your movement, facing, distance, and direction of your flicks. If you're having trouble getting your passes picked, Total Control Passing will allow you to move your receivers around wherever you want. Unfortunately, it's disabled by default so you'll have to enable it when you pick up the full version. Personally, I can't play without it. Too bad you guys can't change the diff. and game style... it changes the experience pretty drastically.

Here is a video from our own EdotD, showing off some of these moves.

As most of you already know, the playbooks have been disabled in the demo, you can't really call a play. But there is a work around for it, as explained by JrDoubleHockeySticks.

Quote:


	Once most of your players are past half court tap LB/L1 and then quickly follow that up by pressing the icon of the player you want to run the play for. For example, Kobe Bryant would be B or O. So initially, tap LB/L1 and then quickly tap B/O. A red circle will be under the player of choice, Kobe in this case. You will now need to press another face button (A,B,X,Y/X,O,Triangle,Square) to initiate a play. If done correctly, play art will show up on the court.

One of the most common questions I've seen on OS and on the Twitter account is, "How do I post up?". It's simple, just hold the LT+RT buttons down.

Here are just a few things I've noticed while playing the demo.

Paul Pierce set shot looks NICE, Kobe and Ray Allen sig shots are bananas
Love the momentum and shots that are based off of said momentum, Kobe from the baseline, WOW
Step back animations were tweaked, looks better
Rondo fake pass layup, looks uncanny
Driving and hitting a pull up jumper just feels so nice
Love the variations on tipped passes
Love the different types of blocks, weak block and get that S out of here blocks
AI plays the passing lanes better, can't wait to try it on Sim w/ retail
Couldn't stand some of the anims last year, where you'd sort of stick and drag along with the defender, not seeing that
Spacing is lovely, 'nuff said
Love the fact players spot up for 3 in various spots on the floor, drive and kick FTW
Alleyoops seem to be more layups than dunks
Feather the stick and layoff the turbo button some, or you will look stupid
Choose who comes to double team, nice touch
Offensive off the ball fouls, over the back fouls, I've seen a few, big thumbs up
Love how the AI passes out of trouble in mid air, when it needs to
AI making some nice fast break passes, especially the bounce passing
Love the help D, was cheesing around (pump fakin') to see some of the dunks and got swatted by help (Perkins) a few times, love that weakside help D
Seeing a few bad passes here and there at a players feet, where they have to regain control of it. Frustrating when the player is wide open, only to get a bad pass, but frustrating in a good way, since it adds a nice random effect

And there you have it, my quick impressions of the NBA 2K11 demo. How about you?

Comments

# 1 bxsteve @ Sep 15

everything u said lol! no but one of the biggest improvements are on D. the fact that u no longer get sucked into an animation on double teams and i've seen a lot less (if any?) canned block animations. in 2k10, if rondo was going for a dunk u'd be able to jus jump anywhere in the vicinity wit pau or bynum and it'd get blocked but in 2k11 i got dunked on as well as blocked a couple and it looked natural.

# 2 JohnDoe8865 @ Sep 15

Game feels amazing. I need the full retail version NOW!

# 3 UMhester04 @ Sep 15

how do you shoot a bank shot?

# 4 frbroussard @ Sep 15

Hey brto, how do u do that half spin fade away with koke. Ive been trying but i cant get to the half spin part

# 5 NBAfan#5423678976 @ Sep 15

@ NS HeLLaDOPe

I got crossed over by rondo defending with fisher and fish slipped a lil and lost his footing as rondo blew by me

# 6 bxsteve @ Sep 16

Quote:


	# 3 UMhester04 @ Sep 15 (14 Hours Ago) how do you shoot a bank shot?

hold L trigger (L2 ps3) while ur shooting

Quote:


	# 5 frbroussard @ Sep 15 (10 Hours Ago) Hey brto, how do u do that half spin fade away with koke. Ive been trying but i cant get to the half spin part

u gotta do his signature gather, after doin a size-up or wutever hit Y (triangle ps3) by itself no direction with it and he'll do his sig gather then from there fade away lol

# 7 bigeastbumrush @ Sep 16

Great information!

# 8 Blak_Baki_Hanma @ Sep 17

Started using the flick flick...
Niiice!
Such variety.

# 9 LiL_MiK3Y @ Sep 18

i love that having some1 that puts up a weak layup and you are using players such as DW12 u can swat that weak stuff 2 the second or third row or to halfcourt that is an awesome addition. But why are the alley-oops mostly layups i heard you can pull off the off the glass alley oops but im wondering if they're going to do layups on that too, lol.

# 10 misterupgrade @ Sep 18

I seriously can't believe how fluid the movement is in this game. This is the first time I am anxious for a basketball game release.

# 11 tksr#1 @ Sep 18

it s better the version for the 360 or for the PS3?