2K10's NBA Today = Brilliant - cwash020's Blog

cwash020's Blog

2K10's NBA Today = Brilliant

Posted on January 21, 2010 at 11:35 AM.

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For a guy, married, with two small children...my time spent on video games has dwindled down to 7-8 hours a week (10 on a good week).

I used to be heavy into season and franchise modes. Back when NCAA FBall 06 was out, I had time to invest in back-to-back-to-back Dynasties. NBA 2K7 was a gem for me when it first arrived on the scene and I took my Wizards (R.I.P) through a full season and a NBA title. Since then I have hardly been able to complete a season in any sports game, let alone a Dynasty. In fact, my Super Bowl run with the Colts in Madden 10 was the first time I have actually played an entire season in years.

While the majority of the problem for me is time, part of it also has to do with the overall staleness of sports titles in recent years, basketball games in particular. The routine for me is normally: a) purchase NBA2Kwhatever, b) play the first few games with random teams to get used to the game, c) start a franchise, and d) by the 15th or 20th game I get bored of the same canned animations and playing with the same team, same cheap A.I. tactics. So the question that comes up is always, how can companies change this game to keep things fresh and innovative.

In comes NBA Today...I have to admit, at first I didnt give this mode much thought. After all it doesnt really do anything "innovative". It's just a glorified exhibition game that uses the actual NBA schedule. However, I was totally wrong. This is the most innovative thing NBA 2K has done in years. With the integrated commentary and overlays that give you updated information during the game on team stats and schedules I have to say that this is the closest I have ever felt to a live broadcast playing a video game. If I want to D Wade one night, choose the Heat game from NBA today. If the Heat dont play tonight, I will take K. Durant and the Thunder. It's a refresing take on gameplay that gives you flexibility, but at the same time you dont feel like you are playing a loosely related exhibition game.

Kudos to 2K for implementing this. Maybe you should build around this game mode instead of putting a half *** effort into the online component. It's horrible...give it up.

Comments

# 1 CarryTheWeight @ Jan 21

Agreed, NBA Today and Association combine to give you one of the most immersive experiences in sports gaming...I don't play much of the real-life games myself but absolutely love the dynamic commentary during Association Mode, it truly feels like you are watching a real-life broadcast.

Supposedly MLB 2K10 is going this route as well, but, honestly, I would have loved to see MLB The Show adopt it since it has the best commentary track and TV-styled presentation in the business.

# 2 Valdarez @ Jan 21

I'm not a basketball fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed the My Player mode and I'm eagerly looking forward to next years release hoping they continue to flesh it out. Maybe I'll pop in NBA 2K10 again to try out the NBA Today feature.

# 3 videlsports @ Jan 22

I have to agree with you. NBA Today is one of the biggest Innovations In sports Vieo games. It get's to the point that when I play friends we only play in NBA today MODE. I love it!! They are Implamenting it in Baseball too. I wonder what it would be like in College Football and NHL. College football they can make next year.And I definatly am happy that as a married man you can play videogames. My wife is totally cool too. IN Fact She plays too.