Operation Sports is proud to present our interview with Derrick Aynaga, Project Manager of NBA 2K3. This is the 3rd interview, make sure you check out Part 1 and Part 2 in case you missed them.

MISCELLANEOUS

Operation Sports: Are there plans for a PAL (Europe/Australia/New Zealand/U.K.) release of the game?

Derrick Aynaga: Nothing is final at this point, though the issue has come up and there are talks about one.

Operation Sports: Do the players clothes really move in real time as they animate?

Derrick Aynaga: Unfortunately we were not able to complete this feature due to time constraints, however we did extend the cloth animation to the nets. Also for X-Box, we implemented both specular highlighting and bump-mapping for player jerseys, which makes the pin holes and wrinkles much more visible and realistic looking. The specular highlighting also changes depending on where the light is coming from creating lots of variations in the shadows as players move around on the court. Overall I’m extremely happy with where we are graphically as NBA2K3 will be the most graphically advanced basketball game regardless of platform.

Operation Sports: Will there be an in game save, where you can play games at a later time?

Derrick Aynaga: We did not implement an in-game save however we did do a “simulate to end” feature that allows you to complete a game using our new game simulation engine. So if you are short on time, try to get a solid lead, and then simulate to close it out. The statistics we get out of the engine are the most realistic and accurate I’ve seen in any game.

Operation Sports: Can you save replays to the memory card or hard drive?

Derrick Aynaga: You can save replays to memory card on the PS2 and either memory card or hard disk on the X-Box.

Operation Sports: Will there be a COMPLETE All-Star weekend in 2k3? Slam Dunk Contest, 3pt Shootout, Rookies vs. Sophomores, & All-Star game? If not, have any of those contests made it into the game at all?

Derrick Aynaga: Sorry but we did not do this for 2K3 despite the rumors that have been posted on Operation Sports. We spent so much time implementing new moves like the mid-air adjustment shot, diving for loose balls, and cut-back crossover moves, as well as revamping franchise that we wouldn’t have had the time to do a dunk contest and 3-point contest well. It’s definitely on our list for 2K4, but we will only do it if we can bring it to the same high level of quality we’ve achieved in every other aspect of 2K3.

Operation Sports: Are their hard fouls where the player will fall to the ground?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, fouls now account for several different factors including player weight, action performed, and velocity. I’ve seen guys go up for a dunk, run into a player waiting to take the charge, and had both guys hit the deck afterwards. And all of this is tied nicely into our new injury system.

Operation Sports: Will there be different Street Modes like 21, Horse, 1 On 1, Around-the-World, etc.

Derrick Aynaga: Not this year. For 2K3 we focused on revamping the lineups so that you can choose any player from any team to make up your street team. So this year, you can do things like have Iverson, T-Mac, and Webber on the same squad.

Operation Sports: Will there be any different player entrances/intros? (Locker rooms etc.)

Derrick Aynaga: We spent a lot of time and effort redoing our entire cut-scene engine. You’ll see all new intros, as well as common things like time outs and substitutions. We actually did 5-player simultaneous motion capture for these new scenes so there is a lot of player interaction and emotion. Just wait till you see the NBA Final celebration, the winning team goes absolutely crazy.

Operation Sports: Will the Raptors incorrect jersey be fixed?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, all jerseys are accurate as of this year. We’ve even added the Lakers new home alternate white jerseys.

Operation Sports: Will there be a crowd watching you when you play street ball?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, each court now has several new people hanging out watching the game. Each animates and reacts to the in-game action as well.

Operation Sports: Are there more camera views and have they been adjusted?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, all camera views have been tuned, including the replay cameras.

A.I.

Operation Sports: Will the AI penetrate into the lane more due to speed and less due to the crossovers?

Derrick Aynaga: The AI will use both where it’s applicable. It may simply run Iverson around Shaq, but use a dribble move against a smaller faster guard.

Operation Sports: Will the use of the crossover to penetrate into the lane be decreased?

Derrick Aynaga: It’s been tuned this year based on feedback we’ve received, but users will also have the option to increase or decrease the effectiveness of these moves using the gameplay sliders. Users can also adjust the ball handling for a particular player if you think he should be rated higher or lower than he is in the game.

Operation Sports: Will the AI be able to defend the fast break better and foul if they have to stop it?

Derrick Aynaga: We’ve done extensive work on the fastbreaks for both offense and defense. Things you’ll notice right away is a faster pace for the fastbreak game. You’ll also notice the defense being much more aggressive. They’ll reach more, try to block more, and because of this, will cause more fouls than previous incarnations of the game.

Operation Sports: Will the CPU rearrange their match ups and not let a small guy like Iverson cover someone like Vince or McGrady just because they are SG's? Vice versa, will they take advantage of mismatches themselves?

Derrick Aynaga: The coaching AI for the play system has been totally reworked. The coach will now analyze how it’s play calling has been working and adjust periodically favoring hot players. It also accounts for pressure situations like end of game, making sure to run a play for either a star player or a guy who has been hot the whole game. You should see lots of variations but all outcomes will be reasonable and correct for the situation.

Operation Sports: Will the CPU switch up their game plan if it is not working?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, and depending on a team’s tendency to use zone defenses, it will do things like run the Box and 1 if you are beating it with a single player. On offense the coach actually keeps track of which plays have been working and which have not and it periodically makes adjustments to its play calling based on this information. It will also look to the team leaders more at the end of games when it really needs a good look.

Operation Sports: Has the collision detection improved? e.g. The annoying ability of defenders to keep penetrators out of the lane by simply spreading their arms out and holding. This also occurs anywhere on the court and you can actually spread your arms on an opponent without the ball who has yet to walk into the half court and hold him for as long as you want and prevent him from even taking part in the play!

Derrick Aynaga: We’ve received lots of feedback from many sources and have redesigned the entire system. We don’t want to say exactly how we did this but know that this will feel fair for both offense and defense. In short, the situation you describe above is no longer a part of the game.

Operation Sports: Has the A.I. coaching and subs improved? Top bench players rarely played long minutes and/or had big stats.

Derrick Aynaga: This is another area where we’ve received lots of feedback and have made major changes. Playing time will be totally realistic this year. Fatigue has also been revisited, so you won’t have the issue of younger more athletic guys getting overly tired, even though they haven’t played the entire game.

Operation Sports: Will the AI recognize when a star player has been subbed out? In 2k2 if the CPU subbed out Kobe the CPU would still run plays for Mitch Richmond as if Kobe was still in, instead of letting Shaq carry the scoring load for this period of time - has this been corrected?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, the play system now accounts for this change. Swap out Kobe and the AI coach will look to Shaq for more production.

Operation Sports: Last year the inclusion of being able to manually intercept passes led to way too many steals, has this been adjusted?

Derrick Aynaga: This was by far one of the most innovative features for basketball games, and we respect the fact that people have gotten very good at stealing and have tuned the game appropriately. The NBA 2K3 team definitely feels this aspect is now fair and more difficult to perform than last year.

Operation Sports: Will there be more fouls in the game (loose ball, over the back, holding in the post)? CPU players never really got in to foul trouble in 2K2.

Derrick Aynaga: There is definitely more contact and fouls in 2K3, especially with the mid-air adjustments off dunks and lay ups. One thing we really tried hard to simulate is the amount of contact that happen right under the basket. This is where you’ll start to see the hard fouls and more frequent fouls.

DUNKS, LAYUPS, BLOCKS, MOVES

Operation Sports: Will there be more tip-ins and fewer tip dunks?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes, we redesigned tip-ins and lowered the amount of put backs. The end result is a much more realistic looking and playing game.

Operation Sports: Has the dunk system been changed?

Derrick Aynaga: The biggest change in the system is with the mid-air adjustment for dunks and lay ups. It’s so amazing to go up for a dunk or lay up, see the contact coming, then pull the ball back for the lay in. It’s especially satisfying when you get fouled then make the shot.

Operation Sports: What type of shots will players resort to when they use the new feature to change their shot? Explain how this shot changing works.

Derrick Aynaga: It’s pretty easy to perform, all you do is press shot a second time once you get up in the air for a lay up or dunk. Obviously players who are more known for doing this have a better chance of it going in, and have better looking animations. Also the move is mainly intended to be used when you go up and get hit. So the best scenario is to go strong with a guy like Iverson, get fouled on the way up, then change the shot at the last minute. Changing the shot in this case gives you a better chance for the “and 1” situation than not changing the shot at all. So timing and speedy reactions definitely come into play.

Operation Sports: Are there more animations for blocks?

Derrick Aynaga: There are several new block animations, and are sensitive to where you are trying to block from, as well as whether you are holding turbo or not when you block.

Operation Sports: Do dunks look better when you hang on the rim? Last year a player would sometimes hang on the rim without actually touching the rim.

Derrick Aynaga: All the “hanging on the rim” code has been rewritten and is using a new technology that will guarantee player’s hands will line up with the rim.

Operation Sports: Are alley-oops manual this year, or do they occur when the pass and player is in the right place, or both?

Derrick Aynaga: We’ve kept it the same this year as the feedback we received was very positive.

SOUNDS, MUSIC, COMMENTARY

Operation Sports: Will there be a roaming courtside commentator (like the woman in NBA Inside Drive and also a woman in the NFL2K series who gives reports on injuries and half time comments etc.)? I noticed in the manual for the original NBA2k game that the credits did in fact mention a woman's name as such a commentator but must have been left out of the game.

Derrick Aynaga: We’ve implemented a new studio personality that does several things including: pre-game analysis and comparison, half-time analysis, and end of game wrap ups including player of the game selection.

Operation Sports: Will there be a post game and weekly wrap-up show like NFL 2k3 with an EPSN commentator?

Derrick Aynaga: Yes we’ll have all of that, including the weekly wrap up show in franchise mode. They’ll do the whole “Who’s hot and who’s not” deal.

Operation Sports: Who is doing the main commentary?

Derrick Aynaga: Our commentary team consists of Bob Fitzgerald and Rod Brooks.

Operation Sports: Are there any new music introductions; does each team have its own music?

Derrick Aynaga: Music definitely varies, and each arena is tuned to their real-life counterparts. Play against the Knicks and you’ll hear organ music, play against the Pacers and you’ll hear something playing every trip up court. We’ve actually spent a lot of time researching what arenas play what type of music and how often they use it. Our audio and production guys have really put a lot of detail into this.