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NBA 2K12 Developer Insight #6 - Training Camp

Jerson Sapida, Gameplay Producer, here with my first Developer Insight for NBA 2K12.  I want to introduce our new Training Camp mode for NBA 2K12.  Before I get into the details of the feature, let me first take this time to thank you, our fans, for the overall success of last year’s NBA 2K11.  It’s been a hectic and fun dev cycle for 2K12 (yes, both can co-exist) and I’m excited to share with you what we’ve put in for this year’s game.  Now on to the Insight!

During the development of NBA 2K12, one of our main goals was to create a mode where the user can learn both the basic and advanced moves that the game has to offer.  This should be a mode where someone new to 2K basketball can just jump in and master the controls with ease.  At the same time, it should also offer veterans of the series something deeper to give them that extra winning edge.  But we didn’t want to stop there.  To make learning the moves fun and easy, we implemented a Feedback System.  This system works in 2 ways: first, you will see the move performed by the AI, showing you the buttons needed to be pressed and/or stick input.  Second, the Feedback System precisely detects when and where you made a mistake when you are attempting to do a particular move.

And with that, Training Camp is born.

Lessons

Training Camp takes you through all the facets of NBA 2K12’s gameplay.  The moves are categorically broken down by Lessons.  There are a total of 9 lessons in all:

  1. Jump Shots – Shots such as the fadeaway, escape dribble pull-up, stepback jumper, spin jumper, etc.
  2. Layups and Dunks – Master the Shotstick with moves such as hop step layup, reverse dunks, change shot, etc.
  3. Triple Threat – Learn the moves at your disposal pre-dribble; jab step, protect, and dribble launches.
  4. Dribble Moves - Moves with a live dribble; crossover, in-and-out, behind the back, etc.
  5. Post Offense – Learn the all new post system; spin fake, aggressive drive, shimmy shots, etc.
  6. Post Defense – How to counter and defend post moves.
  7. Off-Ball Offense - Moving without the ball; moves such as screens, jukes, spin cuts, and stutter cuts.
  8. On-Ball Defense – Learn how to shut down the ballhandler.
  9. Passing and Offense – Advanced passing such as give-and-go and alley-oop.

Click here for high resolution

Mentors

Before I go any deeper, let me first talk about the Mentors in the mode (as you probably noticed in the image above).  For each lessons in Training Camp, a Mentor awaits.  His role is to teach you all the moves from that lesson and provide you with tips on how to master them.

For instance, in the Jump Shots lesson, Kobe Bryant will be training with Michael Jordan.  You will be in control of Kobe during training.  As you progress through Training Camp, new Player/Mentor pairings awaits you.  Dwight Howard and Hakeem Olajuwon is another one. 

 

Click here for high resolution

The Mentor’s role in Training Camp is the following:

  1. Show you how to do each particular move
  2. Provide you with additional tips that can be applied in competitive play
  3. Challenge you to a test after each lesson

Learning Moves

As soon as you begin training and practicing a specific move, the Mentor will first show you how the move is performed.  During this, you will notice a controller graphic on the screen.  While the Mentor is demonstrating, the controller will actually mimic his movements.  Think of it as watching someone who has mastered the game showing you the commands.  The on-screen controller displays the following:

  1. Buttons/Stick required to do the move are highlighted to show you the gesture
  2. A step-by-step description of the command

Click here for high resolution

The controller graphic is really helpful since it will give you visual feedback on how the move is actually performed.  If a particular move requires a half-circle gesture with the Left Stick, you will notice the Mentor move his stick in that direction.  This is very helpful since it will also show you where it needs to start and end from.  There is no more guesswork required.

If you run into a move that comes off as particularly difficult, the Mentor will be there to give you some pointers.  For instance, when you fail a move, the Mentor might give you a tip to steer you in the right direction.  You may be pushing your stick too soon or too early, not holding a particular trigger, or flat out just not listening to a word he says.  Either way, he’ll be sure to let you know. 

 

Click here for high resolution

At any point during training, you can ask your Mentor to show you the move again.  Use the Mentor Assist when you are having any trouble performing a move.

Moves Challenge

At the end of each Lesson, the Mentor will want to make sure that you remembered everything he taught you.  Let’s say you finished going through all of the Post Offense moves with Hakeem.  After doing so, he will challenge you to a game.  In order to pass the challenge, you must use the moves you learned during the lesson.  There is a required score that you must meet in order to pass.  Once you accumulate enough points, you can then move on to the next Lesson.  Don’t worry, he’ll take it easy on you.  Or will he?

 

Click here for high resolution

To those new to the NBA 2K series definitely check this mode out when you get the game.  Even if you are a longtime 2K gamer, I still recommend jumping into Training Camp.  There are new controls and mechanics in NBA 2K12 that you will want to know about.  New post moves, dribble moves, Shotstick controls, and defensive controls, just to name a few.  Future gameplay insights will delve into these mechanics in detail, but for now I will say that there will be much to learn in NBA 2K12.

At any point in Training Camp, you can quit out and resume it again at a later time.  The game will save your progress to your Profile save file.

Oh, one more thing before I sign off: as an added incentive, there is a special reward to those who complete Training Camp.

Until next time...


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Member Comments
# 81 yungsta404 @ 09/12/11 06:50 PM
pretty good and short but i didnt expect a really big insight posted on a monday.
 
# 82 da ThRONe @ 09/12/11 06:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DurtySoufReppin
They already said you can
They say you can purchase certain moves not train with the players to unlock the moves. Similar, but not the the same. Just buying the moves is kind of what's wrong with MP right now.
 
# 83 TalenT @ 09/12/11 06:59 PM
This is great news. Hell I still practice in 2k11!!!
 
# 84 Stevenash22 @ 09/12/11 07:09 PM
based on ronnie's twitter. " The next 8 days is about gameplay, except for that quick Creating a Legend Insight Wednesday."
 
# 85 EverythingSucks @ 09/12/11 07:17 PM
I really like this!! I've been playing 2k for a long time but never really got the difficult moves down. I'm a more visual person so by watching the controller on screen will help a lot, never did understand by reading the manual.
 
# 86 Ike04 @ 09/12/11 07:39 PM
nice insight. looking forward to association, online, gameplay, etc...
 
# 87 youvalss @ 09/12/11 07:46 PM
Nice, I like it! I hope MJ takes it easy, I don't want him to kick my *** when I mess things up...


Spoiler
 
# 88 CelticPride101 @ 09/12/11 07:52 PM
this is gonna be very useful
 
# 89 CelticPride101 @ 09/12/11 07:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by kolanji

we are talking about practice mein........PRACTICE!!!!!!!

that's why his a** is out of the league ringless... doin' his carryover travel, bein' a cancer to the team, overseas now huh
can't deny he was talented though
 
# 90 CelticPride101 @ 09/12/11 07:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by youvalss
Nice, I like it! I hope MJ takes it easy, I don't want him to kick my *** when I mess things up...


Spoiler
and that's real sim basketball
 
# 91 youvalss @ 09/12/11 07:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CelticPride101
that's why his a** is out of the league ringless... doin' his carryover travel, bein' a cancer to the team, overseas now huh
can't deny he was talented though
I thought he's back in the US...?
 
# 92 UnbelievablyRAW @ 09/12/11 07:59 PM
Those jerseys are almost as bad as the Cavs.....almost
 
# 93 youvalss @ 09/12/11 08:00 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by CelticPride101
and that's real sim basketball
Yup. And also, it it's a real sim, you won't be able to perform any of Olajuwon's moves with Howard. Because Howard ain't going to learn nothing!
 
# 94 CelticPride101 @ 09/12/11 08:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by youvalss
I thought he's back in the US...?
maybe, not in the nba though
 
# 95 CelticPride101 @ 09/12/11 08:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by youvalss
Yup. And also, it it's a real sim, you won't be able to perform any of Olajuwon's moves with Howard. Because Howard ain't going to learn nothing!

fo real lol
 
# 96 spankdatazz22 @ 09/12/11 08:08 PM
Not sure why some are so dismissive of things they don't see value in yet constantly crave new information. I think this mode has long been needed given the game's depth; I'm pretty sure most people only scratch the surface of what's possible to do in-game regarding the moves and strategy (including myself). I've been wanting a mode like this since seeing the stuff Momentus was pulling off with Kobe in last year's demo, or the post-play that Czar tried to help people with last year. This will go a long way towards helping people unlock the gameplay depth of the game imo and will help make the game much more accessible
 
# 97 SwagDoc101 @ 09/12/11 08:26 PM
i really see why some feel this mode is a waste ...this is a mode that the rookies as weel as the veteran 2kers need to dive in ...it will help us all become a more polished and fundamentally sound player...for those who skip this mode i smh @ you ...its similar to great athletic talent that come into the league and dont workout hard over the summers to hone their skills to take them to that next level of superstardome.
 
# 98 Rdub33 @ 09/12/11 08:29 PM
I don't want Howard to be able to play like hakeem.. Idc if Howard practices 18 hours a day for 18 days a month for the next 18 years he will never be able to pull off the 18 different post moves hakeem brought every night for 18 years! Lol I joke but seriously I hope 2k doesn't give all moves to all players because bottom line some guys just can't do what others can.
 
# 99 BRxSKINSx @ 09/12/11 08:32 PM
My player mode WAS gonna be the first thing I did when I put 2k12 in....NOW training camp will be....that way I can learn/figure out how thngs work this year....May as well take advantage of it, cuz I'd hate to run into players who've mastered the controls and they abuse me because I don't have a clues to what the players are capable of doning....
 
# 100 J_Posse @ 09/12/11 08:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Knickerbocker
Great mode, always wanted to have that in the game. Too bad Howard looks even less like himself this year ...
Where do you see a shot of Howard's face? The only thing I see is the back of D-Ho's head. I love that they added his adidas arm sleeves, hopefully it changes colors.

On-topic, I love the addition of this mode. I'm a long time player, but must admit that I've never mastered all the moves. Hopefully now I can get on Mo/eDoted's level with the sticks. 2K bringing the goods once again, three more weeks!!!!

Sent from Spurs Nation HQ
 


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