NBA 2K13: Demo Roundtable - Operation Sports

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NBA 2K13: Demo Roundtable

Submitted on: 09/26/2012 by

Aaron Ondrey: It's almost October. Leaves are turning, replacement referees are being threatened, and NBA 2K13 is just around the corner.

Today is a good day to be an NBA 2K fan. This demo has me believing NBA 2K13 will fulfill my prediction as Sports Game of the Year.

First off, the gameplay is a thing of beauty. Players cut, they move and they go places with a purpose. They barely get in your way if you're the ball handler, especially compared to last year's version. The passing is a lot sharper, and the manual pass is a long-awaited addition back into the game for myself.

Players play like their real-life counterparts. LeBron has the power to drive to the hoop and carry a defender with him. Durant starts to heat up, and can't miss. Role players also are going to play a much bigger role thanks to the signature skills. Chalmers will drive and kick to the corner for a Battier 3-pointer, and Ibaka and Perkins run the paint on defense.

The player movement finally feels like speed and weight matter. If I'm the Thunder, and LeBron takes off on the break, I can't keep up with him if I'm Ibaka. This makes me so happy. It's also a great feeling to know that you have a lot more control on defense, and are rewarded when you play it well.

The control stick dribbling is fantastic once you can grasp it. It took me about 10 games to fully understand what I was doing in relation to the hoop, but it's great when you chain everything together. Guards like Westbrook, Rose, Rondo and CP3 are going to be a dominant part of the game. This is definitely realistic because the NBA has shifted to a point guard league.

I got an overall great experience playing the demo today. Of course, there were a few things off. I didn't like the tiny delay when shooting with the shot modifier combined with the right stick. I'm also not a fan of how easy it is to do hop-step layups and spin dunks. This will be easily addressed for offline gamers, but if the quick ranked matches online are on pro/default, there will be some upset people.

Overall, I couldn't wait for the release of NBA 2K13. The demo has just made me more excited.

Bishop Tart: As a person who really got into NBA 2K11 -- but was not a huge fan of NBA 2K12 -- I must admit, NBA 2K13 has won me back. The new advanced controls are enough to make me love this game already. That's something I think the series really needed. Add that to the already near-perfect gameplay and new signature skills, how could you not want to play NBA 2K this year. The new animations also look slick, and like Aaron said, the speed and weight of each player actually matter. That will be huge this year.

To me, NBA 2K12 didn't do enough to make it feel like a completely new game. Visual Concepts looks like they added some big gameplay enhancements this year, and I can't wait for the full release in October (November on Wii U).

Dustin Toms: First of all ... wow. The NBA 2K13 demo is the first demo I've ever touched that was better than its retail predecessor. As mentioned above, the player movement has reached the point where it's so realistic, my jaw drops in the middle of the game in amazement. I know I'm playing a video game, but damn it looks good -- especially the flopping after a jump shot.

The new control stick is pretty sweet. It's 2K's way of bringing the difficulty level back down to the casual gamer, but at the same time have made it more complicated for the hardcore. Pretty damn initiative. Between this new feature and NHL 13's skating engine, the OS yearly award for Most Innovative is going to be a hell of a fight.

However, there are a few things I wasn't to fond of in the demo. Flopping may look awesome, but it happened to often. I saw anywhere from two to six flops in the 5 minute quarter -- a flop a minute is just too much. Also, player response seems to fluctuate way too much in each game. Sometimes it would take a second or two for LeBron to pass the ball, causing turnovers of other things.

But the issues in the demo are never issues in retail versions, let alone 2K, who has already mentioned on Twitter that they're looking into the responsiveness. Either way, it's safe to say that NHL 13 might need to be shaking in its feet if it wants to win any Game of the Year awards.

What about you OS, what are your thoughts on the NBA 2K13 demo?

NBA 2K13 Videos

Member Comments

# 41 The Biscuit 07 @ 09/27/12 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	The game is downright amazing. I heard if you don't like the new control scheme you can use the 2k12 controls? Not sure if that's confirmed. I love the organic feel, just feels even more realistic which I never thought was possible, but this will be the sickest NBA game in video game history. Bummed we only have 2 new classic teams. That sucks. Lucky for 2K roster share. Can someone correct me? There is NO Team USA? Just dream team correct? I so want my 90's Pacers. And if you got Barkley in the game, give us the classic SUNS! Come on 2k!

Just to answer a few questions you asked. There is both the 1992 USA Olympic Team and the 2012 squad from this year. Secondly, not sure what you are referring to 2 new classic teams (unless you are referring to the two Dream Teams) as the only new classic team is the 2000-'01- Sixers. Also of note as has been pointed out is the lost of Dr. J, Chris Webber, and Kareem (this is unconfirmed yet but looking probable from the video that was posted yesterday on OS). The teams are still there but it looks like those players are not in the game this year. Finally, with regards to Barkley, he only gave permission for his use in the 1992 Dream Team, not for any Classic teams, so there will not be a classic Suns team with the Round Mound of Rebound. Hope this helps.

# 42 The Biscuit 07 @ 09/27/12 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piccolomair


	i think its foolish for people to bash you guys for not liking the demo/game. I personally just wish you guys would elaborate, and also keep the concept or "what can actually be implemented" in mind. For example, people have ragged on madden for years because either they failed to hit the realism levels that the very old nfl2k games were reaching, or because they would add new features just to remove some other features, and then reintroduce those features as new (2k is doing this with crew right now, and i have a few ideas as to why) So its fine if you find something unrealistic, and it turns you off, but explain it, try to explain how it could have been tweaked or changed, dont just point out that foot planting wasnt 100% real when no sport game has really figured out how to do that yet. Also its always a good idea to present what you do like about the game. I refuse to believe that there i nothing you guys enjoy about 2k13, and if there really is nothing you like about 2k13, then at least mention things you have liked in other basketball games (2k, live, whatever) so at least it makes your argument more relatable, more understandable, and seemingly less trollish (even if its not your intention, simply saying negative things and calling them 'truths' is essentially trollish behavior) I for one enjoy reading the real negatives on a product. The best products, to me, are not the ones that have the most positives, but the ones that have the least negatives.....and when it comes to games like 2k13, i like to look into how many of the negatives are true negatives as opposed to user misunderstanding....

I just want to point out THIS is why I come to OS. Well thought out intelligent posts. Substantive arguments and discussions. Respect. Yeah, we get the random fan boy or troll (not implying the people that were spoken to in this post are trolls. Regardless of how they came across trolling may not have been their intention at all). It's just nice to find a site that is both informative, active, and on top of everything that comes out. Plus a great bunch of gamers who understand the nuances and some of the challenges that these developers face. Keep up the good work.

# 43 locos85 @ 09/27/12 04:16 PM

I have always loved the 2K series, been playing since the PS2 days.

I played the hell out of 2K12.

BUT..... I'm not really felling 2K13.

The game feels arcadish to me. Nothing but fast breaks and too many dunks. (Might be the way I am playing it)

I also need to get used to the controls. I have always used the shot stick, never used square.

BTW. I have played the full retail copy.
They have had them on, on the floor since Tuesday at all the Best Buys here in South Florida.

Also the 2K Cam delay seems to have been fixed. It will turn immediately upon a turnover.

# 44 americasTEAM82 @ 09/27/12 04:22 PM

anyone know what difficulty this is? cause the cpu never misses haha

# 45 DatKid16 @ 09/27/12 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRAZY2KFAN


	2K13 SHOULDVE NEVER CHANGE THE BUTTONS FROM 2K12! PLAYING THE GAME FOR A YEAR THOSE BUTTONS BECAME SECOND NATURE! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you can use 2k12's control scheme if I'm not mistaken.

# 46 jules23 @ 09/27/12 09:45 PM

why did i just hop step with james and had an easy dunk/layup and he jumps up and does this awkward one handed shot when nobody was in front of him?

# 47 actuallybrown @ 09/27/12 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseySuave4


	I love how every 2k basketball demo that creepy guy with the laugh is in there. He sounds like Joba the Hut's little pet with that crazy laugh. I know its always gone in the retail version but it wouldn't be a NBA2k demo without him.

I noticed this too. It's a little strange because he's SO loud and he's SO frequent. Almost rhythmic.

Anyway, I've let a couple of games play out CPU vs. CPU, and it looks pretty arcade-like, lots of fastbreaks and lots of turnovers from bad passes. Not an abnormal amount, but a real-life preseason amount. I'm guessing the play style is set to 'Regular' and the difficulty is 'Pro'. The CPU's generally score around 8-11 per simulated quarter.

# 48 Optik @ 09/28/12 12:13 AM

Quite an odd review. It's far less objective than the FIFA one. Funny how "the new controls are so amazing" is the new mantra adopted by the majority of players. How about commenting on some of the arcadish passing, especially on the run? What about the lack of collision in the paint with the up and unders? Or the fact that the continuation rule is inconsistently called? Or the fact that we have to wait in the pause menu?

# 49 Runne130 @ 09/28/12 02:58 AM

i really enjoyed the demo once i playe it enough i understood the stick controls making it more fun, n its all ive been playing since i downloaded the demo

# 50 Sundown @ 09/28/12 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by actuallybrown


	I noticed this too. It's a little strange because he's SO loud and he's SO frequent. Almost rhythmic. Anyway, I've let a couple of games play out CPU vs. CPU, and it looks pretty arcade-like, lots of fastbreaks and lots of turnovers from bad passes. Not an abnormal amount, but a real-life preseason amount. I'm guessing the play style is set to 'Regular' and the difficulty is 'Pro'. The CPU's generally score around 8-11 per simulated quarter.

Noticed that too. It's like they have a crowd soundtrack for demos and a separate one for retail. Retail has that weird background fan(?) that goes MEEEEOOOOWW every once in awhile instead of the demo's WHOOHOOHOO. I got flashbacks from last year when I first ran the demo.

# 51 bumpyface @ 09/28/12 11:08 AM

I think the demo is nice. I'll wait to grade the game after tuesday. I do have few concerns though. The rebounding seems kinda off. Even if you're in position for a defensive rebound, a lone offensive player will grab it in the mist of 3 defenders in position for it. Secondly I'm praying that the momentum bs that was in 12 is in 13. I would hope that the better player is rewarded vs a free bee handed to the less skillfull player. I guess we'll see whats up tues.

# 52 dthomas2008 @ 10/01/12 12:04 PM

This demo is a dunk fest all u have to do sprint down court n dunk on the defense help defense is pointless blocks are impossible. If u don't believe me use westbrook or lebron get passed the first defender n press the shoot button n watch the unstoppable. I hope this just happens in the demo

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