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NBA 2K14: Next-Gen Details on Gameplay, AI, New Modes and more!


2K Sports today revealed a whole boatload of information about NBA 2K14 on next-gen consoles, which includes a four-tier approach with NBA Today, MyCAREER. MyTEAM and MyGM all receiving a huge imagining for next-generation consoles.

Aholbert32 attended the event and will post what he can, when he can. Follow him on Twitter. Hands-on impressions, etc. are coming soon from the event!

Check out the full details from the presser.

Graphics and New Engine

The first thing you need to know, NBA 2K14 is not a port. It has been built from the ground up for the new hardware with a new engine called "Eco Motion."

The game will feature much improved graphics, with additional details like leg tattoos, new celebrations, hairstyles, and facial hair.

2K will be focusing its efforts on four main pillars of gameplay: NBA Today, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and MyGM.

NBA Today is brand new, built from the ground up. Video highlights from previous days games will be shown with the menu looking like a scoreboard w/ all games listed.

All your NBA news connected on your console updated daily. This is all driven by Dynamic Living Rosters - which is adjust daily based on how players are performing in the real world.

Points of emphasis has been added to the game, which is a feature last saw in the old College Hoops franchise. No warmup outfit for bench players, but the crowds look much better. There are now less duplicates in the crowd. FYI the gameplay clip we saw was only 4 possessions.

Little imperfections of dirt on the backboard tells you all you need to know about the attention to detail. 2K built a material library. It looks like 2K took each arena and really upgraded them.

Details shown at scorers table. A thumbprint on a monitor is shown. Redid the scoreboards in each arena and the lighting in each arena, it is a small but definitely noticeable improvement.

Now showing off the new LED dynamic lighting system. Just stunning. Scoreboard lights are dynamic and showcase reflections.

2K actually measured the color temperature of lights and count the number of lights and manufacturer of lights.

2K now showcasing Kobe Bryant getting head scanned. Kobe hung around while they built his model and his reaction was "GTFO here"

Watching Lebron face map. Asking him to make intense faces. Can’t lie the game has his and Kobe’s face down. KD’s and Iguodala face maps. Both look great. Even have KD’s bad skin.

The team captured and head scanned constantly working around NBA schedules to capture nearly every player in the NBA. Hundreds of players with thousands of expressions you will see in the game. Showcasing art of those now. This is photo realism.

2K captured nearly every player in the NBA. Parker looks great. Have Amare haircut with brown streak. Ray Allen looks great.

Gameplay

Mike Wang is on and speaking about elevating the game harnessing the tech. Primarily in physics and animations. Foot planting clips shown.

Wang is talking about Ecomotion. Foot planting. No sliding or phantom steps. Showed difference between cur and next gen. It looks great. Really no sliding. Now showing dribbling. Ball actually rotates while dribbling which is not in current gen.

Now speaking to ball handling. Eco Motion allows them to track true physics. Ball spinning when dribbling, ball in hands. Tangible object.

New animation system. Guys will have real life wingspans. New KD shoes look great.

Mike speaks about animation synthesis, Eco Motion - based on physics and situation, animations will change. With animation synthesis, animations will change based on circumstances. If KD takes a shot and D is guarding him tight, anim will change on the fly.

The game feels alive. For example, a shooter won't land the same way two times. Animation will adapt to the situation. Truly incredible stuff here.

AI

Coaches will adapt to what is happening in the game. So game plans will dynamically change based on what other teams are doing.

Rob talks about points of emphasis. Every coach will have its own ai and strategize based on how the game is going.

There are nine different options on offense and defense to strategize how to defend or attack your opponent.

Emotion Plus

Emotion Plus will categorize all the players personalities. For example, Kobe is an Alpha Dog. He wants the ball, he's fierce.

"Human emotions translate into performance. Every player has personality, highs are highs, lows are lows."

Emotion plus is a new feature. Each player has a personality. Personality and game events can affect how a plot performs.

MyGM

My GM is new franchise mode. Lots of RPG elements are in the next-gen game.

MyGM is a cerebral experience. Every decision changes the world around you. GM has attributes and special abilities.

MyGM includes conversations. You have to asses the emotional intelligence of the person you're talking too.

You will get fired from the owner of you don't maintain harmony in your organization, locker room and fan base. Revolutionizes what franchise mode is.

This is the complete evolution of association mode. Decisions and reactions is what this mode is all about.

"We have built a completely new experience for franchise players. All your day to day experiences have no right or wrong answers."

MyPLAYER, MyCAREER

Complete cut scenes in MyCAREER. Team captured hundreds and hundreds of scenes. A rival, agent, buddies and a compete cast of characters.

This mode "will leave you asking, "what will happen next?" Building relationships, making deals, etc..

Over 40 hours of gameplay in your first year alone.

"captured 1000s of cut scenes w actors & whole life of player. Every experience of being NBA player. All you want to see is next path"

When you're not balling in MyCAREER, you can hang out with hundreds of MyPlayers in the Park.

Open field of courts shown with hundreds of MyPlayers playing. Quite a tease.

Jeff: "When MyPlayer isn't balling, he likes to hang with 100 of his friends at The Park."

That was the conclusion of the presentation from 2K. We will have hands-on experiences from the event very soon!


NBA 2K14 Videos
Member Comments
# 401 deejay2 @ 10/23/13 09:21 PM
Give us real gameplay! I am tired of all this news...
 
# 402 Boilerbuzz @ 10/23/13 09:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by infam0us
I don't think basketball is as global as soccer so I don't know if its worth it financially to get all those leagues. For now NBA, Classics, Euroleague(I think), Olympics/National teams would be the only desirable assets to the large masses.
Would still be cool though. I think it can be done. Just needs to be determined if it's worth doing.
 
# 403 BQ32 @ 10/23/13 09:22 PM
All I know is everyone kept talking about how much the gameplay had been revamped and balanced for the current gen 2k this year. I was skeptical and cautiously bought the game anyway even after being disappointed the last couple of years. Well once again I was suckered in and bought the game. Have been working hard trying everything to be a good online player and have found that even though they took out last years major cheesing abilities this year the game is just cheese in general. It is completely scripted. Last game I went 1-8 from 3 with Curry on wide open shots (again not contested) with all but one being an excellent release. My opponent went 5-7 from 3 from the cavs rookie Bennett, almost all of which were contested and he only has a 69 3pt. rating. Nuff said. I will wait until the next gen game is actually out and being played before lauding it any praise. I hope it is awesome honestly, but I would bet anything that I will be disappointed once again.
 
# 404 Boilerbuzz @ 10/23/13 09:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by BQ32
I hope it is awesome honestly, but I would bet anything that I will be disappointed once again.
Sounds like you already have your mind made up already.

You may as well give up then dude. People are going to find a way to cheese no matter WHAT the game makers do. That's just how it is. Find one online game that doesn't get exploited in SOME way. WoW has it's cheese. Starcraft for REAL! League of Legends. And those are games where the developers set their own rules! So, if this is your metric, stop playing online games now.
 
# 405 Sundown @ 10/23/13 09:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz
To be fair, I don't think EA knows how to operate in any other mode other than the position of dominance. VC, on the other hand, has always been the underdog and I think they continue to work with that mindset. I don't think this game is meant to compete with Live. I think it's meant to compete with GTAV. VC wants to be Take Two's favorite son I would bet.
Funny you should mention GTA V.

When they revealed that MyPlayer includes the NBA lifestyle and has a huge cast where you build off court relationships, I started thinking "GTA-style dating sim"? An open-world NBA RPG?

GTA NBA edition: Champagne and Campaign.

I know it's the 4th time I've made that joke. I don't care.

It's going to be hilarious having the game be so immersive and realistic and still have everything purchased in VC. Your photorealistically rendered MyPlayer will still be paid annually in bags of gold VC coins, all of which you'll immediately blow on an arm sleeve and lobster for your buddies.
 
# 406 Sundown @ 10/23/13 09:35 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz
Sounds like you already have your mind made up already.

You may as well give up then dude. People are going to find a way to cheese no matter WHAT the game makers do. That's just how it is. Find one online game that doesn't get exploited in SOME way. WoW has it's cheese. Starcraft for REAL! League of Legends. And those are games where the developers set their own rules! So, if this is your metric, stop playing online games now.
To be fair, 2K could be a LOT more vigilant about curbing cheese for sim gameplay online. All of the games you mention certainly have/had developers working constantly to stop exploits and cheese, and Starcraft is a very well balanced game, hence its longevity.

2K gets a late patch, a few tweaks, and that's about it for a given year. Then it's Lord of the Flies out there.
 
# 407 Cowboy008 @ 10/23/13 09:35 PM
So will we be seeing 5 on 5 gameplay before the week is over or will we have to wait until next week?
 
# 408 Melbournelad @ 10/23/13 09:37 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Primo585
I guess I still dont understand what is good about needing to control more then one team?
Is this a joke? Everyone Association user knows how much of a mess CPU logic has been.
 
# 409 infam0us @ 10/23/13 09:40 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz
Would still be cool though. I think it can be done. Just needs to be determined if it's worth doing.
It would be cool, and it can be done but like you said I don't know if it would be worth it financially. I think the Olympics and FIBA World Championship would be a welcomed addition but I dont think the CBA or PBA are that well known that it would be worth getting the rights.

Also before we expand leagues and stuff can we get the D-League back.
 
# 410 ahuffman @ 10/23/13 09:46 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by basehead617
You seriously ONLY play 30-team association?
Yeah, it's worth the time investment to me. I do that in all of my sports games.
 
# 411 Melbournelad @ 10/23/13 09:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Boilerbuzz
Really? With MyGM, all you're missing is the multi-user aspect. That's ALL you play? if it's THAT important to you, why not play OA instead?
Yes boiler, that's all some of us play. Why is that hard to believe?

No interest in MyTeam, MyCareer, or Online (in it's current state).
 
# 412 Melbournelad @ 10/23/13 09:50 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Atax1s
I don't understand the huge issue with myGM. If you want multiplayer, create an online league.
That's not why many use multiplayer. It's used to correct the horrible CPU draft, trade, FA, team building logic.
 
# 413 Primo585 @ 10/23/13 09:53 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melbournelad
Yes boiler, that's all some of us play. Why is that hard to believe?

No interest in MyTeam, MyCareer, or Online (in it's current state).
lol damn kid thats most of the game... assosciation and onlie are enough for me... but i think i will actually do my career and some other stuff... it all looks and sounds soo good
 
# 414 yungflo @ 10/23/13 09:53 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melbournelad
Yes boiler, that's all some of us play. Why is that hard to believe?

No interest in MyTeam, MyCareer, or Online (in it's current state).
agreed. i'm an assoc player
 
# 415 23 @ 10/23/13 09:57 PM
I just want a great game first

I hope 2k fixes the core game and make it rock solid before scrambling to appease these online dudes.
 
# 416 L4K @ 10/23/13 09:58 PM
This news could not be any more awesome. MyCareer sounds like they've added the 'living the life' aspect we've all wanted for so long and MyGM sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. I really can't wait to get my hands on this game!
 
# 417 jcwkings @ 10/23/13 09:58 PM
This game is a system seller to me, getting a PS4 for sure now. Will get a PS4, 2k14, and one of Battlefield 4 or Killzone, and i might upgrade my ps3 fifa 14 to ps4.

The thing is this has all developed over the last month, i guess they didn't want their 360/ps3 sales to be affected by showing next gen before. I thought they would just make a prettier 2k14 from last gen, nope, this is a new game. Hopefully the gameplay stays stellar and this isn't a tech demo of the new engine which compromises gameplay for graphics, i trust 2k to deliver though.
 
# 418 rawdog805 @ 10/23/13 10:01 PM
All I want is for the game to have my last name in the database finally.. lol..

Womack!!!
Womack!!!
Womack!!!
 
# 419 magicman32 @ 10/23/13 10:04 PM
Honestly, MyCareer really teaches you the fundamental elements of 2k (especially if you play realistically). You get a better understanding of how 2k "works" in that mode, because everything you do as individual gets a grade. So you can understand what is good or bad.

I love MyCareer and it helps me tremendously in 5 on 5 gameplay. This year, I'm waiting for the season to start before I start MyCareer. But for those that knock it...It's the most popular mode in the game for a reason.
 
# 420 The 24th Letter @ 10/23/13 10:06 PM
I'm a gameplay guy...

Can't wait for impressions/ footage..
 


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