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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
# 421 BluFu @ 10/23/13 10:06 PM
i hate how this game is too damn good to pass up on even without multiteam assoc.

i feel like i'm betraying my franchise.... just realized i can't recreate my league (like I did with 2k12-->2k13) in those sexy next gen graphics.

can always hope for 2k15!
 
# 422 Panicshade @ 10/23/13 10:16 PM
As expected the news coming out today has it's pros and cons. I can only speak for myself but nothing that was said today has made me waiver at all on my PS4 pre-order. I hope to see some of you online (just don't go too rough on me since I'm not the greatest 2K player by a large margin...lol)
 
# 423 magicman32 @ 10/23/13 10:17 PM
I'm excited about no sliding and more realistic footplanting. And I'm looking forward to seeing if this is actually true. I would also like to know if they've redone the pass and catch system. Especially catches. It would be nice to get more logic in the catch animations. I hope players don't warp to the ball on the catch unrealistically like current gen.

One of the main problems with 2k14 and trying to implement "live ball" physics is the catch animations and how players react to loose balls. For example if the ball is loose you get players kicking the ball around instead of picking it up. So you have too many "soccer" moments. I would like to see Players more responsive to picking up loose balls, whether it's one/two hand pickups or running to the ball and dribbling it while it's loose. Just grab the thing!!!! lol.

Also I hope rebounding is fixed.
 
# 424 ImW33Z @ 10/23/13 10:17 PM
I know you guys are all mad about not being able to do a multiteam franchise, but if you guys are so mad about this why don't you get NBA Live 14? It seems like this alone is making an entire group of people go insane. You ask for change on Association mode each year and you got it. I have a feeling MyGM will be awesome(I myself love playing Franchise with 1 team) just try it out and if you don't like it rent Live.
 
# 425 Melbournelad @ 10/23/13 10:19 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by basehead617
You seriously ONLY play 30-team association?
Yes.......
 
# 426 GoGetta408 @ 10/23/13 10:20 PM
-LD2K said to expect some of the 5 on 5 gameplay sometime this week.
-aholbert said there are ONLY 4 game modes, excluding online. Yikes?


And can someone mention if MyTeam is in? I read that it was, but a few months ago I remember reading that MyTeam was current gen only...
 
# 427 Melbournelad @ 10/23/13 10:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ImW33Z
I know you guys are all mad about not being able to do a multiteam franchise, but if you guys are so mad about this why don't you get NBA Live 14? It seems like this alone is making an entire group of people go insane. You ask for change on Association mode each year and you got it. I have a feeling MyGM will be awesome(I myself love playing Franchise with 1 team) just try it out and if you don't like it rent Live.
The reason Association changes are asked for every year is because:

2k9- CG form of Association was introduced
2k10- Not one of the issues pointed out were resolved
2k11-Same as above
2k12-Same as above
2k13-Same as above
2k14 CG- Same as above

So I think the frustration is justified.
 
# 428 The 24th Letter @ 10/23/13 10:24 PM
I'm glad there are only 4 modes...new engine and all this technology...get that right, THEN we can expand modes...

Thats just me though...
 
# 429 SoundsLikeScone @ 10/23/13 10:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Melbournelad
The reason Association changes are asked for every year is because:

2k9- CG form of Association was introduced
2k10- Not one of the issues pointed out were resolved
2k11-Same as above
2k12-Same as above
2k13-Same as above
2k14 CG- Same as above

So I think the frustration is justified.
And now they change it, and people are upset that it isn't exactly what they had before with a new sim engine. I mean I get that this was how you played it, but I'm willing to trust them on this since I am a solo player and am looking forward to something brand new
 
# 430 basehead617 @ 10/23/13 10:25 PM
Only 4?

What the hell other mode would you want?

It's basketball.
 
# 431 TexasFan2005 @ 10/23/13 10:25 PM
I'm interested in seeing how the commentary is going to evolve (if at all) this generation. I really don't see how it can improve from current gen, other than adding more and more lines.

Also, in my opinion, it may be refreshing to get another main commentator. Kevin Harlan is getting a bit irritating, but nothing worth muting.
 
# 432 lgxjames @ 10/23/13 10:28 PM
I mean...MyCareer sounds all beautiful but I'm primarily a association kinda guy and I can't say I really understand how hype I should be with MyGM.

They clearly state all of the upgrades to MyCareer but MyGM seems kind of................lacking. (In details)
 
# 433 TexasFan2005 @ 10/23/13 10:28 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by basehead617
Only 4?

What the hell other mode would you want?

It's basketball.
"Be the Mascot"

I want to be able to control the Phoenix Gorilla, run with the basketball and jump on a trampoline through a flaming hoola-hoop, ultimately dunking the ball.

Make.it.happen.2k.
 
# 434 Pared @ 10/23/13 10:29 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.
MLB The Show has year after year continued to try to implement restrictions in place in ranked gameplay modes that force a user to play a certain way.

There has hardly been this type of emphasis in this series. I understand why, but if that is the case there should be a mode that caters to the sim and is ranked that at least makes an attempt at doing something similar for the gamers that want to avoid the turbo abusers and find like-styled gamers.

I don't buy the "X player should not miss from downtown 5 of 6 times when wide open" crowd - that actually happens. It's just the developers don't put harsher penalties on the "unrealistic" crowd that plays these games and separate the two.
 
# 435 Jet Sufferer @ 10/23/13 10:30 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by sniapeko
I had no intention of buying a next gen console because I have my X360 since just one and a half year. I could have changed my mind only if NBA 2K totally blew me.
Now this is a totally unrealistic expectation.
 
# 436 airjoca @ 10/23/13 10:31 PM
They said they scanned pretty much every player in the NBA. Who's missing? Kyrie and his Live buddies?
 
# 437 JBulls @ 10/23/13 10:31 PM
 
# 438 midwestking100 @ 10/23/13 10:31 PM
I'm an association kind of guy cause 2K allowed me to create my own league.
 
# 439 jaateloauto @ 10/23/13 10:31 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by basehead617
Only 4?

What the hell other mode would you want?

It's basketball.
Depends, can you play MyGM online?
 
# 440 yungflo @ 10/23/13 10:33 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TexasFan2005
I'm interested in seeing how the commentary is going to evolve (if at all) this generation. I really don't see how it can improve from current gen, other than adding more and more lines.

Also, in my opinion, it may be refreshing to get another main commentator. Kevin Harlan is getting a bit irritating, but nothing worth muting.
According to Holbert, it sounds the same as current gen, that goes for announcing and crowd dynamic sounds. Which is a little disappointing. I think thats an area live excel in. You could feel the weight of the shot and hear the crowd groan as the away team scores a basket. Real authentic stadium sounds, and that was in live 11 which was years ago. You'd think 2k would implement this but they basically ignored real stadium sounds
 


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