Now that the NBA 2K8 demo has been on XBL for about a week, DSM felt it was time to ask some community members how they were feeling about the latest iteration of the very popular NBA 2K basketball game. In this joint forum/staff feature I play the role of "DSM Staff."

DSM forum member Teebeebee (the legend behind the now defunct Geekrosters.com) had this to say about the demo:

From Zydrunas’s bald spot to Lebron’s windmills, the 2K8 demo to me represents everything 2K does well with its NBA series. While no sports game is entirely new these days, there is enough displayed in the demo for me to drink the Kool-Aid and believe that 2K isn’t just resting on its laurels and pumping out a new set of rosters with last years game (which in all honestly would have been fine by me).

Just some quick points both positive and negative:

-Rebounding: Last year I would just jump and hope to get a rebound, but just from playing this demo it looks like it was at least improved somewhat. Many times last year I would have good position but the CPU or Human player would just jump quicker than the other guys on the floor and steal the rebound. While it isn't a huge change, the apparent tweak makes for more realistic rebounding.

-Two man off the ball play: While I usually scoff at this, I actually spent 2 or 3 games only running these types of plays and they were more impressive than I thought; you just hit LB and point towards a player you want to get open, push get open (B Button) and the player fights off a few screens to get a open pop. The feature worked like a charm but the D will still try to get to the player so it’s not a money play.

-Isomotion tweakage: Some of my favorite moves, like the spin and jap step/crossover are tweaked enough that I notice a difference. The Spin is much easier to pull off, you just pull the LT and spin the left stick (thanks for telling me how to do it Chase) -- much better than last year's method, which I don’t remember in my old age, but it was defintely harder than the method this year. Iso play is going to be huge this year as the jab step/crossover move gets you a wide open shot or path to the hoop easily if done correctly -- although it may be due to the easy difficulty level on the demo.

-Aesthetics: I was always a hardcore Live baller but it was mainly because I am easily wowed by nipple-hardening graphics and visuals. It took last year's amazing 2K7 to sway me to actually give up on NBA Live for a year and learn how to play real video game basketball. This year 2K trades the robot dead skin looking player models in for much more human non-catlike players that really look exactly like their counterparts, even just during normal gameplay. For example, Z. Ilgauskas has a huge growing bald spot. Although I must say that I am highly disappointed Manu’s spray on hair isn’t included in the game, maybe next season.

The only bad things I see about the player models are small things that may just be a problem with the demo, such as Tim Duncan's chicken arms -- they look like a 12 year old boy's arms. Also the glitch with the jerseys is still there where after a dunk LeBron James's jersey is gone and you can see his nipples as he runs around bare chested -- these things should be fixed but who knows, maybe they like bare chested sweaty men.

Getting back to the good, players play like their real life counterparts; Tony Parker will blow to the hoop for a scoop shot layup, Lebron will break you down if you don’t guard him all game and Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili will tear your heart out if you double down on Timmy Duncan

The next set of impressions come from sprigg$$, a long time DSM veteran who knows his 2K basketball.

The first thing i noticed about the demo was the new jump ball mechanic. My thumbs are still sore from smashing the X button repeatedly in 2K7 so I'm glad all we have to do now is push the right analog stick up. I also noticed that the game's pace feels slower and smoother than last year. I'm not sure what the frame rates are in 2K7 and 2K8 but you can see a difference.

I also like the new lay-ups they added. One of my beefs with 2K7 was that it seemed to lack a variety of lay-ups. I dig the new dunks they added as well, and the dunk packages look and sound awesome (LeBron's tomahawk dunk looks amazing).

Another problem I had with 2K7 is the lack of involvement of the big men. There would be times where I played against Miami and Shaq was invisible. But in the demo the CPU worked the ball to Duncan down on the blocks and by the free throw line. Hopefully there is more of this in the retail version.

While those two said most of what I would have harped on, there are a few impressions to be made:

1. I would have liked to see more unlocked in the demo. Leaving out commentary so the download size is small I understand, but at least let me have access to the play calling buttons. A big problem I had with 2K7 was the spacing, so this would have been a good opportunity to try out the new play call mechanic and see if that helps create more flow to the offense.

2. The demo didn't impress me at first, but the more I played the more I remembered why this was my favorite sports game last year. The way the dunks feel, the way the blocking feels, and the way all the players move and interact just brings back nostalgia from the many late nights spent playing 2K7 last year.

3. The new post up mechanics feel great. Last year using the right stick to do the post moves left a lot to be desired in the control department. This year though using pump fakes and going different directions while in the post is a breeze.

4. It's not all about the guard play. Sprigg$$ touched on this but it needs to be reiterated. It's not all about the PG -- though Tony Parker will shred you if you give him space. LeBron was clearly the main guy for Cleveland when playing against the CPU controlled version of the Cavs, and even a few times Big Z was the main offensive weapon. 

5. LeBron felt like LeBron. It's dumb to say but not every superstar last year played like his real life counterpart last year. 

Thanks once again go out to sprigg$$ and TeeBeeBee for their impressions. Be on the lookout for more of these co-forum/staff features in the future.