NBA 2K12 Demo Roundtable

[TheKasmar]

I wonder how many times they played the demo? It's the type of game where if you arent familiar with the controls then it can damper the experience. I can understand how a new user could come away more frustrated than impressed.

[thevaliantx]

Quote: Originally Posted by Xx Qontrolz xX

Jayson Young: "NBA 2K12 seems to focus too much on the flash and glamour of basketball and not enough on the sport's fundamentals." wtf i think there's no 1 other sport game that is more fundamentals-oriented than 2k12.. from the players side to the coaching side...

Actually, if you even follow the real sport of basketball, you KNOW that 2K11 (and 2K12 is no different, going on the demo and history) does not focus on fundamentals. 2K11 wasn't realistic or fundamental. It was fun, against other human player, but the AI dribbler should NOT be standing at the top of the key dribbling out the shot clock, despite the human player trying to knock the ball away. It simply would not happen in real life. The AI should not be inbounding the ball to the same place each time, nor should the AI sprint up the court each time with the ball. Those are the types of things that 'sim baller' looks for, and it's the type of things that separate a sim baller from the guy who is focused on so-and-so's tattoos or what color socks some guy is wearing. Nothing wrong with the folks who play a basketball game because of its' looks, but we sim ballers definitely have a problem with a game that, after 11 versions, for all intents and purposes still does not realistically represent the game of basketball.

[thevaliantx]

Quote: Originally Posted by stillfeelme

This rounndtable was suprising to say the least. Had some suprising statements " Like many of today's NBA superstars, NBA 2K12 seems to focus too much on the flash and glamour of basketball and not enough on the sport's fundamentals." This one takes the cake though. After playing so many games in 2K11 this demo stands out to me as being better in so many areas and it is not even close in my eyes. This demo on easy, pro casual default whatever setting it is plays a better game of basketball than 2K11. 1. The CPU AI is a totally different animal in this demo, pump fakes, hop steps, the way they swing the ball, drive and dish is nothing like 2K11 and is the closest I have seen to real life basketball in a video game. 2. The ability to branch out of any animation just changes the feel as well, everything seems to be in the users control. Some of the heavy animation you guys mention are giving us the most unpredicable gameplay I have seen in any game. Almost everytime I play the demo I see something new. 3. "Live ball" the way the ball has been deflected sometimes bouncing off legs and going out of bounds or a big fumbling the rebound just takes it to another level. 4. The physics/contact between the player is nothing like 2K11. You don't get those suction animations but you get contact and it effects the play in the paint and changes the outcome. 5. Fast breaks!, Fast breaks! we actually get realistic fast breaks off of turnovers without the CPU turning into Usain Bolt or a animation to slow us down. I have seen some fast breaks that wouldn't be possible against the CPU in 2K11. 6. Post game Y button even at it's state right now compared to 2K11, is a night and day difference once you get most of the moves down.

You can SAY that the retail version is this and that, or that it does not have the negative aspects of the demo, but face it: NO SOFTWARE PUBLISHER, in their right mind, would put out a demo that so drastically created a negative image in the minds of prospective buyers, of such a great game. I mean, seriously, the logic of this is crazy. Which are we to believe? That the demo is an extremely early build (unlikely, in my opinion), or that 2K chose to discourage its customers from buying the real thing (completely asinine and not good for investors)? My opinion is that the demo is not as old as being claimed and all these supposedly great features were not hidden from users.

[thevaliantx]

Quote: Originally Posted by adwin7

That's what I was thinking the whole time I was reading. Kudos 2k. If the retail is better than this as far as gameplay then you have more than exceeded my expectations, because the demo is giving me some good bball. As far as movement and animations, what we have going on is the fact that 2k added foot planting some years ago, and momentum plays a big part in how you turn. 2k keeps striking a better balance between control and realism every year. While, yes, we can change direction when ever we want to on the demo there is still a set of animations that make it feel more life like. So when you turn you plant foot, dribble other direction then launch. But Jayson made a good point player movement is like the real nba players, but that's a good thing.

Your point was well made, but you seem to be missing the old adage of "build it and they will come". You can not put out a crappy product (ie, demo) and claim to the folks you're trying to sell the game to that the demo is nothing like the real thing. It's a DEMOnstration of the real thing. A poor demonstration at that. That's like a car dealer saying "we have XYZ sports car for sale, it's just not viewable. What I need for you to is try out this ABC 4-cylinder look-alike car. It's really the same thing as the sport car that you want, just with a lesser motor and some things taken out because we feel that the average person taking this for a spin isn't going to be buying the real thing anyway. Let me know your offer!".

[Aceballer1737]

"Actually, if you even follow the real sport of basketball, you KNOW that 2K11 (and 2K12 is no different, going on the demo and history) does not focus on fundamentals. 2K11 wasn't realistic or fundamental. It was fun, against other human player, but the AI dribbler should NOT be standing at the top of the key dribbling out the shot clock, despite the human player trying to knock the ball away. It simply would not happen in real life. The AI should not be inbounding the ball to the same place each time, nor should the AI sprint up the court each time with the ball. Those are the types of things that 'sim baller' looks for, and it's the type of things that separate a sim baller from the guy who is focused on so-and-so's tattoos or what color socks some guy is wearing. Nothing wrong with the folks who play a basketball game because of its' looks, but we sim ballers definitely have a problem with a game that, after 11 versions, for all intents and purposes still does not realistically represent the game of basketball."

The only thing more realistic to the game of basketball compared to 2k11 is the actual real game of basketball.

[Dazraz]

The demo of NBA 2K12 is a nice little taster for the game although it's stripped down nature means it's hard to come away without feeling a little underwhelmed. That said I'm sure the full game, with it's brilliant presentation & solid game modes, will once again blow us away.

[BlackRome]

Let's stop saying how they improved the series. The series has gone down hill every year since 2k8. It was the last game they had where everything worked.

2k9. The dribble system was broke. The only moved that allowed you to get by someone was a spin move.
Online they got rid of the lobbies. Big mistake. Madden copied the 2k lobbies and they are great.

2k10. XBOX360. You could score at will in the paint. Online became a layup fest. They slowed the game down and the slow animations started to show their ugly head. Floating for the first time was introduced into the 2k series. I have a great first step on the ball court. The first step disappeared from the 2k series with this release.

PS3. Played a much better game of basketball than the 360 but the floating was much worst on PS3.

2k11. Online unplayable. Floating reached NBA Live levels. You move the stick. You wait for your man to complete the move. Then you do your next move. This to me was the worst 2k released since 2k6.

[BlackRome]

I see the fan boys are out in force. The same fan boys who thought last years version was the greatest when it was the worst release game play wise since 2k6.

I don't see where they are to far off. In the demo the animations are to slow. Dribbling is a basic fundamental of basketball. It's been broke since 2k9 was released.

They decided to destroy the passing system last year and all but erased the first step from the game.

So yes the fundamentals of basketball like passing and dribbling still need to be corrected.

The ball last year did not get the correct height on passes. Way to easy to intercept. Passes wiz by players heads all the time. Not in 2k. Passing and dribbling hit their low points last year.

So yes the fundamentals were lacking.

From what Dustin said. The build he played was smoother and the animations were better. '

I hope he's right. I think most of you are just pick up basketball players. Maybe you made your high school team.

I've played on a very high level and have played against or with most of the dudes who came out of Philly that made the pros. I played in the games at McGonigle hall on Temple's campus with Kobe, Aaron Mckie and Eddie Jones. Kobe bussed Eddie behind so bad he ran and told Jerry West to draft him.

Remember. At the time Kobe was 17 and destroying a lock down all NBA defensive player. I had a front row seat. As the PG. Playing against Rick Brunson.

So let's just say I know the game.

2k11 sucked. Badly.