News Post

NBA 2K9 - Developer Diary (by Erick Boenisch, Lead Feature Designer)

10:45 AM - September 24, 2008 by Steve_OS

We have just posted our Developer Diary with Erick Boenisch, Lead Feature Designer for NBA 2K9.

Quote:


	"Hey everyone, my name is Erick Boenisch and I am the Lead Feature Designer for the NBA 2K series. Many of you who frequent the NBA 2K forum may know me a little better as SimBaller. I�m here today to tell you about the exciting improvements we�ve made to The Association this year. The Association is taking what we are calling a AAA (triple A) approach to the mode this year. We�ve broken down each �A� into a specific area of the experience that we aimed to improve this year."

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Member Comments

# 21 elprez98 @ 09/24/08 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehh


	You could be right, Legacy mode in CHoops blew away Association mode in NBA2K8.

I know. I used to live College Hoops. It pained me to know it was killed, but I guess its has been reborn in the Pro game.

True Story:

At one time during the CH series, there was a big boom on the 2k site for text legacies. I know for a fact, that 2k developers were very big fans of the legacies. So much so, that they chose at least one site member to write the generic legacy texts found in the following iteration of College Hoops. I guess sort of what they've done for Momentus.

Its pretty awesome to see stuff like this happen time and time again with 2k.

# 22 demencia_total @ 09/24/08 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanm1058123


	uh bro, thats basically what bird rights are for. if you have guys who are on your team for 3+ years without being traded, they have bird rights and you can go over the cap to re-sign them

In 2k8, you could resign players when over the cap. The problem was that player's ratings would become SO inflated that everyone was demanding huge contracts which the teams couldn't afford since they ran out of cash faster, and hence, a lot of players were left unsigned. Bird rights will help, but its more of an issue of player progression, and teams not having the logic to go into rebuilding mode. Hopefully this is addressed in 2k9.

# 23 DubTrey1 @ 09/24/08 12:46 PM

And it's the " �Little Things� " like this title has done year after year that makes me come back for more. Mad props 2k, for real.

# 24 EWRMETS @ 09/24/08 12:58 PM

It sounds great but how can you get realistic trades or stats with the player ratings so screwed up?

# 25 tjm384 @ 09/24/08 01:10 PM

This has got to be the favorite for sports game of the year

# 26 elprez98 @ 09/24/08 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjm384


	This has got to be the favorite for sports game of the year

Basically. 2k9 is likely the most "new feature" rich sports game we've seen in a while. Now all we need to see is the execution on Oct. 7th.

# 27 BOSsTOwN @ 09/24/08 01:29 PM

good news

# 28 spankdatazz22 @ 09/24/08 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elprez98


	Basically. 2k9 is likely the most "new feature" rich sports game we've seen in a while. Now all we need to see is the execution on Oct. 7th.

And yet IGN will still find a way to hose them on the review yet again (which I won't read). Really good info in the Dev Diary piece

# 29 CelticBalla32 @ 09/24/08 02:23 PM

Outstanding. Thank you Steve for posting this, and thank you SimBaller for the terrific write-up.

As each day passes, my level of anxiousness to get this game in my hands rises. After reading this article, I'm even more excited.

13 days, baby.

# 30 moe_42 @ 09/24/08 03:05 PM

But will you be able to use draft classes from CH 2k8?

# 31 mvb34 @ 09/24/08 03:09 PM

Will we be able to run plays in practice mode in Association this year?

# 32 akiracy @ 09/24/08 03:10 PM

question about player personalities. i know it has to do with them demanding playing time and such, but does it also affect them in games? like an expressive player will have more over the top celebrations.

# 33 trobinson97 @ 09/24/08 03:17 PM

Very good.

# 34 Jukeman @ 09/24/08 03:28 PM

WOW Oct.7 cant come fast enuff!!!!! Coaches being fired!!!! I wonder if the carousel is as good as CH2k8, do teams stick with the same style when a coach leave(like in past NBA2k versions) or do they switch??? are the coaches settings editable??? are asst coaches in and are they editable??? so many mysteries!!!!

I also wonder if every player will be happy like in 2k8(cpu controlled teams) seem like every player had 100 for morale, is this tuned???

# 35 DC @ 09/24/08 03:30 PM

Yea coahces get fired and those dumb generic coaches will take over teams. I hope we can edit coaches. I hate generic anything in my game

# 36 Nodima @ 09/24/08 03:41 PM

Yea I noticed this year Madden's coaching rosters were preeeetty deep, I wish 2K could do something similar?

# 37 DC @ 09/24/08 03:41 PM

How is Madden's done?

# 38 Nodima @ 09/24/08 03:53 PM

I sold it because it wasn't fun to play, but all the coaches were the real coaches at least for the coordinators, if they had positional coaches they were all real too if I remember. So if 2K had the same, the assistant coaches would all have names, and whatever free agent coaches are still in the coaching union would be available to step in I think.

And retired players could become coaches (at least if it was like, say, Madden 2005) and be good at various things based on their backgrounds (same with the old coaches).

I might be overrating it but there were basically a lot of real, not generic coaches in all positions. Maybe because of NFL Head Coach

# 39 DC @ 09/24/08 03:59 PM

Quote:


	And retired players could become coaches

I have been pushing for this for a while in NBA 2K. Hopefully my voice will be heard for 2K 10

# 40 mars blackmon @ 09/24/08 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanm1058123


	I know you will be able to run plays in practice mode, not sure if you will be able to run plays in practice mode in association. You would think though if it was in the regular mode, it would be in Association

i'm with you ryan this is very important to me being that i play association so heavily...we should be able to practice while in association.

i would have to export team, leave the mode, load my exported team and then enter practice mode...that's not a good look.

and say that i make a trade, like i'm using the bobcats and trade gerald wallace for josh smith? i now have to export a whole new team all over again and this goes for every single transaction i may make, it's very frustrating for a practice-holic like myself lol....

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