NBA 2K14 News Post

NBA 2K14 Video - Gameplay Developer Insight

07:05 PM - September 18, 2013 by Optik

2K Sports has released the first full details on this year's NBA 2K14 gameplay with a new Developer Diary video.

Mike Wang, Lead Gameplay Designer, addressed the skepticism that people might think the game will be a minor upgrade saying, "We really wanted to stomp that right away and make sure everyone understood that NBA 2K14 will be a fully upgraded game."

Rob Jones, Senior Producer, said the AI is much improved on both offense and defense.

"Spacing is much butter," Jones said. "I think this year is the first time we really got a feeling 'these guys know what I'm trying to do' (in regards to their floor spacing."

Wang said attacking the basket is "more gripping" and "you can't just go anywhere you want with the ball". Players attacking the rim should expect more contact in the paint, as it should be.

2K looked at the blocking system and made improvements and "even rewrote the system."

Producer Jerson Sapida said, "We're just ensuring the user can get the best possible block attempt that they can make."

2K, in the past, artificially dropped shooting percentages when players drove towards the rim. This year, says Mike Wang, the approach is different. This year the contact in the paint, the fouls, the blocks, etc. will all be much more natural and authentic to what you would expect to see.

"To me, it's one of the biggest upgrades the series has seen in a long time," Wang said.

We are expecting even more NBA 2K14 info soon, as the game is slated for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on October 1.

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Member Comments

# 41 JasonWilliams55 @ 09/18/13 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iLLosophy


	Don't want to drink the kool aid yet (as I see an ad for kool-aid appear on the page as I'm writing this...), but a lot of the issues I had with 2k13 were things that you really couldn't "see" but you could feel. So even though the the Dev Insight was pretty light on content, I'm actually optimistic about what they had to say. Glad to hear. This should always be the precedent.

I think this is what 2K is struggling with this year, how to convey feeling. It's hard to do with words that will make sense for everyone and even harder to show with videos especially from people that really don't know how to play properly. Well what we here consider proper.

The game has a better feel to it that you can only appreciate by getting your hands 'dirty'.

# 42 alabamarob @ 09/18/13 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	I think this is what 2K is struggling with this year, how to convey feeling. It's hard to do with words that will make sense for everyone and even harder to show with videos especially from people that really don't know how to play properly. Well what we here consider proper. The game has a better feel to it that you can only appreciate by getting your hands 'dirty'.

The truth of the matter is that 2k13 was an unbalanced game that wasn't very realistic defensively. 2k doesn't want to admit that 2k13 was a step in the wrong direction so it will be hard for them to explain the difference without trashing 2k13.

1) spacing is better and fouls will be called. What they are really saying is zone defense and gimmick trap defense were overpowered in 2k13 because the spacing was poor, and the defense could sprint around the floor and dive into shooters to block or contest shots.

2) balance. What they are really saying is you can protect the paint this year with positioning as opposed to attempting to trigger contact layup animations like in 13.

3) blocked shots. We are making the ball live throughout the shot, dunk, and layups as opposed to waiting for the ball to be released from the offensive players hand like 2k13.

So 2k handled their business and fixed the main issues. I don't expect them to trash last years game so I am cool with the "balance" and "it feels right" angle. But to be 100 they are really saying is we made the game more realistic this year.

# 43 JasonWilliams55 @ 09/18/13 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabamarob


	The truth of the matter is that 2k13 was an unbalanced game that wasn't very realistic defensively. 2k doesn't want to admit that 2k13 was a step in the wrong direction so it will be hard for them to explain the difference without trashing 2k13. 1) spacing is better and fouls will be called. What they are really saying is zone defense and gimmick trap defense were overpowered in 2k13 because the spacing was poor, and the defense could sprint around the floor and dive into shooters to block or contest shots. 2) balance. What they are really saying is you can protect the paint this year with positioning as opposed to attempting to trigger contact layup animations like in 13. 3) blocked shots. We are making the ball live throughout the shot, dunk, and layups as opposed to waiting for the ball to be released from the offensive players hand like 2k13. So 2k handled their business and fixed the main issues. I don't expect them to trash last years game so I am cool with the "balance" and "it feels right" angle. But to be 100 they are really saying is we made the game more realistic this year.

Wrong direction? I hear ya tho, but I would say just another step in the dance.

Remember Jay-Z was branded on the game, so alot of newcomers would be flocking to the game... if the game was too hard they would potentially lose returning some of them. So the obvious choice (whether from DEVs/Marketing/Suits doesn't matter) was to make the game 'playable' for them. IMO.

# 44 alabamarob @ 09/18/13 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	Wrong direction? I hear ya tho, but I would say just another step in the dance. Remember Jay-Z was branded on the game, so alot of newcomers would be flocking to the game... if the game was too hard they would potentially lose returning some of them. So the obvious choice (whether from DEVs/Marketing/Suits doesn't matter) was to make the game 'playable' for them. IMO.

True. They made the game they wanted, so wrong direction calls for speculation. Lets just say this. 2k13 was never intended to be a thinking man's game. People complained about live ball and they took it out. People complained about canned animations and they took out most of those. There was no way they could get a balanced game in 13 with such a short time to tune a game with no live ball and limitied 2 player animations.

Hopefully, 13 will be the game that took a step back in many areas in order to make the game better in the future.

Similar to adding lanes into a highway. Construction will slow traffic for a while and riding in one lane will be horrible for the year of construction but once all the lanes are running the highway will be better and more efficient.

# 45 Vni @ 09/19/13 12:00 AM

I would like to know if in the post the right stick defense is still as good as it was in 2K13. It requires no skills at all and was overpowered. It lead to defenders never biting on fakes. I'am hoping that they have slightly raised the effectiveness of the post fadeaway aswell as the hook shots to make the right stick defense not as efficient as before.

# 46 papaey @ 09/19/13 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LD2k


	Everyone who has played it has enjoyed it. Every aspect in gameplay has been carefully looked at and balanced. It's just extremely smooth. Visually, yes, we're near the limits on CG, but the feel of it is outstanding. JasonWilliams can attest to this as well. He had tons of hands-on in Vegas and believe me, you OS'ers came with questions hard and fast. Glad the fellas that were up there could play it and FEEL it for themselves. Current gen users have a TON to be excited for. Game is FUN and balanced.

Marketing Strategy....

# 47 thedream2k13 @ 09/19/13 12:33 AM

found a microsoft store in my area! looks like it will be getting current gen version as well

# 48 Slava Medvadenko @ 09/19/13 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	I think this is what 2K is struggling with this year, how to convey feeling. It's hard to do with words that will make sense for everyone and even harder to show with videos especially from people that really don't know how to play properly. Well what we here consider proper. The game has a better feel to it that you can only appreciate by getting your hands 'dirty'.

Exactly. Some people are complaining about this being a complete rehash without having experienced the game yet. This is what I call 'Whine Time', the months before and after a 2k release when exaggerated statements are the norm. 2k is a game about subtleties like animation responsiveness and how contact feels, which can't be properly judged just from a video.

# 49 SpartanBaller @ 09/19/13 02:48 AM

Maybe there won't be as many missed put backs at the rim now

# 50 clipperfan811 @ 09/19/13 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KyotoCarl


	THIS is how the developer insights should look like! All of them! This was more like the old written insights used to be, but in video form, which is way more informative and hypes me up for the game even more!

Yeah I agree this video did have that written insight feel. Still not quite as in depth but a very nicely put together video. It's cool because it seems like the focus of their marketing is geared towards us, the SIM crowd. I'm very intrigued to get a feel for 2 things, the improved passing and that solid feeling defense JasonWilliams55 keeps talking about.

# 51 clipperfan811 @ 09/19/13 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	Spamming the block button will result in a collision, that much is certain. Spamming steal I don't think will cause any type of advantage for the defense, I didn't have success in the build I played on (spamming steal).

What I think a lot of people are waiting for is a collision system that mimics how steals occur in real life. If your hand hits ball, you disrupt the ball. If your hand hits flesh, you could be called for a foul.

Right now it's more of a roll of the dice based system so you have hands going through the ball, you have hands going through body parts and sometimes a steal happens, sometimes a foul happens and sometimes nothing happens. I was stoked about the live ball stuff from 2k12, I also get why they took it out. I know realistically any hope for the collision system I want to see lies with the Next Gen.

Another thing that I'm excited about is what we've been hearing about ball handler push offs and drawing charges. Those type of risk reward interactions are huge and have been largely missing. As the collision system evolves and more momentum and weight is taken into account this should really make the game more enjoyable. I'm actually way more excited about that type of innovation on next gen than I am for prettier graphics.

# 52 JasonWilliams55 @ 09/19/13 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clipperfan811


	What I think a lot of people are waiting for is a collision system that mimics how steals occur in real life. If your hand hits ball, you disrupt the ball. If your hand hits flesh, you could be called for a foul. Right now it's more of a roll of the dice based system so you have hands going through the ball, you have hands going through body parts and sometimes a steal happens, sometimes a foul happens and sometimes nothing happens. I was stoked about the live ball stuff from 2k12, I also get why they took it out. I know realistically any hope for the collision system I want to see lies with the Next Gen. Another thing that I'm excited about is what we've been hearing about ball handler push offs and drawing charges. Those type of risk reward interactions are huge and have been largely missing. As the collision system evolves and more momentum and weight is taken into account this should really make the game more enjoyable. I'm actually way more excited about that type of innovation on next gen than I am for prettier graphics.

The question for me is how much control will there be with this from both sides of the ball? How is it gonna work... things like that.

Quote:


	YES the defense can push back, but at the same time, you can push off on offense (not just that shoulder lean in animation out of triple threat) I mean off the drive, you can forearm shove (not sure if its contextual or controllable) more than likely its gonna be controllable/contextual meaning that when a riding animation starts, (LD2K made it sound controllable but it has to be in the right circumstances, so to me a combo control/context) if you push for the step back jumper/dribble move you will see the forearm come out and extend giving that separation and even with that, the defense has a counter for that, to flop and draw the offensive charge foul call. So there are definitely levels upon levels of strategy in the gameplay. As said, 11, 12 and 13, mashed, re-tuned and balanced out. (Think back to 11, when we had that defensive ride out animation where you could get the charge call and extend out that strategy aspect two more levels). So no longer is the offensive player locked into that rideout and no longer can the defensive player force the charge, now, you can fall back and try and get the call, you can break out the rideout on offense with the push off.

This is what I said... going back and looking at it now... damn that sounds like a lot, but really, as said, how controllable is this gonna be... is it gonna be one of those "oh I got the animation!" type things, or is gonna be "okay, i got him right here... bam!, got'em coach" type things.

Contextual vs controllable... have to wait and see.

# 53 sead94 @ 09/19/13 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LD2k


	Everyone who has played it has enjoyed it. Every aspect in gameplay has been carefully looked at and balanced. It's just extremely smooth. Visually, yes, we're near the limits on CG, but the feel of it is outstanding. JasonWilliams can attest to this as well. He had tons of hands-on in Vegas and believe me, you OS'ers came with questions hard and fast. Glad the fellas that were up there could play it and FEEL it for themselves. Current gen users have a TON to be excited for. Game is FUN and balanced.

LD2K, thank you for giving insights about 2K14 in this thread. NBA 2k13, �s great as it is, but nevertheless my gaming experience was constantly bothered by one major flaw or disbalance (at least for me it was a flow and a major one

how easy it was to play offense (dribble,and shoot, especially with quick shooters like Melo, JR, KD, etc) and how hard was to play defense, I mean basic things, like stay in front of guys and contest shots, not to mention blocking). As a result of this a common feeling was that every twelve year old can pick up a game and just shoot the heck out of the basketball (transition threes were my most arcade-ish segment of 2k13), and be more than competitive, while sim-guys as me were left in despair trying to practice hours and hours some basic skills like contesting shots and preventing threes. When you mention balance do you mean that there is necessary and fair learning curve for both offense and defense, or are there just more options for us to use on defense? I think the later would not be enough, there should be also more balance regarding developing your skills, dribbling and shooting touch for offense as well, as it is for defense. Cheers.

# 54 J_Posse @ 09/19/13 05:01 AM

Might be a little off-topic, but I liked Josh McRobert and Dennis Schroeder's cyberfaces and the rookie even has his tattoos. Very encouraging news for the other rookies in-game.

The colors also seemed to stick out to me. The dreaded errors with red and blue looked better, yet that could have been do to a host of things. Can't wait until October 1st and whenever the next-gen iteration releases.

from Spurs Nation/Bills Backer HQ

# 55 Taer @ 09/19/13 05:46 AM

I am looking forward to a defense that is as emphasized as the offense has been in the past. I am purposefully remaining skeptical yet an ability to play defensive ball at the same level that you could play offensively in years past is very exciting to think about.

Spacing, correct paint pressure, blocking, and the solid balance advertised will benefit all the modes equally and if everything is as advertised every single gamer will be able to appreciate what is released.

Thanks for releasing this insight.

# 56 clipperfan811 @ 09/19/13 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	The question for me is how much control will there be with this from both sides of the ball? How is it gonna work... things like that. This is what I said... going back and looking at it now... damn that sounds like a lot, but really, as said, how controllable is this gonna be... is it gonna be one of those "oh I got the animation!" type things, or is gonna be "okay, i got him right here... bam!, got'em coach" type things. Contextual vs controllable... have to wait and see.

Yeah that's definitely the test, I mean even it's still going to be a contextual thing to an extent but I get what you're saying. It's like you know how they have it to where if you try to turbo through a screen, you might just get called for a foul. I hope drawing charges is similar in that if you're just trying to excessively force your way through a defender who's obviously in position, bam got'em coach can happen.

It's once of those balancing issues, I mean it can't be so sensitive that it happens any time an offensive player hits turbo but I'd love to see offensive fouls being called without having to hit the charge button.
Same deal if you're completely stationary, even with hands straight up and someones driving recklessly down the lane. Hit them with a charge.

# 57 MarkWilliam @ 09/19/13 08:15 AM

I think 2K are doing a fantastic job of how they are playing this out.

Their direct competition is starting to come out with some info - next gen only and they have thought about the current gen market, looks like they are producing a game which will see off current gen very nicely. I am reading "balanced" quite a bit and I think that sounds very good. The graphics would be at a point where they could only fit so much in......

Next gen, with this 2K14 engine with nicer graphics would be another step up again and I am hunching more will actually come (not just graphics)...... so I am thankful 2K is around and keeping the poise and sanity, producing yet another solid instalment.......

Thanks 2K!

# 58 SkyWater1417 @ 09/19/13 09:40 AM

This question is actually out of this articles...

If im not mistaken someone told that PC version of NBA 2K14 are "Half Current Gen/ Half Next Gen". I think it's JasonWilliams55 mentioned this (but i'm not sure). Specially there's no "LIMIT" in CG in PC so it can be?!

Can Someone Clarify this... Please...

# 59 Goffs @ 09/19/13 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkyWater1417


	This question is actually out of this articles... If im not mistaken someone told that PC version of NBA 2K14 are "Half Current Gen/ Half Next Gen". I think it's JasonWilliams55 mentioned this (but i'm not sure). Specially there's no "LIMIT" in CG in PC so it can be?! Can Someone Clarify this... Please...

Nobody knows and I doubt we will be getting any news about since we are so close to release. Just lower your expectations and all will be just fine....

All I want is the the PC version to be released without delays....

# 60 Optik @ 09/19/13 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabamarob


	True. They made the game they wanted, so wrong direction calls for speculation. Lets just say this. 2k13 was never intended to be a thinking man's game. People complained about live ball and they took it out. People complained about canned animations and they took out most of those. There was no way they could get a balanced game in 13 with such a short time to tune a game with no live ball and limitied 2 player animations. Hopefully, 13 will be the game that took a step back in many areas in order to make the game better in the future. Similar to adding lanes into a highway. Construction will slow traffic for a while and riding in one lane will be horrible for the year of construction but once all the lanes are running the highway will be better and more efficient.

Hopefully 2K learn from this experience and believe that the democratisation of games, in other words - listening to the "fans" - is a sham, because most of the fans don't have enough knowledge of the game mechanics or basketball to know what should be in the game. It's not enough to just go on OS, and ask for opinions, you've got to challenge those opinions, and if there's no adequate reply, you discard that opinion.

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