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.

Game: NBA 2K14Reader Score: 6.5/10 - Vote Now
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Member Comments

# 81 Optik @ 09/19/13 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OkayC


	Not trying to nit pick. But you did have to move pg over to the 3 spot in order to guard lebron. I played a game not that long ago where I put sefalosha on tony parker, and it moved sefalosha to 1guard. I had to bring the ball up and everything with him, which was kinda frustrating. I couldn't just keep thabo at the 2 or 3 and have him guard parker.

That's weird. That doesn't happen me through preferred matchup or through the defensive matchups in the timeout menu.

This has given me an idea though. To make the preferred matchup feature deeper, they could give us up to 3 players for preference, 1st being the most preferred defender and 3rd being the least preferred. Hopefully this would stop instances that for a possession you have Novak defending LeBron when your best defender is out.

# 82 VDusen04 @ 09/19/13 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	I hear ya on all of that... but we don't call the shots on what gets released... for the avg gamer this will be > all that (unfortunately).

I think the average gamer tends to get an unfair shake around these parts from time to time. The phrase itself often seems synonymous with "People who like only the worst things about games only". I can't really envision casual, average folk all clamoring for additional shoe information over everything svit listed. And if they are all clamoring for that shoe information over everything else, and if that's what's driving 2K's approach to things, then I believe that is a problem in and of itself.

To be clear, I like shoes and I support additions, adjustments, and modifications. I just balked at the premise that the average video gamer is calling the shots, and that they're all awful shots.

Quote:

Originally Posted by svit


	- playbooks and playcalling system - association breakdown - defensive strategies and defensive matchups (in 2k13 you can't assign certain player to defend opponent only position vs position...) - online playbooks, settings, coach settings - sounds - offline/online association - training camps and practice mode - 2K Reelmaker - ...

I was bummed to see Reelmaker go. Its absence pretty much destroyed one of my favorite threads in this forum (the 2K Screenshots/Video Clips thread). It was just awwwwwwful this year, littered and overrun with random commentaries and full MyTeam games, all promoted for maximum viewership. I missed the awesome and legitimate content people used to be able to easily create and upload with the Reel.

# 83 JasonWilliams55 @ 09/19/13 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OkayC


	Not trying to nit pick. But you did have to move pg over to the 3 spot in order to guard lebron. I played a game not that long ago where I put sefalosha on tony parker, and it moved sefalosha to 1guard. I had to bring the ball up and everything with him, which was kinda frustrating. I couldn't just keep thabo at the 2 or 3 and have him guard parker.

No PG can stay at the 2, scroll over to lebron, preferred matchup, cycle thru players... now PG will move down into the 3 slot next to lebron, but in game he will still be at the 2.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optik


	That's weird. That doesn't happen me through preferred matchup or through the defensive matchups in the timeout menu. This has given me an idea though. To make the preferred matchup feature deeper, they could give us up to 3 players for preference, 1st being the most preferred defender and 3rd being the least preferred. Hopefully this would stop instances that for a possession you have Novak defending LeBron when your best defender is out.

I semi-like that idea, maybe preferred and least preferred.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	I think the average gamer tends to get an unfair shake around these parts from time to time. The phrase itself often seems synonymous with "People who like only the worst things about games only". I can't really envision casual, average folk all clamoring for additional shoe information over everything svit listed. And if they are all clamoring for that shoe information over everything else, and if that's what's driving 2K's approach to things, then I believe that is a problem in and of itself. To be clear, I like shoes and I support additions, adjustments, and modifications. I just balked at the premise that the average video gamer is calling the shots, and that they're all awful shots. I was bummed to see Reelmaker go. Its absence pretty much destroyed one of my favorite threads in this forum (the 2K Screenshots/Video Clips thread). It was just awwwwwwful this year, littered and overrun with random commentaries and full MyTeam games, all promoted for maximum viewership. I missed the awesome and legitimate content people used to be able to easily create and upload with the Reel.

I hear ya on giving casuals a bad rap... but really, if they are not looking for info, do they care? If info comes across them (say instagram videos, w/e 2k releases) and all you see across the comments are "looks the same" "shoes are terrible" "headband not right" etc etc etc.... how can one not assume that the avg casual 2ker doesnt care about the nitty gritty.

I just asked Tuesday night at the gym, had been meaning to from the another thread were I said I was gonna ask next time I was hooping. (my sample size is roughly 40 people, ages 7-30+)

All of these peeps casually play NBA2K, when I brought up 2K and asked what needs to be done... first thing out of the mouth was shoes and accessories. They know already that the gameplay is good, its about the details (visually) for them, again small sample size, but completely random people.

They want to crossover, dunk and get easy buckets while looking good. They could careless about Assoc. mode, they play MyPlayer/Blacktop and Online Quick match. Only a few guys played Assoc, almost all played MyPlayer though while 2 guys (def. over 20yrs old) only played online.

If 2Ks consumer base is 90%+ casual players (ie not OS typers) why would a company go against the grain on what they wanted?

I agree on ReelMaker though... was better than what is there now... cant stand the camera replay... give me a free floating camera where I can position anywhere, I KNOW y'all got the ability to do it.

edit: for what its worth, out of all the quick matches i have played, i would wager < 10% of all of them did I see someone pause to change def. settings and/or coach sliders (can be done during t/o tho), barely anyone ran plays... most people cheese... so what does that say about the user base? IF they cared about playbooks, coach settings, etc... wouldnt they use them?

# 84 VDusen04 @ 09/19/13 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWilliams55


	I hear ya on giving casuals a bad rap... but really, if they are not looking for info, do they care? If info comes across them (say instagram videos, w/e 2k releases) and all you see across the comments are "looks the same" "shoes are terrible" "headband not right" etc etc etc.... how can one not assume that the avg casual 2ker doesnt care about the nitty gritty. I just asked Tuesday night at the gym, had been meaning to from the another thread were I said I was gonna ask next time I was hooping. (my sample size is roughly 40 people, ages 7-30+) All of these peeps casually play NBA2K, when I brought up 2K and asked what needs to be done... first thing out of the mouth was shoes and accessories. They know already that the gameplay is good, its about the details (visually) for them, again small sample size, but completely random people. They want to crossover, dunk and get easy buckets while looking good. They could careless about Assoc. mode, they play MyPlayer/Blacktop and Online Quick match. Only a few guys played Assoc, almost all played MyPlayer though while 2 guys (def. over 20yrs old) only played online. If 2Ks consumer base is 90%+ casual players (ie not OS typers) why would a company go against the grain on what they wanted? I agree on ReelMaker though... was better than what is there now... cant stand the camera replay... give me a free floating camera where I can position anywhere, I KNOW y'all got the ability to do it. edit: for what its worth, out of all the quick matches i have played, i would wager < 10% of all of them did I see someone pause to change def. settings and/or coach sliders (can be done during t/o tho), barely anyone ran plays... most people cheese... so what does that say about the user base? IF they cared about playbooks, coach settings, etc... wouldnt they use them?

I feel where you're coming from. And again, if that's truly who 2K is increasingly catering toward (as seems the case), that will not bode well for me.

But specifically regarding my previous post, I was mostly just speaking toward how the "casual gamer" tends to get lumped in this big pile of awfulness all the time. It seems like every terrible tendency or wish ever is attributed to the entirety of casual gamers, haha.

Then again, it's probably just semantics. I've spoken at length lately on 2K's direction. It certainly seems influenced by somebody, but I just don't know who. It feels like it's a majority-rule thing and if the majority are casual folk, then I suppose they may unfortunately hold the greatest influence.

Optik mentioned this earlier today, but if 2K's direction really is more about adhering to the largest fan demands, sensible to an NBA simulation's mission or not, I'm not sure if I support that. And by "not sure if I support that" I mean I really don't support that at all.

# 85 JasonWilliams55 @ 09/19/13 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VDusen04


	I feel where you're coming from. And again, if that's truly who 2K is increasingly catering toward (as seems the case), that will not bode well for me. But specifically regarding my previous post, I was mostly just speaking toward how the "casual gamer" tends to get lumped in this big pile of awfulness all the time. It seems like every terrible tendency or wish ever is attributed to the entirety of casual gamers, haha. Then again, it's probably just semantics. I've spoken at length lately on 2K's direction. It certainly seems influenced by somebody, but I just don't know who. It feels like it's a majority-rule thing and if the majority are casual folk, then I suppose they may unfortunately hold the greatest influence. Optik mentioned this earlier today, but if 2K's direction really is more about adhering to the largest fan demands, sensible to an NBA simulation's mission or not, I'm not sure if I support that. And by "not sure if I support that" I mean I really don't support that at all.

Most def. on that bold.

Yeah everything gets attributed to the 'random avg gamer' cause truly they shape where games go.. NBA2K, FPS's, w/e game doesn't matter... in the world of money... #s talk... if you can get an extra 1M to buy ya game cause you threw Jay-Z/MJ/LeBron on the cover (or w/e it is) its gonna happen.

I said this week that I'm not worried about where the game is gonna go, cause I know visuals only go so far w/o gameplay to match. If the game looks real but yet people are not getting realistic gameplay you will have a backlash... so as graphics continue to increase gameplay has to be stride for stride with it.

# 86 OkayC @ 09/19/13 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Optik


	That's weird. That doesn't happen me through preferred matchup or through the defensive matchups in the timeout menu. This has given me an idea though. To make the preferred matchup feature deeper, they could give us up to 3 players for preference, 1st being the most preferred defender and 3rd being the least preferred. Hopefully this would stop instances that for a possession you have Novak defending LeBron when your best defender is out.

I don't mean you have to move him to that position. I meant that say i put pg on lebron. the game will automatically play him at the 3. But maybe i just messed up or something, i'll try it again later.

# 87 NINJAK2 @ 09/19/13 07:57 PM

For those that have absolutely no interest in current gen you should probably stay out of threads covering current gen so you won't be underwhelmed..

# 88 magicman32 @ 09/19/13 08:57 PM

From all the videos I've seen the game seems to play a nice brand of basketball. I'm looking forward to getting this current gen. I don't think I'll be able to get a PS4 anytime soon. The game looks a little more fluid this year. I can't wait to play this!!!!

# 89 The 24th Letter @ 09/19/13 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NINJAK2


	For those that have absolutely no interest in current gen you should probably stay out of threads covering current gen so you won't be underwhelmed..

But how would they let us know they're underwhelmed and not buying current gen?

# 90 svit @ 09/20/13 02:42 AM

I feel I need to refine/add more to my claim that you can only assign position vs position in defensive matchup. So here is the example:

1.) Miami (user) Vs Bulls (cpu)
2.) As Miami did in playoffs I assign LeBron to guard Rose
3.) All other defensive matchups stays on default
4.) Everything is OK (LeBron plays on his position (PF) in offense and also covering Rose in defense)
5.) Substitution occurs, let's say Rose is substituted by Hinrich.
6.) LeBron is now covering Hinrich instead of his default matchup (let's say Boozer)
7.) Even worse, let's say Rose is in the game and LeBron is substituted by Haslem. Now Haslem is covering Rose instead of his default matchup.

That's why I said that in 2k13 you can only assign position to cover other position rather than players vs player.

# 91 CaseIH @ 09/20/13 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicman32


	From all the videos I've seen the game seems to play a nice brand of basketball. I'm looking forward to getting this current gen. I don't think I'll be able to get a PS4 anytime soon. The game looks a little more fluid this year. I can't wait to play this!!!!

Same here, I have been impressed with what I have seen. I dont have the money to buy a new console, and even if I did I would wait a while before buying a new console anyway to make sure they have all the bugs worked out of the new console. The gameplay really looks like it has been tighten up this year. I cant wait to play the game, last year the lack of being able to block shots at a realistic rate was annoying. Im a Pacer fan, and I would rarely be able to get blocks with Hibbert at a realistic rate.

# 92 poloelite @ 09/20/13 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicman32


	From all the videos I've seen the game seems to play a nice brand of basketball. I'm looking forward to getting this current gen. I don't think I'll be able to get a PS4 anytime soon. The game looks a little more fluid this year. I can't wait to play this!!!!

From playing the demo build in Vegas with JWill and Lid I can 100% say you won't be disappointed. Imagine having a nice Benz for years and then you drop a Ferrari engine in it. That's the best way I can describe my time with it (which was a lot). It looks the same but feels more powerful on both ends and it really is a chess match. The defense felt great, but I didn't see much said here about the new offensive controls. DON'T CHANGE THEM. With the defense able to have more contact and poke the ball away, I found the ability to make a move and go right into a shot, without hitting a modifier, a seamless transition that could one up a defender if done in real Bball context. That split second makes a difference. You WILL throw many bad flashy passes at first (shoot buttons from 13), but its worth it once you get it down.

# 93 m-dogg @ 09/20/13 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swaggedupbruh


	I wish ea sports would hire these guys and be like "go create a nfl game" and leave it to them. So bummed my favorite sport is stuck with ea.

let 'em fix their hockey too while they're at it...

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