NBA Playgrounds News Post

NBA Playgrounds Releases on May 9 For $20, New Details & Gameplay Video

12:50 PM - May 3, 2017 by Steve_OS

NBA Playgrounds is scheduled to release on May 9 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC for $20. Polygon has posted quite a few new details about the game, some of them we've listed below. Be sure to read the full article here.

Over 300 different dunks
Lottery Pick meter gives the user a random special ability for a limited time
Can be played by four people in the same room
Online 2-player head to head will be available at launch, 4-player update coming soon after launch
Post-release roster updates
Progression mechanic unlocks the entire roster gradually
Packs unlock players, each pack contains 5 players, you start off with 3 packs. THERE ARE NO MICROTRANSACTIONS!
Dunk contest and a three-point contest are scheduled to release at a later date
Charles Barkley and Kobe Bryant will NOT be on the roster

Game: NBA PlaygroundsHype Score: 9.5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: Nintendo Switch / PC / PS4 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 2 - View All

Member Comments

# 81 Mintsa @ 05/11/17 01:16 AM

I can't get this damn lottery meter/ lightning ball straight.....

I think it just doesn't activate all the time ??

My meter is full and flashing, I inbound the ball cross half court and nothing???

Then just randomly it will turn on or not at all ??

I have to be missing something ???

# 82 Mintsa @ 05/11/17 01:18 AM

Also, I unlocked the Memphis grizzly vince carter and 4/5 raptors cards (Lowry, derozan, Caroll, JV), is classic raptors Vince carter the 5th card ?

# 83 bcruise @ 05/11/17 02:51 AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the old JAM games have defense that actually meant something? By which I mean playing in front of your man and jumping at them (not necessarily getting the block) could cause some shots to miss.

This game's not like that. Make/Miss is determined entirely by the shooter's timing unless it's blocked. And I'm not a huge fan of that. It's why the game is a 3-point fest right now.

Not asking for sim - I know it's not that kind of game. I'm asking for balance.

In the meantime i guess I'll just shove down anyone who stops and pops just after crossing halfcourt - talk about an easy target. The powerups are nice, but it's not really going to mean much when everyone just rains perfect timing threes on you. So I'd gladly give those up to stop a one-dimensional offense.

Love the feel of the game and how it takes me back to my JAM days - it's really the only kind of basketball game I can play anymore because it doesn't even try to be sim.

# 84 ps3veron @ 05/11/17 05:21 AM

Don't y'all just love them courts in this game? The environments are so distinct and beautiful!

I was in Paris last nite, with the moon shining, the pedestrians sippin' some Rouge; My Leonard did an insane dunk over a smack talking Shaq all whilst listening to some peaceful French music..

Now tell me another game where you can do that?

# 85 RockinDaMike @ 05/11/17 08:19 AM

Been having fun so far just struggling on layups, always missing them. Glad there's a new type NBA Jam but I really hope a newer NBA Street comes out, love that style of game.

What is your guys favorite combos? Been using Kawaii and Lebron but lacking blocks. Also using Kristaps with Lebron or Bledsoe

# 86 ChaseB @ 05/11/17 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockinDaMike


	Been having fun so far just struggling on layups, always missing them. Glad there's a new type NBA Jam but I really hope a newer NBA Street comes out, love that style of game. What is your guys favorite combos? Been using Kawaii and Lebron but lacking blocks. Also using Kristaps with Lebron or Bledsoe

Kristaps + Any Guard has been a general lineup for me. I realize bigs like Kristaps and Towns and Embiid probably would have messed up NBA Jam back then.

# 87 33JAF @ 05/11/17 04:45 PM

Just bought this and I'm waiting for it to download. One question I have is do you have to play online vs other people to get the full experience? I'm not fond of playing anything competitively online against randoms.

# 88 ChaseB @ 05/11/17 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33JAF


	Just bought this and I'm waiting for it to download. One question I have is do you have to play online vs other people to get the full experience? I'm not fond of playing anything competitively online against randoms.

No, you just probably would end up having some better games.

# 89 33JAF @ 05/11/17 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChaseB


	No, you just probably would end up having some better games.

Thanks for the response. I'll definitely play some games online. I think I'm just ruined from NBA2k online. It'll be great when we can join up and play some games with friends.

# 90 Murph @ 05/11/17 05:20 PM

Can't believe they have Robert Parish as a Chicago Bull in this game. Not only did he win 3 of his 4 championships in Boston, but he went into the HOF as a Celtic.

# 91 ch46647 @ 05/11/17 08:28 PM

Loving this game! I've been playing against the AI in tourneys and I have noticed a couple issues that we should bring to the developers attention..

I do not have twitter so if someone could please post this to the devs that would be great!

1. When you get the lottery pick "12", which shortens the shot clock for the CPU, the AI is not taking that into consideration and 9 times out of 10 the shot clock expires. The developers should probably look into that

2. Defending against the 3 is near impossible for 2 reasons..
- First, the game does not seem to take into account good defensive position and it is all about the shot release.. There probably should be some sort of penalty for shooting with someone right in your face. (Even if minimal since its an arcade game)

- Second, blocking 3's is nearly impossible. Even with a great shot blocker like Shaq and jumping right in their face on release..

- To build on that, the game does a solid job of allowing us to time blocks against with a good blocker against dunks.. BUT .. for whatever reason it is near impossible to block 3's (or nearly any jumper for that matter).. and also, when a player is stuck under the rim and put up a little weak layup it is nearly an automatic bucket because the shot blocker just cannot block it (90% of the time)

I think the devs need to look into these issues to help with balance of gameplay. It would go a long way in making defense more rewarding and placing importance of having a big man on the court.

My .02 cents

# 92 brent3419 @ 05/11/17 08:52 PM

I bought it and im running with Tim Hardaway and the Admiral as my 2 players. Learning the release points im struggling alot lol and lost every game vs the cpu so far. I even had a 12 point lead and still lost.

Sent from my SM-J320P using Tapatalk

# 93 TreJayMMA @ 05/11/17 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brent3419


	I bought it and im running with Tim Hardaway and the Admiral as my 2 players. Learning the release points im struggling alot lol and lost every game vs the cpu so far. I even had a 12 point lead and still lost. Sent from my SM-J320P using Tapatalk

It's a very early release for layups and a pretty early release for jump shots

Sent from my SM-G530T using Tapatalk

# 94 ch46647 @ 05/11/17 11:01 PM

Has anyone played EPIC Durant and EPIC Harden in the finals of the Shanghai tourney?

I have gotten blown out 20-25 times in a row. They are like a CPU cheat code together. They literally hit 95% of their 3's, get an extra point on most of their shots, and steal everything on the fist swipe..

It almost seems impossible to beat them lol

# 95 Fiddy @ 05/11/17 11:09 PM

I'm at game 1 in Vegas.

I've won each tournament and completed every challenge so far.

Game 1 in Vegas wants 15 steals. Cripes. LOL

# 96 ch46647 @ 05/11/17 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddy


	I'm at game 1 in Vegas. I've won each tournament and completed every challenge so far. Game 1 in Vegas wants 15 steals. Cripes. LOL

Who do you play with?

# 97 zigzagzigallah @ 05/12/17 03:00 AM

game is a nice throwback, definitely worth the price tag.

I've played a single online game against a Ray Allen/Stockton combo, Jesus went 21/23 from three even though I contested nearly every single shot and he was extremely predictable, opponent didn't even try to build up his lottery picks and even with 3 or 4 of my own and trading buckets I just couldn't keep up with the threes and realized too late how easy it was to splash them, something has to change there in terms of defender proximity effecting opponents shot percentages otherwise a lot of H2H online games will just boil down to a race past half-court to hit a three and spam steal/push on D.

I finished all the tournaments within the first day or two, some really entertaining and moderately challenging games there, hope they add some more tiers to the tournaments, daily/weekly challenges etc., in other words I'm praying for consistent updates/support from Saber in terms of offline content to keep the interest and gameplay sustainable for the life of Playgrounds, they can do big things here if done right.

I run a gold combo of Porzingis/Embiid, ran through about 80% of all tournament games with them as my go-to (6 to 7+ on dunks, 8 to 10+ on blocks, 6 to 7+ on threes), other notables I've used for a minute are Epic Ray Allen, Epic Stockton, Legend Big O, Legend LeBron, Legend Pippen, Legend Mailman, Epic Kawhi, Epic C-Webb, Epic Deke, Epic Ewing, Grandmama, Epic Reed, Epic Kidd and Chris Mullin, half of them are gold level, and the rest silver so far.

the only trophies I've yet to complete are the 7 steals and 15 steals challenges, I can't get the timing down consistently yet. I've had multiple 6 steal, feels completely random how successful I can be from one game to the next vs. the same opponents.

I'm still on the hunt for Legend AI and Legend Dream, that's The dynamic duo to me and I've seen them actually both pulled in the same silver pack on reddit, crazy luck.

Edit: Legend Steph Curry, Epic John Wall and James Worthy added to the collection in my last silver pack for jumping up a level, still can't beat those challenges though.

# 98 ch46647 @ 05/12/17 07:58 AM

Completely agree the developers have to balance the three point shots. I wrote a post on the previous page explaing some areas I think they could do to improve this.

# 99 Fiddy @ 05/12/17 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ch46647


	Who do you play with?

Whatever the challenge for the game calls for, I try and match up players to complete the challenges.

# 100 Mintsa @ 05/12/17 11:10 AM

15 steals in one game is IMPOSSIBLE in a 3 minute game......

« Previous 1 2 3 456 7 8 Next »

More Links

NBA Playgrounds Releases on May 9 For $20, New Details & Gameplay Video